Category Archives: Robson Recommends

UMFM Pledge-O-Rama / Sunset Saloon Update!

Leave a Reply
Friends,

Thank you so much to everyone who has pledged their support by making a donation to UMFM. It’s more than just a radio station for me, obviously, as it has become one of the most important things in my life. But it’s not just a big deal for those of us directly involved. This past Sunday I spoke with Jaxon Haldane (of D. Rangers and so much more) and he spoke about what a pivotal role we play in the community and the lives of musicians, venues, and music fans like you.

Thanks to kind and generous support, Tell the Band to Go Home was mentioned in donations totaling over $2000! That’s very impressive and really humbling.

But to be honest… it’s less than what we’ve been able to bring in over the past 4 years. Steel Belted Radio will have to bring in over $650 MORE in order to reach my annual goal of $3000 for both shows. That’s a big number for that particular program, but it’s not impossible! If you haven’t made your donation yet, we’d love to hear from you. You can call in any time at 204-474-6610 and mention my shows or you can call on Thursday during the show. You can always go online at https://www.umfm.com/info/donate/.

Any amount counts. Even a small donation tells us that we’re important to you. And if you want to donate more, but can’t do it right now, take advantage of our convenient payment plan. We’ll take regular donations of whatever amount you can handle at intervals that are convenient for you. I make my payments from January to June, which works out really well for me.

Something to consider: I program 3.5 hours every week. I rarely take a week off, but there are times when I rerun a classic episode. There are 52 weeks in a year. Let’s be overly cautious and assume that I only program something new 45 of those. 45 weeks x 3.5 hours = 157.50. What’s an hour of my time and of some of the best music in the world worth to you?

Obviously, not everyone can donate that much, but a $150 donation says that each hour of programming is worth less than a dollar. Think about how much you pay for a movie that runs an hour and a half or a concert or even that cup of coffee that lasts 10 minutes. And that’s only considering the live shows. Then there are the podcasts, which you can listen to at your convenience and could listen to over and over again. You can prorate that for the number of shows that you actually listen to or use whatever formula you like, but whatever you do, we hope you’ll consider donating something.

I am not trying to make anyone feel guilty, and I don’t want anyone to donate more than they should (ahem, Lucy, I’m talking to YOU…), but I hope that what UMFM does has some value to you. This is the time when you can show how much it means to you!

And then there’s The Sunset Saloon, which WOULD NOT EXIST without UMFM! We present some amazing events every year, and every one of those musicians and most of you come to shows as a result of my radio shows. I spend a whole pile of money before each show making sure that you have everything you could want. There’s a huge spread of food, soft drinks, beer, renting equipment, even things like cups, plates, and napkins cost a lot. I ask for nothing in return and you are under no obligation to ever even think about that part of the show, but if that seems worth something to you, I would ask you to consider donating extra to the musicians at the show OR making a pledge to UMFM!

And speaking of The Sunset Saloon, in case you missed it on Sunday, we got a BIG update to one of our already exciting shows.

On November 3 we have a show featuring Rueben de Groot and Luther Wright and the Wrongs. That’s amazing enough. But it turns out that they’ve also invited powerhouse vocalist and renowned singer/songwriter Colleen Brown to join along! You’ve probably heard her voice before on CBC, but if you haven’t, come and see why I’m suddenly so much more excited. We may have to reinforce the windows on the saloon so they don’t get blown out.

Remember this one? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVFHWqDSGEI

If you can’t make it, Rueben and Colleen (and their bands) will stop in Winnipeg again on November 22, but this is THE ONLY STOP THIS YEAR IN WINNIPEG FOR LUTHER WRIGHT! Don’t miss this!

http://tellthebandtogohome.com/2016/09/23/luther-wright-wrongs-rueben-de-groot-sunset-saloon-nov-3/

And let’s not forget about the amazing Tony Furtado, making a rare Canadian appearance on November 11! This guy is a phenomenal musician, a hell of a singer/songwriter, as well as a really creative sculptor and visual artist! People are excited about this one, for good reason. You should be too!

http://tellthebandtogohome.com/2016/09/23/tony-furtado-sunset-saloon-fri-nov-11/

RSVP ASAP! The lists are filling up!
Back to Pledge-O-Rama, the Best of 2015 compilations are almost ready to roll out. As soon as they are, I’ll send out a download link to everyone who has donated and start getting CDs out as well. The only way to get your copy is to donate to UMFM! This year, we’ve done away with the Live on UMFM compilation (it would be a rather short EP…, but will be included with the download and .mp3 disc) and have replaced it with a special collection of amazing cover versions from last year, and there are some mighty fun ones!

