It's Thursday, which means videos here on the hill, and I'm not exaggerating even slightly when I say that this is easily the greatest blog post containing five Canadian music videos ever! Wait, scratch that, I just noticed it's all dudes, so I am likely exagerating a little bit, but it's damn good! (I think I'll have an all-female version of video hits next week, so hit me off with suggestions).

But come now, anyone could see the quality on display down below, both in the audio and the visuals. I think my favorites are the partially animated clips from hill-faves Zeus and Hours Traffic, but the rest are just as good. There's something un-hinged about the art house movie-esque video for Owen Pallet's Lewis Takes Off His Shirt, but it seems to fit the song perfectly. Things are slightly more hinged in the video for the like-able-as-ever Joel Plaskett's You Let Me Down, but I think most of us Haligonians mainly enjoy it because it features two of the city's most antiquated sports facilities (The Forum and Huskies Stadium). To wrap things up we have the haunting video for Caribou's Odessa, a song that I used to think of as a feel good, body movin' little number. Not anymore.

Enjoy the vids!

Zeus - Marching Through Your Head

MP3:: Zeus - Marching Through Your Head
MYSPACE:: www.myspace.com/themusicofzeus

Owen Pallett - Lewis Takes Off His Shirt

MP3:: Owen Pallett - Lewis Takes Off His Shirt
MYSPACE:: www.myspace.com/owenpallettmusic

Joel Plaskett - You Let Me Down

MP3:: Joel Plaskett - You Let Me Down
MYSPACE:: www.myspace.com/joelplaskett1

Two Hours Traffic - Noisemaker

MP3:: Two Hours Traffic - Territory
MYSPACE:: www.myspace.com/twohourstraffic

Caribou - Odessa

MP3:: Caribou - Odessa
MYSPACE:: www.myspace.com/cariboumanitoba

Labels: Caribou, Joel Plaskett, owen pallett, Two Hours Traffic, Video, Video hits, Zeus

It's hard not to push Zeus into the stratosphere after an out-of-nowhere EP that offered a brief glimpse at the heights they can reach. The retro-fueled quartet from Toronto has been working hard to find their sound; whether as part of successful and highly underrated bands (The 6ixty Eights and The Golden Dogs) or out on tour as Jason Collett's backing band, and as hard as it is to not build a comparison on another multi-voiced band that got it's start playing behind a great artist, it's even harder to ignore the obvious mythological tie-in to the power and status the band could achieve.

But for me, Say Us actually brings another classic tale to mind. Icarus was given the gift of flight thanks to the precision craftsmanship of his father Daedalus. Zeus too rockets from the ground with hooks, harmonies and melodies that are indebted to their predecessors (The Beatles, The Kinks and yes, The Band ). Don't get me wrong, the band puts their own, more muscular spin on the sweet sounds music lovers have gravitated to for years, and naturally, that swagger and confidence pushes band higher and higher. Sadly at times, Say Us gets too close to the sun, singing the tips of the wings that gave the band flight.

But unlike the classic tale of the impetuousness of youth, great music only comes from taking risks, especially when you find the ingredients in a cupboard pillaged by countless bands. Zeus thrives on a confidence and precision that results in a musical freedom and while Say Us might not be the start to finish transcendent escape we all hoped for, for the precious moments when they soar without fear or repercussion (How Does It Feel?, Kindergarden, and I Know stack up against any of the output of any Canadian band out there today), this TO quartet owns the sky and you realize with a bit more patience there's no limit to the heights they can fly.

MP3:: Zeus - Marching Through Your Head
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/themusicofzeus
LABEL:: http://www.arts-crafts.ca/

Labels: Canada, Music, Reviews, Zeus

More and more Canadian EPs. We are stoked that so many of the bands we love offered up their time for this project, whether it was recording a track in a room full of friends or delivering an absolutely crushing cover of one of the best Canadian songs of the year... well, you get the idea that this list is full of goodness.

