Road Runner Records Finds A Windsor Band to Play CMW

It has already been announced that Windsor’s newest decet, The Unquiet Dead will be performing as part of Canadian Music Week in Toronto in March 2012, but another local act will soon be added to theoster, pending the outcome of Friday night’s Road Runner Records Sign Me To Showcase.

For only $10 fans can see 11 acts compete for a spot in CMW 2012. The show will take place at The Dominion House Tavern (3140 Sandwich st.) and tickets are on sale from bands now, but are selling out quickly.

The showcase will be split into two halves; the first will run from 5 pm until 9 pm and will be all ages. The second half will begin at 9 and run until 1:30 am. This bit is only for those 19 and up, but one ticket provides access to both halves.

Part one will feature bands on the lighter end of the musical spectrum, starting off with pop group HelloAudio. This is a group that has played with West-Coast dance-pop sensations These Kids Wear Crowns, and who plan on releasing their first full length in 2012.

Shortcut to Last have been receiving a fair bit of attention this year, releasing an album, a slip ‘n’ slide themed music video to their first single Two Minutes in Heaven off the album of the same title, and playing numerous shows in the area. Their Bowling for Soup-esque sound is always a crowd pleaser, with pop-punky and upbeat rhythms drawing audiences and winning over new fans at every show.

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With a new band member and new EP, We Can Be Heroes will be vying for a spot at CMW 2012 with their brand of dancey-pop-punk. Catchy Synth Loops and crunchy guitars create interest and define the sound of this young band.

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The Tragedy of Mariam are an eclectic group that take influence from pop, punk, alternative, and hardcore bands. The result is similar to an edgier Yellowcard with more heart. They recently opened for Silverstein when they visited Windsor.

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To finish off the first half of the night is female lead, heavy metal prog-rock outfit Perpetuate. With keys, operatic vocals, and intricate playing, this is a group that has carved a place for itself in the local scene, and can be found on bills with varying genres. Their first, self-titled album was released in April of this year and is currently being distributed by CDN Records.

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From here the night moves into the 19+ portion of the showcase.

Against All Evil is a new band who have been “silently creating their EP at SLR Studios”. Featuring members from Richie Nix, Radio Adelaide, and Thieves in Remand, this is their second show after opening for Mic Lordz and sauce Funky in November. Pop infused alt-rock that is ready for the radio, this band is half The Black Maria and half Fallout Boy. The sort of music that you can’t really call out for having anything wrong with it, except that maybe the melodies get stuck in your head.

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Slaughterhouse on the Prairie haven’t been around for as long as some bands on this bill, but by relentless playing they have built themselves a strong local fan base. Now a fixture in the city’s metal scene, they are currently working on recording at Spectre Sound Studios.

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One of Windsor’s more successful acts in recent years, Assassinate the Following… will join the bill as well. Playing progressive heavy metal with passion and heart, ATF… have toured with Protest the Hero and Abandon All Ships, and their 2009 album Massacre of the North is available through CDN Records.

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A local classic, Betrayer has a history of winning battle of the bands competitions, so it will be interesting to see how their practised, old-school metal fares against such an eclectic group of more modern-sounding bands. But regardless of the night’s outcome, Betrayer is always a group worth seeing, with defined stage presence and no question as to what they’re about musically.

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Ravenscode is another band in it’s infancy, but one that has found itself an audience in the Theory-of-a-Nickle-Creed fan base. After sprouting from a cover band in early 2011, they have spent this year touring Ontario and using their style of radio-friendly, crisp, alternative rock to win over audiences.

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Another relatively new band, King Misfit is comprised of guys from Windsor, LaSalle, and Amherstburg. Epic, symphonic, and progressive, they’re like a less-heavy Dream Evil, and their vocalist even sounds a bit like Niklas Islefdt. They released their debut album Under Ancient Ground in the spring, and this is their second area show since then. Their songs are long, sweeping, dynamic pieces of polished rock that are very listener friendly.

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Good luck to all bands participating in Friday night’s showcase, and hopefully music fans will take advantage of such a stellar lineup and go show their support for their favourites.

Road Runner Records Sign Me To Windsor Showcase takes place on Friday, December 16^th and The Dominion House Tavern (3140 Sandwich St.). Tickets are $10 ADV/$15 ATD, and provide access to both halves of the show. Part 1 begins at 5 pm, is all ages, and features HelloAudio, Shortcut to Last, We Can Be Heroes, The Tragedy of Mariam, and Perpetuate. Part 2 begins at 9 pm, is 19+, and features Against All Evil, Slaughterhouse on the Prairie, Assassinate the Following…, Betrayer, Ravenscode, and King Misfit.

