My Top Records of 2014

Howdy Folks!

Thought I'd pop in for a quick hello and provide my definitive and inarguable list of the top ten records of 2014.

That Kate Tempest record is something else. Check it out if you haven't heard it yet. 

1. St Vincent - St Vincent

2. Alvvays - Alvvays

3. A Sunny Day in Glasgow - Sea When Absent

4. Spoon - They Want My Soul

5. Caribou - Our Love

6. Lykke Li - I Never Learn

7. Kate Tempest - Everybody Down

8. TV on the Radio - Seeds

9. Future Islands - Singles

10. Jenny Lewis - The Voyageur

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Indefinite Hiatus

So...

....most of you have deduced by now that this blog is on an indefinite hiatus.

Painting over Silence has wildly exceeded all expectations. It started as a fun medium for me to keep track of upcoming concerts, conduct interviews with bands, review some albums, etc and quickly spiraled out of control. The inquiries from publicists, artists, and local venues was impossible to keep up with and I was spending 20-25 hours a week blogging during the peak of this site on top of working a full-time job and attending school part-time.

I never expected this site to lead to some employment with CBC. Or to place in the top 30 "best music blogs in Canada" contest. Or even secure me a spot on the Polaris Music Prize jury. For the better part of five years, my inbox was a daily source of  awe and wonderment.

Unfortunately, this exhausting pace has caught up with me over the past few years, and I found myself having less and less free time for blogging. And presently that spare time is almost nil.

So, for now, this site is on an indefinite hiatus.

If you want to hear about upcoming concerts in real time (at least as quickly as I can manage), please check my Twitter feed.

Thank you for reading over the years.

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Beach House to play the Pyramid

Howdy folks. Long time, no post. Been busy getting married and taking care of my new lab puppy (see Twitter for a pic) and building a fence and what not, so my blog's been a tad neglected.

Anyway, hello again, Everyone. Here's an exciting concert announcement:

Beach House is playing the Pyramid on Tuesday, September 30th! Ahhhhhhhhhhh! I'm pretty excited. Caught them in Reykjavik a few years back, and the band was utterly fantastic.

See ya there.

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Afternoon Headlines: Buck 65 returns to town; GMac short-listed for Polaris Prize

Buck 65 returns to town for a date at the Pyramid on Saturday, November 15th.

Hamilton-based duo Ash & Bloom is at West Broadway Community Ministry on Friday, August 15th.

Dave Quanbury & His Band play ACU Hall at the WECC on Tuesday, August 5th.

The Mowgli's drop by the Pyramid on Wednesday, August 27th.

Joey Cape (of Lagwagon), Chris Cresswell (of The Flatliners), and Brian Wahlstrom (of Scorpios) will be at the WECC on Wednesday, October 1st.

Ottawa-based singer-songwriter Pat Maloney will be at the Park Theatre on Sunday, July 6th.

Secret Chiefs 3 (lead by an ex-member of Faith No More) materialized on stage at the WECC on Sunday, October 5th.

Local act autumn still just released its debut EP, and it's available for download here.

Add Reuben and the Dark to the Boy & Bear show going down at the Garrick on Thursday, October 23rd.

Add Dan Deacon and Tune-Yards to the Arcade Fire MTS Centre extravaganza happening on Thursday, August 14th.

Serena Ryder is at the Burt on Wednesday, August 6th.

And finally, after a voting error was discovered, Greg MacPherson's Fireball has been longlisted for the Polaris Prize! Congrats to the local talent.

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Afternoon Headlines: Canada Day at the Forks lineup ; Hearing Trees EP release at the Park

Del Barber plays a set with the WSO on Canada Day

The lineup for Canada Day has dropped and, as always, it features a wide swath of local talent and is going down at the Forks. I'll likely see ya there.

Here's the schedule:

Scotiabank Stage
4:00 PM Yes We Mystic
4:40 PM Dignitaries/ O Canada
5:00 PM The Perms
6:00 PM Indicator Indicator
7:00 PM Oh My Darling
8:00 PM Federal Lights
9:00 PM Del Barber
10:00 PM Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
10:40 PM WSO and Del Barber
11:00 PM Fireworks
...plus Mama Cutsworth spinning between acts


Under The Canopy
1:30 PM Pierre Freynet
2:20 PM Street Circus
3:30 PM Drum Cafe
5:30 PM Kasm
6:30 PM Marco Castillo
7:30 PM Hana Lu Lu
8:30 PM Les Jupes
9:30 PM BB-Gun

Railbridge Stage
1:00 PM Renée Lamoureux
2:00 PM Sc Mira
3:00 PM Kevin Roy
4:00 PM Eagle Lake Owls
5:00 PM Jess Reimer

In other concert news...

Friends-of-the-blog Hearing Trees is releasing its debut EP at the Park Theatre on Saturday, June 28th w/ Solhounds, Joey Penner, Matt Moskal, and Mona Faith Mousa.

