January 17, 2010

I’ve learned the hard way that sometimes, it is indeed best not to meet your heroes. With this in mind, for some reason, I’ve purposely avoided talking to one of the greatest songwriters in the world, even though I see him all over the place and have heard that he’s a humble, decent dude. This week, I took my chances and chatted with John K Samson of The Weakerthans, and found that he is every bit as decent as I’ve heard. Phew. He kicks off a preview of an incredibly busy week in local shows, featuring John & Christine & friends, Dala, Joe Pug, Cuff the Duke, Blue Rodeo, and more!

playlist
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Steel Belted Radio – January 14, 2010

It’s been far too many years and one failed attempt, but finally, at long last, James Keelaghan drops by the studio to chat and sing us some of his amazing songs. He even asked me for a request (and wasn’t bothered in the least by it) AND promised to come back! Now that’s a show worth listening to again or catching up on if you missed it the first time.

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January 10, 2010

This week we hear from a bunch of artists who made (and inspired) great music in 2009. We talked about what they’re up to, but more importantly, we dedicated the show to our good friend Dietmar in Germany who is a tireless champion of the music that we love. He is an inspiration and a great help the the artists we talked to, including Leeroy Stagger, Evan Phillips, Romi Mayes, Dustin Bentall, Matt Epp, T. Nile, and more! Here’s to you, Big D. Keep up the great work.

playlist
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TTBTGH: presents, this Sunday, a star-studded start to 2010!

2009 was a pretty good year overall, and a terrific year for music, but it’s over. Done. Finito. Now, it’s time for the future. Well, just about. Last Sunday KK and I went over our official best of lists, but if you’re one of those no-show kind of folks (ahem, T-Bar…), you missed it. Well, we’ve got ‘em for you below (and up at the blog, and soon up at steelbeltedradio.com)

We’ve got one more official Best of 2009 show to do, and boy oh boy, you don’t want to miss this one. I can’t give away too much yet, but suffice to say this may be the most exciting, star-studded show in Tell the Band to Go Home in history. Seriously. I’m actually working hard, planning this one out for a change, and it’s going to be good. I guarantee it. We’ll hear from some of the many artists who rocked our world this year, and pay tribute to some other folks who really made 2009 special. Check it out this Sunday.

Here’s them lists:

Tell the Band To Go Home Top Twelve CDs of 2009

Wendy Bird – Natural Wonder – (Beaumont Classic)
Jim Bryson – Live at the First Baptist Church – (Kelp)
Rose Cousins – The Send Off – (Old Farm Pony)
The Damnwells – One Last Century – (Poor Man)
Ron Hawkins – 10 Kinds of Lonely – (self)
Lucero – 1372 Overton Park – (Universal Republic)
Madison Violet – No Fool for Trying – (True North)
Dan Mangan – Nice, Nice, Very Nice – (File Under: Music)
Carolyn Mark and NQ Arbuckle – Let’s Just Stay Here – (Mint)
Romi Mayes – Achin’ in yer Bones – (self)
Leeroy Stagger – Everything Is Real – (Boompa)
Two Hours Traffic – Territory – (Bumstead)

2009 best live shows:

Top 10:

March 26 – Slaid Cleaves/Guy Clark – CFRUC
April 30 – Leonard Cohen – MTS Centre
May 27 – TTBTGH songwriters’ Circle – WECC
June 13 – Leeroy Stagger – StuDome
June 15 – Coldplay/Snow Patrol – MTS Centre
June 18 – Kasey Chambers/Shane Nicholson – Fargo Theatre
July 8 – Elvis Costello – Folk Fest
August 27 – Christina Martin/Steven Bowers – Sunset Saloon
Oct. 24 – Paul Quarrington tribute – Harbourfront (Toronto)
Dec. 6 – Sunparlour Players – Folk Exchange

Honourable mentions:

Jan. 10 – Bebop Cowboys/Nathan – Times Change(d)
March 25 – Tom Wilson – House concert
April 3 – The Other Brothers – Park
April 10 – Brock Zeman/Dan Walsh – Sunset Saloon
May 14 – Romi Mayes CD Release – Pyramid
June 30 – Al Green/Dirty Dozen – Concert Hall
Oct. 2 – Jesse DeNatale – Park
Oct. 24 – Skydiggers – Glen Gould Theatre (Toronto)
Nov. 25 – Royal Wood/Rose Cousins – Park
Nov. 27 – Silver Creek – The Standard

And, most importantly:

Tell the Band to Go Home fans of the year (in no logical order, and in no way a complete list):
Dietmar, Allison, Tonya, Eugene, KK, Jaine, Lucy, Zenon, Melissa, Ron, Rob, Laura, Dean, Art, Barb, Shelly, Oly, Laura, Stu, and everyone else who calls, sends emails, listens, comes to concerts, buys music, spreads the good word, lives a good life, etc.

