I had a chance to talk with Russell Marsden of the English rock & roll band Band of Skulls from his base in London.
He shared some laughs and wisdom. Have a listen as we discuss his new record and what’s coming at our ears in February of 2012.
Interview >> Russell of Band of Skulls
Download MP3 >>20111111 Band of Skulls Edit
Happy Saturday!
Go with yourself.
Posted in music, The Zone @ 91-3 | Tagged Band of Skulls, Interview, Russell Marsden, Sweet Sour | 4 Comments »
New Black Keys record comes out in December. El Camino could be spinning wildly at 33 1/3 on December 6th.
In celebration of Record Store Black Friday… they will be releasing the single “Lonely Boy” as a 12 inch single. TWELVE! whatever happened to seven? How will I put it in my collector 7 inch singles box? for shame….
ANYWAYS… the b-side. The b-side will be the album cut “Run Right Back.” I ripped this off of the website Listen Before You Buy.
The Black Keys – “Run Right Back”
Go with yourself.
Posted in music | Tagged Black Friday, Black Keys, Lonely Boy, Record Store Day, Run Right Back | 2 Comments »
In a spectacular turn of fate, I get a chance to take part in a hockey game contest at the Save-On Foods Memorial Arena at a Victoria Royal’s WHL hockey game.
I win a coffee maker. I like hockey.
Stream from Mixcloud: Hockey! with Jeremy >> I win
Download MP3: Hockey with Jeremy 03 – I win
This hockey game did not bode well for the Royals… they lost to the Edmonton Oil Kings, 8-2. I still had so much fun as it was the first time I got to see an entire game from start to finish. (I usually bring Mads and bed time is before the game ends or else I am DJing and can’t go to the game).
I also got to go in the suicide box! That is a box for the media right at ice level that separates the players benches. I recorded some of the sounds and the chirping between players. Still messing around with the audio in the studio but will have that done soon.
Thank you for listening. Go with yourself.
Posted in Dave Babych | Tagged Edmonton, Hockey, Oil Kings, Royals, Victoria, WHL | Leave a Comment »
Dig it. Fuzztacular lo-fi guitar man, Kurt Vile covers Born in the USA era Bruce Springsteen. Don’t mind if I do.
Kurt Vile – “Downbound Train”
Download MP3 >> 16 Downbound Train
Neat. So Mr. Vile’s new record, So Outta Reach, is an EP of odds and sods from his recording session of the album Smoke Ring For My Halo.
I was reading about “Downbound Train” as I do when I download new songs. I want to learn about the history and what was going on. Nothing to flex my brain too hard, usually just poke around on Wikipedia.
Music critic Dave Marsh said that “Downbound” is one of the Boss’ worst songs! Heavy. Who is this Dave Marsh fella anyways?
Turns out Dave is pro Bruce (his wife is a co-manager of Bruce Springsteen) and he’s written a bunch of books about the man. BUT, what is more interesting is that dave marsh was one of the first people to use the term “punk rock” in a publication to describe a style of rock & roll. Now how cool is that?
I always knew that the first band to be described as “punk” was ? and the Mysterians. They had a number 1 garage rock hit in 1966 called “96 Tears.” The song doesn’t sound “punk” rock like you might hear on Jason Lamb’s Punk Show… but this was the first time a music critic described something as “punk.”
? and The Mysterians – “96 Tears”
More poking around on Wiki shows the term “punk” had been batted around in the late 60s and early 70s… but Marsh took it to describe a style of music in Creem in ’71. A member of the Fugs… used “punk” to describe his band’s sound in ’70… but for some reason, it wasn’t in the true “sense’ of the word I guess. BUT, fun fact… Fugs were the first band to have the word “fuck” show up on a recorded album. Neat.
Must be pretty cool to be THEE guy that invented a genre that gets used all the time today.
Right, so what was the point of all this?
Kurt Vile’s “Downbound Train” is a pretty good song. You should listen to it.
Go with yourself.
Posted in music | Tagged ? and the Mysterians, Bruce Springsteen, Creem, David Marsh, Downbound Train, Fuck, Kurt Vile, punk, rock, The Fugs | 1 Comment »
I have been working at the Zone the past few days on a new project called “Hockey! with Jeremy.” My challenge is to create a hockey feature to be broadcast on the radio during the intermission of Victoria Royal‘s hockey games. I have only made two so far (its a lot of work to produce spoken word radio… who knew?).
I have enjoyed the practice thus far… and look forward to trying to create compelling audio and improving my style as the season progresses. Have a listen to the first two segments.
