How It Went Down - May 6, 2011

Having moved from Winnipeg to Toronto, I was very fortunate to get acclaimed novelist Miriam Toews to come in and sit down for a talk about her latest novel, Irma Voth, while she was back in Winnipeg. I'd last talked to her about The Flying Troutmans and this interview was no less in-depth and revealing. Also revealing was a talk with guitarist Ty Citerman of New York avant-jazz quartet Gutbucket. They're on one of my favourite sleeper labels, Cuneiform, which always puts out interesting releases, including Gutbucket's latest, Flock.

Here's what was played:

Set One: 6:30 PM - 7 PM

The Antlers - "Every Night My Teeth Are Falling Out" [Frenchkiss Records]
Sloan - "The Answer Was You" [Yep Roc]
Interview with Miriam Toews


Set Two: 7 PM - 7:30 PM

One Hundred Dollars - "Ties That Bind" [Outside]
Okkervil River - "Piratess" [Jagjaguwar]
Panda Bear - "Friendship Bracelet" [Paw Tracks]
Austra - "Spellwork" [Paper Bag Records]
Efrem Manuel Menuck - "Kaddish For Chesnutt" [Constellation]

Set Three: 7:30 PM - 8 PM

Interview with Gutbucket
Gutbucket - "Zero Is Short For Idiot" [Cuneiform]
James Blake - "Lindisfarne II" [Polydor]
This Is Head - "0007" [Adrian Recordings]

For my Friday the 13th episode I've got an interview with Jennifer Castle (formerly performing under the moniker Castlemusic) who has a great new album on Flemish Eye. And I may be airing an interview conducted by James Borsa, host of Ultrasonic Film, who talked to renowned children's author Gordon Korman. Stay tuned to 101.5 UMFM.

How It Went Down - April 29, 2011

Busy show this week - an interview with Derek Janzen who performs under the name First Nations and whose album Black Beach is one of my faves of 2011. I also spoke to Danny Vescarelli of Calgary psych-rock band Deadhorse (who were in town at the LO Pub alongside Gobble Gobble and Beauchamp on Saturday). Plus heaps of new music...

Here's what was played:

Set One: 6:30 PM - 7 PM

Grimes - "Crystal Ball" [Arbutus Records]
Cantor Dust - "Open-Faced Sandwiches (By A River Of Lava)" [Independent]
Digits - "Lost Dream" [Independent]
Interview with First Nations
First Nations - "Secret Hymn" [Independent]


Set Two: 7 PM - 7:30 PM

The Donkeys - "West Coast Raga" [Dead Oceans]
Roy Orbison - "Shadoraba" [Monument/Legacy]
Bart Davenport - "Born To Suffer" [Antenna Farm Records]
Explosions In The Sky - "Postcard From 1952" [Temporary Residence]
The Burning Hell - "Let Things Slip Away" [Weewerk]
Cass McCombs - "Pleasant Shadow Song" [Domino]
Daedelus - "French Cuffs" (feat. Baths) [Ninja Tune]


Set Three: 7:30 PM - 8 PM

Interview with Deadhorse
Deadhorse - "Glam Central" [Saved By Radio]
John Southworth - "So Glad It's Finally Spring" [Barnyard Records]


This week, I've already got an interview wrapped up with author Miriam Toews about her new book, Irma Voth. Plus I'm scheduled to talk to avant-jazz act Gutbucket about their new record A Modest Proposal on Cuneiform Records. Stay tuned.

How It Went Down: April 22, 2011

Good Friday so I'm taking a break from live radio, but I did a pre-record with all sorts of great new tunes. Back next week.

Here's what I played:

Set One: 6:30 PM - 7 PM

Winter Gloves - "True Blue" [Paper Bag Records]
A.M. Overcast - "Sense" [Independent]
Milo and the Bad Lads - "Tonight" [Independent]
The Joy Formidable - "Whirring" [Record Store Day]
The Pickle of Love - "It's A Canned World" [Independent]
Robin Pecknold - "I'm Losing Myself" [Independent]
Laura Barrett - "La Isla Bonita" [Paper Bag Records]
Jill Barber - "Dis-Moi" [Outside Music]


Set Two: 7 PM - 7:30 PM

Orchestre Poly-Rhythmo Cotonou - "Von Vo Nono" [Analog Africa]
White Dog - "FLQ" [Prairie Fire]
Gobble Gobble - "Eat Sun, Son (Second Date remix)" [Debonton]
Teen Daze - "Trouvez Votre Paix" [Cultus Vibes]
Mo Kolours - "Drum Talking" [One Handed Music]
Sun Araw - "Bump Up" [Monofonus]


Set Three: 7:30 PM - 8 PM

Red Snapper - "In Your Backs" [V2]
Burial - "Street Halo" [Hyperdub]
Dreamboat - "Patterns" [Independent]
Teeel - "Ojai Valley" [Moodgadget Records]
Wires Under Tension - "Electricity Turns Them On" [Western Vinyl]

How It Went Down: April 15, 2011

Tonight I had a mega-interview with Steve Burgess, author of Who Killed Mom? a memoir of his family and particularly his mother Joan. Steve and I both grew up in Brandon so I was very tempted to reminisce about certain places, but for the most part we kept it to the material in the book.

Jazz Winnipeg announced the line-up for their 2011 Festival today and I'm absolutely stoked about a few of the acts, including Robert Glasper. Be prepared for me to be pimping the shit out of this show (and the Orgone as well) since we're talking about this year's Christian Scott - a jazz artist with only a bit of name recognition but one that you don't want to sleep on.

