Penguin Eggs Best of 2013 Poll

Penguin Eggs is one of the last remaining great music print magazines. Every year editor Roddy Doyle assembles a panel of music industry folks, festival bookers, and media know-it-alls like me. It was tough this year because the list was due so early, but also because for a change there weren’t a whole lot of stellar standouts to choose from. There were a few other albums that were in the running, and the list may change before the final year-end list (once I’ve remembered a bunch of releases that weren’t considered for this list), but as of now, here’s what I submitted for the Penguin Eggs poll:

Albums of the Year, 2013:

Dustin Bentall & The Smøkes, You Are An Island (Aporia)
Express & Company, Ontario (Seventh Fire)
David Francey, So Say We All (Laker)
Jason Isbell, Southeastern (Thirty Tigers)
Lynn Miles, Downpour (Independant)
John Moreland, In The Throes (Last Chance)
David Myles, In The Nighttime (Turtlemusik)
Scott Nolan & Joanna Miller, North/South (Transistor 66)
Corin Raymond & The Sundowners, Paper Nickels (Local Rascal)
Leeroy Stagger, Truth Be Sold (Gold Lake)

Discoveries of the year:

Express & Company
July Talk
Sean Rowe

Roddy compiles all of the “Best Of” lists and assigns each album points to come up with the critics’ pick for album of the year. I can almost guarantee that Francey and Miles will be the top two on the list. I’m going to guess that Lynn comes out on top. I can also guarantee that none of my picks will turn out to be “Discovery of the Year.” Check back here later in the year to see whether I actually do know all or not.

Apologies to any friends/talented folks who didn’t make this particular dorky list. These things are kind of ridiculous by nature, so not making this list means absolutely nothing.

I’d love to know your favourites from the year! Please consider leaving a comment with your list/suggestions/comments/mockery below!

Playlist: Episode #518 Sunday, November 3, 2013

Some cool covers to get us started before we segue into upcoming show mode. We’ve also got tributes to two great musicians who passed away this week, Sam Larkin and Ken Palmer. We’ve also got an in-studio chat with Joshua Cockerill, aka Animal Parts.

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

2:00 – 2:30 pm

NQ Arbuckle – Atlantic City – live recording – CDN
Kasey Anderson – Two More Bottles of Wine – The Rest of
Kasey Anderson – L.A. County – The Rest of
The Wooden Sky – All Apologies – Milkin’ It – CDN
July Talk – Black Lace – July Talk – CDN
Charlie Mars – Silver Buttons – Charlie Mars
Charlie Mars – Back of the Room – single

2:30 – 3:00 pm

Justin Rutlege – Don’t Be So Mean Jellybean – In the Fall – CDN
Justin Rutledge – Robin’s Tune – The Devil On A Bench In Stanley Park – CDN
Sam Larkin – Mirabeau Bridge – Ransom – CDN
Sam Larkin – Play with You – Ransom – CDN
Dixie Flyers – Roust-A-Bout – Light-Medium-Heavy – CDN
Dixie Flyers – Bye Bye Blues – Just Pickin’ – CDN

3:00 – 3:30 pm

Barney Bentall & Co. – Goin’ To The Opry – The Grand Cariboo Opry – CDN
Barney Bentall & Co. – Come Back To Me – The Grand Cariboo Opry – CDN
Shinyribs – Potato Song – Gulf Coast Museum
Mike Plume – The Back of My Hand – Live @ The Ironhorse 09/28/2001 – CDN
Animal Parts – Lake Travis – Other Rooms – CDN

3:30 – 4:00 pm

Animal Parts (Joshua Cockerill) interview

Animal Parts – Where the Heart Is – Six Arms to Hold You – CDN
Animal Parts – Grey Owl Call, The – Six Arms to Hold You – CDN

Podcast: September 1, 2013

We’ve got some stellar new releases and some upcoming show news to kick things off, before we bring it right back down for some songs for my teacher friends who are singing the back to school blues.