The Windsor Scene with Lauren Hedges

In case you missed the show on June 29th, or would just like  to relive the magic, access the archive here. Or, if you’re only looking to find out what a certain  song was, see the playlist here;

Shortcut to Last – Two Minutes in Heaven (Two Minutes in Heaven EP – 2011)

HONHEEHONHEE – A. is for Animal

These Kids Wear Crowns – All The Way Home (These Kids Wear Crowns EP – 2009)

We Can Be Heroes – With Hopes Held High (Single – 2011)

StereoGoesStellar – Far Too Gone (Post Traumatic Head – 2009)

Shortcut to Last – I Wish (Live On Air)

The Classix – Peace of Mind  (Live What You Love EP – 2011)

Inoke Errati – Trying (The Wink and the Gun – 2008)

Shortcut to Last – Up All Night (2 Minutes in Heaven EP – 2011)

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

Erin Gignac – You! (Erin Gignac – 2002)

Shortcut to Last – Friend Fatale (Live On Air)

Shortcut to Last – Bubbles Galore (Two Minutes in Heaven EP  – 2011)

This week was a lot of fun, having three-quarters of local pop-punkers Shortcut to Last join me in the studio. We learned about the new band members, the recording process of their new EP, the upcoming slip-n-slide music video shoot, and their EP release show, which happened on Friday and I hear went very well. They also were nice enough to play a couple songs live for us, and that was pretty awesome. They marked the first band to use percussion when playing live on air, and I think it turned out quite well. They also had friends filming the entire show, and will likely post those videos at some point in the near future. Keep an eye out for those, and maybe you’ll get a look at what goes on in the studio when the mics are off. Good job boys, thanks for coming in, and feel free to come back any time!

Here’s a video of this enterprising group from when they set themselves up in front of the entrance to Beaverfest and handed out free CD’s to passerby

Also this week I had a special interview/live recording submission from Sarah Morris, the host of CJAM’s Pardon My French which airs every Thursday from 2:30 to 4 pm. She attended the Johnny West show at Mackenzie Hall a  couple of weeks back, and did some great recordings of Johnny playing and answering some of her questions. The show was in support of his newest release, “Gift From a Spider”, an album full of emotion and the classic sound that Windsor expects from Mr. West. Try hitting up Dr. Disc for a copy, they usually have them available at no charge.

And a video from that show…

I was also informed at the end of my show that Willy Wilson of The Motorcity is Burning is moving to a new timeslot to host a new show where he can showcase his love and knowledge of music outside the Michigan borders. So be sure to watch out for his new show, as it’s sure to be a blast. Good luck, Willy!

Tune in next Wednesday from 5 until 6:30 for more of your local music scene.

CD REVIEW: Shortcut to Last – Two Minutes in Heaven

James Steingart

Shortcut to Last, Two Minutes in Heaven EP

Please welcome the feelgood band of the summer, Shortcut To Last.  This power punk quartet from Belle River is feeding off of a lot of momentum right now, having just completed their second EP titled Two Minutes In Heaven.  Just like their previous disc I Know You’re Not One For Serious Situations, it was recorded and produced by Glenn Fricker at Spectre Sound Recording Studios.

The four-piece consists of lead vocalist and bassist Matt Diamante, rhythm guitarist Joel Benetau, lead guitarist Teron Matton and drummer John McBean.  Teron and John joined right after the recording of the new EP and they, along with their bandmates are gearing for a chance to play at this year’s Warped Tour in Mississauga, Ontario.  They entered the annual Ernie Ball Battle Of The Bands contest and are doing quite well in the voting and have got extended play to the next round.

While the votes are crucial, musicianship and songwriting also play a factor in the contest which should not be an issue, given their pop smarts and killer hooks.  It’s no mistake that two tracks from their debut EP, the party-punk and youthful tinge of “Undone” and “It’s Never Enough”  amassed a grand tally of almost 40,000 views on Youtube.   I  was lucky to get a sneak peak of Two Minutes In Heaven from the guys themselves and blared it in my own little underground garage.

No hurry getting things started here, the loudfastrules apply on this just over ‘two minutes in heaven’ title track.  The presence of  infectious melodies, memorable singalong choruses, lead guitar firepower and hard-hitting, powerhouse drumming are all things Shortcut To Last have trademarked themselves with and it’s on display here and on the following five tracks.  Next up, “Friend Fatale” is more of the same,  another dose of high octane energy.