Also this week I’ll put together your UMFM incentive packages and start delivering them to you. If you can pick it up, that’s great too, but I love driving around and meeting people while dropping these off. Don’t forget to pick a prize from my exclusive prize box and add it to your package: http://bit.ly/PoRIncentives
One more way to make your pledge, get some goodies from UMFM, and celebrate with us is to come out to The Park Theatre TONIGHT for a special anniversary screening of one of the greatest live concert movies ever made, Stop Making Sense, featuring one of the best live bands of all time, The Talking Heads! We’ll be down at The Park tonight watching it, and then there’s a dance party afterward! Please join us!
https://www.facebook.com/events/1186994998037725/
I’ve rambled on far longer than I should have once again. Thanks for reading, supporting, and just for being a good person with excellent taste in music, as John Scoles would say!

Drop me a line if you want to make a donation, want to come to one of our upcoming Sunset Saloon shows, or for any other reason really! Fill out the Contact form or send me an email.

Grateful,

Jeff Robson

host of:

Tell the Band to Go Home
Sundays, 2-4 pm central
www.tellthebandtogohome.com

Steel Belted Radio
Thursdays, 6:30 – 8 pm central
www.steelbeltedradio.com

CJUM 101.5 UMFM
Winnipeg, Manitoba
www.umfm.com

Tony Furtado at Sunset Saloon, Fri. Nov. 11!

Leave a Reply

tonyfurtadoposterTell the Band to Go Home & Steel Belted Radio proudly present:

Tony Furtado (www.tonyfurtado.com)
at The Sunset Saloon (house concert in Westwood)
Friday, November 11, 2016
8:00 pm
Suggested donation $20-25 (price flexible, all proceeds to this artist!)

If you wish, bring a drink for yourself, and/or a snack to share, but we’ve always got plenty of all of those on hand!

All are welcome (bring the kids, friends, family, people off the street, whatever)! Our house is family friendly (we’ve got 3 kids, a trampoline, and plenty of room, so feel free to bring the family), easy-going, friendly, and open to all! If you don’t know us yet, come on down and make some new friends!

Questions? RSVP? Fill out the contact form below! Forward this to a friend!

Please RSVP for the address and more information!

Tony Furtado is a major musical force without a doubt. He has his black-belt in voice and bottleneck guitar and his banjo playing scares the crap out of me.”
– David Lindley, musical adventurer

Very few musicians of any stripe so personify a musical genre as completely as Tony Furtado embodies Americana roots music. Tony is an evocative and soulful singer, a wide-ranging songwriter and a virtuoso multi-instrumentalist adept on banjo, cello-banjo, slide guitar and baritone ukulele who mixes and matches sounds and styles with the flair of a master chef (he’s also an accomplished sculptor, but that’s another story). All of the music of America is in Tony’s music. Relix hit the nail on the head when writing of Tony: “True talent doesn’t need categories.”

A native of Pleasanton, California, who now makes his home in Portland, Oregon, Tony Furtado took up the banjo at age 12, inspired by the Beverly Hillbillies TV show and a sixth grade music report. He first attracted national attention in 1987, when he won the National Bluegrass Banjo Championship in Winfield, Kansas. Not long after that, Tony opted for the life of a full-time professional musician, joining Laurie Lewis & Grant Street. A second victory at Winfield, in 1991, bookended his years with Grant Street.

In 1990, Tony signed a recording deal with Rounder Records, one of the country’s preeminent independent record companies. Beginning with Swamped in 1990, he recorded six critically acclaimed albums for the label, collaborating with such master musicians as Alison Krauss, Jerry Douglas, Tim O’Brien, Stuart Duncan, Kelly Joe Phelps and Mike Marshall. During this period, Tony also performed and recorded with the band Sugarbeat and the Rounder Banjo Extravaganza with Tony Trischka and Tom Adams. Tony has recorded and produced almost a dozen CDs for various labels such as Dualtone, What Are Records and Funzalo Records.

Beginning in the late 1990s—influenced by such musical heroes as Ry Cooder, David Lindley and Taj Mahal—Tony added slide guitar, singing and songwriting to his musical toolbox and began leading his own band. He is a tireless road musician who performs in a dizzying variety of formats: solo, in a duo or trio or with his full five-person band. He especially values the opportunities he has had to tour with such legendary musicians as Gregg Allman and with such esteemed slide guitarists as David Lindley, Derek Trucks and Sonny Landreth.

“I love playing live,” he says. “All my energy is focused on the love of playing music and rolling with the moment. It’s a give and take from the audience to the stage, and back. And the music that is created is something that otherwise might not occur without that flow.”

 

 

Feel free to fill out the contact form below if you have any questions or if you want to reserve your seat (your details aren’t public, just emailed directly to me.)

Go back

Your message has been sent

Please fill out the form correctly.

