Even though this show is on a Sunday afternoon (seriously, I need to talk to someone about that. The world should really shut down Sundays 2-4 so that everyone can listen to the radio…), it features two of my favourite local performers/songwriters/people, and it’s for a great cause. I’ll have to pre-record anyway, so you might as well catch the podcast and check this show out!
A Benefit Concert in Support of the Dave McGimpsey Campership Fund
Featuring performances by Nicky Mehta (of the Wailin’ Jennys)
and John K Samson (of the Weakerthans)
Tickets $20
Tickets available at www.ticketworkshop.com and the WECC
Doors 1:30pm | Show 2:30pm
I just came back from a fabulous vacation in Southern Ontario (more on that later), but I’m excited to be back, because there are some exciting things on the horizon:
This Thursday on Steel Belted Radio, we’ll be joined live in-studio by a hot new band called Pistol George Warren. They’re a crazy mashup of R & B, Motown, and old skool Rock n’ Roll (there’s definitely a real Stones swagger). It’s been called a party on the stage, and they’ll bring the party to the perfect home for such things, Times Change(d) that night, but they’ll bring all 8 band members (!) by UMFM for a free preview first! You won’t want to miss that.
Check ’em out: http://pistolgeorgewarren.bandcamp.com
Here’s fun video for one of their latest: http://youtu.be/w7_ahJubeC8
While I was in Ontario, I got to spend a few days at the home of our next performers at The Sunset Saloon. Tannis Slimmon andLewis Melville are not only extra-talented musically, they are also two of the most down to earth, kind, generous, wonderful people on the planet. They exude joy and peace and love and all kinds of wonderful things. If you’re a fan of great music or great people, they’ve got you covered. I’d be really pleased to introduce you to these two on August 14, when they play The Sunset Saloon.
And don’t worry; if you were following the news, you know that some really terrible stuff went down in our neighbourhood last week. Unspeakable tragedy and sadness. I’m glad to say that the saga is over, the police tape is gone, and things are starting to brighten up around here. It does make me want to tell you all how much I genuinely appreciate your support of the radio shows and the house concerts, and for just being out there and willing to pay attention to these ramblings.
That horror also has me more convinced that we all need to pay attention to each other, and help out where we can. If someone around you seems extra sad or edgy or not quite right, we need to support and encourage those around us to find out what might be wrong, and get the help we need. I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety my whole life, and while it’s not ever easy for me to talk about it or reach out for help, I have benefitted greatly from other people asking me if I’m ok, or encouraging me to see a doctor. It’s nothing to be afraid of, nothing to be ashamed of, and if treated properly, nothing to worry about. It takes time and care, but even those most troubled can live good lives with the right support and treatment. So many of my musical friends and idols have struggled with these issues, and some great music and art has come out of it. Unfortunately though, some of those people have been lost to their troubles, like the late, great John Bottomley (here were my thoughts at the time: http://tellthebandtogohome.com/2011/04/12/lets-bring-depression-out-of-the-shadows/) I know there’s never an easy answer, but if we watch out for each other and show the right support and encouragement, lives can be saved.
Holy! I thought this was a music newsletter, promoting happy things! Check out the Upcoming Events page for lots of shows that will make you happy: http://tellthebandtogohome.com/upcoming-events/. I’m really looking forward to the Gimli Alternative Folk Festivalthis weekend, and The Trout Forest Music Festival the weekend after that! We’ll have more news soon on upcoming Sunset Saloon shows, so tune in to the radio shows or watch your email inbox for more passionate ramblings! (although, if you’re interested in hosting a house concert with Animal Parts, Chris Trapper, or Liam Titcomb, let me know! I can set you up!)
Enjoy the rest of your summer (as cold as it might currently be…), be good to each other, and get out and enjoy yourself!
The Winnipeg Folk Festival is upon us once again, and it’s proving to be a pretty great one. Despite my loud and consistent complaining about this year’s lineup, it seems that perhaps, maybe, it is somehow possible that I may, might, there is a teeny tiny chance that I might have been just a tad, um, wrong. I know it sounds crazy, and it probably isn’t true, but there’s always a chance, right? (The stack of CDs in my backpack that I can’t possibly afford gives me some pause for reflection. You’ll hear some of the evidence on the show soon.)
