Your Kiss Is Something To Bragg About

There's no secret that Newfoundland is has an abundance of music history. But the difference from 20 years ago and today is that its not just traditional Newfoundland with a mix of country music anymore. Yesterday it was the Harry Hibbs, Dick Nolans, Great Big Seas, just to name a few. Today artists around Newfoundland have taken a more modern twist to their music. Its not a bad thing at all. Bands like Hey Rosetta and The Gramercy Riffs are touring Canada and the States, while astounding listeners all the way from sea to shining sea. Today St. John's is crawling with live acts, you can go any night of the week on george st or water st and catch a live show of some of the best sounding Canadian artists today. Us Newfies have the pleasure and luck to see such bands as The Novaks, Pathalogical Lovers, Navigators, Monday Nights, the list can just go on forever.
But one of the best known and respected artists around St. John's is a character by the name of Mark Bragg. He has done everything from produce and session play for just about everyone around town. Hes also one of the quirkiest songwriters in Newfoundland, sounding much like a mix between Bruce Springsteen, Captain Beefheart and Tom Waits. His music has a true mixture that just about anyone can enjoy. Mark has just released a new album by the name of Your Kiss and I honestly can't say enough good things about this album. It has everything from rocking songs like Your Boys Home to sour sweet ballads such as The Cutter to Texan style fast beat songs like Carl Ray. One of the standout songs has got to be the fun loving sing along song Roll Baby Roll, the catchy rhyming scheme of the lyrics makes ya just want to listen to it again and again. Bragg has a way with lyrics but also with the arrangement of songs which is seen in the song You Be The Boy. I just fell in love with this album as soon as I wraped my headphones around my head and sat back to listen. The horn section is second to none and fits extremely well with the heavy bass lines and drum beat. Well done to Bragg on Making Your Kiss a huge success. I honestly don't think that I'll be listening to anything else this week. The album just takes a hold of you and there is no way of getting sick of songs. Each song has a distinct sound that is different than each other. Theres a wide variety of sound on this album and I would suggest this album to any music lover out there. Bragg is king just as his album cover shows.

The Two Whales Avenue

As a huge fan of bluegrass music I have a keen ear for good old time bluegrass. From Clarence Ashley to Doc Watson to The Stanley Brothers I have listen from the best to the best when it comes to great down home bluegrass. I have stomped my feet to the the fiddle and the banjo many of nights singing along to bluegrass from the 1920's and up. It's hard to find a good bluegrass band in a province that is surrounded by traditional celtic music and what i call lovers of covers, people who don't understand music unless they have listened to it while growing up or they heard it on the radio, something that I pride myself on being not part of. My ears are always open to new music and music that is written by people for people, music from the heart and soul of musicians that lived and are writing directly about their life for people like me. Tonight me and my dear friend Harv took a trip to Port Rexton, a local town outside of Bonavista most famous for their theatrical showings. But tonight a local coffee shop called Two Whales Coffee Shop was hosting a bluegrass band straight from Ontario to play a modest show. As we walked into the place it was a great feeling of walking into someones house, since the coffee shop was actually someones house years ago and renovated into a coffee shop, not much renovation mind you. but it was defiantly warming and hospitable. Me and Harv (owner and operator of Walkhams Gate Pub and Coffee Shop in Bonavista) sat down in the back of the 20 seat kitchen which I was happy to see. It was a great feeling of walking into someones kitchen getting ready for a traditional Newfoundland kitchen party of years ago when friends and family get together to play music well into the night. Tonight was no different. The band was called The Avenues and they will not disappoint us on this night. They were a 3 piece band that ripped through two sets of songs and played not only two cover songs, that I know of , Wild Bill Jones and John Prines' Please Don't Bury Me,  that sounded like it just came off the radio but they also performed original songs that sounded like they were written by bluegrass/country greats. They even had a little bluesy twist onto the songs with the uptempo feel, which I couldn't get enough of being a huge blues fan that I am. After listening to the band that night I came home and slipped on Muddy Waters Country Blues record on vinyl and got taken back to earlier that night. The Avenues were a great band and a great bunch of people that will be playing at various bars and pubs in St Johns this week such as The Rose and Thistle and The Levee. I highly recommend keeping an eye out for them this week and and weekend and catching their show, they will keep you dancing throughout the night and wont disappoint if your a true music fan. Me and Harv walked away happy with what we heard. Thanks Two Whales Coffee Shop for bringing good music to rural Newfoundland that we deserve and hunger for. 

