Profile: Windsor’s globetrotting DJ Heidi is Coming Home (for a night anyway…)
She may be known internationally as the in-demand electronic DJ who answers simply to Heidi, but this globe-trotting vinyl spinning superstar is Windsor’s very own Heidi Vanden Amstel.
Heidi is still remembered by many in the local music scene as one of the Loop’s best bartenders from “back in the day” but today she is known for just about anything but.
Always a music fan, a year long sabbatical to England back in 1997 exposed her to a whole new electronic underground, expanding the love created by so many of her friends back home in Windsor. A permanent relocation in 2000 only cemented her new musical passion and started a ride that is still going on to this day.
In 2003, she was part of the team that opened the critically acclaimed vinyl music shop Phonica Records in London, England and soon she would not only be selling vinyl to some of the world’s greatest DJs but would be spinning alongside them. A meeting with German duo M.A.N.D.Y. (Patrick Bodmer and Phillip Jung) lead to some gigs in Berlin and since then, she hasn’t looked back.
A residency at perhaps the world’s most well known DJ hotspot, Ibiza, not to mention countless regular gigs in Berlin (The Panorama Bar and The Watergate Club), Frankfurt (The Monza Club) and London (Fabric), as well as countless more shows across the United States, France, Spain, Italy, Australia and even here in Windsor at The Boom Boom Room. If there’s a club that needs a groove in this world, Heidi’s probably been there or is booked to do so. A member of the German-based electronic stable Get Physical, she released her first single, “Vejer” with partner Riton, in 2006, as well as the DJ Mix CD, Monza Club Ibiza Vol. 1, also on the Get Physical label. She re-teamed with Riton for another single in 2009 for Get Physical’s Five Year Anniversary compilation, a track entitled “To The Gum”.
Another feather in her cap and indeed one we can all be proud of – in 2009 she joined the hosting team for BBC Radio 1′s electronic DJ show, In New DJs We Trust, heard each Friday in the UK and on-line around the world. The show has a rotating cast of hosts, with Heidi doing the fourth Friday of each month. The entire show is overseen by legendary DJ Pete Tong. In October of 2010, she helped launch the trans-European Jackathon parties, that linked simultaneous dance parties occurring in London, Manchester, Berlin, Paris and Amsterdam, that have proven to be a hit with the European club goers, some of the world’s most fickle electronic fans. She also recently moved back to the UK after a stint living in Berlin. Coinciding with the success of the Jackathon parties, she’ll recently released a compilation mix CD entitled Heidi presents the Jackathon, that also featured new or unreleased tracks from such heavyweights as Soul Clap, Juan MacLean, Deetron, Derrick Carter, Jamie Jones and more.
On Tuesday September 6, Heidi returns home as part of the Coming Home Music Festival, a massive homecoming dance party in downtown Windsor set up by the University of Windsor and St. Clair College, joining a line-up headlined by internationally revered Windsor electronic icon Richie Hawtin (aka Plastikman) and Grammy-award winning DJ Benny Benassi, as well as opening sets by Italy’s Rivaz and Toronto’s Manzone & Strong. It all takes place down by the river at the new Riverfront Plaza Amphitheatre, running from 4pm until 11pm. The event is free for students from the University of Windsor or St. Clair College with a valid Student Card, or just $5 for the general public.
This once again shows the diversity of Windsor’s reach into the world of music – we’re not just limited to indie rock or heavy metal or folk music. Music is a universal language with many shapes and sizes (or chords and beeps) and Windsor is making an impact everywhere.
Coming Home Festival featuring Benny Benassi, Richie Hawtin, Heidi, Rivaz and Manzone & Strong, Riverfront Plaza Amphitheatre, Tuesday September 6, 4pm to 11pm, All-Ages, FREE to Students of the University of Windsor and St. Clair College, $5 to non-students.
Weekly Round-Up: August 29 – September 4
First up, sorry for the nearly monthly delay in Weekly Round-Ups. But due to our day jobs, Murad getting ready for Harvesting The Fam Festival 2011 and the passing of our dear friend Bradford Helner, it’s been a crazy time for many of us at The Windsor Zene. Thankfully, there’s been a slew of great shows over the past few weeks that word of mouth alone assisted and great times continued to happen with our local music scene. And luckily, there’s more to come!
