Hidden construction makes me cry...

So there was a bit of a change of plans from what was previously announced. Kings of Convenience was pushed back (again) and the Russian Circles interview will likely happen next week as there were some phone connection issues on first try and we couldn't schedule a redo Thursday/Friday due to the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S.

The Construction & Destruction interview went off without a hitch (my thanks to Colleen Collins) and the interview I taped with Joel Gibb of Hidden Cameras earlier today (one of the more painful interviews I've ever done, to be honest) aired along with my fascinating talk with Stephen Brunt, author of Gretzky's Tears.

Here's what I played tonight:

Set One: 6:30 - 7 PM

Crush Buildings - Ghoul Pounds [Independent]
The Paperbacks - Regrettable Tattoos [Parliament of Trees]
Interview with Colleen Collins of Construction and Destruction
Construction and Destruction - Balaenoptera Borealis [The Quarantine]
Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson - Hard Row [Saddle Creek]

Set Two: 7 - 7:30 PM

Monsters of Folk - Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.) [Shangri-La]
Interview with Joel Gibb of Hidden Cameras
The Hidden Cameras - Origin: Orphan [Arts & Crafts]
Hannah Georgas - All I Need [Independent]

Set Three: 7:30 - 8 PM

Interview with Stephen Brunt
Maps - I Dream Of Crystal [Mute]

In The Works For Next Time...

Well if you tuned in tonight expecting to hear me you got something a little different than usual. I was once again pre-empted for Bison Hockey play-by-play (there'll be more where that came from in January/February 2010), but was manning the boards and handling the production duties for the game so you did occasionally get to hear my throws to the Max Bell arena.

Things'll be back to normal next week and it's looking like the 27th and the next few episodes after that are going to be barn-burners. I've been conducting a number of pre-recorded interviews lately and have a few more lined up in the coming weeks that will be aired on Thank God It's Free Range so I thought I'd take a moment to let you know what to expect.

As it stands, next week's episode will include a live phoner with Nova Scotian indie-rock act (and married couple!) Construction and Destruction. Their latest record is called Video et Taco and is a great, textured listen.

I'm also scheduled to speak to members of Chicago post-rock outfit Russian Circles about Geneva, the follow-up to my number one album of 2008, Station.

And fingers-crossed, my third guest that night will be Erlend Øye, from one of my absolute favourite bands, the Kings of Convenience. It's been five years since Riot on an Empty Street, but Declaration of Dependence was worth the wait. The interview was originally scheduled for this week but was pushed back due to conflicts with some European dates.

Needless to say, that's about all I can cram into the one-and-a-half-hour timeslot and still have time to play some great new music but like I mentioned above I've been conducting a lot of interviews that will air in the coming weeks.

I've been talking to a number of authors lately and just today spoke to both Globe & Mail sportswriter Stephen Brunt and University of Waterloo professor John English. Brunt and I had a lengthy conversation about Gretzky's Tears, his book about THE TRADE. If you want to hear that interview before it airs on TGIFR, my good friend Trevor at Hockey Blog In Canada has it posted in its entirety.
Meanwhile, Professor English and I had a very illuminating discussion about Pierre Trudeau, the subject of Just Watch Me, which is the second volume of his biography of our former Prime Minister.
I'm also working on an interview with the Ecoholic, Adria Vasil. Growing beyond her weekly column in Toronto's NOW magazine, Vasil has two books on becoming an ecoholic and her latest, Ecoholic Home, is about greening your house with a number of interesting suggestions / hints / words of advice.

I've had so many interviews with authors lately that I'm considering launching a series called Turning Pages that would simply be my conversations with these writers about their books. Keep your eyes peeled to the program guide on www.umfm.com for more details on that program, but until then, stay tuned to TGIFR, Fridays from 6:30-8 PM CST.


****Quick Update****
Almost forgot - I've got the Hidden Cameras scheduled for a talk on Friday the 27th, meaning Russian Circles will likely be bumped to the following week as the Cameras will be playing the Albert on November 30th and their impending live date takes precedence!

Jazz and roots - what is this? Sunday?

Tonight's guests were local jazz artists Amber Epp of Trio Bembe and pianist Will Bonness who are holding a dual-CD release party on November 23rd. Amber joined me in the studio while Will phoned in from a gig. Speaking of phoning in, we also talked to Andrew Penner of Sunparlour Players who's currently in Creemore, Ontario but will be coming to town with Wil, playing the Park Theatre on November 23rd. And it was just announced today that they'll be swinging back through town on December 6th at the Folk Exchange.

Here's what I played:

Set One: 6:30 - 7 PM

Maiko Watson - Some Kinda Love [Independent]
Trio Bembe - Sin miedo [Independent]
Trio Bembe - Victory [Independent]
Canaille - Vincent Massey [Standard Form]
Patrick McDowall & The Melodramatic Pop Orchestra - Gwendolyn [Independent]

Set Two: 7 - 7:30 PM

Ola Podrida - Sink or Swim [Western Vinyl]
Will Bonness - Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise [Independent]
Interview with Will Bonness
Will Bonness - Walking On Water [Independent]

Set Three: 7:30 - 8 PM

Interview with Andrew Penner of Sunparlour Players
Sunparlour Players - Point Pelee Is The Place To Be! [Outside]
These Hands - Always Finds Its Way To Me [Independent]
The Schomberg Fair - Drunkard's Prayer [Hi-Hat/Sonic Unyon]

How It Went Down: Friday, October 23, 2009

Tonight's show was chock-a-block with talk. Interviews with Simone Schmidt from the band $100 who are playing the Pyramid on October 29th. Simone spoke from Washington DC and shared the backstory behind Forest Of Tears, the band's debut record, produced by Rick White!
The second segment was all Ultra Mega - a local group that first came to my attention last summer with a video for their version of the Wu-Tang Clan's "Shimmy Shimmy Ya." They recorded three songs live here at the station and debuted three more demo tracks from a forth-coming album.
Finally I spoke to Dan Mangan, who recently won the XM Verge Award for his record Nice, Nice, Very Nice. He'll be playing October 28th at the LO Pub with Katie Murphy and performing an in-store earlier that day at Into The Music.

