Songs of the Week: August 19 - 25, 2024

August 26, 2024 by Christine McAvoy in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“Demons” by The Darcys

Almost missed this announcement from The Darcys, but we have new music (“Demons”) and an album release date September 27th for their new album Rendered Feelings.

Of the new track the band say it is “raw and honest and a bit melancholic, if we're being real. It's about how love sometimes falls apart even when you're doing your best to hold it together. You know you should let go but you're compelled to keep trying to make it work which only makes it harder.”

The band always has the best merch, and aside from pre-ordering the (clear!) vinyl, they’ve got water bottles, sticker sheets and very cozy looking sweaters!

I can’t wait to hear more from the album, get my hands on it soon, and hope there’s a tour announcement on the horizon!

Christine

“Let It Rain” by Valley

Toronto’s Valley has dropped their latest single from upcoming album, Water The Flowers, Pray For A Garden.

“Let It Rain” is the fourth single from the upcoming album, and features lovely vocals from the trio, and a plinking piano sounding like raindrops.

Frontman Rob Laska explains “‘Let It Rain’ is a song about change and overcoming. It’s very much dedicated to the band and how it’s been the one constant in our lives through love and loss. To the people we’ve become, to the people we’ve left behind and the people we have yet to meet. Acceptance of growing old and learning to be ok with that is at times a difficult conversation to have with yourself. Being in a band and specifically in the music industry, it can at times feel like a storm hanging over your head symbolizing that it’s too late. Who said you’ve run out of chances? It’s about letting all those feelings come out and taking them for what they are, which often results in you realizing that you have so much life to live ahead of you.”

Check out the lyric video below, and you can grab Water The Flowers, Pray For A Garden when it’s out on August 30.

Kirk

“Pray For You” by MAUVEY

Last week, MAUVEY announced the third and final instalment of his Before The Album series, Before The Album 3:1, with the afro-fusion “Pray For You”.

The new single is an anthemic tune, with MAUVEY explaining, “Each song on Before The Album 3:1 is an anthem, designed to inspire, celebrate and uplift the listener. Distributing love is my purpose and my goal. “Pray For You” has a no frills message that gets straight to that point.”

You can grab Before The Album 3:1 on October 25th!

Kirk

“Sweet Surrender” and “Basement Apartment” by Haley Blais

Haley Blais has decided to pay tribute to two of Canada’s best Sarahs, dropping a pair of cover songs last week.

First up is a gorgeous rendition of Sarah McLachlan’s classic “Sweet Surrender”, followed up with the incredibly vulnerable “Basement Apartment” from Sarah Harmer. Blais reflects, “Sarah McLachlan was a huge musical inspiration to me growing up; Sarah Harmer was integral to the journey of Wisecrack. I wanted to pay homage to the two artists that shaped me as the artist I am today.”

You can listen to “Sweet Surrender” and watch a live performance of “Basement Apartment” below!

Kirk

Songs of the Week: March 10 - 17, 2024

March 18, 2024 by Christine McAvoy in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“Just A Scratch” and “Catch Me If You Can” by Tokyo Police Club

I’m not crying, you’re crying…
Okay, I was a little misty-eyed when I got the news that after over 20 years of making music, Newmarket’s own Tokyo Police Club will be hanging up their hats.

Thankfully they’re not just leaving us with nothing, they announced several finale shows in Toronto with a lot of familiar names, and now they’ve released tour dates, including two shows here in Vancouver (with Born Ruffians!), the first of which is already sold out.

To top all of this off, we’ve been presented with two new songs: “Just A Scratch” and “Catch Me If You Can”. Of the songs guitarist and keyboardist Graham Wright says:
"I hear bits that we might have come up with in the garage back then, and other bits we could never have dreamed up until right now. I hear all the music we ever loved and all the music we ever made - and most importantly, I hear US, the four of us, the hivemind that is TPC, with all its ideas and enthusiasm.”

Okay great, I’m crying again. I cannot wait until the shows in September!

Christine

“Seeing Ghosts” by Nice Horse

Hot off their win for Horizon Group or Duo of the Year at this year’s CMAB Awards, Calgary country juggernaut Nice Horse has announced a new look for the band; going forward as a duo with Katie Rox and Brandi Sidoryk. And to cement that change, the pair released a surprise new single “Seeing Ghosts” last week, an upbeat country breakup song.

