Monday, March 18, 2024

Monday Roundup #166

Concert announcements:

Colin Fisher/Jeff Luciani/Diane Roblin/George Koller / The Emmet Ray 2024-03-25 (Monday – 6 p.m.). $10

Today Versions presents: 'Music From Five Mountain Station: An Earth Dancing Body Refuge Trip' (feat. Del Stephen / Key Cut / Newold Group) / Bar Orwell 2024-03-29 (Friday). $10 or pwyc. [FB event]

Exit Points #47 (feat. Zoë Alexis-Abrams/Youssef Bassit/Onophris/Bobby Gadda/Jury Tosh Kobayashi-Mackay / Xéynamay/Racha/Erik Flow/Measure/Michael Palumbo / Switchemups!) / Array Space 2024-03-29 (Friday). $20 at the door. cash/card/mobile. [FB event]

Joyshape (Molehill [Pete Johnston/Jake Oelrichs/Mike Smith] / Heraclius Akimbo with Gabe Girard) / Bar Orwell 2024-03-31 (Sunday). $pwyc, suggested $10

Orkestar Kriminal (Blisk) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2024-03-31 (Sunday). $25.50. [FB event]

Track Could Bend #90 (feat. Voidfemmes & Erin Corbett / Allison Cameron & Stephen Parkinson) / Wenona Lodge 2024-04-02 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Dun-Dun Land: Slight Return (feat. Dun-Dun Band) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-09 (Tuesday – early). $pwyw

Bernice (The Ruth Garbus Trio) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2024-04-10 (Wednesday). $24.34. [more info]

Audiopollination: Spring Flowers and Love edition (feat. David Sait/Sonia Leung/Sable / yasmine/Victor/Marilyn / %%30%30/Clay/Mania / Jessica Houghton/Pursuit Grooves) / Array Space 2024-04-12 (Friday). $10 (cash or card), livestream available. [FB event]

CLASS & The Oscillitarium Present: Green’n Out (feat. Hobby / Roy [Spoons For The World record release!] / Animatist / Biblical) / The Garrison 2024-04-20 (Saturday). $20, 19+. [FB event]

Welcome to Hipsville (feat. Ichi-Bons / The Kewpie Dolls / The Slow Drags / Fuzz Vultures / Thee Rogue Telstars) / Owl's Club 2024-05-11 (Saturday). $25. [FB event]

Opa Yallah / Burdock Music Hall 2024-05-18 (Saturday). $15. [FB event]

Is your show missing from this list? Submit it via this form!


Shows this week:

Mike DeiCont Trio + 1 [album release] [Mike DeiCont/Eric West/Leland Whitty/Allison Philips] / The Rex 2024-03-17–18 (Sunday–Monday). $20. [FB event]

Surf & Turf [works by Fish Yu, Pascal le Boeuf, John Cage, Luke Blackmore, and Aurél Holló] (feat. U of T Percussion Ensemble) / Walter Hall 2024-03-18 (Monday). $free. [FB event]

No Octopus Dancing [Allison Cameron/Stephen Parkinson/Germaine Liu/Mark Zurawinski] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-18 (Monday). $pwyc

Gay Hollywood [Carmen Elle] / Three Dollar Bill 2024-03-19 (Tuesday). $15 or pwyc

Music hosted by Karen Ng (feat. Leap Year [Andrew Pacheco/Lowell Whitty/Karen Ng/Kae Murphy] / Whiskey Jacks [Dan Gooch/Jay Hay/Pete Johnston/Jake Oelrichs]) / Wenona Lodge 2024-03-19 (Tuesday)

Sebastian Bailey presents (feat. Sebastian Bailey/Nick Fraser/Marilyn Lerner/Rob Clutton) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-19 (Tuesday) [FB event]

CMC Presents (feat. DOG Ensemble, under the direction of Patrick O’Reilly) / Canadian Music Centre 2024-03-21 (Thursday). $15 Advance, $20 at the door; CMC Members and Arts Workers: $12 Advance, $15 at the door; Students. $10 anytime. [more info]

Makam Nights ["a shared space for makam learning and performing!"] (feat. Burak Ekmekci / Begum Boyancı) / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2024-03-21 (Thursday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Ronley Teper & The Lipliners / Drom Taberna 2024-03-21 (Thursday)

Confluence Concerts presents Unsung: Music by some of Toronto's Finest Songwriters [curated by Andrew Downing] (feat. John Southworth/Justin Orok/Rebecca Campbell/Lydia Persaud/Patricia O’Callaghan/Teiya Kasahara/Maggie Keogh and more) / Heliconian Hall 2024-03-21–22 (Thursday–Friday). $25. [more info]

Dan Pitt [solo guitar] / Sellers & Newel 2024-03-22 (Friday). $15 minimum donation. [more info]

Siaka Diabaté x Raphael Weinroth-Browne / Array Space 2024-03-23 (Saturday). $22.63. [FB event]

Faster Presents: Juice?$#%* (feat. Happy Apple [Allison Cameron/Joe Strutt] / Brian Abbott & Ryan Kinney / Andrew Kay/Kayla Milmine/Bob Vespaziani / Liz Lima/Brodie West/Andrew Kay/Paul Newman [performing "Job's Anguish", a composition by Brian Abbott]) / Gerrard Art Space 2024-03-23 (Saturday). $pwyc, suggested donation $10. [FB event]

Ministry of Phonic Services presents: album release show (feat. Wilderness Adventure Ride [Owen Kurtz & %%30%30] / Germaine Liu & Mark Zurawinski) / Wenona Lodge 2024-03-24 (Sunday). $pwyc.

Drones Over Dufferin [improvised, ambient country music from David and Duncan MacKinnon] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-24 (Sunday). $pwyc. [more info]


Video hits:

  • Some beautiful footage in this restless travelogue accompanying Thin Edge's recording of Linda Catlin Smith's "Wanderer", from their recent collaborative Dark Flower album.

It happened this week...

  • ...on March 19, 2010 at The Horseshoe Tavern.

The Clientele - Never Anyone But You

  • ...on March 24, 2010 at Sonic Boom Records.

The Weakerthans - Plea from a Cat Named Virtute

[Do remember that you can click on the tags below to go back and find the original posts (and often, more stuff) from these artists.]