Here's what I played:

Set One: 6:30 - 7 PM

Mulatu Astatke w/ Ethiopian Quintet - I Faram Gami I Faram [Strut]
Zrada - While I'm Alive [Independent]
Little Girls - Youth Tunes [Paper Bag Records]
Interview with $100
$100 - No Great Leap [Blue Fog Records]

Set Two: 7 - 7:30 PM

Bon Iver & St. Vincent - Roslyn (fr. The Twilight Saga: New Moon OST) [Atlantic]
Ultra Mega - Shimmy Shimmy Ya [Live at UMFM]
Ultra Mega - Native Alicia [Live at UMFM]
Ultra Mega - Big Poppa [Live at UMFM]
Interview with Ultra Mega

Set Three: 7:30 - 8 PM

Ultra Mega - The Rise And The Fall [Demo]
Ultra Mega - Rubble Of A Love [Demo]
Ultra Mega - Call Her [Demo]
Interview with Dan Mangan
Dan Mangan - Tina's Glorious Comeback [File Under: Music]

I'm In Fargo, But I'm On The Air.

Yeah, I'm out of town this weekend, but have pre-recorded a show that includes a nice chat with local artist Ingrid Gatin, whose CD release for Broken Tambourine is Friday, October 16th at the Gas Station Theatre. Her former band, the Magnificent 7's will be one of the openers. Speaking of openers, I'm replaying my interview with Afie Jurvanen who performs under the name Bahamas and will be opening for Amy Millan at the West End on Sunday the 18th.

Here's what I played:

Set One: 6:30 - 7 PM

Oromocto Diamond - Black Feelings [P572]
Construction & Destruction - Nine Houses [The Quarantine]
Built To Spill - Nowhere Lullaby [Reprise]
Ingrid Gatin Interview
Ingrid Gatin - Tin Heart [Independent]
Little Girls - Tambourine [Paper Bag Records]

Set Two: 7 - 7:30 PM

Karen O and the Kids - All Is Love (fr. Where The Wild Things Are OST) [DGC / Interscope]
Dead Man's Bones - My Body's A Zombie For You [Anti-]
James Husband - While The Boys Went Down Under [Polyvinyl]
Language-Arts - Cough Drop [Independent]
The Tony Wilson Sextet - Lachrymae Movement #1 [Drip Audio]
The Flaming Lips - Gemini Syringes [Warner]
Smoky Tiger & The Seven Doors - Tree Planter's Waltz [Lit Fuse Records]

Set Three: 7:30 - 8 PM

We Are Wolves - Reaching For The Sky [Dare To Care Records]
Bahamas Interview
Bahamas - Sunshine Blues [Nevado Records]
Black Feelings - Aum Shinrikyo [Alien 8]

Ontario, Saskatchewan, Ontario

Tonight I'm joined by Regina band Library Voices who'll perform an acoustic number or two and answer several more questions...
I've also got interviews with Jennifer Castle (aka Castlemusic) who's in town to open for Chad Vangaalen, and Dan Kurtz of Toronto/UK act Dragonette. He's married to his bandmate and former solo singer Martina Sorbara and they'll be in town on the holiday Monday to play the West End with Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees.

Here's what I played tonight:

Set One: 6:30 - 7 PM

Parlour Steps - As The World Turned Out [Nine Mile Records]
The Mary Onettes - Dare [Labrador]
Library Voices - Kundera On The Dancefloor [Live at UMFM]
Thao with The Get Down Stay Down - Oh No! [Kill Rock Stars]

Set Two: 7 - 7:30 PM

Castlemusic - For My Friends [Blue Fog]
Castlemusic - Your Hand Is A Wing [Blue Fog]
Holopaw - Oh, Glory [Bakery Outlet Records]
Satomi Saeki - Matsuri No Taiko [Oliver Sudden]

Set Three: 7:30 - 8 PM

Crooked Brothers - Sweet Lemons [Transistor 66]
The Avett Brothers - January Wedding [American]
Devil Eyes - Rip My Heart Out [Signed By Force]
Rain Machine - New Last Name [Anti-]
Dragonette - Fixin To Thrill [Universal]

Bermuda, Bahamas, come on pretty mama...

Tonight's show featured an interview with Afie Jurvanen from Bahamas (or maybe I should sake "aka Bahamas" rather than "from Bahamas" as it's his project plus guests). Anyway, he's on the road to Ottawa after playing Pop Montreal the other night and he'll be rolling into Winnipeg on October 18th to open for Amy Millan at the West End Cultural Centre. Since his new album on Nevado is called Pink Strat, we talked gear for a bit.