Band:: Wilderness of Manitoba
Album:: Hymns of Love & Spirits
Web:: http://www.myspace.com/thewildernessofmanitoba
Review:: http://www.herohill.com/2009/09/reviews-wilderness-of-manitoba-hymns-of.htm

Q1) Musically, what was the most important moment for you in '09?
Sc: We've played some amazing shows, but for me it was having a live version of 'Evening' chosen as track of the day on cbc radio3 that made us all realize that we were really onto something special, and it helped drive us to finish the record, and gave us the confidence to play some really amazing shows with some amazing bands.
M: Opening for the RAA CD release at the Horseshoe back in July was pretty great. That's something that seemed to open a lot of ears to our music and it pretty much coincided with our EP release so it was really the first time people could get our music and take it home with them.
Q2) Given the circumstances and inspiration that led to the recording of this EP, how hard was it for you to put something so personal into the public eye for critique?
W - I think that when songs are written from personal experiences, they are in some ways easier to perform because you're never far away from the subject matter. This can result in a more honest performance
Sc: We really believed in what we were doing, and that confidence took us a long way. We're flattered to be mentioned along-side the rest of this list, but we also never expected the EP to go as far as it has. I think the personal nature of the record made it easier in some ways to put out there, I mean, we're just being honest with ourselves, and if you like it, or you don't, it doesn't change the place where it came from.
Q3) How hard is it to separate the success and emotion of this project from your other musical projects?
Sc: Every band has a different energy, and its really nice to be able to focus on different projects from time to time. I've found that sometimes if you love something too much and put all of your energy into it all of the time you end up killing it with smothered kisses. It's nice to walk away from something and towards something else from time to time. Music is all about learning and the process for me.
M: For me, not that hard, but I haven't really written that much for the band yet so I'm not sure how much doing that will affect more personal writing. It doesn't feel like I'm shifting focus from my other project entirely, it's just that I love what we're doing and believe in it so much that I naturally focus on this.
St: It was pretty easy at the start. I've been used to playing in bands and sitting in with people and this was just another one of those opportunities. It sort of took me by surprise when we started getting attention - it means that there's more responsibility on the business side of things, but creatively it doesn't really change things. I still write stuff for myself, some of it just ends up in this project and some of it elsewhere.
Q4) If you had to pick one band to take your spot on our Best-of List, who would get the nod?
Sc: I would say Timber Timbre, although I'm sure that would actually make his position on this list worse than it already is. That album got a lot of play in my dark bedroom.
M: Ahhh... that's so hard. There are so many deserving bands but my heart tells me to go with Olenka and the Autumn Lovers. I love their energy, their arrangements and, well, I just love them.
Q5) People often view Toronto as a hipster melting point for musicians. What's the biggest misconception about the TO scene in your opinion, and what's your favorite thing about playing music in TO?
M: There is something about being in a city with a huge music scene that can be daunting but I find that it has been really supportive, more so than we expected with our sound. The best thing about playing here? Feeling that support at our shows from our friends and fellow musicians.
St: Like anywhere else, people tend to latch onto what's "hot" or getting attention in the weeklies. The main difference though is that so many of the people going to see shows are musicians themselves - and they're really supportive people whether they're your friends in other local bands, or in bands that have toured the world.
Q5) Looking forward to 2010, what can fans of the band expect from The Wilderness of Manitoba?
Sc: A new record - it will be our first full length. No name for it yet, but the songs are written and are being recorded right now in much the same fashion as the EP was. Touring! A trip to the UK to play the End of the Road Festival and more touring! 2010 will be a fun year.
M: What Scott said and maybe some other special releases!

Now, if you have read herohill all year, you know I love Timber Timbre and politic-ed hard for Taylor to make the short-list, so the simple fact that W o M took the time to record a herohill-only cover of Demon Host is one of the best surprises we could have asked for this year. Apparently, this is the only place they are going to make it available - well, except for any other blog that just d/l-eds it and posts it themselves. Throw in the fact it's terrific, and well, now we all win.

MP3:: Wilderness of Manitoba - Demon Host (Timber Timbre)

Band:: Basket of Figs
Album:: Oh Eye, Oh Night
Web:: http://www.myspace.com/basketoffigs
Review:: http://www.herohill.com/2009/04/reviews-basket-of-figs-oh-eye-oh-night.htm

Talk about an embarrassment of riches here. Not many lists would have a Tom Waits cover thrown to them as an after thought, but this little gem - Shiver Me Timbers - was recorded around the same time as the EP and has yet to see the light of day. Enjoy!

