tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115427172011-08-16T23:05:53.798-04:00getting away with it since 1971Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.comBlogger981100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-92099036156116392792007-03-07T09:42:00.000-05:002007-03-07T10:20:19.581-05:00

Been thinking about it for a while, but I think I'm done with this here blog. I would really rather read books and listen to records, and anyway, there's some stuff I can't seem to shake that really took the fun out of this for me. So, onwards.I've left everything up for the time being. Thanks to those who came around, 'twas lovely.

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1169828079806013732007-01-26T10:52:00.000-05:002007-02-05T08:23:04.130-05:00

An interview with Patti Schmidt in yesterday's Hour (the Montreal weekly), official word on the show's fate revised / erased here (caught in the act by these adorable BNW geeks; see 22/01/07 update) and, in case you didn't catch it in the comments section, a link to a recording of the unofficial last broadcast of Brave New Waves propa.It's in ogg vorbis format; splendidly helpful tech notes here.

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1169270913042505832007-01-20T00:02:00.000-05:002007-01-24T09:20:07.023-05:00

[video] From the moment we walked up to Canterbury High School in Ottawa last night, things were wonderfully surreal: the stage visible through the cafeteria windows, the anxious buzz of student volunteers pacing the lobby, a coat check improvised from labelled garbage bags, teachers with laminates smiling nervously, visibly starstruck. The line for the full-length mirror in the girls' bathroom

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1169193209040510762007-01-19T01:34:00.000-05:002007-01-23T23:34:21.583-05:00

The only proper way to end such a wildly emotional day: The Constantines.The kickoff to an intense weekend, the first night of a nonstop three-day schedule for me (which will include the following elements: trains, snow, shows, Ottawa, Arcade Fire, Montreal and "secret"). I skid along Neeve St. and cross the tracks to downtown Guelph. The Constantines are playing CFRU's 27th birthday party

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1169143901666882252007-01-18T12:11:00.000-05:002007-02-06T09:44:46.351-05:00

This morning brings official word from the CBC that, after almost exactly 23 years changing the lives of teenagers in backwater towns everywhere, Brave New Waves on late night radio is no more. There were some ambiguous mumblings that the show will continue as a podcast, and on CBC's Sirius satellite channels, but no further details are forthcoming.update: follow the discussion as it evolves on

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1166828041059760142006-12-22T17:10:00.000-05:002006-12-30T15:56:51.866-05:00

Another year shudders to a close like a VIA train being decommissioned, and I wave bye-bye to 2006 with a great sense of relief. I think some of what I love about this work got killed off this year by the sheer oversaturation of music and music coverage - it's just NOT that important, people - but at the same time, the impulse to get away from the endless beige blather yielded a lot of new

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1166308367061584502006-12-16T17:32:00.000-05:002007-02-03T15:21:26.726-05:00

photo by Christian MorinI didn't know just how very ready I was for Howe Gelb and Ottawa's Voices of Praise choir here on Friday night. It unfolded perfectly: we walked in to a candle-lit room and the last two available chairs; the lights dimmed as we took our seats and Jim Bryson took the stage. He played the best set I've ever seen him play and left the crowd swooning - somewhat to his surprise

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1166141354061270982006-12-14T18:56:00.000-05:002006-12-15T12:41:31.310-05:00

Sure, you could sit there all night with your neck aching downloading new music from blogs, or you could listen in bed to the radio. I almost never give you advance warning, but today I must because tonight's show is KILLER.I had so much fun programming it, my grin is going right 'round back of my head.Okay, that sounds gruesome. but really, you will be sad if you're just up late aimlessly

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1166102981767066212006-12-14T00:01:00.000-05:002006-12-14T08:35:48.743-05:00

[post]cardTrike - Bring The Shit Back - The New Album (indie) +Winning - This Is An Ad For Cigarettes - This Is An Ad For Cigarettes (ache) +Subtle - Return Of The Vein - For Hero: For Fool (astralwerks)Califone - Pink & Sour - Roots & Crowns (thrill jockey)OOIOO - UMO – Taiga (thrill jockey)Choir And Marching Band - Enemy Alien - Until Never (indie) +David Macleod - Sweatin' It Out - Strange

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1166027662512652432006-12-13T00:01:00.000-05:002006-12-14T08:38:50.376-05:00

In case you're wondering, oh I dunno, just what became of my pithy observations here on life and music and such, and my podcast, and my other writing, well darlings, I'm working 14 hours a day, programming this show + writing + scouring music + doing it mostly by myself. so send me something lovely to play already. two weeks left![MP3] De Kift - The Millerisn't North Carolina beautiful in

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1165900581148185212006-12-12T00:01:00.000-05:002006-12-12T00:16:46.143-05:00

[post]scriptEvan Gordon - Deadstock - Classical Gas Mask (indie) +Lonesome Organist - The Moped - Forms and FolliesFrida Hyvonen - N.Y. - Until Death ComesMúm - Now There Is That Fear Again - The Peel Session (fatcat)Jeremy Nischuk - I Swallow Sheets - Copies of Copies (indie) +East River Pipe - Arrival Pad #19 - Garbageheads On Endless Stun (merge)Friendly Rich & The Lollipop People - Lacrymosa

