How It Went Down: April 6 and 13, 2012

The last two weeks have been thick with author interviews and it's looking like that trend will continue as this Friday (April 20th) I have a marathon talk with Canadian music luminary Bernie Finkelstein about his memoir True North chronicling a life in the music business. And in coming weeks I'll be talking to NPR's Michelle Mercer about her book on Joni Mitchell's Blue period, Nahlah Ayed about her memoir A Thousand Farewells, and the new book Tower of Babble from former CBC honcho Richard Stursberg is sure to generate some interesting discussion when we sit down.

Here's what happened on the past two episodes:

APRIL 6 2012

Set One: 6:30 PM - 7 PM

Whirr - "Bogus" [Tee Pee Records]
The Archers - "The Sun Will Rise" [Independent]
Dinosaur Feathers - "City Living" [Ernest Jenning Record Co.]
Olivier Jarda - "Ship Of Fools" [Jam Jar]
UPC All Stars - "Don't Get Discouraged" [Now Again]
Sachal Studios Orchestra - "Take Five" [E One]

Set Two: 7 PM - 7:30 PM

Interview with Lillian Nattel about Web Of Angels
Real Boys - "Vacation" [Independent]
Great Lake Swimmers - "New Wild Everywhere" [Nettwerk]

Set Three: 7:30 PM - 8 PM

Keys N Krates - "Let It Rain" [Urbnet]
BADBADNOTGOOD - "Bastard/Lemonade" [Independent]
Lioness - "White Moth" [New Romantic]
The Great Sabatini - "Null And Void" [No List]
Rise Ashen - "Kingpin (feat. Slim Moore)" [Balanced Records]
Miike Snow - "The Wave" [Downtown/Universal Republic]
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APRIL 13 2012

Set One: 6:30 PM - 7 PM

Skydiggers - "You've Been Gone So Long" [Latent Recordings]
The Antlers - "Every Night My Teeth Are Falling Out" [Frenchkiss Records]
High On Fire - "Samsara" [E One]
Double Fuzz - "Don't Wanna Be Bad No More" [Independent]
Eamon McGrath - "Young Canadians" [White Whale Records]
Sidi Toure - "Maimouna" [Thrill Jockey]
WITCH - "That's What I Want" [Now Again]

Set Two: 7 PM - 7:30 PM

Interview with Rich Podolsky about Don Kirshner: The Man with the Golden Ear

Set Three: 7:30 PM - 8 PM

Bobby Vee - "Take Good Care Of My Baby" [Decca]
royceBIRTH - "Soul Clap" [Independent]
Boys Who Say No - "Ms. Lee" [Independent]
Thavius Beck - "Of Mine" [Plug Research]

Catching up on my playlists (February 24 - March 30)

Can't believe I haven't updated this blog since the middle of February, but then again I can. There were a couple weeks where TGIFR was preempted for Bison Hockey broadcasts. Here's the scoop on past episodes (podcasts for the past 6 episodes are now up on UMFM).

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February 24, 2012

I spoke to Marisa Hochman and Bette Woodland, author and illustrator respectively of A Walk In Pirate's Cove. It's a wonderful new children's book that was just launched at McNally Robinson last night. Also interviewed Allen Levine, discussing his fascinating biography of former Prime Minister King.

Set One: 6:30 PM - 7 PM

Brothers - "Bury This Wound" [Independent]
Leonard Cohen - "Show Me The Place" [Sony]
Interview with Marisa Hochman and Bette Woodland

Set Two: 7 PM - 7:30 PM

Interview with Allen Levine
Bowerbirds - "Sweet Moment" [Dead Oceans]
Damien Jurado - "This Time Next Year" [Secretly Canadian]
Baby Eagle & The Proud Mothers - "Old Punks" [You've Changed Records]

Set Three: 7:30 PM - 8 PM

Eric Chenaux - "Genitalia Domestique" [Constellation]
Dustin Wong - "Tea Tree Leaves Retreat" [Thrill Jockey]
Demetra - "Hold Me Close" [Head In The Sand]

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March 16, 2012

A feature length interview with Yukon Blonde about their brand new album Tiger Talk.

