Home Blog Page 77

Rick Wakeman Announces Final Solo Tour Featuring YES and His Solo Work

The ultimate keyboard wizard, Rick Wakeman CBE, will be embarking on a tour of the US with a series of solo piano concerts for the last time in 2024. Rick, who has become almost as well-known for his intimate piano shows as his prog rock extravaganzas, has decided that after a career spanning over 50 years, he is calling a halt to lengthy American one-man show tours, in order to concentrate on composing, recording and collaborating with other musicians.

As an exclusive gift for fans, on these shows Rick will be premiering a brand new piece of music: Yessonata, a 30-minute instrumental work featuring YES themes and melodies, woven into sonata form. For the first time, Yessonata will also be available to purchase in vinyl format on the fall tour.

Rick first started establishing a reputation as one of rock’s most original and proficient keyboard players in the late Sixties, when he worked with the likes of David Bowie, Cat Stevens, Marc Bolan, Lou Reed, Al Stewart, Elton John and other artists too numerous to mention, as a much-in-demand session player. He stepped out of the recording studio and into the limelight when he first joined the Strawbs and then YES, helping to make the latter the most successful progressive rock band in the world by contributing to seminal albums such as Fragile and Close To The Edge.

But outside of YES, Rick was really able to unleash his creativity with a series of groundbreaking concept albums: The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Journey to the Centre of the Earth, and The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, which have been performed in large-scale shows featuring bands, orchestras and choirs.

However, he is equally at home as a solo artist in the upclose environment of concert halls, performing music on a piano – both his own and tunes that have a special resonance for him – and recounting wickedly funny stories taken from the length of his career. In recent years, he has added a rack of electric keyboards to ring the changes and enable him to enlarge his live solo repertoire.

Now, for the last time in 2024, Rick will be taking to the road in the US with an all-new solo piano and keyboard show, featuring the premiere of a stunning new work. Don’t miss this final opportunity to enjoy an evening of great music and hilarious stories, delivered by one of the truly legendary figures of rock music.

Rick Wakeman says, “I always planned to stop touring by my 77th birthday – for those of you who wish to send me a card, it’s 18th May! – but there is so much to fit in before then that I’m having to make plans now and so my final one-man shows will have to cease by that date. I have thoroughly enjoyed performing the various one-man shows, but it’s time to call it a day. I intend to throw in the best of what I have done in the past, plus a few new surprises on the way, and possibly even the odd guest joining me on the odd occasion. The plan is not to perform at the same venue twice throughout this period, so whatever venue you are hopefully thinking of coming to, it will be the last performance there – and I am taking this opportunity of thanking everyone and anyone who has supported me over the last 53 years!”

RICK WAKEMAN 2024
Additional U.S. Tour Dates

•Oct. 3 Tarrytown, NY Tarrytown Music Hall
• Oct. 4 Fairfield, CT SHU Community Theater
• Oct. 5 Rahway, NJ Union County Perf. Arts Center
• Oct. 6 Troy, NY Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
• Oct. 8 Falls River, MA Narrows Center
• Oct. 10 Rochester, NY The Theater at Innovation Square
• Oct. 11 Buffalo, NY Electric City
• Oct. 13 Kent, OH The Kent Stage
• Oct. 15 St. Charles, IL Arcada Theater
• Oct. 17 St. Paul, MN Fitzgerald Theatre
• Oct. 19 Milwaukee, WI South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center
• Oct. 20 St. Louis, MO The Sheldon
• Oct. 22 Phoenix, AZ Music Instrument Museum
• Oct. 24 Dallas, TX Longhorn Ballroom
• Oct. 26 Houston, TX The Heights Theater
• Oct. 28 Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse
• Oct. 31 Durham, NC Carolina Theatre of Durham – Fletcher Hill Auditorium
• Nov. 2 Landsdowne, PA Landowne Theater

Watch This Fantastic Bluegrass Rendition of Tears for Fears’ ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World’

Greenwood Rye delivered an unforgettable live performance of Tears for Fears’ classic hit, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” at Jane’s Hideaway in Nashville, TN. Their candid rendition captivated the audience, blending soulful vocals with the distinctive twang of bluegrass instruments. The intimate setting of Jane’s Hideaway provided the perfect backdrop for Greenwood Rye’s heartfelt interpretation, creating a memorable evening filled with musical resonance and genuine emotion.

