It’s all about the groove. The Golden Isles interview + Sept. 22 show recap

Montreal’s The Golden Isles were in town last week to play the awesome Avant Garde Bar (so awesome, in fact, that one of the two fellas I interviewed, Adam, was inspired to make a wonderfully descriptive monologue during the interview) and I got a chance to sit down with one third of the band (make that two members, Adam and Richard) to chat about what brought them together, what the Montreal scene is like, and their first time bringing their tour to Ottawa.

As always, we spun some sweet tracks this week, too:

Wintersleep – Preservation
Bend Sinister – Jimmy Brown
Library Voices – Party Like it’s 2012
Karkwa – Les Chemins de Verre
Owen Pallett – Midnight Directives
Tim Gilbertson – Holga 120’s
The xx – Night Time (Weekly Import – ’cause since we played 2010 Polaris winners Karwka, we had to play the 2010 UK Mercury Prize winners, too)
Noah – Mannequin
The Acorn – Kindling to Cremation (Megafun remix)
The Golden Isles –  Don’t Tell Me
The Eatons – One More Night
Dan Mangan – Tina’s Glorious Comeback

Be sure, sure, sure to check out our Local Listings page as some badass shows are just around the corner (Winter Gloves, anyone?) — in fact, a bunch of the artists we spun today are making their way to Ottawa soon. Just whom, you ask? Well you’ll just have to head on over to the listings page. Do it.

Get out and see some shows, folks — support local and Canadian music. ‘Til next week!

Sound of Lions interview and Sept. 15th show recap

It feels good to be back in action. Well, half back in action — yes, today’s show was prerecorded. But that didn’t make it any less kickass. This week’s tracks:

Winter Gloves – Plastic Slides
The Balconies – Elephant Lamp
Caribou – Leave House
Rich Aucoin – Brian Wilson is A.L.I.V.E.
Parlovr – Pen to the Paper
The Gallop – Evenings Over the Hills
Sound of Lions – Enders
Land of Talk – Cloak and Cipher
Free Energy – Dream City
Two Hours Traffic – Noisemaker
Tokyo Police Club – Not Sick

A couple weeks ago, I got to chat with Whitney and Christian (and their adorable kitty Mixtape) about their incredible project, Sound of Lions. A little trip-hop, a little lounge, and a whole lot of awesome, Sound of Lions has been in the works for over a year, but this Friday, the 17th, marks their first live show with a full band. Whitney and Christian have been recording a bunch of tracks themselves, in their ecclectic Centretown apartment, but have also been working on expanding their sound with some fantastic fellow local musicians. We talked about working on this new sound, the hip-hop scene in Ottawa, and where they came up with their majestic name:

Be sure to catch Sound of Lions this Friday, Sept. 17th, as they open for Skratch Bastid at Ritual Nightclub on Besserer St. More deets in our Local Listings section.

Speaking of listings… go check that shizz out. Let alone the next few weeks and months, there are actually some incredible shows happening TONIGHT, if you happen to read this in time. Get out of the house and check out at least one of the following:

– Caribou and the Russian Futurists at Babylon on Bank St. (though I hear tickets at the door are limited)

– The Anybody at the Cajun Attic on Dalhousie St. (1opm)

– The Golden Isles at the Avant Garde Bar on Besserer (I just interviewed these guys — they’re great — and will be airing the chat next week)

That should keep you occupied — ’til next week!

Last week’s Titus Andronicus interview — and an important announcement.

Hey y’all. As it so often happens, real life got in the way and made it harder to get to the computer to post an update from last week’s show.

Who am I kidding? This show is my life.

But that’s not the point. The point is, here’s the Titus Andronicus interview from a couple weeks ago when the Glen Rock, New Jersey indie-punk quintet were playing at Mavericks with Free Energy and Clothes Make the Man. While Free Energy was finishing up their sound check, we snuck into that awkward passageway/alleyway off Rideau Street to chat about their latest album and what they think about the Great White North.

And as for the announcement? Now Playing won’t be airing this week — that’s Wednesday the 8th — but have no fear, we’ll be back in action the week after (the 15th!) with a great interview from Ottawa’s own Sound of Lions.

And hey — to make up for it, I may just have to post some audial awesomeness over the next week. Stay tuned.