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1165785037582492692006-12-08T23:59:00.000-05:002006-12-10T16:15:33.293-05:00

though our bones they may break and our souls separate, why the long face?Mads Mouritz + Bleeding Hearts - the Office - unreleased (produced by chris brown at the cathouse) The Raincoats - Don't Be Mean - Extended PlayThe Operators - Citizens BandMagda - duoteque -> She's A Dancing Machine (m_nus)Bonobo - On Your Marks - Days To Come (ninja)Quintron - Miniature Breakdown - Are You Ready For An

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1166073101959203312006-12-07T23:59:00.000-05:002006-12-14T00:15:47.590-05:00

A Taste Of Ra - Final Embrace - A Taste Of Ra (Hapna)Múm - Scratched Bicycle / Smell Memory - The Peel Session (fatcat)Tamsen And Elliott - Apartment No. 8 - Tamsen And Elliott (burnt oak) +Johnny And The Moon - Kid Heaven - Johnny And The Moon (indie) +Derrick Denholm - Bastard Out Of Nowhere - New Old Folklör (indie) +DSD - Kapuskasing Wishbone - Norsk Drag (indie) +DSD - The Colour Of

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1165555019083891172006-12-07T23:11:00.000-05:002006-12-08T00:35:40.376-05:00

The best discoveries are the stumbling, inadvertent kind. In the ladies' today, I was speaking with a producer from Ideas; she'd ended up using a track from Nico Muhly's lovely new CD for a talk by evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins. The Muhly had found its way to her desk via another producer I'd given it to, a fellow working on a classical show; the record made its way into my life when I

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1165470500278711022006-12-07T00:48:00.000-05:002006-12-07T07:57:04.280-05:00

is there anything in the world better than scotch whisky?[post]script:Shipwrecked (from The End) - The Gothic Archies - The Tragic Treasury: Songs From A Series Of Unfortunate Events (nonesuch)Silas Stingy - Petra Haden Sings: - The Who Sell Out (I love her)The Freedom - Swan Lake - Beast Moans (jagjaguwar) +Turkish Delights - Mixel Pixel - Music For Plants (kanine. woof).Friendly Fire - Friendly

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1165465234546256052006-12-06T23:11:00.000-05:002006-12-07T02:09:55.606-05:00

where letters land in 100 year old mailboxes.save the Bynum General Store.[post]scriptA No No! - Danielson Famil(y)e - Tell Another Joke At The Ol' Choppin Block (tooth & nail)Poor Ellen Smith – Neko Case - Canadian Amp (lady pilot)Maplebees - The Acorn - Tin FistGeese - Jordan McKenzie (Elfin Saddle) - Far And Few (indie) +[recent history of Bynum, by jay]Wild Sage - Mountain Goats - Get Lonely

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1165300759443440242006-12-05T01:10:00.000-05:002006-12-05T01:40:41.336-05:00

photo par izzy (lebonmulticolore)[post]scriptThe Slits - Kill Them With Love - Revenge Of The Killer SlitsThe Blow - Pile of Gold - Paper Television (k)Delta 5 - Mind Your Own Business - Singles & Sessions (5RC)The Decemberists - Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Soon) - The Crane Wife (capitol)Love Is All - Ageing Had Never Been His Friend - Nine Times That Same SongBritt Daniel & Brian Reitzell

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1165194862449995462006-12-03T19:58:00.000-05:002006-12-04T09:18:59.370-05:00

headphone photo by janI knew there was good reason to unconditionally love Robyn Hitchcock.

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1164954112662844592006-12-01T01:07:00.000-05:002006-12-03T20:15:42.353-05:00

it figures. 13 hours too late, I come across this link on a random blog.

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1164949655249014492006-11-30T23:55:00.000-05:002006-12-01T15:56:25.806-05:00

are you sitting comfortably? arms should be bent at a 45 degree angle, wrists should be relaxed.[post]script:DSD (derrick denholm) - I resort to Books - Norsk Drag (indie) +Chris Yang - - - - - - - - - - - Devil In The clock (burnt oak) +Hanne Hukkelberg - The Northwind - Rykestrasse 68 (leaf)Broadcast - Tears In The Typing Pool - Tender Buttons (warp)Bell Orchestre - (Typewriter Duet) -

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1164867074721457452006-11-30T00:40:00.000-05:002006-12-01T01:11:02.876-05:00

One of the nicest things about programming for a national (albeit sleepy) audience is the thrill of discovery; coming across an unexpected little bit of loveliness and being able to share it with anyone who chances upon the frequency. That element of chance, that synchronicity in time and space is still, I feel, something unique to radio. The shared space, shared time and place. Radio was the

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1164687851830353262006-11-27T23:23:00.000-05:002006-11-27T23:24:11.843-05:00

we are typing, quietly.

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1163606003142571562006-11-15T11:59:00.000-05:002006-11-16T10:55:21.320-05:00

The Blow – Babay - PDX Pop Now (pdx)Dogbowl – Hello Helen - Live on WFMU (lithium)Asha Bhosle & R.D. Burman – Duniya Mein (from Apna Desh) Dengue Fever – Tip My Canoe - Escape From Dragon HouseKocani Orkestar – siki Siki Baba - Borat Soundtrack (atlantic)Tipsy/Seksu Roba – wig out Dialogue from Borat Swan Lake – bluebird - Beast Moans (jagjaguwar)+Madvillain (four tet) – money folder - Four

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1163571294687761002006-11-14T11:59:00.000-05:002006-11-15T01:19:18.780-05:00

