The Windsor Scene with Lauren Hedges

Lauren Hedges

The playlist for Wednesday, April 27, 2011;

Trish Wales – Holding You (Single – 2010)

Shared Arms – Zavits (Unreleased Jams – 2009)

Wayfarer – Arts and Warcrafts (Our Fathers – 2010)

The Decay – That Street (This Month’s Rent – 2009)

Devilz By Defintion – A Gram Short 20 (Windsor Zene February Sampler – 2011)

The Heatseeking Moisture Missiles – Hidin’ in the Bushes (Windsor Zene December Sampler – 2010)

Gypsy Chief Goliath – Elephant in the Room (Windsor Zene December Sampler – 2010)

Pitch Union – Yeah (Windsor Zene January Sampler – 2011)

Surdaster – The Truth (Acoustic) (Surdaster Live – 2006)

Anonymous Bosch – Offspring Back in the Race (Anonymous Bosch – 2010)

The Vaudevillanaires – Your Filthy Swagger (Race Hell) (From The Tank – 2011)

Weirdonia – 1960’s Antique Clock (Jarritolum – 2010)

Awake to a Dream – Tainted (EP – 2011)

High Mother – Not For Another Day (Gotta Get Love – 2011)

Dave Russell – Rocking Chair (Unnatural Disaster – 2010)

Hammerdown – Burn it Down (EP – 2011)

Desertion – Love, Hate, Homicide (Welcome to Nothing – 2009)

The song that opened today’s show, “Holding You” by Trish Wales is a cover of a song originally written by Tim McDonald, who was last week’s guest on the show. A big thanks to both Tim and Trish for providing that some for me to spin today. Here’s another of  Trish’s songs for you to check out;

Last Friday’s The Creepshow concert at The Blind Dog was everything that I could have hoped for. EVL, The Fourjury, and The Locusts Have No King all did a fabulous job opening the show and showing our guests just what Windsor has to offer musically. Punk, alt-country, and roots-rock bands that got the crowd warmed up for some wild psychobilly. To get all the details, and see some pretty rad shots, read the article.

On Saturday Inferno Fest went down on both stages of The Blind Dog. I hungout for a little while, liked some of what I saw, didn’t like some of it. Things were running behind, as would be expected – but by about an hour and a half? (I personally found this to be a bit excessive). There were also perhaps some organizational matters I might have handled differently, but I host a radio show, not concerts, so what do I know? All of those in attendance seemed to be enjoying themselves, and the bands as well, and that’s really what matters.

Coming up this Friday at FM Lounge is the High Mother CD release show with Curbside Sofa. These guys released a demo last year, which I was definitely impressed by, and the quick listen that I gave to their full-length leaves me with the same impression. This show is probably one to check out, and the band one to follow.

In another massive event of Windsor talent, this Saturday sees downtown taken over by the Songs for Sangha event, where bands are donating their performances to help raise money for Sangha Human Services Inc, a charity looking to help battle poverty in Windsor-Essex. There will be performances from fourteen local groups at three venues, starting around 10pm. There is a $5 suggested donation at the door, and raffles at each venue with tickets going for $5 each or 3 for $10. There will be a more in depth look at the event posted soon, so keep an eye out for that.

Tune in next week to The Windsor Scene on CJAM 99.1 FM between 5 and 6:30 for more on the city’s musical culture.

Sat. April 23: Too Much Metal for One Hand…Inferno Fest

Lauren Hedges

This Saturday, April 23rd,  The Blind Dog (671 Ouellette Ave.) will be consumed by metal as Inferno Fest comes to Windsor. Almost ten full hours of music, on two stages, with nineteen bands, this is sure to be intense. The lineup is a diverse set of heavy bands, most of which are from the Windsor area. This show allows re-admittance all day, and advance tickets can be purchased for only ten dollars.

Between 2 and 3 will be two as yet undecided bands, but they’ll probably be pretty good ones.

At 3, Pomegranate Tiger will be playing the small stage. These guys are a four-piece instrumental prog rock/metal group who impress whenever they play, whether the viewers have previously seen them or not.

From there, jump to the main stage at 3:30 for local badasses Assassinate the Following… with their brand of contagious and addictive heavy metal that is not just one dimensional screaming and distorted guitars, but well arranged pieces of music that will likely induce quite a pit.

Back to the small stage at 4 for Desertion who have recently decided to make a comeback into the Windsor music circuit. Playing for their “Welcome to Nothing EP” be ready for intense vocals and grinding guitars.

4:30 on the main stage gives Celtic metal from Aeron’s Wake that will get you dancing while you headbang. A very unique group for in the Windsor scene, and the only one of it’s sort at this show, they’re probably worth checking out.

Return to the small stage at 5 for A Dream in the Morning as they show off their “2-step/Ghettotech/Happy Hardcore”

Modern Miniatures from Hamilton take over the main stage at 5:30 with hardcore featuring members of Threat Signal. Even when they lay off the screaming, it’s not to sing some pretty harmonies. The vocals remain jagged and raw, a relentless barrage of heavy.

Then catch Toronto straightedge hardcore Liferuiner on the small stage at 6 before they take off for their European tour in May. Think For the Fallen Dreams and Acacia Strain, and you’ll have a good idea of what these guys sound like.

Before going once more to the main stage for Perpetuate at 6:30 where they’ll be playing in support of their newly released self-titled album, spewing thick and layered female-fronted prog-rock.

The small stage will host Anu Beginning at 7, another group with a recent release “We Move Mountains”. This pop-punk/hardcore group will entertain you while bringing up thoughts of The Offspring from A Day to Remember fornicating with Blurt.