Set One: 6:30 PM - 7 PM

The Slakadeliqs - "Keep Breathing (feat. Justin Nozuka)" [Independent]
Spoek Mathambo - "Dog To Bone" [Sub Pop]
Sao Paolo Underground - "Rio Negro" [Cuneiform]
Les Momies De Palerme - "Brulez De Coeur" [Constellation]
Carolina Chocolate Drops - "Po' Black Sheep" [Nonesuch]
Red Moon Road - "Hypothetical Girl" [Live at UMFM]

Set Two: 7 PM - 7:30 PM

David Newberry - "All Of The Apples In The Basket" [Northern Electric]
Octoberman - "Dressed Up" [Saved By Vinyl]
Interview with Yukon Blonde
Yukon Blonde - "Guns" [Dine Alone Records]
Bowerbirds - "Stitch The Hem" [Dead Oceans]

Set Three: 7:30 PM - 8 PM

SitDownTracy - "Best Friend A Go-Go" [Independent]
From Giants - "Behold The Kingdom At Hand" [Live at UMFM]
The Wooden Sky - "The Wooden Sky" [Live at UMFM]
Lost In The Trees - "Neither Here Nor There" [Anti-]
Bleating Hearts - "Intro" [Independent]
The Slakadeliqs - "Speed Of Time" [Independent]

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March 23, 2012

A great talk with Marc from Octoberman about his new album Waiting In The Well, which was inspired by the great Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami. We geek out over a shared love of Murakami and his latest novel, 1Q84.

Set One: 6:30 PM - 7 PM

Box Of Wolves - "Summer '93" [Independent]
Georgia Anne Muldrow - "Calabash" [E One]
THEESatisfaction - "QueenS" [Sub Pop]
Young Sin - "Old School" [Camobear]
The Happy Unfortunate - "Another Time Zone" [Spaceship Audio]
fLako - "Irakundji" [Project: Mooncircle]
fLako - "Sun Ba" [Project: Mooncircle]
Mark de Clive-Lowe - "The Why" [Tru Thoughts]
Vikter Duplaix - "Morning Sun (feat. Common)" [Independent]

Set Two: 7 PM - 7:30 PM

Dawson Blaine - "Upon A Map Of Dreams" [Independent]
Long Distance Runners - "Sally Ann" [360 Degrees Of Sound]
Interview with Octoberman
Octoberman - "Wind Up Bird" [Saved By Vinyl]

Set Three: 7:30 PM - 8 PM

Dumb Angel - "Victoria" [Clamour Records]
Zachary Lucky - "Across The Ocean" [Independent]
Luke Roberts - "Will You Be Mine" [Thrill Jockey]
Jordsy - "New Age" [Independent]
Northern Valentine - "The White Mountains" [Silber]
Caetano Veloso and David Byrne - "Corocao Vagabundo" [Nonesuch]

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March 30, 2012

Lots of talk on this most recent episode as I spoke to Arbutus Records act TOPS about their new album Tender Opposites and getting a bump from the success of label-mated Grimes. I also spoke to roots artist Lindi Ortega who was recently tapped by Social Distortion to open for them on an upcoming tour, and had an in-depth talk with Randy Poe, longtime president of Leiber & Stoller Music Publishing and author of an hilarious/informative book about "song plugging" called Stalking The Red Headed Stranger.

Set One: 6:30 PM - 7 PM

The Wooden Sky - "Take Me Out" [Live at UMFM]
The Young Pixels - "All My Relations" [Independent]
Interview with Lindi Ortega
Lindi Ortega - "I'm No Elvis Presley" [Last Gang Records]

Set Two: 7 PM - 7:30 PM

Frank Sinatra - "The Girls I Never Kissed" [Columbia]
Interview with Randy Poe

Set Three: 7:30 PM - 8 PM

Ane Brun - "Worship (feat. Jose Gonzalez) [PIAS]
Interview with TOPS
TOPS - "Rings Of Saturn" [Arbutus Records]
Quantic & Alice Russell with the Combo Barbaro - "Travelling Song" [Tru Thoughts]

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*** So this Friday, being Good Friday and a stat holiday, I'll be home with my family. But I have a pre-record that will include a lengthy interview with author Lillian Nattel about her latest novel, Web Of Angels, which is a fascinating portrayal of a woman living with Dissociative Identity Disorder (aka "multiple personalities") plus a whackload of new music, which is coming out in droves these days.

How It Went Down - February 17, 2012

After several weeks of TGIFR being preempted for Bison Hockey broadcasts, the show was back this week (I, of course, have been here the whole time since I work the boards for the hockey broadcasts) and I was joined by phone by Wes from The Darcys who reinterpreted Steely Dan's dad-rock classic Aja, in addition to releasing their self-titled debut a few months ago. I caught him after a 14 hour drive to Portland. Also spoke to Romi Mayes about her February 25th show at the Park Theatre with longtime co-conspirator Jay Nowicki, and with opener Bobby Desjarlais.

