Robert Plant Joins North American Lampedusa: Concerts for Refugees Tour

Sep 27, 2016

Five of America’s most popular musical acts are coming together for an 11-stop concert tour this fall to raise awareness of the unprecedented worldwide refugee crisis. Lampedusa: Concerts for Refugees will be headlined in North America by Grammy Award-winning artists Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Patty Griffin, Buddy Miller, and The Milk Carton Kids. However, a sixth performer has just been added for select dates, including Toronto – Robert Plant.

Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) announced today that it will host this singer/songwriter tour in support of the organization’s Global Education Initiative, which was commissioned by Pope Francis. JRS seeks to double the number of refugees served in its educational programs by 2020.

“After witnessing firsthand the work of JRS in Ethiopia this past June, I have never been more inspired to champion such a critical cause,” said Emmylou Harris, 13-time Grammy winning artist. “The better angels of our nature call upon us to act with compassion and not with fear in the face of so much suffering.”

In an effort to shed light on the plight of the more than 65 million refugees worldwide and the need to raise funds to support refugee education, Plant offered this statement about joining the tour.

“I’m taking a break from recording the new Sensational Space Shifters record to be a part of this very important and worthwhile cause. When I watch the news and see people from these places being displaced by hatred and ignorance, I know that these people are just like you and me. All they want is to live in peace and have their children grow up loved, fed and educated. That seems a million miles away for many people at the moment. They are living in refugee camps, in conditions that are far below sustenance levels. When I heard that some of my friends were rallying to do a series of concerts to help raise funds and awareness, to help address the basic needs of food, shelter and medical care, I wanted to help, in whatever way I could. One thing that I want to make clear: as with all the other members of this tour, I will be performing two or three songs a night and no more. I’m not making a political statement. The organization that is receiving these funds is a religious one. This appeal is trying to help on the ground wherever it can. I hope that my voice, along with my friends, helps bend the arc of the universe a little more toward the loving and helps with the work of getting the basic essentials of life to those who are without.”

The complete tour dates are below. The shows featuring Plant are noted.

October 6 – Boulder Theater in Boulder, CO
October 8 – Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City, MO
October 9 – Rococo Theater in Lincoln, NE
October 11 – Sheldon Concert Hall, St. in Louis, MO
October 12 – Pabst Theater in Milwaukee, WI w/Robert Plant
October 13 – Vic Theater in Chicago, IL w/ Robert Plant
October 14 – Massey Hall in Toronto, ON w/Robert Plant
October 16 – Berklee Perfomance Center in Boston, MA ) w/Robert Plant
October 18 – The Town Hall in New York, NY w/Robert Plant
October 19 – Merriam Theater in Philadelphia, PA w/Robert Plant
October 21 – Lisner Auditorium in Washington, DC w/Robert Plant

Everyone’s journey begins somewhere – and for some that journey includes Lampedusa, an Italian island off the coast of Sicily that serves as a waypoint in a refugee’s search for safety and security.

JRS works in more than 45 countries worldwide to meet the educational, health, social and other needs of many of these refugees and other forcibly displaced persons. The scale of this humanitarian crisis is staggering: one in every 122 people is a refugee. More than half are women and children; at least 30 million are under the age of 18.

“We are ready to bring this critical issue to the stage and help people understand that education provides a path forward in life for refugees,” said Fr. Timothy P. Kesicki S.J., the President of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. “Most people don’t realize that refugees spend an average of 20 years displaced from their homes and many never return. It’s time to take action and our Lampedusa concert tour will help us do so.”

Liberty Silver and award winning producer Eddie Bullen perform in Oakville

Sep 27, 2016

Michael Williams Presents SUNDAY NIGHT is thrilled to present a return engagement by R&B singer/songwriter Liberty Silver and award winning producer Eddie Bullen, Sunday October 16, 2016 at Taste of Colombia’s El Salon.

Back by popular demand, Liberty Silver and Eddie Bullen return to El Salon to fill us with song once again.

