Dave Bidini cues the band
Toronto's Dave Bidini, freewheeling rocker, author and the only Canadian artist to have been nominated for a Juno, Genie and Gemini, is back on the musical side of the artistic ledger as he puts the final touches on a new Bidiniband album due out Jan. 24. We tracked him down to get the inside scoop on the album, titled In The Rock Hall.
Describe In The Rock Hall — what can we expect?
It's a big, strange taxi ride from your front door to a country you've never visited and back again. We wrote it large and wide, with lots of sonic and musical dynamics.
Seems like a lot of thought went into the recording, getting the right sound “off the floor.” What was behind that decision?
Well, we had this enormously large room, but we didn't want to sound lost in it. We wanted to attack the size of the space, so we put the drums right in the middle and recorded everything live, trying to capture the heat of the performances. There's only one guitar overdub and two re-sung vocals. Otherwise, what you hear is how it all went down while it was going down. Some warts, performance-wise, but they're necessary, true.
Noticed this awesome event on your website with Sarah Harmer, Chris Murphy and more. Care to explain?
It's a show I curate every year for Hockey Day in Canada, and this year it's in PEI. All the performers write original songs about one player, and debut them live at Stolen From a Hockey Card. Bidiniband backs them up, Ron MacLean hosts. It's really an incredible event, and CBC Radio broadcasts it the next day.
Tell me about the band.
Don Kerr, Paul Linklater and Doug Friesen. Paul and Doug were Rheostatics fans (my old band) and we were pen pals when they were kids. Then they moved to T.O. Paul and his wife actually stayed in my home when I was in Italy writing Baseballissimo — and eventually we started playing together. Doug and Paul were best friends when they went to school in Manitoba, and they started a band, The Scribbled Out Man, with Don Kerr, so really this is a natural band/family that seemed destined to play together, really.
Roots roundup
Toronto native Chris Luedecke, otherwise known as roots musician Old Man Luedecke, has release a new collaboration with Montreal band Lake of Stew on a new EP dubbed Sing All About It. The seven-song EP is being offered as a pay what-you-can download. The title track was apparently inspired by Luedecke’s twin daughters that arrived this past summer. It's a good album, a very bluegrass-heavy, twangy affair, with Luedecke's banjo front and centre. Standouts include the quirky, fun “Too Much To Late” and the smart and surprisingly political ditty “Monsanto Jones.” Foot stomping is optional, but not really avoidable. So prepare yourself.
Doiron readies new album
Cool Toronto singer/songwriter Julie Doiron, formerly of the East Coast band Eric's Trip, is working on a new album set to be released in 2012, potentially as early as this spring. A video clip posted on YouTube (below) shows Doiron at work, kinda, on said record. Back in the heyday of the grunge ‘90s, Eric's Trip made a name for itself as the first Canadian band signed to Sub Pop records — home to Nirvana, Soundgarden and Mudhoney. The band scored a few minor hits and broke up in 1996. But Doiron soldiered on, and has released a number of albums, including her last effort, a collaboration under the moniker Daniel, Fred & Julie on You've Changed Records in 2009.
For those unfamiliar with Eric's Trip, here is a vintage video of one of their shows at Toronto's Lee's Palace.
Album of the week: Nuclearize Me by Great Aunt Ida
A new release from Ida Nilsen has been a long time coming. Now five years since her 2006 release How They Fly, Nilsen has relocated from Vancouver to Toronto and has turned out a solid album. Nuclearize Me demonstrates a progression in production and the sonic soundscape without sacrificing Nilsen's outstanding songwriting ability and innocent, lilting vocals. Reminiscent of other Canadian indie stalwarts such as Forest City Lovers or Hooded Fang, Great Aunt Ida provides a hefty sonic punch in a simple, no-nonsense package. Highlights include the lovely “Noonday Sun” and the positively bursting track “Lonely.” Expect Great Aunt Ida to garner significant attention and win over some new fans with Nuclearize Me.
Concert of the week: Skydiggers at the Horseshoe Tavern
I've been writing about it for weeks now: the legendary Skydiggers’ annual holiday shows at the Horseshoe Tavern tonight and Saturday night. The band, if you've lived under a rock, have been plying the alt-country trade for a couple of decades and are known for their entirely awesome live show featuring the inestimable talents of frontman Andy Maize. When they hit the stage and dial up the classic “Slow Burning Fire” or one of the sweetest love songs this side of Jim Cuddy, “I Will Give You Everything,” you'll begin to understand why they've had such a long and successful career. Because they are awesome, of course. Expect newly minted MP Andrew Cash to join the band as well as other top secret, special guests. Just go. 'Nuff said.
Rock 'n' roll tweet of the week
From Death From Above 1979 frontman Sebastien Grainger, @sebby_g:
"Before you go to bed say the "Our Father" prayer but replace "Bread" with "Boner". That is all."