Playlist
part 1
part 2

Steel Belted Radio, August 29, 2013

Does anybody actually read these descriptions? Seriously? Here’s what you need to know: I play great music, say stupid things, and press the wrong button a lot. Sometimes Ron calls in and says some weird things. I almost always make fun of Jared. That, my friends, is a recipe for success. So tune in. Or don’t. Whatever.

playlist
part 1
part 2

Podcast: August 25, 2013

Today’s show is inspired by a bunch of “new” classic country compilations, with some twangy honky tonk sounds from some of the greats. We’ve also got a sonic preview of the Big Star movie and an upcoming show.

playlist
part 1
part 2

Podcast: Steel Belted Radio – Aug. 22, 2013

New music! Classics! Tributes! Screw ups! You know, the usual.

playlist
part 1
part 2

Podcast: August 18, 2013

It’s a show full of interesting remakes today on this “Cover Me” show.

playlist
part 1
part 2

Podcast: August 11, 2013

The new music has been piling up again, so a listen to some of the great new releases. We’re super excited about having Tannis Slimmon and Lewis Melville in town soon, so a small listen to their amazing work. Coming up in Winnipeg is a benefit for the great Amos Garrett, so a bit of a look at his wonderful contributions. Lastly, a late-breaking tribute to Cowboy Jack Clement; RIP.

playlist
part 1
part 2

TTBTGH/Sunset Saloon November Update

It’s November! Already! How did that happen? Time sure flies…

That means:
I’ve been rather slow on putting a wrap on Pledge-O-Rama 2013. What a shocker it was. We were bracing ourselves for a bit of a drop this year. Advance pledges were down. Excitement wasn’t there like it was for last year, our first. I/we brought in donations in a way that we didn’t quite expect, and certainly didn’t think would come in again. There’s always the novelty of the first of these kinds of events, and I wonder whether that’ll keep people from getting excited again.
And yes, we did lose some pledgers. That could be for a lot of reasons, and I certainly don’t intend to judge anyone who made the choice to sit this one out. But lots of others came through. In a BIG way.
UMFM‘s goal was to raise $24,000. Once again, we were able to meet that goal and go over, ending up with $31,336.33 thanks to your generous donations.
And my humble goals were slightly lower as well. Last year you helped my little shows bring in over $3000. I had no expectation that we’d do it again. Honestly, I was hoping to be half the man I was last year, and hoped to bring in around $1500. Well, you really came through. Near the end of Steel Belted Radio‘s Pledge-O-Rama edition, I had no idea where we stood on my shows, and we weren’t sure exactly how close we were to meeting the station goal. Afterward, we sat down and crunched the numbers. Once, twice, three times, all with differing results. We were tired and a little confused.
In the end, we came so close to the station goal, that I only had to make a small donation to push the station total over $24,000. Thanks to you for that. And after a few false totals, it was later revealed that Tell the Band to Go Home brought in a whopping $2,399.47, and Steel Belted Radio added on another $612.50, making our grand total an unbelievable $3,011.97!  I once again humbly ascend the throne as one of the fortunate few Three Thousand Dollar Men!
And again I say THANK YOU for helping this organization which does so much good, has made so many dreams come true for me, and which I love dearly. We’re going to have a great year full of great programming and improvements behind the scenes, and that’s thanks to YOU!
As our thanks, we have plenty of great station incentives. I’ve delivered some, and still have a bunch here to get out to you. If we haven’t talked already, please let me know how/when to get those to you, because I want you to get what you’ve earned.
I’ve also got a copy of the Best of 2012 compilations for all of our kind and wonderful donators. You should have received a download link already, but if you haven’t received your hard copy (if you want one), I want to get that to you as well. Initial feedback on the compilations has been positive, so I really hope you are enjoying or will soon be enjoying the collections.
You’ll get tired of it if you aren’t already, but from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!
And if you missed out on the love, it’s never too late to donate! You can still go online or contact me to make your donation, and can still get in on station incentives and my prizes!
If donating just wasn’t in the cards for you, I totally understand. Contact me if you want a copy of the compilations.
********************************************
November also means the return of Brock Zeman, Blair Hogan, and Dylan Roberts! These three are insanely talented, and really great, decent guys. If you have seen them at The Sunset Saloon, Trout Forest Music Festival, or one of their various gigs around town over the years, you’ll know how wonderful the show is. If you haven’t, prepare to be blown away. I got to see the boys on their way out West, and I can tell you that they’re sounding even better than in August, and even better than ever. They also have a great new album and some really awesome new shirts (I can’t wait to try one on.)There’s still room left on the guest list, but it’s disappearing quickly. These guys get more popular each and every tour, and for good reason, so we’ll squeeze in as many folks as we can, but I’d bet that we won’t be able to accomodate everyone. So if you haven’t already, CONFIRM YOUR SEAT! Don’t assume that I know you’re coming, because sometimes you can’t, so I wait to hear it from you. If you wait too long, we might have to have an awkward conversation, and I really hate those! Join us!
Brock Zeman
Monday, November 11
7:30
BYOB
All are welcome.
Snacks galore on hand, but bring something if you wish.
********************************************
Looking (way) down the road, I just lined up a show for next year that I am absolutely bouncing off the walls over. It’s a long wait, so I won’t talk about it much, but needless to say, this multiple award winner (CFMA, Juno, and many more) is one you won’t want to miss. Stay on the mailing list… it’ll be worth it. I can’t wait to tell John Prentice and Gail Comfort about this one!
********************************************
Coming up this week:
Tell the Band to Go Home features tributes to yet more amazing musicians who have gone to the great jam session in the sky (seriously, these guys are dropping like flies… if you’re a musician, make sure you have life insurance…). We’ve also got some amazing new and exclusive tunes, and a look ahead to some great upcoming shows.
On Steel Belted Radio, we’ll have an in-studio visit from Charlie Mars, who’s in town opening for The Dixie Chicks this week. He’s an interesting guy, and I’m looking forward to seeing him again, even though our last visit didn’t go so well… But eventually, you gotta get back on the horse and try again!
I hope to see you out at The StuDome tonight for the return of one of this year’s great Sunset Saloon performers, Animal Parts (aka Joshua Cockerill.) Word is that he’ll have some beer cheese and BBQ sauce on hand, so you’d better get there early before I buy it all. Seriously, I LOVE that stuff! Oh, and there’s music, too.
Stay warm,
Jeff
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