Things slow down a little bit on the dreamy, melodic swing of “I Wish.”  A song to turn up on a lazy summer day, it’s also one of those “lighters in the air” tunes with its sultry sway.  The pace then picks up again with “Bubbles Galore,” guitars, bass ‘n drum all firing together and exploding into one solid state of rock.

“Up All Night” is a straight-ahead, melodic pop-punker and seems to touch on matters of the pursuit of a dream, be it one of music or love.  Lyrics like “you’re no man on the moon/you’ll never be a star, dreams are for sleeping” are a universal sentiment and strikes a power chord with anyone wanting to live out their fantasies.  The band’s genuine nature is best shown here as well as the closing “Stop.”  This final cut from Two Minutes In Heaven could be cited as an anthem for a generation.  It’s loud, exciting and catchy to the nines in that Sum 41 kinda way.    There’s no reason the guys in Shortcut To Last can’t ride that same wave of success.

Purchase Two Minutes In Heaven at the band’s cd release party July 1st @ The Blind Dog and come see what I’m raving about.  Be sure to help out these hard working musicians and vote for them to play this summer’s Warped Tour.  For more information, visit www.shortcuttolast.com They are also on itunes.

The Windsor Scene with Lauren Hedges

Lauren Hedges

First things first, the playlist from this week’s installment of The Windsor Scene, also available as a download.

Dave Russell – Toys (Unnatural Disaster – 2010)

Fresh Breath – Speed of Sound (The Speed of Sound – 2010)

Jordan Dollar – Flight (Move Forward II – 2010)

Acousticfire – Sorry Old Man (The Windsor Zene Sampler February – 2011)

Goliath – Facebreaker (Funweiser EP – 2011)

Assassinate the Following… – Sinful Beginnings (Assasinate the Following…)

Fuck The Facts – Fingers with Candy Tips (Collection of Splits 2000-2004 – 2005)

Tony Coates – Beautiful (2010)

Anonymous Bosch – Death, Metal, and Blues (Anonymous Bosch)

Awake to a Dream – Tainted (2011)

ATM – Crusty Barnacle (ATM/Gnarlie Murphy Split – 2010)

Shortcut to Last – It’s Not Enough (I Know You’re Not One For Serious Situations – 2010)

Riverside – The Best is Yet To Come (Newspeak)

Time Giant – Lobotomy (Grow – 2011)

Sewing with Nancie – Naïve (The Same Three Chords – 2000)

The Rural Alberta Advantage – Muscle Relaxants (Departing – 2011)

Lonesome Lefty & The Cryin’ Shames – Back to the Sugar Camp (Souvenir Album – 2011)

Yellow Wood – Be A Little Braver (Son of the Oppressor – 2009)

Yellow Wood – Picture (Son of the Oppressor – 2009)

And a few notes on the show;

Thanks to Dave Russell for the nudge towards his tunes! Anonymous Bosch did a similar thing this week as well, informing me of their newly-submitted album. There are a lot of CDs in our library, and I have yet to find the time to become familiar with all of them. Requests for music, whether they’re coming from artists or fans, are always welcome and appreciated. So what do you want to hear?

Awake to a Dream, Tony Coates, and Shortcut to Last are rad for supplying their music after I asked for it. Thanks for helping to build the show, and CJAM’s local library!

Anyone else interested in having their albums added to our selection of local artists can feel free to drop CD’s (or vinyl!) off at the station in the basement of the CAW Student Centre at The University of Windsor.

This past week I was in attendance at a number of sweet shows.

Last Thursday, which also happened to be St. Patty’s Day, I spent my evening at The Coach, and as my alcohol consumption went up, I remembered more. Yes, I know this makes no sense, but there it is. What this translates into is this; of The Kettle Black I remember a dude with a guitar, some black curtains, and weirdness. So, that is to say, not very much. On to Devilz by Definition, then. Metal. Lots of mids, high-pitched screaming. We’re getting better. So next came Awake to a Dream. A ukulele cover of The “Last Saskatchewan Pirate” by The Arrogant Worms, and I geeked out. Music from Sonic 2. I geeked more. It was awesome!

Sunday night was Shared Arms, Everyone Everywhere, and The All Night in an all-ages show at Phog. Pop-punk at it’s finest. The moshing had to be continually squashed, and the crowd sang as loud as the bands, even when they weren’t hijacking microphones. It made me really appreciate and wonder at the dedication of music fans in Windsor, that they learn the words to every single song of the local bands they love. It’s great to see, you won’t find it quite the same anywhere else.

