Categories
News Podcast

Ep. #87: Bry Webb

Bry Webb is one of Canada’s most distinctive singers, songwriters, and musicians. Based in Guelph, Webb emerged from London, Ontario’s post-hardcore punk scene, fronting an excellent band called Shoulder. In the late 1990s, he co-founded a Guelph-based band called Constantines who had a profound impact on rock music during their 10-year run. In 2011, Webb released Provider, his first solo album and did his best to tour the world behind it as a new father with a day job. On May 20, the Toronto label Idée Fixe will release Webb’s new album. It’s called Free Will, and he’ll be touring behind it a lot this spring and summer, including a hometown show, opening for Destroyer at Kazoo! Fest on Friday April 11. Here, Bry and I discuss what CFRU is all about, what the music community in London Ontario was like when Bry lived there, shy Bry and how punk and skating brought him out of his shell, Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet’s Dim the Lights, Chill the Ham, the practicality of parents, how having kids can alter how one values their own life, what drew him to guitar, AC/DC and the Cure, when MuchMusic was awesome for kids, Skeletons of Society (S.O.S.), getting to play guitar at recess, the post-hardcore band Shoulder and their album Touch, my band Captain Co-Pilot and its connection to Shoulder and the early days of Constantines, 519 hardcore, Call the Office, and the Button Factory, Guelph’s music scene and The Goods CD compilation, Aaron Riches and a key Minnow show featuring Blake, Chili, and Shoulder that foreshadowed Three Gut Records, the Cons’ early reverence for legendary rock figures and how it might have pigeonholed them, that time Constantines broke up on the radio, the lead-up and motivation that brought Bry back to make Provider, how Free Will follows a thread from Provider but also explores more complex emotions, the naming of the record and its connection to the Cons’ Will Kidman, why Constantines are playing shows together again and details about the Shine a Light reissue and shows they’re playing this summer, some of Bry’s solo shows, the brand new song “Positive People” and then it’s over.

Related links: brywebb.com ideefixerecords.com kazookazoo.ca vishkhanna.com

BryWebb_ColinMedley_300dpi

Listen, subscribe, rate/review on iTunes.

Categories
News

Peter Elkas Band + Harlan Pepper – Ebar – April 3

Print

KYEO is pleased to announce that excellent Toronto-based rock/soul singer, songwriter, musician, dog walker, and dad Peter Elkas returns to Guelph for a show at the Ebar in Guelph. Harlan Pepper, a wonderful roots-y ensemble from Hamilton with a connection to the Royal City and a new album out this month, join the bill opening for Elkas and his band.

This all-ages concert takes place at the Ebar on Thursday April 3, 2014 with doors opening at 9:30 PM. It will cost $10 with a non-perishable donation for the Guelph Food Bank and $12 without and tickets will only be available at the door. Harlan Pepper will be on at 10 PM, Elkas and his band will be on by 11 PM.

Elkas is marking the 10th anniversary of his celebrated solo debut, Party Of One, with a limited vinyl pressing of the LP and an April residency at The Dakota Tavern in Toronto. The string of shows kicks off on April 1st with Elkas performing the album in its entirety with the original session musicians, Don Kerr (Ron Sexsmith) and Doug Friesen (Bidiniband, John K Samson).

Elkas is also performing dates throughout Ontario for the rest of the month, including a Light Of Day benefit concert at the Molson Canadian Studio in Hamilton Place on April 12th with the Sam Roberts Band. Light of Day Canada is committed to raising money through various events that support research and care for Parkinson’s victims and families. Elkas is a coordinator and board member of the organization and has had the good fortune to not only play annual events in New Jersey, but also jam with Bruce Springsteen.

“Light of Day has become an important cause to me,” says Elkas. “I am becoming more and more devoted to developing the LOD Canada events with the great friends I’ve made in the organization. It’s been an honor (and actually a lot of fun) to be included in the fight against Parkinson’s.”

Party Of One was released in 2004 after Elkas’ previous act, the Local Rabbits, went on “indefinite hiatus.” Expanding upon his songwriting in that band, he kicked against the zeitgeist by crafting soulful pop and rock songs that are AM radio-accessible. Party Of One was produced by Kerr and found Elkas straddling a line between experimental sounds and more traditional songcraft.

The last time Elkas was in Guelph, he headlined a successful month-long residency at the Ebar in support of his most recent LP, 2011’s Repeat Offender. We’re thrilled to have him back.

website-banner-harlan-pepper-odbf-2014

Harlan Pepper released their new album, Take Out a Twenty and Live Life to the Fullest on March 11, 2014 via Six Shooter Records. The band has been busy warming up the new material at Toronto’s Cameron House every Tuesday night in March.

On the theme of living life to the fullest, here’s how the band chooses to spend their $20s (and their twenties):

Dan Edmonds (vocals) – “I like to buy a 6-pack of Pabst Blue Ribbon, and there’s usually just enough left to get in to a show downtown. That’s an ideal night for me with 20 beautiful bucks.”

Thompson Wilson (bass) – “Taking out a $20, going down to a record store and buying as many records as you can from the cheep section. And then using the change to bus home and listen to music the rest of the day…I like Dan’s idea better.”

Jimmy Hayes III (guitar) – “I’d buy a bag of macaroni and a brick of cheese with my first $10.00. After a quick bite I’d take my final $10.00 to Rolly Rockets in Hamilton for a pint and to see my favourite new jazz-fusion/R & B band, “The Buddy Guys.” What a night.”

Marlon Nicolle (drums) – “Buy two 40’s of Old English and take the rest and put it all on 24 black at the roulette table.”

Take Out a Twenty and Live Life to the Fullest is full of sweet grooves, lyrical nonchalance and strong musicianship. From their Steeltown stronghold, Harlan Pepper is quietly fashioning themselves into a rock solid band of considerable depth and ability. We had some of them here in Guelph for a spell, while they pursued their studies. As their Guelph fans can attest, it’s great to have them back in town with a new record.


Again:

KYEO Presents:

Peter Elkas Band
+
Harlan Pepper

Thursday April 3, 2014

$10 with non-perishable item for the Guelph Food Bank
$12 without

The Ebar
41 Quebec St. Guelph
Doors at 9 PM
AA/LIC (Not accessible)

Tickets only available at the door

facebook_logo

Categories
News Podcast

Ep. #76: Jessy Bell Smith

Jessy Bell Smith is a Guelph-based musician with one of the most remarkable singing voices I’ve ever heard. She’s been playing her own songs live for a long time, was a member of a band called Beautiful Senseless, and is currently in the Skydiggers. She recently released her highly-anticipated debut album, The Town and will be playing Kazoo! Fest in Guelph between April 9 and 13. Here, beyond some friendly bickering and badgering, Jessy and I discuss my reputation as a totalitarian bandmate (sometimes we play together), artists in Guelph who need an encouraging push, the long-gestating history of Jessy’s first album, happenstance and J.J. Ipsen and Andy Magoffin, fate, confidence and productivity, a Gary the cat interruption, musical eras and nostalgia, Watergate comes up somehow, Kate Bush and Tom Waits and singing in a musical family, burnt rice, deliberation and re-recording The Town, her role in the Skydiggers, how you are not going to die, turning anxiety into antagonistic anger to conquer an annoying audience, the song “Douglas St.” and more.

Related links: choosemymusic.org/jessy-bell-smith/ kazookazoo.ca vishkhanna.com

jessybellsmith

Listen, subscribe, rate/review on iTunes.