Tuesday August 30
Eric Welton has been a local musical favourite for many years now, either through his non-genre specific solo outings with his rotating cast of veteran musicians or with Chatham’s legendary psychedelic prog rock outfit Square Root of Margaret. As he preps the release of his latest album, Kill Them With Kindness (which really pushes some boundaries of his limits and songwriting, including the electro dance hit of the year, “LC/DC”), he’s congregating every Tuesday night at Villains Beastro (256 Pelissier St.). Backed by his most recent incarnation of the Eric Welton Band, featuring Eryk Myskow (The FourJury/Hung Jury, ASK), Billy Myskow, Suzy Myskow and “Big Lou” Luke Pelotte (Vice Aerial, The Hung Jury, The Locusts Have No King, Theory of Everything), Eric Welton hosts VOMIT (Villains Open Musical Instruments and Talent), the Beastro’s newly anointed Open Mic. Come jam with your own band or jam with the “E-Dubs”, every Tuesday night.
Wednesday August 31
For the past three weeks, Venue Rock Parlor (25 Chatham St. East) has been home to a Battle of the Bands presented by MicLordz & Sauce Funky (hosted by ML&SF’s Boots) and sponsored by Venue Rock Parlor, Jam Space and Lunker Studios. Judged by a panel including Lunker Studio’s Joel Bishop (who also plays bass in Ashes of Soma), Jam Space’s Richard Rodgers (who also plays in Luna Borealis) and The Windsor Zene‘s own Jamie Greer, this week’s Finals include three weekly winners – week one’s Devilz By Definition, week two’s Intra Meridian and last week’s winners The Nefidovs – plus wild card selection The Glow. If you’re a fan of any of these fine four acts, swing by and cheer them on!
Thursday September 1
A rare Thursday night show at the Coach & Horses (156 Chatham St. West, basement level), as Cambridge’s UNLIMITED hits the legendary metal dungeon. They’re joined by locals EVL, Kiriyama and Aurelia.
Friday September 2
The metal scene has always been one of Windsor’s strongest due to the abundance of bands that infiltrate it’s blood stream and the rock or be eaten lifestyle each band brings in. Reasons Lost has been making strides over the past year and had some impressive shows of late (they were even tapped to open for metal icons Napalm Death at the Blind Dog in a few months). They headline a showcase at the Coach & Horses (156 Chatham St. West, basement level) with local metallers Edge of Existance, Slaughterhouse on the Prairie and newcomers Dead Man’s Will.
Saturday September 3
The apathetic stoner drone of underground ’90s grunge has been making an embraced comeback in the music world and Windsor has been stricken by the nostalgic inspiration as well. One of the bands leading that resurgence is Awake to a Dream, who are appearing at the Coach & Horses (156 Chatham St. West, basement level) this Saturday.
The Mud Lions are a throw back rock band as well who have been slowly building an audience with a series of strong shows throughout the city. They head the night at Villains Beastro (256 Pelissier St.), joined by veteran indie pop rock outfit The Tyres, who have toiled for an easy decade in Windsor’s music scene. Fronted by singer/songwriter extraordinaire and underrated guitarist Domenic Carlone, and backed by bassist Ken Jean (The Vaudevillianaires) and drummer Damien Zakoor (The Vaudevillianaires, The Swillingtones, The Golden Hands Before God).
CJAM TOP 30!!! August 22nd-28th // 2011!