MP3:: Basket of Figs - Shiver Me Timbers (Tom Waits)

Band:: The Gertrudes
Album:: Hard Water
Web:: http://www.myspace.com/theothergertrudes
Review:: http://www.herohill.com/2009/07/reviews-gertrudes-hard-water.htm

1) What was your best musical moment of '09?
An illicit midnight recording session in a condemned church (technically that was '08, but within a few days of the end of the year). Two live tracks from that session are on our 'Hard Water' EP, and one more has found its way to your esteemed website. A video by Lenny Epstein is out there too, of the song 'Hard Water' as we recorded it. Yeah, feeling like naughty high-school students sneaking into a church to record a 10 piece band to record live off the floor, nailing the version of New Sound that ended up on Hard Water, and getting out without getting in trouble! I'd say ripping into Cliff Jumping at Sappy Fest with fueled by the adrenaline resulting from the fact that 10 minutes earlier we were almost resolved to having to miss our set as half the band got lost and then swooped in at the last possible second! If i could count the entirety of our east coast tour as a single moment, that would be it. Playing all night long at the OCFF in a tiny room with the entire band crammed in a corner, rocking our socks off and sweating like fiends, oh yeah, and Bob Wiseman joining our ranks for some sweet accordion madness at 3:30am. Streaking the Wolfe Island Music Fest to jump into Lake Ontario before our second set. I think that was our loudest applause ever. Not to mention a couple of us joining RPC (along with members of Feuermusik) for RPC's SappyFest set... that was really fun.
2) In an era where it is hard enough to tour as a compact unit, how hard is it to plan even a one off show when every member of the band is so important to the end result?
I think we all feel The Gertrudes is a bit of a special thing so we're taking care to make time for it. There are enough of us that we can cover for each other, so even if someone can't make a show or a tour, we can manage quite well although it always changes the dynamic in interesting ways. Ideally we'll bring families along and make a party of it. There were 22 of us on our east coast tour this summer, including the kids. It takes a lot of advance planning on everyone's part... especially Greg's. Also the extended Gertrudes family has been extremely supportive. The memory of sprinting from our van with trailing patch chords and cables, doors left wide open, just in time to get on stage for our SappyFest performance, suggests we still have some work to do with Gertrude time management. But what other 11 piece band travels with their complete families? We topped The Burning Hell on that one, they thought they had us beat for sheer numbers on the road to SappyFest... but we recruited a few extra singers/percussionists/bass player/baby to bump our numbers up. But seriously, it's a lot of work. And a lot of love of this Gertrudey thing that gets us from place to place... and the permission of our amazing families to do what we love.
3) I'm really intrigued by the writing process of the band. Do the songs start as old timey numbers or simple picked riffs that gradually get transformed when every band member adds their part or is the end goal more clear throughout the entire process?
Either/both, depending on the song. We work hard on arrangements. A lot of our rehearsal time is just talking through the possibilities. Songs start pretty well-formed by one individual but get worked over a lot. "Advancement of the Human Age" is one example, where the second half of the song was a bit of a surprise to us all. Sometimes the songwriter has a clear vision, other times they just bring a sketch and we colour it in together. We record all our practices and listen back to them... That has been an invaluable tool in getting all the sounds to find their place in the blend. Sometimes Jason adds musical theatre components... which we'd like to expand upon. We have awesome conversations about our musical visions... something which is almost impossible to articulate. And then someone will try and play that thing on their instrument, which doesn't sound anything like what the person was trying to describe, but then is somehow more awesome in it's inaccuracy. And then someone else will try to describe what they were hearing in their head and we continue from there adding layer upon layer of beautiful misunderstanding.
4) If you had to pick one band to take your spot on our best-of list, who would get the nod?
I am enamoured of Eric Chenaux, Ryan Driver, Doug Tielli and others on the Rat-drifting label out of Toronto. Tom Savage Trio: The County Line (and yes, also Bruce Peninsula!). I would pick Hollerado cause they know how to party, but a lot of great music happened this year! We all have a big love for Bruce Peinsula - playing their year end show in TO at The Music Gallery was a huge treat for us! Wait, did you say one band? One each right? No? Nuts.
5) What's next for the Gertrudes? Can we expect a new EP or new LP in 2010? - Note, I hope the answer is yes.
A full-length release is on the way! But before that, we will have a 7" vinyl release in collaboration with PS I Love You, Bruce Peninsula, and Muskox. We'd like to make a video out on frozen Lake Ontario, featuring the sky. Looking forward to many more collaborations and teaming ups... Gertrudes brand jam.
6) When most people think of Kingston, they think Queen's and prisons, not music. So for all of the people that don't get to see the city, what's the best thing about playing music in Kingston, and if someone only had 24 hours to spend in K-town, how should they spend their day?
Kingston for the past few years has been experiencing a bit of a musical explosion, thanks to organizers like Apple Crisp, Skeleton Park Music Festival and Modern Fuel Artist-Run Center. Come in the summer, have a swim with us in Lake Ontario off of the Water Treatment Center dock, then check out what music may be on at the Mansion, the Grad Club, the Artel, or... I really love all the different music venues that all have their own charm - everything from tiny bars to living rooms to old old cavernous churches... we've had the great fortune of getting to play in all of the above. Take some university students on a trip to the prison...or vice versa... Breakfast at The Sleepless Goat, free ferry ride to Wolfe Island, walkaround or go to Big Sandy Bay, snack at the Wolfe Island Bakery, swim/skate back, lunch at The Right Spot (breakfast part 2), sneak into a church and play the piano for an hour or so, dinner at Annie's house, find some live music or make your own, stay up all night roof hopping...? Wait, that's starting to sound like high school all over again.

