How It Went Down - June 24, 2011

So the fine gents of A Waste Odyssey joined me in the studio, though sadly we didn't have enough time before the show to get them set up in the live room for an in-studio performance (we'll have to have them back for that at a later date), but they did sit down for an interview and selected a few tracks from We Are Mourning People, their solid EP on I'm Trying Records. Then it was two straight phone interviews - the first with Swedish electronic producer Johan Ageborn and the second with Canadian indie-rock icon Joel Plaskett. Both totally swell guys to have a chat with. Podcast is up on UMFM if you missed it.

Here's what was played:

Set One: 6:30 PM - 7 PM

Library Voices - "Generation Handclap" [Young Soul Records]
A Waste Odyssey - "Burgundy" [I'm Trying Records]
Interview with A Waste Odyssey
A Waste Odyssey - "Middle Name Honesty" [I'm Trying Records]


Set Two: 7 PM - 7:30 PM

Interview with Johan Ageborn
Johan Ageborn - "Casablanca Nights" [Paper Bag Records]
Bodies Of Water - "Open Rhythms" [Thousand Tongues]

Set Three: 7:30 PM - 8 PM

Interview with Joel Plaskett
Joel Plaskett - "On The Rail" [New Scotland Records]
The National - "Think You Can Wait" [Mom and Pop Records]

This coming Friday is Canada Day and I'm taking the kids to the Forks, but I'll be pre-recording a show featuring a slew of great Canadian artists, and then I'll be back live in the studio on July 8th!

Friday Focus: June 24 2011

This week's show is quickly coming together. I've got an in-studio with A Waste Odyssey who have a great new EP out called We Are The Mourning People. They'll be playing some songs and answering some questions. Then I've got a phoner with Canadian indie-rock icon Joel Plaskett who has a new album of b-sides and rarities. The title is entirely too long for me to type out here. And finally I've got Swedish electronic producer Johan Ageborn. Best known for his work with Sally Shapiro, his album Casablanca Nights is sure to make people more familiar with him in the coming months. And I may just have Alex Litinsky of A.M. Overcast on to talk about his awesome new record Shepherd Moon, though it hasn't been confirmed yet.

Sadly my interview with Irshad Manji about her new book Allah, Liberty & Love has been cancelled (along with a host of other press stops), but I am in the process of lining up an interview with another author for an upcoming show. Dale Barbour has written a history of Winnipeg Beach that's a pretty fascinating portrait of this northern Coney Island.
Plus I've confirmed a live performance by This Hisses on July 15th, prior to the release of their new album on Transistor 66.

On a somewhat related note, I'll be guest-hosting The Sounds Of Science tomorrow and my special guest will be Dana Moore - aka Gt. Dane - who is back in Winnipeg to celebrate the release of Mourning Yer Host. He'll be playing some songs for us and I'll be playing some new tunes from the likes of Vetiver, EDM (fka Early Day Miners), Karl Hector & The Malcouns and Dawes. Tune in, 3-5pm CST!

How It Went Down: June 17, 2011

As always, lots going on here on TGIFR. My first guest of the night is Jordan Fine, who records under the moniker Fine Canadian Forces. His record, Hebrew Lessons, is a recent favourite and he joins me by phone. Also by phone is Paul Nolin, artistic director of the Jazz Winnipeg to give us the rundown on the fest (which started last night and runs til next weekend). Finally, Zoppa will be joining me for a live set and interview.

Set One: 6:30 PM - 7 PM

Ocote Soul Sounds - "Pathways" [ESL]
Interview with Jordan Fine of Fine Canadian Forces
Fine Canadian Forces - "Breaking It Away" [Independent]
John Maus - "Streetlight" [Ribbon Music]
Malajube - "Synesthesie" [Dare To Care]

Set Two: 7 PM - 7:30 PM

Handsome Furs - "When I Get Back" [Sub Pop]
Interview with Paul Nolin
Robert Glasper - "Butterfly" [Blue Note]
Nat Baldwin - "Lifted" [Western Vinyl]

Set Three: 7:30 PM - 8 PM

Zoppa - "Lovin' Train" [Live at UMFM]
Zoppa - "Somewhere Beyond The Ocean" [Live at UMFM]
Interview with Zoppa
National Parks Project - "Bruce Beckons" [Last Gang Records]
Zoppa - "To Those Who Bask In the Blue" [Live at UMFM]
Charlotte Cornfield - "Construction on the Street" [Independent]

Next week I'll be joined by A Waste Odyssey for a live set and interview, plus more to be confirmed...

How It Went Down: June 10, 2011

So, as promised in my last post, tonight's episode was a barn burner featuring not one, but two live bands in the studio. Kongress and The Details both put our new live band room through its paces and Mike Feuerstack talked handball and Snailhouse by phone.

The Details CD release show is tomorrow (June 11th) and if you're not able to make it to the West End, Kongress are playing alongside Salinas and The Blisters at the LO Pub.

Here's what was played:

Set One: 6:30 PM - 7 PM

Shad - "A Good Name" [Black Box Recordings]
Trombone Shorty - "Hurricane Season" [Verve Forecast]
Snailhouse - "Every Day" [White Whale/Forward Music]

Set Two: 7 PM - 7:30 PM

Kongress - "Money and Cigarettes" [Live on UMFM]
Kongress - "Before The Sun" [Live on UMFM]
Kongress - "Christmas 3:16" [Live on UMFM]
Gt. Dane - "Noah, Let Yer Ark Door Slam" [The Calm Before The Music]

Set Three: 7:30 PM - 8 PM

The Details - "Weightless In The Dark" [Live on UMFM]
The Details - "Paperweight" [Live on UMFM]
Fine Canadian Forces - "Higher Love" [Independent]

Next week on the show I've confirmed interviews with Jazz Winnipeg Festival artistic director Paul Nolin and with Jordan Fine, the man behind Fine Canadian Forces whose Hebrew Lessons album is a recent favourite.

UMFM Open House & TGIFR

So this Friday (June 10th), I'll be hosting a special broadcast of TGIFR as part of UMFM's Open House events [further details here].
















And speaking of Details, I'll have Winnipeg's own pop-rock perfectionists The Details in studio to kick things off at 6:30. They'll be playing a set in our new live band room, and talking about their new record Lost Art, which gets its release at the West End on Saturday June 11th.

My second guest will be joining me by phone - Mike Feuerstack is better known as Snailhouse and is also known as one of my favourite artists - whether he's working in Wooden Stars or Snailhouse. I'll be talking to him about his latest great album, Sentimental Gentleman.

And my final guest is Kongress, who will also be gracing TGIFR with a live performance.

If you want to get in on all the action, feel free to come down to 308 University Centre at the Fort Garry campus of the University of Manitoba between 6:30-8pm and see how live radio is made. I can't promise you'll get to go on air or anything like that, but I will have prizes for my guests and the seats are comfortable so that's something. If you can't make it down, tune in at 101.5 on the FM dial or stream it live on UMFM.