Boy & Bear will be at the Garrick on Thursday, October 23rd.

The Devin Cuddy Band will be at Times Changed on Saturday, July 26th.

And finally, The Slackers drop by the WECC on Friday, September 19th w/ The Noble Thiefs.

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Modest Mouse to play the Burt w/ Kevin Drew

Modest Mouse returns to the Burton Cummings Theatre on Monday, July 28th w/ Broken Social Scene frontman Kevin Drew and Mimicking Birds.

Ticket sales kick off Friday morning at 10 with ticket prices ranging from $52.25 (second balcony) to $58.50 (floor / first balcony). Yup, $6.25 price difference from floor to second balcony. That's a new one. 

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Evening Headlines: BADBADNOTGOOD @ Union Sound Hall ; Real Love Summer Festival

First up, BADBADNOTGOOD (above) is rockin' Union Sound Hall on Wednesday, August 6th.

Bombay Bicycle Club will materialize at the Garrick on Sunday, October 12th w/ Milo Greene.

Gay Nineties and The Wet Secrets co-headline a show going down at the Pyramid on Sunday, June 8th.

And finally, for a good time, try the Real Love Summer Festival going down in Gimli Motorsports Park (off Highway 8, just North of Gimli) this weekend from June 6th to 8th featuring over 25 bands. Artists include:  ZRADA, Ingrid Gatin, Slow Leaves, Animal Teeth, Surprise Party, Micah Erenberg, Kieran West, Palm Trees and many more.

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CONTEST: Enter to win tickets to see Library Voices @ The WECC w/ Novillero and Naysa

Courtesy of the good folks over at the West End Cultural Centre, I've got a pair of tickets to giveaway for Library Voices show going down there on Friday, June 13th.

Novillero and Naysa are also on the bill!

If you're interested in checking out this killer bill, fire me off an email (on the right hand side, below the concert listings) by noon CST on Monday, June 9th with the subject line "Library Voices Ticket Giveaway" and your name in the email's body. Winning name will be drawn randomly sometime that afternoon and contacted shortly thereafter, with the first name and last initial published on my Twitter account.

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Morning Headlines: Son of Dave @ The WECC; Bloody Diamonds @ The Garrick

Just a few new shows to run down:

Clipwing is at the WECC on Friday, June 20th w/ Union Stockyards and Triggers.

John Fogerty will play CCR tunes at the MTS Centre on Wednesday, November 19th.

Five Alarm Funk pay a visit to the Pyramid on Monday, June 30th and Tuesday, July 1st.

Triple bill happening at the Garrick on Monday, June 30th: Halifax-based blues rockers Bloody Diamonds will be there with The After Script, Northern Elms.

Son of Dave is at the WECC on Thursday, August 14th w/ Ben Sures.

Tiny Ruins is at the Park Theatre on Tuesday, July 29th.

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Afternoon Headlines: Au Revoir Simone to open for Broken Bells; Raine Hamilton EP release; Black Keys, Petty return to town

Lots to get through so let's dive right on in:

Add one of my favourite bands (and David Lynch's too) - Au Revoir Simone - to the Broken Bells show at the Burt on Monday, August 4th. WOO HOO!

KONGOS is at Union Sound Hall on Thursday, July 3rd w/ Blondfire.

The Black Keys will be at the MTS Centre on Saturday, October 25th.

Up-and-coming local singer-songwriter Raine Hamilton is releasing her debut EP, Small Packages, on Saturday, June 9th at Exchange Community Church.

Triple bill going down at the WECC on Thursday, July 3rd: Palm Trees w/ Paincave and Ozconscious.

Skynet is at the Ellice Theatre on Sunday, June 1st.

And finally, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers rock the MTS Centre on Thursday, August 21st.

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Noon Headlines: Pixies to play the Burt; Novillero resurfaces

Iconic alt-rockers Pixies return to Peg City for a date at the Burton Cummings Theatre on Thursday, October 9th. Tickets go on sale Friday @ 10.

Treasured local act Novillero has ended its hiatus for a one-off gig: the band will open for Library Voices on Friday, June 13th.

BESTiE is at the Pyramid on Thursday, May 15th.

Add Ghost Twin and Glass Random to the Jessy Lanza show going down at the WECC on Sunday, May 11th.

Saskatoon-based roots act Gunner & Smith will be at the Arlington Attic on Saturday, May 31st.

And finally, The Dirty Catfish Brass Band releases its debut album, Brass Riot, at the WECC on Saturday, June 28th w/ Sol James.

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Broken Bells to play the Burton Cummings Theatre

Hot off the presses:

Broken Bells (Danger Mouse and Shins' frontman James Mercer) make their debut on Winnipeg soil for a gig at the Burton Cummings Theatre on Monday, August 4th.

Tickets range from $24.50 - $39.50 plus fees and go on sale Friday, April 25th at 10 a.m.

