Make Some Noise | Local Music Collection

Meet the Noise: Misha Bower

We're very excited to be closing out the 2012 Make Some Noise concert season with a reading and performance by Misha Bower and Matt Cully (EONS). We hope you'll drop by the Lillian H. Smith Branch at 8pm tonight (Friday, Dec. 14) to hear Misha read from her debut collection of short stories sprinkled with musical interludes courtesy of EONS. Here's a little interview appetizer to hold over until this evening.

Tell us about your most memorable Toronto concert experience (either performing or attending).

I have to echo Matt’s answer about those early Wavelength shows – right down to the mention of the Cons and From Fiction. Seeing Timber Timbre for the first time at Poor Pilgrim (back when Matt was hosting Wednesday nights at the Press Club) is another memorable one. Performance wise, I have to put the Lee’s Palace after our east coast tour to Newfoundland high on the list. Fred Squire + Bahamas + huge hometown love + three amazing weeks with the band + lip-meltingly hot mics = a huge, shiny drop in the memory bucket.

Meet the Noise: Matt Cully

A driving force behind the mega-group Bruce Peninsula, Matt Cully will be performing as EONS with Misha Bower, who will be reading from her debut collection of short stories at the Lillian H. Smith Branch this Friday, December 14 at 8pm.  Despite his busy schedule, Matt found a bit of time to answer a few questions for us before the show.

Tell us about your most memorable Toronto concert experience (either performing or attending).

Seeing bands like the Constantines, Do Make Say Think, From Fiction and attending Wavelength's weekly shows in the early 2000s really opened my eyes to the crazy amount of talent we've got going on in the city.    I got the opportunity to see a bunch of bands that would go on to the world stage in tiny venues like Sneaky Dees, the Tranzac and The Bagel (RIP).

I'm proud of the portable festival I curate every year on Toronto Island called Poor Pilgrim.  It pairs local talent with unique and unexpected outdoor settings and is usually my favourite show of the year ('cause I get to pick all the bands!). 

Meet the Noise: Five Questions for Isla Craig

Isla Craig, you’re just about everywhere. Sometimes you’re working on Offerings, a great free magazine showcasing Toronto’s anomalous music scene. Sometimes you’re collaborating with any one of a million Toronto artists like Bruce Peninsula or Steve Kado or Ivy Mairi or Jeff Garcia or Canaille. And when you’re not doing that, you’re often working on one of your own projects, like The Deeep or OG Melody or New Civilization, or maybe even just filling a room with strange and wonderful sounds all on your own.

It seems like a pretty exciting and musical life you lead. Thanks for taking some time to tell us a little bit about it!

What’s your favourite Toronto concert story?

Late summer of 2010 - outside Rosie Robin, a convenience/ home cooking / not your average "convenience", convenience store at Gladstone and Shanly.  There was a live reggae band set up on Rosie's patio. The whole neighbourhood had come outside onto the street; kids in pj's, grandma & grandpa, passersby. My best friends were with me. The vibe was perfect, open, warm.  There was food being served with love.  Pulling up on your bike to a free summer night reggae neighbourhood jam? This is the dream.  This is what I love so much about Toronto. 

Meet the Noise: Four Questions for Bry Webb

One of the greatest Canadian albums of last year also happened to be a bit of a surprise for a lot of music fans.

Bry Webb spent a lot of the last decade singing for South Ontario’s art-rock heroes The Constantines. Since the band went on hiatus though, Bry has shown music lovers a different side of his prodigious songwriting ability with his solo record Provider. Trading the Constantines’ hallmark punk intensity for introspective and mesmerizing country-infused balladry, Bry’s latest album has fast become both a critical and fan favourite, earning a Polaris Long list nomination as well as a host of new ears, eager to catch what Bry has described as “quieter songs for quieter venues”.  

Bry will be performing at the Parkdale Library on October 26. In the meantime, he kindly took a moment  to answer a few questions for the Make Some Noise site.

Tell us about your most memorable Toronto concert experience.

One thing that's really sticking out in my memory right now was this hardcore punk New Year's festival in maybe 1994 or '95, which my old hardcore (née emo) band played when we were still in high school.  Doug from The Constantines played drums in that band, too. The line-up that day was pretty wild.  Some of the most intense bands I've ever seen:  Nema, Okara, Coleman, Shotmaker, and best of all, Union of Uranus from Ottawa.  The show was held at what I think was a Kensington squat and rehearsal space, occupied by members of Armed & Hammered and the BFG Kensington scene. 

