Girls Night Out

Okay, so today I thought we needed a little female power among all these boys. So today is all about 3 groups of women that to me really showcase Canadian music. All three were part of the gospel show, and all three were fantasic.

I’m sure you’ve heard of Basia Bulat, The Good Lovelies and Sarah Harmer, if not get on it (but finish the post first). These are women that have conquered the Canadian music scene and come out on top. They all have a bit of a folky vibe but with added flare, like soulful vocals or amazing harmonies not to mention fantastic lyrics. It’s kind of crazy to imagine a festival large enough to hold all of them but some how Hillside managed and I’m glad it did.

The first of these fantastic ladies I saw was Basia Bulat Saturday evening. And I’m afraid I didn’t catch a whole lot, but what I did was fantastic. When you see her live you realize, wow she actually has that voice, it’s not computer generated. Once you get over that shock, it’s just worship and awe the rest of the time. I was happy to catch Heart My Own, which she did a fantasic job of, of course. Check out her video here, for Snakes and Ladders and be even more blown away by those pipes, and she’s not to hard to look at either. I really the love the video with all the marching people. It’s pretty cool, wish I could have joined (in the bunny costume).

Next up was Sarah Harmer. Lovely Sarah Harmer. The guy standing behind me kept going on about how he would marry her in a minute and how sexy she was. Well I agree, but keep it to yourself. Although she really does have quite the stage presence. She was in a really bouncy mood that night was well so she made all her songs upbeat, and to my great joy, did a lot of her old stuff, including Basement Apartment and Almost. She also did the new song of hers I love called Captive. And than the next day she was the host for the gospel workshop. She did a fantasic job of that. It’s always a make or break situation and this year she deffientley made it. Congratualtions Sarah Harmer. For now though check out her video for Captive here. I’m really liking it right now, it has a pretty cool feel to it and Sarah Harmer is always fun to see.

And last on the agenda is The Good Lovelies, who really are lovely. I only saw them at the gospel workshop but that was enough to convince me. Due to boy cousins left alone un-attended with a fire I had to return early and missed The Good Lovelies show the night earlier. I was bummed that I missed out, but the gospel workshop really did make up for it. They kicked off the whole show with a rendition of Down In The River To Pray, which happened (and happens) to be one of my favourite songs. When I was little and it came on I used to make anyone in the room be quiet so I could hear it clearly. Well luckily for me everyone in the tent must have been physcic because everyone was silent. They did a fantastic job and I knew from then on in that I was going to like The Good Lovelies. They never disappointed. Every song was great and their harmonies were beautiful. They backed a song Horse Feathers did that gave everyone goose bumps including me (and I don’t get them very easily). To kick off your intro to The Good Lovelies here’s their song Lie Down.

It’s a pretty happy little video, deffintley defined by the word cute. But for now I must go “hunnker down, dear” enjoy the rest of your night and see you tomorrow for more Hillside post-Hillside music.

It’s Called Summer

Okay, so I thought today was a good day (or night) for my new favourite musicians. Kinda like my summer music list. I’m going list my favourite song by each band but be sure to check out all the songs of each one.

1. Juliette – Hollerado (this indie boy band to the max, but perfect for the pool)

2. Bulletproof – La Roux (not my usual, a little to electronic and well…female, but for some reason I really like it)

3. Little Lion Man – Mumford & Sons (one of my favourite bands of the year, check ‘em out)

4. Kindergarten – Zeus (another one of my new favourite bands, also invited to the Sensitive Bearded Boys Festival “SBBF”, ‘course theirs are a little more hipper than say Bon Iver or Iron and Wine)

5. Babies Don’t Like Blue Anymore – Yukon Blonde (wasn’t sure about the band or song but it’s really growing on me)

6. Caught In The Crowd – Kate Miller-Heidke (for some reason I’m really loving this right now, kinda quirky, but super good. She’s classically trained as an opera singer, so it’s really interesting. This song is a bit of an eye-opener and a little cheesy, but I’m always up for a little cheese)

7. Your Island – Young Rival

8. This Feeling – Danny Michel (you must check out his newest CD Sunset Sea, it’s fantastic, I’ve had it on non-stop for weeks. Has a very Caribean feeling, yet still very Danny)

9. Golden Age – Jay Jay Pistolet (this guy is very quirky, but quite fantastic)

10. MIA – Emmy The Great (she’s really interesting, love her lyrics, especially in this song, although it’s actually very sad)

11. Bright Future – Bowerbirds

12. Airplanes – Local Natives (this is yet another really fantastic indie rock band, it’s also a really lovely song)

13. Dreamer – Jenn Grant (upbeat and happy, kinda reminds me of Sarah Harmer)

14. Captive – Sarah Harmer (this is from her new CD Oh Little Fire. I Think this song sounds a lot like Ingrid Michaelson’s The Way I Am. The whole CD’s really good in a happy go-lucky, Sarah Harmer way)

15. Not Your Parent’s Music – Hawksley Workman (I’m kinda bummed this is the music that’s making Hawksley popular it’s pretty generic and if it wasn’t him I’d think it was great, but if you’re lookin’ for some good ol’ Hawksley Workman, check out his older stuff)

16. Without A Doubt -Isbells (I’m not even going to say it, I think it’s pretty obvious what it is)

17. Floating In The Forth – Frightened Rabbit (indie boy band, but with a scottish twist, even better. For some reason this song just really gets me and I can’t help but love it)

18. Leftovers – Johnny Flynn (everyone’s favourite British boy)

19. John Had a Bell and a Whistle – Sunparlour Players (a very strange song, a little like Rock Plaza Central)

20. Crooked Legs – The Acorn (taking place as one of my new favourite bands, you have to check them out, you won’t be disappointed)

I just want to clarify, these bands aren’t all knew to me, some of it is just new music and some of them really are new to me this year.