Luther Wright & The Wrongs, Rueben de Groot & Colleen Brown at Sunset Saloon, Nov. 3!

Leave a Reply

Luther Wright & The Wrongs, Rueben De Groot, and Collen Brown, Nov. 3!Tell the Band to Go Home and Steel Belted Radio excitedly present:

Luther Wright & the Wrongs with Rueben de Groot and Colleen Brown

lutherwright.com / ruebendegroot.com / colleenbrownmusic.com

Thursday, November 3, 2016

7:30 pm

$25 suggested donation

 

If you wish, bring a drink for yourself, and/or a snack to share, but we’ve always got plenty of all of those on hand!

All are welcome (bring the kids, friends, family, people off the street, whatever)! Our house is family friendly (we’ve got 3 kids, a trampoline, and plenty of room, so feel free to bring the family), easy-going, friendly, and open to all! If you don’t know us yet, come on down and make some new friends!

Questions? RSVP? Fill out the contact form below! Forward this to a friend!

Please RSVP for the address and more information!

Wait! What? Seriously? Nah, can’t be…

lwwwallYes, THAT Luther Wright & the Wrongs! Remember that pioneering country/roots-rock combo that took the world by storm with their bluegrass version of Pink Floyd’s “The Wall?” Yeah, the one that made them big stars, had them travelling the world, recording for big labels, and even getting positive feedback from the Floyds themselves! Remember how they packed The West End Cultural Centre, wowed huge crowds at The Winnipeg Folk Festival and every other major festival in Canada? Did you know/recall that Luther was part of successful and acclaimed indie rock combo Weeping Tile, the band that launched the career of Sarah Harmer? Did you know that Luther and Sarah are pals to this day and she appears on all of his albums? Now consider how crazy it is that you can have the opportunity to see Luther and the band in the intimate confines of The Sunset Saloon with a select few of your new best friends!

Holy cow!

Sample & download some of Luther’s music here!

Rueben deGroot

Rueben deGroot

As if that weren’t enough, we’ll also be getting a set from rising star singer/songwriter/bandleader Rueben de Groot! Rueben has released 3 CDs of his own acclaimed songs, and a brand new live CD with a band called Rocket Surgery, which was recorded during that band’s weekly residency in Toronto, but the CD was compiled and put together without Rueben’s knowledge! He’s aware now, and the world is catching on to this great performer and songwriter. His song, “Savings and Loan,” was used by Oh Susanna and Jim Bryson on the album “Namedropper,” which also featured songs by folks such as Jim Cuddy, Ron Sexsmith, Joel Plaskett, and many others? Nice company to keep!

Colleen Brown

Colleen Brown

And Colleen Brown! Collen kind of sounds like Joni Mitchell on steroids. A powerful, powerful voice, coupled with some soulful, beautiful songs, makes for a combination that you do not want to miss! Colleen has received major airplay on the CBC, toured alongside Buck 65 and many others, and

“The talents of this Edmonton-based vocalist shine like a beacon. Her boldly written originals…have the good bones and great melodic rhythm of classic big-screen pop songs”

– Robert Everett-Green, Globe & Mail

‘One of Canada’s premiere songwriters. With a voice like a clarion call she’s one of our premiere singers, too.’

– Judith Lynch, CBC’s First Play

Feel free to fill out the contact form below if you have any questions or if you want to reserve your seat (your details aren’t public, just emailed directly to me.)

Go back

Your message has been sent

Please fill out the form correctly.

Jim Bryson @ Sunset Saloon, Thurs. Aug. 11!

Leave a Reply

Jim BrysonTell the Band to Go Home & Steel Belted Radio proudly present:

Jim Bryson (www.jimbryson.org)
at The Sunset Saloon (house concert in Westwood)
Thursday, August 11, 2016
7:30 pm
Suggested donation $20-25 (price flexible, all proceeds to this artist!)

If you wish, bring a drink for yourself, and/or a snack to share, but we’ve always got plenty of all of those on hand!

All are welcome (bring the kids, friends, family, people off the street, whatever)! Our house is family friendly (we’ve got 3 kids, a trampoline, and plenty of room, so feel free to bring the family), easy-going, friendly, and open to all! If you don’t know us yet, come on down and make some new friends!

Questions? RSVP? Fill out the contact form below! Forward this to a friend!

Please RSVP for the address and more information!

Jim Bryson is an Ottawa area based singer songwriter, instrumentalist and producer. He has released 5 critically acclaimed solo recordings, including a brand new album, “Somewhere We Will Find Our Place,” which was produced by Charles Spearin (Broken Social Scene, Do Make Say Think, Feist).

Jim also has spent a fair amount of time in recent years recording and producing projects, among them Oh Susanna‘s “Namedropper,” and songs for The Skydiggers “Angels”.