Meet the Noise: Five Questions for Dalton Higgins

Dalton Higgins is a Toronto-based writer, broadcaster, music promoter and journalist. He also happens to be one of the country’s foremost hip hop theorists, and his extensive writings on the history and development of the hip hop genre in Canada and around the world have earned him praises and accolades from scholars and musicians alike.

On September 20th, Dalton will be stopping by the Malvern Library to share his new book Far From Over: The Music & Life of Drake and to discuss the musical and cultural conditions in Toronto that helped create the Drake phenomenon. In the meantime, he’s taken a moment to answer a few questions for the Make Some Noise crew”.

What do you find the most exciting about the Toronto Music community?
The present day Toronto music scene is made up of all of these lovely little bottom-up countercultural clusters of genre’s like hip hop and reggae scratching and clawing their way to be heard by their own, and by the dominant culture, with some success.

What’s your most memorable Toronto Concert experience?
Big Daddy Kane at the Concert Hall (aka The Masonic Temple aka CTV / MTV HQ) way back when, in the early 90’s I believe. People who are now into Jay-Z might not know that it was Big Daddy Kane who used to let Jay-Z open up for him, and that Jay-Z was heavily influenced by Big Daddy Kane’s style, swagger, lyrical mastery. You have to always respect the architects!

Meet The Noise: Five Questions for Mike McKeown of Cameron House Records

photo credit: Jesse Kinos-Goodin

Standing at the corner of Queen and Cameron St., The Cameron House is a Toronto music institution. For the last three decades, its flamboyant murals and eclectic decor have witnessed a parade of the Who's Who of Canadian music cross the stage, with artists like Ron Sexmith, Molly Johnston, Jane Siberry and The Meligrove Band cutting their teeth in the bar's 60-seat back room.

In 2010, Mike McKeown, fresh out of a business degree, was invited by longtime friend Cosmo Ferraro to help him run the bar. Within months, Mike and Cosmo decided to expand the sounds of the Cameron House beyond its walls by launching Cameron House Records. Providing a home for an expanding roster of some of Toronto's best folk, country, roots and rockabilly acts, CHR is a vital and exciting young addition to Toronto's already vibrant music scene.

A few weeks ago, Mike took a few minutes to answer a couple of our questions.

What’s the best part of running your own recording company?
The Best part about it, I'd say, is getting to work with artists, whom I admire. I'd rather be working with people in this profession, which I believe to be noble, rather than dealing with members of the corporate world or organized system as Paul Goodman, author of Growing up Absurd may say.

What’s your most memorable Cameron House concert experience?
I think that the Cameron's 30th birthday celebrations take the cake. We had some artists on the label: Devin Cuddy, Kayla Howran, Tarantuela share the stage with the likes of Greg Keelor, Jim Cuddy, and Andy Maize. Nice to see people of The Cameron's past and present come together and put on a world class show. 

What advice would you give an up-and-coming Canadian artist looking to score a record deal?
Decide if being a musician is really what you wan to do. If it is go for it 100% and work at it. Remember it's a 27 hour drive to winnipeg. 

What’s the last GTA artist/band’s record you’ve listened to?
I'm currently listening to The Silver Hearts. They'll be playing at The Horseshoe as a part of Tarantuela's cd release on May 18th.

If Justin Rutledge and Greg Keelor had a pie-eating contest, who would you put your money on?
I believe Keelor is a diabetic, so I'll take JR on this one.

 

Meet The Noise: Five Questions for Saidah Baba Talibah

What happens when you take a little bit of Public Enemy, a little bit of Radiohead, add a splash of soul, a blast of tuba, and put it through a hard rock blender? The result is the joyful sonic explosion that is Saidah Baba Talibah. Daughter of Salome Bey, Canada's First lady of Blues, Saidah has had no trouble striking out and proving herself as powerful and innovative as her progenetors. Since her debut album (S)cream dropped last year, Saidah has attracted a seriously impressive amount of critical acclaim, both as a talented musician and a wildly entertaining performer.

We on the Make Some Noise crew were thrilled when Saidah took a minute to answer a few questions for us.

What’s your most memorable Toronto concert experience?
One? Here's a few that made a huge impact on me:  Living Color at Lee's Palace.  Skunk Anansie at Lee's Palace.  King's X at Reverb.  Fishbone at Masonic Temple.  Royal Canoe at Rivoli. Nikka Costa at El Mocambo.
 