So I have a video I’ve been wanting to share forever. This is video for The Acorns song Crooked Legs. I think it’s a great video and really clever.

I like the editing of this video, and of course the song. I just think it’s super clever, and although it doesn’t quite make sense with the song, some how it works. I like video’s that are a little more abstract, and this one certainly is that.

Music On The Hillside

So it’s only Tuesday, which sucks because that means there is still 3 days of school left. But to make this Tuesday better I have some good music to talk about which in my opinion makes every day better. I’ve created yet another playlist but this one is super exciting. This is my Hillside 2010 playlist (yes I know I’m obsessed). It features bands that are playing at Hillside this year. I’ve gone through and picked ones that I thought sounded interesting, but feel free to check it out for yourself here. I’ve added bands I already knew that were playing plus I went in search of some new ones and think I made some pretty fantastic discoveries. Below is my playlist, the ones with the *’s beside them mean their new to me and maybe to you too.

1.  Heart of my Own – Basia Bulat

2.*City Lights – Bent by Elephants (this is awesome, I got a few songs, I highly recommend checking it out)

3.*Girls’s Night – First Rate People (I think this will be good live, but it sounds interesting, I’m liking it for a young indie canadian band)

4.  Babies Don’t Like Blue Anymore – Yukon Blonde

5.*Slow Knots – Brasstronaut (I’m really happy about this discovery, it has a cool beat and the voices are awesome)

6.  Winnipeg Winds – Jason Collett (I’m excited for him live)

7.*River Song – The Wooden Sky (another great discovery)

8.  The Hideout – Sarah Harmer (of course she’s a classic, a classy classic)

9.*Dark Eyes – Calexico & Iron & Wine (I got this song just because I have an Iron & Wine thing, sorry if I excited you although Calexico is sounding good too)

10. Take Me To The Riot – Stars

11. Kindergarten – Zeus

12. Doot Doot Plot -Hidden Cameras (I really love this song, but check out the rest it’s awesome, I can’t wait for Hillside)

13.*Firecracker – Frazey Ford (so I didn’t know she was from the Be Good Tanyas until I heard her voice, than I knew)

14.*Even While You’re Sleeping – The Acorn (another indie boy band but trust me I’m not complaining)

15.*Curs In The Weeds – Horse Feathers (to feed everyone’s need for some good ol’ twang, although he isn’t as twangy as I thought, he’s more pretty voice)

16.*Your Island – Young Rival (more indie boy, although more upbeat)

As you can see alot is new to me, which is great. Please check out all of the bands and listen more, these are just songs I kinda liked — you may feel differently. Featured below is The Acorn with Even While Your Sleeping. It’s awesome to see the band play live and it makes me even more excited.

I hope you don’t mind my many Hillside rants. I thought this would be okay because it’s giving you awesone new music that maybe you wouldn’t have found any other way, I know I probably wouldn’t have. Check out more  by all the artists.

1 For The Moms

Alright all you mothers out there, this ones for you. This is my mothers day playlist, dedicated of course to my mom, but also to all you mothers reading and all you people reading with mothers. This is my all ladies playlist, no gentlemen allowed. The songs are all by individual woman who made it in the industry. That’s pretty cool, and the songs are too. The playlist features two Hillside women, which makes me uber excited. Enjoy moms, you deserve it. I’m off to make mothers day dinner, aren’t I a good daughter.

1.  Heart of My Own – Basia Bulat (a great new discovery)

2.  Glorious Machine – Sometymes Why (this is to me is a real mom song, for mine anyways)

3.  I Am Aglow – Sarah Harmer (an obvious choice)

4.  Bird Of The Summer – A Fine Frenzy (just a song I like)

5.  Born To Hum – Erin Mckeown

6.  Closer To Fine – Indigo Girls

7.  Be My Somebody – Norah Jones

8.  Amazed – MoZella

9.  Smilin’! – Pascale Picard

10. Big Yellow Taxi – Joni Mitchell

Happy mothers day to all. Enjoy the songs and maybe even get the playlist. You can also check it out at my last.fm profile page.

Here’s a video just for moms. In my mind their can’t be a more perfect artist for moms than Sarah Harmer, I know my moms a huge fan. Can’t think of a present try a Sarah Harmer CD, my personal favourite is You Were Here.

Something about her just seems really strong and independant not to mention that lovely voice.