January 2014
THE BAXTERS
Also coming up this month: Ending Tyranny Coco Murphy The Monster of Schlock Seas Slam Poetry Finals Blackie & The Rodeo Kings and much more!
Also featured this month: (u) the Band • MusicOntario • Ian Andrews & The Smokin’ Scoundrels JamSchool • Dan Griffin • Jesse Ronan • Greg McEvoy • Ark Analog MUSIC LIVES IS DEDICATED TO FEATURING LIVE MUSIC EVENTS IN GUELPH, ONTARIO
PAGE OF CONTENTS 5 (u) the Band Q&A 6 A Look at MusicOntario 6 Ian Andrews & The Smokin’ Scoundrels 7 JamSchool Celebrates 7 years 7 Dan Griffin Show Review 8 January Events Calendar 10 The Baxters 12 2013: In Review 13 Music Monday: Advice From The Beatles 14 January Music Reviews 15 Venue Listing
ON THIS PAGE Ian Andrews & The Smokin’ Scoundrels rocked Jimmy Jazz on December 19th. Check page 6 for the full review.
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Music Lives - January 2014
Visit www.musiclives.ca for more.
MUSIC LIVES Thanks to our Sponsors! Happy New Year Guelph! We are beyond excited to start off 2014 with a brand new version of Music Lives. With the help of the fine folks at The Guelph Mercury along with our primary sponsors Doogie’s and JamSpots, and the support of Wellington Brewery and the Downtown Guelph Business Association, we are now distribution FIVE TIMES the number of copies of Music Lives, and are still growing. We are meeting new members of the music community every week, and connecting with more change makers that help make the Guelph music scene what it is today! If you haven’t stopped by our new digs, come say hi at 82 Wyndham Street in the Walkway right next to St. George’s Square downtown Guelph.
Thanks again to everyone who has helped us get this far in the Music Lives journey. As always, if you have any ideas or feedback, you can email us at info@musiclives.ca. Cheers, Kelly, Aaron, and the Music Lives Team.
The Music Lives Team Creative Lead - Kelly Baker Content Lead - Aaron Dale Editor - Katy Butters Writer - Charlene LeBlanc Writer - Teresa Allaire Writer - Braden Phelan
Interested in joining our team? Looking to advertise? Want to just say hi? Get in touch at info@musiclives.ca
Music Lives wouldn’t be possible without the support of our sponsors. We would like to take this opportunity to recognize the fine folks at Doogie’s and JamSpots as our primary sponsors, and welcome Wellington Brewer and the Downtown Guelph Business Association for adding their support in this edition.
Music Lives is a volunteer run not-forprofit. We believe that connecting fans with local music is a great way to support our community by building ties between bands and fans, support local businesses, and making Guelph a great place to live, work, and play.
Music Lives - January 2014
Visit www.musiclives.ca for more.
(u) The Band : some answers without questions By Kelly Baker One of our goals at Music Lives is to help out local bands by featuring them in this magazine and on our website. (u) the Band is a great local act who has a strong following in Guelph and a rich history. When Aaron and I sat down to talk about bands that we wanted to interview for the January edition, (u) the Band was one of the first ones mentioned – they have an album coming out and play shows regularly in town. So I did a bit of research on the band, crafted some questions that I wanted to ask them, and sent an email to guitarist Jeremy Cavan and waited eagerly for his reply. What I received back from him was in no uncertain terms just plain jaw-dropping. I showed it to Aaron and Nik from GAIN Music and their suggestion was to simply include his reply in full, without any editing. So, here we go: for fans of the band, I’m sure you will appreciate this detailed account from (u) the band talking about the band’s history, the forming of the members, their approach to writing music, and a few answers to questions that have yet to be asked. We’ve been around a long time and have changed our names largely to avoid litigation. We were burning through members like....something that burns through things, like say an incinerator.
So Toby and Jeremy set about the arduous process of creating a genetically superior bassist. If you’ve ever met a bassist before, you’d know that the only way to get a great bassist is to clone one from useful genetic material (i.e. stem cells from a guitarist and a drummer). So Rufus is not really a brother in the traditional sense... Regarding our process, the songs on this album were written a long time ago. We have no real intentional selection process, if a song gets boring we stop playing it. Then there’s the ultramatic U algorithm which mathematically selects our songs for us. By utilizing differential equations – or diffies in the parlance of our time – we can isolate the things that make the listener as uncomfortable as is humanly possible but without taking away from our self gratification and personal self aggrandizement. The main difference between this band and the last band is that this band name is shorter and has far fewer enemies!
Here are some answers that need questions. 1. Yeah, three times, and each time it got a little softer, by the end it was just raw and grindy, you know, like a play dough mop top shop. 2. If I could do it all again I just know we could have done a way better job selling out if we’d just put our minds to it.
(u) the Band are some seriously crazy dudes. Seriously.
Especially Tav, they don’t call him TBONNICUS for nothing, you know.
3. That dates back to when we were living in the equatorial rain forests and encountered a sprite who changed our musical outlook forever! He said “Why don’t you get on a horse, go off to the mountains and stop bothering people.” We knew then and there that we needed to redouble our efforts and send that dude a Polaroid of us recording new music. 4. There’s nothing wrong with being arrogant ego maniacs who think that the world wide increase in dementia is directly correlated to a recent upswing in the listening of our last album. Think about it, that’s a great reason to avoid this new album, no one wants dementia!!!