Prime Video Sets August 1 Premiere for Creator-Driven ‘Influenced’ Talk Show from Candle Media’s Hello Sunshine and Amazon MGM

Today,  Prime Video announced it is releasing a ten-episode, content creator-led talk show, Influenced, from Candle Media’s Hello Sunshine and Amazon MGM Studios. The thirty-minute episodes will be co-hosted by popular social media personalities, Achieng Agutu, Eyal Booker, Tefi Pessoa, Taryn Delanie Smith, and Cyrus Veyssi. Influenced will premiere Thursday, August 1 exclusively on Prime Video in select territories.

Influenced is an evolution of the talk show format, bridging the gap between social media and TV, led by a panel of top content creators with varying spheres of influence and interest, and featuring subject matter experts whose businesses were built across mediums. Influenced encompasses all things lifestyle from food, fashion, home design, travel, and beauty to entertainment, popular culture, mental health, spirituality, and wellness.

“With our producing partner Hello Sunshine, we’re excited to refresh an enduring TV format,” says Lauren Anderson, head of AVOD originals unscripted and targeted programming, Amazon MGM Studios. “Blending what’s topical and relevant on social with what’s comforting and familiar about television, we can’t thank our partners, creators, and guests enough for joining us in this joyful and enlightening experiment.”

“Influenced is a blast! A show that perfectly combines the fun and relatable vibes of social media with the tips & takeaway of a 2024 version of a talk show,” said Sara Rea, Head of Unscripted Television at Hello Sunshine. “The hosts have so much chemistry – they will make you laugh, cry, and want to curl up on the couch with them, all in the span of a fast-paced half hour. In fact, some of the guests never wanted to leave, which speaks to the absolute joy that they bring to the screen.

54-40 Unveils Electrifying Live Version of “Ocean Pearl” Recorded at the Iconic El Mocambo

Legendary Canadian rock band 54-40 is thrilled to announce the release of their new digital single, a live version of their timeless hit “Ocean Pearl,” recorded at the historic El Mocambo. This release captures the raw energy and electrifying performance that fans have come to expect from 54-40, bringing the unforgettable experience of their live shows directly to listeners worldwide.

Recorded during a special performance at the El Mocambo, a venue known for hosting some of the most iconic names in music history, this live version of “Ocean Pearl” showcases 54-40’s dynamic performance, coupled with the unique ambiance of the El Mocambo, making this release a must-listen for fans and music enthusiasts alike.
“We’re excited to share this live recording of ‘Ocean Pearl’ from our show at the El Mocambo,” said Neil Osborne, lead vocalist of 54-40. “The energy that night was incredible, and we think this track really captures the magic of that room on that evening. We can’t wait for our fans on Canada Day
.”
54-40, known for their string of hit singles and enduring influence on the Canadian music scene, has consistently delivered powerful performances throughout their career. “Ocean Pearl,” one of the band’s most beloved tracks, originally released in 1994, has remained a fan favourite and a staple of their live sets.

This live version originally appeared on a limited vinyl only released on August 18, 2023. It is the first of the 54•40 Live at El Mocambo to be revealed on digital platforms. Now available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music here.

Back Alley Gospel Bid A Punk Farewell To The One That Got Away In “Old Flames”

Everybody remembers their first love. It just takes a streetwise punk outfit like Ontario’s Back Alley Gospel to see it for the exercise in futility it was.

That kind of clear-eyed reflection abounds on the band’s new single, “Old Flames,” which flashes back to the rosy period in a relationship when you can’t get enough of each other, the smiles come easy and everything is going right. You know, before it all gets shot to hell.

We used to hold hands in the heart of the city
And if I went down, you were right there with me
But you had bigger plans, wanted better things
And it took its toll on everything
This old flame was bound to burn out one of these days

“No matter how badly things ended, we all remember our old flame,” the band says. “The person we’d do anything for, who was there for you thick and thin, the spark that lit a fire inside of you. But we all grow up, grow older and our priorities change.”

The song, they explain, is meant to tell “the nostalgic story of reminiscing about that first special someone, from the records that you listened to in your formative years to the trouble you’d get into together. You both knew it would end one day, and while that inevitability doesn’t make the memory less bittersweet, you’ll always have a place for it in your heart.”