Tuesday night was the debut of Cellos in the opening slot for KEN Mode. I unfortunately had to miss the first band thanks to work, but folks tell me it was quite the experience.  My first encounter with KEN Mode was pretty damn awesome, but I don’t know how to describe it. They can’t be defined by a single (or even 3) genre. It was for sure heavy, and the mixing of an Orange stack with a Mesa head almost made me cry I loved it so much. Instead of trying and failing to describe this music, how about you just listen to it.

Friday the 25^th is a very busy night in the Windsor music scene, but I’ll give you the rundown on my show of choice (and believe me; it wasn’t an easy one). At The Blind Dog you can see Silver Glory, Awake to a Dream, Nuclear Sunrise, Bleach, Jonas & the Massive Attraction, and Anonymous Bosch for only $10 (with the purchase of an advance ticket).  A night of rock’n’roll at it’s finest. Pretty stoked for this one.

But any show you choose in Windsor this weekend, whether it’s Tony Coates at Taloola, Fuck the Facts at The Coach, or Freedom Within at Trees, it’s gonna be great, because Windsor fans are half the fun of these shows, and they’re sure to be packing each one of them.

And as an extra special tip, if you tune in to the show next Wednesday between 5 and 630 you’ll have a chance to win a pair of tickets to the upcoming Perpetuate CD Release Show with Baptized in Blood and Betrayer. That’s right, free tickets to a sweet metal show. What more can you ask for?

The Windsor Zene’s FREE February Windsor Music Sampler is now available!

Well it’s that time of month again – although the shortness of February caught us a bit off guard so we’re a couple days off.

Here’s your link to February’s FREE Windsor Music Sampler. Just click on the February release (or if you missed December or January’s, they’re still available for FREE download as well). February’s compilation started off a bit slow, but it turned into our biggest compilation yet, clocking in at 16 tracks!

We’re pleased to announce that some different genres are slowly creeping in, from melodic rock (Acousticfire) to ska (Brass Knuckles and The Nefidovs) as well as our first sampling of Windsor hip-hop arrives with a track from Academy’s Kayyce Closed.

Some of the veterans of the scene (Pat Robitaille, Hammerdown, Explode When They Bloom, The Hung Jury, The Golden Eagles) are also represented, while new blood like Shortcut to Last, Devilz By Definition and The Hypnotics are also on the bill. Some overlooked acts from the past couple years (but who are still performing) are represented as well, with the indie DIY punk ethic of Rose City (featuring Locusts Have No Ki ng, ASK and Years of Ernest member Joey “The Wise Guy” DesRoches) and the electronic blues funk of Gregg Koval‘s track (Koval gained notoriety as part of the ’90s outfit Powdered Toastmen).

Our first sample of cross border unity also appears featuring the Detroit hardcore band The Armed, which features Windsor guitarist Christopher Elkjar (who also performs in Cloverjoy and has accompanied (wh)y.m.e.(??) at some live performances).

We’ve got a great electronic piece from Kero to close the set out for you. This guy is one of Windsor’s most influential musicians of the past decade (Beck and Radiohead’s Thom Yorke are admitted fans) and it’s a real treat to have him on the sampler.

In a band and your submission didn’t make the cut? Fear not. Simply means we ended up with more than we could handle this month. It’ll appear as soon as we can allot it!

Want to submit a track for an upcoming sampler? Send your hi-quality mp3 or .wav file, along with all production credits, to windsorzene@gmail.com

Help promote local Windsor music by SHARING this article on your Facebook page! The best way to let people know about the talent this city and scene produces is my letting them know!

Sun. Feb. 20: Inoke Errati release new EP to sold out crowd at the Loop?

Despite still being several days away, it appears that the guys from Inoke Errati may be already sitting comfortably in the knowledge that the release party for their new EP, Make-Outs and Movie Stars, will be to a full house.

This Sunday, Windsor’s premiere power pop kings release the highly anticipated follow-up to 2006’s The Wink and The Gun, a 5-song EP produced by the band themselves, with engineering and mixing done by Joel Bruyere (of Thousand Foot Krutch) and mastered by famed engineer Joao Carvalho.

Inoke Errati are a stand out band in many ways, perhaps mostly because of their determination not to sit back and simply wait for good things to happen for them. They’ve toured, played with national touring acts, and sold out venue after venue around Windsor by good old fashioned hard work. The fact that they’re well on their way to selling out The Loop (156 Chatham St. West, above Pogo’s) – which is no small feat, as it’s capacity is 440 people – by pounding the streets and taking a personal approach to selling tickets, is proof positive of the rewards hard work and dedication to your craft can net. At press time, they’d sold well over 300 tickets and they printed 400. Which, if your math skills are calculator reliant, means that there’s only room at the door for 40 more people to get in (if you want to get advance tickets at only $5, email info@inokeerrati.com).