I also interviewed Mat Brooke from Seattle's Grand Archives. That band is headed to Winnipeg via the Yellowhead, having just played Edmonton yesterday and Saskatoon tonight. They're playing a killer triple bill alongside the Most Serene Republic and locals Royal Canoe at the Pyramid tomorrow night. We talked about the ghost stories behind their new album Keep In Mind Frankenstein and about the origins of "Louis Riel" off their self-titled debut.

Here's what I played tonight:

Set One: 6:30 - 7 PM

A Fine Frenzy - What I Wouldn't Do [Virgin/EMI]
Minto - Tonight I Lay My Head [Independent]
Whale Tooth - Six Billion [Independent]
Said The Whale - Out On The Shield [Hidden Pony]
Zrada - Give Me Liquor [Independent]
The Lytics - Stay Humble [Pipe and Hat]
Ghostface Killah - Guest House (feat. Fabolous) [Def Jam]

Set Two: 7 - 7:30 PM

vitaminsforyou - He Closed His Eyes So He Could Dance With You [Sfeericle]
Junior Boys - Bits & Pieces (fr. Everybody Dance Now v.4) [93.3 CFMU]
Bahamas Interview
Bahamas - Sunshine Blues [Nevado Records]

Set Three: 7:30 - 8 PM

Russian Circles - Melee [Suicide Squeeze]
Grand Archives Interview
Grand Archives - Willoughby [Sub Pop]
Zrada - While I'm Still Alive [Independent]
Quiet Nights Orchestra - Chapter One [Do Right!]

Out of town, but still on the air...

Headed to Brandon for the Western Canadian Music Awards this weekend. In fact, I won't be around for my show but I managed to put together a pre-record that includes a very interesting interview with author and Yiddish scholar Michael Wex where we discuss his new book "How To Be A Mentsh (& Not A Schmuck)"

That takes place in the second segment, but here's the rundown on the what I played, including brand new songs from Basia Bulat and the Kings of Convenience.

Set One: 6:30 - 7:00 PM

Basia Bulat - Gold Rush [Secret City Records]
Kings Of Convenience - Boat Behind [EMI]
Chad VanGaalen - Willow Tree [Flemish Eye/Sub Pop]
Boats - Classic Rock Weekend [Independent]
Keith Price - Confucius Corner [Independent]
Woon - You're Not Alone [Tru Thoughts]
Sleep Whale - Sleep Whale [Western Vinyl]

Set Two: 7:00 - 7:30 PM

The Wilderness of Manitoba [Independent]
Interview with Michael Wex

Set Three: 7:30 - 8:00 PM

Mum - A River Don't Stop To Breathe [Polyvinyl]
Lightning Dust - Dreamer [Jagjaguwar]
Volcanoless In Canada - London In Love [Independent]
The Michael Parks -It Hurts So Much To Fall In Love [Independent]
The Wooden Sky - My Old Ghosts (fr. Friends In Bellwoods 2) [Out Of This Spark]
Bocce - Inspiration Bellwoods (fr. Friends In Bellwoods 2) [Out Of This Spark]
Islands - No You Don't [Anti-]
The Black Seeds - Love Is A Radiation [Easy Star Records]

Two recaps in one...

Well, apologies to those who read this blog that I haven't been more on-the-ball about getting info and playlists updated sooner. Two weeks ago I had a shortened show due to the Bison Football broadcasts with the pre-game interview show beginning at 7:30pm. This is what I played during the one hour I was on air:

Set One: 6:30 - 7 PM

Joe Bataan - Mestizo [Vampi Soul]
The Very Best - Kamphopo [Green Owl Records]
Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is The Move [Domino]
Ndu - Wats Good [Raw Livin Records]
Fox Jaws - Two By Two [Nevado Records]
Young Galaxy Long Live The Fallen World [Arts & Crafts]

Set Two: 7 - 7:30 PM

Keith Price - Zoom Zoom (Part Two) [Independent]
Medeski Martin & Wood - Wonton [Indirecto Records]
John Mayall - An Eye For An Eye [Eagle Records]
Ohbijou - Make It Gold [Last Gang Records]
Basia Bulat - My Heart Is A Warning (from Friends In Bellwoods 2) [Out Of This Spark]

As for last Friday, it was a busy show capping off a busy week here at UMFM. September 10th and 11th saw the station hosting two days of live music as part of the UMSU Orientation Week events. One of the featured groups on our stage joined me afterward for an interview: The Lytics. This young rap group made a great impression live and were an engaging interview as well. I also sat down with guitarist (and former Dig! Radio host on UMFM), Keith Price to talk about his new album Breakfast of Champions which will be released this Friday (September 18th) at the Park Theatre. Speaking of this Friday - I'll be in Brandon to cover the Western Canadian Music Awards so there will be no show, but when I return on the 25th we'll have Calgarians Miesha & The Spanks performing as well as so featured interviews from the WCMAs.

Here's what I played on the 11th...

Set One: 6:30 - 7 PM

The Wooden Sky - Bit Part [Black Box Recordings]
The F-Holes - Don't Get Me Started [Independent]
Interview with Keith Price
Keith Price - Zoom Zoom (part one) [Independent]

Set Two: 7 - 7:30 PM

Fink - Six Weeks [Ninja Tune]
Speech Debelle - Better Days (feat. Micachu) [Big Dada]
Interview with The Lytics

Set Three: 7:30 - 8 PM

The Lytics - Last Bit (Lovely Words) [Pipe and Hat]
Miles Jones - Coast To Coast (feat. Kae Sun) [Mojo Records]
Japandroids - Heart Sweats [Unfamiliar / Polyvinyl]
Lullabye Arkestra - Get Nervous [Vice Records]
Bloodshot Bill - Gee Whiz [Transistor 66]
Del Barber - The Party Song [Independent]

How It Went Down: August 28, 2009

Tonight's show featured my interviews with Mike from The Afterbeat talking about their new recordings and tomorrow night's performance at Stage 8/29 and a very in-depth conversation with author Richie Unterberger about his latest book, White Light/White Heat: The Velvet Underground Day-By-Day, released by Jawbone Press recently.

