Waaaake up, Saskatoon!

Today, I played some upbeat tunes with a splash of hometown goodness and a dash of randomness. The randomness comes natural as randomness can... but I made a concerted effort to play some upbeat songs early to help coax myself listeners out of slumber with some energetic dance-y tunes! Hope it worked!

Brother Down - Sam Roberts

One Shot - Bend Sinister

Heavy Ceiling - Said the Whale

Forevermore (Wah? Oh!)  - Volcanoless In Canada*

Michigan Left - Arkells

Ghosts - Castle River*

Why Don't You Believe Me? - Small Sins

Questions - DVAS

How Bizarre (OMC cover) - CFCF

Live Forever - Shad & Dallas

Islands - We Were Lovers*

Black and White Mountains - Snowblink

Downtown - Erin Passmore*

Sins of My Father - Zachary Lucky*

Northern Air - Elliott BROOD

Laura Palmer's Prom  - You Say Party!

True Heart - Foam Lake*

Are You Gonna' Waste My Time - Zeus

Brand New Ocean - Jeffery Straker*

Constellation - Forest City Lovers

Fire - Yukon Blonde

Road Regrets - Dan Mangan

*Denotes Saskatchewan-based artists

A few notes from today's show:

• I played a cover of a song that came out in 1995. I remember it well. It's called How Bizarre. Sweet heavens, I'm old. 
• I played Jeffrey Straker, an artist from Punnichy, Saskatchewan. At first listen to his music, I felt a bit of an Elton John-esque vibe. Turns out I'm not the only one! I love the strong piano in his songs.
• I love the Shad and Dallas song. It's a beautiful blend of two bloody talented artists. I love them both for their craft, and adore this collaboration. Take a listen, if ya'd like (via tumblr).
• If you're in Saskatoon on Friday, go see Zachary Lucky and Saskatoon's favourite bro duo, the K-Bros at the Bassment. If you love acoustic awesomeness and fantastic stage presence, do it up!

Therr she be for another couple weeks.  

much love, 

k

Searchlight by CBC Music

So, often in life you hear the term: money doesn't grown on trees. This is a phrase that could easily be uttered by hard-touring, road-rambling musicians tirelessly working to make a name for themselves. Their endeavours are often self-funded, which includes everything from instruments (nahh, really?) to recording, touring, gas, food, and the list can last on for hours.

Starting a band is often a project borne out of one thing: the love of music. Fans come when musicians are emboldened to share their innermost thoughts set to music with others. Those first several steps can be the most terrifying, yet gratifying moments of a band's life.

CBC Music is hosting a contest for "new" bands. The chance to win $20,000 in gear would be a gift from the musical gods. Closing date to enter is this Thursday, fittingly February 14, a day loved is shared all over the world! More info on this fantastic opportunity is available here.

I created a playlist of some sweet "new" Saskatoon bands I think would be very deserving of this prize.

Good luck!

Thematic

I try to have themes throughout my show, whether it has to do with music genre, tempo, regions, a certain holiday. Sometimes my music is random, but most times, I attempt to carefully craft a (hopefully) exciting batch of tunes.

I first try to vary things quite a bit, and try to ensure I listen to all the songs and plot out my show and try to build sets that are loosely related. (I have an awesome time doing this, btw!)

Today for example, I had a myriad of mini-sets. Like a husband and wife (Jen Lane and John Antoniuk), a Saskatoon set, a rockin' set, a folky set, a cover set, a poppy set, and a sappy music set (AKA a couple of mushy songs I can't help but love, perhaps in celebration of Hallmark Valentine's Day).

I've given away all my secrets.What do I do now?

So, without further delay, my playlist for February 11!

Strange Animal (Gowan Cover) - The Acorn
I will follow you into the Dark  (Death Cab for Cutie cover) - Amy Millan
Little River - Daniel Ledwell
Easy Come, Easy Go - Great Lake Swimmers
Beautiful - Ben Caplan
The Girl - City and Colour
Safe and Sound - Hawksley Workman
My Denial in Argyle - Woodpigeon
Leap Year - Christine Fellows
Black Bells - Wax Mannequin
The Lonely Cricket - Jen Lane*
Last Day of the Year - John Antoniuk*
Nancy - Deep Dark Woods*
Fossils - Carbon Dating Service*
La Petite Mort - Coeur de Pirate
Romantic Rights - Death from Above 1979
Red Action - Indian Handcrafts
Switched At Death - Vulture Kult*/**
Serious Bedtime - The Balconies
Blood - Dears
Young Hearts Spark Fire - Japandroids
Put Me On - Diamond Rings
Shoreless Kid - Young Galaxy
I Don't Get By - The Sheepdogs* (Bonus tidbit..Learn and Burn was certified PLATINUM last Tuesday! Goo Sheepies!)