Here's what I played tonight:

Set One: 6:30 PM - 7 PM

Quantic & his Combo Barbaro - "Undelivered Letter (Daedelus remix)" [Tru Thoughts]
Second Sky - "Under The Line" [Rhythm & Culture]
Matthew Joel - "Eyes Pt. 2" [Bandcamp]
Spirit Children - "Track 3" [Independent]
Heart Failure Research Unit - "Now You're Gone" [Independent]
Thao & Mirah - "How Dare You" [K Records]


Set Two: 7 PM - 7:30 PM

Interview with Steve Burgess

Set Three: 7:30 PM - 8 PM

Robert Glasper - "No Worries" [Blue Note]
Little Scream - "Cannons" [Outside]
Sea Oleena - "Sleeplessness" [Independent]
Trouble & Strife - "My Only Hope" [Independent]

Next week is Good Friday, so it's quite likely the show will be a pre-record so I can spend the day with my family. I'll keep you posted on what'll be on the show.

How It Went Down: April 8, 2011

Bit of a break from all the guests I've had of late. Was joined by singer-songwriter JP Mortier (playing the Folk Exchange tonight) for a live song and a chat, but other than that, it's all new music and not much talk.

Here's what was played:

Set One: 6:30 PM - 7 PM

Wagon Christ - "Accordian McShane" [Ninja Tune]
JP Mortier - "Absolution" [Live at UMFM]
JP Mortier - "Belt" [Independent]
Bombino - "Tenere" [Cumbancha]


Set Two: 7 PM - 7:30 PM

Trio Bembe - "Yerbero Moderno" [Independent]
Royal Bangs - "Fireball" [Glassnote]
The Sea and Cake - "Up on the North Shore" [Thrill Jockey]
Twin Library - "There's Nothing Out There" [Independent]
Woodpigeon - "I Live A Lot Of Places" [Live at UMFM]
David Picco - "Made It Easy" [
Cold Cave - "Pacing Around The Church" [Matador]
Cut Copy - "Blink And You'll Miss A Revolution" [Modular Records]


Set Three: 7:30 PM - 8 PM

Austra - "Lose It" [Domino]
Hunx and his Punx - "Tonite Tonite" [Hardly Art]
Fast Romantics - "Denim Tuxedo" [Independent]
The Awesome Hots - "Borda Patro'" [Independent]
Crissi Cochrane - "So Far Apart" [Independent]
Planeta Imaginario - "Hemangioma" [Cuneiform Records]
Deezuz - "They Don't Know (feat. Subs) [M.O.V.E.]
Zion I & The Grouch - "Healing of the Nation" [Hard Boiled]

How It Went Down - April 1, 2011

BUSY BUSY BUSY show last Friday. No foolin, despite the date. First off I was joined by roots-rockers WoodShed Havoc who released their new album The Current State on Saturday at the Park Theatre. Then I spoke by phone with Raphaelle of buzz-band Braids (who played the Albert on Saturday), and finally I was joined by Winnipeg hip-hop group The Happy Unfortunate, whose CD release party is THIS Saturday, April 9th at VP Nights on Pembina.

Here's what was played:

Set One: 6:30 PM - 7 PM

Canadian Winter - "City Lights" [Urbnet]
WoodShed Havoc - "The Current State" [Dollartone Records]
Interview with WoodShed Havoc
WoodShed Havoc - "Suck It Sideways" [Dollartone Records]
We Are The City - "Get Happy" [Adventure Boys Club]

Set Two: 7 PM - 7:30 PM

The Luyas - "Too Beautiful To Work" [Idee Fixe/Dead Oceans]
Matthew Maaskant - "You Only Dream To Test Me" [Draft Tattoo]
Braids - "Native Speaker" [Flemish Eye]

Set Three: 7:30 PM - 8 PM

The Happy Unfortunate - "New Generation" [Spaceship Audio]
Interview the Happy Unfortunate
The Happy Unfortunate - "Heart Matters" [Spaceship Audio]
Rebel Yell - "Table Service (Fast Food)" [Independent]
The Blisters - "Attic" [I'm Trying Records]

How It Went Down: March 25, 2011

Well my scheduled interview with The City Streets didn't happen (it was supposed to be with the band calling in from the road, so there may have been some cellphone reception issues...), but I did talk to UK electronic artist Adham Fisher (aka AFS) and Daniel Lee of Hooded Fang (who are opening for Rural Alberta Advantage this week). The missed interview did allow me more time to play some great new music though!

Here's what was played:

Set One: 6:30 PM - 7 PM

Sun Wizard - "Too Much On Your Mind" [Light Organ]
Interview with Adham Fisher
AFS - "Mother's Day Pt. 1" [Atomicduster]
AFS - "Mother's Day Pt. 2" [Atomicduster]
WoodShed Havoc - "Take It Easy" [Dollartone Records]

Set Two: 7 PM - 7:30 PM

Wye Oak - "Holy Holy" [Merge]
The Head and the Heart - "Couer d'Alene" [Sub Pop]
Flying Fox & The Hunter Gatherers - "Spring" [Independent]
The Blowholes - "March of the Crabs" [Transistor 66]
PS I Love You - "Breadends" [Paper Bag Records]
The City Streets with Myrol - "This World Was Meant For Us" [Independent]
The Dodos - "Black Night" [Frenchkiss]

Set Three: 7:30 PM - 8 PM

Boy Genius - "Pay For None" [Little Whore Records]
Boy Genius - "Enter the Manchild" [Little Whore Records]
Bibio - "Anything New" [Domino]
Timber Timbre - "Swamp Magic" [Arts & Crafts]
Hooded Fang - "Highway Steam" [Independent]

Next week on the show I've got an interview with Braids, and I'll be joined in the studio by The Happy Unfortunate and WoodShed Havoc.