Liberty Silver made history in 1985 when she became the first black woman to win not only one, but two Junos. That night she walked away with two awards for Best Reggae/Calypso Recording and Best R&B/Soul Recording. From the young girl who started crooning at the age of three to opening for Bob Marley and the Wailers at Madison Square Garden (MSG) with Toronto reggae band The Wild Bunch, Silver has gone on to co-write the themes for the 1996 and 2000 Olympics and, since MSG, has opened for The Temptations, B.B. King and Harry Belafonte.

One of Silver’s Juno award winning songs,”Lost Somewhere Inside Your Love” was produced by Eddie Bullen. Throughout his career, Bullen has produced over 150 albums, working with Caribbean, Canadian and American artists such as Melba Moore, David Rudder, Deborah Cox, Anslem Douglas (Who Let The Dogs Out) and of course, Liberty Silver. His smooth Caribbean-influenced jazz/soul records have won awards and recognition around the world. It’s been years since Silver and Bullen have worked together. June 26th brings them together once again for a special, intimate live performance. It will be a special night indeed.

Michael Williams Presents SUNDAY NIGHT is a series of live events featuring both international and local artists performing intimate, informal shows at Taste of Colombia’s El Salon. The evening is hosted by Musicologist Michael Williams whose lifelong passion for music has provided him many roles as producer, journalist, musician, media personality and educator. “I have always wanted a platform to present intimate shows…and have found the perfect venue in El Salon. The plan is to bring in the best artists I know and pair them with up-and-coming local artists.”

Join us at A Taste of Colombia for an evening of great music. The perfect place to relax, unwind, and enjoy a great cup of your favourite beverage.

Show Details
Doors Open: 6:O0pm
Show Times: 7pm to 9pm
Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased at the door.

Gord Deppe of The Spoons and Bill Wood announce acoustic show in Oakville

Sep 27, 2016

Michael Williams Presents SUNDAY NIGHT is excited to host two exceptional performers — Gord Deppe of The Spoons and Bill Wood of Bill Wood and The Woodies together in a live, acoustic performance on Sunday, October 2, 2016 at Taste of Colombia’s El Salon in Oakville, ON.

With almost 40 years as a singer/songwriter/performer with the The Spoons, Gord Deppe and his band have never stopped performing. Originally from Burlington, Ontario The Spoons were formed in 1979 and, at the time, considered leaders in the New Wave scene during the 1980s. Over the years the band produced hits such as “Romantic Traffic”, “Old Emotions”, “Nova Heart” and “Tell No Lies”. Their most recent album (and the first in 20 years), Static in Transmission, produced two more singles, “Imperfect” and “Tell No Lies”. Deppe will be joining us for an acoustic evening of song and to share the stories behind his latest venture, a new book that actually started years ago as small vignettes and grew over time into SpoonFed.

Singer/songwriter Bill Wood is the front man for Bill Wood and The Woodies. With over 30 years of experience in the music industry his songs have been honed over decades of life experiences. To Wood, the songs are the main event. Wood is also the former lead vocalist of the Juno-nominated pop band Eye Eye. Bill Wood & The Woodies have recently released their new album “Mumbo Jumbo Tumbo” featuring the first single “Blue Plate Special”.

Michael Williams Presents SUNDAY NIGHT is a series of live events featuring both international and local artists performing intimate, informal shows at Taste of Colombia’s El Salon. The evening is hosted by Musicologist Michael Williams whose lifelong passion for music has provided him many roles as producer, journalist, musician, media personality and educator. “I have always wanted a platform to present intimate shows…and have found the perfect venue in El Salon. The plan is to bring in the best artists I know and pair them with up-and-coming local artists.”

Join us at A Taste of Colombia for an evening of great music. The perfect place to relax, unwind, and enjoy a great cup of your favourite beverage.

Ry Cooder Mini-Doc For His Debut Album, Produced By Warner Music’s Van Dyke Parks. Yes, THAT Van Dyke Parks

Sep 27, 2016

The name Ry Cooder may be familiar to a lot of you – Cooder was ranked eighth on Rolling Stone magazine’s 2003 list of “The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”, and a 2010 ranking by Gibson placed him at number 32. There’s also a Canadian connection – Cooder is referenced in the lyrics of “At the Hundredth Meridian” by The Tragically Hip: “Get Ry Cooder to sing my eulogy.”