That’s the glass half-full version. Lyrics that acknowledge “The secrecy and shame/At the mention of your name/ Makes me feel like shit” point to something a little less centered. And thank God. Because it’s the dichotomy between sadder-but-wiser introspection and good old-fashioned bitterness that makes the track kick so hard. On the one hand, the relentlessly major-keyed melody line and chord pattern that vocalist/guitarist Trent White lays down are pure hand-holding pop-punk; on the other hand, there’s no mistaking the fury in the rhythm being slammed out by drummer Matt Bellissimo and bassist Jen Benton as they connect with the vehemence of the Pistols in their prime. Extra excitement comes from Jose Batista’s guitar leads, which revel in an almost rockabilly twang before exploding in a flurry of shred.

“Old Flames” is the first track to drop from the band’s upcoming four-song EP, their first release since their 2023 debut, Hold Up Your Head. They say the new record will follow the lead of the current single by being an unsparing exploration of defeat and its aftermath—a concept record about the realization that “failure is sometimes inescapable, but necessary for us to grow, change and become better people.”

It’s a philosophy near and dear to heart of this self-effacing people’s band, who admit freely that they only came to exist after a string of doomed projects in their native Toronto and Hamilton. Proudly presenting themselves as “no strangers to failure,” they know it’s their previous flameouts that have allowed them to properly hone their brand of anthemic, hook-driven punk.

But if their past was defined by falling down, their present is a study in standing tall. Come on in and learn how rewarding failure can be.

Singer-Songwriter Meïa Santiago Captivates and Empowers With Juicy New Single “Sexappeal”

Barcelona-born, New York City-based award-winning Spanish singer-songwriter Meïa Santiago draws on imagery of temptation and forbidden fruit in her seductive new single “Sexappeal” – available now.

Meïa teamed up with renowned music producer Morris Hayes, former music director and keyboardist for Prince, and “Sexappeal” offers a head-bopping blend of reggae, pop, and jazzy arrangements. Its hypnotic chorus – “Sex appeal, my sex appeal, I’ll give you something real” – evokes the enchantment of a Goddess Venus casting a spell over her lover.

Meanwhile, the accompanying music video features sultry choreography, as well as plenty of references to ripe apples – the forbidden fruit – for plenty of fun and, of course, a juicy burst of captivating sex appeal.

“The apple appears as the attribute of Venus, symbolizing her tempting tricks,” explains Meïa. “Inspired by the enchanting melody that appears in the lyrics, it is a tribute to the Venusian and erotic spirit of love.”

You can’t resist
This dance is so surreal
Once you’ve been kissed,
Tell me how you feel.

You can’t deny
Thoughts of me get you high
It’s driving you wild
let’s dance into the night

Following her previous single “I Can’t Stay Away From You,” which earned her an award at the Round the Globe Film and Music Festival (OR), Meïa joined forces with Clare Steffen, the festival’s director and founder. Together, they crafted “Sexappeal” to explore the empowering side of sensuality, creating a flirty and liberating vibe that allows anyone and everyone to embrace their seductive side with sass and total confidence.

“My work has always explored femininity and sensuality,” asserts Meïa. “I am eager to write music about love and passion through the lens of the feminine. I have taken many risks in my life, all heightened as a woman-identified artist. I have ventured into new genres, like experimental movement and acting, to strengthen my work and the stories I can relay about womanhood.”

With a prolific career as a music director and keyboardist for music legends like Prince, The Time, Maceo Parker, Mazarati, and Sheila E., Morris Hayes skillfully created a musical backdrop that perfectly complements the message of the song.

“My deep admiration for his work with Prince sparked the initial connection,” recalls Meïa. “Our collaboration kicked off through Zoom calls and email exchanges from a distance. Subsequently, I visited Morris’ studio to record vocals and keyboards. The final phase involved adding the musical elements, with some musicians hailing from Spain and others from the United States, forming an incredibly talented international band for this song.”

Meïa Santiago is an award-winning singer, songwriter, composer, and actor who started making music and a name for herself in Barcelona, Spain. After receiving her degree in Jazz and Modern Music Performance from ESEM Taller de Músics in Barcelona, she toured throughout Spain, building an audience and media buzz through her unique blend of musical genres.
She released several records including the EP Mülzien 25, which was produced by Dani Vega, guitarist of the Spanish pop rock band Mishima, and the album Lighthouse with Spanish record label Picap.

