skelter

why the fuck did i watch that

ew

got any more?

For No One! It would have been great to hear that live

This Thursday, October 13, Elixir and Rock Crew present Bless with guests Wax Philosophic, Grampa, and DJ Dysruptv. Cover is only $6!

From www.hiphopcanada.com

Bless - Most people know this Montreal based rapper for his affiliation with Guru/Gangstarr and his last release "Platinumberg: The Movement" that included the street classic My Time, but since then Bless has continued to stay hard at work. As a result of his grind in the last short while Bless has been on two national tours (Obie Trice and Lloyd Banks), inked a multi-album deal between his Platinumberg label and DKD/EMI, signed an exclusive clothing deal and was also included as a character in the Def Jam: Fight For NY (Vendetta PT2) game playing the role of himself as well as having two songs on the game's soundtrack.

"To be involved with a project that pit me side by side with some of the biggest artists in hip-hop and that fact that this is another piece of DefJam history really made this project an unbelievable experience. " - Bless

In addition to the Def Jam: Fight For NY, Bless is presently in the studio working on his first full-length solo release titled "The Book of Bless".

"From the production to the guests, this album is going to have some great surprises." The information I got out of my sit down with Bless was that he has been working on some collabos with the likes of Tragedi, Consequence, Guru and a few more he couldn't discuss. I listened to a few rough mixes including the track slated for Tragedi and if that was an indication of what I can expect on the upcoming album, I don't think people will be ready to handle what Bless is coming with.

"I'm very focused right now, working on the album trying to come with something for the average hip_hop head, the backpacker and the streets" - Bless

He also told HHC to lookout for a new buzz record that will be spinning on radio this January that will also feature Chicago rapper Twista and will be available on the upcoming Canadian version mixtape of Midi Mafia's "Off The Books" hosted by Mo'Jointz. "I got a call from my management saying they wanted me to be part of this track with Twista for a Midi Mafia mixtape so I jumped at the opportunity…". The unofficial release for this mixtape is set for the New Year and you should also expect some upcoming singles from Bless and a spring release for 'The Book Of Bless". Stay tuned to HipHopCanada for an update on all of that and more.

Wax Philosophic - For the last 5 years emcee's Reach (Jarret Schilke), D_Cyphur (Derek DeSa), & DJ/producer Jenero Sanus (Bryan Johnston) have been making waves in the independent Canadian music scene. Their soulfully conscious brand of authentic hip hop has been the cornerstone to their success.

Their full length release 'It's Fallout' (April, 2005) has received critical acclaim across the country and the music video for the first single off the album is currently airing on Much Music. Directed by Francis Mitchell, the video was shot entirely on 35 mm film, on location in the Blue Mountains. Wax Philosophic has been charted on college radio stations from Winnipeg, Manitoba all the way to Mannheim, Germany, building a solid listening base.

Opening up for the likes of Blackalicious, 2 Live Crew, DL Incognito, Shawn Desman and DJ Dopey, Wax Philosophic has developed a high energy, interactive and dynamic live show. Having already played shows in Toronto, Montreal, New York, Boston, and their hometown of Thunder Bay, the group is poised for their upcoming fall tour.

Their musical determination has pushed them to the far reaches of the globe. From performing in Harlem, New York in front of the legendary Cold Crush Brothers; to collaborating with emcees in Seville, Spain; to rapping for middle-school students in Beijing, China, Wax Philosophic is on the rise.

www.platinumberg.com

www.waxontheweb.com

www.bolderstone.com/grampa

It occured to me that I neglected to include info about Kris Ward in the previous post:

The simplest of questions can sometimes lead to the most complex of answers. In this case 22 year old Ottawa born singer-songwriter Kris Ward asks the question, Why is Everybody, Anybody? in fact it is the title to his debut album. Released in May of 2005, this disc contains 10 eclectic songs that show a singer and songwriter attempting to discover reasons for the way people are. The album deals with a wide variety of themes ranging from love and relationships to politics. In fact this album sounds a lot like someone in their mid-20’s attempting to discover just who they are and their place in this often confusing and frustrating world.