Copy – Closet Face – PDX Pop Now 2006 (pdx)The Remote – Pretty Girls Make Mothers – Too Low To Miss (global und)Junior Boys – In The Morning – So This Is Goodbye (domino) +Squarepusher – Rotate Electrolyte – Hello Everything (warp)Senor Coconut: my name is Coco / Yellow Magic /Coco Agogo - Yellow Fever (essay)Tipsy remix by World Standard - Papaya Freeway – Remix Party (aspho)Spank Rock –

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1163484344751212052006-11-13T23:59:00.000-05:002006-11-14T01:06:47.060-05:00

Menomena – Shirt – PDX Pop Now 2006 (pdx) Swan Lake – Are you Swimming In Her Pools – Beast Moans (jagjaguwar) + Svarte Greiner – The Boat Was My Friend – Knive Indian Jewellry – Partying With Jandek – Invasive Exotics (monitor) DSD – Kapuskasing Wishbone - Norsk Drag (indie) +Sandro Perri – Requiem For A Fox – Sings Polmo Polpo (constellation) +Plaid & Bob Jaroc – Launching of Big Face –

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1163207169014828572006-11-10T19:37:00.000-05:002006-11-10T20:08:12.480-05:00

post-post: there is a Burnt Oak showcase in Montreal on this very evening. I'm on my way there now. If you are in la cité, you should come: 3655 St. Laurent, suite 206. PWYC/BYOB.

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1163049427933653222006-11-08T11:59:00.000-05:002006-11-12T13:10:08.530-05:00

These Are My Beating Heart - Song To Step (it's sprung) - Social Arts Club Collection (social arts) +Pole (remixed by Four Tet) - Heim - Four Tet Remixes (domino)Woolly Leaves - Everyone Else - Quiet Waters (outside) +Tin - Cutting And Panning - Fleeting (burnt oak) +Keiren Hebden and Steve Reid - Morning Prayer - The Exchange Sessions: Volume 1 (domino)Tom Brosseau - The Broken Ukulele - Empty

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1162956321297308722006-11-07T21:46:00.000-05:002006-11-08T01:11:31.923-05:00

I'm sorry if all that blank space was worrisome: it was meant to be the internet equivalent of the paper wrapping all round the inside of the window when a shop is being readied for its grand re-opening. so [dropping the paper all about] ta da!surprise, I'm in Montreal.the cleverest among you deduced that already, of course.It is utterly confounding to me that I spent much of Pop Montreal mooning

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1161049347069051042006-10-16T20:38:00.000-04:002006-10-17T19:35:27.606-04:00

. . .[MP3] Jim Guthrie - Children of the Clone from population: me[MP3] Jim Guthrie - Focus on Floor Care from a thousand songs

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1160676697430268002006-10-12T14:02:00.000-04:002006-10-13T09:18:55.870-04:00

And this is only the second example; the first begins and ends with exquisitely beautiful poisonous mushrooms, about which I'll go into more detail later on today. But this morning, immediately following my radio show I walked into my colleague's office, and there upon the desk: collected poems of Don McKay, the only poet about whose work I feel a kind of delirious passion.For the regular

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1160599213120299982006-10-11T15:33:00.000-04:002006-10-17T09:07:49.056-04:00

photo of elfin saddle by Ken-ichi Ueda.loveliest discovery of Pop Montreal.the very-last-moment replacement for Ohbijou.A mysterious record of Sound Stories when they were an art project in Victoria.Now they are a band in Montreal.I am awaiting further instructionon the habits and habitat of elfin saddle.For now, from The Spiral Ship:[MP3] Elfin Saddle - The Voyage[MP3] Elfin Saddle - Life (

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1160262427374742092006-10-07T16:21:00.000-04:002006-10-08T19:55:15.190-04:00

I'm just on my way to the showcase I curated for Pop Montreal tonight: sadly, Ohbijou had to cancel, but I am quite excited to share with everyone my favourite surprise discovery of 2006, Habitat, as well as the inimitable Laura Barrett (whose set with her other band, Henri Faberge and The Adorables, I managed to catch late last night). The showcase sponsor is SOCAN and I'd like to make special

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1160170275602653242006-10-06T16:05:00.000-04:002006-10-13T09:20:13.126-04:00

Mac McCaughan: "You can hear a great band on shuffle and never go back to it again; if you see a band live and you love it, it stays with you."From this morning's humorously-titled Future of Music panel with Mac McCaughan, Grant Lawrence and others (impeccably moderated by Patti Schmidt, upon whom I'd like to bestow the facilitator-of-the-conference award). Due to yesterday's exquisite mix of

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1160000886493888072006-10-04T17:23:00.000-04:002006-10-12T14:14:38.150-04:00

I have just arrived in Montreal by train. It's warm and misty and coffee is flowing; things are simultaneously ramped up and incredibly relaxed all at the same time. This what I have always loved about this place. We ran into our newly, splendidly married friends on the train here: Pop Montreal is their honeymoon.And Pop Montreal - and the Future of Music Policy Summit - is the reason I'm here

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1159463459314115812006-09-28T12:57:00.000-04:002006-10-02T09:59:00.880-04:00

photo taken in thailand by takau99 from tokyo.The title this week is inspired by a misreading of Sarah Peebles' email to me about the Night Swim audio installation and underwater dance; given the sweet whimsy of the idea, Night's Whim seems entirely appropriate.So. BackUp. Over the Guelph Jazz Festival "long" weekend I got to spend some time with adventurous listeners Dave Dacks and Sarah Peebles

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1159118648575112842006-09-24T13:17:00.000-04:002006-09-25T02:18:04.590-04:00

The perimeter has been breached. Andy Spain stepped on Canadian soil for the first time, Jay marvelled at Petro-Canada, Dylan tasted pure maple syrup and Wendy Spitzer gorged herself on the chocolate bars of her youth. Last night's show at the White Orchid was lovely.More photos here.Tonight at the Circus Room (729 King St. E) in Kitchener with HABITAT and LAURA BARRETT.

