Saturday, September 14th there was an invasion at the House of Targ. Peterborough’s Mokomokai and CrossDog rolled into town to lay down some good old fashion heavy metal and punk rock and roll.
Spectrasonic Brings Hits and Explosions for May
Jon Spencer and the HITmakers, a Pale Horse Named Death and Joe Jackson are just a taste of what’s happening this month at Spectrasonic.
Mr. Blue’s Explosion Jon Spencer comes to town with his HITmakers May31st at the 27 Club.
A Pale Horse Named Death hits The Brass Monkey May 8th .
Joe Jackson’s – Four Decade Tour stops in at the Meridian Theatres at Centrepointe May 10th
Tickets to all the shows can be purchased at https://www.spectrasonic.com/
Fri 05/03 Townes with Valois, Hopper @ The 27Club
Sat 05/04 Mountain Goats with Shana Cleveland @ Bronson Centre
Tues 05/07 Alyssa Edwards: Dancing Queen – The live Show @ Bronson Centre
Wed 05/08 A Pale Horse Named Death @ Brass Monkey
Fri 05/10 Joe Jackson – Four Decade Tour Meridian Theatres at Centrepointe
Sat 05/11 Kasador @ Live on Elgin
Wed 05/15 Secrets, Awaken I Am, Southpaw, Horcrux @ The 27 Club
Thurs 05/16 Nightbeats @ The 27 Club
Sat 05/18 Max, Tongue Helmet, Jesse Dangerously @ House of Targ
Sat 05/18 Homesick : Emo Night Ottawa – TBS Edition @ The 27 Club
Wed 05/22 Bears Den, Vera Sola @ The 27 Club
Fri 05/24 Blink-281 @ Babylon
Fri 05/24 Its Gonna Be May: Boy Band Dance Party @ The 27 Club
Sat 05/25 Nicole Dollanganger @ Babylon
Fri 05/31 Jon Spencer & the HITmakers @ The 27 Club
Graven and the O-town Scene
Alright, I know my buddy Matty McKechnie has a new band called The New Band but, between you, me and that guy who doesn’t look at me sideways when I pour ten pounds of vanilla powder in my Bridgehead cup of java, I gotta’ say Graven and the O-town Scene is a pretty vanilla caked coffee sweet runner up.
Spectrasonic rings in the Holidays
Ottawa Promoters Spectrasonic do not take a break even in the busiest month during the holidays!
The Motorleague rocks out at House of Targ
When I saw The Motorleague live for the first time at House of Targ three years ago, it was love at first sight. The band had just released their third studio album, and the songs on it just instantly resonated with me and the cd was being played at my car and my house non stop.
Beers, Beards and Making Music: Q & A with Rory Taillon
Photos by Natalie Austin
Nicknames being slapped onto a musician are nothing new. We’ve got Kings and Killers, the Chairman of the Board, a Pope of Mope and even a Prince of Darkness. However, only one dude can lay claim to being named after one of the most popular characters from a galaxy far, far away. The Chewbacca of Alt. Rock doesn’t live on Kashyyyk. Rory Taillon’s making music right here in Ottawa!
Though he was first musically inspired by classic rockers before the first hairs sprouted on his chinny chin chin, the now bearded musician doesn’t quite agree with the rocker moniker. He prefers to call his music alternative-folk but he’s totally down with the Wookie connection. That beard ain’t going anywhere.
And what pairs itself perfectly with some good tunes? Some fine brews, of course! Not satisfied simply sipping suds while penning some new tunes, Taillon joined up with Whitby, Ontario’s 5 Paddles Brewing Company to unveil a truly unique blend of brewskie. Now he’s entering into local craft beer territory with a gig this weekend at Beau’s Oktoberfest with a Folkin’ Wake up Saturday at 12:45 PM.
Soundcheck’s Andre Gagne talks beer, beards and making music ahead of Taillon’s weekend gig at Vankleek Hill’s ultimate beer bash!
Andre Gagne: You were drawn to one particular style of music back in high school you’ve cited as being influential to you wanting to become a musician and that’s classic rock. What was it about the older stuff that grabbed?