The journey began in 1998 when Ward, then 16 purchased his first guitar. Something as simple as a music video was able to permeate the rough skin of a then-teenager and convince him to pick up his guitar and look at the world through new eyes and with a new purpose - do something with your life that you will love to do every minute of every day - he chose to take the route of 'musician'. Ward's headphones travelled across the pond to the UK where he stumbled upon bands such as Oasis, the Stereophonics, Doves and the Verve - bands that had figuratively written the book on modern-brit rock. Taking notes and writing lines, Ward took the brilliant melodies, ringing guitars, and pounding drums with him back across the water and into his own world he had now created.

For the past 6 years, Kris has toiled through the Ottawa music scene, bridging the gap between british rock and indie rock. Working with criticially-acclaimed producer Dave Draves (Kathleen Edwards, Jim Bryson, Kepler) at Little Bullhorn Productions, Ward has created an album that could not only turn his life around on a dime, but the way the entire world views Canadian music.

-Larry Graham

-Sir Paul

-Mike Gordon - I didn't realize how much I loved this guy until I recorded a song last year at a friend's studio ... it wasn't a jammy song or anything but all I could hear was Mike's bass bouncing along ... he's got 'more bounce than a fuckin ball' (beasties quote)

-Les Claypool

-John Entwhistle (The Real Me trumps all for bad assness)

Kingston’s Slaves of Spanky will hit Toronto on Saturday, October 15 to open for The Golden Dogs at The Horseshoe Tavern. Also on the bill are The Bicycles and The Parkas. Doors open at 9 PM, this is a 19+ event. Cover is $8.

Slaves of Spanky are Kingston’s velcro shoe-wearing, shit-hot RAP jam superstars. MCs BJ King and Cap't Footbags wear fresh helmets and bust forth with lightnin' hot RAPS while the funk is brought by Suganutz (Rhodes, synth, Alphabet desk), Speedgrease (electric upright bass) and Fuzzy Hefner (drums/loops). The beats and grooves from the band keep the rumps shaking vigorously, but it's the MCs in the spotlight with a high-energy and goddamn hilarious performance that never ceases to be anything short of incomparably fun. Check out the pork-chop bling action and the rockin’ synchronized leg lifts in mid rap.

BJ and Footbags started the SOS Crew as two rappers and a drum machine in the small but sexy town of Tamworth, Ontario in 1996. Realizing that digital gadgets (especially watches and computers) were on the way out, SOS became a live band, bringing in a local jazz/funk trio (Suganutz, Speedgrease, Fuzzy) to supply the hot RAP rhythms. Now, it’s two MCs and a backing band of schooled funkateers fuelled on cheeseburgers and donuts, and Slaves of Spanky have become fresher than TV's McGyver at the peak of his short and lucrative career. DAMN.

Currently based in Kingston Ontario, Slaves of Spanky are RAPPIN' and crap-talking their way into the hearts of millions, filling clubs across Eastern Ontario and opening for such acts as Sum 41, Pocket Dwellers, Choclair, Drums & Tuba, Sweatshop Union and Grand Buffet. SOS are currently recording their second full length album, due out in January 2006, and will be touring Canada in a hovercraft. Or Minivan.

The Golden Dogs

By Allison Lang

A fan from Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

Let me tell you about the balmy June evening when I first discovered the band that brought rock and roll back to my hungry heart. I was jaded. I had played my copy of You Forgot It In People to death. I was tired of attending rock shows amongst cold-hearted shoegazers who broke their straight-legged, acid-washed stances for no one. "Dance, fuckers!!!" my heart and loins implored, but, imprisoned by the icy gaze of the black-clad bands onstage, my desperation remained muted.

I was thus hipstered right the fuck out. I needed a change. I needed, in the words of Ace of Base, a sign. Then, one night, my tired cotillion slouched to the bar. We were prepared to drown our summer aches and pains and, God willing, nod our heads a little.

We weren't ready for The Golden Dogs.