Playlist: Episode #517 Sunday, October 27, 2013

Today we sadly say goodbye (but thanks for the memories) to Lou Reed and The Gourds, and we say hello (again) to Frank Turner and Brock Zeman!

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

2:00 – 2:30 pm

Frank Turner – Plea from a Cat Named Virtute – SkatePunkForSouthBank
Frank Turner – The Way I Tend to Be – Tape Deck Heart
Frank Turner – We Shall Not Overcome – Tape Deck Heart
Frank Turner – Wherefore art thou Gene Simmons – Tape Deck Heart
Frank Turner – Photosynthesis – Last Minutes Lost Evenings
Lee Harvey Osmond – I Can’t Stand It – A Quiet Evil – CDN
Reid Jamieson – After Hours – Reido Radio – CDN

2:30 – 3:00 pm

Cowboy Junkies – Sweet Jane – Trinity Revisited – CDN
Lou Reed – Dirty Boulevard – KGSR Broadcasts Vol. 4
Lou Reed – The Debt I Owe – Note Of Hope A Celebration Of Woody Guthrie
Ryan Adams – Halloweenhead – Easy Tiger
Chuck Prophet – Castro Halloween – Temple Beautiful
Bobby Bare Jr. – Rock and Roll Halloween – A STORM – A TREE – AN ACOUSTIC EP
Scott Nolan – Halloween in NYC – recorded live on UMFM – CDN – WPG
Ridley Bent – Zombies – Skeleton Crew – CDN – WPG

3:00 – 3:30 pm

The Gourds – Lower 48 – Blood of the Ram
The Gourds – Gin and Juice – Live At Bluebird Theater 06/18/03
The Gourds – Miss You – Live At Bluebird Theater 06/18/03
Shinyribs – If You Don’t Know Me by Now – Gulf Coast Museum

3:30 – 4:00 pm

Brock Zeman – Rotten Tooth – Rotten Tooth – CDN
Brock Zeman – Dreamland Motel – Rotten Tooth – CDN
Brock Zeman – Triple Crown – recorded live on UMFM – CDN
Tim Hus – Western Star – Western Star – CDN
Rob Vaarmeyer – Hard on Things – Poster Child – CDN – WPG
Ben Kyle – Thank You – Ben Kyle