#StayAtHome - Crown Lands lean on learning more music

By Will McGuirk

Oshawa rock duo Crown Lands have been on an upwards curve for a while with 2020 being the year when all the work pays off. Their most recent single, “Spit It Out” had been picked up by radio and getting the Spotify spotlight. But the Covid-19 pandemic has everything on hold.

“Everything has been pushed back due to this ever-evolving situation. The entire music industry has been hit particularly hard. We’ll still be releasing new music this year and hopefully be on the road again!,” says Kevin Comeau and Cody Bowles in a email to slowcity.ca.

Kevin has been active on social media, live-streaming lessons on his Instagram account while Cody has kept a lower profile during this time. Its an unusual situation for the two pals who have been creating together in the same space since inception.

“It’s hard to be creative when dealing with the fear of the unknown, but we’ve been trying to make the most of this newfound time. Writing on our own is something we haven’t done before but because of social distancing it’s imperative to keep the creative spark alight. We’ve taken advantage of the live-streaming platform to teach music lessons,” but as both guys are apart don’t expect any online live performances just yet.

This unexpected bonus of time is an opportunity to fuel up on music however, they say, to dig back into the music which inspired them and to follow tangents in to other bands.

“This has been a great time for woodshedding and learning music that we otherwise wouldn’t have time for. The pressure to create original music can sometimes be insurmountable. It’s nice to lean into learning music that we wouldn’t have otherwise. Learning music is a great way to gain a new perspective on writing your own music.”

They are also taking the opportunity to think about what being a working musician is and why they are musicians to start off with.

“Nowadays it has moved back to the pure form of what is it to be a musician - to hone your craft on your respective instrument. We have been finding the joy in simply playing again, without the view to craft a live set. When those parameters have been lifted, it’s a good time to focus on simply creating.”

Crown Lands have rescheduled their upcoming Toronto date at the Mod Club to July 27 2020. Wine Lips will open.

#StayAtHome - DIzzy launches Liner Notes series with background on 'Sunflower'

By Will McGuirk

Dizzy take a deep dive into their songs on a new video series, ‘Liner Notes’. First up is their latest single “Sunflower”. Katie Munshaw explains the inspiration and creation of the track as well as answering questions from fans.

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Slowcity.ca Open Mic with Martin Kerr and Ann Vriend, Mathew V & Jocelyn Alice, Jon McKiel, Amtrac, Venture Boi,

By Will McGuirk

Today’s Log: Monday, raining, listened to . . .

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#StayAtHome - and help Frere Du Nord help those in need

L-R: Milena Holmes and Duey Vlajic. Photo by Katie Mutton

By Will McGuirk

Frere Du Nord, the clothing manufacturing centre located in Downtown Oshawa, have repurposed their team and equipment in part to produce non-medical personal protection equipment. Woven cotton face masks are now available for purchase and for every one sold, Frere Du Nord will donate one to charities working with vulnerable people in Durham Region. This initiative will kick off Wednesday April 1 wth a donation of 500 masks to both Feed the Need Durham and the Welcoming Streets Program.

“We can help mitigate the spread of the virus by providing simple masks to the most vulnerable people in our community? These are also the people most likely to be impacted, since many do not have the luxury of being able to safely self-isolate,” says Milena Holmes says in a blog post on the Frere Du Nord website.

The masks are non-medical grade but are washable and reusable. They are designed as a safety measure and are not intended to be used as a fully preventative barrier against COVID-19 or other viruses. Milena says she has been in contact with local medical suppliers, local clinics, Lakeridge Health, and Government of Canada procurement representatives, should the need for medical grade masks be required. Currently the medical grade material and the manufacturing, is only available overseas. With the global demand rising, alternative sources made be needed sooner rather than later.

“I am doing everything I can to make them aware of our capabilities, and the capabilities of other GTA sewing businesses in my network. I know they will reach out if there is a need. We will always prioritize our front line workers, if that call ever came. Until it does, we will be doing whatever we can, every single day, to try to lessen their work load by keeping ourselves safe,” she says.

Those who choose to buy masks for their own use can have them delivered to their home in accordance with social distancing recommendations. There is also the option of purchasing masks solely for the use of the local charities.

More information is available on Frere Du Nord’s website.

Slowcity.ca Open Mic with Reuben and the Dark, Starpainter, Mike McKenna, Dana Gavanski,Zaac Pick and Bob Dylan

By Will McGuirk

Its only in life there’s a limit on time, online there’s only attention with a sell by date, so why not make a long song, why not write a seventeen minute elegy for the 60s, and when its this good well is worth the wait and worth the ride and worth paying attention to. It may be President Kennedy Dylan is talking about, but it may be too the American Dream which died with him and if you didn’t believe that then maybe you can see it now.

But in the meantime - this current global choir is getting wider and deeper.