Here's what I played in between interviews:

Set One: 6:30 - 7 PM

Still Life Still - Flowers And A Wreath [Arts & Crafts]
Polvo - Right The Relation [Merge]
Little Foot Long Foot - King Hipster [Independent]
Sondre Lerche - I Cannot Let You Go [Rounder]
The Afterbeat - Change The System [Independent]

Set Two: 7 - 7:30 PM

Fish & Bird - Burst Into Flower [Fiddle Head Records]
The Dustin Bentall Outfit - Take The Money [Impala Records]
Grant Davidson - Fool Of Me [Dollartone Records]
Richie Unterberger Interview

Set Three: 7:30 - 8 PM

Richie Unterberger Interview (continued)
Sally Shapiro - Looking At The Stars [Paper Bag Records]

How It Went Down: August 21, 2009

Forgot to post my playlists from Friday's show here that night (or over the intervening weekend). Ah well, was enjoying time at home with the family.

I had Ryan McCullagh from the Paper Cranes talking about their new album Chivalry Is Dead, Odario from Grand Analog talking about the new album Metropolis Is Burning as well as the band's upcoming gig at Stage 8/29, and Winnipeg Ska & Reggae Fest organizer / UMFM Station Manager Jared McKetiak giving us the rundown on the weekend's festivities.

Here's what was played:

Set One: 6:30 - 7 PM

Los Gatos Negros - Hey Hey Bunny [from Sensacional Soul Vol. 2, VampiSoul]
Mayer Hawthorne - Maybe So, Maybe No [Stones Throw]
Ultra Mega - Shimmy Shimmy Ya [Independent]
Canadian Wildlife - Winter's Moon [from Friends In Bellwoods 2, Out Of This Spark]
The Paper Cranes Interview
The Paper Cranes - Ice-Burgs [Unfamiliar Records]

Set Two: 7 - 7:30 PM

Two Hours Traffic - Wicked Side [Bumstead Records]
Grand Analog Interview
Grand Analog - Take It Slow [Urbnet]
Jack Penate - Be The One [XL Recordings]

Set Three: 7:30 - 8 PM

Helado Negro - espuma negra [Asthmatic Kitty]
Miesha and the Spanks - Baby You're Gone [Transistor 66]
The Hidden Cameras - Kingdom Come [Arts & Crafts]
JFK & The Conspirators - Boom Sha La La La [Bacteria Buffet]
Jay Haze feat. D:exter - I Can't Forget (Fuckpony Discotech Dub) [Fabric London]
Chicago Wasted Youth - Mars Or Bust [Fabric London]

This coming week (August 28th) I'll be talking to the Afterbeat, Alana Levandoski and author Richie Unterberger who has a great new book about the Velvet Underground out.

Congratulations, there's no show this week...

A hearty congratulations to the winner of the Wooden Sky contest, Sara Wray Enns. Don't forget that the Wooden Sky are playing Ragpickers TONIGHT!!

On a less congratulatory note, there's no episode of TGIFR this Friday the 14th. Not even a pre-record. I'm headed down to Minneapolis for a weekend of beer, baseball and brats (not the child kind, the sausage kind) in honour of my birthday. I'll be back next week and things will be ramping up as we head into the fall broadcasting season. Lots of great guests in the not-too-distant future.

The Royal "We" Have Royal Wood On...

I've actually already put tomorrow's episode to bed because I'll be attending a wedding when I'm normally on air. This special pre-record features an amazing live-in-studio set from Royal Wood who played Islendingadagurinn last weekend and the Park Theatre this Wednesday. He was also gracious enough to sit down for an interview which will air during the second set. All sorts of great new music on tomorrow's show including lead-off track "Trapped In The New Scene" by White Whale recording artist Octoberman. His new record Fortresses is a pretty solid rock album in the vein of Wilco's more recent 'dad-rock.'

Here's what will air in my stead:

Set One: 6:30 - 7pm

Octoberman - Trapped In The New Scene [White Whale Records]
The Envy Corps - Screen Test [Tempo Club]
Vincat - Bells & Whistles [The Hive]
Jesse Matheson - Orgy In Portland [Copperspine Records]
Lightning Dust - The Dreamer [Jagjaguwar]
The Penelopes - Saved [Citizen / Module]
Stew Gunn Band - The Dart [Independent]

Set Two: 7 - 7:30pm

Royal Wood - Weigh Me Down [Live at UMFM]
Royal Wood - I'm So Glad [Live at UMFM]
Royal Wood - Thinking About [Live at UMFM]
Royal Wood - Found [Live at UMFM]
Interview with Royal Wood

Set Three: 7:30 - 8pm

Velodrome - Sonic Triptych (First Panel) [Arctodus]
Velodrome - Sonic Triptych (Second Panel) [Arctodus]
Kronos Quartet - Mugam Beyati Shiraz [Nonesuch]
Yppah - Sunflower Sunkissed [Ninja Tune]
Amanda Blank - Shame on Me [Downtown]
Aufschlag - Begleitautomat [WWFREC]

Rainy Days and Fridays Seem To Get Me Down...