Here’s a 14-minute promotional documentary that Warner Bros. put together for the 1970 debut album by Cooder, put together by singer/songwriter Van Dyke Parks, best known for his collaborations with Brian Wilson and for his contributions as lyricist to the Beach Boys’ Smile project. At this time of this doc, Parks was an employee of Warner Bros. tasked with overseeing the creation of promotional videos for the label’s artists. Working on the studio side left Parks wanting to focus more behind-the-scenes and with lesser-known artists, such as Randy Newman and Cooder, after being unhappy with the aspect of being “typecast” by his songs.

FUZEnation TECH + MUSIC SUMMIT Launches This Week

Sep 26, 2016

FUZEnation’s Disruptors & Game Changers Panel is presented by MODALINA Magazine: an award-winning, luxury lifestyle, fashion and jewellery magazine. Produced and published in the Waterloo region, MODALINA boasts an internationally-recognized team of writers and photographers.

“MODALINA Media Group is excited to partner with FUZEnation on this first ever event. We recognize the importance of showcasing and celebrating our local trailblazers and influencers; sharing their stories and accomplishments through this ground-breaking summit seems naturally fitting. We are honoured to present Disruptors & Game Changers, and celebrate Waterloo as a centre of technological excellence,” says Krista Bozoian, Director of Content and Advertising, MODALINA Magazine.

To coincide with FUZEnation, MODALINA magazine introduces MODALINA, Fall 2016 – The Shift Disturbers Edition which features several of FUZEnation’s Disruptors & Game Changers panelists. “In this issue, we focus on the positive aspects of disruption and change. Industries that shift the perception and direction of our world, and how we operate within it. Individuals who are game-changers, creating a paradigm for others to take heed and follow or risk being left behind. So naturally, when we decided to do something a little unexpected that integrated the worlds of high-tech and high-fashion, we didn’t need to look any further than our own backyard. Through this fusion, ‘Tech Tonic’ was born – – a fashion editorial spread that features CEOs & Founders of local (Kitchener-Waterloo) tech start-ups that are having seismic impact through the global adoption of their product and service offerings. Mix young, smart, bold thinking entrepreneurs with the latest fashion trends in haute-couture and the combination is sure to get noticed,” says Marina Garabetian, Publisher/Founder, MODALINA Magazine.

The speaker list is pretty astounding, with some of the world’s most prolific tech icons as part of FUZEnation’s Speakers Series: STEVE WOZNIAK, Co-founder of Apple Inc., BIZ STONE, Co-founder Twitter, Co-founder & CEO Jelly, and ALEXIS OHANIAN, Co-founder of Reddit. We are also pleased to welcome respected broadcast journalist and Kitchener native LIZA FROMER, who will serve as moderator for Biz Stone’s Q & A.

FUZEnation wraps with a musical celebration at 41 Ardelt Place in Kitchener featuring headliner KYGO, one of the leading EDM artists in the world. Kygo has reached over 2 billion Spotify streams including remixes, a testament to his massive success. Don’t miss the chance to catch this extraordinary talent in an intimate unique setting when he hits the stage at 41 Ardelt Place.

Tickets Available Now at Frontgatetickets.com and FUZEnation Speaker Sessions – $39.50 with the FUZEnation Concert with Headliner KYGO – from $55

MC Hammer’s “You Can’t Touch This” Without Music Is Hilarious

Sep 25, 2016

Amsterdam-based music agency House of Halo beautifully imagines what the music video for MC Hammer’s 1990 hip hop classic “U Can’t Touch This” would sound like without music.

Music Doc “Discovering Electronic Music” From 1983 Is Glorious And Righteous At The Same Time

Sep 25, 2016

This 1983 documentary film by director and writer Bernard Wilets examines the basics of analog synthesis, digital sampling and sequencing.

“We live in an age of technology in which machines touch every part of our lives. It is not suprising that music has also been influenced by technology.”

My Morning Jacket’s Jim James on Tortoises and Being In A Band For 20 Years

Sep 25, 2016

Rolling Stone: You’re from Louisville, Kentucky, but lately you’ve been living in Los Angeles. What’s that like?