What Greater Toronto Area musician/band’s album do you think everyone should be listening to?
Here again are a few:  Donna Grantis Electric Band - Suites.  Hill & The Sky Heroes - 11:11 Emma-Lee - Backseat Heroine.  Zaki Ibrahim - Eclectica (Episodes in Purple).

What advice would you give someone trying to break into the Toronto music scene?
First, love what you do.  Like REALLY love what you do, unconditionally.  This  being an artist is a serious relationship, because there are major ups and downs and tests that can be potentially beautiful lessons.  And those lessons lead you to who you truly, essentially are.  And that would be my only other piece of advice, be authentic.  Be you without exceptions.  Be bold.  Dream big.  Throw doubt out, you're an artist, your job is to create whatever YOU want.

You’re a member of the cast for b current and Theatre Archipelago’s production Obeah Opera. How does the experience of treading the boards as an actor compare to rocking a stage as a musician?
Well, I approach singing and acting the same way by asking myself what is my intention?  Because in both scenarios I am the storyteller, right?  Rocking the stage as a musician, I'm in my stage outfit with my band, singing songs that either I wrote or songs that I am connected to and telling that story versus being an actor onstage in costume with a cast, singing songs that I have to find my character's connection to in order for it to be believable -- making it personal and my own.  The foundation and common thread of both of those settings for me remain, intention.

If you could sing a duet with any Canadian musician (living or dead), who would you choose to sing with, and what song would you perform?
Mark Sultan (King Khan & The BBQ Show) and/or Dallas Green (City & Colour/Alexisonfire)
Hmmm… song?  Mark, Dallas and I haven't written the songs yet.

 

Photo Credits: megaphone, Katherine Fleitas: b/w, Anna Keenan

Meet the Noise: Five Questions for MANGOPEELER

Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce MANGOPEELER. Sometimes called Jeff Garcia, this talented Toronto artist does all kinds of neat stuff. Of particular interest to the Make Some Noise crew however, is his frequent collaborations with members of the local music scene. As a member of the arts collective Exploding Motor Car, he's contributed to music videos for bands like The Acorn, Slim Twig and Ohbijou (among others). His screen printing skills have been employed by many Toronto musicians too, and he's been involved in image installations for Toronto's Wavelength Music series.

(FUN FACT! If you happen to bump into Drake at the Drake, there’s a good chance he’ll be rocking one of his Mangoness’ awesome Aaliyah T-shirts).

Jeff took a few minutes to answer some questions about his collaborations with members of the TO music scene.

Why are you so drawn to working with other artists, and across artistic media?
Keeps me fresh and other people too. Jamming with people usually brings out the unexpected. Its humbling and breaks me down if I get used to making things in a fixed way. I grew up reading Bruce Lee books, can you tell? I like to keep it Halo Halo (its a filipino dessert but also the name of my studio translating into 'mix-mix' in English). From kids, to my contemporaries, to grocery store clerks I'll jam with anyone. I was just in Fiesta Farms this morning and did a great piece with the a girl putting away some eggplant. Its just about playing!

What’s the most interesting project you’ve done with a Toronto musician?

Oh man, too many to think of! My friends are my favourite artists.  From throwing free outdoor shows at my house and studios to working on handmade posters, its all interesting or I wouldn't do it. Man Made Hill wearing a cd-vest during a classic set at Halo Halo Village for VCR Dungeon- a show celebrating all things analogue,  until the cops showed up. Fleshtone Aura opening for I D M Theftable at my Earthship with my cat Shouty, then recording a contact mic cactus the next morning. I used to have a music project with Andrew Zukerman and Amy Lam called 'Hard Love in Times New Roman'. I think there are more words in the name than the number of shows we played.  I think I hadn't even met Amy and we were already in a 'band' together. She ended up living in my old room on Major St where I used to throw house shows with my 3 good bros and our cat Boaba, the Admiral, RIP. Masked Bruho performances in the alleyway, Nacho Man of the Utah Jazz solo vomit, The Pink Noise living room light show, Shazaam on the rooftop, oh man, legendary era! Oh yeah, doing shirts for Drizzy Drake, and driving in a Black Range Rover with his bodyguards at 3am so they can give me a 'stack of cash' to help pay for my Life Insurance was also topps.

What advice would you give to someone who wanted to find a musician to collaborate with?

They are probably your friends so just ask them to jam on something. Put out a cassette tape together, do a gigposter for one of their shows. Go to the park or the train tracks and do some field recordings. Throw a party in your living room or garage and put them on the bill. Do a residency with them to learn more about their music collection and rare LP's. Go for a late night bike ride to the beach, spark a fire and viiiiiiibe out. 