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"The town became smaller and quieter. When I also moved away, I felt compelled to write something commenting on the changing identity of 'the Bay', my nostalgia for my upbringing there, and the hopeful future." - Mike McKenna

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“Often we have to go a little far in one direction to learn something about ourselves. The months of solitary writing and self-doubt testify to this, but they’ve led to Yesterday Is Gone: an optimistic, steely-eyed gaze into the future.” - Dana Gavanski

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#StayAtHome with Jack De Keyzer - a lesson in the Blues

By Will McGuirk

Got the blues yet about Covid-19? Blues master Jack De Keyzer has something for you if you do. The Juno-nominated and seven times Maple Blues Award winner, will be live-streaming his ‘Evolution of Blues Guitar (from Robert Johnson to Jimi Hendrix)’ presentation live from his home in Whitby, where he is currently in isolation after a recent trip abroad. The show will begin Sunday Mar 29 at 1 pm. EST on his Facebook channel.

“It's an hour of me playing classic blues songs (urban blues and country blues) in the styles of the originators on both acoustic and electric guitars and showing how the styles informed each era and evolved through the years,” says Jack.

There will an opportunity to ask questions and chat deeper about the history of the blues and his own history with the guitar; spoiler alert, the love began at an early age.

“The music that I grew up with on the radio in the 60's had so much blues influence, Motown, Stax, Soul, British Invasion, Rolling Stones, Beatles, James Brown, Cream, Hendrix, Led Zeppelin etc., that I, as a young musician ,was drawn to the influences of all these musicians and records, and through them discovered Robert Johnson and everyone on the '‘Evolution of Blues’ play list, and many more right up to Jimi Hendrix, and I studied and learned their styles. For the EoBG I have included only the most influential guitarists - the ones who shaped guitar history. It is definitely a labour of love for me. It is my passion,” he says.

Share the passion, not the virus, and rock your own house.

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Slowcity.ca Open Mic with Jaunt, Braids, Midnight Vesta, Forces, Scott Goodwin, Harrow Fair, Nation of Language and the Lovely Eggs

By Will McGuirk

Its become quickly about those who are making art for art’s sake. The infrastructure around delivering music live was breaking, it may be broken forever now. But like the murmuring of starlings the fragments may coalesce into “something familiar” and it may be the artists themselves who figure this out, the makers not the managers. Dig in. think, wash your hands.

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“The song is an optimistic ballad about what it means to be present. We hope it can spark a bit of joy and encouragement for those who listen in these strange times that we are collectively experiencing. In a way, the song feels mysteriously prescient for the moment. Hope everyone is staying safe, connecting with their loved ones, and keeping their head up.” - Jaunt

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“‘Snow Angel’ was written in the immediate wake of the 2016 US election, as our collective conscience took a sharp inhale. It’s a diary entry of sorts – a snapshot of the mind grappling with our era’s endless barrage of content and destruction, continents away and close to home. *This* moment, with our world in the midst of a pandemic, is admittedly a new context. But I can’t help but sense the song speaks to feelings many of us are experiencing – uncertainty, angst and a desperate desire to make sense of it all. - Braids

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“The only way for time to be wasted on lost love is to refuse to examine it and learn something about yourself. “I’ll Have Another” is a coming of age story, showing the growth that comes from owning your mistakes.” - Midnight Vesta

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"‘September Again’ is about struggling with the feeling that with each passing year you're only becoming a worse version of yourself—less capable of wonder or grand ambition, less sure of your footing in your own life. I used to just pick up a book like 'Crime and Punishment' or a detailed history of the Italian campaign in WWII. Those kinds of artistic/academic adventures now feel so much more daunting for some reason. There is a grit that is required to relentlessly pursue these things like I used to, and I can feel that part of me slipping. I tell myself it's simply because I've picked a lane in life and I only have so much time, but there is always the nagging suspicion that I have, in reality, deteriorated in some meaningful way. The song comes out of this war within myself where one part of me is desperately wanting to get back there, while another part is only looking to what lies ahead in the life I’ve made for myself.” - Ian Devaney

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Help Feed The Need in Durham Region with online donations

By Will McGuirk

Although this is a trying time for all, its important to keep in mind those who were hungry before are still hungry, those who were homeless before are still homeless and those who were helping before are still helping. The difference is there are so many more of us worrying about how we will be feeding our needs in the next while and we too may be turning to food banks to get through.

Feed The Need in Durham, which supplies 57 local food banks, community programs and shelters as well as five school nutrition programs, has launched a food drive this week to get ahead of the potential uptick in need. They set up drop-off locations in Ajax, Clarington and Oshawa for non-perishables on Tuesday and they will be open until close of day Friday March 27.