“By utilizing differential equations – or diffies in the parlance of our time – we can isolate the things that make the listener as uncomfortable as is humanly possible but without taking away from our self gratification and personal self aggrandizement. ”
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Music Lives - January 2014
Visit www.musiclives.ca for more.
A look at music ontario By Kelly Baker The last year has been a busy one for Scott Honsberger of MusicOntario. They have held a variety of events across Ontario, opened up membership for bands, musicians, and industry related businesses. We caught up with Scott to ask a few questions: Music Lives: What is the core purpose of MusicOntario? Scott Honsberger: MusicOntario exists to help artists and music-related businesses reach their professional, creative, and personal goals. Our programs are all designed to help people learn, connect, and grow, regardless of what stage of their career they’re at. ML: What inspired you to start MusicOntario? Scott: I was in a band all throughout my twenties, and we had NO idea what we were doing. When I moved to Manitoba, I discovered Manitoba Music, a great non-profit organization that helps bands and industry in that province. I then discovered that every English speaking province in Canada has, for years, had a similar association, with the exception of Ontario (although there is an organization that exists in northern Ontario called Music & Film in Motion). When I moved back to Toronto, I founded a non-profit called the Toronto Music Industry Association to help artists & industry within Toronto and the area. Around the same time, CIMA (MusicOntario’s parent company) revamped their strategic plan, and one of the items that came out of that was to form a provincial division. After a number of discussions on how we
could work together, I was appointed the inaugural Executive Director of MusicOntario, the TMIA was folded, and the rest is history. I’m really proud to be involved in such an important initiative, helping artists and businesses right across the province.
ML: Can you name a few bands in Ontario that are “doing it right”? Are there any bands to look to for inspiration? Scott: The artists that impress me the most are the ones that are not only musically talented, but take the business side of what they do seriously. A few artists that fall into this category for me are Pup, Jessica Stewart Few, and Fevers, all of whom not only ‘get’ the business side of things, but – most importantly – are incredibly nice people. If you think that being nice and kind isn’t important, you’re dead wrong! ML: What are the membership benefits for being MusicOntario member? Scott: Lots! We hold a number of events throughout the year, and MusicOntario members will always receive a discount on those events. We also offer informational consultations to our members at no charge, for those who need support, insight, direction, etc. Basically, if you’re a member and need help, we’re here to help you if we can. ML: What is the best way to get in touch with MusicOntario? You can email me at scott@music-ontario. ca, or find us online at www.music-ontario.ca. We’re also on Twitter & Facebook: @MusicOntario / www.facebook.com/ MusicOntario
show review: ian andrews and the smokin scoundrels By Braden Phelan Thursday the 19th saw a busy Jimmy Jazz being entertained by rhythm and blues grooves from Ian Andrews and the Smokin’ Scoundrels. Playing up-beat blues tunes, The ‘Scoundrels served as an ideal band to keep the night enjoyable. A six man group, these fellas were extremely tight as a unit, and it was obvious that much of their set (particularly the solo instrumental sections) was improvised. 12-bar blues patterns likely lent themselves to this ease of changes amongst leads. Ian Andrews and the Smokin’ Scoundrels have embraced one of the great themes of the blues: take a simple form, and make it your own.
I found this group to be interesting, in that they weren’t extremely surprising. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There was nothing unorthodox or overly avant garde about their look or sound, and oddly enough, that was really refreshing. In an age (and town) where it’s chic to be way out there and somewhat dissonant in your look and sound, here’s a band that’s continuing a musical tradition that’s over one hundred years in the making. They aren’t pretending to be the next evolution in music, they’re
just one of a (sadly small) group of acts that are working to carry the torch for the blues.
The level of musicianship that can be found in groups like these is often more than surprising. Despite blues being a straightforward genre to play, there’s still a lot of leeway there for experimentation and prowess. The Smokin’ Scoundrels proved to be an extremely talented group of players, with a special mention for Dan Stajov on keys. Totally impressed. Is there much of a blues scene in Guelph? Not really, but there definitely should be. More listeners from younger generations need to begin being exposed to the blues (Black Keys do not count), and enjoying the rich history that is there. Charley Patton and Son House, man!
Music Lives - January 2014
Visit www.musiclives.ca for more.
show review: dan griff in By Teresa Allaire
Jamschool turns 7! By Kelly Baker JamSchool is a performance based music school with two locations in Guelph and an attitude that we at Music Lives can stand behind. They focus on getting kids (and adults) on stage to really develop a passion for making music. This year is the school’s 7th year in existence, and we wanted to celebrate with them by giving you a bit more information about what the school is all about. We hunted down Robert Leader to ask him a few questions: Music Lives: I hear it’s your birthday! How old is JamSchool turning this year? Robert Leader: 2014 marks our “lucky number 7” birthday. When I reflect back, I feel very proud of what we have accomplished in such a short time...we have an amazing team of musicians; most of whom are still actively working in the industry themselves, playing shows and making music. Every last one of them is extremely passionate about what they do.
ML: What makes JamSchool different from other music schools? RL: What makes us different, is that our core focus is live performance. We consider ourselves a “Performance-based Musical Education Centre” taking the traditional approach of a one-on-one music lessons and mixing it up with band classes, regular live performances and showcases. We have created partnerships in the community with other organizations to get our students performing as much as possible, and in as many places as possible. A highlight for us this past year was working with the fine folks from the Hillside Festival. We were honoured to be able to showcase our students at both Hillside Inside and the main Hillside Festival at Guelph Lake.