Just ‘cause this is the library’s website after all, what’s the last really good book you’ve read?

I read how I collage, a few books and source material at a time. I'm reading Biospheres- From Earth to Space, a book that inspired my current self-imposed residency at Halo Halo Village. It was printed in 1989 and hopefully it will help me build an independent, living biosphere here. I'm also reading Come Alive! The Spirited Art of Sister Corita. Its about one of my favourite artists, a radical screen printing nun from the 60's that organized colourful marches, taught art through workshops and bringing in her friends as guest speakers, like John Cage and Charles Eames. I'm teaching a Sister Corita Printing workshop in October using old screen printed methods so this book is perfect right now. I also hit a little snag recently and my good friend Andrew lent me John Cage's biography and Stan K gave me a vintage Golden Book Encyclopedia he found on the street on his way to school. I'm cutting that one up. My favourite book of all time is Woman in the Dunes by Kobo Abe. 

We’ve heard through the grapevine that you make fine fruit juice. What musician (living or dead) would you like to make a beverage for,  and what would you put in it?

My shipmate Mairi Greig, is a dancer has a fancy juicer that we call the Flux Capacitor for the Earthship. I think if Sun Ra came by for some hangs I'd brew up a Space is the Place for him. It would include my Spaceways Kaleidoscope Syllabus of intergalactic Nutrition, Astral Perversions, Psych Bikes, Cosmic Soba, a seed of Musique Concrète Teleportation, Sponge Bob, Third Eye & Animal Cracker Finders Keepers, Shooting Stars shots, Subterranean Found Object Finders Fees, Trips to The Crystal Cave and through The Secret Portal!!!!!!!! It would look a lot like a ripped off version of that drink Orbitz. Remember that one hit wonder?

I'd also make my girl, Aaliyah, a lovely mango smoothie under moon on a beach....... RIP Babygirl xo

Meet the Noise: Five Questions for Colin Medley

Colin Medley lives in Toronto and shoots videos, usually involving musicians. These sometimes take the shape of interviews and performances, such as the Soundcheck series he produced for the National Post, music videos for bands such as Timber Timbre or Diamond Rings, or recordings of intimate concerts taken throughout his travels, currently in the form of his online series Morning Noon Night.

Colin has shared his musical knowledge & talents as a videographer with the Make Some Noise community on several occasions; he hosted a workshop in the fall of 2009, and returned as a panel participant in 2010.

What is your most memorable Toronto concert experience?
This happened a few years before I even moved to the city. I was still living in Oshawa, and my favourite band was the Constantines. They were on Three Gut Records, an amazing little record label that seemed like the biggest deal in the world from where I was living. I was obsessed with the label, writing them fan letters, collecting all their releases, just being a huge geek. Anyway, in August 2005 the label announced they were closing up shop and throwing two concerts to celebrate their fifth and final anniversary. Unfortunately I wasn't able to go to the nighttime show with the Constantines and Oneida, but I was able to go to the afternoon all-ages party at the Tranzac. I remember taking the GO Train to Toronto by myself, not knowing where I was going or what to expect. I'd been to shows in Toronto before, but they were always larger shows at big venues where you had to buy advanced tickets. This was uncharted territory for me, going to a weird venue right in a part of town where I'd never really been before. Anyway, I met up with my friend Robin and we stood in line outside the Tranzac, waiting for doors to open. I remember seeing all the musicians walking around, hanging out, totally right there if I wanted to talk to them (I didn't, I was too shy). I know it doesn't sound like much now, but when you're 17 and the singer of your favourite band is literally standing right next to you, it's pretty exciting.

Doors opened, we went in, paid our $10 (Lisa Moran, who ran Three Gut Records, was working the door - another exciting moment for young Colin), and found our seats near the front. It was the middle of the afternoon, people were still pretty sleepy, not accustomed to seeing a show indoors so early it seems, but I was jazzed! I can still remember the lineup of bands that day. Nathan Lawr (currently of the Minotaurs) went on first, then it was Steve Lambke of the Constantines, doing one of his first Baby Eagle sets. After that, Will Kidman of the Cons did a few songs, then Gentleman Reg. A few members of Oakley Hall played next, and then Bry Webb of the Constantines. Jim Guthrie had the last slot of the day. It was my first time seeing everyone play and it changed my life forever. Since moving to Toronto 3 years ago, the Tranzac has become my #1 hangout spot and my favourite place to see concerts. I've even had the chance to work closely with some of the bands I saw that day on various video projects.