Brandi expands on the new direction: “There's no question that the past few years have been some of the hardest times of our lives, but the thing that got us through it all was writing and we did a lot of it. This song, and the rest of the album, is a result of that and we're so proud of the music we've created. We hope the fans, along with everyone who supported us and our former bandmates, are proud of the direction that we're heading.”

(As an aside, if I had a nickel for every time Brandi was in a band that changed into a duo… I’d have two nickels, but it’s weird that it happened twice?)

Kirk

“Somebody’s Son” by Haley Blais

Ahead of her North American tour that starts this week, Haley Blais has dropped her new single, “Somebody’s Son”.

The haunting, acoustic song was written & recorded during the making of her last album Wisecrack, with Blais sharing, “This is me talking directly to my brother; one family ending, and another beginning. A conversation with him spanning years.”

You can check out the new song below, and see all the dates on her tour on her website!

Kirk

“Gum” by Alex Badger

Alex Badger is hoping her new single sticks.

Last week, the Vancouver singer released her latest single “Gum”, a chill and catchy indie pop tune, that highlights her vocals.

Have a listen and check out the video below!

Kirk

Songs of the Week: August 14 - 20, 2023

August 21, 2023 by Christine McAvoy in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“Who Am I Now?” by David Vertesi

David Vertesi is back and going through an existential crisis. The latest solo release from the Hey Ocean! member — and integral part of Vancouver’s music & arts scene for over a decade — asks the question “Who Am I Now?”

Vertesi explains “This song was born out of the individual and collective renegotiation of self that I have witnessed since 2020 and the beginning of the pandemic. With my band of 15+ years [Hey Ocean!] on indefinite hiatus, I was attempting to do this for myself, however, I couldn't help but notice pretty much everyone around me was doing the same: leaving jobs, moving cities, ending relationships. But whether mourning or celebrating the loss of our old lives it seemed like we were all asking ourselves the same question.”

“Who Am I Now?” features Vertesi’s trademark smooth vocals over a moody beat, and marks his first release through Vancouver’s Tiny Kingdom Music. So check below to find out who the hell David Vertesi is now.

Kirk

“Out in the Fields” and “Party Oven” by Kevin Drew

We’ve got a new solo album announcement from Broken Social Scene front man Kevin Drew, and it looks like it’s quite a vulnerable one.
Aging will be released in the fall (physically first on September 22, and then digitally on November 3rd) and was heavily influenced on loss, love, and illness of those around him, and the reality of aging.

Of the album the press release says it is “an album best played at the end of the night; a collection for the stragglers left when the bar is about to close; a serenade for those who are coming down; songs that are quietly sad but ultimately ruminative and comforting.”
The first two tracks “Out In The Fields” and “Party Oven” have major BSS “Lover’s Spit” vibes and I’m here for it. Can’t wait for more.

Christine

“The Cabin” by Haley Blais

Speaking of David Vertesi’s contributions to the local music scene, someone he’s been producing lately has been Haley Blais, who is giving us another peek at her upcoming album, Wisecrack.

Her latest song is “The Cabin” which she describes as “A sweaty, dehydrated memory of my summers spent in the cabin on the lake. It wasn’t our cabin — my dad’s brother’s wife’s cousin’s friends owned it or something — but it was ours. I had my first sips of beer, first almost kisses. It’s a fluffy recollection until the guitars break through with their overbearing distortion like a roaring tidal wave and I’m thrown back into the discomfort of real time.”

The video for was directed by Zia Kalyan, and features some familiar faces in Blais’ chaotic orchestra.

Wisecrack comes out September 15, and she’ll be celebrating the release with a show in Vancouver at the Hollywood on October 20th!

Kirk

“Let’s Do Drugs” by NOBRO

And now for something completely different… NOBRO’s first single of 2023 “Let’s Do Drugs”!
A fun, loud, fast, punk song, “Let’s Do Drugs” is one I can see a whole venue shouting along to.
Of the idea behind it, vocalist/bassist Kathryn McCaughey says it’s “a ‘dumb’ rock song about getting older…about wanting to have one more wild night, while having no business doing so and failing miserably. Musically it’s a middle ground between maybe ‘(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)’ and ‘Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap’ but only the dumbest bits of those songs, distilled into something even more dumb. It’s like shotgunning a beer then immediately puking on yourself.”
I don’t know if there’s anything left to say - I really hope they swing by Vancouver soon!