We also partnered with The Museum in Kitchener during the Bob Marley exhibit, with weekly shows by our students as well as summer camps. Some other places we’ve worked with include; Fionn MacCools, Multicultural Festival, City of Guelph, The River Run and of course our amazing JamBoree, which takes place in June at the Guelph Little Theatre. ML: How do your students feel about your unique approach? RL: Our students stay focused and excited about what we do. Our student retention is extremely good, which I equate to our teachers, and all the valueadd we bring as a group. I often hear from parents how much their child has progressed since attending JamSchool.. they practice more and get excited about the live shows. One just has to look at the faces of our students (and their parents) while performing on stage, to see how much they love it. We even have adult band classes to get everyone involved. You’re never too young or too old to rock out on stage!
ML: Do you have any events planned for 2014? RL: We have many shows planned for 2014, we have at least two shows per month and we are working on an number of new partnerships in the community as well as building on the partnerships we have already fostered. Stay tuned by visiting our events page on our website, www.jamschool.com ML: What are your plans for the future? RL: We plan to keep on, keepin’ on! More students, more shows, more music, more locations. We’re gonna take over the world, one note at a time.
On Guelph’s first snowy Sunday, I trucked through the cold to get to the Dan Griffin and The Regrets show at the eBar. This was my second time seeing Griffin, but my first time seeing him with a full band backing him. Opening for him were Gordon Auld of local band Lowlands and Donovan Woods. I got there just in time to see Gordon finish up his set of haunting vocals set against the naked backdrop of a single banjo or guitar, both of which warmed the crowd right up from the cold and set the tone for an evening of mellow music. Next up was Donovan Woods who was so charming that I half expected the largely female crowd in front to take out a handkerchief to toss at him. They were giggling and swaying from the start of his set. Songwriters like Donovan are my very favorite kinds in a venue like the eBar: Connective and intimate. When I met him earlier in the evening he was soft spoken and managed to carry that tenderness on stage while somehow also brightly filling the room with his bold sincerity. When he opened with ‘Don’t Deny It’, a hush fell over the room that only stopped when he did to make some rather hilarious jokes. His whole set was comprised of songs with interesting titles like ‘He Drinks Gas’ and ‘My Cousin has a Grey Cup Ring’, which was a surprisingly relatable track about family jealousy. From start to finish his whole set was wonderful, every song Donovan performed made me feel like he was so damn honest so I didn’t have to be.
Dan Griffin and the Regrets took the stage shortly thereafter and woke the crowd right up with his infectious folk-rock. He played an array of tracks from his two albums that united fans of his solo work and those who prefer a fuller sound. My personal favorite ‘Lorne Park’ was so rich and layered that it brought it into a whole new light for me. The highlight of the show was the song ‘Follow Me’ that had enchanting electronic beats behind it and a show stopping vocal harmony between Dan and his guitar/synth player.
One of my favorite actresses was in a cult favorite TV show when she was younger. No matter how many years it’s been since then or what she accomplishes, she is invariably referred to as ‘alumni of _____’. In every article I read about Dan Griffin there is always a paragraph about his former band and accomplishments and his reasons for leaving to pursue solo work. I didn’t set out to write a review without mentioning it, it just so happens that I don’t really care. I don’t care about his decision process to what road he took to arrive here on that particular stage, I’m just so very glad he did. Teresa is a traveler, writer, and nutritionist. She is always on the road and has a passion for live music. She has her home base in Guelph and posts her thoughts on music every monday on the Music Lives blog. Read more Music Monday posts from Teresa at http://www.musiclives.ca/ author/teresa/
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January Events Calendar SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
This month’s events are brough to you by:
Wellington Brewery is proud to support local live music.
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
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Music Lives hosts Name That Tune at Jimmy Jazz. Free Event. 19+. Doors at 8pm. First round after 11pm.
Open Mic at A.N.A.F. Club 344 Free Event. 19+. Doors at 8pm.
GAIN Music hosts Battle of the Bands Semi-Finals Night #1 at Van Gogh’s Ear $7. 19+. Doors at 9pm.
Pinball Sessions hosts The Nasties/ Pink Wine/Sam Coffey & The Iron Lungs and Dany Fury at A.N.A.F. Club 344 $8. 19+. Doors at 9:30pm.
20km jazz diet feat. the jason raso quartet at Manhattans Free Event. All ages and licensed.
Run With The Kittens at Jimmy Jazz Free Event. 19+. Doors at 8pm. Music after 11pm.
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Double D Sundays with Dee & Dave at Doogie’s Guelph Free Event. 19+. Doors at 8pm. Music at 11pm.
Open Stage with Dave Huber at Doogie’s Guelph Free Event. 19+. Sign up at 10pm.
Matty P at Doogie’s Guelph Free Event. 19+. Doors at 8pm. Music after 10pm.
Music Lives hosts Name That Tune at Jimmy Jazz. Free Event. 19+. Doors at 8pm. First round after 11pm.
Open Mic at A.N.A.F. Club 344 Free Event. 19+. Doors at 8pm.
GAIN Music hosts Battle of the Bands Semi-Finals Night #2 at Van Gogh’s Ear $7. 19+. Doors at 9pm.
Nathan Coles hosts Open Stage at Jimmy Jazz Free Event. 19+. Sign up at 10pm.
Once Upon A Blues Sunday with Mo’ Kauffey at The Woolwich Arms Free Event. All ages and licensed. Music at 1pm.
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Double D Sundays with Dee & Dave at Doogie’s Guelph Free Event. 19+. Doors at 8pm. Music at 11pm.
