Wednesday 26 September 2012

Insomnia Radio Canada: Show #2

That's right folks I couldn't wait until October to put out show two!  Two weeks.  That's all I could wait.  

Insomnia Radio Show #2

This show is jam packed full of good tunes!


Ophilia Syndrome

To quote from their web site: 
Ophelia Syndrome is a unique blend of rock, folk, and jazz with a pop sensibility. Hailing from Hamilton, Cambridge, and Toronto ON, OS formed in the winter of 2002, when Trina Nadeau (cello) and Deanna Wells (vocals, and keyboards) met during their studies in the Mohawk College Music Performance program. In 2007 Adrian McFarlane, and Josh Kohler filled out the lineup on drums, bass, and backing vocals.
In 2008, the band entered Catherine North Studios to record their “Shades of Grey” EP with the late Dan Achen and Michael Chambers. In the vein of the singer-songwriter,”Shades of Grey” showcased the bands rare instrumentation, powerful vocals, and seemless ability to traverse and blend genres into their own sound. The EP was released May 2009 and spent 4 weeks on C101 Top 30. OS embarked on several small tours of Southern Ontario in support of the EP, visiting Ottawa, Kingston, Peterborough, Kitchener, Guelph, and Waterloo, as well as playing regular shows in Hamilton, Oakville, and Toronto. OS also appeared at The Cambridge Arts Festival, and as a headliner at The Art of Sound Festival in 2010. Due to the success of ‘Shades of Grey’, OS succesfully fan-funded their debut full length album “All Things Forgotten” through Sellband.com, raising approximately $16,000 in support of the album. The band is a regular top 5 artist on sellaband.com, allowing OS to gain fans globally in Brazil, The UK, France, Germany, Austrailia, New Zealand, and most notably the Netherlands. With hundreds of new expetent fans, 2 years of refined new material, and the addition of Andrew Barbisan on guitar, lap steel, and backing vocals, OS approached ‘all things forgotten’ as a chance to reinvent their experimental sound to deliver a truly memorable album. Blending male and female vocal harmonies, vintage organ, Wurlitzer, and Rhodes keyboards, strings, lap steel, and even muted trumpted performed by Loretta Hale on Long Wait, “all things forgotten” has a haunting and timeless texture. Recorded and co-produced by Michael Chambers at Catherine North, the album was released in Europe in the autumn of 2011, and was followed by the bands first European tour in the Summer of 2012.
I quite enjoyed this group.  Exchanging emails with them before I recorded the show.  They were fantastic to work with and co-ordante things with and I would happily play new material from them if they send it!

Songs

  • Passing time
  • Long Wait

Spring Tour Dates:
  • 13 March 2013. Montreal, Quebec. Details To be announced.
  • 14 March 2013. Ottawa, Ontario. The Elmdale House Tavern. 1084 Wellington Street West. With Amanda Cottreau. 9:30. PWYC. 19+.



Delhi 2 Dublin

To quote the bio on their page: After all…where else are you going to see a kick-ass fiddle player rocking out with a kilt-wearing Korean flanked by two bouncing Bhangra percussionists and a vocalist who looks like he would be at home in a Bollywood music video?
I first heard this band on a TV show, Lost Girl during season season 1 I believe.  If your from Canada you can watch past episodes on their web site.  They also have a full listing on music that has been played on the show.

The band:

  • Tarun Nayar – tabla, electronics
  • Sara Fitzpatrick – fiddle
  • Sanjay Seran – vox
  • Andrew Kim – electric sitar, guitar
  • Ravi Binning – dhol

Songs

  • Master Crowly
  • Tommy

Discography:

  • 2008 – Delhi 2 Dublin
  • 2009 – Remixed
  • 2010 – Planet Electric
  • 2011 – Planet: Electrified
  • 2011 – Delhi 2 Dubland
  • 2012 – Turn Up the Stereo

The Town Heroes

Location Halifax, Nova Scotia, Ca

Songs:

  • Shadowman
  • I’ll think about it
Quoting the info page on their web site: The Town Heroes are a Halifax based alt-rock power duo crafting catchy, lyrical, hard-hitting and anthemic songs that sound like a party you wish you were at.  I really wish these guys had more on their web page.  