We’ve still got a few Best of 2009 CD packages to give away. Email me if you’re interested in receiving CDs or downloading it yourself! Tons of great music on there for you to enjoy!

Don’t forget about our survey:

If you have a few moments, please visit:
http://www.tellthebandtogohome.com/survey.htm

Any feedback (even negative) is VERY helpful and MUCH appreciated. The goal is to give you more of what YOU want, so here’s your chance to speak up.

Live shows 2009

Here’s the “full” list of shows I attended this year (except, of course, for the ones that I forgot, didn’t write down, or just plain don’t want to tell you about:

Jan. 10- Bebop Cowboys/Nathan-Times Change(d)
Feb. 7 – Pat Dinizio-StuDome
Feb. 8  -Pat Dinizio-Times Change(d)
March 10-Amelia Curran/Luke Doucet – Park
March 14 – Geoff Berner/Bob Wiseman – Ellice Theatre
March 21 – Bonnie Prince Billy – Pyramid
March 25 – Tom Wilson – House concert
March 26 – Slaid Cleaves/Guy Clark – CFRUC
April 3 – The Other Brothers – Park
April 10 – Brock Zeman/Dan Walsh – Sunset Saloon
April 15 – Martin Sexton – Walker
April 17 – Weakerthans/Constantines/Oh Susanna – Walker
April 19 – Wiretap – Art Gallery
April 21 – Melissa McClelland & Jason Plumb – Park
April 30 – Leonard Cohen – MTS Centre
May 1 – Madame Butterfly – Concert Hall
May 14 – Romi Mayes CD Release – Pyramid
May 21 – Nathan/WECC grand opening reception – WECC
May 25 – Hawksley Workman/G.Mac – WECC
May 27 – TTBTGH songwriters’ Circle – WECC
May 29 – Danny Michel – WECC
June 5 – Stephen Fearing – Into the Music
June 13  – Leeroy Stagger – StuDome
June 15 – Coldplay/Snow Patrol – MTS Centre
June 16 – The Watchmen – The Ex
June 18 – Kasey Chambers/Shane Nicholson – Fargo Theatre
June 28 – Jill Barber – WECC
June 30 – Al Green/Dirty Dozen – Concert Hall
July 8 – Royal Wood – Old Market Square
July 8 – Elvis Costello – Folk Fest
July 9-12 – Folk Fest
July 27 – Glen Campbell – McPhillips St. Station
August 2 – John K Samson/Royal Wood/Fred Penner – Gimli Folk Fest
August 7-9 -Trout Forest
August 24 – Liam Titcomb – Forks
August 27 – Christina Martin/Steven Bowers – Sunset Saloon
Sept. 16 – Keane – Walker
Sept. 17 – Ayla Brook/Cuff the Duke – Albert
Sept. 19 – Cohenfest – The Cyrk
Sept. 21 – Leeroy Stagger – StuDome
Sept. 24 – The Hold Steady – WECC
Sept. 24 – Two Hours Traffic – The Albert
Sept. 30 – Elliott BROOD/Wooden Sky – WECC
Oct. 1 – Gaslight Anthem – Garrick
Oct. 2 – Jesse DeNatale – Park
Oct. 6 – Two Hours Traffic – Music Trader
Oct. 24 – Paul Quarrington tribute – Harbourfront (Toronto)
Oct. 24 – Skydiggers – Glen Gould Theatre (Toronto)
Nov. 5 – Mike Plume Band – Times Change(d)
Nov. 10 – Justin Rutledge/Melissa McClelland – WECC
Nov. 13 – Skydiggers – WECC
Nov. 15 – Michael Johnston – Sunset Saloon
Nov. 18 – Joshua Cockerill – Pyramid
Nov. 25 – Royal Wood/Rose Cousins – Park
Nov. 27 – Kelly Hughes Live w/Stu – Aqua Books
Nov. 27 – Silver Creek – The Standard
Nov. 28 – Billy Bragg/Ron Hawkins – Walker
Dec. 5 – Fish & Bird – The Cyrk
Dec. 6 – Sunparlour Players – Folk Exchange
Dec. 18 – Danny Michel – WECC
Dec. 19 – JP Hoe Holiday Show – Park

Playlists: Tell the Band to Go Home – December 2009

Episode #338
Sunday, December 6, 2009
2:00-4:00 pm central time
CJUM 101.5 UMFM in Winnipeg, Manitoba
www.umfm.com

Today, we’re joined by special guest co-host Elysha for some fun & great music.