Nathan Coles hosts Open Stage at Jimmy Jazz Free Event. 19+. Sign up at 10pm.
CFRU 93.3 hosts Underplayed & Underpaid CFRU 93.3 at 6pm
carmen spada – solo piano at Manhattans Free Event. All ages and licensed.
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Open Stage with Dave Huber at Doogie’s Guelph Free Event. 19+. Sign up at 10pm.
Matty P at Doogie’s Guelph Free Event. 19+. Doors at 8pm. Music after 10pm.
Music Lives hosts Name That Tune at Jimmy Jazz. Free Event. 19+. Doors at 8pm. First round after 11pm.
CFRU 93.3 hosts Underplayed & Underpaid CFRU 93.3 at 6pm
Fortnight Music and Wellington Brewery hosts The Monsters of Schlock at eBar $13 advanced/$15 at the door. 19+. Doors at 9pm.
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Open Mic at A.N.A.F. Club 344 Free Event. 19+. Doors at 8pm.
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Valdy at River Run Centre Visit the site for details.
alaniaris at silence 10 or pwyc. All ages. Doors at 8pm. GAIN/ChurcHouse host The Baxters, Bootleg Glory, Texas King & Better Weather at Van Gogh’s Ear Visit the site for details
The Rhythm Slaves at The Woolwich Arms Free Event. All ages and licensed. Music At 9:30 pm. KronikNoise Promotions hosts Ending Tyranny and more at Red Papaya Guelph $8. All ages and licensed. Doors at 9:30pm.
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Coco Murphy with The Master Keys and The Prenup at Van Gogh’s Ear $8. All ages and licensed. Doors at 9:30pm.
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Guelph’s annual Poetry Slam Finals at GYMC $15 advanced/$20 at the door. All ages. 7pm.
See Through Trio at silence 10 or pwyc. All ages. Doors at 8pm.
GAIN/ChurcHouse host Seas, Black Rhino Riot & more at Van Gogh’s Visit the site for details
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
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Double D Sundays with Dee & Dave at Doogie’s Guelph Free Event. 19+. Doors at 8pm. Music at 11pm.
Open Stage with Dave Huber at Doogie’s Guelph Free Event. 19+. Sign up at 10pm.
Matty P at Doogie’s Guelph Free Event. 19+. Doors at 8pm. Music after 10pm.
Music Lives hosts Name That Tune at Jimmy Jazz. Free Event. 19+. Doors at 8pm. First round after 11pm.
Open Mic at A.N.A.F. Club 344 Free Event. 19+. Doors at 8pm.
David Jalbert Goldberg Variations at River Run Centre Visit the site for details.
KronikNoise Promotions hosts Bring Me The Author with Vernon Howell, As We Break, and TBD at Red Papaya Guelph Visit the site for details.
Nathan Coles hosts Open Stage at Jimmy Jazz Free Event. 19+. Sign up at 10pm.
CFRU 93.3 hosts Underplayed & Underpaid CFRU 93.3 at 6pm
carmen spada – solo piano at Manhattans Free Event. All ages and licensed.
Rayannah at 39 Carden Street Free Event. All ages and licensed. Music after 8:30pm.
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Double D Sundays with Dee & Dave at Doogie’s Guelph Free Event. 19+. Doors at 8pm. Music at 11pm.
Open Stage with Dave Huber at Doogie’s Guelph Free Event. 19+. Sign up at 10pm.
Matty P at Doogie’s Guelph Free Event. 19+. Doors at 8pm. Music after 10pm.
Music Lives hosts Name That Tune at Jimmy Jazz. Free Event. 19+. Doors at 8pm. First round after 11pm.
Nathan Coles hosts Open Stage at Jimmy Jazz Free Event. 19+. Sign up at 10pm.
CFRU 93.3 hosts Underplayed & Underpaid CFRU 93.3 at 6pm
Kazoo! hosts Kazoo! #176: Ark Analog + TBA at eBar $10. All ages and licensed. Doors at 10pm.
Off the Floor Fest hosts Hinindar at The Cornerstone $5 or pwyc. All ages and licensed. Music at 10pm.
Off the Floor Fest hosts Bill Killionaire & Taylor Knox at Jimmy Jazz Free Event. 19+. Music at 11pm.
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Open Mic at A.N.A.F. Club 344 Free Event. 19+. Doors at 8pm. Jim Brickman with Luke McMaster at River Run Centre Visit the site for details.
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings at River Run Centre Visit the site for details.
Craig Pedersen and Mark Molnar at silence $10 or pwyc. All ages. Doors at 8pm.
Off the Floor Fest hosts Wicked Witches, Love Banshee & DENT at Van Gogh’s s Ear $5 or pwyc. All ages and licensed. Doors at 10pm. Off the Floor Fest hosts S.M., the Mighty Atom & Born Wrongat Jimmy Jazz Free Event. 19+. Music at 11pm.
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GAIN Music hosts Battle of the Bands FINALS! at Van Gogh’s Ear $7. 19+. Doors at 9pm.
Off the Floor Fest hosts Minute Bridges at silence $7 or pwyc. All ages. Doors at 8pm.
Off the Floor Fest hosts Legato Vipers, Paul Jacobs & Badminton Racquet at Jimmy Jazz Free Event. 19+. Music at 11:30pm. Guelph Reggae Massive hosts Foundation Steppers & tba guest $7/$5 w student card. 19+. Doors at 9:30pm.
