Slowcity.ca Open Mic - "Now it’s a doom that's within our grasp. It’s in the air. It’s between us."

Will McGuirk March 16, 2020

“There’s a direct line between the sort of doominess of ‘No Cities Left ‘ and this album. You could go straight from ‘Lovers Rock’ to ‘No Cities Left’ and it’s like they're interlocked. But it's a different kind of doom. Around 2001, it felt like, ‘We have no control. We don't know what's going to happen next.’ Now it’s a doom that's within our grasp. It’s in the air. It’s between us. But we do nothing about it.” - Murray Lightburn.

By Will McGuirk

It may be we all need this time. It may be we all need to slow down and digest the information we have consumed over the last day, week, month, year, years. It may be isolation will be good for our digestion. It may be we will emerge into a different world, not physically, but different. And it may be one in which we see the value of a pause. I hope it includes one where those who build pause into their business model emerge as winners. I have such a hope as I see people turn to music for solace and for communication, as a shared language. My hope is the acoustic environment, suggested by Marshall McLuhan as a consequence of electronic media, is one with pillars of music supporting it. And maybe when we emerge, if we do, we are willing to pay our musicians, our artists, our poets and storytellers their true value, because this time may be demonstrated just how much we need our artists, and I am guessing it may be, if not more than bottled water at least more than toilet paper.

Some music to hoard so.

“This song encapsulates the feeling of losing touch, reflecting the distance between two people that comes from a disparity in perceptions, emotions, and perspectives.” - Blurr

”This song is a reminder that by embracing those who love us within ourselves, we can find a sense of home and belonging in our own skin.” - Carmanah

“I’m a daydreamer of sorts, a little bit lost between some hard reality I can’t yet grasp and a dream from which I’m not sure how to wake,” says Davidson. “It would be easy to call this an artistic space, but I know it’s more so just a place in which to hide from things I won’t confront. Each morning I wake up with a sink full of dishes and a head full of wishes. I’m never sure which mess to clean up first.” - Slow Leaves

Slowcity.ca Open Mic - Call it a staycation soundtrack with Lou Canon, Margo Price, Luka Kuplowsky, Cayley Thomas, Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, and Emily Rockarts

Will McGuirk March 12, 2020

By Will McGuirk

Here at slowcity.ca we encourage staycations, we encourage small-marts, we encourage minimizing, we encourage pausing, we say gather in groups of best friends, zig where others zag, curate your life and step out of the flow and whatever you do don’t go viral.

Margo Price plays RBC Echo Beach on Saturday May 23

“When I sing Mary Margaret O’Hara’s “Anew Day”, I feel directly channeled to the joy and sorrow embedded in the music and lyrics. The first time I covered the song was the closing night of the Holy Oak Cafe - a space in Toronto that is so deeply important to my songwriting. The song is forever tied to memories of change and rebirth. Singing “Anew Day” is always utterly present and moving for me.” - Luka Kuplowsky

Luka Kuplowsky plays the Drake Underground Saturday April 4

“I believe that shame has made my work more general, when I’ve always wanted to be specific. This record is about me finally being specific. If you listen to my music, I want you to know who you are dealing with.” Thao Nguyen

Stay” is about the moments after a breakup, you wish that it could have worked out, maybe you still think it can, but it’s obvious that it won’t. It’s about being annoyed, perplexed, exasperated and gutted by a relationship that you knew wasn’t right from the beginning but you still hoped would work out in the end." - Emily Rockarts

Friday, May 22 - Gravenhurst, ON - Sawdust City Brewing
Saturday, May 23 - North Bay, ON - House Concert
Sunday, May 24 - Uxbridge, ON - The Second Wedge Brewing Co
Tuesday, May 26 - Barrie, ON - Donaleighs
Thursday, May 28 - Kingston, ON - The Mansion - TICKETS
Friday, May 29 - Wakefield, QC - The Blacksheep Inn - TICKETS
Saturday, May 30 - Montreal, QC - Casa Del Popolo - TICKETS
Sunday, May 31 - Belleville, ON - House Concert
Tuesday, June 3 - Hamilton, ON - The Casbah
Thursday, June 4 - Guelph, ON - Silence - TICKETS
Friday, June 5 - Cambridge, ON - Four Fathers Brewing
Saturday, June 6 - Toronto, ON - Burdock - TICKETS

Slowcity.ca Open Mic with Liza Anne, Grace Gillespie, Missy Bauman, Brielle Ansems, Mike McKenna Jr., Noah Reid, Great Lake Swimmers with Picastro and Ayla Brook & the Sound Men

Will McGuirk March 9, 2020

By Will McGuirk

Woodshedding done, time in front of the fire in contemplation, time spent thinking, time listening to one’s own thoughts, taken, time now to begin. Begin, begin again, start, start again, seed the thoughts and see which ones take, which ones grow, which ones prosper. I have my idea now, I will drop it soon, and maybe it grows.