Meïa relocated to New York City in 2018 and has continued to push herself artistically through collaborations with city-based artists and at a wide range of legendary music venues including City Winery, DROM, Nublu, and Joe’s Pub. She has expanded her voice or composition skills by venturing into new genres, like experimental movement and acting, to strengthen her work and the stories she shares about womanhood.

Prog Rocker Martin Larose Scales New Heights On “Skyscraper Jumper”

When an artist has been in the game for three and a half decades, acathere’s often nowhere to go but down. And then there’s Saguenay, Quebec’s Martin Larose, whose elevator has instead landed him on a brand new floor with his latest album, Songs from the Kite, and its appropriately upward-facing first single, “Skyscraper Jumper.”

The album represents a self-admitted leap into the heavens of prog, folk and even pop for the Saguenay-based guitarist/songwriter, after years spent performing his fretboard gymnastics largely within the idioms of rock and blues. The evolution is especially apparent on “Skyscraper Jumper,” which has the airy, dizzying feel of climbing to the roof of the tallest building you can find and daring to look down.

Musically speaking, the track is a sight less guitar-oriented than one might expect of a player who was inspired by Michael Hedges and Eddie Van Halen and only recently released a solo acoustic rendition of “The Spirit of Radio” by Rush. This one is more of an equal blend of guitars, keys, atmospheric electronics, and ethereal vocals—a mix that perfectly matches the heady lyrics Larose has concocted with co-writer Qual Ix (the nom de plume of emerging Canadian artist Felix Dionne):

Fifty stories, then fifty more
Concrete tower as a sky door
Grasp the star light with your feet
Taking the clouds as a seat
If you were told you could fly
Would you jump from the skyscraper?
If you knew you couldn’t die
Would you jump from the skyscraper?
The acrophobics are going to have a field day.

“Songs from the Kite is the album I have always wanted to create,” LaRose says. “It represents everything I have developed over a career spanning 35 years, both in terms of my craft as a guitar player and as a songwriter.”

To help him realize his vision, he’s pulled in collaborations from all over. Future single “I Laid Low” features the legendary British bassist Tony Franklin (who’s played with Jimmy Page both solo and in The Firm) and German singer Ben Jud (of The Martin Miller Band), hammering away at a number Larose co-wrote with Canadian lyricist Nath Farley. There are also compositional team-ups with British lyricist Roger Penkethman and a cover of “Accordingly” by the late Texas blues rocker Chris Whitley.

“Chris’s massive legacy has always been close to my heart, and this particular song has always stayed with me,” Larose says. “It’s my tribute from up North.”

Speaking of “up North,” the album’s title doesn’t refer to kite flying as an actual hobby, but rather to the Saguenay-Lake St. John area LaRose hails from, the geography of which makes it resemble an upside-down kite. The title is also a metaphor for “finally taking off and flying after years of struggling,” he reveals.

It’s interesting to hear him refer to the past as a struggle, when anyone else looking at his résumé might only see achievement. A musician since the age of 7, Larose studied classical guitar and double bass at the Chicoutimi Conservatory of Music. His skills were soon being hailed everywhere from the pages of Guitar World magazine to the International Guitar Show in Quebec, where he became a regular guest artist.

Over the years, he has been a warmly welcomed presence at jazz and blues festivals and shared stages with the likes of Richard d’Anjou (Too Many Cooks), Matt Starr and Fred St-Gelais. And he’s made eight studio albums, including the new one and its predecessor, 2021’s NORTH.
When he isn’t recording or performing his own material, Larose’s dedication to music education and production has epitomized the plaudit “works well with others.” He founded an arts-and-crafts program at a local school that became the talk of Quebec, and from his own Studio Septentrio—a state-of-the-art recording facility in Jonquière that he co-owns with his spouse— he continues to produce albums for artists from Canada and Europe. His mentorship work includes training and recording Jeanick Fournier, last year’s winner of Canada’s Got Talent.

Peer relationships are important to him too, as he showed when he collaborated with Glenn Lévesque of the Montreal Guitar Trio on “Boreal Ritual.” And he’s done it all while hosting and performing on the show Studio Boréal on MAtv.