Here's what was played:

Set One: 6:30 PM - 7 PM

Evan Voytas - "You Don't Even Know Where It's At" [Dovecote Records]
Mitchmatic - "One Word" [Old Ugly]
Grimes - "Genesis" [Arbutus/4AD]
Phenomenal Handclap Band - "Form & Control" [Tummy Touch Records]
Cedar Park - "Think So Now (feat. Esthero)" [Dead Daisy Records]
Alex Winston - "Choice Notes (Jesus Million remix) [Unreleased]
Quantic & Alice Russell with Combo Barbaro - "Look Around The Corner" [Tru Thoughts]


Set Two: 7 PM - 7:30 PM

The Wooden Sky - "Angelina" [Black Box Recordings]
Rose Cousins - "One Way" [Outside Music]
Paper Beat Scissors - "Folds" [Forward Music Group]
Interview with Romi Mayes
Romi Mayes - "I Can't Get You Off Of My Mind [Live at CYRK]
Romi Mayes - "Lucky Tonight" [Independent]


Set Three: 7:30 PM - 8 PM

Wintermitts - "Birds" [Independent]
The Bokononists - "In War This Is Fair" [Independent]
Interview with The Darcys
The Darcys - "Home At Last" [Arts & Crafts]
Memoryhouse - "All Our Wonder" [Sub Pop]

How It Went Down - January 13, 2012

Another busy one, jam-packed with talk and tunes. Lyzie Burt brought her keyboard in and played a few tunes from her new record, Marina Endicott talked vaudeville and Chris Sheasgreen and Marvin Kaye talked picking up the pieces after their star died.

Here's what was played:

Set One: 6:30 PM - 7 PM

Seeker Lover Keeper - "Even Though I'm A Woman" [Spunk Records]
Lyzie Burt - "Find You In Your Sleep" [Live at UMFM]
Lyzie Burt - "The Cash" [Live at UMFM]
Lyzie Burt - "Van Song" [Live at UMFM]
Lyzie Burt - "Cigarettes & You" [Live at UMFM]
Interview with Lyzie Burt
Lyzie Burt - "Mr. Elliot" [I'm Trying Records]

Set Two: 7 PM - 7:30 PM

Interview with Marina Endicott

Set Three: 7:30 PM - 8 PM

Hands & Teeth - All That Was [Independent]
Interview with Chris Sheasgreen and Marvin Kaye
Jonas Bonnetta - "French Toast" [Shuffling Feet]
Rae Spoon - "I Can't Keep All Of Our Secrets" [Saved By Radio]


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Catch you in a couple weeks!

Catching up and looking ahead...

Wowzers. Totally flaked on keeping on top of things here. There've been five shows since I last wrote a "How It Went Down" so I'll point you in the direction of my showlogs on UMFM's website with a little blurb about each show in a minute.

But first I want to plug this coming Friday's show - it's the 13th of January (inauspicious start to what the Mayans indicated would be our last year). I spoke to Marina Endicott about her novel The Little Shadows - which made the Globe & Mail's Top 100 for 2011 - when she came through town and have yet to find a moment to air it, but I'm finally going to broadcast our feature chat.
Earlier today I spoke with the creators of HBO Canada's Less Than Kind, a show filmed/set here in Winnipeg that enters its third season this Sunday the 15th dealing with the death of its star Maury Chaykin.
And I'll be joined in studio by Lyzie Burt for both an interview and a live performance of material from her new album Cigarettes And You, which gets its release on January 20th at the LO Pub.

Also wanted to give a heads-up that over the next few weeks, my show will be preempted for Bison Hockey broadcasts so there will be no show on January 20th, February 3rd and 10th.

Here's what happened on previous episodes of TGIFR:

Friday December 2nd - my interviews with Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith, known collectively as Jay & Silent Bob. Mewes is no stranger to Winnipeg as he films Todd & The Book Of Pure Evil here in town, and Smith - being a huge hockey fan - admitted to considering buying Jets season tickets despite living in LA.


Friday December 9th - all about the live music as I was joined for live sessions by three local acts. Metal band Forged In Fire, retro-rockers The Noble Thiefs and roots-rockers The Magnificent 7s.

Friday December 16th - I sat down with historian (and friend) Richard Brignall to talk about his new book, Forgotten Heroes: Winnipeg's Hockey Heritage, and talked on the phone with Adam Dorn, known to music fans as Mocean Worker.

Friday December 23rd was pretty much all talk as I sat down with John Einarson to discuss his latest (and dream) project, a biography of Ian & Sylvia entitled Four Strong Winds, and I also spoke with the award-winning author Ami McKay who followed up The Birth House with The Virgin Cure.

I didn't do a show on the Friday December 30th as I was under the weather.

Friday January 6th was a real treat as Jenny Berkel came in and blew me away with her amazing voice and songwriting. We discussed her new album Here On A Wire, and then I was joined by the organizers of the Big Fun Festival to talk inspiration and line-ups.