Monday, March 11, 2024

Monday Roundup #165

Community notes:

  • "THE AMBiENT PiNG invites you to participate in or experience DRONE:KLUB:41 - a live community drone event at the Long & McQuade Clinic Hall - 935 Bloor St. W. in Toronto from 7pm to 9pm on Thursday March 14th, 2024."
    "Droners, Friends and Audience are all welcome for this free indoor event, where we explore community sound-weaving."

Concert announcements:

Surf & Turf [works by Fish Yu, Pascal le Boeuf, John Cage, Luke Blackmore, and Aurél Holló] (feat. U of T Percussion Ensemble) / Walter Hall 2024-03-18 (Monday). $free. [FB event]

No Octopus Dancing [Allison Cameron/Stephen Parkinson/Germaine Liu/Mark Zurawinski] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-18 (Monday). $pwyc

Sebastian Bailey presents (feat. Sebastian Bailey/Nick Fraser/Marilyn Lerner/Rob Clutton) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-19 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Makam Nights ["a shared space for makam learning and performing!"] (feat. Burak Ekmekci / Begum Boyancı) / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2024-03-21 (Thursday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Siaka Diabaté x Raphael Weinroth-Browne / Array Space 2024-03-23 (Saturday). $22.63. [FB event]

Beams [Requiem for a Planet album release show] (Pelican Movement / Zinnia) / The Garrison 2024-05-09 (Thursday). $18.86, 19+. [FB event]

Is your show missing from this list? Submit it via this form!


Shows this week:

Florian Hoefner Trio [Florian Hoefner/Andrew Downing/Nick Fraser] / The Rex 2024-03-10–11 (Sunday–Monday). $20. [FB event]

Alessandro Cortini (Slow Attack Ensemble / Garden of Magic) / Velvet Underground 2024-03-11 (Monday). $33.89, 19+. [more info]

Josh Cole Presents (feat. a Josh Cole quartet + strings [Josh Cole/Lina Allemano/Aline Homzy/Blake Howard/John Oswald/Nick Storring]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-12 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Ladyfinger [Diane Roblin/Kayla Milmine with special guest Mark Zurawinski] / The Emmet Ray 2024-03-13 (Wednesday – 6:00 p.m.) [FB event]

Donna Lee Quartet [Brodie West/Reg Schwager/Josh Cole/Nick Fraser] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-13 (Wednesday – early)

Video Age (Sean Nicholas Savage) / The Garrison 2024-03-13 (Wednesday). $31.24, 19+. [FB event]

Never Was [Brandon Davis/Kel Mansaray/Naomi McCarroll-Butler/Racha Moukalled/Patrick O’Reilly/Joe Sorbara] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-13 (Wednesday). $pwyc

Lina Allemano & Rob Clutton (Araz Salek [solo]) / Sellers & Newel 2024-03-14 (Thursday). $20. [FB event]

Maria Chávez (Debashis Sinha) / The Music Gallery 2024-03-14 (Thursday). $10 MG members, $10-$20 pay what you can afford. [FB event]

Little Jim [Chris Pruden/Mack Longpre/Julian Anderson Bowes] / Hirtut Cafe 2024-03-14 (Thursday)

Comic Country for Communists (feat. The Sorry Brothers [Karsten Stryker/Chris Adriaanse/Kurt Newman] / Nick Flanagan) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-14 (Thursday)

Mark Hundevad & Mike Gennaro / Annette Studios 2024-03-15 (Friday). $10. [FB event]

TONE presents (feat. Horse Lords / Ka Baird / Bile Sister) / The Baby G 2024-03-15 (Friday). $22.24, 19+. [FB event]

Mike DeiCont Trio + 1 [album release] [Mike DeiCont/Eric West/Leland Whitty/Allison Philips] / The Rex 2024-03-17–18 (Sunday–Monday). $20. [FB event]


It happened this week...

  • ...on March 15, 2013 at Saving Gigi.

Prosimii - CO

  • ...on March 17, 2013 at Saving Gigi (The Ballads Reimagined, Part Three: Voice).

Caylie Staples - Ten-Ten

[Do remember that you can click on the tags below to go back and find the original posts (and often, more stuff) from these artists.]

Friday, March 8, 2024

Recording: Eiyn Sof

Artist: Eiyn Sof

Song: Temple Creep

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Ayal Senior & Friends), February 11, 2024.

Eiyn Sof - Temple Creep

With a repertoire that's been expanding since I've last seen Melissa Boraski performing, it was a treat to hear live arrangements of some newer songs, all the more so as they were presented in duo form with Roan Bateman (a.k.a. Sleepy Mosquito a.k.a.Dark Bird) on second guitar.

[Ayal Senior & Friends will be back in the Tranzac on Sunday (March 10th), with sounds from Ayal and Kurt Newman, Blake Howard, and Andrew Furlong plus Eye-Duh Kho, Jonathan Adjemian, and Nick Flanagan.]

Recording: Ayal Senior & Kurt Newman

Artist: Ayal Senior & Kurt Newman

Song: Nor the Moon by Night

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Ayal Senior & Friends), February 11, 2024.

Ayal Senior & Kurt Newman - Nor the Moon by Night

It's pretty amazing to watch in real time when Ayal Senior starts playing a new piece that even guitarist Kurt Newman hasn't heard yet. Somehow, the arrangement falls into place immediately and the ending is nailed with precision.

[Ayal Senior & Friends will be back in the Tranzac on Sunday (March 10th), with sounds from Ayal and Kurt Newman, Blake Howard, and Andrew Furlong plus Eye-Duh Kho, Jonathan Adjemian, and Nick Flanagan.]

Recording: Colin Fisher

Artist: Colin Fisher

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Ayal Senior & Friends), February 11, 2024.

Colin Fisher - [excerpt]

Just some casual solo magic from Colin Fisher, granulating sounds on guitar and switching over to sax.

[Ayal Senior & Friends will be back in the Tranzac on Sunday (March 10th), with sounds from Ayal and Kurt Newman, Blake Howard, and Andrew Furlong plus Eye-Duh Kho, Jonathan Adjemian, and Nick Flanagan.]