There are social distancing issues in this approach so the locations are set-up as drive-thru but the best bet is to do an online donation. Online donations can be made at any time and it is an option, during this period, and going forwards. This method , according to Executive Director, Ben Earle whom I spoke with, allows donors to stay at home as per their requirements. Feed The Need can work with suppliers to turn one dollar donated into seven dollars of food distributed. It also allows the organization to purchase what is most required at any given time. And yes that means they can buy such much sought after items as toilet paper, sanitizers, and hand cleaners, none of which are likely to be donated any time soon.

The Covid-19 pandemic and the social distancing requirements in place present challenges for donors but also for the recipients. But Feed The Need are ahead there too and distribution centres have moved in part to at-door take-away rather than choosing from off the shelves inside. Some of those who provided indoor hot meals have switched to cold take-out but each organization is working within its own mandate to best serve its clientele’s health and well-being as they do always.

In 2019 Feed The Need in Durham were able to distribute over one million meals with almost 40,000 monthly visits; 40% of whom were children.

The old saying walk a mile in their shoes may be something to think about for many of us these days. We can learn from those who have been walking those miles on how to cope with this uncertain future, and the more fortunate of us can help carry them through this too.

Donations can be made online at the website on the ‘Response to COVID-19’ page.

In person at:

The Audley Road Recreation Centre - (ARC) (1955 Audley Rd, Ajax
The Delpark Homes Centre - formerly the Legends Centre (1661 Harmony Rd N, Oshawa)
The Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex (2440 Durham Regional Hwy 2, Bowmanville.

Slowcity.ca Open Mic - Tiger! Tiger! with Soft Plastics, Jacqueline Tucci, Tops, Pantayo, STORRY, Sarah Jarosz, Dirty Projectors and Sorry

By Will McGuirk

Well who knew we would find common ground in watching tigers. Maybe that fading grinning Cheshire Cat of Alice was the clue after all. Maybe the Tiger King in all his George the Third madness may result in a revolution, as disruptive socially as the the one George set in motion.

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“Sometimes we search for ourselves in various places, people, and things and end up ignoring what’s right in front of us.” - Jacqueline Tucci

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“I hope this video rings true in the hearts of those who watch it, in a world where more is more and less is not good enough, new is better and what becomes old is an increasingly shorter window. I hope that people will laugh and cry and leave changed. Because what is art if it doesn’t make us feel and ask important questions?” - STORRY

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Dirty Projectors, photo by Jason Frank Rothenberg

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The Refuge - "We can all use some good news during this time!"

PRESS RELEASE

Last week The Refuge moved to a take-out only service in response to the government's request.  We had to work out a few kinks but over the week things are now running smoothly and we have been serving take-out breakfast and lunch, coffee, milk, tea, juice, etc. for the past week. 

 We have also dropped our age restrictions and are serving anyone who needs a warm meal, showers, washrooms and, a moment of positive in a crazy world right now.  Those who are coming in have been so appreciative and have been starved for community and some positive conversation.  And while we are limiting social interaction and the number of people in the building at any one time, the brief moments we spend handing out food have been meaningful.

We have also identified that there is a gap in the weekends for those experiencing homelessness and food insecurity and starting this weekend (as The Refuge is an essential service) we will be offering lunch and dinner on Saturdays and Sundays for as long as we need to.

For all of you who have donated in the past, who have participated in our special events - THANK YOU!!!

We remain open because you have provided the means during this time to buy food, take-out containers, take out condiments and keep our doors open.  With restaurants open to drive thru only, you are providing the means for to those in our community who have literally no opportunity to find food, a washroom and a shower to access service.

Stay positive!

Welcome a new song from Rory Taillon

By Will McGuirk

Could be a lover, could be a virus, either/or you are not welcome here sings our pal Rory Taillon. Now based in Ottawa but originally from the Puerto Perry, Taillon has released a new single, “Welcome'“ from his upcoming album due to drop in May. The song was produced by Rory, Dean Watson and Theo Posthumus. There is a campfire jam band base to it, Blind Melon or Phish -ish but as one watches the sparks flicker upwards its Rory’s voice that soars with them and its a voice that could carry us all out of this mess here in this global village of ours. Dig into this prog-folk number and maybe we can all sing it from our balconies and raise our antennae like skinny fists in solidarity. If Rory joins in I’m pretty sure no matter where the subject hides in the world it would hear him loud and clear, “You’re not welcome here!”

RIP Mogens Galberg of Greenbank - 2020 Oshawa Music Awards Lifetime Achievement winner

By Will McGuirk

Mogens Galberg, co-founder of the Greenbank Folk Music Society, has passed away.

Mogens and his wife Cathy, along with the bands, Christmas and Reign Ghost, music store owners Wilson & Lee, and Mike Kupnicki of Alto Music, are the recipients of the inaugural 2020 Oshawa Music Awards Lifetime Achievement and Hall of Fame award. Mogens passed away March 15 after a lengthy illness. The Awards Gala were to be held Apr 3 and 4 but have been postponed until later this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The winners in the remaining nine categories will be announced one at at time in a live-streaming event every Friday beginning Apr 4.