1 WHITEHORSE* – Whitehorse (Six Shooter)
2 LIBRARY VOICES* – Summer Of Lust (Nevado)
3 THE PAINT MOVEMENT* – The Paint Movement (Nevado)
4 MUSKOX* – Invocation / Transformation (Self-Released)
5 ASA – Beautiful Imperfection (Naive)
6 THE SWEET LOWDOWN* – The Sweet Lowdown (Self-Released)
7 STEPHIN MERRITT – Obscurities (Merge)
8 THE SKELETONES FOUR* – Gravestone Rock (Label Fantastic)
9 DEEP DARK WOODS* – The Place I Left Behind (Six Shooter)
10 SELAH SUE – Selah Sue (Warner (WEA))
11 COLLECTIONS OF COLONIES OF BEES – Giving (Hometapes)
12 JOEL PLASKETT* – EMERGENCYs, false alarms, shipwrecks, castaways, fragile creatures, special features… (New Scotland)
13 BIG SUGAR* – Revolution Per Minute (Bread & Water)
14 SMALL TOWN REVIVAL* – Music From Home (Self-Released)
15 LITTLE GIRLS* – Cults (Hand Drawn Dracula)
16 TETRIX* – Tetrix 11 (Self-Released)
17 TEDS AMONGST MEN* – That Ol’ Chestnut (Self-Released)
18 THE EXPRESS & CO.* – The Express & Co. (Pirate Radio)
19 LUCIFER’S VOYAGE – Lucifer’s Voyage (Self-Released)
20 ROBERT JOHNSON – Centennial Collection (Legacy)
21 VARIOUS – Spin Presents: Newermind – A Tribute Album (SPIN Media)
22 BALLAKE SISSOKO & VINCENT SEGAL – Chamber Music (Six Degrees)
23 CHARLES BRADLEY – No Time For Dreaming: Instrumentals (Daptone)
24 THE BLUE STONES* – The Blue Stones (Self-Released)
25 HOODED FANG* – Tosta Mista (Daps Records)
26 THE PACK A.D. – Unpersons (Mint)
27 TRIO BEMBE* – Oh My Soul (Self-Released)
28 CITY AND COLOUR* – Little Hell (Vagrant)
29 JUNIOR BOYS* – It’s All True (Domino)
30 HANDSOME FURS* – Sound Kapital (Sub Pop)
More Info?: www.earshot-online.com
CJAM TOP 30!!! August 15th-21st // 2011!
* = Canadian Content
1 LIBRARY VOICES* – Summer Of Lust (Nevado)
2 LITTLE GIRLS* – Cults (Hand Drawn Dracula)
3 MALE BONDING – Endless Now (Sub Pop)
4 THE POLYMORPHINES* – The Slip EP (Self-Released)
5 DOG DAY* – Deformer (Fun Dog)
6 CHANG-A-LANG* – No Clean Rock And Roll (Self-Released)
7 MUSKOX* – Invocation / Transformation (Self-Released)
8 KUATO* – Summer EP (Acadian Embassy)
9 JOHN DOE – Keeper (Yep Roc)
10 CENTRO-MATIC – Candidate Waltz (Undertow)
11 MONKEYJUNK* – To Behold (Stony Plain)
12 ORCHESTRE POLY-RHYTHMO – The 1st Album (Analog Africa)
13 BIG SUGAR* – Revolution Per Minute (Bread & Water)
14 DALOT – Minutestatic (N5MD)
15 JOSE SILVA* – Uncorrected EP (Balanced House)
16 SAN CISCO – Golden Revolver (Self-Released)
17 FUSIOON – Absolute Fusioon (B-Music/Finders Keepers)
18 ANCIENT FUTURE – World Without Walls (Capitol)
19 JOEL PLASKETT* – EMERGENCYs, false alarms, shipwrecks, castaways, fragile creatures, special features… (New Scotland)
20 THE CROOKED BROTHERS* – Lawrence, Where’s Your Knife? (Transistor 66)
21 UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA – Unknown Mortal Orchestra (Fat Possum)
22 THE THRASHERS* – Make A Splash (Transistor 66)
23 FRUIT BATS – Tripper (Sub Pop)
24 KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD* – A Old Rock On A Roll (Stony Plain)
25 100 MILE HOUSE* – Hollow Ponds (Sidewalk)
26 DEEP DARK WOODS* – The Place I Left Behind (Six Shooter)
27 MOONFACE* – Organ Music Not Vibraphone Like I’d Hoped (Jagjaguwar)
28 CHARLES BRADLEY – No Time For Dreaming: Instrumentals (Daptone)
29 THE HOA HOA’S* – The Hoa Hoa’s (Self-Released)
30 WHITEHORSE* – Whitehorse (Six Shooter)
More Info?: www.earshot-online.com
It’s not the years, it’s the mileage: Bradford Helner (1971-2011)
On Thursday August 18th, Windsor’s music scene lost one of it’s own. Bradford Rex Helner, one of the city’s most versatile and prolific drummers, passed away due to complications from a heart arrhythmia. He was just 39 years old.