Oh and just cause you are asking, Jim also enjoys riding in the musical sidecar, having played and toured with Kathleen Edwards, The Weakerthans and The Tragically Hip.

Jim lives outside of Ottawa with his partner, two daughters and a newly built recording “shed” called Fixed Hinge.

Jim is also one of my very favourite artists in the world. He’s definitely one of our most played artists on the show (tied for 9th most played with Del Barber, at last count,) and his 2003 album, The North Side Benches is our most played album of all time (at last count.) I LOVE Jim’s music! He’s a tremendous songwriter who has a real gift for capturing scenes and places in song. He is also my very favourite guitar player in the country – just listen to Kathleen Edwards‘ album “Failer” to see why. He also happens to be a hell of a good guy.

Thanks to the amazing Devin Latimer (Professor Nathan) who booked Jim for the wonderful Trout Forest Music Festival, Jim will be in Winnipeg in August, and I’m absolutely thrilled that he’ll be able to stop by The Sunset Saloon before heading out to Ear Falls the next day! Folks, you REALLY don’t want to miss this one!

Feel free to fill out the contact form below if you have any questions or if you want to reserve your seat (your details aren’t public, just emailed directly to me.)

Go back

Your message has been sent

Please fill out the form correctly.

Mayhemingways at The Sunset Saloon June 25, 2016!

Leave a Reply

Tell the Band to Go Home & Steel Belted Radio proudly present:

Mayhemingways (mayhemingways.wordpress.com)
at The Sunset Saloon (house concert in Westwood)
Saturday, June 25, 2016
8:00
Suggested donation $20-25 (price flexible, all proceeds to this amazing duo!)

If you wish, bring a drink for yourself, and/or a snack to share, but we’ve always got plenty of all of those on hand!

All are welcome (bring the kids, friends, family, people off the street, whatever)! Our house is family friendly (we’ve got 3 kids, a trampoline, and plenty of room, so feel free to bring the family), easy-going, friendly, and open to all! If you don’t know us yet, come on down and make some new friends!

Questions? RSVP? Fill out the contact form below! Forward this to a friend!

After an amazing set opening for and playing with Melissa Payne last year, we couldn’t wait to have these guys back this year, so we’re super pleased to have this incredible duo back!

Mayhemingways are Benj Rowland and Josh Fewings, but the band is so much more than the sum of its two parts. They’re a roots-rockin’ duo who bring a lot to their original songs, and some select covers.

The Sunset Saloon is a house concert venue in Westwood (near the YMCA on Portage.) We’re open to all. Feel free to pass along the event info, bring friends, bring your kids (our kids will thank you), or just come by yourself and make some new friends! Admission is by donation, which goes directly to the artists. Most folks pay $20, but these hard working guys wouldn’t turn down more.

Please RSVP for the address and more information!

Mayhemingways are an eclectic and full-sounding duo from the musical hotbed of Peterborough, Ontario. Their music drifts timelessly from folk-rock to traditional to country to something brand new. The band has been described as fuzz-folk with Cajun, bluegrass, and Celtic influences. Tom Wilson of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings and Junkhouse writes, “Mind-bending and original music with deep roots in the tradition of dark North American folk.”

Lead singer Benj Rowland switches between accordion, banjo, guitar, and tenor guitar while holding down the bass with foot pedals. Josh Fewings plays drums, percussion and adds backup vocals.

Their first full-length album “Hunter St Blues” was just released this Spring and was produced and engineered in Nanton, AB by Steve Loree (Ian Tyson, Corb Lund, Petunia). The album is a follow-up to their first EP (2013) engineered by James McKenty (Blue Rodeo, Cuff the Duke, The Weber Brothers) at a former school house near Peterborough.

Mayhemingways have toured Canada relentlessly since forming in 2013. Coast to coast tours have become commonplace for the group. Like bands of old, on and off the highways, building a fan base across the nation with each tour. The duo performs in almost every province and territory in 2016. Think that’s just hype? Look at this list of tour dates. These guys might be insane.

Here’s a taste of their appearance last year with Melissa Payne:

Check out their new album Hunter St. Blues or come in and let it be an amazing surprise!

Feel free to fill out the contact form below if you have any questions or if you want to reserve your seat (your details aren’t public, just emailed directly to me.)

Go back

Your message has been sent

Please fill out the form correctly.

In Memory of Paul MacLeod

Leave a Reply

People often ask about the origin of the name of my radio show. “Tell the Band to Go Home” is the name of a great 6 song EP put out by a singer/songwriter from Kitchener/Waterloo, Ontario, named Paul Macleod. It’s a perfect example of the type of music that I play on the show, and a perfect reason for doing it.