Catfish John is probably most well known by Dead Heads, courtesy of Jerry covering the song, but I was always partial to the Alison Krauss version. Now, I have a new favorite - this high quality live version from The Gertrudes! (email me if you are a super audio nerd and need the FLAC version).

MP3:: The Gertrudes - Catfish John

Band:: The Mountains & The Trees
Album:: Hop, Skip & A Jump
Web:: http://www.myspace.com/themountainsandthetrees
Review:: http://www.herohill.com/2009/09/tuesday-mailbag-mountain-trees-vivek.htm

Wow, you’re not pulling any punches with this questionnaire are you? I mean, this has to be the hardest question to answer first. So many things… the release of “Hop, Skip, & A Jump,” playing NXNE and TIFF, a live CBC concert and #3 on the CBC Radio 3 Top 30, etc, etc… Well, alright, if I had to pick, I would have to say opening-up for Billy Bragg in St. John’s and Halifax. It wasn’t even necessarily playing the show, but hanging out with Billy afterwards – now THAT was amazing.
Well, if it was a day like today, I would bring them to the airport and put them on a plane to the Bahamas (or to see Bahamas, whichever they’d find warmer), haha. Seriously though, walking up and down Water St and Duckworth St would be a significant part of it. There are so many great shops for coffee, music, clothing, etc. If you’re in a touristy mood, Signal Hill is a nice place to visit. If you’ve got some wheels, you can head-out to Cape Spear, the most Eastern part of North America. There’s always live music going on somewhere in the city. Really though, my favorite place to bring people is Middle Cove beach. It’s just a little ways outside of town (so a car is required), but it’s just such a beautiful place, for me anyways. I grew-up only 5 minutes away from a beach and I often go out to Middle Cove beach just to relax, think, write, and take photos. I’ve been there at every conceivable hour of the day and night and it would be my number one recommendation of somewhere to visit when in st. John’s. One funny note about this question – I’m not from St. John’s myself, so maybe my viewpoint is a bit off. Just sayin’.There are SOOOO many musicians/bands in St. John’s – that’s what makes it great. There are a ton of places to play and almost every night of the week, music is happening somewhere. On the larger scale of Newfoundland, there are some great festivals happening around the province. We played a festival in Gros Morne last year called Trails, Tales, & Tunes and it remains one of my favorite shows thanks to the audience. There’s also Writers at Woody Point, which has featured artists like Amelia Curran, Duane Andrews, and Kathleen Edwards. That also takes place on the West coast.
They both have bonuses. I like band shows because I like playing with other musicians. My “band” is called the Valleys & Seas Orchestra and features members playing guitar, organ, drums, bass, cello, violin, euphonium, flugelhorn, tuba, flute, accordion, etc. I draw upon the resources of the local music school a lot, haha! We were even invited to participate in a private concert due to the “orchestral sound” of the full group. On the other side of the coin, solo shows are great because they really make me focus. I’m really shy on stage and when it’s just me up there (like at the Rebecca Cohn), I’d better be on my game or else. They also allow some freedom with arranging on the fly. I might decide to talk about the song in the middle of it and just repeat a verse underneath. When it’s just me, I can do that without rehearsing.
Q5) What's next for you musically?
Haha, can I say Bird & Bear? Ok, ok, that would be cheap, so if I had to pick somebody else for the best of EP list of ’09, I’d have to say Dan Mangan – Roboteering. Do I really need to explain why I’d be happy for Mr. Mangan to replace me on any list? Likely not. Also, would Timbre Timber count as an EP? That would also be good. I check the date and it’s a little outside, but I really enjoyed Library Voices – Hunting Ghosts. I bought it for the artwork (which I sometimes do) and it just struck me as a really enjoyable EP to pop in, especially for road-trips.
So after that essay, how about some god damn music! Here's a sneak peak at some upcoming material, a version of More & More & More recorded in a room full of people just to make herohill feel like part of the gang.