A Pocket Full Of Picks At The Pub

A night full of anticipation and hearing this and that about a performer that I was told was going to blow my socks off, we filled the beer coolers to the gills and made sure no one was gonna be cut off from their favorite liquor. The smell wiffs in from the windows of the fish plant just down over the hill running full blast after the crab fishery has opened. The smell of money surrounds Bonavista like the perfect green fog. Tonight though was the night that I was waiting for a long time, Dave White. a good friend of mine and great musician in his own right, drags out a musician that I've been hearing about ever since I started working at Walkhams Gate Pub, Carl Peters. The night started off slow with only the slot tappers gluing their eyes to the screen wishing for lady luck to be a friend tonight. It was a typical Newfoundland night with fog slowly creeping in off the water and hindering Dave's driving abilities coming out from St.John's. But he arrives and sets up the system to kick off the night. Dave rushes home to take a quick shower while Carl arrives and makes some tweaks to the system before the show starts. Dave shows back up and shows off his acoustic guitar, personally signed by Peters himself, in the flesh. Then Carl pulls out his own signed Dave White acoustic guitar. Then I heard why everyone had nothing but praise for Carl Peters. The echo from his guitar bounced off the walls and got stuck in your ears. Carl and Dave played effortlessly perfect together and sounded if they were playing together for a lifetime. They traded between playing lead guitar and lead vocals. With harmony that only strengthen each others vocal ability they ran through a gauntlet of classic rock songs from Tom Petty, Steve Earle, Tragically Hip, etc even throwing in a few 90s hits that Dave has been performing since his illustrious Maybe Fog days. I was especially impressed with Carl's own interpretation of the Big Bill Broonzy song Before You Accuse Me, made popular by Eric Clapton on his album Unplugged. Carl's interpretation of the song was the perfect mix between blues and acoustic rock. Throughout the night Dave and Carl kept everyone dancing in front of the stage and singing right along with them through each and every song. Not only was I impressed with Carl's playing but also how nice of a guy he was, gracious was not a strong enough word. I kept his energy up with tequila, beer and double espresso shots and him and Dave kept the energy up of the crowd that showed up at the pub that night. It turned out to be a perfect night with everyone leaving feeling drunken and still hyped up from the great music. I now have another favorite performer at the pub alongside Steve and Bob, Chester and Marcus, and Dave White. Now I'll add Carl Peters to the list. If your ever downtown St. John's and you hear Carl Peters is performing tonight at a certain time, run don't walk. You will be pleasantly impressed with the fast fingers and the glowing echo his his guitar as well as the strong bluesy voice of Carl Peters and the silky smooth voice and always full of energy Dave White, the man who eats , sleeps, breaths and bathes in music.

The Blues That Howse Built

This past weekend has certainly been a busy one. I've took in an array of live music, the best that St. John's can offer. From Legends to up and coming locals who are blazing their way through to becoming legends. It probably can't ever be beaten to see so much great music in one weekend again and probably shouldn't be. It had good times where my face was hurting from smiling so much at what I considered to be an privilege to be able to sit and listen to music that built this land and gives me goosebumps. To sit back and listen to amazing acoustic blues one night to down home traditional newfie music the next to deep in the woods folk the next. I can't be thankful enough to Harv Templeman enough for bringing me to these shows which I probably wouldn't have otherwise. The next few days on the blog I will post the music I took in each night, starting with Thursday. So here we begin.
We rolled into St. John's around 9pm Thursday night. Pushing in through to catch a legendary Newfoundland blues musician who now resides in Nova Scotia named Roger Howse. It was his new cd release party and there was no way Harv wanted to miss this guy play. He knew I would be blown away by this guy being a huge blues fan and oh boy was I ever. We went our separate ways and planed on meeting at The Ship pub where the show was being held later. I got talking to friends and had a few beer primers so unfortunately I ended up missing a bit of the show. As I broke away from the gathering I took the corner of ally where The Ship is neatly tucked away and outside low and behold Harv is outside having a smoke with Howse. I was introduced to the blues singer even before I had the chance to listen to him play. So I go in and order my beer and anticipate the next set having missed the first. The pub was packed with St. John's finest from actors and musicians. Older folk who appreciate great music so after scanning the place I knew that I was in for a great show. Roger makes his way up on stage with his new duet group Stonehowse with Brenda Stone. The moment I heard and felt the pick of the strings I was floored. Roger and Brenda played old blues and new tunes that sounded like old blues. It was a great show and the great thing about it all was everyone was in awe of it. They were the perfect crowd to watch a great show. They knew great music and came to listen to it and not to pay 10 bucks for a ticket and then sit at the bar and talk all night over the live performance. Unfortunately I missed out on the first set where Roger put on a great solo show but I got the album and have listened to it alot in the past few days. After that show I could have went back to Bonavista a happy man, pleased and thrilled at what I just saw. But low and behold it was only the beginning. 

Dave White Takes Over The Pub

Back in high school I remember a couple of my buddies started a band, Maybe Fog. Weird name right? Well it was a great band playing traditional irish mixed with Tragicly Hip and Our Lady Peace songs among others. Unfortunately Maybe Fog disbanded and went their separate ways. David White was the lead singer in Maybe Fog and still plays thoroughly in pubs and clubs around St. John's every week. Playing a mix of cover songs from The Hip to Steve Earle to Great Big Sea and everything in between. Some people may heckle him and want him to play ACDC, asking Dave to play ACDC is equivalent to saying " play Free Bird ". Its refreshing to hear a guy do these songs with great justice and its no wonder why he has such a lengthy career in playing around great pubs in St. John's. Last night Dave honored us with his presence at Walkham's Pub in downtown Bonavsita. Even though unfortunately not a lot of people showed up to support local talent, maybe because of the not so nice night that it was? Who knows? But even so Dave played as if the place was packed and he was singing to a full house, the sign of a true performer. Everyone that witnessed the show was impressed to say the least, a couple people even got up on stage and sang along with dave on a couple songs, it drawled a good laugh to say the least and everyone left satisfied with a smile on their face and a belly full of booze. Next weekend however at Walkhams Pub Dave will be back again but this time bringing along a partner, Carl Peters, who has played before numerous times with Dave in around St. John's and as well as Walkhams Pub. Hopefully next weekend we will have nicer weather and show some support to local musician's, they play their heart out for little so lets give them a lot. I for one will be there with ears wide open, enjoying every minute as I did last night. Great show!      