Man, what a miserable day in Winnipeg today. Nothing but rainy gray skies hanging over our heads all day. I didn't even have any guests or interviews to liven things up on the show tonight as I was originally planning to head to Gimli for Islendingadagurinn tonight.

Here's what I played:

Set One: 6:30 - 7pm

The Jayhawks - Blue [American / Legacy]
Ryan Dahle - Chop Chop [Limblifter Records]
The Lazy MKs - Granum Fire [Young Soul Records]
Spoon - Got Nuffin [Merge]
Volcanoless In Canada - House Of Souls (Artistry vs. Fame) [Independent]
The Skeletones Four - Let It Snow [No-Fi Records]
The Woodlands - Until The Day Dims [Tinderbox]
Nadia & The Tchotchkes - Doo Wop Blues [DNA Productions]

Set Two: 7 - 7:30pm

Falcao and Monashee - Teleportation [Borne]
Summer Cats - Hey You [Slumberland]
Pissed Jeans - Dominate Yourself [Sub Pop]
The Junction - My Love Was There [Fontana]
The Wooden Sky - (Bit Part) [Musebox]
Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks [Warp]
The Other Brothers - Points Of View [Independent]

Set Three: 7:30 - 8pm

Joe Henry - The Man I Keep Hid [Anti-]
Magnolia Electric Co. - Shenandoah [Secretly Canadian]
Parlour - On The Phone [Independent]
Kestrels - Our Velocity [NoYes Records]
Gregory Pepper - I Was A John [Fake Four Inc.]
The Hush Now - Sadie Hawkins Dance [Noelleon / Pirate]
Ocote Soul Sounds & Adrien Quesada - Tres Ratas [ESL]

Listen In To Win...

Thanks to the fine folks at Columbia Legacy, I've got some copies of the 2 disc Jayhawks retrospective/anthology; Music From The North Country to give away on the show tomorrow night. We'll be airing a really sweet documentary about the acclaimed/beloved/favourite-adjective-here Minneapolis roots group next Thursday morning at 6am CST on Sound Documents, UMFM's weekly radio documentary show if you're up early and want to learn more about the band.

Anyway, tune in from 6:30 - 8pm CST for your chance to win a copy. I'll be giving one away every half-hour during the show which can be heard at 101.5 on the FM dial in Winnipeg or via www.umfm.com on the web.

I'll leave you with a taste of the greatness that is the Jayhawks

Whoopsy Daisy...

So I managed to put my showlogs on www.umfm.com backwards over the past two weeks. The July 10th logs (the pre-record) were input as July 17th so I had to put July 17th's ACTUAL logs into the July 10th spot... Long story short, I fucked up.

Here now are the logs of what was played (f'reals) on July 17th, 2009

Set One: 6:30 - 7 pm

Matt Allen & The D Rangers - Hunch [Live at Times Change(d)]
Bad Veins - Found [Dangerbird]
Bahamas - What's Worse [Nevado Records]
Interview with The Lovely Feathers
The Lovely Feathers - Vaulted Precedents [Sparks Music]

Set Two - 7:00 - 7:30 pm

Codename: The Sharks! - Set Your Sights [Live on TGIFR]
Codename: The Sharks! - Heart Whisperer [Live on TGIFR]
Interview with Codename: The Sharks!
Little Foot Long Foot - Marriage Ain't A Promise [Independent]
Gobble Gobble - Sacred Dandruff [Terrorbird]

Set Three - 7:30 - 8:00 pm

Interview with Jowi Taylor from Six String Nation
Georgia Anne Muldrow - Fonky Day [Some Otha Ship]

As for tomorrow night's show, I'll be talking to Mayor Matt Allen and Jaxon Haldane of the D. Rangers about their 10" vinyl release show going down at the Times Change(d) at two separate shows - a dinner one at 7:30 and a late one starting at 10pm. There'll also be more of a live set I recorded down at the Times last week with a sneak peek at the record.

In Winnipeg right now, it's all about the Fringe Festival and we'll be checking in with UMFM's resident theatre expert Justin Olynyk [host of Play It Again, Wednesdays at 8pm on UMFM] to get his Best (and Worst) of the Fest as we head into the final weekend. We have this talk annually and it's always interesting.

My other guest will be Devin Latimer, Artistic Director of the Trout Forest Music Festival, who'll be talking programming and explaining why you should get your tickets and camping passes now.

Contest Time: The Wooden Sky

Thanks to the fine folks at Musebox, I've got another contest for readers of Ear To The Sound and listeners of Thank God It's Free Range.

On August 25th, Ontario roots-rockers The Wooden Sky will be releasing their new full-length, If I Don't Come Home You'll Know I'm Gone. But prior to that, the band will be hitting the road for a jaunt they're calling the Bedrooms and Backstreets Tour. The name is significant because the band will be performing at unusual venues the entire way with few bar or club shows on the agenda. Backyards, house-parties, and out-of-the-way venues will be privy to their wonderful music in an intimate setting. The band will hit Winnipeg on August 12th, playing at Ragpickers, so to mark the occasion, I've got a sweet prize pack that includes the limited-edition Bedrooms and Backstreets EP for one lucky duck.

