By Will McGuirk
Shannon Chapman at the Dakota Tavern Saturday July 1 2023. Tickets here.
Gigs This Week: Haddix at the Horseshoe Tavern
By Will McGuirk
The Band Genie, Service Delay, featuring Haddix at the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern Wednesday June 28 2023. Tickets here.
An interview with Brooklyn Doran, plays Toronto Pride Stage June 24
Brooklyn Doran, no stranger to our Slowcity community, has a new album out, Fixer Upper, and its a bit of the departure for the folk focused singer/songwriter we have come to know. Seems Brookly used the lockdown downtime to connect with Cancer Bats, writing and then touring, and thus there’s a subtle intensity to the new tunes, deceptively singerly/songwriterly but ready to pounce loud if needs be.
Brooklyn is also involved in outside music work, and has been collaborating with The Get Real Movement x Kiehl's Canada campaign, The 519's Will Munro Fund, Facebook Canada's International Women's Day in 2018, and NDP Canada's Virtual Pride in 2021. The track ‘Tomorrow Never Comes’ is dedicated to a late friend, Andrew Henderson, with proceeds of the single going to The 519.
Its been as they say a minute so time for a catch up.
Slowcity.ca: What a great before and after Covid story - one would imagine a solo artist would grow more solo during lockdown but you went opposite, why and how did that come about?
Brooklyn Doran: “I've always had a variety of iterations as a solo artist and as a band. Depending on what festival shows I'm booked for, how much money we're able to be paid, what type of performance the festivals or bookers want etc. I can always provide a few versions of my live show. The majority of my touring is done solo to keep my touring costs low, but I am always so happy when we are able to bring on friends who can fill out the show to be a bit more loud.
At the crux of it all though, I think the strength in my songwriting is in the stories that come through in the lyricism. I think that is something that can hit an audience, no matter the format of the band.”
SC: And touring with the Cancer Bats, bit different, how has that been and what did you learn about yourself as an artist during that experience?
BD: “I've been friends with those guys for a really long time, and it is always so fun to hit the road with them. I'm really stoked that the bats trusted me with "Hammering On" to lend my voice to that duet with Liam. Liam told me once, and I'll never forget it, that touring is all about being able to chill as friends. I think that because we are friends, we get to have those fun little giggles in the van, and it makes a long drive way more fun. We've been able to have a few really good tours together under our belts.”
SC: I'm sorry about your friend, what a lovely tribute, can you tell me about Andrew ?
BD: “Andrew was truly the most beautiful person I've ever met. We bonded over both moving to Toronto from Northwestern Ontario / Manitoba and became fast friends. We used to go out to plays together in the city and we'd sneak into the bathroom to put on lipstick during the intermission. I knew him for many years and he was such a light. Andrew was one of the first people in my life who told me to speak my truth in a way that really landed with me. We were driving in his truck from Gimli, Manitoba back to his parent's home in Clandeboye, and it was the last time I ever saw him. He told me in a really real way that there's no point in worrying about what people think- to just do what feels authentic and true to you. I think if Andrew was around today he'd be proud of me, and possibly would poke fun at me a little.”
SC: Good news about the Pride gig, tell me what's happening there,
BD: “Thank you! I've performed at a few pride events throughout the years for different organizations and municipalities but a main outdoor stage at Toronto Pride is such a bucket list dream gig that I feel like I need to pinch myself. I'll be performing at the Rogers South Stage on June 24th at 3:30PM. There will also be performances from icons like Witch Prophet and CJ Wiley and I'm so pumped to be a part of the day.”
Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Robyn Ottolini, Les Moontunes, David James Allen, The Americans, Ghostly Kisses, Deer Tick, Gov’t Mule, and Mark Bragg
“We write our songs inside-out. We grab hold of something minuscule and primitive—a simple turn of phrase or an unusual beat—and try to build a song around it. It's inefficient, but when it works, it works.” - Patrick Ferris, the Americans
“A change is taking place; abusive relationships can no longer stay silent, as well as many taboo topics that are now being more openly discussed and exposed in the public sphere.” - Margaux Sauvé, Ghostly Kisses
Rae Spoon, photo by Wynne Neilly
Alt image Rae Spoon, photo by Wynne Neilly
Slowcity Open Mic: Jeremy Dutcher, Aysanabee, Terry Uyarak, Jade Turner, Lake Street Dive, Lead Pony, Hillsboro, and Rae Spoon
“Shared tongue is a beautiful gift, with a complicated reason,” - Jeremy Dutcher
“It’s about the human disconnect that social media has facilitated, the pressures that come along with it, and the false representation that it often can portray.” - Jesse Hofstee, Lead Pony
Alt image Jadea Kelly, photo by Nathaniël Siri
Jadea Kelly announces July residency at Cameron House
By Will McGuirk
2022 OMA award winner Jadea Kelly will return to her beginnings for a residency at the Cameron House in Toronto July 11, 18, & 25, 2023. Kelly has been living in Los Angeles so this gives her closer to home fans a chance to catch up.
"The Cameron House was home to me for all of 2010. Every Tuesday from 6-8 pm. It provided an opportunity to build my Toronto audience, hone my sound and find my voice. I have nothing but fond memories in this space. The Cameron House represents my 20s and a family of Canadian artists dedicated to their craft. I look forward to returning this July 2023 during the same Tuesday 6-8PM time slot, to showcase my new unreleased album produced by Jim Bryson this past year.” says Kelly.
Each evening will have a surprise guest sit in with Kelly. And of course as someone who has co-written and/or toured with such lights as Justin Rutledge, Whitehorse, Judy Collins, Catherine MacLellan, Royal Wood, Kelly Prescott, Sweet Alibi, Peter Katz, The Digging Roots, Leela Gilday and Joey Landreth, as well as singing with Protest The Hero, its anyone’s guess as to who may show up.
Jadea's fourth studio album, Roses, was released in March 2022 and garnered Kelly the OMA Single of the Year award for ‘Happy’.
Upcoming Gigs: Glorious Sons at the Tribute Communities Centre Nov 30 2023
By Will McGuirk
The Glorious Sons, that straight to the stratosphere Kingston band, are bringing their Glory Tour to Oshawa Thursday Nov. 30 2023. The band will play the Tribute Communities Centre and tickets (starting at $46.50) go on sale Friday June 23 at 10 am. Tickets here.
Gigs This Week: Wax Mannequin at the Dakota Tavern
By Will McGuirk
Wax Mannequin at the Dakota Tavern Saturday June 24 2023. Tickets here.
Gigs This Week: Wednesday at the Horseshoe Tavern
By Will McGuirk
Wednesday at the Horseshoe Tavern Friday June 23 2023. Tickets here.
Gigs This Week: Jenn Grant at Danforth Music Hall
By Will McGuirk
Jenn Grant at Danforth Music Hall Saturday June 24 2023. Tickets here.
With special guests Tim Baker, Kevin Drew, Aquakultre, Amy Millan, Hannah Georgas, and Kim Harris singing songs from Champagne Problems
With Support by Georgia Harmer
Lowest of the Low, photo by Mikki Simeunovich
Interview with Ron Hawkins, Lowest of the Low play Biltmore Friday June 16
By Will McGuirk
Canadian proto-indie rockers Lowest of the Low bring their proletarian proselytizing anthems back again to the heartland of factory flavoured beat streets, yip Oshawa Friday June 16 2023 at the Biltmore Theare. LOTL first formed in 1991, issued ‘Shakespeare My Butt’, played, signed, toured, roared, released, raged, roared, broke up, reformed, went solo, regrouped, started other groups, locked down, got up and got back in in it all again. OG songwriters Ron Hawkins, Stephen Stanley, plus Chris Brown of the Bourbon Tabernacle Choir, have been on the road together, the Stephen Stanley Band has been releasing albums and has a new album in the works, Ron Hawkins has the Rusty Nails, the Do Good Assassins, plus a recent new solo EP, Thrash Talking at the Speed of Sound. Oh and he paints. Its all go, go go, for these inspirational indies, all DIY so we independently reached out to Ron Hawkins for a chat.