Mixcloud >> Hockey! with Jeremy – Practice
Mixcloud >> Hockey! with Jeremy – Hockey Sense
“Practice” was fun because I got actually sit on the bench and yap with the boys during a rest in practice. Plus I had the chance to talk with Kevin Sundher and he is the Royal’s first line stud.
“Hockey Sense” I recorded this morning after practice and I had the chance to interview the boys (and a coach!) as they came off the ice. I of course caught up with homeboys Jesse Pauls and Brenden Persley again. But I missed my boy Timmy T who might be the most hilarious Royal I’ve talked with so far.
Tomorrow (Tuesday, November 8th), The Royals are at home against the Edmonton Oil Kings. The PR flaks from the Royals said I might get to sit in the suicide box at ice level and record the sounds of the game. Nice. Better bring my helmet. I might also interview some kids about hockey… so if you’re bringing your kid to the game and see me, say hi so I can put your midget you on the radio.
Go with yourself.
Posted in Dave Babych, radio | Tagged Hockey, Hockey Sense, Practice, Royals, Victoria, WHL | Leave a Comment »
I heard a song today that really caught my ear. The band is called Of Monsters and Men. Not to be confused with the 1968 sci-fi novel “Of Men and Monsters.” A tale about super intelligent and giant aliens that have conquered Earth. Humanity exists on the margins of this race’s society, living in borrows in the walls of the homes of these creatures and stealing for sustenance. Whoa right?
This 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 piece band from Iceland have been favourably compared to Mumford and Sons or the Arcade Fire. Their song “Little Talks” dominates the radio on that volcanic Island like Mumford or Arcade do here. The buzz was brought to North America by Seattle hipster jam superstation, KEXP and I heard the song on XM-AltNation.
Of Monsters and Men – “Little Talks”
Download MP3 >> 01 Little Talks
While researching something to say about Of Monsters and Men, KEXP came up because they were an early champion. So on a whim I decided to listen to a few cuts of their “Song of the day” podcast. Holy shit, lots of rad stuff on there… they have it figured on KEXP.
I just clicked some random songs and one that caught my ear was Brooklynites, We Are Augustines. I don’t know, but first listen of the song “Headlong Into The Abyss” had me thinking it would make a great song for my World War One podcast…
The story about these guys is extraordinary. Basically, they were a positively hyped band called Pela. They were on the verge of great things when some tragedy befell the band. They had a hard time fighting with their record label. During this stressful time the lead guitarist Billy McCarthy learned his brother James had commit suicide. It became too much and the band folded very quickly in the summer of 2009.
Billy and another band member decided to try and soldier on, but this time as a new group (Augustines) and release their music independently. A little tweak of the band moniker and some powerful endorsements from KEXP… and We Are Augustines is back in business. Have a listen to this:
We Are Augustines – “Headlong Into the Abyss”
Download MP3 >> 03 Headlong Into the Abyss
That’s a blog. Go with yourself.
Posted in music | Tagged Iceland, KEXP, Of Monsters and Men, We Are Augustines | 1 Comment »
Capital Rock City is here to party with you… in the ears. Please take a moment to listen and/or download.
Stream from Mixcloud >> Capital Rock City #98
Download MP3 >> crc_-_20111101
Woke up this morning to a crazy frost. Very pretty in Victoria. And also Tuesday, so that means you can listen to this week’s Capital Rock City.
I play music from Mike Edel, a song I find very romantic and sweet. Also I chat with Ryan from Year of the Rat. Lola Parks shows up and we also hear from a band outta Washington State called Boss & Rand. Horrible album title… but the music is alright.
Looking ahead… I am working on a couple audio projects.
The Zone @ 91-3 is the broadcast best-friend of the Victoria Royals hockey team. I would like to try and create some audio for the intermission. Kinda feel out how that might sounds. And punch up our broadcasts a bit between Marlon’s most excellent call.
November 11th is Remembrance Day and I’ll be on the radio. I have been reading a book called Vimy by Pierre Berton. For a non-fiction account of World War, its mighty! Filled with fun facts of Trench Warfare. That sounds like an oxymoron… but there are some stunning accounts of combat. I want to take just one story and try to make it an audio adventure in time for November 11th.
Since I first got into radio in the late 90s, I’ve always wanted to do a history show and more specifically a World War One broadcast. For some odd reason, I feel like this week is as good as any to get started.
Like so many project, less is more… I found a story that is exciting, short-ish and has a bit of a “huh…” factor that is based on truth.
Capital Rock City #100 is on the horizon, and I am feeling a best of… just playing some old favourite selections from over the years. CRC began in September of 2005, so there is lots of music to draw from.
That’s all I got.