To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment on this post with your name and email address OR email me at michael dot elves at gmail.com with "Wooden Sky Contest" in the subject line by midnight August 11th. I'll be putting all the names in a hat but only one entry per person will go in the chapeau.

Here's The Wooden Sky’s “Something Hiding For Us In The Night” mp3 to get you motivated.

As an added bonus, I've also posted the band performing "The Wooden Sky" live on Thank God It's Free Range when they last rolled through town.

Be sure to check out The Wooden Sky's Myspace page for complete Bedrooms and Backstreets tour dates.

The one that got away... July 10th 2009

Whoopsy-daisy. Totally flaked on posting this before now. I pre-recorded my show last Friday what with it being Winnipeg Folk Fest weekend and there was a lot going on. Had a great interview with Saskatchewan artist Maybe Smith (who'll be in Winnipeg this Friday the 17th at the LO Pub).

Speaking of Friday the 17th, the show this week is PACKED TO THE GILLS. I've got an in-studio session with Codename: The Sharks! lined up. They'll be playing some songs and talking about their EP and their show on the 18th with my second guest; The Lovely Feathers. Fantasy of the Lot is doing well on the UMFM charts right now and that Lovely Feathers show promises to be the bargain of the weekend at $5. That one also goes down at the LO. My last guest will be Jowi Taylor the man behind the Six String Nation project. Fascinating story to tell there.

Here's what I played on the 10th:

Set One: 6:30 - 7 pm

All Of Your Friends - Un Estado [The Calm Before The Music]
Crosstown Rivals - Exits [Better Swimmers Digital]
Something Fatal - Chicks Dig Scars Not Problems [Blacktop Records]
The Antlers - Sylvia [Independent]
Still Life Still - 80s on TV [Arts & Crafts]
Wilco - Wilco (The Song) [Nonesuch]

Set Two: 7 - 7:30 pm

Wooden Sky - Bit Part [Musebox]
Maybe Smith Interview
Maybe Smith - Bloopers (feat. Christine Fellows) [Sir, Handsome]
Sunn O))) - HUnting & Gathering (Cydonia) [Southern Lord]

Set Three: 7:30 - 8 pm

Minus 5 - I Would Rather Sacrifice You [Yep Roc]
Recloose - Deeper Waters (feat. Joe Dukie) [Sonar Kollektiv]
Ginuwine - Trouble (feat. Bun B) [Asylum Records]
Maxwell - Cold [Columbia]
Bibio - Ambivalence Avenue [Warp]
Major Lazer - Anything Goes (feat. Turbulence) [Downtown]
Le Bus - Scissor Kicks (Master of Kicks mix) [Spiral Recordings]

Folk Fest Pre-Record

I'll be away this weekend, what with the whole Winnipeg Folk Festival dominating everything going on in town (seriously, the night baker is working overtime at Tall Grass Prairie Bread to make sure there's enough cookies). But I'm planning a pre-record that was going to feature my AWESOME interview with Will Holland (aka Quantic). BUT Windy-peg earned its name when we conducted the interview outside the Pyramid because the soundcheck was going on inside and when I went to edit the recording I discovered that the wind is SCREAMING through half the talk. Boo-urns to that.
I MAY have an interview with Saskatchewanian (sp?) group Maybe Smith in advance of their show on the 17th though so keep your ears peeled. Regardless I'll have some great new music.

Speaking of great new music, here's what I played on Friday:

Set One - 6:30-7pm
Bomba - Palo [Independent]
Quantic & His Combo Barbaro - The Dreaming Mind Pt.1 [Tru Thoughts]
Interview with Johan from Mr. Something Something
Mr. Something Something - Only The Maker [World Records]

Set Two - 7-7:30pm
The Phenomenal Handclap Band - Give It A Rest [Friendly Fire]
Zeus - How Does It Feel [Arts & Crafts]
The Paps - Here's What You Wanted [Independent]
Discovery - Osaka Loop Line [XL Recordings]
Serengeti & Polyphonic - Bon Voyage [Audio 8 Recordings]
Animal Collective - Summertime Clothes (Zomby's Analog Lego Mix) [Domino]
Hayden - Disappear [Hardwood]

Set Three - 7:30-8pm
Bowerbirds - Beneath Your Tree [Dead Oceans]
The Deep Dark Woods - All The Money I Had Is Gone [Black Hen Music]
Almonds, Cohen - Digging For Clams [Old Life Records]
Bidiniband - Song Ain't Any Good [Pheromone Recordings]
Nestor Wynrush - Winnipeg South Blues [Clothes Horse Records]

Last Week And This Week: (Re)View and (Pre)View

So here's what I played on Friday's show:

Set One: 6:30 - 7pm
Jackson 5 - Never Can Say Goodbye [Motown]
Precious Fathers - Swells [White Whale Records]
The Hold Steady - Stuck Between Stations (Live) [Vagrant]
The Got To Get Got - Rattle Off [Noyes Records]
Subcity Dwellers - Gastown [Transistor 66]
East Side Death Squad - Blitzkrieg Advertising (from Vancouver's Punk As Fuck) [Independent]

Set Two: 7 - 7:30pm
Deer Tick - Easy [Partisan Records]
The Playing Cards - What Time Is It Mr. Wolf (from Transit Collective) {[Manitoba Music]
Starlight Mints - Black Champagne [Barsuk Records]
Tereu Tereu - All That Keeps Us Together [Independent]
Renata Lu - Faz Tanto Tempo (from Black Rio 2) [Strut]
The Heavy - Coleen [Ninja Tune]
Quantic & his Combo Barbaro - Arianita [Tru Thoughts]