How It Went Down - November 25, 2011

Another wild one this past week. Cheering For The Bad Guy started things off right with a five-song-set live on air. Great stuff from a bunch of great guys. Then we spoke to UMSU VP Matt Hepner about the Brewmaster's Dinner held at Degrees as part of the UMSU Movember campaign, and finally we had jazz musician Paul de Gurse on to discuss exactly why and how he's reworking Talking Heads material for a jazz quintet.

Here's what was played:

Set One: 6:30 PM - 7 PM

Cheering For The Bad Guy - "Grand Rapids" [Live at UMFM]
Cheering For The Bad Guy - "Train Song" [Live at UMFM]
Cheering For The Bad Guy - "Jesus Murphy" [Live at UMFM]
Cheering For The Bad Guy - "Tires Under The Tree" [Live at UMFM]
Cheering For The Bad Guy - "Jesus Is My Drinking Buddy" [Live at UMFM]
Deer Tick - "Main Street" [Partisan/Dine Alone]
Interview with Cheering For The Bad Guy


Set Two: 7 PM - 7:30 PM

Dum Dum Girls - "Coming Down" [Sub Pop]
The Noble Thiefs - "Trapped Up" [Pipe & Hat]
Interview with Matt Hepner
The JD Edwards Band - "Going Down To Mexico" [Independent]
The Wooden Sky - "Go Straight" [Black Box Recordings]


Set Three: 7:30 PM - 8 PM

Interview with Paul de Gurse
Talking Heads - "Once In A Lifetime" [Sire]
Raleigh Moncrief - "I Just Saw" [Anticon]
Kate Bush - "Wild Man" [Fish People/Noble & Brite]
Bry Webb - "I Will Give You Everything" [Zunior]



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This Friday's show is a pretty sweet coup for me. I've got two separate interviews with Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith - aka Jay & Silent Bob. The pair are coming to Winnipeg December 11th as part of the Jay & Silent Bob Get Old tour and each managed to accommodate an interview in their busy schedules. Definitely worth tuning in for.

The following week (December 9th) I'll have local metal act Forged In Fire starting the show off with a live set debuting some new tracks (newer than the EP they released earlier this year. I'll also have an interview with Adam Dorn (aka Mocean Worker) discussing his latest record, Candygram for MoWo! and a lot of other talking points, and we'll have the Magnificent 7's capping things off with a live set spotlighting material from their new record, All Kinds Of Mean, which gets its launch at the West End on Thursday, December 15th.

How It Went Down - November 18, 2011

As we head toward the Christmas holidays, there's all sorts of shows and events going on here in town and thus, TGIFR is jam-packed with guests and interviews from now until the New Year. On the 18th, I had an in-depth conversation with Susanne Tabata, director of the great documentary Bloodied But Unbowed that examines the Vancouver punk scene in the late 70s and early 80s. I also debuted some live songs I recorded with Mark Browning (aka OX) when he came to Winnipeg earlier in the week. And speaking of live, Sweet Alibi came in and performed some songs from their debut LP and answered my questions about the record.

Here's what was played:

Set One: 6:30 PM - 7 PM

D-Sisive - "The Unknown (feat. Birdapres & Cadence Weapon)" [Urbnet]
Cannon Bros. - "Out Of Here" [Disintegration Records]
Interview with Susanne Tabata
The Subhumans - "Fuck You" [Bluurg]


Set Two: 7 PM - 7:30 PM

Ferriswheel - "Dots and Dreams" [E-Tron Records]
Tycho - "Daydreams" [Ghostly International]
Ox - "Share Gas Drive West" [Live at UMFM]
Ox - "Indie Rock Radio Nation" [Live at UMFM]
Ox - "Trans Canada" [Live at UMFM]
Ox - "Nico" [Live at UMFM]


Set Three: 7:30 PM - 8 PM

Sweet Alibi - "The Trial" [Live at UMFM]
Sweet Alibi - "There She Goes" [Live at UMFM]
Sweet Alibi - "Something Good" [Live at UMFM]
Sweet Alibi - "Suddenly" [Live at UMFM]
Interview with Sweet Alibi
Sweet Alibi - "Crybaby" [Independent]

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Tomorrow, I've got Cheering For The Bad Guy coming in to start the show off live with some brand new songs. We'll be talking to UMSU VP Matt Hepner about the Brewmasters Dinner that Half Pints and Degrees are hosting on Saturday as part of Movember, and we'll speak to local jazz artist Paul De Gurse about his December 1st show re-imagining the Talking Heads. And next week - December 2nd - have I got quite the special show. In advance of their Jay and Silent Bob Get Old show December 11th at the Walker/Burt, I'll be talking to Jason Mewes AND Kevin Smith. Seriously.