Another amazing opportunity has come our way, and it was too good to pass up. So, making for our most ambitious show and most ambitious week ever, we proudly present:
Joy Kills Sorrow
Live @ Sunset Saloon (house concert, West Winnipeg)
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
7:30 pm
Suggested donation: $20-25 (all proceeds to the artists, and this time, there are 5 of them!)
All are welcome (family friendly, and feel free to bring a friend or forward this info along)
Bring a drink for yourself and/or a snack to share, if you wish.
If the Shannon Lyon show on July 21 goes well, we may consider doing this outdoors as well.
Here’s what that might be like:
We’re branching out a bit with something bigger and a bit different than what we usually present, but this was too great an opportunity to pass up. This super-talented young 5 piece band has wowed audiences at councerts and festivals across North America, including a successful appearance at The Winnipeg Folk Festival last year. You might compare them a bit to Folk Fest favourites Crooked Still or local heroes The Duhks, but this band is definitely unique, and definitely amazing.
The band is based in Boston, but fronted by a Canadian gal from Vancouver Island, named Emma Beaton. If that name sounds familiar, it may be from reading the liner notes to Del Barber’s latest CD, Headwaters. You know, she’s that stunning voice that is featured at the beginning and end of the album, on “Love and Wine.” That alone was enough to get me interested (but I’m a bit Del Barber obsessed…), but one listen to their music, especially tracks from the newest release, “This Unknown Silence,” and I knew this was something worth looking forward to. They’re headed to The Calgary Folk Fest (where Mr. Barber will also appear) and need a place to stop on the way. What better place than The Sunset Saloon?
“Subtle and snazzy, this new jack acoustic outfit merges bluegrass with jazz like it was the most natural combination in the world. Meanwhile, singers and songwriters Emma Beaton and Bridget Kearney bring wry existential intelligence and a haunting, Celtic/Canadian interpretive quality to their delicate yet determined tales of contemporary dislocation and off-kilter love. Kind of like a more accessible, less pleased with themselves Nickel Creek, these are virtuoso art folkies who understand the value of being just folks, too.”
I’m sorry, Canada, but I had to leave you on your birthday. I know that’s a real douchebag thing to do, but it had to be done. I was looking for something important, something that, honestly, you’ve been missing for a while now. I don’t mean to hurt you, baby, but it’s true. Sometimes things just kind of slip a little bit, and you lose sight of them. Sometimes you have to be reminded of what it was that helped you to fall in love in the first place, so you can build up your relationship again. I’m not saying that things have to be the way they were, and you certainly don’t have to try to be like someone else; that ain’t what I’m sayin’. It’s just that I’ve been reminded of something that we once had, and I’m hoping that the spark still lives, and that we can work on strengthening what we have, because I know it’s wonderful.
What? I am getting to the point, baby. I’m sorry. I know you don’t like the long pre-amble, it sounds like I’m making excuses. It’s not that, I just like to be understood, although it happens so rarely. I’m just explaining my motivation. No, I’m not trying to change the subject.
Huh? Oh, yeah, what I was looking for.
Rock and fucking roll.
**********************************
Sometimes you gotta take a road trip. There are good shows at home, sure, but somehow, when you work really hard to be at a show, spend lots of money and do stupid things, like driving home through the night, you get a better experience out of it. Such was the case with the show by Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit in Fargo, ND, on July 1. I knew it was going to be good, why else would I go, but I guess I had no idea just how amazing it could be.
The venue was dark. Small. Not the kind of place where you really want to touch anything, if you can help it. It was also a Sunday night, and in Fargo, so nobody was there. Well, more showed up when the headliners took the stage, but during the opening band, there must have been about 30 people. I’ve had more people in my living room. That band was decent. Jaine liked ’em. Me, not so much. I’ve got nothing against them, and if they’re reading this, I hope they’re not offended, but nothing really stood out other than the cellist as a major player, which was interesting. The piano was too loud; kind of annoying, actually. Stopping to talk about the setlist as they went – not really that cool. Yeah, it could make the show more creative, but it just made you look unprepared.
Isbell didn’t need no damn setlist. I have no idea how the 4 guys on stage communicated what was next. Some kind of telepathy I guess, that can only come from having played night after night after sweaty night in dark, smelly bars like that. Isbell’s seen and done it all, I’m sure, when he rose up from the Dirty South with The Drive-By Truckers. He learned about gritty rock and roll in that band, I’m sure, and built a name for himself. I’m sure there was some fear for the future when he and his wife split, and he had to leave that band and go it alone. Nothing to worry about, because he’s got the goods.