Mogens’ was inspired by the Vital Spark Folk Club in Whitby to start up the Greenbank Folk Music Society along with George Riszanyi, Rene Demers and Peter Klinkenberg. Since Greenbank’s inception in 1993, the list of past performers is long and stacked with the best of the best. Ron Sexsmith, Willie P. Bennet, Blackie & the Rodeo Kings, Fred J. Eaglesmith, Russel DeCarle, Old Man Luedecke, the Silver Hearts, are among the many who have played there.

Ron and Mogens, photo provided by Cathy Galberg

Ron Sexsmith says he always looked forward to playing Greenbank and seeing Mogens and his family.

“You always felt right at home and in the presence of a true fan of music and a genuinely good person. He ran the Folk Society with love and enthusiasm which was felt by everyone who walked through those doors.”

Russell DeCarle, formerly of Prairie Oyster, was a long-time friend and fan.

“I know that much has and will be written about Mogens' and Cathy's, along with a host of volunteers’, tireless efforts in establishing and running the Greenbank Folk Society as a venue for fans and musicians alike, myself included. So I would like to talk about Mogens the musician. The first time I heard him sing and play I was hooked, and made a point after that to catch him whenever I could, whether it was with the band Sourpuss or later on his own. Though not a writer, Mogens’ interpretation and emotional connection, made every song his own. After I played a Willie P. Bennet song the last time I visited him, he commented how much it meant to him that Willie once told him how much he liked his strum. One late, great troubadour to another,” says DeCarle

Greenbank also provided a place for new acts such as Annie Sumi and Rory Taillon to perform. The Greenbank Folk Music Society is to continue on.

Cathy informed me Mogens was honoured to have his work and the work of the Folk Society committee recognized in such a way by the OMAs.

Although I regret not having taken the time to visit Greenbank more often I balance the regret with knowing time was taken to help set up the Lifetime Achievement/ Hall of Fame awards and to have Mogens among the first inducted.

I think here in the Region, we are very much behind in recognizing the work of our arts elders. As much as the arts matter, if at all, in the Region it is in the news capacity. We rarely look back but we have many folks here to honour. I think of my friend Edward Falkenberg, the sculptor, and also the great Ron Lambert, who, although affiliated with Painters 11, has never had a solo exhibit at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery. I think too of the many musicians who have paid their dues but never quite got their due.

Although all of us would rather this Covid-19 time was not upon us, it is. Much of how we are being told to act is to with valuing our elders, to keep them as safe as possible. We have no choice now but to be still for them. We can also take the time to think about what world we want to make when this passes as it will.

I hope we continue to value the elders and place deeper value on their stories and their works. We have too much to lose by not learning from them, and to learn we need a space. I want to take this opportunity to ponder on how to make a space, to make a home for our arts and music community, a community which collectively gave me a home.

For me, the OMA Lifetime Achievement awards are the beginning of that place and if that place becomes in any way reflective of what Mogens built in Greenbank then we would truly have a home and we would truly be home.

Ron Sexsmith, photo provided by Cathy Galberg

Annie Sumi, photo provided by Cathy Galberg

Goodnight Sunrise, Robyn Ottolini, Wooly and more at Geoff Holt's Quarantine Open Mic

By Will McGuirk

WATCH:

The looking glass of Alice is social media. We live there now. The physical world shuts down and we realize we are somewhere else. We look at the other with suspicion, each one a stranger stranger, a stranger beyond strange. We close our eyes to the visual overload and we hear the cacophony. We turn away from the chaos and we seek out harmony. And we find it in this new space, this looking glass of Alice’s. We find music is not just the universal language, it may well be the universe.

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Uxbridge based musician Geoff Holt of STRNGR STRNGR is hosting an open mic Thursday Mar 19 2020; not in a bar, not in-person, but online, connecting artists who are at home rather than on the road because of the COVID-19 restrictions on performances.

“Every artist involved has had basically everything cancelled and many of us rely on live music for at least a portion of our income. The idea is just to give everyone a chance to share and promote during these tough times,” says Holt.

The show will open on Holt’s Facebook. He will host and help navigate the audience from player to player.

LISTEN:

Tune in on Facebook beginning at 7 p.m. EST.

7:00 Geoff, 7.15 Robyn Ottolini, 7.30 Matt Gunn, 7.45 Alannah Kemp, 8:00 Sagen Pearse, 8.15 Dustin Macaulay, 8.30 Ben Reines, 8.45 Rory Taillon, 9 Goodnight, Sunrise, 9:15 Wooly, 9:30 Jitensha, 9:45 Tamara Williamson 10:00 Cassie Noble, 10:15 Hunter Sheridan