Artist – Song title – Album Title – CDN=Canadian – WPG=Winnipeg artist

2:00pm – 2:30pm

Bob Schneider – The Most Wonderful Day of the Year – Christmastime
Sunparlour Players – Battle of ’77 – recorded live on UMFM – CDN
Sunparlour Players – North – recorded live on UMFM – CDN
Sunparlour Players – If the Creeks Don’t Rise – Hymns for the Happy – CDN
Alejandro Escovedo – Only a Friend – Real Animal
Chuck Prophet – Where the Hell is Henry? – !Let Freedom Ring!

2:30pm – 3:00pm

Drive-By Truckers – When the Well Runs Dry – The Fine Print (A Collection Of
Oddities And Rarities 2003-2008)
Buddy Miller – Water When the Well Is Dry – Midnight and Lonesome
Leeroy Stagger – Saskatoon – Depression River – CDN
Carolyn Mark & NQ Arbuckle – Saskatoon Tonight – Let’s Just Stay Here – CDN
Carolyn Mark & NQ Arbuckle – Canada Day/Toronto – Let’s Just Stay Here – CDN

3:00pm – 3:30pm

Dave Rawlings Machine – Bells of Harlem – King Easy Radio Sampler Volume 6
Gillian Welch – Red Clay Halo – The Revelator Collection
Romi Mayes – Just Like the Rest – Achin’ in Yer Bones – CDN – WPG
Gurf Morlix – One More Second – Last Exit to Happyland
The Western States – Born to Lose – Bye and Bye – CDN – WPG

3:30pm – 4:00pm

Gretchen Peters – December Child – Northern Lights
Jill Barber – The Christmas Song – A Peanuts Christmas: The 2009 Zunior Holiday Album – CDN
Paul Kelly – How to Make Gravy – recorded live on UMFM
Tom Wilson and The Dogs We’re Gonna Make a Beautiful World Together – December Songs – CDN
Bruce Springsteen – Pay Me My Money Down – We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions
Elliott BROOD – Miss You Now – Mountain Meadows – CDN

Episode #339
Sunday, December 13, 2009
2:00-4:00 pm central time
CJUM 101.5 UMFM in Winnipeg, Manitoba
www.umfm.com

Christmas time’s a comin’, and that means that we have to do our best to
prove that not all holiday music stinks. It also means that we have to work
on our “best of” lists for the year, so we ran down some contenders. And,
just before the year ends, we had to squeeze in our (almost) annual visit
from local singer/songwriter/super guy, JP Hoe to chat about his upcoming
Hoe Hoe Hoe Holiday show. He also, yet again, has some dazzling new songs to
play.

Artist – Song title – Album Title – CDN=Canadian – WPG=Winnipeg artist

2:00pm – 2:30pm

Danny Michel – Snowglobe – In the Belly of a Whale – CDN
James McMurtry – Holiday – Childish Things
Robert Earl Keen – Merry Christmas from the Family – No. 2 Live Dinner
T. Nile – The Ballad of Jack Pine – digital single – CDN
Kasey Chambers, Poppa Bill, and the Little Hillbillies – Christmas Time –
Kasey Chambers, Poppa Bill, and the Little Hillbillies

2:30 PM

Lynn Harrison – People Come and Go – Simplicity – CDN
Oliver Schroer – The Colour of Snow – Hymns and Hers – CDN
Antje Duvekot – Ragdoll Princes & Junkyard Queens – The Near Demise of the High Wire Dancer
Richard Shindell – Parasol Ants – Not Far Now
John Gorka – Night Into Day – So Dark You See
Kris Kristofferson – Love Don’t Live Here Anymore – Closer to the Bone
Roseanne Cash – Motherless Children – The List

3:00 PM

Jim Bryson – Feel Much Better – Live at the First Baptist Church – CDN
Hayden – Let’s Break Up – The Place Where We Lived – CDN
Bob Schneider – Everybody’s Doing It – Live at the Paramount Theatre
Matthew Ryan – Irrelevant – May Day
Joe Purdy – Miss Me – Last Clock on the Wall
JP Hoe – The Shopping Mall Santa – 2009 Christmas single – CDN – WPG