A four piece band, Isbell, backed by 3 of the strongest players & singers I’ve seen, tore through a set of songs spanning his career, and musical upbringing. In addition to the stellar songs off of his solo records (including much of the fantastic latest album, “Here We Rest.” My favourites are Alabama Pines and Codeine. Dude did ’em both!), he played a whole bunch of his Drive-By Truckers songs. He didn’t do “Easy on Yourself,” sure, but that probably would have set the crowd into overdrive, and some of them were nearing that point already. He did do Decoration Day and Outfit. God I love those. I thought I’d die when the drums started that slow, pounding intro to Danko/Manuel.
It was the covers that really set me flying: Stone Free was cool, I’ve heard lots of bands do Like a Hurricane, but that was by far my favourite (sorry, Neil); ending off with American Girl? Wow. Even Frank Turner’s version at The Folk Fest Store on Record Store Day can’t touch it.
Back to that crowd. There were some pretty rowdy and annoying loogans there. OK, maybe just that one – waving his arms and screaming at the top of his lungs right at the front of the stage. His pants always dangerously close to falling right down, somehow defying the laws of gravity and keeping from dropping to his ankles. I guess the most annoying part was the regular high-fives he dished out to everybody around, including to me. Later on, he resorted to hugs; luckily, I missed out on that. The folks that we stood the closest to and chatted with most (and bummed a Sharpie from) turned out to be from Winnipeg. Wish I’d known that there. The things you learn later on from Facebook.
It was a hell of a long drive home. Smarter people might have stayed the night, but smarter people ain’t so broke. I forgot my camera. Didn’t bring my own Sharpie (T-Bar would be so disappointed.) I don’t really know all of Isbell’s songs well enough to keep a proper set list. I’ll listen more, closely, after the post-show listening moratorium has passed, and I’ll hope that someone posts a proper set list online. But I do know that it was worth it.
I found the spirit of Rock N’ Roll.
In Fargo.
On Canada Day.
Eh.
Tell the Band to Go Home and The Sunset Saloon are very excited to present:
Shannon Lyon
Outdoor potluck dinner & entertainment spectacular July 21, 2012
5:00 dinner, 6:00 show
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…)
All are welcome (bring the kids, friends, family, people off the street, whatever)
Questions? RSVP? Fill out the contact form below!
We’re rolling out all the stops this time for a super show at Sunset Saloon, featuring Shannon Lyon. We’re going to try doing the show in the back yard, if the weather and the bugs don’t ruin the party. With that in mind, we want to get things rolling and over somewhat early, so we’re adding in a dinner component. If you want to come a bit early, bring a dish for a good old fashioned pot-luck. In reality, you don’t have to bring a thing, because we’ve always got you covered. But some kind and generous folks usually bring stuff anyway (we love ’em for it), and really, who doesn’t love a good pot-luck? You can opt in or out of the dinner festivities without guilt. We’ll be here. If you show up to eat, we’ll feed you. If not, we hope to see you at the show. It promises to be amazing.
The first time I heard Shannon Lyon was around the time of the release of his 2003 breakthrough album, “Wandered.” He was the first Canadian artist signed to Richard Branson’s V2 label, and as such, his album got sent out to media dorks like me. I hope that most of them had the same reaction as I did, “WOW!” That album remains one of my all-time favourite releases. It’s gritty and worn, but tender and melodic. It’s powerful and intense, but it contains some really beautiful lyrics. I got to see Shannon live once, when he opened for Luther Wright & The Wrongs at The West End Cultural Centre on their big “Rebuild the Wall” tour. I was blown away. I gave him my business card and told him to keep in touch.
Well, that took a while. I can’t blame the guy, I was a dork and he was on a whirlwind promotional tour. He also lived in Holland. Although from southern Ontario, he moved to Europe and spent most of his time making music and touring overseas. He continued to release terrific albums, most of which were distributed in Canada by the wonderful folks at Busted Flat Records, which has been Shannon’s Canadian base of operations throughout most of his singer/songwriter career (he did record a few early albums as “The Shannon Lyon Pop Explosion.” They’re pretty neat too. I’ll play ’em for you when you come over.) He recorded a bunch of neat stuff in Europe, including a DVD and a rockin’ album of Townes Van Zandt covers. He also put out a really strong album called “This Love This Love,” and eventually, he dropped me a line telling me about it.