Monday, March 4, 2024

Monday Roundup #164

Community notes:

  • There are more teachings from Nilan Perera forthcoming, with a four-week course entitled "Prepared Guitar: Theory, Practice, Improvisation" being offered at Array Space on Thursdays from March 21 to April 11. The course is free (donations accepted) and space is limited. "In this 4-week course, you’ll have a hands-on experience discovering how to prepare your guitar, and will explore various techniques of prepared guitar performance, method, and improvisation." All information is here.

Concert announcements:

Ladyfinger [Diane Roblin/Kayla Milmine with special guest Mark Zurawinski] / The Emmet Ray 2024-03-13 (Wednesday – 6:00 p.m.) [FB event]

Lina Allemano & Rob Clutton (Araz Salek [solo]) / Sellers & Newel 2024-03-14 (Thursday). $20. [FB event]

Mike DeiCont Trio + 1 [album release] [Mike DeiCont/Eric West/Leland Whitty/Allison Philips] / The Rex 2024-03-17–18 (Sunday–Monday). $20. [FB event]

Music hosted by Karen Ng (feat. Leap Year [Andrew Pacheco/Lowell Whitty/Karen Ng/Kae Murphy]) / Wenona Lodge 2024-03-19 (Tuesday)

Confluence Concerts presents Unsung: Music by some of Toronto's Finest Songwriters [curated by Andrew Downing] (feat. John Southworth/Justin Orok/Rebecca Campbell/Lydia Persaud/Patricia O’Callaghan/Teiya Kasahara/Maggie Keogh and more) / Heliconian Hall 2024-03-21–22 (Thursday–Friday). $25. [more info]

Karen Ng presents (feat. Karen Ng/Ted Crosby/Ben Dwyer) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-28 (Thursday)

Cosmic Homeostasis XXIII / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-31 (Sunday – 5 p.m.). $pwyc. [FB event]

The Nilan Perera Quartet [Nilan Perera/Adrian Russouw/Rick Sacks/Marilyn Yogarajah] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-31 (Sunday) [FB event]

Eclipse Drone 2024: A Cosmic Homeostasis Community Event [soundtracking the solar eclipse!] (feat. Cosmic Homeostasis) / Christie Pits 2022-04-08 (Monday – 2:05 p.m.) [FB event]

Marker Starling (Elrichman / Nutrients) / The Baby G 2024-04-19 (Friday). $25.03, 19+. [FB event]

Is your show missing from this list? Submit it via this form!


Shows this week:

Track Could Bend #89 (feat. mutepack / Piers Oolvai) / Wenona Lodge 2022-03-05 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Peripheral Vision (Ertel/Davidson/Fortin/Fraser/Hodgson) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-05 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Equinox and Solstice Residency (feat. Ghostlight) / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2024-03-06 (Wednesday). $10 suggested. [FB event]

Michael Palumbo’s Friends #3: A Free-Improvisation Joint (feat. Zerone Duo [Deniz Tafaghodi/Farbod Maeen] / Doris Du/Isaiah Farabaksh/Jamie Thompson/Matthew Golem/Michael Palumbo) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-06 (Wednesday). $pwyc

Otterville [Andrew Downing/Michael Davidson/Nick Fraser/Tara Davidson/Paul Mathew/Christine Bougie] / The Rex 2024-03-06–09 (Wednesday–Saturday) [FB event]

Women From Space Festival: Night 1 (feat. Bloop / Morgan-Paige / BIG BANG! plays Björk) / 918 Bathurst 2024-03-08 (Friday). $15 advance, $20 at the door; early-bird passes $30, regular passes $38. [FB event]

Audiopollination (feat. Uuxe/Collette Andrea/Nirvana Sagar / Connor Crone/ Bicyclops/ Raymond Carruthers / Bill Gilliam/Andrew Finlay Stewart/Émilie Fortin / Jenna Geen/Abby Silvera/Mickle32) / Array Space 2024-03-08 (Friday). $10 or PWYC. [FB event]

Musica Universalis (feat. Conventional Weapons [Colin Fisher/Tristan Tims] /Cetacea) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-08 (Friday). $10 suggested donation

Women From Space Festival: Night 2 (feat. Grace Scheele / MOCH / Mali Obomsawin) / 918 Bathurst 2024-03-09 (Saturday). $15 advance, $20 at the door; early-bird passes $30, regular passes $38. [FB event]

Wildflower (Andre Ethier & Joseph Shabason) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-09 (Saturday). $pwyc. [more info]

Ayal Senior & Friends (feat. Ayal Senior/Kurt Newman/Blake Howard/Andrew Furlong / Eye-Duh Kho / Jonathan Adjemian / Nick Flanagan) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-10 (Sunday – 2:30 p.m.) [FB event]

John Millard's Hope Street [John Millard/Rob Clutton/Chris Pruden] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-10 (Sunday – 5 p.m.) [FB event]

Women From Space Festival: Night 3 (feat. Anh Phung/chiquitamagic/Emjay Wright / Val Jeanty & Nickeshia Garrick / Matana Roberts/Germaine Liu/Nicole Rampersaud) / 918 Bathurst 2024-03-10 (Sunday). $15 advance, $20 at the door; early-bird passes $30, regular passes $38. [FB event]

Avalon Tassonyi & The Rock Stars [Thom Gill/Eliza Niemi/Jason Bhattacharya] [Sprigs & Brush release celebration] (Isla Craig) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-10 (Sunday) [more info]

Florian Hoefner Trio [Florian Hoefner/Andrew Downing/Nick Fraser] / The Rex 2024-03-10–11 (Sunday–Monday). $20. [FB event]


It happened this week...

  • ...on March 5, 2016 at Array Space (All-Set! Triple Album Launch).

Mike Smith & Jonathan Adjemian - Fifth Transcombobulation

  • ...on March 8, 2016 at Double Double Land.

Wyrd Visions - unknown

[Do remember that you can click on the tags below to go back and find the original posts (and often, more stuff) from these artists.]

Monday, February 26, 2024

Monday Roundup #163

Concert announcements:

Peripheral Vision (Ertel/Davidson/Fortin/Fraser/Hodgson) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-05 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Alessandro Cortini (Slow Attack Ensemble / Garden of Magic) / Velvet Underground 2024-03-11 (Monday). $33.89, 19+. [more info]

Josh Cole presents (feat. a Josh Cole quartet + strings [Josh Cole/Lina Allemano/Aline Homzy/Blake Howard/John Oswald/Nick Storring]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-12 (Tuesday). $10/pwyc

Ministry of Phonic Services presents: album release show (feat. Wilderness Adventure Ride [Owen Kurtz & %%30%30] / Germaine Liu & Mark Zurawinski) / Wenona Lodge 2024-03-24 (Sunday). $pwyc.

