Tag: Joel Plaskett

Ep. #277: Rob Benvie of Bankruptcy

Post author By vish
Post date September 6, 2016

Rob Benvie is a novelist, writer, musician, songwriter, and singer currently based in Toronto, Ontario. Raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Benvie has published two acclaimed novels, 2004’s Safety of War, and 2011’s Maintenance, both of which are available via Coach House Books. He is also well known for playing in bands like Thrush Hermit, The Dears, Camouflage Nights, and Tigre Benvie. His latest outfit is called Bankruptcy, which just released a new record called “For the Future” on 1.7 Publications. Bankruptcy play Adelaide Hall in Toronto on September 8, 2016 and here, Rob and I discuss Toronto’s blazing hot summer, Montreal, living for the city, caring about Toronto, a penchant for obnoxiousness, not pessimistic, funny or not, irony, prose writing and songwriting, wordiness and Bob Dylan, scrapping it all, Murray Lightburn, states of completion, barf, a meta section, where Bankruptcy came from, Wayne MacPherson, starting the band, democracy, anxiety, addiction, malaise; fortitude, togetherness, optimism, propulsive energy and fun, The Clash and “the only band that matters,” turning to synthesized sounds after Thrush Hermit, Sandinista!, late 90s home recording technology and the birth of Tigre Benvie, how Thrush Hermit worked together and why they broke up, Clayton Park, Rob’s singing, Joel Plaskett, the Steve Miller Band set at Edgefest ’95, Nazareth on MuchMusic, sincerity and detachment, restlessness, maturity, “Swim for the Light” and “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” U2, when Rob initiated the Thrush Hermit reunion tour in 2009, being an angry young man, the Hermit’s lasting legacy and the band’s future, a Clayton Park vinyl release, seeing the Hermit at the Volcano in Kitchener, Bankruptcy plans and a new novel, getting the word out, stuff glut, brown blushing, mature, sincere, and sexual, the song “Barfed-up Candelabra,” and then we headed for the future.

Related links: robbenvie.com bankruptcymusic.com vishkhanna.com

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Tags Bankruptcy, barf, Bob Dylan, Camouflage Nights, Clayton Park, Joel Plaskett, Murray Lightburn, Nazareth, Rob Benvie, Sandinista!, Steve Miller Band, The Clash, The Dears, Thrush Hermit, Tigre Benvie, U2

News Podcast

Ep. #123: Bahamas

Post author By vish
Post date August 19, 2014

Afie Jurvanen is a gifted musician and songwriter who works under the tropical moniker Bahamas. Jurvanen has been an in-demand guitarist who has worked with Feist, the Weather Station, and Zeus among others. He has released three records of his signature folk-tinged rock over the past five years, earning a broad fanbase and award nominations and critical acclaim along the way. His latest album is called Bahamas is Afie, which is out now via Universal Music Canada, and it’s prompted him to tour across the U.S. and Canada over the coming months including a stop at Riverfest Elora on Friday August 22. Here, Afie and I discuss wearing shorts on stage (S.O.S.), Thrush Hermit rules and Joel Plaskett’s legs, the assertively explanatory title of his new album, the lush production of Bahamas is Afie, Don Kerr and the Rooster, distinctive musical chameleons like Bob Dylan, David Bowie, and Beck, that moment where you think of an idea, hope in sad songs, Willie Nelson, wanting to name your hypothetical unborn child Owen, choosing music over sports, social hobbies, going your own way when pushed by your parents, moving to Toronto from Barrie and making friends in a music community, grade 13/OAC, the Miami Heat, Chris Bosh, Fantastic Pop festival in Windsor, Afie’s early band Paso Mino with members of Zeus, Jason Collett, competition and ambition in music, contemporary cultural consumption and metrics, how artists are adapting to the new face of the music business, we are the product, Peter Elkas is under-appreciated, the Aretha Franklin chugging Diet Coke in a golf cart before kicking ass at the Grammys story, playing in a rainstorm at a festival in PEI, the pros and cons of making and promoting music, opening up a laundromat, how to do your laundry, Michael P. Clive’s cooking show and Afie’s unreleased instrumental music for it, making the Weather Station’s new album in France, being added to Riverfest Elora at the last minute, Jason Tait of the Weakerthans, the song “Waves,” and then the heat is off.

Related links: bahamasmusic.net riverfestelora.com vishkhanna.com

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Ep. #116: Matt Andersen

Post author By vish
Post date July 17, 2014

Matt Andersen has earned a reputation for being one of the most powerful live soul and rock performers of his generation. The New Brunswick native has released seven albums and toured the world over, quietly gaining an army of loyal fans who gravitate to his rumbling voice, accomplished guitar playing, and vivid lyricism. Though he’s impressed audiences on his own, his latest album is boldly produced by Los Lobos’ Steve Berlin and features fully-fleshed out arrangements that his touring band, the Mellotones, have been bringing to life over the past few months at headlining shows and opening tour dates for Buddy Guy and Los Lobos. This latest batch of songs also features songwriting collaborations with Joel Plaskett, David Myles, Tom Wilson, Dave Gunning, and Keith Mullins among others. Andersen’s new album is called Weightless, it’s out now via True North Records, and brings Andersen to music festivals across Canada in the coming weeks, including Guelph’s Hillside Festival on July 25. Here, Matt and I talk about Ottawa, acronyms, working with Steve Berlin, Phantom Power, writing songs with Joel Plaskett and why collaborating is important, Matt’s old band Flat Top, solo is good, with and without the Mellotones and how fans have been reacting to Matt having a band, Perth-Andover New Brunswick and a Maritimes musical upbringing, soulful rock versus pop music, Creedence Clearwater Revival might be better than New Kids on the Block, Matt Andersen Blues Award Explosion, Gary the cat has to go outside, your girlfriend will take your dog with her, Matt’s self-consciousness about being called ‘Canada’s greatest guitar player,’ Stubby Fingers, playing music while others make noise, serious music/fun guy, “City of Dreams” and Detroit, not getting the simplified folk revival and how it relates to new country, the double-edged sword of being championed by Canadian folk music festivals, CBC, and Canadian music fans, backlash, writing universal songs, updates on new songs, touring in a pickup truck, Fords and Hyundais, his busy touring schedule, Elvis Presley is dead, the song “Weightless,” and then we drift away.

Related links: stubbyfingers.ca hillsidefestival.ca vishkhanna.com

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