Peter & Kent at The Woolwich Arms Free Event. All ages and licesed. Music at 9:30pm.
Wellington Brewery is Canada’s oldest independently owned microbrewery. Visit our brewery in Guelph, Ontario to sample some delicious craft beers and learn about what goes into making our award-winning beers. And don’t forget our brewery retail store is open 7 days a week in case you just want to pick up a case! Visit http://www.wellingtonbrewery.ca for more information. @WellingtonBrew
www.facebook.com/wellingtonbrewery
Visit the brewery every Saturday between 1pm and 4pm for a free guided tasting!
10 Music Lives - January 2014
Visit www.musiclives.ca for more.
The Baxters By Kelly Baker The Baxters have a had a busy year recording their first full length album and hitting the stage across Ontario. We recently got a chance to catch up with a few of the band members Taylor Lucas (drums) and Quinton Strutt (guitar) as well as the band’s manager Blake Bottoms, who filled us in on the bands history, talked about Equinox, and what we can expect from the band when they play at Van Gogh’s Ear on January 17th. Music Lives: Give me a brief history of The Baxters: how did you form and what have you been up to in the last few years?
Blake: Before The Baxters were The Baxters. They were all students who had moved to London, Ontario. Taylor Lucas (Drums) and Quinton Strutt (Guitar) first met while attending Fanshawe College’s Music Industry Arts program (affectionately referred to as M.I.A.) The two Baxters had their first jam in the fall of 2011, it was during this encounter that Taylor and Quinton wrote the first song of The Baxters Career. This song would later be known to fans as “Veins and Vines” and the birthing ground of the The Baxters.
Taylor Lucas: It was obvious from very early on that our individual styles blended together into something complementary and unique. After writing Veins and Vines together Quinton and I quickly decided to start a band. Blake: The great thing about being in a Music program was the abundance of extremely talented musicians. It wasn’t long before Justin Lund was brought on to play bass in the band and they began to write songs as an instrumental trio. Shortly after Lund’s induction into the band, Scott Thomas -a fellow student of M.I.A.- was invited out for a jam. Quinton, Justin and Taylor were all blown away by Scott’s soaring vocal range and dynamic control. Scott was not only able to sing beautifully but also had a skill for writing lyrics and melodies on the spot to songs that the trio had written just weeks earlier. Taylor: Bringing Scott on as our lead singer was a no brainer, it was a natural fit.
Blake: The name ‘The Baxters’ was one of many ideas thought up between Justin and Taylor during their time at Fanshawe. ‘Baxter’ was the name of Ron Burgundy’s dog in ‘The Anchorman’ as well as the name of a fictitious gang of bandits that
faced off against Clint Eastwood in the classic spaghetti western ‘A Fistful of Dollars’. Quinton and Scott liked how the name was extremely memorable and the band quickly adopted it as their own. During the winter of 2011/2012 The Baxters began playing both the London and Guelph music circuits, The Baxters were soon known for their energetic and exciting live shows. Shortly after taking to the stage the band released their self-titled EP ‘The Baxters’. The EP was recorded at Fanshawe College, Taylor and Quinton taking on the role of Producer/Engineers. Quinton: Being in a music program with state of the art equipment and studios and incredible instructors was a huge advantage.
Blake: The Baxters began selling their 5 track EP at shows in London during March 2012. At one particular show, (The Gain Music Festival to be exact) they really connected musically with an old friend of Scott’s; Alex Mason. Alex quickly joined The Baxters as rhythm guitar and backing vocals, adding a new and exciting dynamic to The Baxters music and live show. Mason also began to lend his talent for lyric and songwriting to the band, quickly making him a major asset to The Baxters.
With a fresh addition to their line up The Baxters went on to reinvent their live show. Playing with acts such as Monster Truck, Die Mannequin, Lifestory: Monologue, Gentlemen Husbands, The Salads, and The Balconies. The Baxters received nominations from the Jack Richardson Awards and the London Music Awards in April of 2012. Shortly after these nominations the band began writing their first full length album ‘Equinox’ which was released in April of 2013. The release of the first LP -which was once again self produced, recorded and mixed in the proper Baxters DIY fashion- marked Quinton, Taylor, Justin and Scott’s graduation of Fanshawe College’s Music Industry Arts Program. The Baxters have since recorded two new singles at EMAC Studios in London upon winning 98.1 Free FM’s Under the Covers Contest for their take on Gnarls Barkley’s ‘Crazy’ this past October. The first of these singles was released on the bands Youtube channel on December 18. The Baxters have since recorded two new singles at EMAC Studios in London upon winning 98.1 Free FM’s Under the Covers Contest for their take on Gnarls Barkley’s ‘Crazy’ CONTINUED
Music Lives - January 2014
Visit www.musiclives.ca for more.
A True Rock rival if we were going to do this, we had better be sure that we did it right. Go big or go home so to speak. Songwriting and song arrangement was something we had all excelled at in our previous bands and we weren’t afraid to share our ideas. We rarely leave an idea unexplored, we always work it out on the spot. Even if it takes a long, tiring, and sweaty practice. As far as recipe, I guess we just write in the moment. Instead of over analyzing and letting our ideas lose their heat, we like to tackle them on the spot while its still fresh and everyone is passionate about moving the song along. That’s definitely how some of our best material was written. ML: After what has no doubt been a busy year, do you have any favourite band memories from 2013? Favourite shows?
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 this past October. The first of these singles was released on the bands Youtube channel on December 18. ML: How does it feel to be a “rock band” in an era of highly classified bands? Are there any subgenres that you guys identify with?
