skelter

they opened for Cuff The Duke here last week and the buzz when they finished their set was pretty fuckin awesome ... look for CD release dates in June

Tonight! Doors at 9 PM, Mark Wilson takes the stage around 10 PM, Craig Cardiff around 11 PM.

Advance tickets available until 5 PM, after that it's $10 at the door. Hope to see you there

Hawksley Workman having a good time

By ALLAN WIGNEY -- Ottawa Sun

Charismatic. Flamboyant. Compelling

They're words that accurately describe the larger-than-life onstage persona of the man born Ryan Corrigan, and known to us as Hawksley Workman.

The singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist's live performances draw from the gifted artist's theatrical training, and from an innate desire to ham it up.

And Workman makes no apologies for his 'Mak shau!' approach to performing.

"The shoe-gazing grunge era did very little for me even when it was happening; it does even less for me now that it's gone," Workman explains.

"I think I'm very much an artist but I also think I'm very much a performer. The two don't cancel each other out, in my opinion. They just enhance each other.

"It is your job to put on a show. The alleged great saviours of rock of the grunge era presented this idea that if you add entertainment to the music somehow you're decreasing the artistic importance of it. I never really bought into that, and still don't.

"I think it's my job to take people on a journey; if I didn't do that I personally wouldn't be having a good time and I wouldn't have the kind of live following I have."

That following is loyal, and ever-expanding. (Witness the fact that even a decidedly-modest show such as Workman's return to Ottawa this weekend has twice been relocated to a larger venue.)

It's also well-earned, for not only is he a dynamic performer, but Workman is also a songwriter of uncommon ability -- a reality that was arguably obscured amid the bombastic presentation of his 2003 release Lover/Fighter. The recently released, low-key Treeful of Starling, recorded mostly at home and featuring sparse instrumentation, removes all doubt. Restrained, melodic gems like Rain and Goodbye to Radio are the work of an accomplished tunesmith.

Of course, straying from the world of balls-out rock may inevitably mean limited airplay for Treeful. Or, the optimistic Workman insists, it may not.

"I think every song on this record is a hit," Workman says. "I think I only ever write hits, when it comes right down to it, because I've never gone out to try and reinvent the wheel. I love the structure of songwriting. I love pop music. I love verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus. And I've always been surprised when people say, 'Oh, he's an eccentric,' or, 'He's writing with an esoteric style.' I've never figured that out, because I've always been very true and honest to the simple pop structures.

"Are there any hits on Treeful of Starling? The whole record's a hit. Is it fashionable? It's not particularly fashionable. But sometimes with the way the world is becoming tightly corporatized you have to tell the corporate machine that it's fashionable. If you're able to get the corporate machine to believe it's fashionable, it is fashionable."

From http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/W/Workman_Hawksley/2006/03/15/1489196-sun.html

this'll be one of the last shows at the scherzo ... it closes end of march

Craig Cardiff, with special guest Mark Wilson, plays Elixir (14 Garrett Street) this Thursday, March 16. Tickets available at Destinations, Brian's Record Option, Chumleighs, Renaissance Music, Zap Records, Elixir Nightclub and www.rockcrew.ca

Craig Cardiff - Prone to fits of edginess and obnoxious honesty. Songs about being barefoot; being full of cancer; about pouring yourself out; being worth love; being the kite that gets caught on the power-lines; being a geek; about driving out February; songs about you. Thank you very much for your ears. Often accompanied by double bass and drums. Once, in Cleveland, I watched Buddy Guy perform freedom and thought about thirty years, four weeks and five days past the actual date that the song still made sense. Singing songs that need to be sung. Had an epiphany once. Thinks his van can make it all the way to Peggy's Cove, where the land stopped and planes fell to sleep in the water. Not comfortable writing musical bios and/or resumes. Play accordion, harmonica, guitar and sing. Fairly regularly. Blessed to know so many wonderful musicians who will accompany/tolerate me.

Mark Wilson, a 21 year old living in Ottawa, Canada, released his debut solo recordings in the winter of 2005 titled The Endless Elevator Tour EP. The EP is themed with the easily forgotten issues of societal norms and how it affects us on a personal level.

