TTBTGH & SBFRR (and The TwangTrust!) present a sudden, surprise show at Sunset Saloon!

Posted on by September 4, 2009
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Hi again!

Thanks to everyone who came out and supported the Christina Martin/Steven Bowers show at the Sunset Saloon. I know you all enjoyed it almost as much as the performers and I did.

Hot on the heels of such a success, I wasn’t really planning on doing anything besides resting on my laurels for a while. I told many of you that I was planning another show for November (that has since, mysteriously, become not one but two potential shows…), but never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be doing something sooner, especially not RIGHT AWAY, but sometimes, an opportunity comes along that you just can’t pass up. With that in mind, we’re announcing yet another sudden, surprise show at the Sunset Saloon on Monday, September 21, featuring one of the best young up-coming roots-rock/alt. country singer/songwriters anywhere, Leeroy Stagger and his amazing band The WildFlowers.

Anyone who’s been paying attention to my shows for the past few years (not to mention the growing buzz across the country and in Europe) knows that Leeroy Stagger is the real deal. Originally from Victoria BC, our boy started out in loud, rough & tumble punk band The Staggers where he gained quite a reputation as a performer and a rock & roll badboy. Somewhere along the line though, he started to become interested in things that weren’t so loud & silly, and he started hanging out with folks like Carolyn Mark at her hootenanny nights. She thrust him up on stage with an acoustic guitar, and the punk rock wasn’t going to work so well there, so he was almost forced to learn, and eventually write, some rough around the edges country/rock tunes. Those led to his first solo album, Dear Love. That album caught the attention of my good friend and loyal listener Allison Green, who sent me the CD and told me that I had to hear this kid. The CD blew me away immediately, and I’ve been on board ever since. Leeroy came to town after that, and I convinced our old pal Stu at CKUW to check him out, and he got the official TwangTrust seal of approval, and so a star was born. Leeroy’s next record, Beautiful House, was a change of pace, somewhat, showing Leeroy’s growth and a slight change in direction. It was produced by Danny Michel and so it had a more layered, pop sound. It got Leeroy a higher profile and even a spot on Grey’s Anatomy! As much as it was a part of Leeroy’s personality and it did great things for him, the layered pop sound just didn’t sit right, so he went and rerecorded some of the album in a more rough-around-the-edges roots/rock style, and released that as Tales from the Back Porch. That turn back towards rock and country and folk and everything good continues. Leeroy’s next album, Depression River, contains all of that and more. There are some haunting, powerful, moving songs (one listen to Carol or Saskatoon will make you an instant fan) and tastes of the punk rock that he was raised on. Later Leeroy hooked up with a couple of other great rootsy, rockin songwriters, Tim Easton and Evan Phillips, and put out an amazing singer/songwriter collective record called One for the Ditch. That gave Leeroy the confidence and the experience to strip his songs down even closer to the bone, and led to his most personal, powerful, and mature record to date, Everything Is Real. When I heard this album, I immediately named it Album of the Year, and I haven’t regretted it since. It contains just about everything I love in a record, great writing, amazing playing, memorable melodies, and his most cohesive and interesting collection of songs to date. It shows the emergence of a truly important artist, and one that I will be following for many years to come.

Leeroy’s played in town before, mostly solo, but sometimes with a small backing band. On the strength of this album, however, he put together a band now called The WildFlowers (owing to their mutual Tom Petty influence) which really suits and supports Leeroy in a way that no other group ever has (or likely will). That band made its local debut earlier this summer at a really memorable show at The StuDome. It’s been a great year for shows, no doubt, but that show stands out as one for the Top 10 list for sure. But not every one of you made it out… and those that did, I’m sure, would jump at the chance to relive that great show, and see what other tricks the boys might have up their sleeves already.

And so comes this opportunity to see them again. The boys are heading to Brandon for the WCMAs on Sept. 19/20, and they’re doing their amped up rock & roll show at The Albert here on the 23rd, but what are some hungry young musicians to do in between? Well, play my living room, that’s what! The StuDome was booked, so here we are, putting together yet another show at The Sunset Saloon. I just can’t let these talented musicians sit around not showing off what they can do, so we’ll set them up in the living room and let them do their thing. I promise you, this is not a band to miss, especially in these intimate, comfortable surroundings. If you like Steve Earle, Ryan Adams, Tom Petty, Hayes Carll, or any great songwriters like that, this is the show for you. If you don’t, what the hell are you doing listening to me in the first place?