Panicland

Panicland is a pop punk band from East Kildonan in Winnipeg, Manitoba consisting of Braedon Horbacio, Jason Cumming, and Ian Willmer, all 16 years of age. They first got together in 2007 through a music program at Marschell’s Music. I could hear influences in their music that I would wager came from Greeen Day.  I think these boys have potential and look forward to seeing what they can come up with next. 

Songs

  • Don’t Pretend I’m not useless
  • Look At That

The Natural Shocks

I really couldn't find much out there about this group.  (Hint hint boys, update your sites).  

Members

Jim, Jeff & Andrew

Songs

  • Change
  • Daydream

All Else Fails

From: Edmonton Alberta
BARRETT KLESKO: Vocals, Guitars, Programming
SEEDY MITCHELL: Bass, Vocals
MIKE SANDS: Guitar
SHANE TYM: Drums
To quote their website:
Socially conscious, lyrically poetic, rife with apocalyptic symbolism; All Else Fails is poised to take our world by storm. Playing an aggressively dark blend of Punk, Metal, and Rock, this well established Edmonton based band breaks the traditional ideals of their genre by producing music infused with experimental elements, incorporating Classical music, Electronica influenced synth lines, and spoken word sampling. This is metal for a new audience, one that’s ready for what’s beyond the ordinary.

Songs

  • Seminol Wind
  • I don’t Wanna be me

Two Crown King

Goodchild, Ajay, Scotty, Pat, Jer, and Dick
These guys are from London Ontario.  I discovered them in the spring of 2012, when I mentioned hunting for new indie type bands to a class mate at Fanshawe College.  They had many tour dates this summer and sadly I did not make it to a single show!  I have played some of their songs on the Justin Wayne Show over the summer, and Justin liked this one tune that he played it again.  It's catchy, and I love closing the show with a bang.
Free album on web site

Song

  • We Get Down
So that folks is show number two.   I'd love to get feedback.  I know there's a few sound issues, and I'm still working on those..... And as always I'm looking for more bands, more songs, and working on the next show.


Podcasting: being Organized?

Question for all the podcasters out there.  

How do you stay organized?    

How do you keep track of who you have played and which songs?

Having just recorded IR Canada show #2 I'd like to figure this out before I get too far in.

Thursday 20 September 2012

IR Canada Show #1

How exciting!  The first show has been recorded and posted!  Total recording time was just under an hour.

Want to see the IR Canada web site?  Go Here
Want to see just Episode #1? Go Here
Want to follow IR Canada on Twitter Go Here

For Episode #1 I featured six different bands and eleven songs!

First up I played two tracks by Pigeon Park.  They're from Vancouver British Columbia. (The most western province in Canada).  The band was formed in 2008.  Band members include Nick Weber on vocals, Kevin Okabe on guitar, Logan Pacholok on guitar and vocals, Arthur Leppart on Bass and Hunter Elliott on Drums.
Their Debut Record "The Sun" was released in 2010.  They had submitted track to the main show, and one of their tracks was played on Insomnia Radio Daily Dose.  I enjoyed their music, and didn't let them being featured on the Daily Dose stop me from playing them.

Band: 
Pigeon Park
Song: 
Love Light
Figure


Up Next I played a more solo artist.   Matthew is from Hamilton Ontario.  The tracks I played were from his most recent record "Colour Film".  This was his third album.  His debut album was released in 2006. 

Band:
Matthew de Zoete
Song:
The Good Life
Going No Where


Up next was the band Unlikely Hero.  They're from Orangville Ontario.  These guys also submitted track to the main show.  I went out and found them on a few sites, and checked them out for myself, but after listening to their tracks there was no way I could not play them. 
The band includes: Sean Emo on Guitar, Piano and Voclas.  Tyler Emo on Lead Guitar, Nathan McMahon on Bass, and Dawson Noble on Drums.  
The band was formed in 2009 by Sean and Tyler and Nathan & Dawson joined them in the summer of 2012.  