“The lyrics hold a depth, beauty and wisdom rare for a young man of 21.†– Kingston This Week

After a mood setting cello introduction performed by Erika Nielsen (who recently performed with Kanye West), the first song, “Once Upon an October,†gives the listener a chance to hear Wilson’s haunting, delicate voice accompanied by banjo and slide guitar. The second song, titled “Hollandâ€, driven only by a repeating guitar riff, tambourine and synth, shows a more personal side of Wilson. The song talks about coming to understand what it means to have a brother with a learning disability. “The Truth Is…†is a bare-bone quiet acoustic folk song where Wilson commentates on how people use religion, education and love to blind themselves from reality. Ending the EP is “Waltz in A Flatâ€, which is exactly how it sounds. The waltz includes more cello work by Erika Nielsen and an organ driven finale.

Live performances vary from solo acoustic performances to a full backing band including cellos, violin, keys, banjo, bass, drums, and pedal-steel guitar.

www.craigcardiff.com

www.markwilsonmusic.com

www.elixirnightclub.com

www.rockcrew.ca

COMING SOON:

Hawksley Workman - March 23 at Sydenham Street United Church

The Old Soul & Lederhosen Lucil w/ Mississippi Grover - March 23 at Elixir

"The Hootenanny Revue" featuring: Carolyn Mark, Jenny Whiteley, Oh Susanna, Shuyler Jansen, Luther Wright, and Hank & Lily with guests Tolan McNeil, Dan Whiteley, Cam Giroux and Diona Davies (of Po' Girl) - March 30 at Elixir

Matthew Good solo acoustic w/ Melissa McClelland - April 2 at Elixir

Josh Ritter w/ Valery Gore - April 6 at Elixir

In-Flight Safety & Raising The Fawn - May 4 at Elixir

The Stills - May 9 at Elixir

Rock Crew Productions and CFRC 101.9 FM are very proud to present HAWKSLEY WORKMAN on Thursday, March 23 at Sydenham Street United Church (82 Sydenham Street). It's an all-ages show, doors open at 7 PM, no opening act, just Hawksley and a piano player (Mr. Lonely).

Tickets are on sale now at:

Destinations (JDUC)

Grand Theatre Box Office

- 185 Sydenham Street

- 613.530.2050

- www.grandtheatre-kingston.com

or

www.rockcrew.ca

Hawksley's new album 'Treeful of Starling' is in stores now! Here's a review from JAM!

If there's one thing you can always count on Hawksley Workman to do, it's the thing that you never counted on him to do.

Which is to say: After the sexed-up, hammy glam-pop of his last couple of discs, you would not expect Workman to dish up a set of introspective and unironically beautiful piano balladry.

So that's precisely what the iconoclastic singer-songwriter cooks up for his fifth full-length Treeful of Starling. Wiping away the mascara and discarding his sequined hot pants, Workman settles down and gets back to basics with nine delicate and poetic odes that ponder the passage of time, the meaning of life and the fleeting nature of love instead of being jealous of your cigarette.

As usual, aside from the occasional horn line or string part, Hawksley does all the heavy lifting here, playing all the instruments and producing himself. But as always, the most impressive achievement is Workman's superior songcraft, which has never sounded more mature or honest. Is he growing up? Getting over a breakup? Only he knows what prompted him to change his tune.

But as he puts it: "The one certainty of living is that you're gonna die, so why not stand in awe of it instead of asking why?"

We would suggest approaching Treeful of Starling the same way.

From http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/2006/03/02/1471263-sun.html

www.hawksleyworkman.com

www.ssuc.org

www.cfrc.ca

www.rockcrew.ca

by Genesis I assume you mean Phish

TONIGHT!

Approximate set times:

Greg MacPherson - 10 PM

The Hylozoists - 10:45 PM

Cuff The Duke - 11:45 PM

Advance tix are available until about 5 PM today. Destinations and Brian's were running low on tickets last check, but you should still have luck at Zap, Chumleighs, Renaissance or Elixir. It's $15 at the door, doors open at 9 PM.

P.S. - Check out "The Ballad of Poor John Henry" on Rock Crew's myspace (www.myspace.com/rockcrew)!

i'm giddy as all git-out about Erick Turnbull on those American dates ... he's been doin pub gigs and cover shite around k-town for a long time, and he's got a stupid amount of talent.

that's a hell of a line up

A great article in Friday's Queen's Journal about The Hylozoists.

Original article here:

http://www.queensjournal.ca/articlephp/point-vol133/issue35/arts/story3

Rag-tag indie orchestra to play Elixir

Interview: The Hylozoists, opening for Cuff the Duke @ Elixir, Mar. 9

S T O R Y - By Brendan Kennedy, Production Manager

When The Weakerthans and The Constantines brought their Rolling Tundra Revue tour into Kingston last April, hardly anyone knew what to expect when the virtually unknown opening act, The Hylozoists, a rag-tag indie orchestra dressed entirely in virgin white, took to the stage.