The show is soon. We need a good crowd out to see this rising star up close. Again, we’ll have snacks and drinks for you to enjoy. I likely won’t plan a huge dinner, but if anyone wants to do that again, well, let’s do it! You can bring a snack and a beverage if you wish, or just enjoy what we’ve got. Again, you can name your own admission price. I think the show is well worth $20, so that’s what I’ll pay, but if you think $15 is right, then toss that in the fishbowl. If you can only afford $10, heck, we’ll take that too. Just come, enjoy, and tell your friends that you saw Leeroy Stagger up close and personal.

Reserve your chair now! Tell a friend! Hope to see you here on Sept. 21. If not, I’ll be in touch when the next big show is confirmed!

Check out:
http://www.leeroystagger.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYpr9TCG7oc
http://www.myspace.com/leeroystagger

Of course, stay tuned to UMFM (and that guy on CKUW) for music and more details on this fine show and every fine show that comes to town.

Playlists: Tell the Band to Go Home – August 2009

Posted on by August 28, 2009
2
Episode #320
Sunday, August 2, 2009
2:00-4:00 pm central time
CJUM 101.5 UMFM in Winnipeg, Manitoba
www.umfm.com
A few upcoming shows definitely worth mentioning (Trout Forest, Gimli, John Wort Hannam, etc.) but for the most part, this show was about great music, some we haven’t heard for quite some time and some we just can’t get enough of.
Artist – Song title – Album Title – CDN=Canadian – WPG=Winnipeg artist
2:00pm – 2:30pm
John Wort Hannam – Scotsman’s Bluff – Pocket Full of Holes – CDN
John Wort Hannam – Sons of the Soil – Pocket Full of Holes – CDN
Royal Wood – I’m so Glad – A Good Enough Day – CDN
John K Samson – Reconstruction Site – live recording – CDN – WPG
Wyckham Porteous – Rain of Love – Could It Be My Road – CDN
Wyckham Porteous – Looking for Ground – Looking for Ground – CDN
Wyckham Porteous – In This World – In This World – CDN

2:30pm – 3:00pm
Will Kimbrough – Happier – Home Away
Elvis Costello – Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood – King of America
Lucy Kaplansky – (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace Love and Understanding? – Flesh and Bone
Paul Kelly & The Stormwater Boys – Rally ‘Round the Drum – Foggy Highway
Chatham County Line – Birmingham Jail – IV
Bearfoot – Don’t Let Me Down – Doors and Windows
3:00pm – 3:30pm
David Ross Macdonald – ‘Til I’m Gone – Knuckled Brass and Bone
The Waifs – Lies – A Brief History…
Paul Kelly – From Little Things Big Things Grow – A-Z Downloads
Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson – Adeline – Rattlin’ Bones
Andy Sheppard – Let It Go – Live at Smash! – CDN
Matt Epp – You’ll Find Me Alone – You’ll Find Me Alone – CDN – WPG
Don Brownrigg – These a.m. Times – CDN
3:30pm – 4:00pm
No River City – Visit Me – This Is Our North Dakota
Chris Knight – Almost There (Acoustic Version) – Heart of Stone
Mike Plume – Junior – Official Boots… Moraine’s Demos – CDN
She Swings, She Sways – What I Wouldn’t Do – Wasted Love Songs
Richmond Fontaine – The Water Wars – $87 and a Guilty Conscience
Jim White – Borrowed Wings – Drill a Hole in that Substrate and Tell Me What You See
Episode #321
Sunday, August 9, 2009
2:00-4:00 pm central time
CJUM 101.5 UMFM in Winnipeg, Manitoba
www.umfm.com
Pre-recorded as I’m off at the Trout Forest Music Festival. The Fred Eaglesmith show rolls into town this week, and that means a heaping helping of Fred and of course a tribute to the late great Willie P Bennett. Then, we’ve got new music, old but interesting music, upcoming events, and more.
Artist – Song title – Album Title – CDN=Canadian – WPG=Winnipeg artist
2:00pm – 2:30pm
Fred Eaglesmith – York Road – Official Bootleg Series Vol. 2 – CDN
Fred Eaglesmith – Summerlea – Things Is Changin’ – CDN
Fred Eaglesmith – Cryin’ Yet – Things Is Changin’ – CDN
Fred Eaglesmith – Water in the Fuel – Lipstick Lies & Gasoline – CDN
Fred Eaglesmith – Crowds – Dusty – CDN
Fred Eaglesmith – Codeine – live recording – CDN