Lipliners 4th Wednesday of the month residency (feat. Ronley Teper & The Lipliners) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-27 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Away Forward (Fires of Cheektowaga / The Neverminds / Luster Dust) / The Baby G 2024-03-30 (Saturday). $16.42, 19+. [FB event]

Lipliners 4th Wednesday of the month residency (feat. Ronley Teper & The Lipliners) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-24 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Joe's 50th Birthday (feat. Eucalyptus / Isla Craig + band / Colin Fisher) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2024-04-25 (Thursday). $pwyc/$15 (or more), notaflof. [FB event]

Lipliners 4th Wednesday of the month residency (feat. Ronley Teper & The Lipliners) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-05-29 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Lipliners 4th Wednesday of the month residency (feat. Ronley Teper & The Lipliners) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-06-26 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Is your show missing from this list? Submit it via this form!


Shows this week:

Lina Allemano Four / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-02-27 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Rob Clutton Trio / The Emmet Ray 2024-02-28 (Wednesday – 6:30 p.m.) [FB event]

Lipliners 4th Wednesday of the month residency (feat. Ronley Teper & The Lipliners) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-02-28 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Cosmic Ship [Andrew Kay/Chris Pruden/Tyler Emond/Mack Longpre] / Drom Taberna 2024-02-29 (Thursday – 6:30 p.m.) [FB event]

Leap Year [Andrew Pacheco/Lowell Whitty/Karen Ng/Kae Murphy] / Sellers & Newel 2024-02-29 (Thursday). $15 minimum donation. [more info]

Frequencies (feat. Paulo Sinski Microband / Garden of Magic / Caleb Klager) / Handlebar 2022-02-29 (Thursday). $pwyc before 10 / $10 after 10.

Freesound Presents: Patterns in a Chromatic Field [performing Morton Feldman’s hour-long "Patterns in a Chromatic Field" (1981) for cello and piano] (feat. Amahl Arulanandam/Wesley Shen) / Array Space 2024-02-29 & 2024-03-01 (Thursday & Friday). [FB event]

Tania Gill Presents (feat. The Titillators [Ryan Driver/Thom Gill/Tania Gill/Philippe Melanson/D. Alex Meeks/Nick Fraser/%%30%30]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-01 (Friday – early). $pwyw. [FB event]

A Breeze From Kurdish Mountains (feat. Kazim Boran & Shahriyar Jamshidi) / Canadian Music Centre 2024-03-01 (Friday). $22.63. [FB event]

Moodset [album release show] [Jacqueline Teh/Alexa Belgrave/Madeleine Ertel/Caleb Klager/Mackenzie Read] / Annette Studios 2024-03-01 (Friday). $15 advance, $20 door. [FB event]

Tommy Tone (Esther Splett / Erin Corbett) / No-No Room 2024-03-01 (Friday). $10, 19+.

Freesound and Arraymusic co-present [solo piano works by Rodney Sharman, Cris Derksen and Jocelyn Morlock] (feat. Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa) / Array Space 2024-03-03 (Sunday – 2 p.m.). $pwyc. [FB event]

Reunion Reunion! (feat. Reunion [Alex Samaras/Jillian Sauerteig/Steven Noronha/Dan Fortin/Aidan McConnell] / Monsters Inc [Robin Dann & Philippe Melanson]) / house show 2024-03-03 (Sunday) [FB event]

Bilal Nasser (Heart Map Ambient Ensemble / Turtle Pleasure & Simon Farintosh) / Array Space 2024-03-03 (Sunday). $15. [FB event]


Bandcamp corner:

  • The announcement came unusually late, but is it a Bandcamp Friday this week (March 1st). Here's a couple things I'll be grabbing:

It happened this week...

  • ...on March 1, 2015 at June Records.

ANAMAI - Otolith

  • ...on March 1, 2015 at Johnny Jackson.

WHIMM - A Stare Ajar

[Do remember that you can click on the tags below to go back and find the original posts (and often, more stuff) from these artists.]

Sunday, February 25, 2024

Recording: Garden of Magic

Artist: Garden of Magic

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #88), February 6, 2024.

Garden of Magic - [excerpt]

This solo electronic project from Daria Morgacheva brought some nimble realtime manipulations to her groovy tracks. Fingers dancing over the octarack, there was a strong performative sensibility at play.

You can check out some footage of the full set over on youtube:

[Garden of Magic will be performing at Frequencies at Handlebar on Thursday (February 29th), as well as opening for Alessandro Cortini at a Not Dead Yet show at Velvet Underground on March 11th. Track Could Bend is back at Wenona on Tuesday, March 5th with sets from mutepack and Piers Oolvai.]

Recording: Écureuil

Artist: Écureuil

Song: The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin [from a story by Beatrix Potter]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #88), February 6, 2024.

Écureuil - The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin

A new partnership of old friends, this pairing of Kayla Milmine (soprano sax) and Liz Lima (clarinet, voice) incorporated some stories from the animal world (including some poems by and about cats) in a free-ranging ramble.

You can check out some footage of the full set over on youtube:

[Track Could Bend is back at Wenona on Tuesday, March 5th with sets from mutepack and Piers Oolvai.]

Saturday, February 24, 2024

#mfs15 playlist: Andrew Finlay Stewart

MFS has turned fifteen! My introductory thoughts on this landmark can be found here, but long story short: I asked some folks from the MFS community to help me celebrate by picking some selections from the archives, and possibly sharing some thoughts or stories.

Today's list is from Andrew Finlay Stewart.

Apologies to Joe Strutt and the wonderful community around Mechanical Forest Sound for my lateness in submitting this little playlist. I’ve been thinking about it for a while and was overwhelmed by the depth of the archive, and I didn’t know where to start. But when I dove in and started revisiting shows I’d been to and artists I’ve loved, it was a beautiful, emotional experience. I’m sure most people reading this have taken a swim through the MFS back catalogues at least once or twice, but if you haven’t lately I recommend setting aside a couple hours and letting yourself get lost.