MP3:: The Mountain & The Trees - More & More & More

AND THE BIG REVEAL! Who's NUMBER 1?
Band:: Zeus
Album:: Sounds Like
Web:: http://www.myspace.com/themusicofzeus
Review:: http://www.herohill.com/2009/06/carlin-nicholson-and-mike-obrien-have.htm

Bottom line... this EP knocked me on my ass and their live show proved that Zeus is an unstoppable force. When their new LP drops next year, accolades will follow.

Starting Monday we have our LP countdown, including some extra special gems. So come on back now, ya'hear.

Labels: Basket of Figs, Best-of '09, EP, The Gertrudes, The Mountain and The Trees, Wilderness of Manitoba, Zeus

Well friends, HPX 09 came to an end, and due to our downright busy-ness, we could do the kind of day-by-day recaps we might have liked, but we did capture some of our classic grainy pics (now with 30% more grain, thanks iPhone!) and poorly recorded bootlegs, and so we wanted to share them.

The Ack called it prefectly this AM, as my brain is also "happily existing as musical oatmeal right now", and so there shant be a ton of verbiage here, just some sweet bullets and then the pics and songs. So, some brief HPX 09 highlights from the hill:

- As previously discussed, the herohill showcase was stellar from top to bottom, so thanks to the kind folks at HPX for having us back again

- Yukon Blonde were great: fun, polished set - they seem like they've been playing together for decades

- Dan Mangan's set was way too much fun. Arriving in town after battling the flu all week, the only thing warmer than Dan's temperature was the reception given to him by a packed Company House.

- Cadence Weapon joining Think About Life onstage for a communal version of Sweet Sixteen was pretty crazy, people were pretty hyped.

- Speaking of CW, he and his DJ and easily the most animated MC-DJ combo I've seen in a while - dude was leaving the turntables and busting out some k-razy dance-moves.

- We figured Timber Timbre in St. Matthew's church would be good, but his set, which was equal parts spooky and stirring, exceeded our expectations.

- Here's a hot tip: Oh No Forest Fires are fast & fun live. Oh, and Rajiv is a super-nice fella - but many of you already know this.

- Another nice fella? Ricardo from Old Folks Home who made hill history by asking to get a pic with us (first artist to do so, we were flattered)

- Best dance moves we saw? Perhaps Josh from Little Girls.

- ZEUS, the almighty ZEUS. Nuff said.

UPDATES FROM ACK:
- every band we saw was terrific, but the fest in general had some killer moments (ie - Jenn Grant acting out Ghostbusters????) so hats off to the organizers/bands/volunteers.

- kudos to Dan Mangan for playing "his hardest song" specifically for my wife. We were both happy you did that.

- Zeus. Honestly, not sure there is a better band in Canada right now. They are that good (plus they tear up that Genesis cover).

- The Got to Get Got + energy - burnt hair = a set that won over tons of people

MP3:: Dan Mangan - Sold (Live @ HPX 09)

MP3:: Dan Mangan - Robots (Live @ HPX 09)

MP3:: Timber Timbre - Demon Host (Live @ HPX 09)

MP3:: Yukon Blonde - Wind Blows (Live @ HPX 09)

MP3:: You Say Party! We Say Die! - Lonely's Lunch (Live @ HPX 09)

MP3:: You Say Party! We Say Die! - She's Spoken For (Live @ HPX 09)

Labels: Cadence Weapon, Dan Mangan, Halifax Pop Explosion, HPX 09, Live, Zeus