3:30 PM

JP Hoe interview

JP Hoe – How Did I Learn to Let You Go – live performance – CDN – WPG
JP Hoe – I Only Did it for Love – live performance – CDN – WPG
JP Hoe – Older – 2007 Christmas single – CDN – WPG

Episode #340
Sunday, December 20, 2009
2:00-4:00 pm central time
CJUM 101.5 UMFM in Winnipeg, Manitoba
www.umfm.com

Carter drops by to co-host our last show before Christmas, and as usual he’s
got some jokes & questions to keep us entertained. And of course, we’ve got
some Christmas songs that don’t suck to sing our way into the holidays.

Artist – Song title – Album Title – CDN=Canadian – WPG=Winnipeg artist

2:00pm – 2:30pm

Fred Eaglesmith – Hallelujah – CMT Christmas – CDN
Oh Susanna – It Came Upon a Midnight Clear – CMT Christmas – CDN
Emmylou Harris – Light of the Stable – Light of the Stable
Shawn Colvin – Love Came Down at Christmas – Holiday Songs and Lullabies
Ben Keith & Friends – We Will Rock You (Rocking) – Christmas at the Ranch
Swank – Christmas Is Fun – Chrismas Is Fun EP – CDN
NQ Arbuckle – Christmas in Hell – digital single – CDN

2:30 PM

The Smithereens – Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree – Christmas with The Smithereens
Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison – Baby, It’s Cold Outside – Happy Holidays
Slaid Cleaves – You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch – Holiday Sampler
Drive-By Truckers – Hope Santa’s out of Rehab for Christmas – Flagpole Christmas
Mike Plume Band – Merry Christmas from the Family – live recording – CDN

3:00 PM

Johnny Cash – Away in a Manger – Christmas with Johnny Cash
Melissa McClelland & Lisa Winn – O Holy Night – digital single – CDN
The Hillside Singers – I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing – I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing
Elvis Presley – Blue Christmas – Blue Christmas
Roger Miller – Silent Night
Michael Johnston & His Gentlemen Collars – Dear Santa – Zunior Holiday Collection 2005 – CDN

3:30 PM

The Kelele Brothers – Father Christmas – Has-Beens & Wives – CDN
The Details – Strings and Ribbons – single – CDN – WPG
Cam Penner – Balsam Fir – Balsam Fir EP – CDN
John Prine – Christmas in Prison – John Prine Christmas
The Handsome – Family So Much Wine – Live at Schuba’s Tavern
Swank – Santa Claus Is Out on Bail – Christmas Is Fun EP – CDN
Oliver Schroer – Beneath the Ice, They Heard Bells – Stuck on a Cold Steel Pole – CDN

Episode #341
Sunday, December 27, 2009
2:00-4:00 pm central time
CJUM 101.5 UMFM in Winnipeg, Manitoba
www.umfm.com

Most folks take it easy over the holidays and stay home instead of coming in to do a radio show they don’t get paid for. Bah! I’ll pick up the slack for those lazy jokers, as usual. 5 hours of great music to keep your holidays enjoyable. And to keep me company, my good pal KK dropped by to cohost. Some bluesy stuff, some old classics we haven’t heard in a while, a tribute to Townes, a little bit o’ rock, tribute to Vic Chesnutt, and much more.

Artist – Song title – Album Title – CDN=Canadian – WPG=Winnipeg artist

12 Noon

Ray Bonneville – Listen – Gust of Wind – CDN
Ray Bonneville – Roll with the Punches – CDN
Colin Linden – Sad & Beautiful World – Sad & Beautiful World – CDN
Blackie & the Rodeo Kings – Remedy – Kings of Love – CDN
Lee Harvey Osmond – Lucifer’s Blues – A Quiet Evil – CDN
David Wiffen – Skybound Station – Coast to Coast Fever – CDN
Bill Chambers – Falling Like the Snow – Frozen Ground
Bill Chambers – Theresa – Frozen Ground

12:30

Kasey Chambers, Poppa Bill, and The Little Hillbillies – The Lost Music
Blues – Kasey Chambers, Poppa Bill, and The Little Hillbillies
Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson – Jackson Hole – Rattlin’ Bones
Steve Earle – Ft. Worth Blues – KGSR Broadcasts vol. 17
Steve Earle – Rake – Townes
Townes Van Zandt – Tower Song – Delta Momma Blues