“This song is the feeling of having too much of a good thing. It is a reckoning with the responsibility that comes with interacting with people through a period of your own unhealth paired with the hope that you can handle yourself better in your future tomorrows.” - Liza Anne

Liza Anne will open for Bombay Bicycle Club June 16 at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto

““Goodbye” is a song about relinquishing music and giving up the dream, written at a time of much uncertainty and worry about what would become of my songs. Its lyrics mark the realization that it will never really be all over. The music wants to be alive and free.” - Grace Gillespie

Missy Bauman will celebrate the release of her new album "Sweet" Apr 16 at The Burdock in Toronto

“It seemed to be a similar story from different eras, and each character had unique ways of coping and remembering. Many of the 8 songs on the album pay tribute to stories that are true, dark and heavy in nature, and depicted through the voice of a sympathetic narrator,” - Mike McKenna Jr.

Slowcity.ca Open Mic with Jaunt, Aliocha, Austra, Tops, Alexandra Lost, Buscabulla and Jade Hairpins

Will McGuirk March 5, 2020

By Will McGuirk

Jaunt are readying their debut album, ‘All In One’; its to drop Apr 6 2020. There’s been some changes with the six piece band, sonically, personally, geographically - singer and songwriter Tom Helliwell moved to Hawaii, Tom is from Oshawa and came by Kops Records with his mum recently. Tom was in Viva Mars with Chris Russo who is now in Native Other. Anyhoo Jaunt have weathered all the obstacles and have a new record coming. So today’s lesson is weather the storm.

“Oko is a friend of mine. He is an incredible dancer and singer, always strolling around Paris with his speakers blasting. He dances with passers-by and enlightens everyone’s mood. He agreed to have us film him doing his thing. We simply found a costume and a wig and shot the video in one three-hour-long take.” - Aliocha

“It explores the fear associated with leaving someone, and the terrifying realization that without them in your life, the rest of the world will continue unscathed as if nothing has changed.” - Austra

Tops plays the Adelaide Hall in Toronto Apr 4 2020

“Our latest single, ‘Modern Feelings,’ is a call to just get in the car and get over it. It sounds like fireworks at dusk, as orchestral pop meets smooth funk.” - Alexandra Lost

Slowcity.ca Open Mic with Soccer Mommy, Busty & the Bass, Juwan Crawley, Craig Strickland, quietype, The Informations, Lexxicon, Virginia to Vegas, Seth Anderson, and Toxic Holocaust

Will McGuirk March 1, 2020

By Will McGuirk

Today we announced the nominees in the Oshawa Music Awards Best Songwriter category. We are working on the Apr 3 and 4 galas. At Kops we had Skye Wallace in and we have Hunter Sheridan and Robyn Ottolini coming in, all OMA nominees and we also have Tyler Ashton. Last week I was at the first Sewing Session held at Frere Du Nord in downtown Oshawa. Sponsored by Town Brewery the featured act was Tijuana Jesus. Quite sometime ago I was randomly crammed into a small gallery in TO for a show of Stew Jones and Chris Mills and it was one massive hug of thunder. I got that same vibe at the sewing factory and I see it with the OMAs and the listening room in the record store. Change is afoot, magic is afoot.

Soccer Mommy plays the Phoenix in Toronto Apr 8 2020.

“As a gay man, how could I have faith in a God, whose commandment is to stone me for who I love? It just didn’t add up. But as I a grew a little older and developed my own faith and my own truth, I realized that it was never God that I had an issue with, but rather the systems of faith and religion, as well as the systems of government. That’s what this song is about. This video is about that inner battle of finding the courage to love yourself and find your true self amongst the clutter of tradition that all of us are born into.” - Juwan Crawley

“Strange Habits” is inspired by the idea of making music with a completely free mindset – of course, that's impossible in real life.” - The Informations

Lexxicon dates:

Thursday, March 5 – Rise Edutainment’s Rise & Flow – 918 Bathurst – Toronto, ON
Thursday, March 12 – Burdock – Toronto, ON – Tickets and Info
Saturday, April 18 – The Boat – Toronto, ON – Tickets and Info

David Strickland, photo by Ernie Paniccioli

Slowcity.ca Open Mic with A Tribe Called Red, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, David Strickland, Zoon and William Prince

Will McGuirk March 1, 2020

By Will McGuirk

A message from A Tribe Called Red: “We oppose the invasion of sovereign Indigenous lands by the RCMP and the Coastal GasLink pipeline. We stand with the Wet’suwet’en people and their hereditary chiefs. We stand with all the people working to support their fight. We’ve made this song available to download for free, and free to be used for anyone working to defend the Wet’suwet’en territories and all actions that defend the right of Indigenous land sovereignty and to promote a true nation to nation discussion between the Indigenous nations of Turtle Island and our Canadian settlers. Until our Canadians are willing to treat the Indigenous nations of this land with the respect due, a sovereign people’s reconciliation will remain an empty gesture.