The original Tell the Band to Go Home

The EP is a simple recording of Paul and a guitar playing amazing songs. It’s recorded live at The Sidetrack Cafe in Edmonton. As a clean, clear solo recording, there’s not much to focus on other than the singer and the song, exactly the way I like it. Paul’s voice and songs are unique and powerful and wonderful, yet widespread success eluded him. The CD was a limited indie release that never really found an audience among the masses (yet it’s regarded as a classic by many musicians and in-the-know fans like me.) It’s the kind of amazing music that somehow flies below the public radar. My show aims to provide an audience for amazing music like Paul’s.

For a couple of years, I enjoyed Paul’s CDs but didn’t have a personal connection to him. In 2002 though I found myself in the midst of a relationship breakup, and as happens in such situations, we found ourselves dividing possessions into the “Mine,” “Yours,” and “Ours” piles. Paul’s CD was one that landed in the latter. Sure, I wasn’t the one who brought it into the relationship, but I’d grown to love it and it was really hard to find a replacement copy which would have allowed us both to have one. I couldn’t find a place to buy a copy, so I went to the Skydiggers message board (Paul was with the band for a number of years after Peter Cash left) and posted a question asking if anyone knew where I could find a copy. Imagine my surprise when Paul responded and offered to send me a copy. We got to talking about how much I loved the CD and what a big fan I was.

Out of those email exchanges came my first opportunity to interview Paul. I spoke with him February 3, 2002 on a show that was notable because I also interviewed a then unknown singer/songwriter named John Mayer. I also had a local singer/songwriter named Steve Schellenberg booked to come in and chat and play, so the show was a busy one, but still I found myself wrapped up in a conversation with Paul that lasted over a half hour.

At the time, we were still making analog recordings of our shows, so this one was recorded on cassette. I recall being so nervous about the interviews on the show that I forgot to start the recording right away, so the first part of my chat with Paul is missing, but it can’t have been much. Here’s that chat:

Download this episode (right click and save)

Paul MacLeod and Jeff Robson at The Glen Gould Theatre in Toronto, October 25, 2009.

I had so much fun with that conversation that I tried to get Paul on the show again a number of times, but we didn’t manage to connect for the better part of a decade. We had a lot of fun email and Facebook exchanges over the years. I’d also seen him live a couple of times, including a memorable reunion show in Toronto with the Skydiggers in 2009. (photos here) (I also have a fine recording of that show, which I’ll post eventually, but feel free to email me if you want to hear it in the meantime.) In 2011, I had a show scheduled for May 22, which is Paul’s birthday. I half-jokingly sent Paul a message and said that I would be doing a birthday tribute and he should tune in and perhaps give me a call to chat. Much to my surprise, he did both.

Once again, we had a great conversation. Here is that one:

Download this episode (right click and save)

Our communication would get more sparse after that, but I would from time to time drop him a line and ask him to chat again. Sadly, I’d never get the chance.

You’d never know it to chat with him or see him live, but Paul was deeply troubled. He had some severe mental health issues which I wasn’t truly aware of until recently. I knew he’d had some tough times, but I didn’t know just how tough until I got the horrible news that Paul had died this past weekend, on Saturday, June 18, 2016. I only wish that he’d known how many people love him and respect him.

Paul’s family has asked that people consider making a donation to his local chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association. It’s fast and easy and you’ll get a tax receipt for your donation. Most importantly, you could help someone like Paul get the help that they need. Please donate if you’re able: https://www.canadahelps.org/dn/4852

The tributes on social media have poured in (check out this tribute group on Facebook). Paul’s personality and music touched and inspired a lot of people. His loss is a huge one, even though he was so relatively unknown.

I’m proud and honoured to have corresponded with Paul over the years, to have met him a few times, and especially to have had these wonderful conversations. I’ll miss him terribly.

I’m also once again strengthened in my resolve to keep his music alive and heard for as long as I’m alive and have a platform on which to share it. His are songs that stand the test of time and should be enjoyed for a long time to come.

I’m also once again motivated to do something to honour and remember people like Paul and John Bottomley, who should still be here today. I’ve got ideas, I just need help getting it off the ground. If you’re able to help, I’d love to hear from you. You can also truly help someone and possibly save a life by checking up on someone who might be struggling and make sure that they know that you care about them and make sure that they get the help that they need. If you know someone is struggling, they might tell you that everything is fine, but they might be lying, so keep close and be vigilant, please.

This Sunday, June 26 on Tell the Band to Go Home, I’ll do an extended tribute to Paul with a lot of his music and hopefully some words from some of his friends and fans. Please tune in Sunday, 2-4 pm CDT on UMFM.