Jim James: There are so many people here trying to make their dreams come true, and it’s incredibly inspiring. I’m renting an Airbnb from an artist who kinda built the place. There are two 40-year-old giant desert tortoises that live here, and they’ve been amazing to live with. They don’t need you, but they also enjoy being around you. They’re so content to do very little, and I’m trying to learn from them: “You’re just gonna climb out of your hole and sit in the sun?” “Yeah, that’s all I’m gonna do today.”

Rolling Stone: You’ve fronted My Morning Jacket for almost 20 years. What have you learned about leading a band?

Jim James: The biggest part, as cliché as it sounds, is just being honest and never carrying a debt with anybody. If someone makes you mad, tell them. Work it out. Don’t carry it around like a burden. The same with love. If someone makes you happy, let them know how awesome they are. You can never say “I love you” enough.

Via

Jeff Tweedy: “Everybody looks back on Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and thinks it was a watershed moment. That’s just ridiculous.”

Sep 25, 2016

Faster Louder: I wanted to ask about the Star Wars album as well. Obviously the surprise release of that record was a little bit of a gamble but it created a lot of buzz around the record. I guess it maybe feels, from an outsider’s position, that the last couple of Wilco records have maybe slipped by, like you guys have become victims of your own success and that there’s a consensus of “Yeah, it’s a great record, but it’s just a Wilco record.” Was that the intention to shake up that idea?

Jeff Tweedy: Yeah, I think that the … I don’t know what people are thinking about the band as a whole. From our perspective, people keep showing up just to see us play and people tend to buy our records at a time when not many people are buying records and we feel very fortunate to be in a position where we could do whatever we wanted. I think, that being said, there are a lot of expectations that go along with being a band for a long time and having put out many records. Everything about the release and the way the record was packaged, everything about it, was really an effort to try and subvert expectation and to get people that care about the band to lead the discussion or the dialogue about the record.

With all due respect, I tend to think people like yourself are the ones that look at it like, “Oh, they just put out another record and it’s good.” Fans don’t think that. People that get paid to think about stuff like that think that, because your job is to find something new and be the cool guy that found the new thing. Wilco doesn’t really fit that category as much anymore, so there tends to be a certain amount of, I don’t know … I would never complain that we’re taken for granted but, certainly, within certain professional classes, that would be the case.

I didn’t mean to imply that I’m not excited when a new Wilco record comes out. I’ve been a fan for a long time and I always look forward to a new album. It just feels that there isn’t an explosion of attention and hype now the way maybe it did around Yankee Hotel days.

That’s bullshit. That’s complete bullshit, because, first of all, the internet wasn’t anything close to what it is. There was no social media when Yankee Hotel Foxtrot came out and people were telling us that the record was the end of the band for months and when the record finally came out, nobody gave a shit. It did well, but it didn’t do well right away.

Now everybody looks back on it and thinks that it was some sort of watershed moment and the record has sold a lot over this time period because of the story and it’s a good record. The whole idea that, I don’t know, that’s just ridiculous. That’s not what happened at the time. There was a ton of coverage, but it wasn’t social media buzz or anything.

Via

The Fall’s Mark E Smith Guide to Writing

Sep 25, 2016

In 1983, Mark E. Smith gave a talk on Greenwich Sound Radio on the – ahem – proper guide to writing. Who could argue with these tips?

Hello I’m Mark E. Smith and this is The Mark E. Smith ‘Guide To Writing’ Guide.

Day-by-day breakdown

Day One: Hang around house all day writing bits of useless information on bits of paper

Day Two: Decide lack of inspiration due to too much isolation and non-fraternisation. Go to pub. Have drinks.

Day Three: Get up and go to pub. Hold on in there a style is on it’s way. Through sheer boredom and drunkenness, talk to people in pub.

Day Four: By now, people in the pub should be continually getting on your nerves. Write things about them on backs of beer mats.

Day Five: Go to pub. This is where true penmanship stamina comes into its own as by now, guilt, drunkenness, the people in the pub and the fact you’re one of them should combine to enable you to write out of sheer vexation. To write out of sheer vexation.

Day Six: If possible stay home. And write. If not go to pub.