Christine

“Rise Up With Fists” by Elliott BROOD

Sometimes I’ll see a band release a track with the same name as another song, and be disappointed it’s not a cover.

Other times, Elliott BROOD will release an absolutely fantastic cover of the Jenny Lewis classic “Rise Up With Fists”.

The tune is the latest in their covers collection, and hopefully they’ll be playing this live on their upcoming tour with Shred Kelly, or at least when they hit Vancouver at the Biltmore Cabaret on October 6th.

Kirk

“Electric Dreams” by Adnama

Vancouver’s Adnama is back with her first new single in over a year, “Electric Dreams”.

The fittingly-titled song is an ethereal ear-worm, which “surfs on layers of synth waves while floating in a dreamlike state.”

Check it out below, and try not to get it stuck in your head for the rest of the day.

Kirk

Songs of the Week: June 26 - July 02, 2023

July 03, 2023 by Christine McAvoy in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“Air I Walk” by Zeus

Oh my gods, Zeus are back! It’s been nearly a decade since we last heard from the Toronto quartet, but they have returned with a brand new album, CREDO.

Along with the album announcement comes their first single, “Air I Walk”. Picking up exactly where they left off, the incredibly catchy song features the band’s unparalleled harmonies and throwback rock sound.

CREDO is out September 8th on Arts & Crafts, and immediately became one of my most anticipated albums of the year.

Kirk

“Just Another Day” by Royal Wood

Royal Wood is back with a 5-song EP Just Another Day (set to come out September 22), and has released the title track.
He not only (for the first time) solely wrote, arranged, performed and produced the song himself, but also engineered and recorded it as well.

He’s heading out on the road to support living legend Bonnie Raitt - although the closest stop to Vancouver is Penticton, that might be worth the drive for that show!

Christine

“Skin” by Arkells

Arkells have to be one of the hardest working bands going right now. They recently announced a new album, which will be their third new album in as many years (four if you count the acoustic album Campfire Chords).

The latest single is “Skin”, and feels destined to be a big singalong at Arkells’ legendary live shows. Singer Max Kerman explains the song “is about choosing to love more purposefully, about finding meaning in the hard stuff. It’s about coming to the understanding that the best and deepest relationships are far beyond what we experience on the surface.”

Sticking with their two-word title scheme, the new album is called Laundry Pile and drops September 21st!

Kirk

“Baby Teeth” by Haley Blais

This week Haley Blais announced that her sophomore full-length album, Wisecrack, will be due out on September 15th (via Arts & Crafts)!
We’ve had three singles released from said album over the last few months, and with the release announcement came another one, titled “Baby Teeth”.

The track comes with a super trippy video that I could see being on the Prism Prize list next year (speaking of, this year’s winner is announced on Thursday).
Of the song Haley says: “It’s a bunch of snippets of my life, of seemingly insignificant moments that made me who I am today, I think.”

Christine

“Walk Among the Stars” by Odds

Last week Odds released the third single from their upcoming album, Crash The Time Machine!

“Walk Among the Stars” is described as “a musical map pointing to fond memories of camaraderie and creativity. It's set in the town of Bath, Ontario and it's a tribute to friendship. Kindred spirits raise a toast on the frozen lakeshore. It's a rock 'n roll landscape painting.”

Check it out below, and keep an ear out for Crash the Time Machine, out August 4th!

Kirk

Songs of the Week: May 22 - 28, 2023

May 29, 2023 by Christine McAvoy in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“Cracks in the Finish” by Shred Kelly

I was super stoked to see this new release from Fernie, BC’s Shred Kelly in my inbox, not only because I love the band, but the fact that I was on-site taking photos of them recording this new album!
“Cracks in the Finish” is the first single from their forthcoming album (no date or title yet!), and it focuses on the imperfections in relationships and challenges that see them grow.

The band is heading out this summer to do a big run of festivals and shows, the closest to Vancouver they’re getting for now is Kelowna and Sun Peaks at opposite ends of the tour - check out the dates here.