Taylor: It’s hard to say. As a band, we’re constantly trying new things and experimenting musically. Pushing ourselves is something we do on a day to day basis. Individually, we all have somewhat different musical influences, especially in our solo projects. The result of these influences coming together when we play as The Baxters is a blend of modern and classic rock, our music spans many incredible eras of rock while still being current, fresh and exciting.
ML: Your album Equinox was released earlier this year, recorded at Woodstreet Studios and Fanshawe College. How was the recording process for The Baxters? How was this album different from your previous EP? Quinton: The only real difference between the recording of Equinox and our EP was the workflow. When we were writing our EP we were still discovering who we were as band, so there was no real pressure. By the time we sat down to write and record Equinox, we had a clear idea of what kind of band we were and what kind of album we needed to create. So we set the bar very high and worked incredibly hard to accomplish these goals that we had set for ourselves.
Taylor: When your engineer and record producer is your very (VERY) good friend and band mate, it can be a struggle
to time-crunch and get work done. Many deadlines were missed because we were having so much fun making the record! (laughs) Be that a good or a bad thing. We like to think it was good that we missed those self-imposed deadlines. In the end we spent more time with the songs and created an amazing record that we are incredibly proud of.
ML: You guys have written a lot of tracks in the short time that you’ve been together! Do you have a magic recipe for songwriting? Quinton: In all honesty we were just really, really excited. Like kids at Christmas. We had all moved far away from home to this new city, started a brand new band, and wanted to show all of our friends what we had been up to. One thing we all shared was a strong determination to write really good songs. We believed that
Blake: Our album release party was an absolute blast, it felt amazing to show our London fans what we had been working so hard and for so long on. Every show we’ve played this year has been better than the last, so its very hard to pick favourites, especially since we’ve played with so many great bands. One definite highlight was winning the under the covers contest, we were incredibly excited to record in a studio as impressive at London’s EMAC. ML: What’s in store for 2014 and beyond for The Baxters? Blake: Many, Many new and exciting things are in store store for The Baxters in 2014, we won’t give away too much but we will say that we’ll be playing all across Ontario and as well as Quebec and the States. We’re going to get our music in front of as many people as we possibly can, its going to be a blast. You can stay in the loop by following our social media on Facebook, Twitter Youtube. We promise you’ll enjoy being apart of this amazing journey with us.
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12 Music Lives - January 2014
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2013: year in review 2013 was a great year for the local Guelph music scene. There were some amazing shows and a number of local bands released new material. As we wrapped up the year, Music Lives asked some of our fans what their favourites were from the last 12 months:
Ben Mathers
What was your favourite show of 2013? Kill Sid / Nasties / Maximum RNR / Cunter at Vinyl or Noiz A Noiz / Kill Sid / Maximum RNR at the Ward Skatepark. If we’re going a little further than just within Guelph Flatliners and Off With Their Heads in Saint Catherines would be up there.
What was your favourite album of 2013? Off With Their Heads - Home, Maximum RNR - Rough Side of the Dial, Flatliners - Dead Language, also anything my buddies in the Nasties or Kill Sid put out are always worth a listen What was the most memorable thing that happened in the music industry in 2013? Miley Cyrus
What are you most looking forward to in 2014 in the local music scene? I’m pretty pumped with some of the new venues that started hosting shows this past year (or at least I saw shows at for the first time), so I’m looking forward to that continuing. I think the Nasties have a new album coming out next year which should be cool. Also TJWC should be out and about come 2014 - so that’s gonna be fun.
Michael Ciccia What was your favourite show of 2013? My favourite show of 2013 would have to be the Gain Music Festival. Just a night packed with amazing bands, great people and amazing music. It is always amazing to see so many people from the community come out and support the local music. I love it!
What was your favourite album of 2013? There were so many great albums out this year, it’s so hard to pick. But my favourite album of 2013 would have to be Fallout Boy - Save Rock and Roll. They just know how to write one hell of a catchy song. I listened to that disc a lot!
What was the most memorable thing that happened in the music industry in 2013? I would say the popularity of crowd-funding would be the most memorable to me. Seeing people take music into their own hands and the hands of their fans over the usual record label was amazing. Make music for the people with the help of the people. Seeing protest the Hero make +300k was just mind blowing. I feel like its the way the music industry will be going sooner then later. What are you most looking forward to in 2014 in the local music scene? Really I am just looking forward to seeing some great new bands come out. I love seeing young talent blow people away. I also look forward to seeing the bands that have blown me away this year just keep getting better and make a name for themselves outside of the city. Guelph has so much talent within our music community it is unreal! Time for the rest of the world to see it too.
Alex Gagne
What was your favourite show of 2013? Favourite show would have to be The Durants cd release party on July 13th! They packed the ANAF club and played an awesome set alongside Lion Detective Club, Hendrik, and The
Adelaides! Great way to jump start their career!
What was your favourite album of 2013? Favourite album of 2013 would be a tie between Arcade Fire’s Reflektor and Vampire Weekends “Modern Vampires of the City”
What was the most memorable thing that happened in the music industry in 2013? The reunion of Neutral Milk Hotel! After 15 years they’ve finally gotten the band back together! What are you most looking forward to in 2014 in the local music scene? I’m looking forward to The Durants second album release! They will not disappoint!
