2009: A Musical Odyssey

by Bob Bryden

In what we hope will be an ongoing series of guest columnists drawn from the actual Canadian music talent pool, we hereby introduce you to Bob Bryden.

Bob has had an extensive career in Canada as a member of Reign Ghost in the 1960s, Christmas/Spirit Of Christmas in the 1970's, Benzene Jag and Age of Mirrors in the 1980s, and a prolific solo artist over the last 20 years.

Currently, Bob is still out tearing up clubs and the byways of the Trans-Canada Highway. Here's a snippet of his Road Journal from earlier in August:

______________________

Thursday, Aug.6: Saw me at Club Absinthe in Hamilton, Ontario to see Electroluminescent with Flowers of Hell and Dog Bless You (from France). Electroluminescent’s set was melodically towering ending in a blaze of righteous volatility and guitar-busting-discordance! (Don’t expect this at every show!)

Friday, Aug. 7: The evening was spent at the Metropolis in Montreal, Quebec listening to the alternately airy and scary textures of Quebec’s own Karkwa. Opening act Marie-Pierre Arthur was an absolute revelation! Both sets featured duets between Marie-Pierre and Karkwa’s lead vocalist. The Metropolis was packed to the elbows with (justifiably) adoring Karkwa fans.

Saturday, Aug. 8: The ante was upped at day three of Wild Wooly Week-end (3 day psychedelic music festival!!) My cohorts on 2007’s 'Reign Ghost/Christmas Revival' shows, The Saffron Sect, gave us an absolutely glistening set at Theatre Plaza – truly remarkable. It was their shining hour for sure and it was worth the trip just to be there for this set. The Saffrons shared the bill that night with The Electric Prunes (3 original members); LOVE (two original members but sadly minus ‘the voice’ – the late Arthur Lee) - I guess that's why they cancelled; The Higher State; The Sunday Sinners; Fortune & Maltese; and the Phabulous Pallbearers. All the bands were great. Spent Saturday Afternoon at the Record Fair and had a nice chat with Bongo Beat’s Ralph Alfonso, met Wild and Wooly Festival organizers Matt Fiorentino and Oliver Besner (The Teenbeat Takeover Production Company) and also caught Montreal’s own, Sonic Avenues. The Avenues play really tight, aggressive, melodic-psych-punk.

Monday, Aug. 10: The evening was spent at the home of P572 records in Quebec City. Had a great late night chat with P572 owner-founder, Sam Murdock and label Chat Blanc’s Pascal Asselyn. We laughed and talked music ‘biz’ madness and made a tentative plan for me to visit and record an EP in Quebec sometime in the future. Sam and Pascal will be touring in October under one of their many band names, Oromocto Diamond.

Now I'm just sitting here trying to digest and assimilate all this musical magic...

These are my latest music meanderings….
Most not expected or even planned in advance…
Just going with the flow…as the flow reveals itself.

I’m also on quite a song-writing-roll these days. Trying to decide which of the 25 or so new song ideas I’ve concocted since October 2008 are any good.

Remember – you can always check on my latest doings at http://www.bobbryden.com by clicking on ‘for my next trick’ at the bottom of the home page.

SUREFIRE MACHINE GUITARIST’S SECOND ATTEMPT TO PULL A JACKASS

(with notes and pictures by Jon Asher)

Following the postponement of Surefire Machine guitarist Zeke's history-making stunt at Edmonton’s Sky Dive Center on July 4th due to uncooperative weather and stolen camera gear, August 11th was set for Zeke to go through with his own version of a Jackass stunt by jumping out of a plane at 11,000 feet while getting tattooed.

Earlier guitarist Zeke Galt had this to say about the announcement: “The hype surrounding this stunt has been insane and the pressure’s been building,” admits guitarist Zeke. “There’s no backing out now, but I’m completely stoked to see what happens - and to see what’s probably going to be the world’s shakiest tattoo,” he laughs.

As planned, on August 11th, Galt took off from the Edmonton Skydive Center and proceeded with the historic feat of the first tandem freefall tattoo at 11,000 ft.