Right now, though, his focus is on Songs from the Kite and the stratospheric achievement it represents. “Throughout my career, I have explored guitar pyrotechnics, acoustic music, rock and blues,” Larose says, “but this album is the best representation of who I am as a musician, songwriter and producer.” In other words, onward and upward.

JUNO Award Winner Kellylee Evans Conveys Reflection and Healing on New EP ‘Show Love’

Within her newest musical effort, JUNO award-winning singer, songwriter and motivational speaker Kellylee Evans expresses a newfound level of self-reflection. Through addicting jazz compositions and her powerful expression of soul, Evans’ new six-track EP Show Love exemplifies her signature sound while taking her artistry to new heights.

Over the course of 18 months, Evans worked with producer and collaborator Michael Shand. According to Evans, Show Love displays a lesson in patience and taking life as it comes. Regarding the EP’s recording process with Shand, Evans says, “Different things would arise for each of us, requiring us to put aside the project and tend to what was most important in our lives. But we would each keep coming back to the project with a renewed sense of passion and wonder for what we were working on.”

This dedication and wonder is evident within the project. Show Love is a reflection of the journey that Evans has taken thus far as she looks back on her identity as a mother as well as her own childhood. Having lost her mother to cancer in 1999, Show Love is heavily influenced by Evans’s deeper understanding of her mother and their relationship.

“It’s a love letter to my mom to say that I finally get it,” Evans says.

Through her iconic sound – a captivating infusion of jazz, soul, funk, R&B and hip-hop – Evans not only expresses her contemplation of her youth and family relationships, but she conveys every aspect of her identity in a way that is raw, unapologetic and deeply relatable.

“This is an album of reflecting back on those times both musically but also conceptually, coming to terms with my feelings about growing up wanting to succeed and make my parents proud and my journey to find true love at any cost. This album is me, in all my shame and glory. And if the early feedback is any indication, listeners are finding themselves in these stories as well. The message is universal.”

The EP as a whole is a diverse and well-rounded body of work as it utilizes both fast tempos and slow beats equally and effectively. The title track contains a sensual and addicting musicality as Evans finally admits that she is now ready to show love in her life. With Shand arranging and playing instruments on every song on the record, Evans says Show Love wouldn’t have been complete without his influence.

“He’s the secret sauce of this album, and such a vital contributor,” Evans says. “This album, to me, also reflects the music of my childhood, of growing up in the ’80s and ’90s: house, soul, and a Caribbean vibe that goes through all of it. Michael is so amazing, he captured it perfectly.”

Whether it’s romance, motherhood or catharsis, Kellylee Evans offers a range of emotions and reflection on the six songs that comprise Show Love. Her impeccable and versatile vocals meticulously deliver the emotions of each song with vivid imagery and insightful lyricism, and listeners are able to find a deeper understanding and healing for themselves just as Evans expresses for herself within her artistry.

Show Love Track Listing:
Friends
Show Love
Shelter in the Storm
Now
Holy
Higher

Kellylee Upcoming Tour Dates:

July 26, 2024 – Stratford Summer Music – Friday Night Live – Stratford, ON
July 29, 2024 – Carleton University Jazz Camp Ottawa, ON
August 24, 2024 – Port Hope Jazz Festival – Port Hope, ON
September 27, 2024 – Old Mill – Toronto, ON
November 29, 2024 – Women’s Blues Revue – Toronto, ON
December 7, 2024 – National Arts Centre – Ottawa, ON
December 12, 2024 – Salle Bourgie, PQ
December 13, 2024 – Hugh’s Room Live – Toronto, ON
December 14, 2024 – Hugh’s Room Live – Toronto, ON
February 22, 2025 – Aurora Cultural Centre – Aurora, ON

London’s Acoustic Heavy Rockers Treading Zero Celebrates The Battle Well Fought On “Brittle”

There’s determination, and then there’s outright naïveté. Nobody could ever accuse London, ON’s acoustic heavy rock outfit Treading Zero of the latter; on their new single, “Brittle,” they put a tight bear hug on the former. And when they finally let go, what they’re left holding is a powerful affirmation of resilience and growth.