Bradford, like many musicians and community folk alike, was not originally from our city of roses. From Dearborn, this Michigan Yankee in King Harper’s Court fell into our city’s lap over a decade ago, marrying a local girl. While the marriage didn’t last, his relationship with the city – in particular, it’s various musically inclined inhabitants – flourished. Already a respected drummer from Michigan’s rockabilly ruffians The Twistin’ Tarantulas, the list of acts Bradford touched, inspired and played with is nearly as comprehensive as a list of
every act who’s played in the last few years – you could almost play the Kevin Bacon game with him instead and touch upon nearly every musician in town. While perhaps his most beloved project was the original incarnation of jazz-funk jam band Huladog (and the first year or so residency at The FM Lounge), he’s capably handled the skins (either full time, part time, or for special events) with Mr. Chill & The Witnesses, Thornetta Davis, The Hung Jury/FourJury, The Eric Welton Band, an early incarnation of The Golden Hands Before God, Train 45, The Rockafellas, The Eric Arner Project, Dennis Cantagallo (of Ten Indians), Ray’s Right Fender, NOT_Digital, (wh)y.m.e.(??), Star Trek: The Band, FourLetterWord, The Last Jazz Trio, Surdaster, The Locusts Have No King, The Greg Cox Roots Combo, The Monday Milkmen, Whoa Nelly, Vice Aerial…the list could go on for days. Not to mention the amount of acts he’s sat in with for one-offs, appearances in live theatre (such as Hedwig & The Angry Inch) and working with both the Detroit and Windsor Symphony Orchestra. There was no gig too big or too small for his love of music. It was his oxygen and he made everything sound better.
But despite his staggering musical resume, it was his person that left the most indelible mark on our community. He was open to jam with anyone and often encouraged musicians that others wouldn’t even acknowledge. He was a tireless encouragement to many musicians who were on the brink of retirement, pushing them to keep playing when others were telling them to stop. He couldn’t stand seeing anyone else down in the dumps and he always had a story to tell to make you feel better, about yourself, your situation or simply to take your mind off whatever it was that was bringing you down – in fact, many of his fabled tales would inevitably splinter into so many sub-stories that the original beginning story would never reach its own climax (“Tangents out of tangents” was how one friend recalled them). But he could make you listen and no matter how you entered the room and encountered him, you always left his presence with a warm feeling in your gut (although that could also be attributed to the Jagermeister shot you would always end up doing with him).
His passion for life and music was equaled only by his love for cars and when he wasn’t telling tales or playing music, he was working on some sort of automobile. He had just secured a new job in an upscale auto-shop in Royal Oak weeks before his death.
Bradford lived life like one of those classic American muscle cars. He lived it hard and he lived it fast, but he lived it. He’d patch up the wholes when they arose and throw some paint on the body, but ultimately, the engine just couldn’t keep up to the way it was driven. But, as Bradford was oft known to say, “it’s not about the years, it’s about the mileage”.
Bradford Rex Helner got a lot of mileage out of those 39 years. And we loved every mile.
At his request, Bradford was cremated. Funeral arrangements will take place in Dearborn, Michigan under supervision from his family. Details will be released as they are known. A memorial service will be held both in Dearborn and Windsor, and some sort of tribute show is being discussed.
CJAM TOP 30!!! August 8th-14th//2011!