Christine

“Matchmaker” by Haley Blais

Not only was I excited to see new music from Haley Blais pop up, but also happy to see it came with the announcement that she had recently signed with Arts & Crafts!

“Matchmaker” features her smooth vocals over a dreamy groove, which she describes as “a love song about being so confident and safe in a relationship that you start to look for cracks out of fear.”

While no solid word on a new album yet, the new song comes with a tease of a full length project set to drop later this year. Until then, check out the video for “Matchmaker” below!

Kirk

“Skylight” and “Freaking Out” by Sleepy Gonzales

Vancouver’s Sleepy Gonzales announced a brand new EP last week, with not one but two new song!

“Skylight” is soft and gentle, before erupting into a chaotic finish, and in contrast, the aptly titled “Freaking Out” is a frantic race. The band explains that “‘Skylight’ embodies light in a dark world and ‘Freaking Out’ is the evil inside us demanding validation. Maybe they balance each other out, or maybe one eventually destroys the other. That depends on you.”

The new EP Mercy Kill comes out June 23rd on Light Organ Records. Check out the video for "Skylight" below, and stream both new songs here.

Kirk

Songs of the Week: July 18 - 24, 2022

July 25, 2022 by Kirk Hamilton in Song Of The Day

“Grow Up Tomorrow” by The Beaches

Reading the words “the song was co-written with LOWELL”, I already knew this was going to be a great new song by The Beaches, and I wasn’t disappointed.

”Grow Up Tomorrow” is super fun, incredibly catchy, and has one hell of a house party music video to go along with it.
I expect to hear this on the radio for the rest of the summer.

Christine

“Fire Escape” by Dan Mangan

I can’t imaging anyone wanting to hurt Dan Mangan, but that’s exactly what Steven Ogg is set out to do in the brand new video for “Fire Escape”.

Dan shares that the song “is about our unshakable longing to be seen, heard, and understood. When everyone was isolated at home I became enamored with the idea of fire escapes becoming a gathering place, a way to connect with your neighbors. I love the idea that even in the very worst of circumstances or with limited resources, humans will find a way to feel unity.”

The video, directed by Lester Lyons-Hookham, features Ogg following Dan around to attack, abuse, assault, and generally make his life a bad time… though it might not quite be what it seems at first.

Kirk

“Causeway Road” by Adam Baldwin

East Coast artist Adam Baldwin has released a new live video for his song “Causeway Road” off his upcoming album Concertos & Serenades (due out September 23rd).

I love both Adam’s voice and storytelling ability in his music, and this new tune is no different.
So in that vein, I’ll let HIM tell you what the song is about: “"Neil Young sang, 'The devil fools with the best-laid plans,' and in this case, a fellow's well-meaning ambition costs him a brother, a boat, and ultimately his livelihood. From betrayal to revenge, this story affirms another adage, 'An eye for an eye makes the world go blind.’"“
More please!

Christine

“Survivor’s Guilt” by Haley Blais

After headlining Khatsahlano and playing the Squamish Constellation festival this month, Vancouver’s Haley Blais isn’t slowing down, having just released another new song, “Survivor’s Guilt”

Haley says, ““Survivor’s Guilt” puts us at the scene of the crime where everything fell apart: the death of the family dog. I originally wrote it as this sad piano ballad, but David Vertesi (Producer) shifted the song towards something more summery and upbeat, contrasting the song’s stark lyrics and showcasing a sweltering slide guitar a la the style of Sheryl Crow’s “All I Wanna Do”. As we get older, inevitably we’ll lose things that are important to us. And when those losses come out of decisions, sometimes you can’t help but blame yourself. Sometimes the death of a childhood dog bursts up out of you, representing so much more than a dog, representing nothing more than a dog.”

The song is out now on Tiny Kingdom, and you can check out the video below!

Kirk

“Year of the Dog” by Tim Baker

At last, we have a release date for the new Tim Baker album! The Festival will be out on October 7th via End Times Music, and the announcement comes with yet another tease of the album.

“Year of the Dog” starts with a soft piano, the song builds to an emotional release, possibly emblematic of the album as a whole; Tim says the album is “about living through, and actually being thankful for, difficulty and pain, for how they make you grow and appreciate beauty you couldn’t otherwise.”

Kirk