Making a sound as muscular as you can get on instruments that are acoustic with no distortion, the band forcefully advances the gospel that every setback is an opportunity for personal development, strength and reflection. Toughness of spirit gets top marks in a number that takes us listeners on an emotional journey from feeling trapped and overwhelmed by life’s challenges to finding emancipation through self-discovery and perseverance. It’s a stirring paean to the universal human experience of overcoming adversity and emerging a hardier soul on the other side.

Yes, but what’s it about, specifically? Now that’s a little harder to pin down. Ask the band once, and they’ll tell you “Brittle” is “a personal testament to our own journey,” with words that synthesize the players’ shared experiences. Ask again, and they’ll say they drew direct inspiration from a close friend’s remarkable return from the brink of death. But that deliberate haziness is perfectly in keeping with the song’s craftily ambiguous lyrics, which forgo concrete scenarios and character I.D.s for imagery anyone who’s ever had to struggle can take to heart:

I’m sifting through this cold embrace
Coping with the pain inside
I’m breaking through the core, encased
Knowing there’s no place to hide
You rise from the fall

The starkly poetic sentiment benefits from band’s stripped-down approach to arrangement, with singer Tony Nouragas’ hyper-dramatic vocals ricocheting over a repeated guitar figure that gradually imparts a state of true hypnosis. It’s perfect music for those who harbor fond memories of the acoustic Alice in Chains EPs (or just haven’t gotten over the absence of Days of the New).

The recording process amounted to its own study in “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” The band tracked the various parts to “Brittle” in three different studios in Goderich, London, and St. Thomas before sending the entire package to Toronto for mixing and mastering. Jesse Vallee’s drums and Rob Butterwick’s guitars were recorded at Beach Road Studios in Goderich by longtime band friend and collaborator Siegfried Meier, in a large tracking room overlooking the stunning Lake Huron sunsets. Brandon Sennema’s bass lines were captured in London by another old friend, producer/engineer Aaron Murray (who also helped assemble secondary guitar takes from the Goderich session). Finally, Nouragas laid down his vocals for recordist Chris Costa at Conjure Recording Studio in St. Thomas (where some more secondary guitar parts were also added).

The track was mixed in Toronto by Ian Bodzasi (Katy Perry, Sam Roberts, The Tea Party) and mastered by João Carvalho (Alexis on Fire, Protest the Hero, Sloan), the latter of whom has done the mastering on every one of Treading Zero’s recordings.

It fell to guitarist Butterwick to oversee the various stages of production, relying on the organizational skills he’s honed in his full-time job as an advertising producer/multimedia specialist to corral and coordinate the various studios and engineers.

Fortunately, the members of Treading Zero will have no trouble being in one place at one time when they play a quartet of upcoming shows, each of them absolutely free to attend:

July 27: London, ON – FitzRay’s (with Jupiter Hollow)
Aug. 16: St. Thomas, ON – Railway City Music Festival, Pinafore Park

The group has been positively awash in such honors recently: On May 26, they performed at Collective Arts Brewing in Hamilton, ON, as a finalist in the It’s Your Festival New Music Expo Challenge. And they were also a finalist in the recent Forest City London Music Awards, in the fan category of Favourite Artist. Seems this “overcoming hardship” business is awfully popular with the public and the powers-that-be alike. Stay strong, fellas. It looks good on you.

Saltwater Hank’s Siip’nsk: Preserving Tradition and Rocking Out To Preserve The Sm’algya̱x Language

When we were young and naïve, we used to think rock and roll could save the world. The jury’s still out on that one, but in the meantime, there’s every reason to believe it can win battles that are smaller but no less urgent.

That’s become the musical mission of Saltwater Hank, the Indigenous roots artist whose new album, Siip’nsk, continues his quest to preserve the Sm’algya̱x language in song. The mother tongue of the Ts’msyen people of Hank’s native La̱x Kxeen a.k.a Prince Rupert, BC. Now here comes Siip’nsk. With every syllable sung in Sm’algya̱x and the music seamlessly interweaving traditional Ts’msyen words and melodies with the instrumental moves of classic rock and blues, the album will find its home by slipping it into the ears of listeners far and wide.

“I care a lot about our language, with there being around 60 fluent speakers remaining, and none of those speakers are under the age of 70,” Hank says. “It’s such a tremendous part of who we are as Ts’msyen people, how we see the world, how we interact with our environment. So that has become a part of me. Through reclaiming the language, I reclaim identity, and by having it be a huge part of my creative process, I get to express that.”

