Tuesday Tunes

Wayne Petti
"Here Is My Heart"
I've heard people ask, "Why is Wayne Petti putting out a solo album?" Yes, I have heard people ask that. Well, it's for songs like this. This song, as well as the rest of the songs on his album City Lights Align, wouldn't fit on a Cuff The Duke album. The acoustic has been brought out while the electric sits in it's case. This isn't a new idea, musicians have been doing it for years. But how many of them do it well? Go have a listen, you won't be disappointed.

Tuesday Tunes

My Research with Dolphins
"Wooden Sky"
This is a cover of a Friday Morning's Regret song, but it's been taken in a completely different direction than the original. The gentle strumming of a banjo has been replaced by harsh guitar chords and electronic beats. I'm really diggin' this, as well as the rest of the stuff up on My Research with Dolphins' MySpace. Go on and listen to it, you may recognize the voice.

B.A. Johnston

B.A. Johnston is an entertainer who travels across this great country singing his stories to whoever will listen. I recently approached him at a show and asked him some questions:

How long have you been playing shows?
B.A: I think I did my first show in 1993, but it was under a different name.

What name was that?
B.A: Me Against the World. It was huge, as you can tell.

On your MySpace page it says your music is, "nerd rock at its highest point." What does that mean?
B.A: It means I am number one at nerd rock. I am the pinnacle.

Who else falls into the nerd rock genre?
B.A: The Tiny Tim guy, who did that "Tiptoe Through The Tulips" song with the ukulele, maybe? I dunno, maybe there isn't any more, I've cornered the market.

So you're nerd rock defined?
B.A: [laughing] Yes, definitive.

You really seem to have a good time on stage, who do you think has more fun: you or the audience?
B.A: I hate every moment I perform. When people are like at Burger King and they're making your poutine, that's what it's like when I'm on-stage, but I just give 110% so it looks like I'm having fun, but I think the audience probably has the most fun. I know people that hate it, they don't have any fun at all.

How to do you keep things interesting while on tour?
B.A: You don't really. You just try to survive, and it's hard, and they try to stop you from doing it, but you have to keep going. Roads look really dull, it's just like a neverending... you try to look for good food a lot.

You get pretty close to members of the audience sometimes, often rubbing up against them. Has anyone ever taken this the wrong way?
B.A: Not really, I got pushed. Some guy threw a drink in my face, but I was wearing a snowsuit so it kinda repelled the beer, and I would have thrown it in my own face at some point anyway, but he was clearly insane, it wasn't my fault.

Also on your MySpace, The Velvet Elvis's back parking lot was mentioned on your "List of Shit 2006." Why did it make the list?
B.A: 'Cause my car doors don't lock and someone stole like, 50 CDs out of my car, 50 B.A. Johnston CDs out of my car.

At least whoever stole them will have good music to listen to!
B.A: Or they're in a dumpster somewhere, probably more the case.

Tunes: myspace.com/bajohnston

Tuesday Tunes

Jeff Peers
"The Tips And Tactics of Avoiding Friendship"
I saw Jeff play at the Hoedown late last year and I was intrigued by his set. First of all, I'd never heard him sing. I can't really describe his voice, I guess I could call it raspy, but I really actually quite like it. On this home recording it's just Jeff with his guitar, a kick drum and a shaker, singing some cryptic lines about what seems to be one particular person. I've been listening to this song a lot since I got this recording off the radio last week, and I've grown quite fond of it. Good job Jeff, let's hear more!

Spill Yer Lungs

If you didn't know this already, I thought I'd tell you that Shotgun & Jaybird have a large portion of their discography for download off their website, free of charge. There's a lot of music there, so if you're weary of diving into that much stuff at least download their self-titled album, which is, "a compilation of songs from our last four albums and the spaces in between." It's the one I've been listening to the most, and there is some really good stuff on it. At the time of this album, they were still a two-piece, before Julie Doiron joined the ranks. The sound is considerably low-fi, which isn't a problem at all because it only enhances the experience. They cover a lot of ground on this album (it is a compilation after all), so they switch directions a few times but it all works well together. If you read a bit about this band you'll find out that this band started in Dawson City, Yukon before relocating to Sackville, New Brunswick (Dick Morello and Shotgun Jimmie are both originally from Ajax, Ontario). The fact that they're so well-travelled makes it into their lyrics quite often, as does the statement that they're "looking for" something. I hope they've found whatever they were looking for, while I found one of my new favourite Canadian bands.

Tuesday Tunes

Jeff Leech
"The Last Time We Met"
It's hard not to hear his influences on this track, even the non-musical ones. Jeff lists sunsets, sparrows and shadows as some of his influences on his MySpace and call me crazy but I can hear 'em! I've heard a lot of songs like this but it's so often not done particularly well. Jeff's got a great voice which suits his style of playing. I really need to pick up some of his stuff, but it doesn't look like he has any shows coming up...