What Greater Toronto Area musician/band’s album do you think everyone should be listening to right now?
I'm going to cheat on this question by giving two answers. I was recently in Austin, TX for SXSW and stumbled upon a great band called Memoryhouse, who are originally from Guelph but now live in Toronto. I'd read their name on the internet a whole bunch over the last year or so but I don't recall hearing much of their music. I'm really glad I saw them play though because they turned out to be one of the highlights of the festival for me. It seems
like they've been able to generate some buzz internationally, which is quite a feat for any band from Toronto. The second thing I think everyone should be listening to right now is the new album from One Hundred Dollars, "Songs of Man." They're a very important band in my life - I've seen them play more than almost any other band (including at the Toronto Reference Library last year!), and this album has been a long time coming. It almost feels like their real first album, since when "Forest of Tears" came out in 2008 they were still a really new band. In the years that followed its release they played a lot and just became such an amazing group. This new album really shows off all their new sounds and sides.

What does the term “Independent Music” mean to you?
"Independent Music" really comes down to an attitude and a work ethic. It's about doing-it-yourself, supporting your peers, and never losing sight of where you came from and who helped you get there. Be a nice person.

What advice would you give someone trying to break into the Toronto music scene?
That's a tough question. Play shows I guess. Go see local bands. Shop at record stores on a regular basis, like every week. This will help you discover a lot of amazing music and help out when it comes time to drop off your album on consignment (the folks working will actually know who you are). Make sure your album artwork isn't ugly. If you're going to make cassettes, that's cool, but let people stream your music somewhere because not everyone still has a tape deck. Make your music affordable or free. Don't spam people on Facebook. Book a tour. Heck, forget about Toronto, play all over and then come back to  Toronto once you have some fans elsewhere. Try getting into   SappyFest. You'll make friends there.

None of this is important unless your music is good. Focus on the music first. Practice a lot. Put on a show people will remember. Enjoy what you do.

Who would win a soccer game between the members of Broken Social Scene and The Hidden Cameras?
I have no clue. I have a feeling this wouldn't be too hard to arrange if you really wanted to know.

Meet The Noise: Five Questions for Greg Davis of Soundscapes

Greg Davis opened Soundscapes in August 1999, and it didn't take long for his little shop on College to become a go-to location for the news and noise of the city's independent music community. Over the last decade, Soundscapes has kept its customers steadily supplied with some of the best recordings, in-store performances, and concert tickets to be found in the GTA. Greg's been joined behind the counter by some other faces over the years, but his enthusiastic advice and friendly encouragement of audiophiles new and old has remained an essential part of what makes Soundscapes one of the best record stores you'll ever walk into.

Greg and the Soundscapes team have been partners with the Toronto Public Library's Local Music program since its inception, and they help us choose recordings, plan events and host shows on the regular.

What is your most memorable Toronto concert experience?
Most memorable Toronto concert experience would be my first concert experience, which was seeing the Clash at Maple Leaf Gardens on April 30, 1984. I was only 13 years old and pretty shocked that my parents actually let me go see a punk band. At the time, I knew very little about the Clash but was just tagging along with a more knowledgeable older friend who said this was an important band. Of the show itself, I remember being completely shocked when one of the lyrics contained a swear word that was repeated over and over. Quite scandalous for 13-year-old ears.

What Greater Toronto Area musician/band’s album do you think everyone should be listening to right now?
Timber Timbre's new album "Creep On Creepin' On" is a pretty special album. He creates a unique sound world and will floor you if you ever catch him live, he's a modern day blues singer.

What does the term “Independent Music” mean to you?
Music that's created purely from the sounds in the artist's head with no preconceived notion of what the audience wants to hear.

What advice would you give someone trying to break into the Toronto music scene?
#1. Create amazing music. Nothing happens unless the music itself gets people excited.
#2. Become a compelling live performer. The live show is where the money is made in the music world these days. Make sure people will want to see you every time you play a show.
#3. Get involved in the local music scene. Make sure the people that can help you (i.e., promoters, record stores, media, amoung others) know you personally.
#4. Build a fan base, make sure you know who your fans are and treat them well because they are the ones who allow you to be a musician.

When you were six, what did you think you'd do when you grew up?
Definitely not a record store owner, that didn't come until I was in my 20's. I probably wanted to be an athlete, fireman or astronaut, the careers that seem so cool when you're a young kid.