* – Indicates Canadian Content
1 INDIAN WARS* – Walk Around The Park (Bachelor)
2 VARIOUS – Original Jazz Classic: Remastered (Concord)
3 LIBRARY VOICES* – Summer Of Lust (Nevado)
4 THE CROOKED BROTHERS* V- Lawrence, Where’s Your Knife? (Transistor 66)
5 THE HOA HOAS* – The Hoa Hoa’s (Self-Released)
6 BIG SUGAR* – Revolution Per Minute (Bread & Water)
7 THIEVERY CORPORATION – Culture of Fear (ESL/Eighteenth Street Lounge)
8 JOHNNY CASH – Bootleg Vol. 2: From Memphis To Hollywood (Columbia)
9 MELVIN JONES – Pivot (Turnaround)
10 THE BLACK DRINK CRIER & THE LAZY MK’S* – Porch Fire (Harvest King)
11 WAR ON DRUGS – Slave Ambient (Secretly Canadian)
12 DIAMOND DUST* – Diamond Dust (Self-Released)
13 ESMERINE* – La Leucheza (Constellation)
14 THE WARPED 45S* – Matador Sunset (Pheromone)
15 FUCKED UP* – David Comes to Life (Matador)
16 ROOSEVELT BANDWAGON* – Roosevelt Bandwagon (White Whale)
17 VARIOUS – Spin Presents: Newermind – A Tribute Album (SPIN Media)
18 THE DECEMBERISTS – The iTunes Sessions (Capitol)
19 THE PEACHES* – The Peaches (Self-Released)
20 VIEUX FARKA TOURE – The Secret (Six Degrees)
21 DEVIN TOWNSEND* – Deconstruction (Inside Out)
22 CHEIKH LO – Jamm (Nonesuch)
23 RICHARD BUCKNER – Our Blood (Merge)
24 LITTLE DRAGON – Ritual Union (Peacefrog)
25 MOONFACE* – Organ Music Not Vibraphone Like I’d Hoped (Jagjaguwar)
26 TOQUES & BEARDS* – (II) Stand Tall (Self-Released)
27 THE NEFIDOVS* – Set Faces To Stunned (Self-Released)
28 FREDERICK SQUIRE* – Sings Shenandoah and Other Popular Hits (Blue Fog)
29 ALGERNON BLACKWOOD SABBATH* – Forest Hall (Self-Released)
30 DEEP DARK WOODS* – The Place I Left Behind (Six Shooter)
More Info?: www.earshot-online.com
CJAM TOP 30!!! AUGUST 1ST-7TH, 2011!
