Toronto, Don’t Grant the Ford Brothers Unearned Political Sympathy!
Post by Philip Turner.
The Ford bros are all about manipulation and playing the media to their advantage.
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Elephant Stone, Making Mind-bending Music at Mercury Lounge
I had a great time at the Elephant Stone show at Mercury Lounge Tuesday night. It was the third time I’ve heard the Montreal band (I earlier wrote about them here), and they were in great form, with frontman Rishi Dhir and his crew really getting down on several psychedelic and funk jams. As cool as Rishi’s sitar playing is, he’s also a really great bassist, and plays it like a solo instrument. Meantime, bandmate Gabriel Lambert is a wizard on 12-string electric guitar. The result is the band’s signature blend of soaring psychedelia, bright pop harmonies, thumping funk, and chiming guitar. If you’d like rock n’ roll that sounds like the Byrds crossed with Indian influences check them out. Frontman Dhir (shown at right) has playfully dubbed their sound ‘Hindi rock.’ I hear echoes of the Byrds and the Beatles, though more psychedelic-ized than either of those giant groups. I got a copy of their new album The Three Poisons after the show. Also in the house was Mike Renaud, aka “Parkside,” of Hidden Pony Records, which handles several of my favorite acts (like Rah Rah, Jeremy Fisher, Said the Whale, and Imaginary Cities) and Tyler Bancroft of the aforementioned Said the Whale, who was in NYC for a few days, then leaving to meet his bandmates for a StW show in Calgary. Parkside, Tyler, myself, and some new friends, Jillian Bordeaux and Michael, a colleague of hers from Caroline—a company that works with many indie music labels—went out for beers afterward.
Elephant Stone’s current US tour continues tonight in Philadelphia, and tomorrow in Asbury Park, NJ, Sept 12 and 13. Details here.
Here are more pictures from the fun night.
Ethan Hawke, Another Honourary Canadian
Post by Philip Turner.
If you loved the movie “Boyhood,” you’ll want to listen to this interview. If you haven’t seen the film yet, here’s the trailer.
Jill Barber’s US Tour 9/22-9/30—Stopping at NY Joe’s Pub Sept 25
A heads-up to music fans in Ann Arbor, Cambridge/Boston, NYC, Philadelphia, DC/Virginia, and Pittsburgh: Beginning Sept 22, Canadian chanteuse Jill Barber will embark on a mini-tour of the US with her superb band, debuting her her new album, “Fool’s Gold” for US audiences. In NYC, she’ll be playing at Joe’s Pub, the same venue where I heard her play in 2012, a fantastic show. This is a write-up of that performance, in which I wrote, “Barber exuded a winsome charm, unselfconscious glamour, and improvised with light banter between songs. She sings in a distinctive tone that is the aural equivalent of B Grade maple syrup—my favorite kind—sweet and smoky.” Her repertoire, most of which she writes herself or co-writes, sung in English and French, evokes classic torch music. If you’re looking for a great evening of romantic music, come out and hear her one of the cities below or buy a copy of “Fool’s Gold.” See tour details below.
09/22 Ann Arbor, MI – The Ark
09/24 Cambridge, MA – Regattabar
09/25 New York, NY – Joe’s Pub
09/27 Philadelphia, PA – Tin Angel
09/28 Vienna, VA – Jammin’ Java
09/30 Pittsburgh, PA – Club Cafe 
09/22 Ann Arbor, MI – The Ark
09/24 Cambridge, MA – Regattabar
09/25 New York, NY – Joe’s Pub
09/27 Philadelphia, PA – Tin Angel
09/28 Vienna, VA – Jammin’ Java
09/30 Pittsburgh, PA – Club Cafe
A Most Enjoyable Rock n’ Roll Video w/the Arkells
The Arkells are a great power pop 5-piece band from Hamilton, Ontario that I’ve heard live and enjoy very much. I last wrote about them in 2013 with these pics from that show, a shot of the band in action, and me with lead singer Max Kerman.
Today, I found a video they’ve recently done that casts the five bandmates with their fathers. It’s funny and kind of sweet. I hope you enjoy it as I have.
Elephant Stone, Mercury Lounge, Sept 9, 7:30 PM
I’m eager to hear the great sitar-inflected psychedelic band from Montreal, Elephant Stone Tuesday nite at the Mercury Lounge in NYC. They’ll be playing songs from their new album “The Three Poisons.” I’ve heard them play before and really enjoyed their blend of psychedelic sounds and bright pop harmonies. Come hear them if you think you’d like rock music that sounds like the Byrds crossed with an Indian influence. For his part, frontman Rishi Dhir (shown here on sitar) has playfully dubbed their sound ‘Hindi rock.’ Below are the details on their tour of the US Northeast.
MON 09/08 Burlington, VT | The Monkey House
TUE 09/09 NYC, NY | Mercury Lounge
WED 09/10 Washington, DC | Black Cat
THU 09/11 Brooklyn, NY | Rock Shop
FRI 09/12 Philadelphia, PA | Milk Boy
SAT 09/13 Asbury Park, NJ |The Saint
Making Toronto a World Class Music City
Post by Philip Turner.
As I’d documented as recently as this past June, when I posted here about my visit to Toronto for the annual NXNE festival, the city has a fabulous music scene, with many great local bands and dozens of superb venues. I’m excited to see that now a coalition of artists, promoters, and civic officials have banded together to promote the cultivation of music as an economic driver in the city. View the video here or above: http://ow.ly/Ba3kh