2:30pm – 3:00pm
Willie P Bennett – If You Have to Choose – Hobo’s Taunt – CDN
Willie P Bennett – Me and Molly – Tryin’ to Start Out Clean – CDN
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings – Sometimes It Comes So Easy – Let’s Frolic Again – CDN
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings – Nickels and Dimes – Kings of Love – CDN
David Olney – Millionaire – Live in Holland
Rodney Crowell – Moving Work of Art – Sex & Gasoline

3:00pm – 3:30pm
Royal Wood – Thinking About – The Lost & Found EP – CDN
Dan Mangan – You Silly Git – Nice, Nice, Very Nice – CDN
Steven Bowers – It Breaks You So – Homing – CDN
Christina Martin – The Bike Song – Two Hearts – CDN
The Damnwells – Dandelion – One Last Century
Chris Velan – Wobbly Bones – Solidago
The Complements – Something Like Happiness – Something Like Happiness – CDN

3:30pm – 4:00pm
Lynn Miles – Night Drive – Black Flowers Vol. 1 – CDN
Kate Walsh – Impressionable – Clocktower Park
Shannon McNally – Weathervane – Geronimo
Josh Rouse – Winter in the Hamptons – Nashville
The Lowest of the Low – Letter from Bilbao – Shakespeare My Butt – CDN
Too Many Sisters – Bottleneck – Non Barking Dog – CDN
The Lowest of the Low – Subversives – Shakespeare My Butt – CDN
Andy Shauf – Crushes – Darker Days – CDN
Episode #322
Sunday, August 16, 2009
2:00-4:00 pm central time
CJUM 101.5 UMFM in Winnipeg, Manitoba
www.umfm.com
Back from Trout Forest Music Festival with tales to tell and songs to spin. Also, some tunes as seen on TV, some songs for The King, some great new music, and an exclusive, exciting concert announcement!
Artist – Song title – Album Title – CDN=Canadian – WPG=Winnipeg artist
2:00pm – 2:30pm
BOP Ensemble – Flash Around the Globe – Between Trains – CDN
David Ross Macdonald – Old Joe’s Cane – Knuckled Brass & Bone
Don Brownrigg – Remember Home – Wander Songs – CDN
Matt Epp – Follow Me – Safe or Free – CDN – WPG
Michael Peters – Dark Star – Michael Peters – CDN – WPG
Kevin Fox – By & By – Come Alive – CDN

2:30pm – 3:00pm
Jim Bryson – Without Piano – The Occasionals – CDN
Colin Hay – Waiting for my Real Life to Begin – Going Somewhere
Aimee Mann – That’s How I Knew this Story Would Break my Heart – The Forgotten Arm
Bob Dylan – Things Have Changed – Dylan
Gillian Welch – Elvis Presley Blues – Time (The Revelator)

3:00pm – 3:30pm
Reid Jamieson – Trying to Get to You – The Presley Sessions – CDN
Scouting for Girls – Elvis Ain’t Dead – Scouting for Girls
Kieran Kane – He Never Knew What Hit Him – Dead Reckoning
Kieran Kane – Way Down Below – Somewhere Beyond the Roses
Jon Dee Graham – Something to Look Forward to – First Bear on the Moon
The Pines – Meadows of Dawn – Tremolo
Dave Clark – Show Me a Sign – 14 Songs – CDN

3:30pm – 4:00pm
Johnsmith – Ring that Bell – Gravity of Grace
James Murdoch Band – Simple Lullaby – Wondering Where the Rush Has Gone – CDN
Chic Gamine – Paper Moon – Chic Gamine – CDN – WPG
Catherine MacLellan – Isabel’s Song – Water in the Ground – CDN
Jesse DeNatale – Soul Parade – recorded live on UMFM
Episode #323
Sunday, August 23, 2009
2:00-4:00 pm central time
CJUM 101.5 UMFM in Winnipeg, Manitoba
www.umfm.com
We preview a couple of exciting upcoming shows with some guests. First up, talented young singer/songwriter Liam Titcomb is traveling across the country raising money for War Child. With great songs, a great attitude, and a great cause, how could we not support him. Liam dropped by to talk about the tour and play us some of his amazing new songs. And, winding their way to my living room, Christina Martin and Steven Bowers called us from the road to tell us how their tour is going.
Artist – Song title – Album Title – CDN=Canadian – WPG=Winnipeg artist
2:00pm – 2:30pm
Jesse DeNatale – Shine Your Light – Soul Parade
Christina Martin – Cut It Out – Two Hearts – CDN
Steven Bowers – Only One – Tired Light – CDN
Liam Titcomb – Rose of Jericho – Liam Titcomb – CDN
Liam Titcomb – Take the Wheel – Can’t Let Go – CDN