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1158948271436953582006-09-22T13:41:00.000-04:002006-09-23T02:42:12.763-04:00

So. Don't alert the authorities or anything, but Chapel Hill's nerdiest insurgents1 will be slipping across the border under cover of night, and bringing their Devo-loving-prog-pop Costello-flavoured keytar-rock with them. Finally! You've heard about them here before but this time it's the real deal: Eyes To Space are coming to Canada. My sister (far left) hasn't been back here since her early

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1158873638466385372006-09-21T16:45:00.000-04:002006-09-25T11:17:57.946-04:00

photo of me and the kiddo dancing outside the Henri Faberge show ...wow, things have certainly been busy in KIDLANDIA in the last few days (see recent comments); xtra thanks to carl for scribbling his thoughts on the issue and sending people over.this makes me tremendously happy, not only because I learned more about Ryan's ALLCAPS series (and his excellent and updated all-ages listings) but

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1158762829575704072006-09-20T09:29:00.000-04:002006-09-21T18:29:42.656-04:00

It's true: I'm officially a booster. Join the booster club.Addendum: I love that Owen Pallett namechecks Chopin and Dan Bejar in the Globe. Nice. Also in the Polaris news round-up: Sir Poppist gives an entertaining though vaguely offensive account of the evening from the perspective of the floor (including a dead-on review of the presenters) and almost gets a juror in trouble. PopWherry's

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1158691515005170762006-09-19T14:01:00.000-04:002006-09-21T18:29:21.200-04:00

It's been better said elsewhere, but it was a thrill and an honour to debate the merits of the ten albums nominated for the Polaris Prize with other members of the jury last night. Regardless of how various media like to frame it (and I'm glad I read Robert Everett-Green's article after the fact, because it just pissed me off: he suggests that this year's award could not possibly be decided by "

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1158598582102100022006-09-17T21:49:00.000-04:002006-09-18T13:36:05.893-04:00

Sheesh. It never even occurred to me that yesterday's all-day outdoor rock show/indie extravaganza might actually be a 19+ event.I am hesitant to criticize, because I love the idea of taking over the Palais Royale with this marvelous bunch of do-it-cos-it's-crazy funmakers - bands who represent what I think is the best thing about Toronto right now, topia or no topia. I love the giggly generosity

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1158195849007931802006-09-13T20:32:00.000-04:002006-09-15T18:34:23.500-04:00

At the conclusion of a frenzied week of moving, and mid-bronchial infection, I talked to Henry "Faberge" Fletcher, fearless leader of The Adorables. (He has put together an outrageously ambitious, fun and cheap day of independent rockage at the loveliest of venues this Saturday, and I urge you to run and buy yr tickets at Soundscapes or The Embassy tout d'suite.)It was a surreal interview from

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1158155912216069552006-09-13T09:58:00.000-04:002006-09-13T20:29:19.670-04:00

The most endearing of all the highly ridiculous photos from the weekend's Guelph Jazz Festival: Artistic Director, smartypants and all-'round mensch, Ajay Heble flanked by Torngat/Bell Orchestre's Pietro Salvatore! Amato and the Orchestre's Richie Parry. [For the keeners: there's a long interview with Richie here]. Saturday was Bell Orchestre's last show for a while before they hunker down to

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1158028367561026272006-09-11T22:06:00.000-04:002006-09-12T19:40:17.426-04:00

I've been listening to NPR almost constantly for the past 24 hours, since last night's surprisingly excellent Ted Koppel special "The Price of Security" (via my beloved WBEZ in Chicago). It ran for three hours; not only did it include excerpts of the documentary Koppel produced for Discovery Channel, but also a great conversation with NPR's Neal Conan and a roundtable with some excellent

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1156956037832584442006-08-30T12:11:00.000-04:002006-08-30T13:17:24.316-04:00

A question I forgot to ask in my last post, but that has been haunting me for months:If music criticism belongs to everyone now, where are all the Camden Joys?RE: the giddy conversations I've been quite enjoying over at chromewaves and elsewhere, I point you all to this piece of wisdom (and joke at my expense) from Mr. Songs:illinois, during a discussion btwn some bloggers I admire (after a

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1156944337680200322006-08-30T08:36:00.000-04:002006-08-30T20:34:01.073-04:00

moving house. bit bonkers.this is what's left. [note that the giraffe stands atop a Stacey Q single; a ten year old letter from my sis to the right; utter chaos beyond the frame] I'll be bit intermittent for the next while. Maybe.Seems I got a bit lippy the other night. Been a bit tense, what with the uncooperativeness of the co-op from which I'm trying to extract myself, and the impending

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1156524668114480812006-08-25T12:34:00.000-04:002006-08-28T10:22:37.873-04:00