***
Slowcity.ca: You've been really busy as per usual, LOTL tour, and again with Steve and Chris, tell me about the genesis of this EP Thrash Talking at the Speed of Sound and how do you find the time?
Ron Hawkins: “Well, the EP started out as a "two producers" album I was going to make with Producer/Songwriter Devon Lougheed (Altered By Mom / Skye Wallace Band). We were going to contribute five songs each and were going to produce each others' songs. But then Covid happened, and after much consideration (not least of which was it might be confusing if there was yet ANOTHER entity I was involved with releasing music) we decide Devon would just produce a six song EP for me. So these were songs I had already written and had demoed quite extensively in my basement studio (55 Below!). So what turned out happening was I sent Devon all the tracks I had demoed - he added his own flourishes, flagged a few takes he wanted me to nail more convincingly (ha ha) and then he mixed the all.
As for how it all gets done - I found that if you stay in this insane biz long enough you get to a sort of Zen/ Jedai place where in you are always hustling and working but it never seems like work and everything just seems to slot itself in somewhere. A dance that happens wherein you just react to the creative stuff and don't sweat the capitalism or the toxic bullshit that is everywhere around us in this world.”
SC: The tracks seem chunkier to me, broader, did you approach production differently on this?
RH: “Yeah, I would say it was a perfect storm, or a happy accident wherein I was stretching a bit artistically, playing with new sounds and trying stuff out at the same time I hooked up with Devon who is a generation and a planet away from me talent and mix mastery wise. I learned a huge amount from him on this project. He is another artistic jedai. He just rolls with the punches and listens to what the song needs. . . then makes it 200% better.”
SC: I'm always curious how an artist decides where songs go when they have bands, side projects and solo - how does that work for you?
RH: “To some degree it's whomever is making a record in May. . . or September and what songs do I have lying around. Solo, Lowest of the Low, Do Good Assassins? I mean I'm being a bit glib about it but it's a bit like that. Though sometimes I write something and it's so obviously a Low song (angry, a bit scrappy) or a solo song (am I trying something completely new for me) etc.”
SC: We have collectively shared something extraordinary with Covid 19 - and now we are back out there - how are you approaching touring, performing, has the pandemic informed your decisions on any level?
RH: “Not really. I mean I know we're not really "post pandemic" yet but everyone seems to be acting like it. I'm a good mammal so I'm following along and doing shows and going to shows etc. Where I see it most is in how expensive it's gotten post Covid - Sprinter rental, gas, road food etc. And of course because we are art workers our wages have not gone up at all so there have literally been some shows we had to say "sorry, can't afford to get there". That's certainly a first, at least in my career.”
SC: How are things with LOTL, you have Hallucinogenia on vinyl yes, will it be available at the show?
RH: “Things with The Low have never been better. I feel like this is the tightest and most focused Low since 1.0 in the early 90s. Everyone is firing in the same direction, the hang is a blast and we are all energized and feel like we're sixteen so I think the crowd gets a great experience every night and we put our hearts and souls into it every fuckin' night.
Hallucigenia vinyl is out you're right, but what I'm most excited about is a new Low banger called Welcome To The Plunderdome. It's our new full length studio record and it's coming out in October with a release show at The Danforth Music Hall and full tour to follow. We're all super proud of it and can't wait to drop it.”
Black Budget
Alt image: Jessica Sevier
Slowcity.ca Open Mic x NXNE: Black Budget, Divine Sweater, Colatura, Jessica Sevier, Danny Toeman, and Techno Westerns
By Will McGuirk
Nerima
Alt image: Haddix
Slowcity.ca Open Mic x NXNE: Nerima, Please. . . Stand By, Haddix, J. Hutton, and Equal
NXNE, Canada’s discovery music festival, runs June 13 -18, 2023, in over 20 of Toronto’s best live music venues will again come alive with great new music! Festival passes are only $25 for five nights of music.and $15 single venue, one night admission! Some D-Rawk locals are on the schedule. Dig in.