Inoke Errati – a fixture in the local music scene since 2003 – have stuck around as long as they have for the same reason veterans like Ten Indians, fiftywatthead and Kelly “Mr. Chill” Hoppe have. They don’t chase fads, they don’t try and predict what the music industry wants to hear, they simply do what they do best and stick at it. In Inoke Errati’s case, it’s write infectious powerpop with big hooks and a story that everyone can relate to. And they realize that rock and roll, once you strip away it’s pretensions, it’s wardrobes and it’s MTV gloss, is really about uniting as many people as possible through the power of a good chorus and the energy created by the interweaving of the music makers and their listeners. Which is something this power(pop) trio have mastered in spades.

They’ve kept the new EP tightly guarded (even their MySpace only offers clips), so here’s a listen back to their big single from their last record, with a new video recently made by local film maker Gavin Michael Booth.

Doors for the show are EARLY, so don’t say you weren’t warned. Doors are at 7:30pm, with the music starting at 8pm. Opening the show are two great new bands – Shortcut to Last and Beijing Bike Club – as well as The Greatest Invention, the new moniker by the band formerly known as Credible Witness. The plan is to have Inoke Errati finished earlier so they can celebrate the release party out in the crowd as well, with DJ Vin Vicious taking over to close out the night.

Inoke Errati ‘Make-Outs and Movie Stars’ EP Release Party, with special guests The Greatest Invention, Shortcut to Last and Beijing Bike Club, with host DJ Vin Vicious, The Loop (156 Chatham St. West, above Pogo’s), $5 Ticket, 19+, Doors at 7:30pm, Show starts at 8pm

Fri. Feb. 11: Beijing Bike Club & Shortcut To Last host indie rock show at The Coach

While the FM Lounge hosts some of the scene’s most respected veteran performers, the legendary Coach & Horses (156 Chatham St. West, below Pogo’s) showcases some of the emerging talent from Windsor’s indie rock scene.

Beijing Bike Club of Essex, whose song “The Past” is featured in the FREE January Windsor Music Sampler (courtesy of your pals at the Windsor Zene), bring a nostalgic sound to the stage. It feels at parts like ’90s bands like Better Than Ezra or Live, but with more of the hipness of Jimmy Eat World or Weezer. The song is more mature than their years and if this what they’re starting point sounds like, these guys are going to be huge within two years. They’re also opening up for Inoke Errati‘s EP release party Sunday February 20th at The Loop and Toronto’s Chasing Amee (who recently shot a video with Windsor’s Gavin Michael Booth) at the Blind Dog on February 26th.

Belle River’s Shortcut to Last also have a 90’s feel about them, but more akin to early Doughboys or pre-Grave Dancers Union Soul Asylum, although with a more So Cal punk swagger. Their single, “Undone”, will be appearing in February’s Windsor Music Sampler. Their songs are simple but smart, predictable but welcomed. These guys could be the sleeper pick to be the funnest live show of the summer if the energy from the songs carry over on a hot July day. These guys are also on the February 20th Inoke Errati show.

Playing For Keeps are not at all what I expected from their name. I was thoroughly expecting another Blink 182 knockoff and they are not even close. They’re somewhat reminiscent of some the more majestic anthems from Scottish indie rockers Idlewild. It sometimes gets close to pop punk but never seems to totally commit to it and remain just a ballsier pop gem.

A Wake To A Dream, featuring former One Man’s Opinion member Chris Wilbur, is another new band who’s been playing a lot of show lately and picking up some new fans. Somewhere between ’90s grunge and 2000’s indie prog, you’ll find these guys. They never get too intricate and never sacrifice the melody for an miscued time change. These guys are still finding their feet as a band (but that simply comes with man hours logged together on stage) but they’re just about there and when they do, they’ll start getting some notice. They also have a track (“The Importance of the Bass Guitar”) on the January Windsor Music Sampler.

Four great bands on the rise with a lot of promise. No cover charge means you don’t need the pressure of paying a cover to check out a new band you haven’t heard. Just pop in and spend that extra five bucks on a bar – and leave a little something for Bucky or Nicole.

Beijing Bike Club, Shortcut to Last, Playing for Keeps and Awake To A Dream, The Coach & Horses (156 Chatham St., below Pogo’s), Friday February 11, 9pm, No cover