The motley crew that assembled on the tiny stage and launched into the soaring strains of "Birdsong" were unlike anything I had ever seen before. Parts of them seemed familiar. The impossibly lanky lead singer looked like Tom Petty but cavorted and yowled like a pre-haggard Iggy Pop. The pretty keyboard player displayed signs reading "HOLY SHIT!" like a cigarette girl at a bullfight - when she wasn't shaking the hell out of her tambourine. The bassist perched bouncingly above us on a speaker, while the straight-faced drummer pounded with a ferocity that was anything but straight. But the thing that was completely new was the way the figures onstage made our bodies feel like they were splitting into pieces. I wanted to wiggle my ass and jump and fuck and dance and drink and fight. I had not felt like this seeing live music for a very long time.

That's what happens with The Golden Dogs. One minute you’re sitting, smiling curiously, asking your buddy “what’s with the band?†The next you’re on the dance floor doing high kicks, pouring beer on yourself, and screaming for everyone to say hello to the man in the elevator.

Let me introduce you to the band.

The tall guy in the front, that’s Dave Azzolini. He writes and arranges all of the songs with the help of the leaping lady at the keyboards, but we’ll get to her in a minute. It’s been Dave’s band from the very beginning. He plays guitar and ukelele and sometimes “guitarkele†and if you don’t know what that means, good. He can scream like a banshee and coo like a bird. Jessica’s the girl on the keys. She and Dave have been partners-in-crime-and-love since 1998. Her voice blends with Dave’s with an inherent and eerie perfection. On the bridge to “Faster,†their vocals would make even Frank Black and Kim Deal bite down on their knuckles with the beauty of it all. Entwined, their voices ring with twilight purity.

Let’s shuffle past these lovebirds to the drummer, Beau Stocker. He’s been with the band a year and a half, and although he isn’t screaming like Dave or bouncing like Jessica onstage, he’s considered the spine of The Golden Dogs. “Without Beau,†Dave says, “we’d be nothing.â€

The Golden Dogs’ lineup has gone through a bit of shuffling since the band formed in 2000, and the last two miscreants onstage form the band’s latest incarnation. Carlin Nicholson is the man with the other guitar who is a natural when it comes to 60's inspired harmonies and ballsy lead guitar lines. Then there’s the fresh blood, the young one, Taylor Knox. Although his terrifying prowess on bass is nothing to sniff at, he first caught the attention of the band at one of their shows, expressing his fervent and vocal adoration of Paul McCartney. Considering most of The Golden Dogs are obsessed with The Beatles, such a fact couldn’t hurt his case. He also looks like the younger brother that Dave never had.

Now you’ve met the band. Aren’t they so wonderfully nice for a group that rocks against the dying of the light? How strange that such a good rock band can lack so many of the trappings of good rock bands - the egos, the contrived glamour. The Golden Dogs have travelled across Ontario a million times over to prove themselves to us with candor and grace. “Birdsongâ€, their album/set opener, encapsulates their honest and simple desire: to write beautiful music, to rise above the vagaries of industry hearsay and be real.

In light of the praise I’ve heaped upon these young lions, you might just consider me another rabid, sweaty-haired scenester, and that’s fine. But do us all a favour and listen to the album Everything In 3 Parts before you make your final appraisal. Convince me that it isn’t a beautifully diverse, shiny production. Convince me that this isn’t a band whose validity lies far beyond the buzz of being “the next big thingâ€. Convince me that “Yeah!†doesn’t hold ranks with the best Canadian rock songs of all time, and “Anniversary Waltz†doesn’t make you sigh…even a little bit, when your friends aren’t watching. Convince me that The Golden Dogs don’t make your hard little bastard of a hipster heart soar. I’ll listen to you with one ear. The other will be cocked towards the stage, waiting to hear that song, cause I feel it coming on.

http://www.slavesofspanky.com

http://www.sonicbids.com/hotrapjams

http://www.thegoldendogs.com

http://www.thebicycles.ca

http://www.theparkas.com

http://www.thehorseshoetavern.com

Straight outta Fredericton - Grand Theft Bus! A damn fine show these lads put on ... and they've released two smokin good albums 'Flies In The No Fly' (2005) and 'Birth of Confusion' (2003)

As for The Marble Index ... here's what the Queen's Journal had to say:

"It was now time for The Marble Index to lead the charge, bringing their brand of rock from the mighty Steel City—Hamilton, Ont. The Marble Index have definitely seen their star rise in the past year and a half, having scored a major label deal with Universal Music, toured with The Pixies and perhaps the most impressive accolade of all, being featured on this year’s edition of MuchMusic’s Big Shiny Tunes!