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Headlines: Blitzen Trapper @ The WECC; S Carey @ The Park

Just a quick round-up today of some recent show announcements:

Portland's Blitzen Trapper is at the West End Cultural Centre on Sunday, June 15th.

Chad VanGaalen is at the Park Theatre on Friday, June 6th w/ Viet Cong.

Speaking of the Park, S Carey (of Bon Iver) is there on Wednesday, June 25th.

A Wilhelm Scream is at the WECC on Tuesday, June 3rd w/ Direct Hit, Distances, and Bring The Fight.

Good for Grapes is at the Pyramid on Saturday, May 3rd w/ Zerbin.

Brandy Zdan and Scott Nolan will be at the Park Theatre on Wednesday, June 4th.

And finally, the annual Bands v. Filmmakers event goes down at the WECC on Friday, May 23rd. On the bill is:

• Birdapres and Grey Jay / DAMIEN FERLAND
• Hana Lu Lu / KAYLA JEANSON
• Ridley Bent / MADISON THOMAS
• Mise en Scene / TYLER FUNK
• Les Jupes / MATHEU PLOUFFE

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You can get lost in the music for hours: The Head and the Heart @ The Burton Cummings Theatre

The Head and the Heart

The Burton Cummings Theatre

Winnipeg, MB

Monday, April 7th

True story: I gave up my Jets tickets last night in favour of attending The Head and the Heart show at the Burt.

I rarely miss a Jets game on TV (I even listened to their games while in Iceland at 3 a.m.), so it's even rarer that I give up my tickets.

But in the end I unquestionably made the right decision. The Head and the Heart (whose bassist, coincidentally, is a big Jets fan and even sported a new logo t-shirt throughout the set) put on a magnificent, inspired show. Drawing from both of their mighty fine releases, the sextet was loose, spirited, and clearly passionate about the curious brand of melodic indie-folk they irresistibly purvey.

This was on the best sets I've seen in quite some time, and I eagerly look forward to once again giving up my Jets tickets should the Head and the Heart roll through town on a game night. Unless its'a playoff game. But, hey, that's highly unlikely of happening anytime soon.

-Mykael

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Contest: Enter to win tickets to see Sunparlour Players @ The WECC

Courtesy of the good folks over at the West End Cultural Centre, I've got a pair of tickets to giveaway for Sunparlour Players show going down on Thursday, April 17th. 

If you're interested in checking out the guys, fire me off an email (on the right hand side, below the concert listings) by noon CST on Monday, April 14th with the subject line "Sunparlour Players Ticket Giveaway" and your name in the email's body. Winning name will be drawn randomly sometime that afternoon and contacted shortly thereafter, with the first name and last initial published on my Twitter account.

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Timber Timbre to play Union Sound Hall

Timber Timbre just announced a string of North American dates, and great news, Peggers, this includes a stop in the third coldest city in the world. The band will be at Union Sound Hall on Monday, June 16th.

Hopefully spring will arrive by then....

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Jessy Lanza to play the WECC

Hamilton-based artist Jessy Lanza just announced a tour in support of her much buzzed-about debut, Pull My Hair Back, which includes a Winnipeg date at the West End Cultural Centre on May 11th.

I'm intrigued.

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I climbed a mountain and I turned around: Fleetwood Mac to play the MTS Centre; Jordan Klassen @ The WECC

Fleetwood Mac continues to shirk the yoke of retirement with its relentless touring, but this time around longtime holdout Christine McVie joins the troop for the upcoming tour. This includes a date at the MTS Centre on Monday, November 10th. Ticket sale kick off Monday, April 7th but I'm sure there'll be ample presale opportunities.

BC-based singer-songwriter Jordan Klassen also returns to town for a gig at the West End Cultural Centre on Monday, May 5th.

And finally, according to the Park Theatre's twitter feed, the Mac DeMarco show there is nearly sold out. The only tickets left are at Music Trader, so god speed, you procrastinating, Mac DeMarco fan!

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Album Review: Future Islands "Singles"

Rating: **** out of 5

Thanks largely to old man Letterman’s enthusiastic response to frontman’s Samuel T. Herring’s sweet, sweet dance moves during the above performance of “Seasons (Waiting on You)”, Future Islands are on the verge of household name status. And the recognition is well-deserved. The band’s latest, Singles, offers fresh, infectious, and well-crafted dance numbers all galvanized by Herring’s deceptively cool and frequently surprising vocals. Listen how quickly his casual delivery devolves into a guttural growl as best evinced on “Fall from Grace.” This record will have even the shyest of wallflowers tripping the light fantastic.

-Mykael Sopher

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Atmosphere to play the Garrick

Just a quick note today: Minneapolis-based indie-rap pairing Atmosphere will be at the Garrick on Tuesday, May 20th. Look for the duo's new album, Southsiders, on Tuesday, May 6th.

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