Rory Taillon: There were a couple factors I think that drew me towards classic rock at the beginning. I bought a Jimi Hendrix record on a whim because I thought he looked interesting in the photo on the front of the CD. I was immediately intrigued and blown away by his unorthodox approach to guitar playing and it seemed like he was writing music purely out of passion and emotion. My father is also a huge classic rock fan, so as soon as I showed any interest in the genre, he got excited and starting showing me more and more from his own collection. I still enjoy that era because a lot of the biggest and most popular bands were writing ground breaking, original and passionate music.
That said, how would you describe your own style?
I slapped the term “alternative-folk” on the latest album as a genre because there’s definitely a folk base to my music with me being a solo musician with an acoustic guitar, but I can be louder and more aggressive than most would consider folk. I’ve also been called Chamber Folk recently which I also thought was interesting and poetic.
Though it’s easier to get your music out there these days with social media, streaming sites, etc., what would you say are some of the hurdles new musicians face in getting their songs discovered?
I think the volume of music out there due to the ease of getting one’s songs out has created this vast ocean where everyone’s music gets lost. Most people have to have their music recommended by a mutual third party it seems to get attention from industry people, bookers, writers, etc. I can’t blame the people for this either. There is so much music out there I barely even come across an act I like on my own anymore. I get most of my new music through recommendations from friends, or bands I play with. I’ve also found being original or different doesn’t always help you anymore either. A lot of listeners these days –and I’m sure this has been true for a long time– don’t want to try out something new. Some prefer to hear something like everything else that they listen to.
You’ve said “The Last Iris” from your first release is one of your favourites of your own tunes. Can you share how that one came to light?
I wrote that song shortly after losing someone very important to me and I was distraught. I wrote the song to try and make myself get past it a bit. My best friend got me into his home studio to record it shortly after and worked on the song with me to also help with the grieving process. It always reminds me of the person I wrote it about, so I love playing it or hearing it whenever I want to be taken back.
Now you actually started out in Toronto, right? What had you packing up and setting up here in O-town?
I spent a little time in Toronto and never really liked it. It just wasn’t me, so I spent a few years in Oshawa before finally being able to move up to Ottawa. This city had always been on the top of my wife and I’s list of places we’d like to live. Oshawa’s music and art scene was amazing for me and I love so many people and places involved in it, but it was time for me to move on. My wife got an offer for a job up here and as long as there’s a highway, I can still get out and tour.
You’ve been rolling around the Ottawa scene now for a bit. What are some of your favourite places to play?
Ottawa is rich with really cool live music venues. I’ve played LIVE! on Elgin a number of times, and I just love the feel of that room, the owners are great people and the beer on tap is all craft beer. Bar Robo is one of the most interesting looking little venues I’ve ever been to, I’ve had some amazing evenings in that little room. House of Targ is a gem and a blast from the past. There’s something special about loading in early to a show so that you have enough time for perogies and pinball. Pressed is beautiful in its own way and I’ve had some incredible shows there where one even ended with me playing up on their bar because the speakers cut out. Irene’s is a staple, Atomic Rooster is always fun and Happy Goat is one of the most warm places in the city with the best damn coffee.
Only Whispers is your third album. Did you approach this one differently from the previous two?
There were a couple things that we did differently with this album compared to the first two. First off, the entire album was recorded live off the floor. I set up like I would at a show and mics were set up around me and I did the guitar, vocals and kick drum at the same time like a show so that our recordings could be as true to stage sound as possible. The other difference was that with the exception of friends of mine playing violin and upright bass on Strings and my wife doing a piano part on With Grace, the entire album was all solo. My other albums had both solo and band tracks, this is the first one that’s strictly a solo album.
It’s been called much darker than the other albums. Why do you think that is and was a darker tone something you were aiming for?
My music has always been dark leaning, but this album is definitely darker as a whole than the other two. When I was picking the songs for the album, I chose the ones that I did because they all fit together and worked as a whole. It touches on dark subjects like death, loss and battling personal demons and mental health. I like music with heavy subjects and it helps me express myself when I write music like that. I also find the concept of death completely fascinating. It’s something that we all share and yet no one really has any factual knowledge about what happens to us when we die.
