Photo Credit : Lauren Spear
By Will McGuirk
With Daniel Romano change is the only constant. And he changes again on “Finally Free”, taking the basement tapes out into the sunshine. A couple of singles have been released already and Romano has dates inked in already, including Lee’s Palace in TO as well as shows in Waterloo, St. Catherines, and London ON.
Alt-country acts Corb Lund and Lindi Ortega are islands in the stream of music flooding the ear waves. Individually they create songs which stand alone and thrive alone. But no wo(man) is an island they say - we need connections and Lund and Lindi have connected in a way not seen since Ken ‘n Dolly looped arms and skipped their way up the charts in ‘83.
And don’t say that old track isn’t cool - The Cons and Feist say different
Photo by Matt Barnes
There ain't no next year - another day down, another week gone, you're always just talking about tomorrow - you can't beg steal, borrow or make time. . . so you make plans and hope for the best. . .
By Will McGuirk
Oshawa cowpunks Cuff The Duke are releasing their self-titled album on vinyl. The album was originally issued in 2005 and followed on from their debut "Life Stories for Minimum Wage." The band will be playing a relese gig at the Rivoli Sept 15 but have a couple of gigs prior to that, at the Neat Cafe in Burnstown on Sept 13 and at Riverfest in Elora, ON., Aug. 17.
Photo by Kate Nutt
By Will McGuirk
Alt-country singer/songwriter Lindi Ortega has released the video for the titular track for her upcoming three act concept album, "Liberty." In the press release Ortega says she wanted horses to be featured in the video as they represent freedom and strength to her.
Ortega won't be travelling by horse on her album tour, although I'm guessing she would dig that. Dates below the video.
04/05 - Ottawa, ON - The 27 Club
04/06 - Burnstown, ON - Neat Coffee Shop
04/07 - Kitchener, ON - Centre In The Square
04/09 - Toronto, ON - Mod Club Theatre
04/10 - London, ON - Aeolian Hall
04/11 - Hamilton, ON - Mills Hardware
04/12 - Kingston, ON - Queen’s Grad Club
There's a deep sonic seam running from one end of Canada to the other. It's termed American but its in reality its Canadiana and Whitehorse are one those acts which mine that sound. Think in terms of Gram Parson and Emmylou Harris sure but Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland are their own couple, one of Canada's great guitarist's and one of the country's great voices, all partnered up. They have moved the Cosmic American Music of the Flying Burrito Brothers deeper into the cosmos on their latest, "Panther in the Dollhouse," out on Six Shooter and nominated for Adult Alternative Album at the 2018 Junos. Whitehorse are touring, making at stop at the Oshawa Music Hall Saturday Apr 21. Dan Edmonds is opening, get there early.
Alt-country stalwarts Cuff The Duke have been on hiatus but are back to play Elora's River Fest Aug 17 - 19 2018. The festival is celebrating its ten year anniversary and along with CTD has drawn on the Flaming Lips, Blue Rodeo, Wolf Parade, July Talk, Carole Pope, Julie and the Wrong Guys plus many many others to party with.
Cuff co-founder Wayne Petti says the 'Duke have been working on new tunes but there no plans as yet for a release.
"We will be reissuing our second album on vinyl for the first time. That should be out this summer. The band is the same as it was. Myself, Paul Lowman, AJ Johnson, François Turenne and Thom Hammerton," he says.
Elora's River Fest, for the time being, remains their own live date.
Photo by Kate Nutt
Its high noon for the foes of Lindo Ortega, she stands centre street, red boots firmly planted in the dust and she is taking on all comers. Don't kid this kid, her Irish/Mexican heritage means she don't back down. This new track, "You Ain't Foolin' Me", from her new album, 'Liberty' is a poncho flipped over one shoulder call-out, "You're a sinner but you're acting like a saint/ oh you think you're fooling me but you ain't!'. The track rips in with a Paint It Black beat and sneers into a soaring guitar solo which triggers fond memories of Annabel Lamb's "Riders On the Storm" cover.
Ortega is on tour hitting Ontario in May. Dates below.
Tour Dates:
May 6 - Burnstown, ON - Neat Coffee Shop
May 7 - Kitchener, ON - Centre In The Square
May 9 - Toronto, ON - Mod Club Theatre
May 10 - London, ON - Aeolian Hall
May 11 - Hamilton, ON - Mills Hardware
May 12 - Kingston, ON - Queen’s Grad Club
Lindi Ortega mixes surf and turf on her new track "The Comeback Kid". Its a long black veiled murder ballad, all earthy beats and sorrowful twangs, from her album 'Liberty', a concept album in three acts. The Comeback Kid comes with a tombstone canyon cartoon video - Its the best of Western and a sweet treat. Fans will soon be treated to a cross- America/Canada tour with dates below the videos. 'Liberty' for all March 30.
Feb 15 - Little Rock, AR - South On Main
Feb 16 - Kansas City, MO - Knuckleheads Saloon
Mar 15 - Swift Current, SK - The Lyric Theatre
Mar 16 - St. Albert, AB - Arden Theatre
Mar 17 - Fort Macleod, AB - Empress Theatre
Mar 24 - Seattle, WA - The Tractor Tavern
Mar 25 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios
Mar 29 - Los Angeles, CA - Moroccan Lounge
Mar 30 - San Diego, CA - Soda Bar
Apr 1 - Phoenix, AZ - Musical Instrument Museum
Apr 3 - Austin, TX - Stubb’s BBQ
Apr 4 - Dallas, TX - Club Dada
Apr 5 - Houston, TX - McGonigel’s Mucky Duck
Apr 12 - Calgary, AB - Festival Hall
Apr 14 - Winnipeg, MB - West End Cultural Centre
Apr 15 - Minneapolis, MN - Dakota Jazz Club
Apr 17 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
Apr 19 - St. Louis, MO - Old Rock House
Ap 20 - Nashville, TN - 3rd & Lindsay
Apr 21 - Decatur, GA - Eddie’s Attic
Apr 22 - Charlotte, NC - The Evening Muse
Apr 24 - Washington, DC - Union Stage
Apr 25 - Annapolis, MD - Rams Head On Stage
Apr 26 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
May 4 - Montreal, QC - L’Escogriffe
May 5 - Ottawa, ON - The 27 Club
May 6 - Burnstown, ON - Neat Coffee Shop
May 7 - Kitchener, ON - Centre In The Square
May 9 - Toronto, ON - Mod Club Theatre
May 10 - London, ON - Aeolian Hall
May 11 - Hamilton, ON - Mills Hardware
May 12 - Kingston, ON - Queen’s Grad Club
Photo by Brantley Gutierrez
The latest track from Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats is a four minute trip though the Last Waltz, all of those Winterland Ballroom kats, from Dylan to Van Morrison and Levon Helms & Co. show up in sonic vignettes on this pretty, great track, its oozy like a Sunday Morning, eh Mama? The new album, 'Tearing at the Seams' drops March 9 on Stax.
here's another one for you for scrolling down here ->