Led by Germain, the band took the stage and wasted no time getting down to business, kicking off with a jangly rocker.

Germain—clad in a ratty black sweater and patched jeans—complemented his look with a sparkly hot pink Les Paul. The Index moved from their opener to their second single, the beautiful and pensive “Not So Bright,†which got a few heads nodding.

The three-piece platoon played mostly from their self-titled debut, including “Missing File†before trying out a new number, which maintained their usual vigour and added a delightful garage rock touch.

The band engaged the small audience with humour making comments that it was a very “intimate†crowd. However, even a story regarding other Can-Rock act Thornley and his bearing of cleavage elicited only a chuckle from the complacent fans.

The Marble Index continued with “This Book†and “We Can Make It†each featuring the charming, stiff-legged rock-out stance of Germain and the relaxed shuffle of bass player Ryan Tweedle.

In an attempt to liven up the night, Tweedle and drummer Adam Knickle began to play a deep and raunchy groove, while Germain performed his “interpretive dance,†gyrating and awkwardly swinging about on the monitors, through the crowd and back onto the stage. The band played two more songs before ending their set.

All in all, they are some of the brighter spots on the Canadian rock horizon."

So - This Thursday at Elixir in Kingston (14 Garrett Street) it's Grand Theft Bus and The Marble Index with special guest Kris Ward. Tickets are $8 advance at Zap Records, Brian's Record Option, Chumleighs, Renaissance Music, Destinations, Elixir and online at www.rockcrew.ca

http://www.grandtheftbus.com

http://www.themarbleindex.com

http://www.krisward.com

http://www.elixirnightclub.com

http://www.rockcrew.ca

COMING SOON:

Bless w/ Wax Philosophic & DJ Dysruptv - October 13 at Elixir

Exclaim presents Four For Fall Tour w/ Luke Doucet, Fembots, Shout Out Out Out Out & Whitey Houston - Oct 18 at The Grad Club

Broken Social Scene - Oct 19 at Grant Hall

Tricky Woo w/ From Fiction & Jack Kerouac Knapsack Band - Oct 20 at Elixir

Liquor & Poker Tour w/ The Black Halos, The Illuminati, & Crash Kelly - Oct 22 at Clark Hall Pub

Craig Cardiff - October 27 at Elixir

Serena Ryder - November 5 at The Grad Club

Thursday Oct.6 - Kingston ON- Elixr w/The Marble

It's actually at Elixir with The Marble Index and Kris Ward

Tickets and more info at www.rockcrew.ca

about half of the I Am Sam soundtrack is good (two of us, don't let me down, blackbird, universe) but the cover is julia by chocolate genius is absolutely dreadful shite that should be punishable by punching. nick drake's let it be is pretty brutal too ...

fave covers ... gotta be Joe Cocker's With A Little Help ... it's the only cover I know that's actually WAY better than the original ...

Bottom line: this show is gonna be fuggin sick. Tickets will be available throughout the day at Zap, Brian's, Chumleighs, Renaissance and Elixir ...

Doors at 9 PM, Golden Dogs at 10:30, JSB at midnight!

John Bonham is the heaviest drummer EVER. Anyone who tells you different is a dink.

Props:

-Stanton Moore

-Carter Beauford

-Darren Shearer

-TBA

I was totally gonna call Mick Taylor. He was one of the first big concerts I did (Aug 03) and goddamn it was good.

Clapton makes my list if for no other reason than the Crossroads 2: Live In The Seventies box set. You are all hereby compelled to listen to this. It will injure you in a very nice way.

Jimmy Page too, as Celebration Day might be favourite guitar solo ever. He's sloppy as all git-out, but I love him for it.

I've seen The Golden Dogs about four times now, and usually with bands that exude a lot of aggression, and negative aggression, at that (with fuzzy gutiars, screaming vocals, and harsh sounds). The Golden Dogs, on the other hand, have such an exuberant feel to them, brash, explosive, and still aggressive, but in a fun way, that you can't help but get swept up.