[herbert + band by frkaczik] Okay, so now that you know I have a late night predilection for the easy listening (put Rickie Lee Jones’ Pirates, Joni Mitchell’s Ladies of the Canyon and the Tijuana Brass Whipped Cream & Other Delights in there as well), I need to sing the praises of Herbert’s new record, which the electronic recordnerds in my town have deemed “whack” (pretty sure it’s bad whack,

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1156359972592622922006-08-23T00:22:00.000-04:002006-08-29T11:52:53.030-04:00

[photo by richard a. aaron]You need to know that I have "Slip Slidin' Away" on the record player as I write this, and it's slaying me.I have been having a little private Paul Simon party in the leisure suite lately. It came on subtly and without warning: though if pressed, I'll admit I never stopped being a fan; I put "Still Crazy" on at least once a year (usually new year's eve). But I think my

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1155334731121532282006-08-11T18:10:00.000-04:002006-08-11T18:34:44.826-04:00

I am not at all fond of the new trend toward posting things from YouTube in lieu of writing things down (and for some reason, I am aesthetically offended by the way they are implanted). However, these refreshingly cheeky lasses did post the filmic wonder of the new Mountain Goats song from Get Lonely, and the song itself is so starkly upsetting and the video so marvellously creepy (dancing zebras

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1155236924006337242006-08-10T21:05:00.000-04:002006-08-16T19:40:39.870-04:00

[Constantines photo by pixienicki]So yr scheming friends went to Hillside and you couldn't. But you flipped through the lovely photos, sitting there at yr computer, brooding over iced tea and idly downloading MP3s, suffering all weekend long in that too-small Toronto apartment that fits you like a baby blue suit from 1977. Even here it's quite audible. Even over the din of yr hard-drive, I hear

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1155225724228773492006-08-10T11:54:00.000-04:002006-08-11T19:51:31.013-04:00

Lovely. Directed by Sara St.Onge. (But is that Hank's picture on the wall? intrigue!) It's my favourite song on the recent Darby & Joan record, too. Our Reg is playing tonight in Guelph at the eBar.You should come.In other Reg-ulation news, I don't think my heart's quite back to normal speed since watching he and Owen (o grammar. help! him and Owen? Owen and he? him?) and Final Fantasy blissfully

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1154722641275735172006-08-04T18:12:00.000-04:002006-08-09T08:14:57.413-04:00

I've been meaning to complain about this for a while - at least since the Polaris nominees were announced - but I was so thrilled about the surprise placing of Malajube in the top ten that I thought it might seem a little killjoy. But why in heaven's name wasn't Sunset Rubdown's new record on the list? It can't have been only because it came out on tiny indie Global Symphonic; that label did,

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1154709268538495542006-08-04T10:14:00.001-04:002006-08-07T17:45:03.100-04:00

A couple of years ago, a random arrangement of friends poured themselves into three cars, concealed instruments under blankets and drove to Brooklyn to sing about Jesus. We were the Crying Out Loud Choir, and through the magic of networking, love and Melissa Herwaldt Riches, we were there to perform with Bogs' Visionary Orchestra, Sufjan Stevens and Brother Danielson at a tribute to folk artist/

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1154465259963181892006-08-01T16:44:00.000-04:002006-08-04T16:51:48.726-04:00

I figured this couldn't be any worse.[photo lifted from brooklynvegan]I just talked to Joan Jett and -- holy -- mother -- fuck -- she is cooler than I ever thought she could be. It's sorta confounding when your heroes exceed your expectations; doesn't it usually go the other way? Yeah, I know, I know - Joan Jett - revered leader of the new girl empire, subject of highly coveted t-shirts, I know,

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1154401763804604552006-07-31T23:08:00.000-04:002006-08-01T10:26:22.580-04:00

I've spent the last three days fighting dehydration and heat-inspired apathy -- and yet managed to see some of the best performances I've ever seen from some of the most beloved bands in this country. From the hula-hoopin' traveling vaudeville show of the dependably brilliant Miss Carolyn and Diona Davies (as they roamed the festival in gentle circular motions) to the tag team Owen/Rollie show (

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1154013947761261272006-07-27T11:25:00.000-04:002006-07-27T13:50:31.466-04:00

(Episode 10.0) Interview with Laura Barrett on a riverbank! (go tonight to see her with pony da look & republic of safety) Brand-new track from Ohbijou! Also features Forest City Lovers, Call Me Poupee, Habitat, They Shoot Horses Don't They and marvellous new Slow Hand Motem, which I forgot to mention you can buy from Guelph's Burnt Oak recordings here. Mmmm... And don't forget about Murdered

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1154012950721849152006-07-27T11:08:00.000-04:002006-08-04T13:57:48.150-04:00

I spoke to Christine Fellows last week, and she had many interesting things to say about her current transnational tour of Shadow Songs, her collaboration with artist Shary Boyle. Since they're appearing in this area twice (Friday night in Toronto as part of the From The Peg festival at Harbourfront (free) and Sunday night in Guelph at the Hillside Festival, I thought I'd post almost the entirety

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1153350654973946222006-07-19T19:06:00.000-04:002006-07-26T13:28:22.600-04:00

(Episode 9.0) from here to there, and there to here. Features The London Apartments, Vitaminsforyou, Alec K. Redfearn, Filip Topol + Agon Orchestra, Black Ox Orkestar and - to lead you all astray - some Swedish classical and Norwegian orchestral (with reggae bass). Oh - and a taste of Gonzales for those, like me, who missed his Toronto show during Beats, Breaks + Culture. [playlist]

