Monday, June 29, 2015

Jamie Cullum @ Koerner Hall, Monday

Here's Jamie Cullum-izing Frontin', Suit & Tie and Get Your Way in Paris. His show tonight is sold out.

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Hear Johnny Young's rockin' debut for Ora Nelle

Blues mandolinist Johnny Young cut these sides with cousin Johnny Williams on Maxwell Street in 1947. 



Saturday, June 27, 2015

Radio Birdman w/Keith Streng in Stockholm

Here's Keith Streng of The Fleshtones on stage with Radio Birdman at Debaser in Stockholm last night. 



Happy Birthday Phillip Mitchell

Celebrating the birthday of soul singer/songwriter Phillip Mitchell with a couple of stellar performances. 



Bushwick Bill stars in new Heartless Bastards video for "Hi-Line"

Geto Boys rapper Bushwick Bill shows the Heartless Bastards how to make some cash in their new clip.

Friday, June 26, 2015

The Rizdales @ Dakota Tavern, Friday

Since it's Tara Dunphy's birthday, here's her poignant version of Dale Watson's Whiskey or God. 

Charles Lloyd @ Jane Mallett Theatre, Friday

In an attempt to regain some jazz cred, Blue Note has released Charles Lloyd's live recording Wild Man Dance. 



One For The Weekend: Soul Bros

Bobby Ellis and Jackie Mittoo get down on Soho which doesn't appear on their Hot Shot album. 

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Watch Shovels & Rope's delightful new stop-motion video for Mary Ann & One Eyed Dan

This "Mary Ann & One Eyed Dan" clip was directed by Kevin Hanley using dolls designed by Michelle Jewell.

Sonny Knight @ The Horseshoe, CANCELLED

Sonny Knight won't be coming to Canada for the Toronto and Montreal Jazz Festivals due to border crossing issues.



Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Happy Birthday Harry Partch

Remembering the visionary Harry Partch on his day with a BBC documentary and instrument tour. 




Ikebe Shakedown @ Nathan Phillips Square, Wednesday

Get down with Brooklyn's Ikebe Shakedown for free at Nathan Phillips Square starting at 6:30 pm.


Tuesday, June 23, 2015

The Ex @ Hard Luck Bar, Tuesday

The Ex will be joined by Swedish azz feat. Mats Gustafsson and Brodie West & Fleshtone Aura starting at 8 pm.

Monday, June 22, 2015

The Melvins @ Danforth Music Hall, Monday

Here's The Melvins' salute to the Surfers at The Mohawk in Austin on June 10th. 

Happy Birthday Heikki Sarmanto!

Celebrating the birthday of Finnish composer/keyboardist Heikki Sarmanto with his salute to Duke and Trane. 

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Television vs. Evie Sands

See if you can spot any similarity between Marquee Moon and Evie Sands' You've Got Me Up Tight from 1965.



Saturday, June 20, 2015

Alone and Gone book launch w/ Nick Smash @ The Rivoli, Saturday 1pm–4pm

Nick Smash will be present with copies of his T.O. scene document which you can purchase right here.



Friday, June 19, 2015

The Gories @ The Horseshoe, Saturday

Here's a live clip of The Gories in action followed by The Nomads version of Be Nice which they just covered. 




Thursday, June 18, 2015

George Clinton & P-Funk @ Nathan Phillips Square, Friday

George Clinton and crew play a free show at 9 pm. Here's a P-Funk recording you may have missed.


Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Quantic issues Western Transient recording in a fancy package

Quantic presents The Western Transient: A New Constellation is out July 31. OndatrĂłpica hits T.O. July 13. 

Quantic Presents The Western Transient is the latest project from Will “Quantic” Holland, bringing together a handpicked band of some of his favourite musicians – namely Todd Simon (trumpet, flugelhorn), Wilson Viveros (drums), Sylvester Onyejiaka (flute, tenor saxophone),  Brandon Coleman (piano, Moog), Gabe Boel (bass), Alan Lightner (steel pans, percussion) – to record a set of new compositions in Los Angeles paying homage to the rich, lively and intimate quality of the classic soul and jazz recordings. The resulting album, A New Constellation finds Holland following up his disappointingly over-egged solo album, Magnetica, with a suite of traditionally recorded pieces that capture the spontaneous beauty in making music with serious musicians playing real instruments.

“A transient is a burst of energy that hits and falls off, leaving nothing behind. It is temporary, momentary in its action, like an ink drop on a page that fades almost as soon as it’s dry,” offers Holland in a philosophical moment. “Music is a muddle of transients or rather, a meeting place for them, where the short lived can become eternal.”