1:00

Townes Van Zandt – Kathleen – Live at the Old Quarter
Great Lake Swimmers – Our Mother the Mountain – Introducing Townes Van Zandt via the Great Unknown – CDN
Kate Maki – I’ll Be Here in the Morning – Introducing Townes Van Zandt via the Great Unknown – CDN
The Lemonheads – Waitin’ Around to Die – Varshons
Gurf Morlix & Romi Mayes – Cold Cold Word – recorded live on UMFM
Merle Haggard – If I Could Only Fly – If I Could Only Fly
John Prine – Clay Pigeons – Fair & Square
Blaze Foley – Small Town Hero – Cold, Cold World

1:30

Blaze Foley – Picture Cards Can’t Picture You – Live at the Austin Outhouse
Blaze Foley – No Goodwill Stores in Waikiki – Oval Room
Easton Stagger Phillips – George’s Blues – Over Seas
Easton Stagger Phillips – She Was Gone – One for the Ditch
Leeroy Stagger – Lonesome Joe – Coming Home (The Songs of Evan Phillips) – CDN
Aaron Lee Tasjan – Fighting for the Man – Coming Home (The Songs of Evan Phillips)

2:00

Luke Doucet – Vladivostok – Broken (and other Rogue States) – CDN
NQ Arbuckle – Huntsville Affair – Not Alone (Médecins Sans Frontierès) – CDN
Bruce Springsteen – Radio Nowhere – Magic
Lucero – What Are You Willing to Lose – 1372 Overton Park
Robbie Fulks – Let’s Kill Saturday Night – Let’s Kill Saturday Night
Matthew Ryan – Guilty – May Day

2:30 PM

Ryan Adams – This Is It – Rock N’ Roll
Jon Dee Graham – Laredo (Small Dark Something) – Hooray for the Moon
The Damnwells – I Am a Leaver – Air Stereo
Hey Rosetta! – Red Heart – Into Your Lungs – CDN
Jesse Malin – Leaving Babylon – On Your Sleeve
Hoots & Hellmouth – West of Where the Sun Goes Down – Hoots & Hellmouth

3:00 PM

Royal Wood – Juliet – A Good Enough Day
Rose Cousins – Edmonton – If You Were for Me – CDN
Gretchen Peters – Sunday Morning (up and down my street) – Burnt Toast & Offerings
David Myles – I Don’t Want to Know – On the Line – CDN
Charlie A’Court – Take Me Down – Bring on the Storm – CDN

3:30 PM

Liam Titcomb – Take the Wheel – Can’t Let Go – CDN
Ian Kelly – Take Me Home – Speak Your Mind
Fleet Foxes – Tiger Mountain Peasant Song – Fleet Foxes
Bon Iver – Skinny Love – For Emma, Forever Ago

4:00

Vic Chesnutt – Flirted with You all my Life – At the Cut
Vic Chesnutt & Victorial Williams – What a Wonderful World – Talkin’ ’bout Sweet Relief: Onstage and in the Artists’ Own Words
Vic Chesnutt – White Christmas – The Mother of all Flagpole Christmas Albums
Jolene – Isadora Duncan – Hell’s Half Acre
Ryan Adams – Two – Easy Tiger
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals – Fix It – Cold Roses
Christina Martin – Cut It Out – Two Hearts – CDN

4:30

Christina Martin – You Come Home – Two Hearts – CDN
Paolo Nutini – Candy – Sunny Side Up
Paolo Nutini – New Shoes – These Streets
Frank Turner – Reasons Not to Be an Idiot – Love Ire & Song
Charlie Mars – Listen to the Darkside – KGSR Broadcasts Vol. 17
Alejandro Escovedo – Velvet Guitar – KGSR Broadcasts Vol. 17
Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses – Bread and Water – KGSR Broadcasts Vol. 17

FAR #125

FAR #125
Jeff Robson
Tell the Band to Go Home
CJUM 101.5 UMFM
Winnipeg, Manitoba
www.tellthebandtogohome.com

Artist: Album (Label) *JR

1. Wendy Bird: Natural Wonder (Beaumont Classic) *JR
2. Bill Chambers: Drifting South (Whitewater)
3. Shannon McNally and Hot Sauce: Coldwater (self)
4. Carolyn Mark & NQ Arbuckle: Let’s Just Stay Here (Mint)
5. Kasey Chambers, Poppa Bill and The Little Hillbillies (Essence)
6. Various: Face a Frowning World – An E.C. Ball Memorial Album (Tompkins Square)