Sunday, April 10, 2005
Now that all of the Juno shenanigans are over, it’s back to celebrating great Canadian music every week, not just celebrating mediocrity once a year. And this week, Tell the Band to Go Home returns from the Juno break with an action packed spectacular, showcasing some amazing Canadian talent that is award winning, in our eyes. And once again, we’ll prove that there are very different types of singer/songwriters.
On Monday night at the newly saved Dregs Cafe, a wonderfully talented songwriter named Anne Louise Genest pays us a visit. Anne Louise is from the Yukon and has an insight into the human condition that is rare and special. Her songs are wonderfully vivid snippets of life that continue to astonish me. A true folk singer who writes about true folk, Anne Louise is one for fans of heartfelt songs. On her way to town, Anne Louise will give us a ring and let us know how she comes up with those wonderful songs.
http://www.caribourecords.com/algenest/
Yeah, we like the folk music just fine on this show, but everyone knows I’ve got a love of a great pop song, and we’ll hear from one of Canada’s finest up and coming pop/rock songwriters, Andy Stochansky. Andy’s been perfecting his craft over the course of his previous three full length discs and a couple of EPs, not to mention his work as Ani Difranco’s drummer for a number of years (back when she was cool and great), but his latest CD threatens to turn him into a star. With marvellous melodies and thoughtful lyrics, not to mention a dynamic stage presence (and the ladies think he’s dreamy, too), 100 is the kind of album that I love, and I know you will too. Andy plays at the West End on April 13. I know I’ll be there, and after hearing him on the show, I hope you will too.
http://www.andystochansky.com/
But the big headliner of this show is big indeed. Everyone knows that I’m a passionate music nerd, and that is largely thanks to the very special guests that are scheduled to stop by after 3:00. Everyone knows that the greatest Canadian band of all time is the Rheostatics. When I first heard them, my life changed forever. Well, actually it took a while for me to “get” that band and come over to the bright side. But as I was warming up to them, I was introduced to a band that was much more accessible and seemed to sing songs that were tailor made for me as I came of age. The Lowest of the Low are one of the greatest Canadian bands of all time, and I’ll believe that until the day I die. Largely thanks to the insightful and intelligent lyrics of Ron Hawkins, The Lowest of the Low have made some of the most important albums in Canadian history. If you don’t believe me or haven’t been won over yet, tune in this week for a very, very special live, in-studio appearance by The Lowest of the Low, who bring their awesome live show to the Pyramid that same night. And if you weren’t going to tune in just to hear this great band, tune in to hear how badly I embarass myself when confronted by some of my idols in the flesh.