Speaking of the Folk Festival, I’m out there for the final day of this year’s festival today, so won’t be live in the studio, but I do have an all new show loaded up and ready to go and on the website in the downloads section (http://tellthebandtogohome.com/2013/07/11/podcast-july-14-2013/) for you. On today’s show, we expose the truth about Danny Michel’s real first appearance at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, play a bunch of new music from the mail bag, and we’ll get you primed as…
TTBTGH/Twang Trust, Danicin’ Eugene, and The Park Theatre are very excited to present Mary Gauthier with Scott Nolan and Joanna Miller in Winnipeg on July 22! I’ve been whining about this show not stopping in town for a long time, and with a little help from Stu, Eugene, and Erick, it’s now happening, and I REALLY don’t want you to miss it! You can get tickets now from Music Trader or The Park Theatre, or you can save on those annoying “convenience fees” by buying directly from ME! I’ve got tickets on me and I’d love to sell you one. Let me know if you want me to bring one to you or meet up with you somewhere, because I’d love to get more people confirmed and committed to this one. Scott and Jo open the show and then act as Mary’s backing band, and by all reports, it’s an amazing show, which I can’t wait to see. http://tellthebandtogohome.com/2013/07/11/mary-gauthier-wscott-nolan-joanna-miller-july-22/
And speaking of shows, all of the details are online about the next exciting show at The Sunset Saloon featuring Tannis Slimmon and Lewis Melville! This one will be amazing and I’d absolutely love it if you could make it part of your summer plans, August 14. http://tellthebandtogohome.com/2013/07/07/tannis-slimmon-sunset-saloon-aug-14/
I do hope that if you’re not out at the festival today you have a good excuse and have a great day. I also hope to see you out at one of those other amazing upcoming shows.
When news broke that local superstars, friends, and good people Scott Nolan and Joanna Miller were going on tour with one of the world’s great singer/songwriters, Mary Gauthier, the obvious question was, “When are they playing Winnipeg?” Well, unfortunately for the longest time, the answer was, “I don’t know.” As the reviews came in, all declaring this show, where Scott & Jo open and then back up Mary during her set, a real winner, things in Winnipeg got a whole lot more frustrating. How could a couple of locals do something so amazing and not want to show it off in their home town? Well, they did, but it took some effort to make a local date work and happen.
Enter the unstoppable force known as Eugene Osudar. He’s the crazy dancin’ dude you see at EVERY local show. He’s also a passionate promoter, supporter, and he just happens to be friends with Erick from one of Winnipeg’s best live venues, The Park Theatre. After all of the whining that Old Pal Stu and I did about this show, all it took was dancin’ Eugene to make a request, and the offer was in. We’re all super thrilled that things worked out and all parties accepted.
A couple of whiners, a dancin’ fool, The Park Theatre, and good hearted music lovers at CKUW & UMFM proudly present:
Mary Gauthier
w/ Scott Nolan & Joanna Miller
Monday, July 22, 2013 Park Theatre
Winnipeg
8:00 pm
Tickets $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Tickets are available now at Music Trader, The Park Theatre, and should be available online soon at http://www.parktheatervideo.com/ticket-break/. But cheap-hearted Winnipeggers will want to save on those pesky “convenience fees” by getting them directly from Eugene, Stu, or me! We’ll even deliver them to you or meet up with you at a location of your choice! Doesn’t get much more convenient than that, and there’s no fee involved! Find us, hit us up, or take your chances at the door, but don’t miss this show!
Where does the time go? It’s the middle of June already!? How did that happen? It’s a good time to be alive and around great music. Here’s some news you can use to keep yourself in the right place at the right time.
Taking a cue from our friends at CKUW, although TTBTGH just turned 10 in the fall, we’re already turning 500! If they can go from 14 to 50, we can do one better. It’s the officially unofficial 500th episode of Tell the Band to Go Home this Sunday! It’s an amazing milestone for me. That’s 1000 hours of my life (more actually, because of all of those Christmas shows where we go 4, 5, 6 hours) – which according to the mathematicians at Google, equals 41 2/3 days! I don’t know if we really need a special episode again after the big one in the fall, but I’m open to suggestion. I got lazy and nervous and didn’t invite any special guests, but you never know who might be reading this and might want to come in or invite someone. Should we put together stats? Clips from the past? Highlights? Stories? You tell me!
I have to say a special thank you to all of you who have listened, supported, encouraged, and just made this crazy dream possible for this long. Most people get tired of me far sooner than many of you have, and although I worry about you for sticking around this long (don’t you have better things to do?) I sure am grateful. This show has changed my life forever, and I’ll always be grateful, and will always want to make it as enjoyable as possible for you!