I was talking to Velvet on Saturday (during the 19+ late show by the Dogs) about Dave as a guitar player; Velvet's comment: "He's deadly." He is: from straight-up rock leads, to chording that would fit into a two-tone ska band, to wall-of-sound fuzzy stuff, to, well, whatever the song needs, he can do it, but in such a way that you probably wouldn't notice, as he's not a guitar slinger, he's a musician who supports the songs, and uses his guitar as a prop that's part of the show. (On Saturday, at the early show, at one point, his guitar started feeding back, but the feedback wasn't just a howl, it was coming in waves, waxing and waning repeatedly. Dave went for it, and did a sort of "interpretive dance" that made it seem as if his movements were orchestrating the feedback, almost as if the positions of his arms and body affected the acoustics of the stage so as to change how sounds were resonating between the guitar and amp. It was, hands-down, the best feedback I'd ever seen live.)

I think The Golden Dogs is the best club rock'n'roll band I've ever seen; the best all-around rock'n'roll act would probably be Ween. (Note that I've seen better and more enjoyable music by other bands, but TGD and Ween embody what I think rock'n'roll is all about.)

Aloha,

Brad

this is brilliant

Here's the bios of these two bands, for all you reader types!

In the four years since their inception, The Jimmy Swift Band has gained a reputation as one of the hardest working bands in Canada. After years of touring, two studio albums, and their most recent live effort The Rebirth of Hooch, The JSB have built and extremely loyal fan base from coast to coast and beyond.

Half of The JSB’s repertoire consists of organic instrumental material with influences ranging from Daft Punk to Pink Floyd, while the other half displays mature songwriting, powerful vocals, and memorable melodies within the framework of concise arrangements. Although both elements of the band’s sound are starkly different, they combine the two effortlessly to bring the audience on an unforgettable journey with each show.

The Jimmy Swift Band have been an integral part of the Canadian independent music scene for the past few years. Their CDs have each sold more than 7000 copies, and fans regularly travel hundreds of kilometers to see the band perform. This has made them a hot commodity in the club circuit - selling out rooms from Halifax to Vancouver. JSB songs have appeared in movies, television commercials, skateboarding videos, and have charted on many Canadian radio stations.

2005 will see The Jimmy Swift Band return to the studio for the highly anticipated follow up to 2003's Onward Through The Fog. With a wealth of new material and experience behind them, the JSB are poised to become a household name in Canadian music.

The Golden Dogs

By Allison Lang

A fan from Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

Let me tell you about the balmy June evening when I first discovered the band that brought rock and roll back to my hungry heart. I was jaded. I had played my copy of You Forgot It In People to death. I was tired of attending rock shows amongst cold-hearted shoegazers who broke their straight-legged, acid-washed stances for no one. "Dance, fuckers!!!" my heart and loins implored, but, imprisoned by the icy gaze of the black-clad bands onstage, my desperation remained muted.

I was thus hipstered right the fuck out. I needed a change. I needed, in the words of Ace of Base, a sign. Then, one night, my tired cotillion slouched to the bar. We were prepared to drown our summer aches and pains and, God willing, nod our heads a little.

We weren't ready for The Golden Dogs.

The motley crew that assembled on the tiny stage and launched into the soaring strains of "Birdsong" were unlike anything I had ever seen before. Parts of them seemed familiar. The impossibly lanky lead singer looked like Tom Petty but cavorted and yowled like a pre-haggard Iggy Pop. The pretty keyboard player displayed signs reading "HOLY SHIT!" like a cigarette girl at a bullfight - when she wasn't shaking the hell out of her tambourine. The bassist perched bouncingly above us on a speaker, while the straight-faced drummer pounded with a ferocity that was anything but straight. But the thing that was completely new was the way the figures onstage made our bodies feel like they were splitting into pieces. I wanted to wiggle my ass and jump and fuck and dance and drink and fight. I had not felt like this seeing live music for a very long time.