* = Canadian Content
1 BIG SUGAR* – Revolution Per Minute (Bread & Water)
2 DEEP DARK WOODS* – The Place I Left Behind (Six Shooter)
3 STARS* – The Bedroom Demos (Arts & Crafts)
4 LIBRARY VOICES* – Summer Of Lust (Nevado)
5 HANDSOME FURS* – Sound Kapital (Sub Pop)
6 SBTRKT – SBTRKT (Young Turks)
7 FRUIT BATS – Tripper (Sub Pop)
8 OCOTE SOUL SOUNDS – Taurus (ESL/Eighteenth Street Lounge)
9 THE FUNK ARK – From The Rooftops (ESL/Eighteenth Street Lounge)
10 ROBERT JOHNSON – Centennial Collection (Legacy)
11 THE DONEFORS* – Award Winning Album (Self-Released)
12 JOHNNY CASH – Bootleg Vol. 2: From Memphis To Hollywood (Columbia)
13 YACHT – Shangri-La (DFA)
14 WE’RE NOT POPSTARS* – Full Colour (Self-Released)
15 THE MIDWAY STATE – Paris or India (EMI)
16 AMON TOBIN* – Isam (Ninja Tune)
17 NO PROBLEM* – And Now This (Deranged)
18 MIRACLE FORTRESS* – Was I The Wave? (Secret City)
19 CHRIS MILLS – Heavy Years: 2000-2010 (Ernest Jenning Record Co.)
20 JOSH REICHMANN* – After Live (Hand Drawn Dracula)
21 CARMEL NIKOL* – Creature (Self-Released)
22 REDGY BLACKOUT* – Redgy Blackout EP (Self-Released)
23 APRIL VERCH* – That’s How We Run (Slab Town)
24 WAGONS – Rumble, Shake and Tumble (Six Shooter)
25 GEORGE THOROGOOD – 2120 South Michigan Ave (Capitol)
26 SHAELA MILLER THREESOME* – Love Is Brave (Self-Released)
27 DANIEL ISAIAH* – High Twilight (Secret City)
28 TREELINE & SEAN BREWER* – Prairie Sentimentalist (Self-Released)
29 VARIOUS* – The All-Skanadian Club Vol.5 (Stomp)
30 THE BLUE STONES* – The Blue Stones (Self-Released)
More Info?: www.earshot-online.com
The Scene With Lauren Hedges
Playlist for August 3rd, 2011;
Weirdonia – How ‘Bout I Slap Your Shit
Gypsy Chief Goliath – Elephant in the Room (The Windsor Zene December Sampler – 2010)
Devilz by Definition – A Gram Short 20 (The Windsor Zene February Sampler – 2011)
Pigeon Park – Messin’ Round (2011)
NeanderTHRALL – Thrall State (The Windsor Zene January Sampler – 2011)
Weirdonia – Crazy Germans (Live in Studio)
All Time Low – Umbrella (Punk Goes Crunk – 2008)
Thieves in Remand – Trace of Truth (Single – 2010)
Weirdonia – I AN CAN (Live – 2010)
Lucas Silveira – Mockingbird (Mockingbird – 2011)
The Cliks – Haunted (Dirty King – 2009)
Weirdonia – 1960′s Antique Clock (Live in Studio)
Weirdonia – Mask Boy’s Chair (Live in Studio)
Slyde – Prophecy of Misery (Slyde – 2010)
Having Weirdonia in the studio with me today made for one of my favourite shows ever. Not only did they play some awesome jams, but they made for great conversation. Together Alex, Preston, and I discussed the upcoming Pride festivities, the nature of shows in Windsor, and Weirdonia as a band. (Apparently they are the sound of your cracked out dad in the 60′s) With their outrageous impersonations and constant goofing around they made for an entertaining, if slighty hectic, show, and I can’t wait for them to come back.
Last week I caught a terrific show at The Blind Dog, video-game rockers Slyde from Ottawa came for a visit, and were joined on stage by Final Stage, Diesel Junkies, Aeron’s Wake, and Omnisyn. All bands were pretty fantastic, with major props going out to Slyde and Windsor’s Celtic metallers Aeron’s Wake. For a full review on the shows, as well as some photos, here’s a link to the WindsoriteDOTca Article.
There are some great shows coming up this week, with All Time Low playing the Blind Dog on Friday and Gypsy Chief Goliath kicking off their tour with Pigeon Park at The Coach on Thursday. That is a show not to be missed.
CJAM TOP 30!!! July 25th-31st, 2011!
* = Canadian Content
1 DANIEL ISAIAH* – High Twilight (Secret City)
2 THE WEATHER STATION* – All Of It Was Mine (You’ve Changed)
3 DEEP DARK WOODS* – The Place I Left Behind (Six Shooter)
4 LUST* – Heartbeat (Crush)
5 JOEL PLASKETT* – EMERGENCYs, false alarms, shipwrecks, castaways, fragile creatures, special features… (New Scotland)
6 GRAHAM WRIGHT* – Shirts vs. Skins (File Under: Music)
7 LITTLE DRAGON – Ritual Union (Peacefrog)
8 BRIAN ENO – Drums Between The Bells (Warp)
9 VARIOUS – Playing For Change Vol. 2 (Hear Music)
10 OCOTE SOUL SOUNDS – Taurus (ESL/Eighteenth Street Lounge)
11 ALINE MORALES* – Flores Tambores e Amores (Self-Released)
12 COM TRUISE – Galactic Melt (Ghostly International)
13 HANDSOME FURS* – Sound Kapital (Sub Pop)
14 ANNA ATKINSON* – Mooniture (Self-Released)
15 VETIVER – The Errant Charm (Sub Pop)
16 BOOKER T. JONES – The Road From Memphis (Anti-)
17 BATTLES – Gloss Drop (Warp)
18 MONKEYJUNK* – To Behold (Stony Plain)
19 JUNIOR BOYS* – It’s All True (Domino)
20 THURSTON MOORE – Demolished Thoughts (Matador)
21 HARRY MANX AND KEVIN BREIT* – Strictly Whatever (Stony Plain)
22 WASHED OUT – Within And Without (Sub Pop)
23 DIGITS* – Lost Dream (Self-Released)
24 HOODED FANG* – Tosta Mista (Self-Released)
25 GALACTIC – The Other Side Of Midnight: Live In New Orleans (Anti-)
26 KAE SUN* – Outside The Barcode (Urbnet)
27 CITY AND COLOUR* – Little Hell (Vagrant)
28 BILL BOURNE & THE FREE RADIO BAND* – Bluesland (Self-Released)
29 VARIOUS* – True Blue (Paper Bag)
30 JF ROBITAILLE* – Calendar (Blue Cardinal)
More Info?: www.earshot-online.com














