There’s way too much bad music being released these days. The reason, as I see it, is that bands (and their money-sign managers) keep trying to produce albums that sound exactly like other formulaic albums of the time. As far as the music goes, we are generally stuck in a time of noise and shit wars as far as the eye can see (…err, ears can hear?). Myself, I’m lucky. Like most of our readers, I thrive on music that in one way or another breaks out of the mold and gives my ears something to think about. Whether it be a nasal voice, a different approach to percussion, or a stream of beautiful harmonies.

On my mind today is a band that sounds like they were born 30 years too late, but also seem fresh and current in today’s market. Dr. Dog, be thy name, and you’re gonna need to pump this stuff into your ears on repeat, kiddos. This shit is that good. Taking cues from The Band, Beach Boys and Beatles, Dr. Dog is keeping that tradition of good, pure Rock ‘n Roll and harmonies alive, when so few bands even remember what that even IS.

Back in October, I had planned a trip to Montreal and Albany for Bob Dylan/Elvis Costello and The National. It just so happened that Dr. Dog, a band I had missed twice previously, was playing at a small venue on a night that I was in Montreal with nothing to do. I arrived in the city on the bus from Ottawa and met The Brockster and his friend at LE BIFTECK (as he so eloquently puts it), a nice, simple bar that was very close to the venue. So, with time to kill, we get shitfaced. This made it a fun, if somewhat blurry night. I remember being at the show, buying an EP, talking to a couple band members, then it’s all pretty hazy. I did some taping up close to the stage, and I have to use this audio and video to give myself some recollection of the show itself. Ah well, I’m sure they’ll be back around, and I’ll be sure to pay more attention next time around.

We traded off camera duties, when we needed bathroom breaks. Which, I think, led to me not pressing record for the second song. Though, it’s not even close to the best quality stuff we have recorded, it is also not bad, and worth posting even if you just read this blurb and buy (or download) an album. If you can identify the the two unknown tracks I will give you a virtual High 5!

Dr. Dog - Petit Campus, Montreal, QC 10.05.07

Sounds

1. Worst Trip
2. (Unknown - Not Recorded)
3. The Girl
4. Alaska
5. Oh No
6. Untitled #1
7. Keep A Friend
8. From
9. Untitled #2
10. Fool’s Life
11. Easy Beat
12. My Old Ways
13. Do You Wanna Dance?
14. Die, Die, Die
15. The Way The Lazy Do
16. Today

I think, in this case, our video turned out better than the audio itself. If you want to see the show, click the link below.

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Victoria B.C.’s Ladyhawk have been making some headlines across the intertubes the past few weeks as they prepare to release their “Pinkerton“. I gave my ears an early listen of the upcoming album titled Shots and I’m thrilled with it. I’ve spent many days with their 2006 self-titled release on repeat and I’m sure Shots will share a similar fate. Jagjaguwar described the album,

…filled with the cold creaking and ghostly echoes of the old house in the dead of winter. Like a party for the last house standing in a sea of strip malls and condos, surely near the end of its time. “Shots” is the sound of Ladyhawk getting loose, turning up loud, downing a few more and howling at the moon. It evokes the devilish sounds of Goats Head Soup guitars, the honey-slides and howling of Neil Young in his darkest hours, and the phantoms that haunted Roky Erickson at the Holiday Inn.

Experts at bottling the misty mountain ghostly blues offered on their self titled debut, it should be clear, this is not classic rock; this is not southern rock. “Shots” is a step forward toward someplace your compass doesn’t point.

Shots is set to be released March 4th and two weeks after that the guys are packing up to tour east to west (towards the end of the tour they’ll be sharing the stage with Black Mountain). Here are the tour dates:

03/18/08 London, ON - Salt Lounge
03/19/08 Hamilton, ON - Casbah
03/20/08 Montreal, PQ - Le Divan Orange
03/21/08 Ottawa, ON - Zaphod Beeblebrox
03/22/08 Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern
03/27/08 Winnipeg, MB - Pyramid Cabaret w/ Black Mountain
03/28/08 Regina, SK - The Distrikt w/ Black Mountain
03/29/08 Saskatoon, SK - Amigo’s w/ Black Mountain
03/31/08 Edmonton, AB - Starlite Room w/ Black Mountain
04/01/08 Calgary, AB - The Warehouse w/ Black Mountain
04/02/08 Kelowna, BC - The Habitat
04/05/08 Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom w/ Black Mountain

MP3: I Don’t Always Know What You’re Saying

More Ladyhawk if you ……. Continue Reading »

Radiohead are coming to Montreal in the early part of 2008. This will surely please the other half of this website (no Ottawa date dude). However, the bad news is that we have no dates and no ticket info. You can find out more from the Pitchfork article here. Stay tuned, more information should be released in the near future. Get your tickets here.

In the mean time lets watch my favorite Radiohead video.

I’ve said it again and again that I would never let the blog slip, but the holidays kept me ever so busy. I’ve been drinking with friends, sleeping in, talking to my girlfriend who’s visiting Newfoundland and watching the entire run of Arrested Development. I’m so sorry, but you’ll be happy to know that we are back in full swing with concert tickets in hand. Unlike every other blog in the known blogosphere we haven’t done our year end “best of” shitlist, so what follows is my top 9 (a very magic number) albums of 2007. Included are a choice cut from each album, to get them please…….. Continue Reading »