How It Went Down - June 22, 2012

Another week, another busy show. I had a lengthy interview with educator/author Paul Keery about Canada At War, the graphic (as in graphic novel) history of Canada's role in World War II that has just been published by Douglas & McIntyre. A fantastic read and the artwork by Michael Wyatt is pretty stellar. Brian Dunn stopped by UMFM earlier in the week and did a live session and interview with me (the live session is HERE) - he'll be back in town playing Le Garage on June 30th. And I had food specialist/nutritionist Leslie DePodesta on to talk about Chex mix recipes as the fine folks at Chex gave us prize packs featuring their gluten-free products. I led things off with the debut airing of Box Of Wolves new single "Sunlight" - you can grab it HERE.

Here's what was played:

Set One: 6:30 PM - 7 PM

Box Of Wolves - "Sunlight" [Independent]
Dinosaurus Rex - "CNLVYBTTR" [Independent]
Silkken Laumann - "House Of Common Problems" [Independent]
Interview with Leslie DePodesta
Stars - "The Theory Of Relativity" [ATO Records]
Yeasayer - "Longevity" [Secretly Canadian]
Grizzly Bear - "Sleeping Ute" [Warp]

Set Two: 7 PM - 7:30 PM

Interview with Paul Keery

Set Three: 7:30 PM - 8 PM

Brian Dunn - "Crash" [Live at UMFM]
Brian Dunn - "Country" [Live at UMFM]
Brian Dunn - "Slow Learner" [Live at UMFM]
Interview with Brian Dunn
Brian Dunn - "Winnipeg" [Cosmic Dave's Record Factory]

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Still hammering out details for this week's show, but since Canada Day is right around the corner, I expect there'll be a lot of new music from our nation's citizens.

How It Went Down: June 8th and June 15th

Busy few weeks at UMFM with the 2012 TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival kicking off last Thursday and a slew of other acts rolling through town (except for Russian Circles; thanks to you Emerson border-crossing). Several live sessions have been recorded with acts playing the opening weekend kickoff at Old Market Square, and just yesterday Toronto act the Heavyweights Brass Band stopped by for a blazing session that will get its debut on Sounds of Science tomorrow between 3:30-5:30pm. TGIFR has been particularly chock-full of guests as a result of this and so the past two episodes have featured interviews aplenty and some fantastic new music.

Here's the scoop:

June 8, 2012

Set One: 6:30 PM - 7 PM

Abdominal - "Pedal Pusher" [Do Right!]
Interview with MEC BikeFest organizers
Brasstronaut - "Falklands" [Unfamiliar Records]
Norrin Radd - "Will To Survive" [Lotus Audio]
School of Seven Bells - "The Night" [Ghostly/Vagrant]
Wintersleep - "Resuscitate" [EMI]

Set Two: 7 PM - 7:30 PM

Interview with Jeff Rubin about his latest book, The End of Growth


Set Three: 7:30 PM - 8 PM

Moonwood - "Invite Me To Stare Into The Darkness" [Arachnadiscs]
White Lung - "St. Dad" [Independent]
Interview with Flo
Flo - "Tell Me Why" [Independent]
Sonnymoon - "Flit, Fleet, Float" [Plug Research]

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June 15, 2012

Set One: 6:30 PM - 7 PM

Poolside - "Slow Down" [Echo Park]
Bry Webb - "Rivers Of Gold" [Idee Fixe]
Elizabeth Shepherd - "Lonely House" [Pinwheel Music]
Cassandra Wilson - "Almost Twelve" [E One]
Interview with Anna MacDonald, director of the documentary Fight For Freedom
Michael Rault - "The Things You Said" [Pirates Blend]

Set Two: 7 PM - 7:30 PM

Interview with Jon McKiel
Jon McKiel - "Iceman" [Youth Club Records]
Conveyor - "Short Hair" [Paper Garden Records]
Interview with Goose Hut
Goose Hut - "Bad Time" [Independent]