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1152720460886336412006-07-12T12:07:00.000-04:002006-07-31T15:15:26.010-04:00

Is it just me, or is classical music shit-hot lately? I suppose we can lay the blame squarely at Owen Pallett's feet - and I, for one, couldn't be happier.From the irrepressible Amanda Newman (not the same person as Lisa Moran, pls update yr links) comes word that Sufjan Stevens will be shortly embarking on another tour, this time to support The Avalanche, his obscenely listenable collection of

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1152390677499780242006-07-08T15:53:00.000-04:002006-07-31T14:18:22.246-04:00

Shad (K) is playing tonight (Sat) as part of the amazing lineup of the Beats, Breaks & Culture Festivities at Harbourfront, and it's a free show. He’s on at 11pm, opening for newly Polaris-anointed Cadence Weapon. It seems like exactly the right thing to do after shaking yr business with Konono No. 1, don’t you think? Get there early.I came upon Shad’s music after he played a hip hop show here in

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1152287845989215082006-07-07T11:10:00.000-04:002006-07-07T13:21:00.566-04:00

Cool. I've been waiting for this typo to happen! Taken from the current issue of eye Weekly (check the web redesign, esp. this useful feature). Was it was the hat that confused you, Berman?Speaking of eye - Katie Crown is the cover princess this week - hooray! She's someone whose work I've long admired and was just, in fact, discussing in detail with another Toronto comedian on Sunday (for the

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1152018497634407312006-07-04T08:58:00.000-04:002006-07-07T13:20:00.490-04:00

As I write this, I'm (quite by accident) watching the countdown on the Polaris Music Prize website. The shortlist of 10 nominees for the inaugural year of the prize are to be announced today. Briefly, the Polaris prize is awarded to the best Canadian album (and this is important) regardless of sales. And the jury responsible for the shortlist is pretty decent too, including many of my campus

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1151450303019528702006-06-27T19:17:00.000-04:002006-06-28T08:13:02.250-04:00

The following is from a quick email exchange with Russell Smith earlier this afternoon, just before he went on Hear & Now to talk about the new show. The first episode of And Sometimes Y, which airs tonight, will be rebroadcast this coming Saturday morning at 11am. So listen up, geeks.Here's the interview:Well, to start - do you think this is all happening because we're not reading books?What is

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1151432225248541152006-06-27T14:08:00.000-04:002006-07-04T19:58:02.393-04:00

Button up your button downs, geeks, the wordy types are talkin’ radio.I am all aflutter as two of my favourite guilty pleasures – smart talky radio and Russell Smith’s snobbery – are about to coalesce on the CBC. Longtime CBC disparager Smith is about to put his money where his mouth is with the launch of And Sometimes Y, a short-run summer show devoted to examining what’s happening to our

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1150836586414265112006-06-20T16:37:00.000-04:002006-06-23T10:12:43.140-04:00

(Episode 8.0) Oui, je reviens & c'est ma fete! Drop The Lime, Ghislain, Fort Knox Five, Senor Coconut, Psapp, The Hylozoists, Ben Vaughn and a Danielson dedication to the Polaris nominees...Thanks for everyone who's been pestering me to return. Radio feels gooood. [playlist]

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1150352985322533662006-06-14T22:50:00.000-04:002007-05-09T08:43:33.861-04:00

For various reasons, people from my life - from my past life, my ill-formed adolescent life - have been reappearing lately. It’s really quite startling, and perhaps I’m looking for meaning where there is none. When this all started a few years ago I was too preoccupied with other things to sustain the connection. And you know how it is. The person you once were, who you were so anxious to leave

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1149000655052467522006-05-30T10:50:00.000-04:002006-05-30T10:50:55.086-04:00

so glad they're over. fuck, that was annoying.

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1144158309625251652006-04-04T09:43:00.000-04:002006-06-28T07:57:47.510-04:00

back soon.

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1141750433703879322006-03-07T11:31:00.000-05:002006-06-28T07:58:09.206-04:00

UPDATE • • • Alayna Munce will be reading as part of the Literary Saloon and Cowgirl Shindig in Kitchener this Wednesday night. The event takes place at The Boathouse in Victoria Park at 8pm and also features Sonnet L'Abbe, Karen Solie, Jodi Stone and Priscilla Uppal. This is the second annual Cowgirl Shindig and my pal DJ Charless (host of the Intrinsic Ingredient) will be spinning cowgirl

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1140665008391478312006-02-22T22:02:00.000-05:002006-06-28T07:58:38.306-04:00

So. Sometime last week I finally delved into that Adam Thirlwell book (you know, the one about the three shallots) and to be perfectly frank, the characters tired me out by page five. It's the sort of book where the writer turns around and addresses the reader, tells you about his characters and what they're worrying about and what he likes about them, etc. But, since I was getting NOTHING from

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1140037474215938632006-02-15T15:20:00.000-05:002006-06-28T07:59:14.653-04:00

Originally I was going pass on this show due to illness and overwork - but who am I kidding? My eastern European-gypsy-Jew blood has been boiling all day in anticipation. I didn't even realize I was that excited until I found myself stamping and clapping in the music library.I first saw Gogol Bordello three or four years ago at the Bowery Ballroom in New York. I remember that the crowd was a

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1139962983858552742006-02-14T18:44:00.000-05:002006-06-28T08:03:16.490-04:00