You can get a number of his albums through his longtime label Busted Flat Records:

You can also get a few albums through Google Play or iTunes, but I’d much rather have you support Busted Flat directly though the Bandcamp links above. (iTunes / Google Play)

Down On The Street – Paul MacLeod from Lindsay Stewart on Vimeo.

This video was shot down on the street in the literal sense, with the Canon XHA1 handheld on the Steadicam Merlin. Singer Paul MacLeod is joined by blues guitarist Shawn Kellerman and his backing hoodlums are jazz singer Derek Hines and singer/songwriter Ben Rollo. The traffic is real, the noise is of the environment and the birds seemed to enjoy it as well. The audio is all straight from the on-camera mics.

Paul's music is available through Busted Flats Records.

Jay Aymar & The Abercrombie Zombies at Sunset Saloon, June 16, 2016!

Leave a Reply

JayAymar

Tell the Band to Go Home & Steel Belted Radio proudly present:

Jay Aymar & The Abercrombie Zombies (jayaymar.com)
at The Sunset Saloon (house concert in Westwood)
Thursday, June 16, 2015
7:30 (SHARP! We’re trying to have the show done by 10)
Suggested donation $20-25 (price flexible, all proceeds to this talented musician!

If you wish, bring a drink for yourself, and/or a snack to share, but we’ve always got plenty of all of those on hand!

All are welcome (bring the kids, friends, family, people off the street, whatever)! Our house is family friendly (we’ve got 3 kids, a trampoline, and plenty of room, so feel free to bring the family), easy-going, friendly, and open to all! If you don’t know us yet, come on down and make some new friends!

Questions? RSVP? Fill out the contact form below! Forward this to a friend!

The Abercrombie Zombies are a bit of a Winnipeg supergroup! It’s comprised of Don Zeuff (D. Rangers), Tom “Twisty” Fodey (D. Rangers, Poor Choices, every other band in town…), and Shelley Marshall (Nathan!). Even if you don’t know Jay, that’s got to get your attention.
Jay Aymar is possessed by a serious case of wanderlust. This natural born storyteller criss-crosses this country like nobody else I’ve ever seen. And in his travels, he picks up stories all over the place and turns them into song. He’s even recently published a book (accompanied by gorgeous artwork and a live CD!)

Here’s what renowned music publicist and man of a million stories Richard Flohil has to say about it:

The first thing that occurred to me when I heard Jay was writing this book was: “It’s about time. There are lessons here, and information, and a righteous amount of laughter. I dare you to open this book, read any single paragraph and not laugh or cry. It’s filled with human stories from the perspective of someone who’s lived a very artistic life. You may not know him now, but when you’re through, you’ll feel like he’s part of the family. You’ll even find an accompanying live CD of twelve songs, their corresponding charts, lyrics and some amazing folk art to complement the package. It’s a time capsule of sorts.  Forever stamped “Aymar was here!” Be careful what you tell him though, as you just might find yourself the subject of one of his next tall tales.

Richard Flohil, 2015. (Richard Flohil has spent far too many years as a writer, editor, publicist and concert promoter in the Canadian music business.  So far, he has survived.)
 
Jay wrote a song about Don Cherry and his beloved wife Rose (with Don’s blessing and help), which Ian Tyson recorded and did very well with.  The man is charming, very talented, and very, very hard-working. We’re pleased to be taking this one over for our pal Gord at River City Social Club. We sure have had fun in his basement over the past few years, and hope to be able to do it again real soon.
Have a listen to some of Jay’s amazing songs:


Video Biography:

Feel free to fill out the contact form below if you have any questions or if you want to reserve your seat (your details aren’t public, just emailed directly to me.)

Go back

Your message has been sent

Please fill out the form correctly.

Melissa Payne & The Mayhemingways @ Sunset Saloon, Wed. Oct. 7, 2015!

Leave a Reply

Oct7Poster

Tell the Band to Go Home & Steel Belted Radio proudly present:

Melissa Payne & The Mayhemingways
Wednesday, October 7 7:30 pm.
Suggested donation: $20 (but pay what you think is fair!)
melissapaynemusic.com / mayhemingways.wordpress.com

If you wish, bring a drink for yourself, and/or a snack to share, but we’ve always got plenty of all of those on hand!

All are welcome (bring the kids, friends, family, people off the street, whatever)! Our house is family friendly (we’ve got 3 kids, a trampoline, and plenty of room, so feel free to bring the family), easy-going, friendly, and open to all! If you don’t know us yet, come on down and make some new friends!

Questions? RSVP? Fill out the contact form below! Forward this to a friend!

We had the great pleasure of seeing and meeting Melissa Payne in 2013, when she came through with Express and Co.. That was fun, but we only managed to squeeze a couple of songs out of her that night, while most of the time she was adding her amazing vocals and violin skills to Express and Co. material, so I’ve been bugging her ever since to come back and do a show of her own. Here it is, and boy is it going to be amazing!