It was the work of our good friend, Whess Harman, that inspired us to give the song away to the movement. Not only because of their work on the frontlines of resistance in Vancouver, but also because they are using their art for the movement. Whess designed the Land Back patch that is featured in our cover art, and has been selling them to raise money for the Unist'ot'en Camp Legal Fund. We will be making a donation to the same fund for our use of Whess' art. We encourage you to donate to the legal fund as well by following this link.

For those who might not know what this is about please have a listen to our brilliant friend Jesse Wente here.

The Halluci Nation would like to thank our friends and collaborators who have helped make this possible. Without our community we are nothing. Boogey the Beat, Chippewa Travellers, Whess Harman and Valeo Arts Management. Chi Miigwetch!”

"We like to refer to things that are dope as real deadly. We wrote this song about feeling strong and confident in who we are as people and artists and want that to transfer to the listener. Much in the way that our track, Boujee Natives, spoke to the richness of Indigenous fashion, style, culture, and identity, we want Real Deadly to be a positive affirming song.” - Snotty Nose Rez Kids

Honesty and sabotage; Sam Weber releases new video for 'Obligated'

Will McGuirk February 28, 2020

By Will McGuirk

There are people who self-sabotage a relationship, for whom two steps forward must be followed by one step back, even two. Its their personal relationship math. It adds up for them but is really about division.

And. . .

“A Truth thats told with bad intent/ Beats all the Lies you can invent “ - William Blake

Equals. . .

"'Obligated' is about feeling compelled to reveal the truth to someone,” says Weber. “It’s about revealing the truth about feelings and circumstance to a romantic partner and feeling compelled to say things to them that although are true, will hurt them." - Sam Weber

Taylor Ashton drops by Kops Oshawa Tuesday Mar 3

Will McGuirk February 27, 2020

By Will McGuirk

Well this is exciting. Vancity raised NY based singer/songwriter and occasional sideman for Yola, Taylor Ashton, is coming by Kops Records in Oshawa for an afternoon session in the Upstairs Basement. Taylor was a member of the B.C folk group Fish & Bird before going solo and moving to Brooklyn. He is touring his debut album, “The Romantic,” which releases Feb 28 2020 and has a show at the Burdock in Toronto the same evening with Merival. Taylor will be in-store at 4 p.m.

Singer/songwriter Mattie Leon plays Second Wedge Saturday, Feb 29

Will McGuirk February 26, 2020

By Will McGuirk

Its the snow soft vocals of Mattie Leon that have us wrapped up in fandom. Mattie has the Laurel Canyon of James Taylor and the melancholy of Paul Simon in his singing - he has his roots in all the right places. Bridge the Ridge and go hear for yourself.

Details here.

Dizzy release new single 'Sunflower'

Will McGuirk February 26, 2020

By Will McGuirk

Juno winners and Shwakats Dizzy have released their new single, “Sunflower”. Theres a lot of layers, the sonics are at the fore, lot of happenings, like that field of sunflowers south of White Feather, all responding to the wind individually but all in harmony following the sun.

The video currently has one view - mine hahahah

Ben Kunder explores his Jewish heritage on new single 'Berlin', video directed by Chris Mills

Will McGuirk February 25, 2020

By Will McGuirk

“While touring Germany, I realized how lucky I am to have the privilege to speak up, to tell my story, and to actually be heard when so many of the people of my past were denied that right. I don’t take that for granted. This song is not only about being strong, but it’s about accepting the fear and darkness we feel and saying, ‘It’s okay, we’re alright.’ That is our strength.” - Ben Kunder

“Berlin” is from the forthcoming album, ‘Searching for the Stranger’ which will be available May 29 2020.

WHOOP-Szo release video for 'Amaruq'

Will McGuirk February 25, 2020

By Will McGuirk

“There is no single stereotype to associate with indigenous people. The image taught in history books is not the reality of modern indigenous experience. We live in cities, have to drive cars and do a lot of the same things everyone else has to do to survive.

Indigenous people are not relegated to the past, but sometimes that past can help you look into the future.” - WHOOP-Szu

Also am I the only one who wants to see WHOOP-Szu perform with the Rheostatics?

Slowcity.ca Open Mic with Arkells, James Blonde, Pantayo, Sorry, Mauve, Wray, Emma Charles Glass Tiger x Pino & Loeb, and the Long Beach Dub Allstars

Will McGuirk February 25, 2020

By Will McGuirk

Slowly the door to the woodshed is being opened, slowly the nose emerges, then cheeks, in time a whole head and slowly the door opens wider and songs flutter out, one by one by two, by three, by five, eight. . .

“You never know when the universe will deliver a tune from the song gods, but “Years In The Making” arrived just when we needed it.” - Max Kerman

“Sometimes love can come to you unexpectedly. I wrote this after thinking back in awe at how suddenly the emotions can come to you. . .” - Mauve