Till February 25! <3

*Denotes Saskatchewan-based artists
**Denotes requested songs

Bloggin' from the deep (freeze)

Hi from Siberia  Saskatchewan! (It's actually "warmed" up since last week's -45 temps..)

Well, I'm a tad late posting my playlist for January 28, but better late than never!

Mind Crumb - Shotgun Jimmie
All my Days - The Gossip
Seven AM - Constantines
Jump in the Pool - Friendly Fires
Things Will Get Better - Bend Sinister
The Young Ones Slept - Great Bloomers
Shortie - Hannah Georgas
Jolene - Hey Ocean!
Breezy Day - The Fjords*
ESP - Hooded Fang
Prairie Girl - Rah Rah*
Cruise Control - The Inbreds
Lonely Sunday - Jordan Cook*
Tether Ball - The Karpinka Brothers*
Night Shift - Economics*
We Work Better - The Provincial Archive
In Came the Flood - Wintersleep
Hold on When You Get Love, Let go when you give it - Stars
Mint - Kathleen Edwards
Adventures in Solitude - The New Pornographers
Up and Down - The Mountains and the Trees
Time Running - Seahags*
Small Town Streets - Zachary Lucky*
Feathers - Slow down, molasses*

*Denotes Saskatchewan-based artists

Wow, lots of SK love this time around. I tend to dabble in it every show, as I think it's important to rep our province!

Till next time!

<3 K

Saskatoon at Midnight

Oddly enough, I'm writing this at midnight, in Saskatoon. It's the name of one of the songs I chose to share for my show on January 14. It was my first show back since 2012, and it was wonderful to rock out to some tunes.

You'll notice my list is almost entirely Canadian. Though I listen to an array of artists from genre to genre, I really enjoy the Canadian scene. There's so much talent here.

Wherever I've gone, I've always been a fan of local music and supporting the local scene.

Though I sometimes (okay most times) feel like a relative n00b to Saskatoon, I've fallen in love with its varied yet incredibly cohesive music scene. Whether it's instrumental psychedelic punk amazingness (Shooting Guns who I finally saw perform this weekend at LUGO), or folk-infused brotherly love like the Karpinka Brothers, there's some hella talented, supportive and dedicated musicians 'round hurr.

I also find it fascinating that there's a great deal of songs existing out there about this fine metropolis. The aforementioned tune, song by The Guess Who, PS I LOVE YOU, hell, even the late legend Johnny Cash. Must be its beauty, maybe its people. This prairie town has cast a spell.

Anyway, here is my playlist for Monday, January 14, 2013!

Aside - The Weakerthans
Paper In Your Pocket - The Elwins
Out Like a Lion - Whitehorse
Little Poems - Rah Rah*
Haunted - Grey Kingdom
All The Stars - Rose Cousins
postcard - jeans boots*
Gimme Sympathy (Metric Cover) - Elliott BROOD
Evil's Sway - Japandroids
Seven Seas Blues - Monster Truck
Harmonic Steppenwolf  - Shooting Guns*
Die Young - The Danks
Bury Your Secrets - Violent Kin*
I Guess - Analog Bell Service
Dreadlock Holiday - 10CC**
Belize - Blue Hawaii
Spirit in the Sky - Evening Hymns
Believe - Moneen
Chrome Eyelids - Boats
A Good Name - Shad
Simple Pleasures (Classified Mix) - David Myles
Saskatoon at Midnight - Wintermitts
The Canadian Dream - Sam Roberts
Michigan Left - Arkells

*Denotes Saskatchewan-based artists.
**Denotes requested songs


Till January 28!

Pre-Christmas Wonder

My most show was a bit of a mixed bag. It was my last show of 2012. Kinda crazy how fast the year has gone by.