LUKA - O, My Heart is Full

Recorded at a house party, November 2, 2019.

The first song I’ve chosen is from a concert that was also featured in Del Stephen’s playlist (side note: go click on the Del Stephen tag here on MFS, you’ll find a stack of great recordings that Joe’s made of Del, both solo and with various collaborators). I feel like even though it’s been represented before, I need to pick something from this show because it was a house concert for my 30th birthday, in my basement. The lineup was Karen Ng, Luka Kuplowsky, and Charlotte Cornfield, and I can’t think of a better birthday present than their music. O, My Heart is Full! Just listening back to this, my heart fills up again and again. Luka is an absolute treasure. Hearing him and his all-star band here (Josh Cole, Thom Gill, Evan Cartwright, and Karen Ng) and a room absolutely jam-packed with people I love, singing along. I can even hear my own voice singing along to the choruses, and whistling at the end.

Joyful Joyful - At the Bit

Recorded at The Gladstone Hotel's Ballroom (Long Winter, Vol. 7.3), January 4, 2019.

The second song is by Joyful Joyful, at Long Winter in January 2019. I wanted to include something from Long Winter, because it’s a festival series that’s meant a lot to me, and which I helped curate visual art for a number of years. One project I was very proud of during my time at Long Winter, in 2018 we worked with Joe to present an installation and listening station of the MFS archives on tapes.
Joyful Joyful are an incredible band, and they make some of the most beautiful, haunting, soul-touching music I’ve ever experienced. Cormac Culkeen’s voice is transportative, and Dave Grenon’s synths are both earthy and otherworldly.

Army Girls - Twice

Recorded at SummerWorks Festival – S--------- Studio Theatre (Failure Fest), August 9, 2014.

Army Girls were a fantastic two-piece of Carmen Elle and Andy Smith. I’ve known Carmen for many years, and loved their music through solo projects, Donlands and Mortiner, DIANA, and more. This particular Army Girls show was one of the most memorable gigs I’ve ever been to, with the wonderful dancer, choreographer, and community pillar Cara Spooner disrupting and challenging the duo by moving their instruments and gear around the room as they played, never letting anything be comfortable or easy. Carmen and Andy rose to the occasion by putting on an incredibly dynamic performance.

The Magic - Call Me Up

Recorded at The Tranzac Club, December 31, 2009.

I moved to Toronto in 2007 as a teenager, and immediately started going to as many gigs as I could. One honorable mention I’d like to shout out, which is referenced in the archives from 2008 before MFS started, was The Kalimba Summit featuring Matt Smith, Laura Barrett, Njacko Backo, Kahil El'Zabar at the Tranzac. The one advantage of submitting this list late is I can see what’s already been picked, and I was happy to see Laura Barrett make Mira Martin-Gray’s list. Laura was an early gateway act for me into the scene, and I think that was probably the first time I’d ever been to the Tranzac.
Another early favourite for me when I moved to Toronto was The Magic. This recording is also from a Tranzac show, although I’m not certain if I was at this particular New Year’s Eve, I would try to go see The Magic at every opportunity in those days. This song was one of those gems one finds (especially when you’re young) that hits you just the right way and sticks with you, and makes you think “is this a perfect pop song”? I didn’t know local bands around my age or a few years older could make music that sounded like this. Everyone I knew was fumbling, experimenting, being noisy and loose, and The Magic were trying to make something slick and polished and beautiful. I’m still a little star-struck any time I see Geordie Gordon or Sylvie Smith around town, they’ll always be popstars to me.

Richard Laviolette & The Oil Spills - Funeral Song

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Out of This Spark 4th Anniversary Concert), January 7, 2011.

We lost Richard Laviolette last year, and it hurt a lot. I grew up in Owen Sound, and have been listening to him and his records since high school. He might well be my most listened-to songwriter, and the one whose music was deepest inside me and most influential. The album this song is on, All of Your Raw Materials, came out in October 2009, so it will also be celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. Richard’s music is beautiful and funny and sad and sometimes angry. This one is joyful and defiant and confident.
It has especial poignance now, as he describes his own funeral:

When I die don't call no preacher
And if I die I won't call one either
Leaving these words in all of the mouths
Of all of the people
People who can speak for themselves
And are much better suited on this particular day
To say a few words about an old friend
In their particular way

He told us what he wanted, and it sounds like that’s what he’s going to get. There will be a public memorial for Richard on March 9th at the Royal City Mission in Guelph, with music and toasts and stories, and I’m looking forward to celebrating him just like he asked us to, with the people who knew him better than I did, and some of the many, many people his music touched.


Thank you Joe for the invitation to participate, I promise I’ll get back to you sooner if you invite me to contribute to the 30th anniversary. Mechanical Forest Sound is so clearly a labour of love and to do it for 15 years is an incredible accomplishment, you should be very proud of yourself. You are providing a real service to our community and to listeners of the future. Plus you’re just such a nice presence at every show I see you at. Thank you for everything!


You can always click on the tags below to look for more stuff from these artists. Has there been five or so songs posted here that made an impact on you? If you'd like to get in on the action and make a list, feel free to send me an email: mechanicalforestsound@gmail.com.

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

#mfs15 playlist: Alma

MFS has turned fifteen! My introductory thoughts on this landmark can be found here, but long story short: I asked some folks from the MFS community to help me celebrate by picking some selections from the archives, and possibly sharing some thoughts or stories.

Today's list is from ALMA (a.k.a. Allie Blumas).

[Ed. note: This is tentatively the last one of these lists being shared, and I picked this one to go out on for the wonderful way it reinterprets the exercise, sharing something new-to-me instead of digging theough the catacombs. There's still a lot of music out there to explore.]


I picked these tracks because they all express my love of new agey, spa, meditation music as well as my love of experimentation, improv and avante garde music. All of these songs were made in one sitting during the years 2020-2021. During these years I wanted to explore the process of making music from a less performative place. All of these songs were recorded in a moment of need to release an emotion or expression. Because of this I wanted to share them with the world in the exact way they had come out of me. None of these expressions have been edited, mixed, masterd or altered in any way. These explorations exist in their original and singular forms to best convey the moment and headspace that I was in when they arrived. These explorations exist as a kind of meditative practice on presence and impermanence.