That's what happens with The Golden Dogs. One minute you’re sitting, smiling curiously, asking your buddy “what’s with the band?†The next you’re on the dance floor doing high kicks, pouring beer on yourself, and screaming for everyone to say hello to the man in the elevator.

Let me introduce you to the band.

The tall guy in the front, that’s Dave Azzolini. He writes and arranges all of the songs with the help of the leaping lady at the keyboards, but we’ll get to her in a minute. It’s been Dave’s band from the very beginning. He plays guitar and ukelele and sometimes “guitarkele†and if you don’t know what that means, good. He can scream like a banshee and coo like a bird. Jessica’s the girl on the keys. She and Dave have been partners-in-crime-and-love since 1998. Her voice blends with Dave’s with an inherent and eerie perfection. On the bridge to “Faster,†their vocals would make even Frank Black and Kim Deal bite down on their knuckles with the beauty of it all. Entwined, their voices ring with twilight purity.

Let’s shuffle past these lovebirds to the drummer, Beau Stocker. He’s been with the band a year and a half, and although he isn’t screaming like Dave or bouncing like Jessica onstage, he’s considered the spine of The Golden Dogs. “Without Beau,†Dave says, “we’d be nothing.â€

The Golden Dogs’ lineup has gone through a bit of shuffling since the band formed in 2000, and the last two miscreants onstage form the band’s latest incarnation. Carlin Nicholson is the man with the other guitar who is a natural when it comes to 60's inspired harmonies and ballsy lead guitar lines. Then there’s the fresh blood, the young one, Taylor Knox. Although his terrifying prowess on bass is nothing to sniff at, he first caught the attention of the band at one of their shows, expressing his fervent and vocal adoration of Paul McCartney. Considering most of The Golden Dogs are obsessed with The Beatles, such a fact couldn’t hurt his case. He also looks like the younger brother that Dave never had.

Now you’ve met the band. Aren’t they so wonderfully nice for a group that rocks against the dying of the light? How strange that such a good rock band can lack so many of the trappings of good rock bands - the egos, the contrived glamour. The Golden Dogs have travelled across Ontario a million times over to prove themselves to us with candor and grace. “Birdsongâ€, their album/set opener, encapsulates their honest and simple desire: to write beautiful music, to rise above the vagaries of industry hearsay and be real.

In light of the praise I’ve heaped upon these young lions, you might just consider me another rabid, sweaty-haired scenester, and that’s fine. But do us all a favour and listen to the album Everything In 3 Parts before you make your final appraisal. Convince me that it isn’t a beautifully diverse, shiny production. Convince me that this isn’t a band whose validity lies far beyond the buzz of being “the next big thingâ€. Convince me that “Yeah!†doesn’t hold ranks with the best Canadian rock songs of all time, and “Anniversary Waltz†doesn’t make you sigh…even a little bit, when your friends aren’t watching. Convince me that The Golden Dogs don’t make your hard little bastard of a hipster heart soar. I’ll listen to you with one ear. The other will be cocked towards the stage, waiting to hear that song, cause I feel it coming on.

Rock Crew Productions, Elixir Nightclub and CFRC 101.9 FM present THE JIMMY SWIFT BAND & THE GOLDEN DOGS, this Thursday, September 29!

Tickets are $8 and on sale now at Zap Records, Brian's Record Option, Chumleighs, Destinations, Renaissance Music, Elixir and on-line at www.rockcrew.ca

Both of these bands are absofrigginlutely amazing live ...

JSB - “Solid songs... amazing improv jams... one of the hottest live shows you'll see anywhere!â€

GuitarsCanada.com

GD - "All that shit you've heard about The Golden Dogs being the best live show in the country, and you were all like "whatever, that's just hype" - well, you were wrong and stupid." - Chart (http://www.chartattack.com/DAMN/2005/03/0528.cfm)

www.thejimmyswiftband.com

www.thegoldendogs.com

www.cfrc.ca

www.elixirnightclub.com

it's tonight!

doors at 9 PM, first band on at 10:30 ... it's gonna be a rad ass show, don't miss it!

check out the story in the queen's journal - http://www.queensjournal.ca/articlephp/point-vol133/issue7/arts/story1

bah!

i was really stoked ... i had some free tickets and a nice crew of folks all ready to go ...

i don't see it ... am i ridiculous?