With double drums, double vibraphones, violin, glockenspiel, keyboards, bass and guitar, the ’Zoists proceeded to play their dreamy, instrumental chamber pop, effectively captivating the stunned crowd.

Much of the post-show chatter consisted of conversations along the lines of, “Hey, did you see that opening band, the Hylo-somethings? Holy shit, eh? They were fuckin’ unreal.â€

But for Paul Aucoin, founder and father of the Hylozoists, he’s just playing pop music.

“I never thought of instrumental music as music without words, I just thought of it as a different instrument taking the melody,†he told the Journal by phone on Wednesday.

But where arty instrumental bands occasionally fall prey to self-indulgent noodling and pretentious atmospherics to create shoegazing, bedroom sounds, The Hylozoists distinguish themselves with their extroverted performances and catchy melodies.

“The only difference I would make between other instrumental bands and us is that I always try to write songs that have very distinct melodies,†Aucoin said. “It’s not instrumental for lack of a melody. You can play all these songs on an acoustic guitar and sing the melody—it’s the orchestration and arrangement that makes it sound like more is going on,†he said.

“We also understand the difference between the studio and a live show,†he said. “People are doing something different while they’re at a club watching you as opposed to at home listening to the record.

“If we’re playing at a bar on a Thursday night, I want everybody there to have a good time. That’s when the euphoric and epiphanic side of the band comes out,†he said. “And the great thing is that Cuff the Duke goes on after us so we get to rock out after we’ve semi-arted out.â€

The Hylozoists’ influences range from contemporary atmospheric art-rockers Tortoise and Stereolab, to film scorers Ennio Morricone and Bernard Herrmann to jazz, to ’60s pop, to classical music. Since the band is made up of musicians who spend their days playing in bands like Cuff the Duke, Golden Dogs, FemBots and The Weakerthans, the indie rock element naturally seeps in as well.

When you get right down to it, though, The Hylozoists’ music is really just a lot of fun to listen to.

Aucoin, producer and multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire (he’s played with and/or produced and/or engineered for the likes of The Sadies, The Old Soul, Jon-Rae and the River, Bodega, Cuff the Duke, The Heavy Blinkers, The Deadly Snakes, and loads of others) studied musical composition and performance at U of T, and he puts his studies to great use with the ’Zoists.

He started the band in 2001 when he was living in Halifax. At that time, though, he was mostly alone with his vibraphone.

Aucoin made The Hylozoists’ debut album, La Nouvelle Gauche, almost entirely by himself. It was released in 2002 by Brobdingnagian Records.

“It was a very insular thing,†he said. “It was done during a period of my life when I had already toured with bands like Bodega and the American Flag and was getting a lot of great experiences, but still wasn’t able to get a lot of my own writing recorded.†La Fin Du Monde, the band’s sophomore record, is slated for release on June 20 by Boompa Records.

The major difference with the new record, Aucoin said, is that it was way more of a group effort.

“The Hylozoists are a band now,†he said.

The record was actually ready to be released last fall, but Aucoin had reservations about who would release it and also with the fact that the band’s personnel had changed drastically since the initial recording.

“We thought the record would come out in September, but the great thing is that in hindsight, seeing all the records that came out this September, I am so glad things happened this way,†he said. “We just would have gone under the radar.â€

Aucoin also decided to re-record the album with the new band.

Currently, the band includes a partially permanent, partially rotating roster of performers including Jason Tait of the Weakerthans and FemBots, Julie Penner of the FemBots and Broken Social Scene; Wayne Petti, Paul Lowman, Matt Faris and Dale Murray of Cuff the Duke, Taylor Knox of The Golden Dogs, Patrick Conan formerly of Tricky Woo, Jason Ball, John Ng, and Jeremy Strachan.

“To some extent, it sounds a lot alike, but in other ways it’s a lot better,†he said.

La Fin Du Monde will also be released in the U.S. on Sept. 5 via Caroline Records, and on Oct. 2 in Europe through various distributing labels.

Aucoin, who is usually generously offering his performance and production skills to other people’s bands and projects, holds the Hylozoists closest to his heart.

While it may prove difficult to maintain the nine-piece group, all of whom have primary responsibilities in other bands, Aucoin is hoping to keep making music with the Hylozoists for as long as possible.

