I don't know about you, but last night's IDOW opener didn't disappoint your friends here at the hill. We tucked into a table at the back of the intimate Bus Stop Theatre, and even though the weather outside wasn't overly wintry, based on the packed room, we weren't the only ones interested in some musical mid-winter therapy.

And that therapy was bountiful, as Toronto's The Wooden Sky backed up their selection to our year-end best of list with a "quiet" but very enthusiastic set of gems from their last album and even a rendition of the Royal City cover they were kind enough to give us for the year-end post. As you might've read yesterday, we were pretty interested in finding out what the Paper Beat Scissors' set was going to sound like with the addition of Chuck Blazevic and Dreamsploitation atmospherics added to the mix. Well our high hopes were met, as the PBS set (which also included Jess Tesolin on cello Ryan Veltmeyer on junkstruments, and Kyle Cunjak (Olympic Symphonium) on the double bass) was pretty awesome. Adding all those elements gave the songs a more expansive feel, but at the same time Tim's vocals seemed even more stark and plaintive than usual. Unfortunately we had to head out only after a couple of CR Avery songs, but if the awed silence during his ode to Pierre Elliot Trudeau was any indication, his set was likely really well received.

I know you checked out yesterday's Thursday night preview, so what's on tap for tomorrow you ask? Well let's have a look, and be sure to scroll down for some treats from last night.

St. Patrick’s Church, $25:
8:00 - Carmen Townsend
9:00 - Bahamas
10:00 - John K Sampson

The Company House, $20:
7:30 - Klarka Weinwurm
8:00 - Del Barber
9:00 - The Abramson Singers
10:00 - Melissa McClelland

The Bus Stop Theatre, $15:
8:00 - Cahalen David Morrison
9:00 - Racoon Bandit
10:00 - Erin Costelo
11:00 - Zumbini

FRED, $10:
8:00 - Kim Dunn
9:00 - Shaun Cromwell
10:00 - The Hupman Brothers

MP3:: John K. Samson - Cruise Night

MP3:: The Abramson Singers - You Don't Love Me (Bob Wiseman cover)

MP3:: Erin Costelo - Weak Like Us

As I think we've already mentioned, you'll find us tomorrow night at St. Pat's church worshiping at the alter of Bahamas and John K. Samson. And now, treats:

MP3:: Paper Beat Scissors - Bad Days (Live @ IDOW)

MP3:: The Wooden Sky - An Evening Hymn (Live @ IDOW)

MP3:: The Wooden Sky - My Old Ghosts (Live @ IDOW)

VIDEO:: The Wooden Sky - Raw Youth (Royal City cover)


VIDEO:: Paper Beat Scissors - Flicker

Labels: Bahamas, Halifax, IDOW, In the Dead of Winter, John K Samson, Live, Paper Beat Scissors, The Wooden Sky

Yip... you read that right. Halifax resident Tim Crabtree and his band, Paper Beat Scissors have welcomed a new member into the fold. Hoping to add some electronics/programming to the mix, Tim has been collaborating with Chuck Blazevic - you know, the guy that transformed the second half of Ruth Minnikin's stellar release and plays in a band you might have heard of.

Anyway, PBS is following up The Wooden Sky tonight @ The Bus Stop Theatre, which should be an amazing show. How amazing you ask? Well, why hear it from me when you can get the details straight from the horse's mouth:

I'm really pumped about it - it's going to be the first time that Chuck Blazevic (Dreamsploitation) will be playing with us. He's going to be backing up on guitar, as well as doing some electronic signal processing, beat programming and playing-with-his-flashy-light-box stuff.

Including this live higher-end electronic element has been a goal of the project from the start - this will be the first time we've managed to combine it with the orchestral instruments (this time double bass - Kyle Cunjak - Share/Olympic Symphonium/Snailhouse and so on, and cello - Jess Tesolin), found instruments/non-instruments-turned-into-instruments (Ryan Veltmeyer) over the guitar and harmonized vocals backbone...

So basically, you'd be foolish to miss this one folks.

MP3:: Paper Beat Scissors ft. Chuck Blazevic - Once You Didn't Know
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/paperbeatscissors

Labels: Dreamsploitation, Halifax, IDOW, Paper Beat Scissors

Tonight sees the kick-off of the 2010 edition of the In The Dead of Winter Festival here in Halifax with a sold out Ani DiFranco show at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium. IDOW has been warming the cockles of musical hearts here for the last five winters, giving fans and performers alike a reason to look forward to the slushy dead zone that is normally Halifax at the end of January/start of February.

Since the Ani show is sold out, I figured we'd start our preview with a look at the festivities on Wednesday night, which is the first full night of the festival:

St. Patrick’s Church, $25:
8:00 - Ruth Minnikin
9:00 - Ron Hynes

The Company House, $20:
7:30 - Dance Movie
8:00 - Field Assembly
9:00 - Ryan MacGrath
10:00 - Luke Doucet

The Bus Stop Theatre, $15:
8:00 - The Wooden Sky
9:00 - Paper Beat Scissors
10:00 - CR Avery

FRED, $10:
8:00 - Che Aimee
9:00 - Pamela Underwater
10:00 - Coco Love Alcorn

Sounds like a pretty solid evening all around doesn't it? And that's only day one. If you're looking for us, The Bus Stop Theatre is a pretty safe bet I think. Get out and see something.

MP3:: Ruth Minnikin - Four Churches II

MP3:: Luke Doucet - FIrst Day (In The New Home Town)

MP3:: The Wooden Sky - Something Hiding For Us In The Night

Labels: Halifax, IDOW, In the Dead of Winter, Paper Beat Scissors, Ruth Minnikin, The Wooden Sky

A while back, I gushed about Tim Crabtree's newest EP - under the moniker Paper Beat Scissors - and was equally impressed by his live show when he and a huge collection of friends warmed the stage for Caledonia.

For those new to the band's sound, honestly, the picture I've included sums it up perfectly. Warm fuzz, soft focus and incredibly captivating. The Flickr EP is a beautiful mix of acoustic guitar, strings, subtle electronics and tribal percussion, but for anyone in Halifax, seeing these songs take new life in a live setting is something not to miss.

The show is Sunday at Gus' Pub. Gianna Lauren and Josh Dean will be opening proceedings. Doors at 8pm, $7

MP3:: Paper Beat Scissors - Be Patient
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/paperbeatscissors

Labels: Black Hen music, Concerts, Gus Pub, Halifax, Paper Beat Scissors