Set Three: 7:30 - 8pm
Heidi Happy - You And Your Moods [Do Right!]
The Most Serene Republic - The Old Forever New Things [Arts & Crafts]
Land Of Talk - Some Are Lakes [Independent]
Cryptacize - Gotta Get Into That Feeling [Asthmatic Kitty]
Eamon McGrath - Holy Roller [White Whale Records]
Cut Off Your Hands - You & I [Frenchkiss Records]
Codename: The Sharks! - Cardio [Independent]
Buckwheat Zydeco - Too Much Time [Alligator]
Mr. Something Something - What Are You Waiting For? [World Records]

As for what's happening this Friday, July 3rd, I'm still stewing up one final guest/segment but the two confirmed guests are Pat Thornton (star/writer/creator of the Comedy Network show Hotbox), and Toronto Afrobeat band Mr. Something Something (who will be playing the LO Pub on July 7th).

Your Opinion Matters To Us...

Still hashing out details for the June 26th episode of TGIFR, but while I'm working on that, I leave you with the following question:

Which of these complete rip-offs of a great song, re-worked into a new song, manages to transcend the rip-off?

Simply Red - Sunrise


Angie Stone - Wish I Didn't Miss You (embedding's been disabled).

How It Went Down: Friday June 19, 2009

So here's what was played on tonight's show:

Set One: 6:30 - 7pm
Chairlift - Bruises [Columbia]
Quantic - Cali Cartel [Tru Thoughts]
Ocote Soul Sounds & Adrian Quesada - The Revolt Of The Cockroach People [ESL Music]
Solidaze - Distractions [Balanced Records]
Interview with Guru and Solar
Guru - Lost And Found [7 Grand]

Set Two: 7 - 7:30pm
Guru - Best Of My Yearz [7 Grand]
Magilla Funk Conduit - That Funk (feat. Cadence Weapon) [Self-Released]
Interview with Jenn Grant
Jenn Grant - Heartbreaker [Six Shooter Records]


Set Three: 7:30 - 8pm
The Sea & Cake - Exact To Me [Thrill Jockey]
Interview with Jackpine
Jackpine - Red River Jig [Live at UMFM]
Jackpine - Rick Danko Died [Live at UMFM]
Jackpine - Brand New Good Old Days [Live at UMFM]
Reverie Sound Revue - An Anniversary Away [Boompa]

AND WHILE I'M AT IT...
I totally forgot to post the showlog from last week's hip-hop extravaganza so check that one out here.

This Friday: June 19, 2009

Quick update about this Friday's show and who will be on:

Already in the can is an interview with hip-hop legend GURU (Gang Starr, Jazzmatazz) who talks about being in the game so long, his new record 8.0 Lost & Found, and more. We talked last week and I had to sit on it to fit in all my local hip-hop guests for the show.

Tomorrow afternoon I'll be joined at the UMFM studio by local band Jackpine. You might not have heard of them yet, but you will very soon when they release their debut CD, Brand New Good Old Days on Dollartone Records. They're like a Winnipeg roots supergroup with membership comprised of Jaxon Haldane, Adrien Sala, Sean Buchanan and Jesse Reimer. We'll be recording a special live set and an interview for broadcast on Friday in advance of their CD release show at the Park Theatre on June 25th.

And finally I'll be talking to Haligonian pop-songstress Jenn Grant (pictured above) about her latest CD Echoes in advance of her Winnipeg show at the LO Pub on Friday June 26th.

Tune in for TGIFR, this Friday at 6:30-8pm CST on 101.5 UMFM or online at www.umfm.com

Leeroy Stagger Interview

So, my packed-to-the-gills hip-hop extravaganza show will be on the air in a little over a half-hour, but I just got off the phone with phenomenal roots artist Leeroy Stagger, who will be in Winnipeg tomorrow night (playing a house show at Stu Reid's place; the StuDome).

If you want to hear that interview and a selection from his new album Everything Is Real before the show, simply click on this link. I'll be airing the interview on a future TGIFR if you want to hear it on air.

Check out Leeroy's website for more info and a solid blog that has updates from his tour.

Wanna go to Jazz Fest?

Quick update.
The fine folks at the Winnipeg Jazz Festival dropped off some tickets for this year's Club Series performances. I've got a pair of tix to see each of the following:

Alice Russell
The Sea & Cake
Jose Gonzalez
Quantic & U-Tern

I'll be giving away two pairs this week and two next, so tune in between 6:30-8pm tonight and next Friday for a chance to win.
And even if you don't win - check out the Jazz Fest. These shows and others are well worth attending.

Back to the Hip-Hop

It wasn't by design, but this Friday's episode of Thank God It's Free Range is all about the hip-hop. And LOCAL hip-hop no less. TGIFR favourite Ndu will be on at 6:30pm to discuss (and play selections from) his new album The Rebel Zone. He previewed some of the cuts earlier in the year.
Nestor Wynrush (aka Mr. Ness, fka Satchill Paige) has a new record out called Trinnipeg !78 on Clothes Horse Records that reflects on his life growing up here and in Ontario. He'll be sure to have some interesting stories to relate when he comes on at 7:00pm.
Finally at 7:30pm I'll be joined by rap duo Rebel Yell, who released their debut Greatest Hits (shades of Rheostatics) earlier this year. The CD release is this Saturday, the 13th of June at the Pyramid (and openers are Pip Skid and the Magnificent 7's).