Or rather a new book. How was your Valentine's Day? I was too busy and too sick to make radio, but I have a new book to cuddle up with tonight, and I'm so pleased. I'm filled with anticipation. I have a few things yet to do. The thought of cheating and maybe reading the first few pages (bad idea, bad idea!) keeps crossing my mind.Today was mundane: working at home, writing, fiddling, computer

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1138815256884116202006-02-01T12:33:00.000-05:002006-02-15T08:07:32.240-05:00

so, I took a little break from the blog as I wrestled with larger questions like, just why the hell is everyone blogging their every half-formed thought on culture and politics? why are we living our fucking lives on a screen? why do I hate reading the Internet, and why do I do it all the time regardless? why am I writing here about music instead of for money? does the world really need more

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1166408995570742402006-01-13T23:13:00.000-05:002006-12-17T21:29:55.570-05:00

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1135449646617912752005-12-24T13:33:00.000-05:002006-06-28T08:08:47.450-04:00

A little holiday treat, from the eye Weekly X-mas party:Apparently the parties have been a little staid in recent years. How is this possible? They have the best sex columnist and Answer Lady in any weekly, anywhere! I was outraged. I took matters into my own hands.

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1166483356578598242005-12-18T18:09:00.000-05:002006-12-18T18:09:16.590-05:00

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1134357472640867852005-12-11T21:40:00.000-05:002006-06-28T08:10:30.043-04:00

At risk of making this album unlistenable at some future point in time, I'm listening to Final Fantasy again. Perhaps because it's snowing. Was it really January when I first heard this record? A month of relentless flurries and flash freeze and furry hats and endlessly driving to Montreal. Cycle of love and work and snow. In fact, now as I write this, I recall the day Owen's little package from

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1133664482157714002005-12-03T21:45:00.000-05:002006-06-20T18:17:35.940-04:00

(Episode 7.0) This week, Spitzer's all talk. So is Sanguedolce! An interview with Toronto filmmaker Steve Sanguedolce, featuring eerily appropriate music from our favourite Torontopian.

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1133649486220102802005-12-03T17:36:00.000-05:002006-06-28T09:39:26.470-04:00

I've been on Sanguedolce time for the last 24 hours or so.Last night I was making the usual mad run about Guelph in my little honda, delivering Exclaim! to the people (best music job I've ever had). I ran upstairs to drop papers at Ed Video, Guelph's infamous art co-op/music venue, and almost tripped over the charming, diminutive Mr. Sanguedolce, wrapped in the same floral scarf he was wearing

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1133298725180782002005-11-29T15:57:00.000-05:002006-02-20T20:17:12.520-05:00

About five years ago, in the twilight of my twenties, I sat down with a younger (and more optimistic) fellow grad student, a squeegee, paint and some photocopied transparencies. We were there to silkscreen a few pithy quotes onto t-shirts. Mine read “Stay Critical or Die.” I remember that it was immensely satisfying to watch the white paint slide onto the red shirt. I made several of these. I

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1132872004407813502005-11-24T17:35:00.000-05:002006-06-20T18:17:55.103-04:00

(Episode 6.0) It's Yanksgiving! Surprise! A quick one with Carolyn Mark, Evan Gordon, The Doers, and Halifax darlings The Maynards![playlist]

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1132610677578512612005-11-21T17:00:00.000-05:002006-06-20T18:18:10.343-04:00

(Episode 5.0) features the Vertical Struts, Holy Fuck, Dymaxions, Nathan Lawr, Port City, Chris Yang, Bell Orchestre and the promised interview with Richard Reed Parry. Also, David Dondero, The Teeth, and bisexual indie pop angst. From Edmonton! [playlist]Last chance to dance before Yanksgiving!

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1132541257959929892005-11-20T21:47:00.000-05:002006-08-23T22:33:14.556-04:00

Little Spitz & I are very excited about this collaboration between Toronto Dance Theatre's Christopher House and the lovely Hidden Cameras, since we saw the first one a couple of Decembers ago, and loved it. We hear this one has lots of new stuff from the forthcoming record. Torontoist has a nice little write-up, and they showed cleverLazy some love, so we're doubly pleased. Toronto IS the best!

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1131737844796030372005-11-11T14:34:00.000-05:002006-06-20T18:18:37.166-04:00

(Episode 4.0) features A Hawk And A Hacksaw, Shalabi Effect, Barry Black, No Birds, Fiery Furnaces, Final Fantasy, Books on Tape, Kvety a Bell Orchestre. The Quintron mini-interview is also now up! [playlist] Tune in next week for an interview with Richard of Bell Orchestre.subscribe to cleverLazy via odeo

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1131230589170628852005-11-05T13:42:00.000-05:002006-06-20T18:24:18.230-04:00

(Episode 3.0) features an interview with the 11th sexiest man in Sweden (Jens Lekman of course!) Plus Hidden Cameras, Bling Kong, Ghetto Pony, Bad Dudes, Barr, Barcelona Pavilion and hot chat/hyperbole about marriage, monikers, enemas and bad grammar.[playlist]

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1130820979452597632005-10-31T18:09:00.000-05:002006-06-20T18:24:34.033-04:00

(Episode 2.0) features Messer Chups, Evan Gordon, Tim Curry, Immaculate Machine, The Guest Bedroom, Scratch Kamstra, The Prayers & Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers, Ohbijou, Page France and, as they say, so much more.[playlist]