Rock Crew Productions, CFRC 101.9 FM and Elixir Nightclub are very proud to present Drums & Tuba (who luckily escaped New Orleans in good time) with very special guests Slaves of Spanky this Thursday, September 22. Tickets are $8 at Zap Records, Brian's Record Option, Destinations, Chumleighs, Renaissance Music, Elixir, or online at www.rockcrew.ca

Even when performing at full-tilt, the magic of Drums & Tuba's music is in its subtleties. Tempo and dynamics are emphasized. Laptop noises swim in the background. Tubas, guitars and drums have engrossing conversations. After 11 years, seven full-length albums, two EPs and hundreds of shows, the trio of Tony Nozero (drums, electronics), Brian Wolff (tuba, trumpet) and Neal McKeeby (guitars) has gelled into a seasoned musical entity with a decidedly unique vision-to take carefully-constructed rock grooves and translate them through a wide array of instruments and electronics.

In today's world of countless musical formats, demographics and stereotypes, the importance of bands like Drums & Tuba is immeasurable. The band takes its wildly diverse musical backgrounds and creates a sound that is entirely its own-full of catchy, groove-based songs. This aptly named trio deftly defies categorization by naturally involving an expanse of musical influences into its peculiar lineup. Over the span of one song, you'll hear dashes of Ornette Coleman, strains of Led Zeppelin, touches of Amon Tobin and a pinch of King Crimson.

Drums & Tuba's latest effort, Battles Olé, puts a delightfully dark spin on the cheerful formula of previous records, and features an unexpected twist - the first-ever vocal track in the band's history. Nozero's snarling voice appears on the opening “Two Dollars.†The song builds like a storm cloud, slowly getting heavier and blacker before bursting with torrential arena-rock riffing. Battles Olé is stuffed with these masterfully constructed exercises in dynamics, which is a sign of the band's growing talents in the studio. And while the vocals will come as an initial surprise to fans of the instrumental days, they're certainly not the focal point. It's obvious that the band sees the human voice as another instrument in its arsenal; it's here to add to the mood, not to steal the show. Hence, for all of its differences, Battles Olé is classic Drums & Tuba: captivating, exploratory and loads of fun to listen to.

Yet bringing Olé to life wasn't a fun process-Nozero explains why the band's shift to the dark side reflects more than artistic growth. “After ten years and a pretty hard last couple, we were really burned out. We were struggling to, in a sense, change everything-turn our own musical world upside down and shake it like a toaster, getting all the crumbs out. It felt like a final gasp. Long story short, it's a fitting title. “Olé†makes it a bit lighter, representing the attitude that, 'Yeah, we did this, we battled. Olé!'â€

The record isn't the only success story; their live shows are just as triumphant. These are musicians who strive to push the art form forward and spread their craft the old-fashioned way-by playing it in front of people, replicating each and every interesting note via an amazing array of samplers and electronic gadgetry. By looping various samples live and then melding the harmonies on top, Drums & Tuba pack a sonic wallop full of captivating live rhythms.

Drums & Tuba has caught, confused and enlightened the ears of many a listener and is showing no sign of ending this unorthodox musical journey anytime soon. Catch the trio exploring musical highways on their North American tour this fall

Slaves of Spanky are Kingston’s velcro shoe-wearing, shit-hot RAP jam superstars. MCs BJ King and Cap't Footbags wear fresh helmets and bust forth with lightnin' hot RAPS while the funk is brought by Suganutz (Rhodes, synth, Alphabet desk), Speedgrease (electric upright bass) and Fuzzy Hefner (drums/loops). The beats and grooves from the band keep the rumps shaking vigorously, but it's the MCs in the spotlight with a high-energy and goddamn hilarious performance that never ceases to be anything short of incomparably fun. Check out the pork-chop bling action and the rockin’ synchronized leg lifts in mid rap.