Spencer Shewen
What was your favourite show of 2013? Donovan Woods, Dan Griffin (of the Arkells) and Gordon Auld (of Lowlands) was probably my favourite show this year. We’ve been trying to get those boys together for a show since at least 2010 so I was really excited when it worked out and the results were amazing! What was your favourite album of 2013? Odd Years - Sea Widows Can I say that? It’s probably not cool to say an album by a band that you kind of work with but it’s true.... I LOVE IT!
What was the most memorable thing that happened in the music industry in 2013? Probably this magazine coming out! It’s great that there is a place where people can go to find out about the local scene. We’ve been very under represented for so many years now.
What are you most looking forward to in 2014 in the local music scene? All the great festivals that happen all year round - Kazoo! Fest, Off the Floor Fest, 100 mile riot, GAIN Fest.. oh ya, and both editions of the Hillside Festival.
Music Lives - January 2014
Visit www.musiclives.ca for more.
Music Monday: Advice from The Beatles By Teresa Allaire When I was 8 years old, I asked my father what a condom was. I heard the word on the playground and wanted some clarification. Rather than try to explain it with minimal embarrassment, he pretended I asked something else and said ’it’s an apartment that you buy’ and I spent the next few years thinking that a condo was what you bought to have sex in, which lead to some very distorted, albeit temporary, views on who exactly could afford to have sex. He wasn’t so good at the speech and advice thing. In all honesty, he kind of sucked. There is only one piece of advice I can recall that stuck with me. I had come home from school very upset because a kid named Tyrone told me the poem I had written for class was dumb and he didn’t like me. I was distraught as I had stayed up late to write it, and you know that sh*t rhymed like nobodies business. He listened to me carry on for about 10 minutes and finally cut off my hysterical tears with a sigh of exasperation. He rubbed his eyes and said the words that I remind myself of all the time:
‘For God’s sakes Teresa, don’t worry if there are people who don’t like you or what you’re doing. There are people who don’t even like THE BEATLES‘
Leave it to him to make his only good life lesson into a musical metaphor. There were 3 deities we prayed to in my house : God, Elvis and The Beatles. Right about where most people fame their wedding picture, there was a framed LP of his favorite Beatles album walking across the famed Abbey Road. I saw that picture every day when I left the house and my father once told me that we would walk across it one day to feel the magic of that place and as a result I spent my whole life dreaming of strutting across that little crosswalk.
My father never got his wish, he only left Canada a couple of times and none of them were to the UK, but the other day I got to make that dream come true for myself. I’d like to tell you that I did it with the same grace and style as those 4 boys, but that would be a lie. I of course got super emotional and kept up my bad habit of crying in memorable music spots. I all but danced across the road, my yellow scarf flying behind me and waltzed up to the gates of the studio like I was a believer returning to church. It’s as magical as I thought it would be, from the original sign that still hangs over the door, to the hoards of signatures scrawled all over the walls surrounding it. Thousands of people still come every day to leave their mark to show how much of an impact those four british boys had on the world. Today I’d like to share one of my favorite Beatles songs with you, in hopes that it reminds you of the legendary power they still hold over the music scene today. It’s the song I most often turn to when I need clarity and advice; this song has fathered me my whole life with simple wisdom. In one of the best speeches ever, Mary Schmich said ‘Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts, and recycling it for more than its worth’. The Beatles gave a lot of great advice: “There’s nothing you can do that can’t be undone”, or ‘don’t be afraid, you were made to go out and get her’ or the iconic simplicity of ‘All you need is love’. Words that told us to hope and love and make a better world, words to draw strength from in hard times. My father never gave me any of that, but it turns out that it’s okay cause he gave me the Beatles and the only life lesson that I’ve ever really needed.
Teresa gets a chance to take a stroll across Abbey Road on her recent trip to the UK. Below is the iconic shot of the Beatles on the same road that was made famous as the cover of their album appropriately titled, Abbey Road.
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14 Music Lives - January 2014
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January Music Reviews Ark Analog By Kelly Baker Ark Analog is a new duo out of Toronto, but that doesn’t mean they lack experience. Maylee Todd and Dan Werb have been busy with other bands and are toted musicians each in their own right. Maylee has released two albums as a solo artist dating back to 2010 and Dan has been busy with Woodhands, an electronic duo who has released three successful albums and a handful of EPs. Coming together to blend their unique talents, Maylee and Dan have created a wonderful electronic sound that breaks the mold of standard electronic or ambient music.
This month, Ark Analog is stopping in Guelph on their tour to promote their long awaited EP, Dirty Power which is being released for free. Kazoo! is hosting the duo on January 23rd at the eBar for what promises to be a fun-filled night of dancing and musical enjoyment.
While their EP isn’t available just yet, three tracks have already been released online for everyone to enjoy. “Make Me A Mirror” and “Was That It?” were released on Soundcloud during the first half of 2013, with “Late Night Love” being released as an exclusive track on Flare.com. The combination of these three singles really surprised me. After having researched both Maylee and Dan prior to listening to their music, I was prepared for “Was That It?” - a fiery track that packs a strong vocal punch from Maylee and fun, upbeat music from Dan. Flare.com described Maylee’s voice as “powerful yet vulnerable” and “Was That It?” shows that she is just that versatile, powerful, and confident yet still feminine and flirty. “Make Me A Mirror” changes pace a bit to show a more subtle, softer sound to Ark Analog.