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1130246425836057982005-10-25T09:13:00.000-04:002006-06-20T18:26:07.920-04:00

(Episode 1.0) features Sir Guy, The Salt Lick Kids, The Physics of Meaning, The Mountain Goats, B.A. Johnston, The Blow, Republic of Safety, The Constantines, Spitfires & Mayflowers.Now with the previously missing last 5 minutes!If you wanna get funky, Virginia, go here.[playlist]

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1129607161650120032005-10-17T23:29:00.000-04:002006-06-28T08:11:31.750-04:00

So, I've never really gotten the whole Silver Jews thing. I tried. It never resulted in anything more than a half-laugh, and there's so much music that I feel so much more passionate about. I can dig a little Tenn-i-see as much as anyone, but too often he was just eye-rollingly juvenile. But then I listened to the new record [Tanglewood Numbers]. I had vague memories of reading that this was

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1129166872037290512005-10-12T21:25:00.000-04:002006-09-22T17:43:42.983-04:00

We don't know them in Canada yet, but consider yourselves warned. EYES TO SPACE are gonna rock you! Lock up your robots, they're touring with fellow space travellers The Physics of Meaning. Science = good times.Why yes, the keytar is homemade, my friends. Make no mistake, this band isn't fucking around. As for the schedule below: two stars means both bands all at once (well, consecutively) and

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1129181391959255092005-08-02T16:28:00.000-04:002006-07-12T01:47:58.146-04:00

Interview with Sufjan Stevens on June 16/05:I’ve been going through a phase of listening to a lot of classical music and that’s actually one of the first things I wanted to ask you about. I have this theory that Sufjan Stevens is classical music for people who think they don’t like classical music. (laugh) I think that there’s probably a better way of saying that, in that “Sufjan Stevens is the

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1115253238402916442005-05-04T20:12:00.000-04:002006-06-27T20:58:11.426-04:00

I've been a fan of this homerock genius since his CD-Rs started arriving at our radio station, encased in those little animal cards you might remember from your 70s childhood. I really clearly remember the day Infiniheart came in to our radio station - we'd been listening to 20 or 30 CDs in succession. When this came on, me & Katie both just sorta stopped what we were doing. I interviewed Chad

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1111371249919621572005-03-05T20:55:00.000-05:002006-11-11T02:19:04.906-05:00

Awake and freezing in Wakefield.Whether or not the ghost visited I can't say, despite the clanging on the fire escape, because I was preserved as a frosty popsicle for much of the night. I haven't been so cold in years, nor so glad to see the sun in the morning. We assembled, woke Krista, who had been sleeping alone and toasty with a SPACE HEATER. Damn you and your flaxen braids! We reassembled

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1111181261978463162005-03-05T18:37:00.000-05:002006-11-11T02:05:53.343-05:00

We have finally arrived at the home of Das Lucil's parents and I can report the following achievements: 1. laundry 2. tea 3. showers. As I sit down here with pen in hand, I realize just what a luxurious thing this is, the parental living room. Cleanliness - books on shelves - space - the presence of those who fill the fridge and throw out the old, dead things. I feel the first blast of normalcy.

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1111296372760602262005-03-05T05:16:00.000-05:002006-11-11T01:46:26.523-05:00

There is much to report.First, there was already a fantastic crowd assembled by the time I went to set up the merch and position myself with excellent sightlines to the stage. Carolyn went first and it was breathtaking and grand in this marvellous old (fucking freezing) hotel, and her performance was just, just right and I sort of wished I was seeing her for the very first time. There was much

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1111293973860552662005-03-04T16:18:00.000-05:002006-11-11T02:10:15.960-05:00

I missed last night's Waterloo show - the evening of the Ladies' third show of the epic voyage Stopping & Shopping - and the Peterborough show too. Apparently there was much Silver Heart-ed revelry and Kelly Pineault is a darling (but I knew that already). It's probably for the best that I took a day or so off, since I had epic Exclaim! Delivery and Eye-writing and Job-Applying tasks to complete

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1111290682475010502005-03-02T18:38:00.000-05:002006-11-11T02:12:43.063-05:00

Probably I ought not record what followed this fine evening, except to say that I am not one to get all blotto, but blotto I did get, dear reader. Four glasses of wine do not a sober drive back to Guelph make so I chose instead to follow Carolyn and Ford Pier along the yellow brick road to Mitzi's Sister (Das Lucil having impressively de-materialized post-show). The tallest Priscilla accompanied

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1111190587409371272005-03-02T12:05:00.000-05:002006-11-11T02:04:06.263-05:00

I met Miss Carolyn and Das Lederhosen Lucil around 9 and was immediately dispatched to find change. Simultaneously a queue formed and I became flustered - not because of the task at hand but because three days prior I'd received an email from my long-lost German (exchange student) and she was due to arrive any minute. She'd written to say that she was going to be in Toronto the following week on

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542717.post-1111189985611386922005-03-01T21:14:00.000-05:002006-11-11T02:04:45.706-05:00

And so it begins.The madness of Stopping and Shopping: The Tour.Two ladies, each with a thrift store habit and heady musical talent. Spitzer makes three. I won't give up the wheel without a fight! Although my thrift store enthusiasm tends more toward the teak furniture and '40s lamps, they seem determined to reform me and make me buy clothes.Kickoff is tonight at the Drake.

Spitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036372719583731684noreply@blogger.com0