Melissa is definitely one of this country’s brightest rising stars. Over the course of two albums so far, she has written and recorded songs that have been noticed far and wide. Her latest album was produced by Greg Keelor of Blue Rodeo, and she’s been playing alongside some of the greats ever since. Reviewers have been raving about her:

“In a sea of pretty female singer-songwriter voices, Melissa Payne’s stands out: part velvet, part gravel and bursting at the seams” Kristin Cavoukian- EXCLAIM MAGAZINE

“The album flits across the Country genres like a butterfly and songs like Call Me a Fool and Cool West Wind both Country songs worthy of Nanci Griffith’s typewriter; yet the punchy Gunning For Me brought back memories of the first time I heard Lucinda all those years ago”.  NO DEPRESSION 

Melissa is a phenomenal talent who I know you will be hearing much more about in the years to come. Get in on the ground floor of this one and see her in some joker’s living room while you still can!

Mayhemingways are one of those bands that I keep hearing about, always from someone who has seen them live and wants to share their appreciation. This is group that clearly needs to be seen.

The bio says: Mayhemingways are an alt-country, bluegrass, and Cajun music duo from the musical hotbed of Peterborough, Ontario. Their music drifts timelessly between traditional music and something brand new. Benj Rowland sings lead vocals and plays numerous instruments including accordion, banjo, guitar, and foot pedal bass. Josh Fewings adds back-up vocals and percussion. Their sound is full and so is their touring resume, having toured as far west as Dawson City, Yukon twice and numerous times to the Maritimes and Newfoundland. The duo recently released their first self-titled EP, recorded by James McKenty who has worked with great Canadian acts like Blue Rodeo, The Sadies, Cuff the Duke, Gordon Pinsent, and many more. Their music fits in many settings, from quiet house concerts to big festivals.

This will be an amazing show!

This video should be all you need to get overly excited about this show, but just in case, we’ll post a few others below. Stop what you’re doing and prepare yourself for this:

Here’s how we get Old Pal Stu on board:

Feel free to fill out the contact form below if you have any questions or if you want to reserve your seat (your details aren’t public, just emailed directly to me.)

Go back

Your message has been sent

Please fill out the form correctly.

TTBTGH Presents: Summer Concerts Galore!

Leave a Reply

June is upon us already, and that means we’re into the busy spring/summer concert & festival season, and we couldn’t be happier! Here are a few reminders & pleas to check out some amazing shows that are coming up.

I’m selling tickets for all of the following, because they’re all shows that mean a lot to me. I really want to get tickets into your hands. Buy them from me (or Stu or Eugene) and you don’t pay any ticket fees of any kind, and I’ll be glad to bring tickets to you wherever you might be. If you’re heading out to a show that I might be at (Whitney Rose? C.R. Avery?) let me know and I’ll bring some along. If you want to drop by the U of M, come to The Sunset Saloon, or if it’s easier to bring tickets to you at home or at work, please do say so! It’s no trouble! We just really want big crowds at these shows, and we’ll do almost anything to ensure it.

June 24 at Times Change(d) High & Lonesome Club, it’s the return of the Mike Plume Band featuring Grant Siemans! Mike is amazing, this you should know by now. He’s assembled a top-notch band for this tour, including long time (amazing) drummer Ernie B, as well as his usual bassist for the past bunch of years (Ben) and this time out a talented keyboard player and a pedal steel player. Of this lineup, Mike says, “It’s easily the best lineup I’ve ever had. Nice full sound. Not a far cry from Blue Rodeo. Oh yeah, Grant Siemans is playing with us in Winnipeg and in Dauphin.” We’ve convinced John Scoles that we’re too damn old to stay out late on a weeknight, so he’s putting Mike on first at 8:30. There’s an exciting young band called Sun K on after that, and you’re welcome and encouraged to stick around for their set, but free and clear to get a good night’s sleep instead. This night will be amazing, I GUARANTEE! Tickets are $15.
http://mikeplume.com/
http://www.sunkofficial.com/

June 27 at The Sunset Saloon, it’s Mike June and Jess Klein! This is a double bill as solid as they come, with Mike June, an exciting up-and-comer who you surely fell in love with last year, and past Winnipeg Folk Festival and West End Cultural Centre performer Jess Klein, who’s been making records and wowing crowds since the turn of the millennium. This one will be special! (Mike and Jess will also be playing at The StuDome on June 28, but we strongly encourage you to check out our show or both!) We encourage at least $20 donation for this one, but house concert rules apply.