Chrome Chain Locker

This weekend i decided to go into St. John's Newfoundland with a good friend of mine Harv. So we drove in on a beautiful Friday night hoping to catch one of my favorite bands to ever take St John's by storm. The Bonavista Chain Locker sounds like a weird name for a group. Originally it was a club in Bonavista where I was born and raised. Memories of teenage dances and fun nights was an inspiration for this band and thought the stories were great. Believing that the name was great as well that its what they would call their new band. Oh what a band it is, a mix between gypsy roma music and headed with a voice that sounds familiar with that of Tom Waits, how can you not love this band. I showed up there just as the band are starting, Harv apparently was there before me. The place sold out, with a packed room at The Ship, The Bonavista Chain Locker had the people jumping and singing along to their catchy tunes. Dancing along was not a problem in front of the stage, even though elbows were bumped everyone was in a great mood and lighthearted. Good vibes were passed all around from the crowd. What a great Friday night, the show was wicket and I strongly advise anyone who sees an imaginative Bonavista Chain Locker poster on a street pole, take some time to check out the date and clear your calendar accordingly. You wont be disappointed.
Saturday night I was pleasantly surprised that a group that never let me down every time I see them play were playing that night at The Levee. Chrome Cabot are a band that brings 80s rock back to the new age of music. In an age where music has no feeling or heart. Where you can turn on the radio and pass from station to station hearing the same pop song being played by a hundred different bands. Out of the depths come a band that brings back the flamboyant, raw, in your face heavy rock. Not only do they take cover songs from Acdc, Judas Priest, Ozzy, Van Halen that would make any rock fan proud to hear but they also shred their own songs. Its a flashback when you listen to Chrome preform. Nothing is held back, from Ches' metal scream to Jas' wicket killer guitar. Robbie's thunderous dums are perfect alongside Dave's hard baseline. The boys really knocked it out of the park Saturday night. Even though they themselves might not have liked the sound I personally was happy to hear the songs that I grew up with done perfectly, sometimes even better. If your ever in St. John's or anywhere else in the world and hear that Chrome Cabot was playing at your local bar check them out. Be taken away to another time when heavy rock and killer guitar ruled the airwaves, not like today where pussies take the lead unfortunately. We have to put a stop to bad music, one way to help do this is check out Chrome Cabot and bang your head to the pride of Bonavista Newfoundland.

Belly Of Songs

A friend of mine who like me loves finding new music was talking about folk/country artists last night. We were going back and forth with artists that we listen to for years. He told me about an amazing songwriter who would play at his pub every now and then from St. John's named Joe Belly. He praised Belly to no end and i couldn't wait to get back home and check out this guy. When I did he blew me away with his songwriting. Hes what embodies what a songwriter should be. Catchy lyrics under a great tune. The video has an old time feeling, everyone gathering around the kitchen just playing and having fun until the morning comes. I extremely happy that I've been introduced to Joe Belly. This is why I started this blog to introduce people and friends of artists otherwise they wouldn't find out about.

The Bonavista Chain locker Rises Again

The Bonavista Chain locker. The name derives from a now shut down bar in the small town of Bonavista where i personally grew up and spent many teenage dances half cut in the corner waiting to see whos going to be the next fight outside after it shuts down. These guys heard about the good times at the Chain locker and decided what a great name for a band, I personally love it!! The name is great and so is the band. I met three members recently and cant say enough good things about them. Steve Hoskin (guitar/vocals) plays amazingly and has a great voice that carries greatly over the array of different instruments (guitar, drums, bass, slide whistle, clarinet, sax, trumbet are just a few). Mary Beth Waldram plays clarinet and slide whistle and also chimes in on backing vocals that pairs nicely with Hoskins voice. Last but certainly not least who I met this past week was Mr Andrew McCarthy. The guy was nice enough to give me a ride to the dmv, need i say more?? Andrew plays drums in the band as he does in many bands in St John's. A master of the drums he is soon taking a trip to Ghana to study drumming. They all are great people as is their music. This song Pharmakon Floortom is just a taste of what this band can do. A kind of gypsy circus mixed with barroom roma. Its refreshing to hear music like this being played today in the fashion of classic Waits or todays Gogol Bordello. Check these guys out if your in St John's Newfoundland on December the 11, thats this weekend at CBTG's just across from George St on the deck. You will not be dissapointed. Wish I could make it boys. Hope my poster posting helped you out.