Set Three: 7:30 PM - 8 PM

Way Yes - "Singing" [Lefse Records]
Interview with Parlovr
Parlovr - "4000" [Dine Alone Records]
Teen Daze - "Late" [Lefse Records]
Conn-Shawnery - "Ain't No Way (feat. Wayne Tennant & blurum13)" [Independent]

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This week, I'll be talking to Paul Keery, educator and author of a graphic novel history of Canada's role in World War II called Canada At War (with illustrations by Michael Wyatt). It's a fantastic book that brings a piece of the country's past into the present.

How It Went Down: May 18, May 25 and June 1

Man, I am completely slack on updating this blog and posting about what's going on on TGIFR. To catch up, here's the scoop on the last three weeks:

MAY 18, 2012

I was joined by Thunder Bay act Alaska Army Band for a live session and interview and then aired a mammoth interview with NPR correspondent & author Michelle Mercer about her book on Joni Mitchell's Blue period, Will You Take Me As I Am.

Set One: 6:30 PM - 7 PM

Trio Bembe - "Drume Negrita" [Live at UMFM]

Joni Mitchell - "Help Me" [Reprise]
Interview with Michelle Mercer

Set Two: 7 PM - 7:30 PM

Interview with Michelle Mercer (continued)
Joni Mitchell - "Free Man In Paris" [Reprise]
Joni Mitchell - "California" [Reprise]
Joni Mitchell - "Hejira"  [Reprise]


Set Three: 7:30 PM - 8 PM

Alaska Army Band - "You Can't Smell Love Without OV" [Live at UMFM]
Alaska Army Band - "Slowed Down To A Crawl" [Live at UMFM]
Alaska Army Band - "At The Bridge" [Live at UMFM]
Interview with Alaska Army Band
Alaska Army Band - "Nine To Five" [Independent]

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MAY 25, 2012

A special interview and live session with Haligonian Jon Bryant, a talk with Cinematheque's Dave Barber about Music v. Filmmakers II, and a feature length talk with Will Ferguson about his latest book, 419.

Set One: 6:30 PM - 7 PM

The Sugarman Three - "Your Friendly Neighborhood Sugarman" [Daptone]
The Skydiggers - "Fire Engine (Red Explosion)" [Latent Recordings]
Bruce Springsteen - "Shackled and Drawn" [Sony]
SitDownTracy - "Lesser, Manitoba" [Independent]
Bahamas - "Lost In The Light" [Barchords Inc. / Universal]
Rufus Wainwright - "Montauk" [Decca Records]

Set Two: 7 PM - 7:30 PM

Interview with Will Ferguson

Set Three: 7:30 PM - 8 PM

Jon Bryant - "Take Me If You Must" [Live at UMFM]
Jon Bryant - "Ontario" [Live at UMFM]
Jon Bryant - "Evening Sun" [Live at UMFM]
Interview with Jon Bryant
Jon Bryant - "Souls of Manhattan" [Independent]

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JUNE 1, 2012

	Live session and interview with The Strumbellas, who came to town to open for Sweet Alibi on Wednesday before heading west. Speaking of Sweet Alibi, they played the Back 40 Festival in Morden on Sunday June 3 and I spoke to the communications coordinator, Jocelyn Unrau about the fest.