Now, while musicians often have unique collaborations yours really “hops”. Ok, bad pun. Seriously, though, what got you involved with 5 Paddles Brewing Company to create a beer?
I love 5 Paddles and everyone there. When I lived in Oshawa, I started going to the brewery because I really enjoyed a number of their beers. I became friends with a number of the owners from being a regular and once it finally came out that I was musician, they started asking me to play for them at special occasions. At one of my shows, one of the owners approached me about collaborating on a beer with them that had a label that would play a song on a record player. I of course was onboard right away and we released Jukebox, a Coffee Vanilla Stout, in March of 2017 and most recently A Reason, an Imperial Wit, in June 2018.
How did you find the Coffee Vanilla Stout on first taste?
It was so good! Mike, the brewer I worked on the beer with, absolutely nailed it! It was such a treat.
As a coffee lover who usually puts vanilla soy in my java I totally have to try this! Did you find pairing up with the beer company introduced your music to a different audience that may not have discovered you before? It did seem to attract a lot of press.
Definitely! It was really awesome to see people go and check the beer and 5 Paddles out because they were fans of mine, but also to see all the people be introduced to me because of their love of 5 Paddles and all the awesome beers they produce.
Speaking of beers, you’ve been asked to play Beau’s Oktoberfest this year. That’s always a party. What are you expecting from this gig?
Beer! (laughs) Oh so much delicious beer. I am ecstatic to be playing Oktoberfest again. It’s one of my favourite parties of the year and to be asked to come back and play again is a real honour. Last time I played it was one of my favourite show experiences I’ve ever had. I’m also really excited to check out a lot of the other bands on the bill for the event. I’m expecting delicious new beers, lots of awesome food, great tunes and an awesome couple of days.
Ok, so you’ve been called the Chewbacca of Alt rock. Any beard grooming tips for us facial haired dudes?
Keep it trimmed and make sure you’ve got some good oil to keep it moist and a balm to keep its shape. Beards always look better, thicker and are healthier if you keep top of them with regular trimming. (Insert Chewbacca growl)
When you look back on 2018 what do you most remember?
2018 has been insane. I’ve played a number of awesome festivals such as the Dragon Boat Festival in Ottawa this past June and the Tay Creek Folk Festival in Fredericton in July. I’ve gotten the chance to play with some great Canadian artists like Matt Mays, Craig Cardiff, Amos the Transparent and Julian Taylor to name a few. I’ve had a lot of fun touring around including two trips to the east coast, and I had my second collaboration beer with 5 Paddles come out. I’m looking forward to a strong finish to this year as well with two more festivals and some more touring in the coming months.
Awesome! What’s in store for ya’ in 2019?
I’m currently writing some new music, so hopefully I’ll get back into the studio either at the end of this year or the spring of 2019. I also want to tour Canada again this spring and hopefully head over to do Europe as well.
Spectrasonic starts August shows with We Were Sharks, Mayfield.
Ottawa promoters Spectrasonic have been working hard to bring audio candy to Ottawa audience’s ears for the month of August!
My Son The Hurricane – The Shape to Come to Funk Tour Stop Ottawa
My Son The Hurricane brought their The Shape to Come to Funk Tour to House of Targ in Ottawa Wednesday night to a very appreciative enthusiastic crowd of fans and fans to be and certainly gave them everything they had and a touch more.
My Son the Hurricane set to storm into Ottawa TONIGHT!
My Son the Hurricane is a 14-piece brasshop funk beast with the mantra: anything worth doing is worth overdoing. Hailing from Niagara/Toronto, the band mixes New Orleans style grooves with funk, jazz and hip hop. Driving the show, charismatic frontman Jacob Bergsma “can playfully pluck every nerve in your body with his voice” (Earshot), while the well-oiled rhythm section including 2 trombones, sousaphone, 2 trumpets and 2 saxes creates a spectacle of sound. With this lineup, My Son the Hurricane “stood out like a sore, yet extremely talented thumb at every show they’ve played” (Pulse Niagara), and became revered for their live show.