If you're in the Barrie area September 27 2912 please wander out to the Barrie fall fair!  Show the band some support as they perform at the battle of the bands! 

Band
Unlikely Hero
Song
Welcome to The Good Life
Unlikely Hero

With this next track I got to feature it's debut on any podcast.  I came across this track on Facebook, where Shane's mom kept reposing it as she was that proud of what her son had written.  Shane is 17 and has been playing music since he was 3.  He's from Stratford Ontario, and currently still in Highschool.  Shane wrote the music, and lyrics for this song, as well as played the guitar and sung the song himself.  I have no doubt that if Shane were to write more, I'd play his music.  

Band
Brydges
Artist
Shane
Song
Fighter

Up next I played a group that I had played on The Justin Wayne Show. They're from Richmond British Columbia. I have enjoyed their entire first album, and as always with them, had a hard time picking two songs that fit with this show. 
The band formed in May of 2008.  There are 4 band members.  Alvin Man on lead vocals, keys and rhythm guitar, Angelo Yue on lead guitar & back up vocals, Andrew Choy on bass and Manuel Lee on Drums.  With the first song Puppet I loved how the song started with simple piano, and then added in vocals.  Then drums... I really liked how they layered and built up the song.  Yet keeping it mostly simple.  The guirtar and bass join in and it just flowed naturally.  

Band
Chasing Eidolon
Song
You Can't Have Everything CC Hits Vote for this Track

Automatic Toys is a Duo, based out of Toronto Ontario.  Nachum Peterseil and Yasha Gruzman.  The formed their heavy rock electronic sounding group in 2008. Their Debut EP was released in 2001.  They too had submitted their track to the main IR show.  I listened to the two tracks they sent in about a week before I recorded the show and have not been able to get Dancing with the Devil out of my head yet!  It's not often I get a song stuck in my head like that.  It even made it's way onto my play list for when I go out jogging.  It's the new "power song" that gets me moving.  I would love to be able to see these two live.  

Band
Automatic Toys
Song
Deep Sleep
Dancing With The Devil

And that's it for the first show!  I had a goal of about 1 hour record time and came in just under that.  I plan to make this a monthly show, with each show being around one hour in length.  As always I'm happy to review track or albums from ANY Canadian artist regardless of Genre of music. 

You can drop off your track to:  chris  at  insomniaradio  dot  net 

Please include a band bio, and a statement that you are giving me permission to play those tracks! 

Monday 10 September 2012

Insomnia Radio Canada




That's right folks!  Insomnia Radio Canada ! Yes, I have joined the IR family and will be doing my own regional show.  The plan is to have a monthly one hour show featuring all Canadian content.   Though down the road I reserve the right to consider doing the show more often.


When's the first show?   Well, being as I've picked up a cold that has killed my voice for the past 12+ hours, I'll be recording it as soon as I can get it back.  In the mean time, soon as I have my college homework done (setting up 4 Vm's (windows web and mail server & an ex client, and then two database servers - to specks for the class), I will be seeing what music I have, and searching for some more!



Canadian Musicians and Bands can submit their music to me via: chris at insomniaradio dot net

In the mean time, check out The Justin Wayne Show and see what content I provided there.

Sunday 2 September 2012

Podcasting Tools?

Okay, this is more of a bunch of questions... directed towards other podcasters.

What tools do you use?   What would you recommend?   What tools would you tell others to avoid?

We currently only Have windows based PC's in our house.   No mac, no linux.  (I know I know....)....

I'm not having any big issues finding music....  I'm on Jamendo, Soundcloud and reverbnation.  I listen to other podcasts.


So far I've been keeping it small...  5 to 10 songs most times when I do stuff for Justin Wayne's show.  I've been using my Iphone voice memo to record vocal bits.   It was all I had starting out.

I'm trying to explore all options before settling on any decision.   It's not like I have a time limit and have to start this today!