Set One: 6:30 PM - 7 PM

Shawn Lee - "Galactica" [ESL Music]
PS I Love You - "Don't Go" [Paper Bag Records]
Kestrels - "Drowning Girl" [Sonic Unyon]
Jack White - "Sixteen Saltines" [Third Man Records/Sony]
Interview with Jocelyn Unrau
Sweet Alibi - "The Trial" [Live at UMFM]

The Tallest Man On Earth - "1904" [Dead Oceans]

Set Two: 7 PM - 7:30 PM

The Strumbellas - "Lakes" [Live at UMFM]
The Strumbellas - "The Bird That Follows Me" [Live at UMFM]
The Strumbellas - "The Sheriff" [Live at UMFM]
Interview with The Strumbellas
The Strumbellas - "Rhinestone" [Independent]

Set Three: 7:30 PM - 8 PM

Chris Forsyth - "East Kensington Run Down" [Northern Spy]
Mike Scheidt - "When Time Forgets Time" [Thrill Jockey]
Illusive Mind - "Untitled 3" [Independent]
Eliot Lipp - "The Sunset" [Pretty Lights Music]

___________________________________________

This week I'll be talking to author / economist Jeff Rubin about his latest book, The End of Growth. I interviewed him several years ago when he wrote his first book, Why Your World Is About To Get A Whole Lot Smaller and this latest book certainly picks up on some of the same themes about expensive oil and the dramatic impact it will have on the world economy. I'll also be talking Bike Fest and doing some giveaways. Speaking of giveaways, I have a copy of Parlovr's Kook Soul album that I'll be giving out on June 15th to coincide with an interview with the band in advance of their show at the LO Pub.

How It Went Down - May 11, 2012

Tonight's episode featured an in-depth interview with the former head of English language programming at the CBC, Richard Stursberg about his memoir Tower of Babble. Fascinating stuff and well worth the listen (and the read).

Here's what was played:

Set One: 6:30 PM - 7 PM

Kendra Morris - "If You Didn't Go" [Wax Poetics]
Muneshine - "Starter Jacket" (feat. D-Sisive) [Independent]
Cityreal & Wes Mackey - "Angel" (feat. D-Sisive) [Independent]
Thom Janusz - "Crystals" [Luv 'n Haight]
Pixel - "Esset" [Cuneiform Records]
Yamantaka // Sonic Titan - "A Star Over Pureland" [Psychic Handshake]

Set Two: 7 PM - 7:30 PM

Interview with Richard Stursberg

Set Three: 7:30 PM - 8 PM

JP Hoe - "Lions and Tiger" [Independent]
The Racoon Wedding - "Onondaga" [Fort Plant Recording Co.]
Parlovr - "Fisticuffs & Affidavits" [Dine Alone Records]
Wooden Rings - "To Let You Go" [Independent]
Los Miticos Del Ritmo - "Cumbia de Mochilla" [Soundway]
Beach House - "Other People" [Sub Pop]
Humans - "De Ciel" [Hybridity Music]

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Next week is still getting sorted out, but we're in the process of recording live sessions with artists playing the 2012 TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival so I may have some of those to play, as well as a session with Alaska Army Band. Plus, maybe just maybe I'll be talking to Will Ferguson about his new novel 419 - I just have to finish reading it before I talk to him!

How It Went Down - May 4, 2012

Just one guest on the show on Friday. San Francisco band Sleepy Suns were in Winnipeg on May 5th to play the LO Pub but before they hit town I got vocalist Bret Constantino on the phone for an interview about the new album Spine Hits, touring, the San Francisco Giants and what exactly is wrong with Tim Lincecum this season (among other things).

On sad note, RIP Adam Yauch

Here's what was played:

Set One: 6:30 PM - 7 PM

Beastie Boys - "Sure Shot" [EMI]
Fay Hallam & The Bongolian - "Dancing" [BlowUp Records]
Monophonics feat. Fanny Franklin - "All Together" [Ubiquity]
Lushlife - "Magnolia" [Western Vinyl]
TV Girl - "I Wonder Who She's Kissing" [Independent]
Mares Of Thrace - "Act II: Bathsheba's Reply To David" [Sonic Unyon]
Viridians - "Nauts" [Independent]

Set Two: 7 PM - 7:30 PM

Interview with Bret Constantino of Sleepy Suns
Sleepy Sun - "Martyr's Mantra" [The End Records]
Cold Specks - "Blank Maps" [Arts & Crafts]