As well as being a musician I am also a dancer and death doula. I recently made a Death, Dying & Grief Workbook that included a guided meditation on impermanence. I wanted to include this meditation because It dances around themes expressed in the other 4 tracks, but is also something that requires a different kind of listening and engagement.


Congrats to Joe on 15 amazing years of MFS. I've had the pleasure of participating at TCB a few times, once with a group and once as a solo. We are incredibly lucky to have Joe doing this amazing and important work of documenting the experimental music scene and through that documenting the history of something that means so much to so many people. I feel honoured to be included and so lucky to have connected with Joe and so grateful to all the work that he's been doing with MFS. Here's to 15 more years!
Happy 15th Anniversary.


You can always click on the tags below to look for more stuff from these artists. Has there been five or so songs posted here that made an impact on you? If you'd like to get in on the action and make a list, feel free to send me an email: mechanicalforestsound@gmail.com.

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

#mfs15 playlist: Jason Doell

MFS has turned fifteen! My introductory thoughts on this landmark can be found here, but long story short: I asked some folks from the MFS community to help me celebrate by picking some selections from the archives, and possibly sharing some thoughts or stories.

Today's list is from Jason Doell.

[Ed. note: Well, this is a slightly strange experience. Most of these are the literary equivalent of "dance like no one is looking", but besides some snark, I guess I more or less can stand by the things younger Joe wrote.]


"I pondered whether my grand mal seizure would be an awkward bringing-people-together moment..."

Seemingly unable to follow instructions, I haven't collected a playlist of music; instead, in the spirit of celebration, I give you a reading assignment.

Collected in the links below are some of the lengthier blog entries from the early days of MFS.

I love MFS for many reasons. Today, reading through some posts, feeling a tinge of nostalgia, I loved being reminded of what is gone - bands, venues, dear friends. But moreover, I loved hearing Joe's voice in my head. While Joe has chronicled and catalogued cultural events in the city on MFS for the last fifteen years, the more significant project, in my opinion, is how much he has also told us about himself.

Hear Joe here:
2009 In Review: Concert Reflections
Essay: Nevermind (What Was It Anyway)
Art Event: MFA Party
NXNE 2013: Moments of Transcendence
Recording: Russ Strutt


Has there been five or so songs posted here that made an impact on you? If you'd like to get in on the action and make a list, feel free to send me an email: mechanicalforestsound@gmail.com.

Monday, February 19, 2024

#mfs15 playlist: Del Stephen

MFS has turned fifteen! My introductory thoughts on this landmark can be found here, but long story short: I asked some folks from the MFS community to help me celebrate by picking some selections from the archives, and possibly sharing some thoughts or stories.

Today's list is from Del Stephen.

i'm very glad to be participating in this 15-year anniversary celebration of a real good thing: talking about mechanical forest sound (MFS). i've said it many times before, to various people who enjoy music, as well as joe strutt himself, and still i worry that it hasn't been said enough just how immensely valuable MFS is. as a fellow sound recording archivist, i have to believe that the kind of (life's!) work that joe has been doing all these years with MFS is the kind that will drastically increase in value as time goes on, just like so many of the recordings/posts on the site already have, i would say. honestly, i'd even be willing to say that it's thanks to archives like MFS that certain events will eventually become what we consider to be positively 'historic' (and i've touched on this a little bit in 1 of my selections). so here i am wondering aloud and inviting joe to respond when it suits him: let us know what we can do to help ensure MFS continues to serves the community (+ extended community) for years to come. thank you joe strutt for your continued devotion and for being my friend.
see below for some long-winded (as per usual) scribbled notes on 5 selections from the archives. the common thread is that i happened to deeply enjoy being at each of them. next birthday party i'll pick a few that i did not attend (there are so many that i've experienced solely through joe's recorded excerpts).


Zacht Automaat - Lay Lady Lay

Recorded at Matt Durant Studio (Feast In The East 64), September 23, 2017.

this was the best! matt durant's studio is/was quite far away from the apartment i lived at the time; i recall deciding to take the long way there to properly charge up for this show (a straight queen street car from 1 end of the line to the other...all the way to the depot, wow!). it was a packed house for feast in the east. and yummy food- maybe there was a samosa or 2 left by the time i arrived (late, but just in time for this set by 1 of my favourites). listening back today, i'm still bobbing my head in every direction! i love when music makes me laugh because of how good it is, especially at a show, and i definitely laughed a lot at this 1. colin fisher blew a hole in the ceiling with his saxophone and grasshopper was all over the place with his camcorder. 'lay lady lay' to end the set made me feel happy; it was a sweet interpretation of the tune and a wonderful time. i remember 1 of the first things i noticed upon arriving was seeing what i presumed to be a couple of joe's recorders positioned up on a fireplace mantle(?) or some sort of shelf on a wall opposite the stage. it was a real good and safe spot, and i was glad to prop my own portable tape recorder right up there too. thank you zacht automaat for always leaving everything out there on the court and for defending your championships approximately once a year.

Karen Ng - [excerpt]

Recorded at a house party, November 2, 2019.

this was up around dufferin/davenport in the basement of andrew finlay stewart's, a great friend and creative partner of mine. it was a party and then there'd be music. a lot of people huddled up in this tiny living room (or at least it felt tiny for the amount of people that had filled it), without being able to make such a choice, i happened to be sat right in front of karen ng's decided 'stage' and there was nowhere for me to run. so i sat there and enjoyed this set very much, no choice (and no choice necessary) but to welcome the warm sonic embrace/blast/whispers of her saxophone. i remember there were a lot of friends, friends of friends, and friends of friends of friends in attendance. the next time that i witnessed karen playing a solo set was the complete opposite: alone on the couch in the kitchen area of arrayspace while her and the rest of the audience sat on the other side of the closed door. a story for another time. thank you karen ng for every note and for always being real.

Off World - unknown

Recorded at Ratio (Off World LP 1 Release Weekend – Night 3), October 23, 2016.

i went to this show by myself and didn't know anybody that was there, at least not personally, as i knew a bunch of local artists in attendance but they surely didn't know who i was. i recognized joe though, which indicated that i was indeed in the right place at the right time. just a few minutes into the off world set, i fell asleep on the floor (or on some cushion) and ended up drifting in and out of sleep multiple times throughout the show. i have a funny memory of joe chuckling as he noticed me waking up in a somewhat startled state at 1 point before passing out again. and unless i have it mixed up with the only other time i attended a show at ratio, i also have a vivid memory of seeing mike smith in the kitchen, who i also hadn't formally met at that time, but who offered me a friendly smile. thank you sandro perri and lorenz peter for the off world dreaming and for every song (if you noticed me sleeping during your set i hope i did not offend).