http://tellthebandtogohome.com/2015/05/12/mike-june-jess-klein-at-the-sunset-saloon-june-27/​
http://mikejune.com/
http://jessklein.com/

​July 15 at The Park Theatre – Lynn Miles with Scott Nolan! Last year’s Sunset Saloon show was so legendary that we just had to bring this combo back together, but now we want to get a lot more people in on the magic, so come to Winnipeg’s best all-around music venue ​and enjoy this amazing night of powerful songs. $20 is a small price to pay for something this great.

http://www.parktheatervideo.com/event-calendar/park-theatre-presents-lynn-miles-in-concert-with-scott-nolan/
http://lynnmilesmusic.com/
http://scottnolan.ca/
July 27 at The Sunset Saloon – Corin Raymond‘s Bookworm and solo acoustic musical performance! This is something so unique and wonderful. We’ve only ever had concerts at The Saloon so far, but it’s time to branch out into the world of theatre. Corin Raymond put together his first one-man show along with help from Fringe theatre legend TJ Dawe a few years ago, and it was a huge hit. Corin is bringing his new one-man show to our Fringe Festival this summer, but people have been asking when they could see Bookworm again (or for the first time.) I asked too, and when Corin said that he had no plans, I went to work making plans. This show was a huge hit at our Fringe Festival a few years ago in the much larger Planetarium Auditorium, so it’s a real treat to see it this up-close and personal. And because Corin is such an amazing singer/songwriter (and fan of great songs) he’ll bring his guitar and play a set of music after the theatrical portion. Advance tickets are available NOW for $20. All remaining tickets will be easy to sell at The Folk Festival and The Fringe Festival, so get yours as soon as you can. This WILL sell out, and without a ticket, I can’t guarantee that you’ll get in this time.
http://www.corinraymond.com/
http://www.corinraymond.com/bookworm/
http://tellthebandtogohome.com/2015/05/12/corin-raymonds-bookworm-music-july-27-the-sunset-saloon/

There’s other good stuff going on, and other shows to be announced. This is going to be another great summer of music!

Hope to see you out at these shows!

CD Review: Brock Zeman: Pulling Your Sword Out of the Devi’s Back (2015)

Leave a Reply

ZemanSwordBrock Zeman
Pulling Your Sword Out of the Devi’s Back (2015)
Busted Flat Records

Over the course of 11 albums, Ottawa area singer songwriter Brock Zeman has built a reputation as a writer of great depth and passion, through his thoughtful, often personal songs. But he’s got a rough, rockin’ side as well. Joined on relentless tours across Western Canada and down to Texas and back by his ever-present collaborator, Blair Hogan, and often drummer Dylan Roberts, Zeman and crew can put on a powerful show that has attendees rocking as much as feeling the stories that he tells in song. He could easily be the bastard son of Lucinda Williams and Steve Earle, with a gravelly Tom Waits voice.

On his last couple of albums, Zeman had been experimenting with dense soundscapes that told as much of the story as his words. On the newest, “Pulling Your Sword out of the Devil’s Back,” the words and melody are at the forefront, and with a batch of songs as strong as these, they certainly should be. The melodies on the record are his strongest yet. Many are instantly memorable, and could find a home on commercial country or rock radio. If those tired formats played powerful songs like these, “Dead Man’s Shoes” could be a strong country hit, and “Little Details” or “Some Things Always Stay” would be blaring out of car windows all summer long.

Although the songs and the album sound fun, there is some deep emotion spilled out. Zeman tells some sad stories of heartbreak and love gone wrong on this one. One of the most sad and powerful songs is “10 Year Fight,” where he recounts seeing the father of a former lover, who has been struggling after “Daddy’s little girl, she’s gone wrong.” Afterward Zeman says, “I finally lost the battle of a 10 year fight. I broke a promise to myself that you would never get a song. Don’t it look like I was wrong.”

In the powerful title track Zeman speaks more than sings, “I live in a house full of ghosts that just won’t let me be. I let ‘em in myself, but now I can’t get ‘em to leave. I’m haunted by love…” and now he’s exorcising those ghosts inside of these songs. For him, writing songs is “Juggling words and chiseling lines to tell a story, to tell the truth…  It’s just heart to tongue, tongue to hand, blah, blah, blah, and struggle.” Later in the song, Zeman says, “And when you really knock it out, and all the planets align, it’s like pulling your sword out of the devil’s back and saying ‘No! Not this time!’” before building to a powerful crescendo finish.

With this record, the sword has obviously come loose, and there’s no doubt that Zeman will use it to battle other ghosts, demons and devils in song. The prolific writer has already written the bulk of another album, and has a wealth of other material still awaiting recording or release. This is a mature, powerful album from a writer who truly needs to be heard. Here’s hoping that many new ears will be tuned to this one.