Are you dizzy yet? Hopefully not, because there are still 8 more bands and 4 more hours of face melting to come.

So then on the main stage at 7:35 you can catch Overcome Your Kingdom from Chatham as they scream and sing their way through a set that is likely to include a fair bit of jumping around from both the band and the crowd.

And Cyreene on the small stage at 8:10 with more prog-rock to get your head whipping about.

8:45 will show Betrayer on the main stage, one of the city’s longest-running acts, this group has in the past won numerous battle of the bands competitions, and are sure to wow you with their classic-metal style.

We Remain will take over the small stage at 9:20 for thrashy prog with a unique tone to it. Description and comparisons aren’t coming easy for this one, but it’s good. So check it out, and draw your own conclusions.

Finding your way back to the main stage after that will bring you face-to-face with Blackthorn City at 9:55, who have a new EP posted to their myspace. They have only short samples that make it rather difficult to judge, but it seems promising. Traditionalish metal, I’d have to guess.

We’re getting close to the end now… The Big Dirty will be tearing up the small stage at 10:30 with a big, growling, distorted set.

While that’s going on, the main stage will be set up for Hamilton’s Aarsonist who go on at 11:05. This is another unique band for the night. Vocals are spoken, and everything about their sound is something different that what you’ll have heard up until this point. Check out their clean guitar…Wicked.

And the day will then be closed off on the small stage by Devilz by Definition, the staple band of The Coach and Horses, self-defined as “good old fashioned metal”, you’ll want to save a bit of energy for this set so you can properly thrash around for a fitting closing to a long day.

Has your face melted completely off, yet?

Inferno Fest takes place Saturday, April 23rd 2011 at The Blind Dog (671 Ouellette Ave.). It is all ages, $10 ADV/$15 Door, doors open at 1 pm and the show goes from 2 until 12:10, with re-admittance all day.

The Windsor Scene with Lauren Hedges

Lauren Hedges

This week’s playlist, excluding live performances;

Brenda Eyler – Dream with Me (Dream with Me – 2008)

Crissi Cochrane – Coming Home (Darling, Darling – 2010)

Luna Borealis – Bed Bugs Inn (The Windsor Zene January Sampler – 2011)

Goliath – What Happened Last Night (Funweiser EP – 2011)

Assassinate the Following… – Death Row (Massacre of the North – 2009)

Desertion – From here to Oblivion ( Welcome to Nothing – 2009)

Tyburn Tree – Arch Stanron (Parliament of Trees – 2008)

Tim McDonald – Stand Tall (Somehow, Somewhere – 2007)

The Creepshow – Demon Lover (Run For Your Life – 2008)

The Locusts Have No King – Last Night In My Favourite Bar and The Repurcussions Thereof (Come One, Come All – 2010)

EVL – Out of Reach (I’ll Keep Mine EP – 2009)

Monique Belanger – Through Yellow Fields (The W Music Compilation – 2008)

This week I was joined in the studio by local songwriter, performer, and paramedic, Timmy McDonald. Tim’s songs have been covered by other artists, and the song that opened the show, “Dream with Me” performed by Brenda Eyler, is a cover of one of Tim’s songs from his 2007 release, “Somehow, Somewhere”. Tim also is set to play at numerous Relay for Life Cancer Fundraising events across Ontario, and is recording a song just for others that he cannot make it out to. He will shortly be travelling to Nashville where he will play various songwriter shows at popular venues including The Commodore Lounge. A name that you might not have heard before, Tim McDonald is nonetheless a figure in our local music scene, and someone I am happy to have had on my show. Keep an eye out for a new release from Tim in the coming months.

Here is a video of Tim playing at Rymer Hall in Nashville. For the anecdote behind the video, listen to today’s archive.

Last Thursday I attended a punkrock show at The Coach and Horses, featuring local and out of town bands. It was certainly something. After hearing and enjoying Suppressulant recordings, it was great to finally hear them play. There’s just something about oldschool, dirty, DIY punk that gets me every time. The Rowley Estate performed as well as always, with great stage antics and catchy songs that stray near to the realm of pop-punk. Playing their second show ever, Repetitions are only getting better. All the way from Boston, Pious Dogs had a bumpy start, dealing with a damaged snare stand, but they overcame that and got things moving with some rough and traditional punk that was nothing overly remarkable, but with guitars that were far too loud. I don’t even want to talk about The Swabs! If you’re looking for further explanation on any of this, there’s always the WindsoriteDOTca article.

I’m so excited for Friday that I can hardly contain myself. Psychobilly/Horrorpunk quartet The Creepshow return to Windsor for the first time since I was in like, grade ten. So it’s been a while. This is going to kick copious amounts of ass. Joining them will be new collaborative act The Fourjury, local indie-roots outfit The Locusts Have No King, and EVL, who need no further introduction. The best place to pick up tickets for this one is from Mr. Jamie Greer over at The Manchester Pub, who will supply them to you for only ten dollars. No joke. Go get one.

Saturday is an intense day for metal, with both Inferno Fest at The Blind Dog and The Heavy Diversity Show at  The Coach and Horses. Inferno boasts 19 bands on two stages, raging for eleven and a half hours, all for only $10 if you go out and get yourself an advance ticket. The Heavy Diversity show features local favourites Weapon of Choice, blues-metallers Tyburn Tree, prog-rockers Perpetuate (coming from their gig at Inferno) and a band you should know, After Ashes. This one starts at 9, is 19+, and costs $5 at the door.

A great big thanks for Timmy McDonald for coming in today, he was a pleasure to have and I can’t wait to have him back.

Which local band or artist would you like to hear next on The Windsor Scene?