Thank you for listening. If you like the show, please share it with a friend.
Go with yourself.
Posted in Capital Rock City | Tagged Boss & Rand, Lola Parks, Mike Edel, Year of the Rat | Leave a Comment »
Finally got around to buying the new M83 record Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming.
This double album is an exceptional trip in the most classical sense of the word. Best enjoyed with head phones and a little buzz.
Honestly, I rarely make through the whole album in a sitting as I always drift off to sleep. The album is fuzzy, and dreamy. Filled with musical interludes, soundscapes and breezy codas.
I have blogged before about the song “Midnight City” which is one of my favourite songs of the year.
After a few listens, the song I look forward to is song 6 off the first record.
Raconte-Moi Une Histoire I think was an old kid’s TV show in France? I don’t know… the wiki page is in like Jawa or something, I can’t understand it.
The song is so neat and wonderfully weirds me out every time it comes on. Basically an electro song plays while a small kid talks about touching a jungle frog and getting high on a hallucinogen. It makes me feel odd thinking about a toddler getting fucked up. What a space-trip that must be if you didn’t know any better or that it was wrong.
As I have been punching this record up at night as I fall asleep, I am not too sure what happens in a linear fashion. I get through a few songs, fall asleep then wake up suddenly at some future moment in the record… sometimes I don’t and instead wake up in the morning all wrapped in headphone cable and my iPhone buried in the cushions of the couch! I’m freezing cold and disorientated. Maybe that is a good thing?
The album is cinematic and plays more like a score to a fantastical story. I can’t really tell if its a romance or fairytale [(or both) or none of the above].
It does conjure wonderful and fuzzy feelings about escaping to a fantasy world… and maybe from the title alone, a bit of a desperation. Like what these protagonists are doing they better do it quick! Before it ends or they get discovered… and then that leads to the romance. What if it is a forbidden love love?
I’ll tell ya, this record is becoming almost a nightly tradition (if something that I have done for only a week is a tradition). The record also sounds mighty when cranked in the Honda as I barrel up the Pat Bay to pick up Madelyn. After I pick her up I need to turn it down as she doesn’t like the music loud. But she likes the album too… and so I put it on when she’s in the car. Heaven forbid I subject her to the CBC. She goes mental.
“Put Music OOOONNNNNNNNNN!” she screams from the bucket in the back that I strap her to.
“FINE! M83 it is.”
Go with yourself.
Posted in music | Tagged Hurry Up, M83, We're Dreaming | 1 Comment »
Capital Rock City is the Zone @ 91-3 Victoria music podcast. Have a listen!
Mixcloud >> Capital Rock City #97
Download MP3 >> crc_-_20111025
This week I interview Michelle of Versa, the boys in Current Swell and Nick Blasko, the organizational force behind the Rifflandia Music Festival.
Listen for music from:
Versa – See them November 22 @ Lucky Bar
Current Swell – New record Long Time Ago is out today! (and already #1 on the iTunes singer/songwriter chart)
Celebrity Traffic – see them THIS FRIDAY @ Lucky Bar. Watch a neat-O music video hosted by my best English mate Jon Williams!
Monolithium – download the song “I Want UR Love” from Soundcloud.
Thank you for finding my podcast and listening!
Go with yourself.
Posted in music | Tagged Celebrity Traffic, Current Swell, Jon Williams, Monolithium, Nick Blasko, Rifflandia, Versa | Leave a Comment »
The other day Madelyn went into my closet and pulled out a pile of CDs to make a big-ole mess.
She was picking through them and confused. They didn’t look like the records she was used to. What kind of record played played these little shiny records?
God bless the hipster baby’s heart.
Because three-and-a-half-year-olds judge books by their covers, she especially liked the Rebel Emergency’s Aphrodisiology. Neat, the study of aphrodisiacs.
The boys in the Rebel Emergency live in Toronto. but they do try to adventure west as often as they can, and when they do… The Zone is a stop on their itinerary.
Check out this recording of “Up All Night” from their album Aphrodisiology.
Rebel Emergency – “Up All Night (Live at the Zone)”
Download MP3 >> 20110601 Rebel Emergency
***
Last week I had the chance to interview Max from the rock & roll band the Arkells. Here is the edited conversation. Looking forward to their show on Saturday, November 12th.
Stream on Mixcloud >> ZAS – The Arkells
Download MP3 >> 20111020 Arkells
Still to come to my blog… my interview with Jason Mewes of “Jay and Silent Bob” fame.
Go with yourself.
Posted in music | Tagged The Arkells, The Rebel Emergency | Leave a Comment »
The Morning After 