The vinyl version of A New Constellation comes housed in a deluxe handmade hardback gatefold sleeve designed by Steven Serrato with photographs taken by B+ (see video clip below).

In other Will Holland news, his Colombian's cumbia crew OndatrĂłpica will be performing as part of Toronto's Panamania festival at Nathan Phillips Square on July 13. If you'd like to contribute to the recording of OndatrĂłpica Vol. 2, check out their crowd funding campaign right here.



Monday, June 15, 2015

Joe Ely recalls first encounter with Townes Van Zandt

Watch Joe Ely's performance of Tecumseh Valley at Strange Brew in Austin on Saturday. 

Paul Weller @ Danforth Music Hall, Monday

Here's a recent Paul Weller performance for In Concert on BBC Radio 2 and a GQ icon feature interview.

Sunday, June 14, 2015

Whaddya mean you don't know Palais Schaumburg

Palais Schaumberg's 1981 video for Kinder der Tod looks like it was made with Sprockets in mind.

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Nas tears up Bestival @ Hanlan's Point, Saturday

QB's finest hits the Bestival main stage at 9:45pm tonight. Here are a couple of stellar Nas performance clips.



Friday, June 12, 2015

Happy Birthday Weegee!

Remembering influential photographer Arthur "Weegee" Fellig on his day with Eddie Muller's informative talk. 

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Jon Spencer Blues Explosion @ Lee's Palace, Wednesday

Between glamour shoots and gigs, the members of Jon Spencer Blues Explosion get grilled by dudes in suits.

Richard Thompson survives brush with Jeff Tweedy

After discussing his new album Still (stream it here until June 23), Richard Thompson rips through a stone classic. 

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Watch the great new hour-long Gories documentary

Mick Collins, Danny Kroha, and Peg O'Neill reveal The Gories' unlikely mod and Gidget inspiration. 

The Delta Bell's daring alt-gospel gambit

Brighton's Kate Gerrard chose Carry Us Home to introduce The Delta Bell's Bow Out Of The Fading Light debut. 

Richard Hawley resurfaces on Sirocco Bros' demonic rockabilly ripper

Singer/songwriter Richard Hawley strums rhythm guitar on the Sirocco's Devil's Guitar which he also penned. 

Monday, June 8, 2015

Watch Pokey LaFarge play Something In The Water by himself

Here's Pokey doing a solo acoustic version of the title track off his new album Something In The Water.

Whaddya mean you don't know Chase Canfil

Guitar-slingin' barber Chase Canfil cut Woke Up This Morning before going doo wop with Gene Paul.

Sunday, June 7, 2015

The Good Family @ Dakota Tavern, Sunday

Bruce, Larry, Margaret, D'Arcy and the kids will be tearing it up at the Dakota Tavern tonight at 7 pm. 

Happy Birthday Tina Brooks!

Remembering saxophone great Tina Brooks with some rare tenor battle footage involving Fathead Newman. 

Watch the McCoy Tyner Quartet live in 1971

McCoy Tyner is joined by Alphonse Mouzon, Sonny Fortune & Calvin Hill on WNET's SOUL!

Saturday, June 6, 2015

Happy Birthday Monty Alexander!

Here's Monty's version of King Tubby Meets The Rockers Uptown from the 2013 Saint-Émilion Jazz Fest.

Whaddya mean you don't know Lata J. Ramasar


Friday, June 5, 2015

Happy Birthday Dave Bingham!

Here's the Ugly Ducklings cutting loose on I'm A Man at their rehearsal space in November 1966.

One For The Weekend: Afro National

Here's the Sierra Leone floor filler "Push Am Forward" recorded by Freetown swingers Afro National. 

Thursday, June 4, 2015

Belgian punk legends The Kids @ The Garrison, Friday




Maxines vs. Hasil Adkins in epic hunch-off

Olympia's Matt Murillo & Kelly Norman can hunch with the best of 'em, but it's tough to out-hunch Haze.


Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Jay Douglas goes Brasstronomical for LulaWorld 2015 @ Lula Lounge, Thursday

The Heavyweights are launching their Brasstronomical tour with Jamaica To Toronto star Jay Douglas.


Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Happy Birthday Lydia Lunch!

Here's an old gem that Lydia recorded with 8 Eyed Spy followed by a discussion of no wave. 


The Remains vs. Petula Clark

The Remains had the edge with the rave-up bit in their cover of Petula Clark's b-side gem Heart. 


Monday, June 1, 2015

Calexico @ The Opera House, Tuesday

This nicely shot Brussels performance will give you an idea of what Calexico has in store Tuesday.

Happy Birthday Ronnie Wood!

Here are a couple of Ronnie's rousing Mod-era rippers recorded with The Birds.