"I have to admit I'm relieved it's over and that it worked out according to plan, almost. But one failed attempt ain't that bad when you think I got to break a North American and a world record - I'd say that's a pretty sweet accomplishment," commented Zeke after the jump and laughed, "This is one story I'll be telling at parties for a really, really long time!"

Click on the pic for the video

As part of SFM’s “Sinnin’ and Grinnin’” tour the tattoo jump, as explained by Zeke, reflects the band’s motto in its entirety: “It's simple - SFM's motto is "Have a Good Time, All the Time" and that's exactly what I'm doing."

Currently revving their engines, Surefire Machine are on their third cross-Canadian escapade, perfectly titled the "Sinnin’ & Grinnin’" tour, to promote their self titled EP.

www.myspace.com/surefiremachine

ALEXISONFIRE GETS STIFF DURING VIDEO SHOOT

'Noise Creep' magazine reports that Alexisonfire got a surprise during the filming of their video "Young Cardinals" while on location at Niagara Falls recently. A dead body washed up in the water during the filming!

Read Karen Bliss's full acount here:
http://www.noisecreep.com/2009/07/23/dead-body-surfaces-during-alexisonfire-video-shoot/

MUSIC FAN LAUNCHES ARCHIVE TO THE LEGACY OF CASSETTE TAPERS

Here's a manifesto from 'The Living Archive' curator Don Campau:

"This is my personal overview and perspective of the underground music scene, or “cassette culture” as it has come to be known. This musical and sociological movement hit its stride in the early 1980s through the 1990s with home recording musicians trading tapes, being reviewed in a few small magazines and getting occasional airplay on various radio programs. In this pre-internet time, it was a community of unknown artists exchanging their creations through the regular mail and discussing, criticizing and supporting each others work and becoming friends and collaborators in many cases.

Being a home taper and radio DJ gave me a unique vantage point during this period. I traded thousands of my own tapes, broadcast countless home recording musicians and became acquaintances and friends with many. I even ended up marrying a home taping musician from the other side of the country.

I have not attempted to give a complete history of this movement but will filter it through my own experiences and memories. I will try to “connect the dots” with what I have seen and heard along the way. I will also enlist others to help out and describe their own experiences. This isn’t about me but I cannot think of another way to do this except by telling my own story.
This is not a fancy web site with spinning things or elaborate graphics. This web site will always be a work in progress, something that keeps growing, expanding and hopefully, informing along the way. And although this is mainly about a narrow but important slice of history from the past, I won’t ignore the present and the projects people do now.

http://www.doncampau.com/livingarchive.htm

Sugar Moon Music Inc., and its publishing affiliate Sugar Moon Publishing, is pleased to announce the launch of its publishing and licensing pages. An important part of the long term strategy for the company, company president, Margaret Dinsdale is hopeful that this will broaden the opportunities for the artists on her roster.

"I am honoured to be entrusted with the work of the amazing artists I've signed," she said. "The quality of the music we are presenting is very high, and with a diversity of genres and sound. We have songs with great hooks and wonderful lyrics, we have instrumentals that are full of character. These artists all astound me with their talent and dedication."

True to it's mission statement [see below], Sugar Moon presents a range of music, Latin, jazz, world, blues, roots, rock, all of it suitable for film, television, games and more. There is also quality material suitable for publishing for those looking for cover material. Many of the artists are award-winners and many have experience writing commissions.

"We still have some tweaking to do with the site, but the music, the important part in all this, is there, ready for people to listen," Dinsdale says. "And we have more artists we are currently talking with, so everyone can expect even more great music."

http://biz.sugarmoonmusic.com/

Sugar Moon Mission Statement:
"Sugar Moon Music Inc. is a new music label with an affiliated publishing company. Its focus is to present and obtain distribution of a diverse roster of entertaining and professional performers, songwriters, and composers. The genres include Jazz, World Music, Folk/Roots and Rock. Sugar Moon is committed to seeking not only the best but those with truly unique voices."

Last Updated on Wednesday, 23 September 2009 00:48