Categories
News Podcast

Ep. #1086: The Sadies & Billy Ray

Mike Belitsky and Travis Good from the Sadies and Dave ‘Billy Ray’ Koster are here to discuss Live at 6 O’Clock by Gord Downie, The Sadies, and the Conquering Sun, Billy’s long and all-encompassing tenure in the working lives of Downie and the Tragically Hip as a technical director and confidante, how the Sadies and Downie connected and why he was so fond of playing with them, a look back at Downie’s first solo album Coke Machine Glow and him asking Travis to play on it, Downie’s deep love for artists like Fucked Up and Daniel Romano, insights about this collaboration and what the late Gord Downie and Dallas Good may have felt about it, when Downie planned to run the stage light show himself, poignant reasons for picking songs about ghosts and sadness for this live record primarily consisting of songs by other artists, further insights into how the Tragically Hip viewed Downie’s work outside of the band, Downie’s penchant for incorporating conversations and experiences he shared with Billy into his lyrics, the story behind “Introduce Yerself,” whether we may hear more unreleased music by Downie and the potential for Sadie to make a new album, upcoming tour dates, other future plans, and much more.

EVERY OTHER COMPLETE KREATIVE KONTROL EPISODE IS ONLY ACCESSIBLE TO PATREON SUPPORTERS STARTING AT $6/MONTH. This one is fine, but if you haven’t already, please subscribe now on Patreon so you never miss full episodes. Thanks!

Thanks to Blackbyrd Myoozik, the BookshelfPlanet Bean Coffee, and Grandad’s Donuts. Support Y.E.S.S., Pride Centre of Edmonton, and Letters Charity. Follow vish online.

Related episodes/links:

Win a Gord Downie Vinyl Bundle in April 2026!
Ep. #1085: Richard Reed Parry
Ep. #1083: Rheostatics
Ep. #1082: Joe Pernice
Ep. #1071: Buck 65
Ep. #971: Change of Heart
Ep. #892: Fucked Up
Ep. #889: Rick White and The Sadies
Ep. #880: Guided By Voices
Ep. #842: Daniel Romano’s Outfit
Ep. #821: Kurt Vile
Ep. #744: Don Pyle
Ep. #590: Bob Young
Ep. #496: Iggy Pop

Categories
News Podcast

Ep. #1083: Rheostatics

Dave Bidini and Dave Clark from Rheostatics are here to discuss The Great Lakes Suite, politics and tensions between the U.S.A. and Canada, contemporary protest music, what prompted this album’s concept and improvisational approach, featured contributions by Alex Lifeson from Rush, Kevin Hearn, Hugh Marsh, Tanya Tagaq, Laurie Anderson, Chief Stacey LaForme, Anne Carson, Liz Howard, Kendel Carson, Maiah Wynne, and Gord Downie, why Alex Lifeson was so blown away by Tanya Tagaq’s performance on this record, insights about Gord Downie’s posthumous appearance here telling a poetic story, Martin Tielli’s current status in Rheostatics, Alex Lifeson’s current status in Rheostatics, the excitingly unique way they plan to stage live shows to represent this album, other future plans, and much more.

EVERY OTHER COMPLETE KREATIVE KONTROL EPISODE IS ONLY ACCESSIBLE TO PATREON SUPPORTERS STARTING AT $6/MONTH. Enjoy this excerpt and please subscribe now via this link to hear this full episode. Thanks!

Thanks to Blackbyrd Myoozik, the BookshelfPlanet Bean Coffee, and Grandad’s Donuts. Support Y.E.S.S., Pride Centre of Edmonton, and Letters Charity. Follow vish online.

Related episodes/links:

Win a Gord Downie Vinyl Bundle in April 2026!
Ep. #1031: Leanne Betasamosake Simpson
Ep. #424: Dave Bidini
Ep. #332: Billy Bragg
Ep. #294: Don Kerr of Communism
Ep. #272: Gord Downie [Archival; May 2010]
Ep. #65: Tanya Tagaq

(Chris Wahl)
Categories
News Podcast

Ep. #599: Leanne Betasamosake Simpson

Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg writer, scholar, and musician Leanne Betasamosake Simpson on her latest books, Noopiming: The Cure for White Ladies and A Short History of the Blockade, her new album Theory of Ice, Gord Downie, future plans, and more! Supported by you on Patreon, Live at Massey Hall, Pizza Trokadero, the Bookshelf, Planet Bean Coffee, and Grandad’s Donuts. Support Y.E.S.S. and Black Women United YEG.