Long Weekends release new EP

Posted on May 22, 2013 | Leave a comment

Tell It To My Heart from Halifax garage rockers long weekends

I guess it’s fitting Long Weekends released a new EP yesterday after the Victoria Day long weekend. According to the Halifax trio’s bandcamp, the songs on Tell It To My Heart were recorded over the Victoria Day Weekend with Gabe Beale (Bloodhouse) at Labour Day Picnic Studios. The band combines the sounds of garage rock with the energy of punk with the catchiness of pop. Noel MacDonald’s vocals and guitar create a distorted mess on “First Responders” as the song’s tempo and energy speeds along like a train headed off the tracks. And yes, the vocals are cranked up a notch on this release. On “No Problems”, it’s easy to picture the strings on Devin Peck’s bass guitar being pulled and plunked. Adam Hartling adds the final layers of drums and clashing cymbals that carries the raw power of the band.

Tell It To My Heart is available for free/pay-what-you want on bandcamp.

 

Long Weekends Bandcamp
Long Weekends Facebook

 

 

→ Leave a comment

Posted in new music

Tagged ,

OBEY preview: Ketamines

Posted on May 17, 2013 | Leave a comment

ketamines

Even if you’ve never listened to Ketamines, chances are you’ve at least read some things that band member Paul K Lawton has written on his “Slagging Off” tumblr. The blog provides brutally honest, and in the eyes of many, controversial commentary on the Canadian music industry.

That’s just to put a little context about who is in the band. They are a Toronto via Lethbridge, Alberta band who put out releases with trippy cool space-art-barf collages as album covers and a sound that fuses together the rawness of garage rock and the free spirit of psychedelic rock.

The band just kicked off a 7” single series that will see four singles released two months apart on different labels (Pleasence, Leaning Trees, Hosehead and Mammoth Cave). Put the artwork for the four singles together and you get one of those art-barf collages done by Montreal artist Felix Morel.

The first 7” in the single, All of the Colours of Your Heart features the title track and “Turning You On”. The title track is built around a jazzy, bouncy organ riff and fuzzy vocals with lyrics that are just begging to be sung along with. The b-side “Turning You On” is another short ditty built around a classic punk sounding guitar riff and sparse percussion and lyrics including the horribly wonderfully morbid line “I guess it’s just the death of me turning you on”.

Catch Ketamines in Halifax at OBEY Convention on June 6 at the Khyber along with Mac Demarco, Yellow Teeth and Heaven For Real.

Ketamines Bandcamp
Ketamines Facebook

 

→ Leave a comment

Posted in concert preview

Tagged , , , ,

A few words with Mike Campbell

Posted on May 7, 2013 | Leave a comment

The Carleton music bar & grill celebrates five years

Aidan Knight

I’m not sure if calling the Carleton Halifax’s best-kept music secret would be accurate considering the great acts they consistently bring in to play. But maybe it still feels like a secret. It has been around for five years as of this month, a big milestone for a music venue in this city, and something it is celebrating with a plethora of big shows this month.

“We’ve been here for five years but I’d almost guarantee that 90 per cent of the city of Halifax have never heard of us, have no idea we’re here or what we do. Getting the word out in this day and age is very difficult,” says Mike Campbell, one of the owners of the Carleton Music Bar & Grill.

Things haven’t exactly been sunshine and rainbows for music venues and bars in downtown Halifax the past few years. Just look at past Halifax Pop Explosion venues from last year and the year before and you’ll see a handful of venues that have since shut down.

Continue reading →

→ Leave a comment

Posted in interview, news

Tagged , , , , , ,

LISTEN: Phédre – Zenith

Posted on May 3, 2013 | Leave a comment

1498314442-1

The eccentric Toronto band Phédre have a new album Golden Age coming out sometime soon. While  there is no release date announced, the band has said  the album they recorded this winter in Berlin will be out later this year.

They’re also working on an ongoing record, ETERNA. “Zenith”, the first track from that album,  is available now as a free download.

From the band’s website:

In addition to GOLDEN AGE, Phèdre is making an ongoing record: ETERNA.
We be droppin’ tracks as they come. Here’s the 1st one!

Phédre consists of a couple members of Hooded Fang, who have a new album Gravez coming out May 28.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in new music

Tagged ,

A few words with David Myles

Posted on May 1, 2013 | 8 Comments

The unlikely story of MYles and classified

Myles and Classified

David Myles and Classified perform Inner Ninja at the East Coast Music Awards gala. Photo Jonathan Briggins

Unlikely is a word that keeps popping up in conversations about David Myles. He recently won a JUNO for rap recording of the year for “Inner Ninja”, a song he co-wrote with rapper Classified. An unlikely award because if you’ve ever seen David Myles, you know he is a bean-pole, a skinny dude who likes to wear suits and play folk music. His image and sound is something out of 1950s doo-wop. But here is Myles, a JUNO winner for a rap song.

“It’s not exactly how I would have planned it when I started playing music nine year ago…But I’ll take it. I’m pumped,” says the hip-hop loving David Myles over the phone from Toronto.

Myles has always hoped to have a diverse career that touches on different genres and features collaborations. Through this collaboration with Classified and an award-winning song, he has done just that.

