You might know Olivia Benson - she's the hard-hitting special victims detective on NBC's Law & Order: SVU. Most recently, however, Benson has been immortalized by the Halifax band Dance Movie on their latest EP, Ladycops - a concept record about female cops featured in prime time procedural dramas.
This week's episode features a chat with Dance Movie singer and guitar player Tara Thorne, who talks about where the idea for the album came from, the differences between male and female characters on these shows, and her obvious affinity for these characters who some may perceive to be "sad bitches."
TRACK LISTING The Holy Shroud - Calling In Confederate Debts
Contrived - South Dakota
VKNGS - Nine Teen
The Stance - You Lost My Love
Hymm - Dwelling In Buelah Land
Ben Caplan & The Casual Smokers - Beautiful
Kuato - Afghanistan Rogers
Kestrels - What Happens
Orphan Choir - Fatigue Monologue
Interview with Dance Movie's Tara Thorne Dance Movie - Benson
The Graboids - Skate
This is Dave. Dave is many things. He is a fabulous cook at the Heartwood, he's an awesome studio engineer at Echo Chamber Studios, he's a clubber for the Khyber baseball team and he's also a CKDU ex-pat.
But here's something you may not know about Dave - he's been featured on the Halifax street-style fashion blog, Youlookfiiine.
Danna Jean Storey, the creative mastermind behind Youlookfiiine, has been featuring everyday people like Dave on her blog for the past nine months and is quickly becoming one of the most sought after bloggers in the city.
On this week's episode of Halifax Is Burning, Danna Jean stopped by to talk about her blog, but also to announce a special musical collaboration with yours truly - you know, because I am a pinnacle of fashion.
TRACK LISTING Outtacontroller - Pointed At You
Quaker Parents - Teeshirt
The Deadly Hearts - As The Night Ends
Sandman Viper Command - Rough Love
Dance Movie - Me And You And Everyone We Know
Molly Rankin - Who Broke Your Heart?
Boxer The Horse - Mary Meets The Pilot
Mardeen - Ice Truck Killer
In-studio interview with Youlookfiiine's Danna Storey (Part 1) Jenocide - Fashion Icon
In-studio interview with Youlookfiiine's Danna Storey (Part 2) Something Good - What You Gotta Do
Ambition - A.M.B.I.T.I.O.N.
In-studio interview with Youlookfiiine's Danna Storey (Part 3) Southern Shores - Take Me Anywhere
"Give me a soft subtle mix, and if ain't broke then don't try to fix it and think of the summers of the past, adjust the base and let the alpine blast, pop in my CD and let me run a rhyme, and put your car on cruise and lay back cause this is summertime"
Now that we're finally starting to see some shades of summer here in Halifax, you may be looking to make your own summer mix tape for a roadtrip, a house party or a sun-filled walk in our desolate downtown. Looking for new music? Have no fear! I packed a few of my latest favorite summer anthems into the show this week.
My #1 2011 summer jam is "Suzy" by Shotgun Jimmie. Lucky for us, he just released the video for this song today! Check it out:
TRACK LISTING Outtacontroller - Pointed At You
Weekend Dads - Changing Lanes
Jenn Grant - Parliament of Owls
Lake Names - Can't Make Up (My Mind)
Molly Rankin - Who Broke Your Heart?
The North Lakes - Bravado
Shotgun Jimmie - Suzy
Jon McKiel - Songs At Night
Jon McKiel - Motion Pictures
Dream Friends - Day Dream Friend
Burnt Church - Fire In The House Of The Lord
Orchid's Curse - The Workhorse Walks Alone
Seamus Erskine - Hefeweizen Highway
Vixens - Absolute Complacency
Radio Radio - Sur La Galavante
Klarka Weinwurm - Caroline
Sloan - 500 Up
If you're a long-time listener of the show, it should come as no surprise that I'm a huge advocate for Yarmouth music. From Burnt Black to Kary, to Rain Over St. Ambrose and Dress Code Casual, the town has been producing top notch music for decades.
Years before I even knew independent music existed in my hometown, The Purple Helmets were releasing albums and releasing music videos - such as this one for the song Cheyenne:
It's been nearly 20 years (can you believe that?) since this song was released on their album Bugs In Jars in 1993, but the band is reuniting to play a few dates throughout the Maritimes with American Eric - including a stop in Halifax on Thursday, August 11 at Club 1668.
On this week's show I caught up with Purple Helmets bass player Chris Thibedeau to talk about the reunion shows, what the music scene was like in Yarmouth in the early 90s, and how the music industry has changed since their heyday.
TRACK LISTING The Rural Alberta Advantage - Barnes' Yard
Fucked Up - Under My Nose
The Thermals - Pillar Of Salt
Jenocide - Street Rhythm
Windom Earle - Screw Wave
The Purple Helmets - Cheyenne
Phone Interview with The Purple Helmets' Chris Thibedeau The Purple Helmets - Mud In Your Eye
The Dead Bees - William Lee
American Eric - Thursday Girls
Glory Glory - You Need A Heart To Live
No Flyers Please - Dan Clahane
Rich Aucoin - Push
It's been a while since I've posted any reviews, but after attending Sappyfest - one of the best festivals I've ever experienced - I decided to let loose and do some writing.
As of late, I've been pretty addicted to Twitter (PS - follow me on Twitter), so I thought I would write these up as micro reviews. Can I do it 140(ish) characters or less? Let's see!
Daniel Romano: old school country à la George Jones/Conway Twitty. Misha Bower and Julie Doiron on the backups. Wish this band could be at every place I eat breakfast on Sunday mornings.