2:30pm – 3:00pm
Liam Titcomb interview
Liam Titcomb – Old Wound – live performance – CDN
Liam Titcomb – Those Three Words – live performance – CDN
Liam Titcomb – Comes to Mind – single – CDN
Christina Martin – You Come Home – live recording – CDN
Steven Bowers – The Boy Who Lost an Eye – Homing – CDN

3:00pm – 3:30pm
Christina Martin & Steven Bowers interview
Christina Martin – Two Hearts – Two Hearts – CDN
Steven Bowers – Gas Station Lullaby – Homing – CDN

3:30pm – 4:00pm
Shannon Lyon – Naïve – Wandered – CDN
Radiogram – Summer Song Summer – All the Way Home – CDN
The Waifs – The Waitress – Sink or Swim
Martina Sorbara – Call Wolf – The Cure for Bad Deeds – CDN
The Cash Brothers – Night Shift Guru – How Was Tomorrow – CDN
Jesse Malin – Wendy – The Fine Art of Self Destruction
Ridley Bent – Suicidewinder – Blam! – CDN – WPG
Episode #324
Sunday, August 30, 2009
2:00-4:00 pm central time
CJUM 101.5 UMFM in Winnipeg, Manitoba
www.umfm.com
Pre-recorded as I’m off on the MS Bike Tour. A bunch of really great music from my house concert guests, some folks from the East, some folks I’ve somehow neglected, some brand new stuff, and a little bit o’ pop.
Artist – Song title – Album Title – CDN=Canadian – WPG=Winnipeg artist
2:00pm – 2:30pm
Christina Martin – The Bike Song – Two Hearts – CDN
Steven Bowers – Bees in Jars – Homing – CDN
Steven Bowers w/ Christina Martin – Comfortably Sweet – Circadian Anthem EP – CDN
Charlie A’Court – Big Dark Canyon – Bring on the Storm – CDN
Dave Gunning – When Will We Be Married – Live – CDN
Old Man Luedecke – Joy of Cooking – Hinterland – CDN
David Myles – Cape Breton – On the Line – CDN

2:30pm – 3:00pm
Hoots & Hellmouth – West of Where the Sun Goes Down – Hoots & Hellmouth
Sunparlour Players – Point Pelee Is the Place to Be – Wave North – CDN
Elliott BROOD – Without Again – Mountain Meadows – CDN
The Pines – Meadows of Dawn – Tremolo
Son Volt – Down to the Wire – American Central Dust
The Lemonheads – I Just Can’t Take It Anymore – Varshons

3:00pm – 3:30pm
The Dustin Bentall Outfit – Draft Dodger – Six Shooter – CDN
Scott MacLeod – Old Soul – Old Soul – CDN
Indio Saravanja – Middle of Things – The Caravan Sessions – CDN
Matthew Dean Herman – Out of My Own Way – Blackbird
Nels Andrews – Three Days – Off Track Betting
David Baxter – Thank You Girl – Day & Age – CDN
Adam Puddington – All I Have Is Time – Back in Town – CDN

3:30pm – 4:00pm
Darden Smith – Talk Me Down – Field of Crows
Howie Beck – Watch Out for the Fuzz – How to Fall Down in Public – CDN
Liam Titcomb – 11:30 – Can’t Let Go – CDN
Dan Mangan – Road Regrets – Nice, Nice, Very Nice – CDN
Paolo Nutini – Candy – Sunny Side Up
Newton Faulkner – Dream Catch Me – Hand Built by Robots
The Damnwells – Golden Days – Air Stereo

August 23, 2009

Posted on by August 23, 2009
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We preview a couple of exciting upcoming shows with some guests. First up, talented young singer/songwriter Liam Titcomb is traveling across the country raising money for War Child. With great songs, a great attitude, and a great cause, how could we not support him. Liam dropped by to talk about the tour and play us some of his amazing new songs. And, winding their way to my living room, Christina Martin and Steven Bowers called us from the road to tell us how their tour is going.

part 1
part 2

TTBTGH: This week, a busy, exciting show!