Here is my playlist for December 17/2012.

The red and green highlighted songs below are Christmas/Winter-oriented. Holiday music is played ad nauseum at this time of year, so I wanted to pick a few cool renditions. I really love Hilary Grist's holiday compilation that she keeps adding to every year. It's called It's Officially Winter Now and you can download it here (and name your price!) There's just something about a beautiful holiday song.

Oil Sands - Carbon Dating Service*
Silver Lining - Rilo Kiley
Bathtubs - Royal Canoe
In The Belly Of A Dragon - Jenn Grant
When The Storm Clears - The Karpinka Brothers*
Furr - Blitzen Trapper
Tosta Mista - Hooded Fang
Cause For Alarm - The Heavy
City With No Children - Arcade Fire
Fairytale Of New York - In-Flight Safety
Flash - Olenka and The Autumn Lovers
Dance If You Want To - Rose Cousins
Go Back - Cannon Bros
Southern Drawl  - Bahamas
A Losing Song - Daniel Romano
The First Noel - Hilary Grist
Le Blizzard - Malajube
The Winter Hours - The Deep Dark Woods*
Bottom of the Sea - Redgy Blackout
Niagara - Ohbijou
Cover Your Tracks - Young Galaxy
Islands - We Were Lovers*

If I don't post before the end of the year, I wish you a safe and happy duration 2012 and an amazing 2013!


*Denotes Saskatchewan-based artists.

Double the pleasure, double the fun

This week, I've hosted twice! Lucky me, draggin' me arse outta bed at 5-something in the AM. Actually, aside from the whole leaving-my-comfy-warm-bed-and-being-ripped-out-of-a-lovely-slumber bit, I really enjoy the morning show circuit.

I had a bit of a hiatus, so it was great to be back. I hosted in my regular bi-weekly slot, then filled in today (November 21) for an ailing Crystal who is currently feeling under the weather.

When I build my playlists, I try to have kind of a loose theme in mind. Sometimes, my theme is just.. random music! Monday, I had couple of sets dedicated to regions. The first was an ode to my homeland, the Maritimes, and more specifically Prince Edward Island, which will always be embedded in my heart. The second was to my current home, the lovely prairies that I've become enchanted with since moving here seven years (!!!) ago.

Today, I just attempted to have series of pretty high energy songs, followed by some chill time. I also held a mini-homage to Canadian rock legends Leonard Cohen (who was in Saskatoon November 20) and Neil Young (who stopped by Saskatoon last Wednesday, November 14.)

Anydoodle, here's my playlists.

Monday, November 19

Montréal -40°C - Malajube
Out of Here - Cannon Bros
I Knew - Lightning Dust
Heart's the Target - Milks and Rectangles
Little Liar - Paper Lions
Tricky Fellows - Molly Rankin
Light (Economics Remix) Slow Down, Molasses*
Duet for Emmylou and the Grievous Angel - Rah Rah*
Reluctant Readers - Library Voices*
Back In Town - Hilary Grist
ALIVE - Rich Aucoin
Stamp - The Rural Alberta Advantage
Romantic Rights - Death From Above 1979
Silent Seven - Controller.Controller
Set Me Free - The Heavy
A Thousand Suns - Hey Rosetta!
Young & Lazy - The Matinee
In Perfect Time - Jill Barber
Sweet Tart - Belle Plaine*
Wheat Kings - The Tragically Hip

Wednesday, November 21 (Fill-in for Crystal...get well soon!)

The End of That - Plants And Animals

Love & Light - Sandro Perri
Eyesore - Women
Love Is A Dirty Word - Jason Collett
On the Run - Sam Roberts
Out Here (Cannonball) - Shad
Good & Bad - No Gold
In the End It's Your Friends - Shout Out Out Out Out
Sick Muse - Metric
Radio - Yukon Blonde
Amour Than Amis - Two Hours Traffic
Crash Landing - Rae Spoon
Elephant - Hannah Georgas
Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen
Harvest Moon - Neil Young
He Brings Out the Whiskey in Me - Amy Millan
A Soft Place To Land - Kathleen Edwards
Two Time Loser - The Deep Dark Woods*
Aside - The Weakerthans
Starts With Them, Ends With Us - Dan Mangan

*Denotes Saskatchewan-based artists

See you Monday, December 3!