Author: Emma Cassidy

This week’s Thursday Track is by Steve Maloney and the Wandering Kind – RHR’s latest signing. Maloney appeared to me seemingly out of nowhere. Actually, not ‘nowhere’, per say. His brother Phil plays in Hey Rosetta! whom I know from my days at Sonic Entertainment Group. He tipped me off. Of course, my first thought was that he was being a good brother, promoting his brother’s new band. Then I got the album, put it on my phone, took a walk with it on a cloudy spring day in my Halifax neighbourhood. I fell head over heels in love.

Steve Maloney can SING. His songwriting is smart, the instrumentation is fresh… it’s like M Ward had a baby with Rufus Wainright and Timber Timbre was their baby nurse for the first month or so. I could honestly go on and on, especially about that voice, but I will let you judge for yourself.

Steve Maloney and the Wandering Kind – On The Other Hand

And for good measure, a video of the beautiful “Morning Break” and to further prove his singing chops and songwriting prowess – “Forest Fire” (live). I can’t believe I’m about to type this, but.. *Swoon*.

This song is a real gem. Meaghan Blanchard’s “Watchin’ The Dandelions Grow” is a testament to her most excellent songwriting. Bringing home Country Recording of the Year this year at ECMW 2014 should only be the start of her award wins and a very long career. She is super special, and I implore you to keep your eyes out for her and GO SEE A SHOW if she’s near you.

I caught her live for her CD release show late last year and it was simply stunning. Her stage presence, her stories, her grace and charm (and wit!), how she handles a huge full band standing front and centre, a short (sorry, Meaghan!) red haired cutie with a pretty dress, a big guitar and cowboy boots. Let’s not forget the voice.  A little bit Dolly Parton and a little bit PEI tradition.

I’ve posted a live / somewhat solo clip below, but do head on over to her website to listen to the recorded version (and maybe the rest of the record while you’re there). Our country sweetheart, that Miss Blanchard.

Watching the Dandelions Grow from Anne Janelle on Vimeo.

OK – Me again. I HAD to also post this from 2010. Gives a good sense of her live act. Also – I love this song 🙂

KIM HARRIS – THE WEIGHT OF IT ALL

April 17th, 2014 – Also known in some circles around here as “Kim Harris CD Release Show Day”. This may be one of the most anticipated CD release shows around here in some years. Taking place at Spatz Theatre tonight, I am pretty damn sure that Kim will more than rise to the occasion. Her show at East Coast Music Week brought the house (or, rather, the ballroom) down. Her honest delivery, that voice, her charm, her band… she really did have it ALL, including a glowing chandelier hanging above the stage. And that was just a 20 minute set. Tonight is poised to be SUPER special.

In honour of KHCRSD, and the release of Kim’s new album, Only The Mighty, I am making this week’s Thursday Track a video. Recorded live in the street, with (SPOILER ALERT) a surprise cast of background singers at the end, this shows off Kim’s vulnerability in her songwriting, as well as her strength, having risen above tragedy. Listen to the lyrics, feel the vibe. Then get your ass to a show.

You might have noticed the lack of song last week. I apologize. I was in Charlottetown for East Coast Music Week. A gathering of the east coast’s musicians, industry pros, fans and international delegates – OR, in other words… a big east coast party. I think we wore out some of the international delegates, but that’s the fun part.

Anyway, I struggled with which song to post as the Thursday Track, as I got to see many of my clients, and have a renewed joy for their offerings. There are new albums on the way from Gabrielle Papillon, Ria Mae, The Fortunate Ones, and more (yay!), but you can’t hear that yet.  So, after careful consideration, I decided to present for you, my girl Kim Wempe.

With a raspy voice, she delivers her bluesy songs with an effortless passion. Reminiscent of Joan Osborne and sometimes Sheryl Crow, this album had my attention from the day it landed in my inbox. Ladies and gents – Kim Wempe’s “Never Promised You Nothing”.  “You never gave me no lovin’, so don’t you give me no lip. I never promised you nothin’. Don’t you say I did.”.  Take that, jerk! 🙂

“Kim Wempe has one of those strong, raspy voices that’s only made better by whisky and more emotive by a sad song. She embodies the storytelling nature of the country genre, that slow burning hurt we know to be true of the blues, and these soulful gospel melodies that recall something almost spiritual.” 
-Alan Cross-Rock and Roll Journalist

“Kim Wempe sings directly from the soul, and the result is incredibly powerful. She instantly draws you in with her voice, and holds you there with the strength of her performance and her songs.” 
– Jill Barber

Instead of posting a Thursday Track this week, I wanted to pay tribute to our friend Jay, who has been gone from us for exactly 1 year, now. The link to his album is still live, and I encourage all who knew him to take a listen to remember. I strongly encourage those who didn’t know him to take a listen to get to know him better.

Jay was a great songwriter. He wrote with the likes of Grammy Award winner Gordie Sampson (who wrote ‘Jesus Take the Wheel’), and found friends wherever he went. People liked Jay. His friends loved him. He made really awful puns and strange wordplay jokes that you could ONLY laugh at if they came from his mouth. He stayed too late at parties. He was a father of 2. He gave us great songs.

To Jay.

http://jaysmith.bandcamp.com 

As mentioned on the socials and the Exclaim! post below – The Olympic Symphonium has a new album out this week. The Thursday Track comes from that album, Chance To Fate. It is called “Home”. It’s an indie folk lullaby of sorts. Dreamy and contemplative. “I’m ready and I want to go home”. Listen below.

Also – if you’d like to see the guys pull off another pretty piece in the backseat of Jeff’s Musical Car, check out the video below. Three men, two guitars, one stand-up bass. Yep – a stand-up bass.

The Thursday Track for March 13th is a really nice piece from Brooklyn-based, NS raised Producer / DJ / Remixer, Bit Funk. He’s toured the US, Europe and Canada and he’s mad awesome. Can I say that? Mad Awesome? EIther way, here is Bit Funk’s “The Long Road Ahead”.

From Indiecurrent – March 2013:

Bit Funk is a straight up craftsman; there’s no way around it. With every small intricacy and beautifully flowing beat that he puts together, you can see the time and effort that Bit Funk puts into each of his singles, and nothing is a greater example of this than his newest single, “The Long Road Ahead.”

In it’s fullest form, “The Long Road Ahead” is a mellowed out disco beat that is entrenched with vocal loops and repetitively punchy beats. Listening to it all the way through, you may find it hard to believe that this groovy beat, which is elongated over multiple loops, isn’t tiresome or drawn-out. Instead, the single begins to take on an enlivening aura of it’s own and soon enough you’ll have the enthralling beat playing it on repeat.