“I could make 79 more Hylozoists records before I die,†he said. “I would love to try 7,000 different things within the band, if we’re afforded that luxury.â€

He spoke of how the band has already progressed so much in the short time they’ve been together and wistfully dreams of future possibilities.

“I would be thrilled to see the Hylozoists still doing this in a similar form in three years,†he said. “I can only imagine what could be possible then.â€

Elixir Nightclub, Rock Crew Productions and CFRC 101.9 FM are very proud to present:

with special guests The Hylozoists and Greg MacPherson (G7 Welcoming Committee Records).

Cuff the Duke’s debut Life Stories for Minimum Wage was released on Toronto-indie Three Gut Records on October 15, 2002 to rave reviews. Critics heralded their efforts as “intense†and “timeless.†Emphasis was placed on the mature aspect of the album…a surprise considering the members (all originally from Oshawa of all places) were only 21!

July 26/2005 saw the sophomore release of the self-titled CUFF THE DUKE on Hayden’s Hardwood imprint (a first besides Hayden himself), distributed by Universal. A favourite of the fans, college radio and critics alike, the band toured relentlessly blowing away all with their dynamic live show.

The new year found Cuff the Duke weathering not only the departure of guitarist Jeff Peers, but the discovery that drummer Matt Faris required surgery to repair what is, in fact, a broken wrist that had been previously diagnosed as a mere sprain.

Well you can’t keep a good band down.! Welcome to the fold Halifax multi-instrumentalist Dale Murray to play electric and steel guitar and Toronto drummer Patrick Conan to temporarily cover for Matt behind the kit, joining founding members Wayne Petti and Paul Lowman as the band embarks on another extensive cross-Canada tour as well as a trip to Austin, Texas for an appearance at SXSW.

AND, somewhere amongst all of that, Cuff the Duke managed to be part of an exciting new Toronto-based band called The Hylozoists, led by producer/musician Paul Aucoin (The Sadies/Golden Dogs/CTD), recording a debut album that will be released this spring on Boompa.

It's this Thursday, March 9, at Elixir Nightclub (14 Garrett Street).

Tickets are $12 advance on sale now at Destinations, Brian's Record Option, Zap Records, Chumleighs, Renaissance Music, Elixir Nightclub, and online at www.rockcrew.ca

www.cufftheduke.com

www.myspace.com/hylozoists

www.gregmacpherson.com

www.cfrc.ca

www.elixirnightclub.com

www.rockcrew.ca

COMING SOON:

Craig Cardiff w/ Mark Wilson - March 16 at Elixir

Hawksley Workman - March 23 at Sydenham Street United Church

The Old Soul & Lederhosen Lucil w/ Mississippi Grover - March 23 at Elixir

"The Hootenanny Revue" featuring: Carolyn Mark, Jenny Whiteley, Oh Susanna, Shuyler Jansen, Luther Wright, and Hank & Lily with guests Tolan McNeil, Dan Whiteley, Cam Giroux and Diona Davies (of Po' Girl) - March 30 at Elixir

Matthew Good - solo acoustic w/ Melissa McClelland - April 2 at Elixir

Josh Ritter w/ Valery Gore - April 6 at Elixir

In-Flight Safety & Raising The Fawn - May 4 at Elixir

tonight!

Doors at 9 PM, first act should hit the stage around 10 PM.

See you there!

Elixir Nightclub (14 Garrett Street), Rock Crew Productions, and CFRC 101.9 FM present

From Fiction, Sylvie and Cadence Weapon this Thursday, March 2 at Elixir

“Most people at Kytes expected the Rapture to be great, and they were. However, no one had any idea that the slouchy locals calling themselves From Fiction would actually blow the well-hyped headliners back to New York with their ferocious instro-punk attack†– Now Magazine

"This is a very engaging and enjoyable album. Sylvie possesses the dynamic song structures and layered style of a major label band with an indie sound (e.g. Coldplay). These Saskatchewanites are incredibly talented musicians, and are more than worthy of your attention. If they come to your town, check them out, and buy their album." (3.75 out of 4 stars) - Bedlam Society Review

Tickets only $7 at Brian's Record Option, Zap Records, Destinations, Chumleighs, Renaissance Music, Elixir and online at www.rockcrew.ca

www.fromfiction.com

www.sylviemusic.com

www.cadenceweaponmusic.com

www.cfrc.ca

www.elixirnightclub.com

www.rockcrew.ca

OTHER SHOWS COMING SOON:

Metric w/ Island & Holy Fuck - Feb 28 at Grant Hall

Cuff The Duke w/ Hylozoists & Greg MacPherson - Mar 9 at Elixir

Craig Cardiff w/ Mark Wilson - Mar 16 at Elixir

Hawksley Workman - Mar 23 at Sydenham Street United Church

The Old Soul & Lederhosen Lucil w/ Mississippi Grover - Mar 23 at Elixir

"The Hootenanny Revue" featuring: Carolyn Mark, Jenny Whiteley, Oh Susanna, Shuyler Jansen, Luther Wright, and Hank & Lily with guests Tolan McNeil, Dan Whiteley, Cam Giroux and Diona Davies (of Po' Girl) - March 30 at Elixir

Matthew Good solo acoustic w/ Melissa McClelland- April 2 at Elixir

Josh Ritter - April 6 at Elixir

I'm gonna guess 50 Cent ... but only out of fear of getting shot or something if you boo him

Rilo Kiley - More Adventurous

Paul McCartney - Chaos & Creation In The Backyard

Metric - Live It Out

talking at a club show is pretty commonplace ... storming off stage or getting pissed off about it is just assinine. he's been around long enough he should know better.

Apparently he was almost falling over drunk when he played the Kingston show ... must be some bigger issues at hand

Tonight at Elixir, we have a very cool show featuring Tomi Swick, onlyforward, and special guest Jenn Holub.

You may have been Tomi opening for Sarah Slean in November at Sydenham Street United Church. Since then he's been signed to Warner Music is definitely starting to take off. He'll be performing with his full band this time around.

onlyforward is a Montreal-based band featuring Dave Martel, who once fronted a band called Fry That Boot, of which Rock Crew's own Chris Morris was once a member many years ago at Loyalist College. onlyforward is being managed by The Management Trust (aka that Jake Gold fella from Canadian Idol) and are beginning their second Canadian tour with this show tonight!

Cover is $6, doors open at 9 PM, Jenn Holub hits the stage around 10, Tomi Swick 10:30ish, onlyforward 11:30ish. See you tonight!

Next week, our old pal Fred Eaglesmith brings his show back to Elixir. Tickets have been selling fast, so gets yours soon! Remember, doors open at 7 PM for this show, with Fred taking stage around 8 PM.

COMING SOON:

Metric w/ Islands & Holy Fuck - Feb 28 at Grant Hall (all ages/open to public!)

From Fiction & Sylvie w/ Cadence Weapon - Mar 2 at Elixir

Cuff The Duke w/ The Hylozoists & Greg MacPherson - Mar 9 at Elixir

Craig Cardiff w/ Mark Wilson - Mar 16 at Elixir

Hawksley Workman - Mar 23 at Sydenham Street United Church (7 PM/all ages!)

The Old Soul & Lederhosen Lucil w/ Mississippi Grover - Mar 23 at Elixir

"The Hootenanny Revue" featuring: Carolyn Mark, Jenny Whiteley, Oh Susanna, Shuyler Jansen, Luther Wright, and Hank & Lily with guests Tolan McNeil, Dan Whiteley, Cam Giroux and Diona Davies (of Po' Girl) - Mar 30 at Elixir

Rock Crew Productions

www.rockcrew.ca

why oh why did i watch that whole thing ...

cool ... they always leave room at the door anyways.

they never are ... did you order tickets already?

Rock Crew Productions, Queen's Entertainment Agency and QEA are extremely proud to present METRIC, with special guests Islands (ex-The Unicorns) and Holy Fuck, on Tuesday, February 28 at Grant Hall (Queen's University).

This show is ALL-AGES and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC (re: no sign-ins required).

Tickets are available through the Grand Theatre Box Office

in person: 185 Sydenham Street

by phone: 613.530.2050

online: www.grandtheatre-kingston.com or www.rockcrew.ca

Doors open at 8 PM.

www.ilovemetric.com

www.myspace.com/islandsareforever

www.holyfuckmusic.com

www.cfrc.ca

www.rockcrew.ca

hahah that's awesome ... he's really quite good. He opened for my Sarah Slean show in November here, and was quite enjoyable!

This Thursday, February 16 at Elixir:

Tomi Swick (www.tomiswick.com / www.myspace.com/tomiswick)

onlyforward (www.onlyforward.ca / www.myspace.com/onlyforward)

and special guest Jenn Holub

Cover is $6 at the door, or in advance at www.rockcrew.ca

www.elixirnightclub.com