Here’s a way to celebrate. Come to a Sunset Saloon show! These will be amazing, I assure you. Even if you’ve had enough amazing shows, come and snoop around in my closets, eat my food, spill beer on my floor, or just ask my family how they put up with me like they do!
Friday, June 21 (SOON!) at 8:00 – Joshua Cockerill/Animal Parts.
and on the horizon, Wednesday, August 14 at 8:00 – Tannis Slimmon & Lewis Melville!
I hope to see you out at the debut of Nathan Music Co. next Thursday at Times Change(d)!
Check this out! The trailer for a movie I’ve been waiting not so patiently for since the fall, Del Barber – Live At The Five Prairie Giants! This show was so amazing, and I can’t wait for you to see it. Look for me and Del’s mom Jean in the crowd in the trailer! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAOhcx73K1o
Music you need to hear:
Jason Isbell – Southeastern
John Moreland – In the Throes
Leeroy Stagger – Truth Be Sold
Am I rambling again? Probably.
Thanks for being you and being out there somehow connected to me.
Joshua Cockerill (Animal Parts)
Friday, June 21, 2013
Live at Sunset Saloon (house concert, Westwood, Winnipeg)
8:00
Suggested donation $15-20
All are welcome (bring the kids, friends, family, people off the street, whatever) As usual, you can bring a beverage of your choice or food to share if you wish, but we’ll have plenty of both on hand, so feel free to save yourself the trouble and just enjoy whatever’s on hand!
It’s not fair that someone who is only 24 years old can write songs as well as Joshua Cockerill can. A lot of us old folk couldn’t write a song to save our lives, but this young kid whips off songs that stand alongside those of older, established artists, and they’re suitably impressed:
“Joshua Cockerill [of Animal Parts] is f***ing amazing. Buy his record. Now.”
– Serena Ryder
“As a songwriter, Joshua is one of the bright lights on the Canadian scene, and has one of the best new voices I’ve heard. Both sonically and lyrically, his album towers above any first attempt I’ve heard recently. I’m going to wager that Joshua will be around for quite some time.”
– Justin Rutledge
“The future looks bright for Joshua Cockerill”
– Rich Terfry (Buck 65), CBC Radio 2 Drive
See? Working on his songs and his craft since adolescence, Cockerill has honed both into two amazing albums and an engaging live show. Serena Ryder and Justin Rutledge appeared on his debut solo album, “The Trick with your Heart I’m Learning to Do,” alongside seasoned players like Kendel Carson (Dustin Bentall), Shawn Creamer (The Beauties), Burke Carroll (Luther Wright & The Wrongs), John Dinsmore (NQ Arbuckle/Kathleen Edwards), Christine Bougie (side person to anyone who’s anyone), and his older brother, Greg Cockerill. He’s got songs that are tender and heartfelt, and, with Animal Parts, he rocks out with solid backing, great energy, and irresistible melodies. The kid’s good. Really good.
He’s a bit of a road warrior, touring with a band a bunch of times, and solo. He’s versatile, charismatic, and disgustingly talented. I’m told that the ladies think he’s rather cute as well. Previously, he rocked the StuDome back yard, stole the show at Dauphin Countryfest, played a wonderful rockin’ set at The Standard, and now, he’s coming to the Sunset Saloon, so he’s officially made it to the big time!
You might not have heard a lot of Joshua’s songs yet (although, if you listen to Tell the Band to Go Home or Steel Belted Radio, you surely have), but you’ll go home humming the songs and remembering the name. Join us for Joshua Cockerillon June 21.
If you listened to rock radio or turned on Much Music in the 90s, you know this band’s songs, but unlike some of the other bands you heard a million times, you liked these ones, and they hold up very well 20 years later!
Backyard Bash (weather permitting) (Westwood, Winnipeg) Friday, June 28 7:30 pm
Suggested donation $20-25 (price flexible, all proceeds to this legendary band)
Bring a lawn chair if the weather is nice (perhaps bug spray…), and/or 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)
Questions? RSVP? Fill out the contact form below!
Forward this to a friend!
The plan is to have an intimate, rockin’ bash in the back yard. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, we will have a stripped down, more acoustic set indoors, where seating will be much more limited. If we need to cut down the guest list due to a move indoors, first responders and people who PAY IN ADVANCE will get preferred admission!