Orechin/Fraser - unknown

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #52), July 2, 2019.

i just loved this set by alexei orechin and nick fraser at track could bend so much- i guess enough to still remember it 5 years later. it was hot in that basement, and probably thunderstormed earlier in the day as i noticed it always did (Without fail) every 1st tuesday of the month for a long time. i was really blissing out in my seat and remember having 1 of those moments where i was moving/swaying in body and mind. seriously hard to believe the piece was only 12 or 13 minutes - felt like a lifetime. this was also back when 241 pizza at bloor/havelock had 2 slices + a pop for $1.75 and a big window banner so the whole neighbourhood knew what was up. people would travel from other parts of the city just for the deal. and listening back now, that perfect splash when nick fraser enters the fold is like opening the can of pop and taking that first sip (i'm not really a pop drinker, but it was more expensive if you just bought the 2 slices on its own). thank you alexei orechin and nick fraser for this particularly good time and for often playing well with others.

Nicole Rampersaud - [excerpt]

Recorded at The Baby G (Track Could Bend #39), June 5, 2018.

i can't tell you how many times i've brought up this set in conversation since it happened. i recall there only being a handful of us in attendance, though i could be wrong, and it should be stated that this (obviously) has nothing to do with the incredible music that nicole rampersaud offered us on this date. that being said, i bring up this (possible) fact because over the years i've come to realize that some of my favourite concerts are ones where at some point during the set, while listening to the music, i catch myself looking around the room, noticing each individual audience member, then drawing my visual attention back to the artist, and thinking something like "hah, this is wild, we are the lucky ones!" - i wonder if you do this too? of course there are a ton of shows that come to mind where this has happened, and it seems to me that whether these gigs are recorded/archived or not truly makes no difference to the fact that in another world or in front of another audience or at a different time in history they might be considered 'legendary'. anyway, i'm rambling! thank you nicole rampersaud for all your music and for your kindness.


You can always click on the tags below to look for more stuff from these artists. Has there been five or so songs posted here that made an impact on you? If you'd like to get in on the action and make a list, feel free to send me an email: mechanicalforestsound@gmail.com.

Monday Roundup #162

Concert announcements:

Rob Clutton Trio / The Emmet Ray 2024-02-28 (Wednesday)

Cosmic Ship [Andrew Kay/Chris Pruden/Tyler Emond/Mack Longpre] / Drom Taberna 2024-02-29 (Thursday – 6:30 p.m.) [FB event]

Tommy Tone (Esther Splett / Erin Corbett) / No-No Room 2024-03-01 (Friday). $10, 19+.

Track Could Bend #89 (feat. mutepack / Piers Oolvai) / Wenona Lodge 2022-03-05 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Equinox and Solstice Residency (feat. Ghostlight) / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2024-03-06 (Wednesday). $10 suggested. [FB event]

Otterville [Andrew Downing/Michael Davidson/Nick Fraser/Tara Davidson/Paul Mathew/Christine Bougie] / The Rex 2024-03-06–09 (Wednesday–Saturday) [FB event]

Audiopollination (feat. Uuxe/Collette Andrea/Nirvana Sagar / Connor Crone/ Bicyclops/ Raymond Carruthers / Bill Gilliam/Andrew Finlay Stewart/Émilie Fortin / Jenna Geen/Abby Silvera/Mickle32) / Array Space 2024-03-08 (Friday). $10 or PWYC. [FB event]

Ayal Senior & Friends (feat. Ayal Senior/Kurt Newman/Blake Howard/Andrew Furlong / Eye-Duh Kho / Jonathan Adjemian / Nick Flanagan) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-10 (Sunday – 2:30 p.m.) [FB event]

Maria Chávez (Debashis Sinha) / The Music Gallery 2024-03-14 (Thursday). $10 MG members, $10-$20 pay what you can afford. [more info]

Escote (Ex Corpse / Liz Lima / Brian Fog) / Bar Orwell 2024-03-28 (Thursday). $15 / pwyc / notaflof. [FB event]

Small World Music Series & The Music Gallery present (feat. Nadah El Shazly & Sarah Pagé / Khôra / Honeypaw) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2024-04-02 (Tuesday). $15 advance, $20 door, $10 MG members, low income, arts workers. [more info]

Is your show missing from this list? Submit it via this form!


Shows this week:

Music Hosted by Karen Ng (feat. Lina Allemano/Mateos Labbe-Phelan/Kieran Maraj/Karen Ng / McGill Chamber Jazz Ensemble) / Wenona Lodge 2022-02-20 (Tuesday)

Triio [Tom Fleming/Stefan Hegerat/Bea Labikova/Alex Fournier/Michael Davidson/Naomi McCarroll-Butler] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-02-20 (Tuesday) [more info]

Dave Clark / Sellers & Newel 2024-02-22 (Thursday). $15 Minimum donation. [more info]

CCMC [Al Mattes/Casey Sokol/Paul Dutton/John Oswald/John Kamevaar with guest Pierre Mongeon] / Array Space 2024-02-22 (Thursday). $free, livestream available

Karen Ng Presents (feat. Chris Banks [solo synth & electronics, debut performance!] / The Adjacence [Lina Allemano/Ryan Driver/Nick Fraser/Karen Ng]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-02-22 (Thursday) [more info]

All-Set! Presents (feat. Molehill) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-02-23 (Friday – early)

Dave Bidini / Sellers & Newel 2024-02-23 (Friday). $20 Minimum donation. [more info]

Experimental Link (feat. Niloufar Shiri / Caleb Klager) / Small World Centre 2024-02-23 (Friday). $19.56. [FB event]

Exit Points 46: 4th anniversary concert (feat. Marz/Prince/Robbie Ahmed/Kasey Pocius/Paul Stillwell / R. Flex/Saba Zameni/Maneli Jamal/Gabrielle Couillard/Michael Palumbo / Switchemups!) / Array Space 2024-02-23 (Friday). $20 at the door, cash/card/mobile. [FB event]