Continue reading →

→ 8 Comments

Posted in interview

Tagged , , ,

LISTEN: Braids – Amends

Posted on April 30, 2013 | Leave a comment

New 12″ provides preview of sophomore album

Braids-1-credit-AustinTufts-TamVu

It’s been a couple years since BRAIDS took the internet and music world by storm with the dreamy art rock music of Native Speaker.

This weekend, the Montreal via Calgary band released the track “Amends”. The track along with “In Kind” are two singles from the bands sophomore album due later this year. Both tracks along with b-sides “Near Enough” and “A Dawn in Me” are on a 12″ single out June 11 via Flemish Eye.

photo: Austin Tutts and Tam Vu

→ Leave a comment

Posted in new music

Tagged

LISTEN: WTCHS – Mr. Hands

Posted on April 26, 2013 | Leave a comment

Loads of energy from Hamilton band

WTCHS

WTCHS are a Hamilton, Ontario band with an appreciation for multiple formats of recordings. They’ve released a digital single, cassette,  split 7″ and a compilation 7″. Each recording has been made with the intent of being played on whatever format it is released in.

Their latest release, the track “Mr. Hands” on the WTCHS/Thoughts On Air split 7″ still works in digital format, but after a listen you can really tell it is truly meant to be blasted through a stereo on vinyl. An instant sonic attack of guitars as soon as the needle hits the first groove. The vocals are buried behind the sounds of clashing cymbals in an unapologetic and battling manner. By the mid-way point of the song, layers of noise are re-arranged to work in a more conventional manner where individual guitar riffs, drums and vocals work together. A noisey experiment that seems unplanned and unorganized but turns out to be a deliberate act.

The 7″ is available on white vinyl via Perdu. Limited to 300 copies.

The song is also streamable and downloadable……for now.

 

 

→ Leave a comment

Posted in new music

Tagged ,

Contest: Wintersleep in Halifax

Posted on April 23, 2013 | 10 Comments

Win a pair of tickets to the Marquee grand opening

wintersleep5-bw_scottmunn-1

As we mentioned last week, the Marquee Ballroom is having a grand opening. Wintersleep is headlining the opening show on Friday (April 26) along with Always. Wintersleep play their first show in Halifax since Halifax Pop Explosion in the fall.

We’re giving away a pair of tickets to the show. Do one or more of the following to empty.

  1. Comment on this post. Be sure to include your name and email.
  2. Share this post on Twitter. Be sure to mention @broken_speaker
  3. Share this post on Facebook. Be sure to share it from our Facebook page so we know you shared it.
  4. Fire an email to thebrokenspeaker [at] gmail [dot] com with the subject Wintersleep

 

→ 10 Comments

Posted in contest

Tagged , ,

Halifax guide to Record Store Day

Posted on April 19, 2013 | Comments Off

record store day

As all music nerds should know by now, tomorrow is Record Store Day. Record stores in Halifax will be doing a little special something something for all you wax lovers. (Or shellac lovers too!) Head over to the Record Store Day website for an extensive list of the releases for the big day. This year there is also a special release from a Haligonian.

Paper Beat Scissors releases 7″

Last summer, Paper Beat Scissors collaborated with members of Clogs (associated with The National) and My Brightest Diamond when they all played a show at St. Matthew’s Church during Halifax Jazz Festival. The 7″ features a-side “Tendrils” and b-side “Onwards”.  There is also a seven song EP featuring recordings from this live performance.

Taz Records (1519 Grafton St)

- Buy two get one free on used records

- In-store performances

  • Joel Plaskett (12 p.m)
  • Mo Kenney (12:30 p.m.)
  • Napeyes (2 p.m.)
  • Windom Earle (3 p.m.)
  • Jennah Barry(4 p.m.)
  • Al Tuck (5 p.m.)
  • Billie Dre & The Poor Boys (6 p.m.)

Obsolete Records (2454 Agricola St.)

- Snacks! Last year they had some amazing treats.

- Everything in the store (including RSD exclusives) tax fee all day.

Black Buffalo Records (5687 West St. suite 250)

- 20% off everything (except for RSD exclusives)

- List of confirmed arrivals

532913_10151615104980530_1133467913_n

Comments Off

Posted in concert preview, new music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Marquee Ballroom opens again

Posted on April 18, 2013 | Comments Off

Wintersleep and Hayden play upcoming shows

wintersleep5-bw_scottmunn-1

Believe it or not, the Marquee Ballroom is opening again. Sure there have been a few shows sprinkled there this past year during Halifax Pop Explosion and East Coast Music Week, but the venue is having an official grand opening on April 26. Halifax’s Wintersleep will play along with Always. Wintersleep are currently touring in support of last year’s album Hello Hum. 

Hayden also plays the Marquee Ballroom June 1st on his East Coast tour that includes stops in Halifax, Moncton, Fredericton and St. John’s. Earlier this year, Hayden released Us Alone. Joining Hayden on tour is Lou Cannon. 

Wintersleep ticket info:

Tickets are available now: $27.99 advance/$32.99 day of show available through Sonic Concerts online and at Bubba Ray’s on Spring Garden Road. Doors at 9 p.m. 19+

Hayden ticket info:

Tickets are available Friday, April 19th at 10 a.m. $27.99 advance/$32.99 day of show available through Sonic Concerts online. All shows are 19+ with the exception of the Fredericton all ages show.

Comments Off

Posted in concert preview, news

Tagged , , ,