Be sure to check out:
Ndu's Myspace
Nestor Wynrush's Myspace
Rebel Yell's Myspace

The hip-hop will continue on the next episode (June 19th) when my interview with hip-hop legend GURU (GangStarr, Jazzmatazz) will air. I'll also be talking to Canadian folk-pop songstress Jenn Grant who is in town with Dan Mangan at the LO Pub that night.

Join me, Friday 6:30-8pm CST on 101.5 in Winnipeg and at www.umfm.com on the 'net.

Friday, June 5, 2009 Playlist

Busy show tonight - part of it pre-recorded earlier this week, a phoner and an in-studio. This is one of those nights when being producer as well as host makes it tricky. Like juggling a kitten, a bucket of paint and a chainsaw; you certainly don't want to drop any of those.

Anyway, here's the scoop on what was played.





Set One (6:30 - 7:00 PM)

Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is The Move [Domino]
The Western States - Right Of Return [Live at UMFM]
The Western States - Outstanding Balance [Live at UMFM]
The Western States - I'll Be Free [Live at UMFM]
Interview with The Western States
The Western States - Backslider's Wine [Live at UMFM]

Set Two (7:00 - 7:30 PM)

Interview with Dog Day
Dog Day - Wait It Out [Outside Music]
Codename: The Sharks - Starry-Eyed Conspirators [Independent]
Sights & Sounds - Pedal Against The Wind [Smallman]
Precious Fathers - Swells [White Whale Records]

Set Three (7:30 - 8:00 PM)

The F-Holes - Holding Out [Live on UMFM]
The F-Holes - Can't Share My Life [Live on UMFM]
Interview with the F-Holes
Portland Cello Project (feat. Thao) - Beat (Health, Life and Fire) [Kill Rock Stars]
Eels - Lilac Breeze [Vagrant]

May 29th Playlist

Totally flaked on putting my playlist from Friday up here. The Dirty Projectors interview didn't end up happening as their label rep couldn't connect with them while they were on the road (speaking of Dirty Projectors, the new album is great, but you wouldn't know it from the performance opening for TV on the Radio at the Walker on Saturday. The sound was abysmal).

I've got the Western States about to record an in-studio today that will air this Friday, June 5th and Dog Day and the F-Holes are still on for live appearances.

Here's the rundown on last week's show:

Set One (6:30-7pm)

Lee Fields & The Expressions - Ladies [Truth & Soul]
Nestor Wynrush - Garbage Hill [Clothes Horse Records]
Bike For Three! - Lazarus Phenomenon [Anticon]
Rock Plaza Central - O Lord, How Many Are My Foes [Paper Bag Records]
James Hill & Anne Davison - Sakura, Sakura [Borealis]
Grizzly Bear - All We Ask [Warp]

Set Two (7-7:30pm)

Field Assembly - Alkali [Independent]
Timber Timbre - Song 1 [Live At Music Trader]
Timber Timbre - Song 2 [Live At Music Trader]
Timber Timbre - Song 3 - I Get Low [Live At Music Trader]
Timber Timbre - Song 4 - There Is A Cure [Live At Music Trader]
Violent Kin - Let Go And Let God [Independent]

Set Three (7:30-8pm)

Animal Names - Frogs In 2010
Phoenix - Lisztomania [Loyaute/Glassnote]
Viva Voce - Good As Gold [Barsuk]
Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens - Am I Asking Too Much? [Daptone Records]
Fat Freddy's Drop - Pull the Catch [Amplifier]
Grand Analog - Her Daddy (Don't Like Me) [Urbnet]
Tiga - What You Need [Last Gang/Ultra]

T-minus 3 hours til air...

Quick heads up that the Dirty Projectors phoner fell through and it now looks like we'll be doing an in-person before their show tomorrow.
I have a nice stack of new music including some new Dirty Projectors on Domino to play and a 20-minute recording of Timber Timbre playing at Music Trader yesterday.

Tune in!

In the meantime, check out this awesome ad:

When I grow up I wanna be that cab driver.

It's about time...

After harping on show hosts and volunteers at the station about promoting their radio shows, it's probably high time that I actually got around to doing the same for my own show. So if you're looking for information about upcoming shows, recent interviews and features and playlists of what I've featured on Thank God It's Free Range, this will be the place. (Of course playlists are always available here as well).

I've been a bit sporadic of late what with the birth of my son, who will be seven weeks old tomorrow. Plus I missed a show or two for the Goldeyes Opening Game at CanWest Park and a Moose playoff game. But things are getting back on track and I've got some solid stuff in the works for upcoming shows.

This Friday (fingers crossed) I will be speaking to the Dirty Projectors in advance of their opening gig for TV on the Radio (who are playing the Burton on Saturday). And I'm headed to Music Trader tomorrow to record and interview Ghost Bees and Timber Timbre (who I've written about on my review blog, Ear To The Sound), which will also be featured. [and hey, if you're in the village tomorrow afternoon, come check out the in-store]

A little firmer are plans for next week's show. My guests that night will be Dog Day (who are coming to town with Julie Doiron and are the most recent feature on Ear To The Sound), The Western States (pictured above, who will be performing a special studio set in advance of their CD release at the recently renovated West End Cultural Centre) and up-and-coming local band The F-Holes.

So that's it for now, but stay tuned to this space for more info and keep your dial fixed at 101.5