Set Three: 7:30 PM - 8 PM

Keri Latimer - "Strange Love" [So Forth]
The Shins - "It's Only Life" [Sony/Columbia]
Chains Of Love - "All The Time" [Dine Alone Records]
Army Girls - "Twice" [Unreleased]
Wadada Leo Smith - "Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott [Cuneiform Records]
Mr. Oizo - "Stade 3" [Independent]

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This week on TGIFR, I'll be talking to former head of English programming at the CBC, Richard Stursberg, about his book Tower Of Babble, as well as Ryan McMahon who is coming through town to play Pop Soda's on May 15th.

How It Went Down April 20 and April 27 2012

I keep missing the boat on updating what's going on with the show, so here we go again with another multi-week catch-up post. April 20th featured my marathon interview with Canadian music icon Bernie Finkelstein about his memoir True North chronicling his time managing acts like Kensington Market and Bruce Cockburn and establishing the label from which he takes his book's name. The man had lots of stories to share. I also spoke to Demetra Penner (aka Demetra) about her upcoming tour with Jenny Berkel and national response to her album Lone Migration.

Here's what was played:

Set One: 6:30 PM - 7 PM

Franklin Fernando - "When I Be Free" [Manitoba Music]
Fire and Smoke - "Lord I'm Leaving" [Manitoba Music]
Interview with Demetra Jenny Berkel - "Come A Long Way" [Independent]
Demetra - "Maiden Of Ice" [Head In The Sand]
Willis Earl Beal - "Evening's Kiss" [XL Recordings]  

Set Two: 7 PM - 7:30 PM

Interview with Bernie Finkelstein


Set Three: 7:30 PM - 8 PM 

Murray McLauchlan - "On The Boulevard" [True North]

Del Barber - "Can't Turn Around" [Six Shooter Records]
Batida - "Tribalismo (feat. Circuito Feixado)" [Soundway]
Fraction & Fresh Kils - "Change" [KilZone]

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April 27th once again saw two interviews - one with Sean McManus, Program Manager at Manitoba Music to discuss their Youth Mentorship program and the Re-Generation: A Prairie Mixtape compilation and project. The second was with former University of Manitoba student Nahlah Ayed, who is best known as a reporter for the CBC who has covered the Middle East extensively over the past decade. Her book A Thousand Farewells is a fascinating combo of memoir and reportage and we had a lengthy and interesting discussion about her experiences.

Here's what was played:  

Set One: 6:30 PM - 7 PM

Third Coast Kings - "Spicy Brown" [Record Kicks]
The Bamboos - "Where Does The Time Go? (feat. Aloe Blacc)" [Tru Thoughts]
Flo - "Echo (feat. Ismaila Alfa)" [Independent]
Thomas Sinnott - "What I Really Had" [Manitoba Music]
Interview with Sean McManus
Avery Eramchuk - "What I Like Best" [Manitoba Music]  

Set Two: 7 PM - 7:30 PM

Jonathan Inc. - "Drag Us Down" [Independent]
Interview with Nahlah Ayed  

Set Three: 7:30 PM - 8 PM

Anne Janelle - "Frangipani" [Independent]
Father John Misty - "O I Long To Feel Your Arms Around Me" [Sub Pop]
Chicago Underground Duo - "Castle In Your Heart" [Northern Spy Records]
Chains Of Love - "All The Time" [Dine Alone Records]
Sleepy Sun - "She Rex" [The End Records]
Purity Ring - "Obedear" [Domino]
Angelo Francois - "My Life" [Trilogy Music]
Nas - "Daughter" [Unreleased]

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This week is still a little unsettled as I'm waiting on confirmation with Cold Speck who will be in town opening for Great Lake Swimmers, but I have already interviewed Bret Constantino from San Francisco psych-rockers Sleepy Sun about their new record and their show at the LO Pub this Saturday, May 5th.

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]