Fortunato Durutti Marinetti (Picastro) / Burdock Music Hall 2024-02-23 (Friday). $15. [more info]

WQW Throwback House Party (feat. Carlin Nicholson & Mike O'Brien / Brendan Canning + David French / Amy Millan / Andrew Whiteman / Ariel Engel / controller.controller / Gentleman Reg / Begonia) / The Drake Hotel 2024-02-23 (Friday). $25. [FB event]

The Ryan Driver Sextet / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-02-23 (Friday). $pwyw. [FB event]

Batuki Music Society presents (feat. Alpha Yaya Diallo and Bafing) / Spadina Theatre @ Alliance Française 2024-02-24 (Saturday). $20.50. [FB event]

coexisDance #101 (feat. Saysa/Kel Mansaray/Steph Hark/Tania Gill/Apple/Chantelle Mostacho/Y Josephine/Estella Heansel/Patrick O'Reilly/Marie-Elena LeBlanc Bellissimo/Heather Saumer) / Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre 2024-02-24 (Saturday). $15 Sliding Scale. [FB event]


It happened this week...

  • ... ten years ago, on February 21-23, 2014 at The Tranzac's Main Hall (The Second Annual Somewhere There Creative Music Festival).

The Kyle Brenders Quartet - Noir

Alaniaris - unknown

Stuart Broomer/Arthur Bull/Bob Vespaziani/David Lee/Eric Stach - [excerpt from an improvization]

Hat & Beard - Jackie-ing

King Weather - [first piece]

[Do remember that you can click on the tags below to go back and find the original posts (and often, more stuff) from these artists.]

Sunday, February 18, 2024

#mfs15 playlist: Ian McPhedran

MFS has turned fifteen! My introductory thoughts on this landmark can be found here, but long story short: I asked some folks from the MFS community to help me celebrate by picking some selections from the archives, and possibly sharing some thoughts or stories.

Today's list is from Ian McPhedran.

Fifteen years is an unfathomable milestone for most endeavours and yet here we are. Joe’s tireless effort to build and preserve this archive is no small feat, and still he makes it look easy. While searching the archive to prepare the list, I was surprised at times to find that recordings I assumed would be there were not, mainly because it has always felt like he was at every single show ever (I really wanted to find the recording of DAS RAD at the Silver Dollar when Bo shouted “The power of Christ compels you!” and then cut his hand with a razor blade and blood ran all over the stage resulting in a later hospital trip, but does that even exist?). The collection is a testament to the fantastic and diverse body of work created by the city’s music communities since 2009. That it is freely searchable and accessible is a gift and an opportunity that we should all take advantage of. As with your curation work and your own musical endeavours, it captures a spirit of openness, inclusivity, and support that encourages exploration and risk-taking, which are vital for fostering new projects and ideas. Thank you Joe.

Doing a deep-dive in the archive reminded me how strongly music is tied to memory, so I have organized my list around shows that had a significant impact on me as “footnotes” for the collection.


Easy Targets - Secret Door

Recorded at The Silver Dollar (Canadian Music Week), March 13, 2010.

The Targets were always great, but I’m glad Joe recorded this one. There was always something menacing just lurking under the surface with the band, and it really explored that territory that night, which I think translates into the recording. Playing CMW or NXNE is always a somewhat frustrating endeavour for bands and that night was no exception, and this in part fueled the energy and the overall vibe in the room, which the Targets picked up on. The one downside to Nick Kervin being such an incredible drummer is that his great skills as a songwriter and guitar player are sometimes forgotten. The crucible of this project directly led to some other great projects that also produced stellar work, namely, Mimico, B-17s, Cellphone (and pretty much everything else Colin has done), and of course Scott Hardware.

The Hoa Hoa's - Going Out With Her

Recorded at The Boat, April 29, 2011.

Going out with Her is an underappreciated song from one of the finest groups this city has ever produced. Performed on the first night of their weekend of final shows, there is something about the quality of Richie’s voice that always gets me, and that night, made me teary. It really punctuated the bittersweet feeling of the evening.

Nidus - the gauzy meshwork of an invisible thought [excerpt]

Recorded at Cedarvale Ravine, September 11, 2021.

Desperate times call for desperate measures and sometimes yield the most exciting results. As a safety-workaround during Covid, Nidus brought a generator and an impressive amount of gear into a cavernous section of Cedarvale Ravine and proceeded to blow minds. The mosquitos were terrible and the police showed up to end the evening at the behest of the owners of the multi-million dollar homes that line the ravine (although some of their children seemed to enjoy what was going on). You can’t make this stuff up. It also features the contributions of my absolute favorite Toronto composer Jason Doell.

Beard Closet - Compassionate Fascism

Recorded at Holy Oak Café (Taking drugs to play music for kittens to take drugs to – Chi Chi Fundraiser), September 30, 2012.

I wanted to include one of Phil Hamilton’s projects and my first choice, the Samesex performance at the Holy Oak on September 26, 2014 was MIA (I swear this was posted at one point). [Ed note: possibly this one? From a time when project names were in flux.]
This is vintage Dissolving Parliament era Beard Closet that still makes my skin crawl in the best possible way. The fact that Phil played a benefit for a cat despite clearly being a “dog person” demonstrates all of the warmth, love and generosity of spirit lurking beneath that rough exterior. The recording captures Beard Closet’s fearless sense of experimentation that made the evening so much fun.

Cosmic Homeostasis XV - Blah, Blah, Blah [excerpt 1]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), May 29, 2022.

I tried to avoid picking any recordings I played on, but as both a frequent participant and as an observer, I think Cosmic Homeostasis is one of the most fascinating gatherings in the city. It presents a real challenge to the conventional privileging of the role of the performer in live music since the listeners and participants both play an equal role and intermingle throughout the room. Every ambient sound captured as a treasured part of the piece. This one was special because it was the first show I played with my son Sterling and he got to name the songs. I was nervous, but everyone was very patient playing alongside a four-year-old.


You can always click on the tags below to look for more stuff from these artists. Has there been five or so songs posted here that made an impact on you? If you'd like to get in on the action and make a list, feel free to send me an email: mechanicalforestsound@gmail.com.