Posted on by August 22, 2009
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Hi again friends,

The days of summer are running out. Sooner than I’d like, it’ll be back to school and busy as can be. Until then, I plan to enjoy myself as much as possible, and I know you’re doing the same, so this week’s Tell the Band to Go Home will tell you about a few fun ways to enjoy what’s left:

I’ve been telling you forever about the next exciting concert at The Sunset Saloon, featuring Christina Martin and Steven Bowers. The guest list is starting to fill up (thank goodness), and I’d hate for you to be left out, so do let me know if you think you might join us this Thursday for two of Canada’s most exciting young singer/songwriters. (I’ll be perfectly honest, when I looked at the very short list of attendees a week ago I was totally stressed and thinking that I wouldn’t ever get myself into this mess again, but we’ve had some good response in the last week, so I’m starting to calm down. Still, a few more would have me feeling even better, so I’d love it if you’d join us. If bringing one of my favourite artists in Canada to my house for her first and only upcoming Winnipeg appearance doesn’t go off well, I’ll leave the stress to the staff at the Studome from now on.) If you missed Christina on CBC’s Q yesterday (thankfully without Jian Ghomeshi), you’ll want to hear this talented young lady and get to know her a little better this week on Tell the Band to Go Home. Christina and Steven will be on the road gradually making their way to Winnipeg (and all points West), but they’re going to find a spot where they can give us a call and check in from the road. Steven Bowers, by the way, is fast becoming one of my faves as well. His latest two discs have been in heavy rotation here at the home office, and I find more and more to love each time. I don’t know a lot about him yet, but this week on the show we’ll change that. You’ll hear a bunch of his tunes and hopefully hear him talk about his music and his life. (Christina and Steven will also be performing live at CD Plus in the Garden City Shopping Centre on Thursday at 1:00 for a free preview of the great concert that evening. I’d love to see some of you out there (even cheapskate Eugene, who will be at CD Plus, but refuses to come to my house concert just because I wouldn’t accept his Guttersnipe press credentials. He’d rather weasel his way into Times to see a band he can see any time. Boo. Don’t be a Eugene!))

Also on tour across this country right now, is another super talented young singer/songwriter named Liam Titcomb. He’s on a very interesting fundraising camper tour raising money for War Child . He’s playing a show at the Forks on Monday at noon with local legend Fred Penner, looking for donations to War Child. We’re hoping he makes it into Winnipeg in time to stop by the show to play us some of his melodic, memorable, wonderful songs and talk about his connection to the charity. This is one well worth checking out.

And, while I’m on the topic of liberating you from your hard earned money… again this year I’ll be participating in the MS Society’s Biking to the Viking fundraiser where I haul my fat butt from Stonewall to Gimli via bicycle. It’s a challenge, but nowhere close to the challenge of living with this frightening disease. Many of you have been kind and generous, to the point where my fundraising total is higher than I ever dreamed. But I’m greedy, and I know it will take a lot to conquer this disease (although it looks more and more possible every year!) so I want to raise more. I’m only $200 away from reaching a total I never dreamed I could reach (A THOUSAND DOLLARS!) and I know that money will make a huge difference. Plus, knowing that I’m the $1000 man (Stu’s been on the air longer, so he can keep his title of $3000 man) would mean a lot to me. If anyone hasn’t made a pledge yet (and I know a couple of you couldn’t when I first asked, but said you might closer to the date), please consider doing so now, or just find out more about this very common, but not widely enough known or understood disease: https://msofs.mssociety.ca/2009Bike/Sponsor.aspx?&PID;=1083191&L;=2

Because of this, I won’t be on air live next Sunday. I’ll have something for you to listen to, don’t fear.

Last year I hosted the MS Radio Auction which had me giving away CDs, DVDs, books, and more in return for pledges. This year, I’m a little lazier. For those who come to my house concert on Thursday, I’ll have a lot of great items up for grabs, including ESSENTIAL CDs from the likes of Shannon Lyon, The Cash Brothers, Ridley Bent, and more, cool DVDs, books, and whatever else my family and I can part with. If you want something, all you need to do is “buy” it with a donation to the MS Bike Tour and you get to take it home with you that night. Easy. So, for those of you attending, please bring a little extra money for a CD from Christina & Steven, and perhaps a small donation to MS. I’ve decided to donate the cost of the food/drinks before hand, so if you wish to donate to that fund, all of it will be donated directly to MS.

Check out:
http://www.christinamartin.net
http://www.sonicbids.com/epk/epk.aspx?epk_id=88635 (Christina’s sonic bids profile with music, bio, information of all kinds)
http://www.stevenbowers.com
http://www.sonicbids.com/epk/epk.aspx?epk_id=83654 (Steven’s sonic bids profile with music, bio, information of all kinds) 

August 9, 2009

Posted on by August 9, 2009
Reply

Pre-recorded as I’m off at the Trout Forest Music Festival. The Fred Eaglesmith show rolls into town this week, and that means a heaping helping of Fred and of course a tribute to the late great Willie P Bennett. Then, we’ve got new music, old but interesting music, upcoming events, and more.

part 1
part 2
part 3
part 4