Single “Xgap’isgu” doesn’t rely just on the Sm’algya̱x language, but on one of its specific idiomatic expressions to get the point across. Hank’s rockin’ trio sink their teeth into an old-school rave-up that makes the most of a somewhat eyebrow-raising bit of inherited phraseology.

“‘Xgap’isgu’ means ‘I eat the berries right off the bush,’” Hank explains. “I get a lot of enjoyment from using words that take an entire sentence in English to describe what they mean.”

To wit:
G̱a̱ni wila xga̱p’isgu
(I’m continuously eating berries from off the bush)
Txa̱l ga̱bu na iimg̱u
(I’m almost eating my whiskers)
Dzida hoyag̱ida sg̱a̱n smmaay ‘nüün
(If you were like a blueberry bush)
Ksa duulayu dm hoyu ada wayi hagwil dm güültu
(My tongue is all I’d use, and well, I’m going to pick slowly)

Well, alrighty then! Talk about knowing your way around a native tongue.

Saltwater was born in La̱x Kxeen, with bloodlines stemming from Txałgiiw, Maxłaxaała & Gitwangak. From early on, he was drawn to the stories and traditions of Ts’msyen life. With the legacy of his great-great-grandmother—a revered songwriter of traditional songs—to guide him, he set out on his own journey to preserve the purity of the Ts’msyen musical heritage.

The more recent stages of that odyssey have seen him studying the language in earnest, getting ever more comfortable with its rich vocabulary and evocative idioms. His last album, 2023’s G̱al’üünx Wil Lu Holtga Liimi, was also sung entirely in Sm’algya̱x, but it was a more country-oriented affair that was often tagged as “Americana” as it racked up strong notices from the likes of The Guardian, No Depression and (natch) Americana Highways. Hank has become even more fluent in the language since then, helping solidify the “precontact” authenticity of his presentation; at the same time, his music has gotten even more accessible. “Xgap’isgu” shakes the walls in a punked-out fashion that’s bound to captivate listeners who don’t speak a word, which, as we’ve established, means just about everybody. The amped-up garage energy of the track is taken to the next level by the fluidity of some skittering, frenetic lead guitar.

Like the rest of the album, the song was recorded live “off the floor” of the studio, with all of the instrumentation and even the vocals going down in real time. That strategy has made for a vibrant document of the airtight interplay between guitarist-vocalist Hank, drummer Danny Bell (a Minnesota-born resident of the Lheidli T’enneh territory who’s played with him since 2012) and bassist Melissa Walker of Prince George, making her swan-song appearance as a member of the trio.

A fearlessly straightforward approach lends itself to the stage, which is where the Saltwater Hank trio are headed this summer to show off their new material in earnest—and to provide some fresh storytelling opportunities for their frontman, who’s quite the raconteur no matter what language he’s speaking in.

One thing’s for sure: You’ll never have a better time helping somebody keep his lineage alive. “I feel like I have a responsibility to pass it on,” Hank says. “That’s what all the elders say, that’s how it’s been since time immemorial. I feel lucky to be able to be a vessel for song. I feel like it’s not really me that’s behind all the songs that have come out of me; there’s something bigger that I am fortunate to be a part of.”

2024 Tour Dates:
July 12-14 – Arts on The Fly Festival, Horsefly, BC
July 17 – Omineca, Prince George, BC
July 18 – Performances in the Park, Williams Lake, BC
July 19-21 – Bella Coola Music Festival, Bella Coola, BC
July 26-28 – Kispiox Valley Music Festival, Hazelton, BC
July 31 – Souris Hall, Souris, PEI
Aug. 2-4 – Sappy Fest, Sackville, NB
Aug. 9 – The Union Café, Berwick, NS
Aug. 10 – The Buffalo Club, Dartmouth, NS
Aug. 11 – Gus’ Pub, Halifax, NS
Aug. 16-18 – Robson Valley Music Festival, Dunster, BC
Aug. 30 – Quadrapalooza, Quadra Island, BC
Sept. 1 – Sunshine Fest, Powell River, BC

1...767778...2,065Page 77 of 2,065
That Eric Alper
6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week, a 16-time JUNO Award winner overseeing PR campaigns, and have also been truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

POPULAR POSTS

POPULAR CATEGORY

© Copyright That Eric Alper