BJ and Footbags started the SOS Crew as two rappers and a drum machine in the small but sexy town of Tamworth, Ontario in 1996. Realizing that digital gadgets (especially watches and computers) were on the way out, SOS became a live band, bringing in a local jazz/funk trio (Suganutz, Speedgrease, Fuzzy) to supply the hot RAP rhythms. Now, it’s two MCs and a backing band of schooled funkateers fuelled on cheeseburgers and donuts, and Slaves of Spanky have become fresher than TV's McGyver at the peak of his short and lucrative career. DAMN.

Currently based in Kingston Ontario, Slaves of Spanky are RAPPIN' and crap-talking their way into the hearts of millions, filling clubs across Eastern Ontario and opening for such acts as Sum 41, Pocket Dwellers, Choclair, Sweatshop Union and Grand Buffet. SOS are currently recording their second full length album, due out in September 2005, and will be touring Canada in a hovercraft. Or Minivan.

www.drumsandtuba.com

www.slavesofspanky.com

www.rockcrew.ca

www.cfrc.ca

www.elixirnightclub.com

OTHER SHOWS COMING SOON:

The Jimmy Swift Band & The Golden Dogs - Sep 29 at Elixir

Grand Theft Bus & The Marble Index - Oct 6 at Elixir

Exclaim presents Four For Fall Tour w/ Luke Doucet, Fembots, Shout Out Out Out Out & Whitey Houston - Oct 18 at The Grad Club

Broken Social Scene - Oct 19 at Grant Hall

Tricky Woo w/ From Fiction & Jack Kerouac Knapsack Band - Oct 20 at Elixir

Liquor & Poker Tour w/ The Black Halos, The Illuminati, & Crash Kelly - Oct 22 at Clark Hall Pub

TOMORROW NIGHT! You will be astounded by the sheer greatness of this human. He does absolutely ridiculous things with vinyl. P-Love and Team Canada DJs D.R.one and Grandtheft are considered three of the best DJs in Montreal right now. This show will be thoroughly awesome. Tickets are still available throughout the day at Zap Records, Brian's Record Option, Renaissance Music, Destinations, Chumleighs and Elixir. It'll cost you more at the door, so go get em!

gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

nice pairings with grand theft bus and jsb... i wish more venues would do stuff like that. good on ya.

thank you!

To put it simply, you will rarely see a better turntablist that Kid Koala. His show here in February was not only one of the best shows we've seen all year, but it was also very close to sold out. Dude uses 4 turntables! This show will totally blow you away ... so don't wait to get your tickets!

Also on the bill, P-Love and Team Canada (D.R.one and Grandtheft).

It's this Thursday, September 15 at Elixir Nightclub (14 Garrett Street). Tickets are $15 advance at Zap Records, Brian's Record Option, Chumleighs, Renaissance Music, Destinations, Elixir and online at www.rockcrew.ca

Presented by CFRC 101.9 FM

www.kidkoala.com

www.weloveplove.net

www.teamcanadadjs.com

www.cfrc.ca

COMING SOON:

Drums & Tuba / Slaves of Spanky - Sep 22 at Elixir

Metric w/ Jason Collett & Lovely Feathers - Sep 26 at Stages

The Jimmy Swift Band & The Golden Dogs - Sep 29 at Elixir

Grand Theft Bus & The Marble Index - Oct 6 at Elixir

Exclaim presents Four For Fall Tour with The Fembots, Luke Doucet, Shout Out Out Out Out & Whitey Houston - Oct 18 at The Grad Club

Broken Social Scene - Oct 19 at Grant Hall

Tricky Woo w/ From Fiction & Jack Kerouac Knapsack Band - Oct 20 at Elixir

Liquor & Poker Tour with The Black Halos, The Illuminati & Crash Kelly - Oct 22 at Clark Hall Pub

Craig Cardiff - Oct 27 at Elixir

The Roadhammers - Nov 11 at Stages

i have a honda civic and i'm very very happy with it. there's tonnes of them on the road, and for good reason. If you look after it you'll have hardly any mechanical problems

I'm pretty confident Bernie Worrell isn't going to show up. I was trying to get him to Kingston for a show, but he was gonna have a whole lotta border problems. I just asked his agent about this and he insists Bernie won't be there.

Still ... Bootsy. Mug Push!