The vocal track is dropped down almost an octave and the lyrics don’t as much of your attention, giving the track a more ambient feel. “Late Night Love” has a similar feel but gets even more into a dance groove with light, ethereal vocals. Overall, Ark Analog do a great job of using the same ingredients to create three very different sounds, which is a sure sign that their upcoming EP, Dirty Power will show their versatility and depth as well as be a sign of great things to come! Make sure to check out Ark Analog at the eBar on Thursday January 23rd presented by Kazoo! http://musiclives.ca/events/ark-analog/ https://soundcloud.com/ark-analog
Jesse Ronan By Braden Phelan Guelph native Jesse Ronan (of The Retrievers) recently released his second solo album The Life and Times of Chicory Gibbs. This mellow acoustic collection is a tribute to classic folk and roots music, with soft chordbased tunes. Consisting of 12 tracks, Ronan has a down to earth and unpolished sound, reminiscent of classic Dylan. The writing style that Ronan exhibits throughout the production is gentle and insightful, complemented by a soothing voice and playing technique. The basic production and limited additional instrumentation helps to accentuate lyrics and general emotion in the songs. Frequently using vocal layering, Ronan compliments his tunes with taste, rather than going over the top with effects or unnecessary instruments. While paying his dues to his influences, Jesse definitely shows that he has his own developed sound. I could definitely see this guy playing the Sun Stage at a Hillside Festival sometime soon.
I’d like to see Jesse Ronan bring in a rhythm section to his sound, so as to maybe move songs a little more. Because this album is rather stripped when it comes to production, there are many different places Ronan could take his sound. Add in some keys, maybe some horns, get a good groove, and go for a real roots-rock sound, or find some strong backing vocalists and write some catchy refrains, and bring out his obviously strong folk background. Either way, I think Jesse would benefit from adding an extra edge and level of intensity to his sound. Not necessarily a constant edge, but something that he can bring out occasionally to spice things up, at just the right moment.
Greg McEvoy By Aaron Dale
When I saw Greg McEvoy play Van Gogh’s Ear at the end of November, I knew he had a style that would translate both on stage and on a set of speakers at home. It’s not a folk record... or rock record. It’s kind of rootsy I guess, but I don’t generally like that term. Sea of Yards is a seven song EP mostly filled with outlaw-sounding songs about love or searching for it. Forget about new country or alt-country labels. The songs here have the kind of feeling and emotional honesty that those “new” country artists are missing. Sea of Yards never overdoes it or complicates anything. There are two places the McEvoy can take you on this EP. The songs either have you bouncing and whistling along or have you start thoughtfully daydreaming. Lyrically it’s a little on the sad side (which happens to be my favourite kind of lyrics) and there is a frailty in McEvoy’s voice at some moments that could move you to tears. McEvoy crafts songs in a way that any music fan can get behind after just one listen. You can steam Sea of Yards in its entirety on Greg McEvoy’s Bandcamp page at https://gregmcevoy.bandcamp.com/ or see him live at the Dakota Tavern in Toronto on Wednesday, February 5th.
Music Lives - January 2014 1. Albion Hotel 49 Norfolk St (519) 821-7125, www.thealbionhotel.ca
2. ANAF Club 344 32 Gordon St (519) 822-0380 www.musiclives.ca/venues/a-n-a-fclub-344
Visit www.musiclives.ca for more.
Downtown live music venues
3. Bobby O’Briens 90 Macdonell St (519) 763-0043 www.bobbyobriens.com
4. The Cornerstone 1 Wyndham St N (519) 827-0145
5. Doogies and Pablos 37 Wyndham St N (519) 823-9993 www.doogiesguelph.com 6. The eBar 41 Quebec St (519) 821-3311 www.bookshelf.ca/ebar.html
7. Frank and Steins 12 Wyndham St N (519) 763-8666 www.frankandsteins.ca
8. Guelph Concert Theatre 166 Wyndham St N (519) 836-1531 www.guelphconcerttheatre.ca 9. Jimmy Jazz 52 Macdonell St (519) 767-1694 www.vinyljimmyjazz.com 10. Magnolia Cafe 88 Yarmouth St (519) 766-4663 www.magnoliacatering.ca Mahoney’s 259 Grange Rd (519) 265-7997
Manhattan’s Pizza Bistro & Music Club 951 Gordon St (519) 767-2440 www.manhattans.ca
Brought to you by the Downtown Guelph Business Association
11. McCabe’s 9 Wyndham St N (519) 836-3400 www.mccabesirishpub.ca/Guelph
12. NV Restaurant and Lounge 16 Wyndham St N (519) 827-1064 www.nvlounge.ca 13. The Red Brick Cafe 8 Douglas St (519) 836-1126 www.redbrickcafe.ca
14. The Red Papaya 55 Wyndham St N (519) 230-3255 www.musiclives.ca/venues/red-papayaguelph
Regal Road Studios 31 Regal Rd (519) 760-2333
15. River Run Centre 35 Woolwich St (519) 763-3000 www.riverrun.ca Shakespeare Arms 35 Harvard Rd (519) 767-6003 www.shakespearearms.ca
silence 46 Essex St www.silencesounds.ca
The Stampede Ranch 226 Woodlawn Rd W (519) 822-1358 www.stampederanchguelph.ca
17. The Sleeman Centre 50 Woolwich St (519) 822-4900 guelph.ca/venue/sleeman-centre
20. Vinyl 52 Macdonell St (519) 767-1694 www.vinyljimmyjazz.com
16. The Sip Club 91 Wyndham St N (519) 265-1964 www.sipclub.ca
19. Van Gogh’s Ear 10 Wyndham St N (519) 821-9864 www.vangoghsear.ca
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