Musicability Making Music Accessible to All
Angèle Jodouin and Melodie Grealy-Fredette were tired of working in a field where they constantly watched the system fail people. Music shouldn’t have walls around it, blocking barricades and people saying “no, you just can’t do it”. Music needed to be accessible to anybody regardless of the challenges of what others might consider artistic impairments. Nobody should slip through the cracks, not on their watch, and the duo would stand idly by no longer. They tossed out a wide net filled with melody and song and all were welcome to fall into it.
They call it the Musicability Choir.
Angèle Jodouin and Melodie Grealy-Fredette / Photo by Andre Gagne
“Music has always been a part of what we do and is a big part of who we are,” explain Jodouin and Grealy-Fredette . They pair first met on orientation day in the Algonquin College DSW program. In 2006 the two friends became business partners originally working with families in their homes, building customized plans, sharing skills and strategies and empowering them to reach their goals.
The career path seemed pretty clear. Then they had kids and that shifted their focus a little. The main drive remained, however, and that was that Jodouin and Grealy-Fredette wanted to spend their lives helping others. They changed gears and created Family Harmonies Familiales, an Ottawa-based origination of Developmental Service Professionals offering a variety of flexible supports for families and individuals with and without special needs.
Sharing that love of music –Melodie even has a musical name– they soon realized they wanted to incorporate a more melodious component into their work. When they learned that many people with special needs, mental health or undiagnosed issues didn’t have many musical avenues to turn down, the duo created another branch on their giving tree in 2015 with Musicability.
“Music is so universal — it connects with all people on some level. We believe that each person can participate and contribute in making music in some way. It is empowering for all involved in being a part of something so positive,” they say.
Both trained as DSWs, Jodouin and Grealy-Fredette bring their past experience to working with the group’s various needs. They are also big on peer support and encourage others within Musicability to share their own skill set with those around them. Every Wednesday between 6 and 8pm the group meets at the Montgomery Legion (330 Kent St.), an accessible location. A typical group meeting sees anywhere from 5 to 25 attendees ready to face the music.
“We start by talking about upcoming gigs and events and then we play for about an hour. Everyone picks a song from our books, unless we are rehearsing a set list. We also have a variety of instruments for the group to learn and explore such as the keyboard, bass, guitar, ukuleles, drums, shakers, tambourine and a wide variety of percussive instruments. We end with a snack and social time and hugs.”
The two point out that the group is not just about the amazingness that happens while singing but also about personal growth. Musicability realizes the joy that comes out of being part of something that is all inclusive, a place where everyone has a say. It’s something choir members take great pride in being part of each week.
“I find it very comforting that everyone there understands that we all may be facing challenges that make the simplest things difficult,” says group member Fiona. “I appreciate how seamlessly accommodations are made. For me, sitting rather than standing when I get dizzy and wearing noise cancelling head phones has made singing much more enjoyable.”
“I would describe my experience as feeling wanted, like I finally belong to something,” says fellow member Will. “The group encourages and empowers myself and others to relax and have fun. We mix a little old school with a little new school.”
Meaghan adds that each day in Musicability is one where they are pushed to learn, be it new material or a new instrument, while Sherry and Deb state how glad they are to be in a place where they don’t feel judged.
“We feel that we are not able to do something just because we have disabilities and we can showcase to people what we are capable of,” says Sherry. “Musicability makes us feel good.”
The group has accumulated many supporters over the years from other musicians, venue owners and radio personalities. They’ve performed at House of Targ, The Capital Fair and Westfest, to name a few spots you could find their songs and smiles. This summer they have some mobile workshops set up, will be making some band merch and have a benefit gig at the Rainbow Bistro come July 3rd. As membership is by pay what you can, every little helps help support them.
“It’s such a powerful thing to share and spread so much love and joy with so many different people,” says Jodouin and Grealy-Fredette. “Our hearts are often overflowing.”
Learn more about Musicability and how to register for the choir by clicking here.