Oddshits are the soundtrack to many music lovers’ experiences in the 90s. Smash hits included “Love Is the Subject,” “Heterosexual Man,” “Eat My Brain,” “It Falls Apart,” “Jackhammer,” and the #1 hit, “Someone Who’s Cool.” The band played a big part in this history of The Kids in the Hall (and the Kids starred in a couple of very memorable music videos (see them again below). They toured as the backing band for the legendary late, great Warren Zevon (who guested on “Jackhammer”) and extensively with Barenaked Ladies and The Tragically Hip. After the 90s hits, the band went on hiatus and lead singer Craig Northey went on to a solo career, as well as to tour with Kids in the Hall, record and tour with Colin James, as Strippers Union (including Rob Baker from The Tragically Hip, backed up by Oddsrhythm section), and as half of Northey Valenzuela, who were responsible for the beginning and ending themes for CTV’s classic comedy “Corner Gas.”
The band regrouped without original singer/guitarist Steven Drake, capably replaced by Murray Atkinson, in 2008. Their album “Cheerleader,” was a return to form. The recently released a very strong EP, “The Most Beautiful Place on Earth,” which proves that this is more than just a nostalgia trip, this is the return of a band that sounds as vital and exciting as ever!
The band was named the Vancouver Canucks ‘house band’ of the 2010 and 2011 NHL playoffs. Odds performed the theme music to the CBC/IFC television series The Kids in the Hall: Death Comes to Town. They backed up Elvis Costello and Randy Bachmanon Hockey Night in Canada!
To say that these guys are highly successful would be a major understatement. To see this band in an intimate house concert setting is an opportunity of a lifetime, and is not to be missed!
Shannon Lyon
Outdoor house concert July 6, 2013
7:00
Suggested donation $15-20 (price flexible, all proceeds to a talented musician making his way across this vast country)
Bring a lawn chair if the weather is nice (perhaps bug spray…), and/or 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)
Questions? RSVP? Fill out the contact form below!
Forward this to a friend!
Last year I was thrilled to welcome one of my all-time favourite singer/songwriters to my house, as Shannon Lyon returned to Canada after a lengthy absence for a cross-Canada tour, making stops in several out-of-the-way locations, including some joker’s back yard! Hearing some of my all time favourite songs in my own backyard was a dream come true, and everyone who attended raved about the show afterward.
Well, we’re excited to welcome Shannon back again this year! Once again, he prefers to play outside (weather depending), so you may wish to bring a favourite lawn chair, or take advantage of whatever’s on hand here.
For those unfamiliar (you poor souls),Shannon Lyon is a Canadian musician and singer-songwriter. Born in Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada, Lyon began his musical career in Kitchener, Ontario in the early 90’s forming his first band Strange Days (1990-1993) recording one album entitled ‘Life Aint Easy’ produced by Nelson McCrossan. During this time Lyon also started his low-key solo career and released his first solo studio album entitled ‘Buffalo White’ in 1994 which was recorded by friend Bill Braun.
Since 1994 Lyon has released ten studio albums and has received critical acclaim and commercial success in Europe, North America and Australia.
Lyon was the first Canadian signed to Richard Branson’s post Virgin Records label V2 in 2004(becoming label mates with The White Stripes and Paul Weller) with the release of the critically acclaimed album ‘Wandered’ which was recorded in a 17th century farmhouse in the south of Holland with Dutch producer Bj Baartmans. Wandered was released in Australia on Collision records and in Europe on Inbetweens Records.
In 2003 Lyon signed with Canadian Roots label Busted Flat Records (Matt Anderson, Jay Semko, Paul MacLeod), a roots music label founded in 2002 by Mark Logan and based in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. Busted Flat has released 5 of Lyon’s albums to date. (Bound, Safe Inside, Someday Mourning, El Sol, and Broken Things).
Lyon moved to Holland in 2000 and spent the better part of a decade living and touring in Spain, Germany, France and The Netherlands.
Lyon is currently located in Canada.
(Lyon has toured and shared the stage in Europe, Australia, USA and Canada with such artists as Lucinda Williams, Richard Buckner, Jay Farrar, Ray LaMontagne, Blue Rodeo and Bruce Cockburn).
“When I hear Shannon, I hear the rhythms of the Midnight Cowboy, the harmonies of an earth-bound angel, the acoustic guitar that knows the pain of a heart, the steel guitar that stirs the lonely and restless lovers. But most of all I hear the voice that echoes Earle, Farrar and Buckner, a voice that haunts you like a heavy fog on a barren field on a cool October morning.” Bob Egan (Blue Rodeo, Wilco)
A Benefit Concert in Support of the Dave McGimpsey Campership Fund
When news broke that local superstars, friends, and good people 