Owen Pallet Et Les Mouches: Owen’s drummer is a beast, he used to play in a band called From Fiction. They were like watching a heart attack on the stage. He still plays the same. Owen covers Caribou’s “Odessa.” Best part.
Shark Attack: Secret’s out, it’s actually Arcade Fire. I stand 5 rows from the front, and act like I’m 18 again. They played to 7,000 people the night before and will play to 75,000 the next night. Tonight they play to 800. This is what I live for.
Long Weekends: I’m in love with Devin Peck’s bass and Noel’s minimalist reverb-soaked post-punk new wave songs. Beers start flowing, Noel starts falling.
Marine Dreams: One of my favorite East Coast bands rounded out by a shit-hot 6 piece line-up. Ian Kehoe writes the best songs. Seriously.
Hamilton Trading Company: The nicest people and the greatest choir in the world. Fun and deep. Great way to wake up on a Saturday morning. I secretly want to be in this band.
Moonsocket: Jon McKiel plays drums for the first few songs. Julie Doiron plays bass for the last few songs. Marc Gaudet joins in. 3/4 of Eric’s Trip on stage. This is why people have been coming to Sappy for 6 years.
Homo Duplex: Weird minimalist synth/drums pop fuzz. A little too weird for 3pm? Maybe.
Hash Jesus: Classic rock riffs with stoner rock tone. Cape Breton in full effect at Uncle Larry’s.
Klarka Weinwurm & Jon McKiel: Klarka’s new songs remind me of 90s British shoegaze music. So rad. Jon McKiel is one of my favorite songwriters. He plays Motion Pictures and it feels punk rock. Love.
Little Scream: An act touted for unbelievable vocals, but I could not hear them well. I like the musical elements though. I will investigate more once I’m home.
Sandro Perri: Smooth jazz for lounge lovers that also appeals to the kids who love weirdo music. I’m not one of those kids.
The Burning Hell: Can’t believe how packed Uncle Larry’s is. Mathias Khom sings songs about being a Jew, being a pirate, and being fun. Did I mention beers are really cheap at Uncle Larry’s?
John K. Samson: I was never a Weakerthans fan, but I am now a full-fledged convert. He is a poet, tried and true. An ode to Gump Worsely almost makes me teary eyed and I feel uber Canadian. He plays a song about writing a Masters thesis. Makes me excited for September.
Fond Of Tigers: Big change of pace. Some sort of jazz mixed with math rock. Half dressed in black, half in white. I like the math rock parts the most.
Apollo Ghosts: So much fun. Quirky songs, catchy hooks, and a bunch of props. One of my favorite acts of the whole festival hands down. They all crowd surf at the end of their set. The sun hasn’t set yet.
Charles Bradley: Literally the reason I’m here. The Screaming Eagle of Soul! Heartfelt and honest, funky and fresh. I can’t believe this man is 63. He does the splits a bunch and his band plays music that makes me think I am living in 1974. He is overwhelmed by the crowd reaction. I am overwhelmed that he is performing for us.
Wooden Wives: Tom Petty meets C’Mon. Good ol’ fashioned rock n roll from Saint John, NB.
Sleepy Panther: The older woman I’ve been seeing around town is actually the drummer for this band – and a killer drummer at that. They play lo-fi indie anthems. This is their 7th show ever. I want to know more about them.
Quaker Parents: Fresh off a plane from Ontario, the Grundys have the afternoon crowd eating out of the palm of their hands. Quirky riffs and Syd Barrett era Pink Floyd vocal melodies/harmonies make for a fun afternoon show. Best Quaker Parents set I’ve ever seen.
The Acorn: Stripped down, but so beautiful. Rolf is one of the best singers I’ve heard all weekend. He writes great songs. The floor tom runs through a delay pedal – I love it.
The Weather Station: Joni Mitchell vocal styling’s, quicker than lightning banjo picking, and wonderful songs. I wish there were projections of rural landscapes being show on the screen behind her.
Jim Bryson: He performs a bunch of songs from The Falcon Lake Incident with John K. Samson. Raised All Wrong, Fell Off The Dock, Metal Girls… I feel like he is singing stories about my life, or the life I would have in the movies.
Jerry Granelli: The man is a jazz legend, but I can only sit through so much of a solo drum performance.
Shotgun Jimmie: Sackville’s son pulls off a killer rock n roll set. Plays a plethora of material from Transistor Sister – perhaps the greatest album of the year. He is in his prime and I sing along.
Ladyhawk: Ian Kehoe told me they were the greatest rock band in the world. They do not disappoint. They play STDH and I flip out. My second favorite Ladyhawk song.
Chad VanGaalen: Reason #2 why I came to Sappyfest. He plays songs from his new album, Diaper Island, and the tones and riffs are precise. I’ve seen him around all weekend, but was too chicken to talk to him. He seems like he is having the time of his life. That’s good, because I am.
Despite crazy storms and sweet lightning in Halifax, the show must go on!
This week features a Sappy re-cappy, an interview with Kuato drummer Josh "Pinky" Pothier mostly regarding the movie Total Recall and the band's newest EP, and an MFest preview - among other goodies.
TRACK LISTING Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) Chad VanGaalen - Freedom For A Policeman Charles Bradley - Heart Of Gold Apollo Ghosts - Money Has No Heart Bird World - Swamp Dog Day - What She Says Interview with Kuato's Josh Pothier Kuato - Afghanistan Rogers Writer's Strike - Splitting Images The Olympic Symphonium - Flame Al Tuck - Good And Ready Broken Social Scene - All To All
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