Then, a while ago, things really started moving. The long-rumoured Townes CD surfaced online, along with another new CD, “XMas in Korea” as well as a career-spanning retrospective collection, simply called “Songs.” And what songs they are. The amazing thing about all of these albums is that Shannon put them online to download, FREE (although, good-hearted folk are encouraged to pay anyway. Once you hear these songs, you’ll know that they’re worth some money.) He moved back to Canada, ending up in BC, and he started making plans to head across the country this summer, camping and singing along the way. He was looking for places to stop. You can’t get to one end of the country to the other without passing through Winnipeg – it simmply can’t be done – so, probably thanks to Allison Green, he dropped me a line asking if I knew of a place he could play. Uh, YEAH!
He also put up a brand new recording, “Broken Things,” which is definitely one of his best. We made plans to get him to Winnipeg and keep him here as long as possible. He has a show booked at Pop Soda’s on July 24th. I strongly encourage you to be there; I know I will. But most excitingly for me, we’re also going to have a show at The Sunset Saloon on July 21. That’s a pretty special day in our house, and we’ll be looking to celebrate. We’d love it if you would join us for the party.
Jack Marks was kind enough to drop by UMFM with some friends to chat and play some songs. The session aired as part of Steel Belted Radio on June 28. Jack plays at Times Change(d) High & Lonesome Club on Saturday, June 30. Don’t miss it.
In case you missed it or want to hear it again, click on the link below to stream or download the live session: listen
Here’s a clip of Jack’s amazing visit to Times Change(d) last year:
We’re pre-recorded today as it’s Family Day at The Red River Ex. It’s also my last chance to play the official theme song of The Ex, and that means a little hip-hop to kick things off and kick out the jams. We get a little wordy with some poetry and look ahead to some other notable upcoming shows.
We’re pre-recorded today as it’s Family Day at The Red River Ex. It’s also my last chance to play the official theme song of The Ex, and that means a little hip-hop to kick things off and kick out the jams. We get a little wordy with some poetry and look ahead to some other notable upcoming shows.
Artist – Song title – Album Title – CDN=Canadian – WPG=Winnipeg artist
2:00 – 2:30 pm
Colin Linden – When the Carnival Ends – Sad & Beautiful World: 1975-1999 – CDN
Farm Fresh – My Ex-Girl – Time Is Running Out – CDN – WPG
Chuck Prophet – What Makes the Monkey Dance – No Other Love
Ridley Bent – Fruitpickers (in Dubious Battle) – Blam – CDN – WPG
The Gourds – Gin and Juice – Shinebox
Asylum Street Spankers – Hick Hop (radio edit) – God’s Favorite Sampler
Vance Gilbert – Country Western Rap – Edgewise
2:30 – 3:00 pm
Tanya Davis – Tra La La – Clocks and Hearts Keep Going – CDN
Tanya Davis – Eulogy for You and Me – Clocks and Hearts Keep Going – CDN
Tanya Davis – How to Be Alone – single – CDN
Shane Koyczan – Instructions for a Bad Day – single – CDN
Mike Plume – Dirty Old Town – live recording – CDN
3:00 – 3:30 pm
Jack Marks – The Dress Song – Two of Everything – CDN
Jack Marks – Charlotte Anne – Two of Everything – CDN
Jack Marks – Michigan Love – Lost Wages – CDN
Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit – Alabama Pines – Here We Rest
Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit – Codeine – Here We Rest
Drive-By Truckers – When the Well Runs Dry – The Fine Print (A Collection Of Oddities And Rarities 2003-2008)
3:30 – 4:00 pm
Keith & Renee – Best Day – Best Day – CDN – WPG
Ana Egge – Motorcycle – Bad Blood
American Aquarium – Betting Man – Dances for the Lonely
Rodney Crowell & Mary Karr – God I’m Missing You (w/Lucinda Williams) – KIN
Emmylou Harris – When Halley Came To Jackson – Mark Twain: Words & Music
Dala – Virginia Woolf – Best Day – CDN
Dan Frechette – Where The Water Tastes Like Wine – Lucky Day – CDN – WPG
Rambling Dan Frechette – Blowing Down This Old Dusty Road – Songs of Woody Guthrie – CDN – WPG
We’re branching out a bit with something bigger and a bit different than what we usually present, but this was too great an opportunity to pass up. This super-talented young 5 piece band has wowed audiences at councerts and festivals across North America, including a successful appearance at The Winnipeg Folk Festival last year. You might compare them a bit to Folk Fest favourites Crooked Still or local heroes The Duhks, but this band is definitely unique, and definitely amazing. 
