In this new series, Live Tracks, I’d like to share with you some of my favourite live performances.

When I first heard of John K. Sampson it was as a member of the Canadian punk ensemble Propagandhi—a Winnipeg-based, liberal-minded, politically-charged group of young musicians looking to express their angst while making a difference in the world. To put it lightly. As a kid of, I guess, fourteen themes were largely lost on me but I loved the fast-paced, high-energy sound that the band managed and despite not really grasping what they were singing about a song that sounded like someone reading a textbook at an extremely rapid rate was nothing short of awesome.

Sampson ended up leaving Propagandhi, mellowing out, and putting together The Weakerthans— a Winnipeg-based, liberal-minded, poetically-poignant group of slightly older musicians looking to make good music and tell interesting stories. Occasionally, in concert, Sampson will revisit some of his old Propagandhi material and make it sound great. In this case, Sampson takes a high-tempo song and makes it sound awesome as a simple guitar and voice combination. In its stripped-down form, its the simplistic melody and the lyrics that really stand out. It’s Sampson’s overwhelming talent as a musician, I think, that really shows. Check it out, and enjoy.

Gifts

Shad is a Toronto-based, Kenyan-born rapper who I have become absolutely obsessed with. Why? Because he is absolutely dripping in talent, and positivity. His lyrics are insightful, intelligent, and awesome.

His latest single, which samples from the Lynn Anderson song Rose Garden, is nothing short of incredible and I applaud the raw wisdom that he seems unashamed of sharing in his music. And, he’s hilarious as evidenced by some of his earlier material (which you should also have a look at).

Is that not enough for you? Should be.

PS: I’m buying a pair of those shoes, Maria!

When I first heard Andy Stochansky I was studying at the University of Waterloo. I can’t remember how I first heard about him, but I can remember where I first heard him live. It was in the great big atrium in the Student Life Centre. Billed as a much less important and well-known act than he really was, he somehow got slotted to play an acoustic solo show in the middle of one of the most highly-trafficked buildings on campus—the hub of student life. In the middle of the steady flow of cafeteria goers, bored students, and those taking a shortcut to class was Andy on a small riser stage, playing his heart out.

Andy Stochansky is a great musician and has a lot going for him. I’m never sure why he isn’t more popular in Canada alongside acts like Joel Plaskett or Jason Collett but he’s certainly just as talented. Here’s my pick for today’s Favourite Track.

House of Gold

1995 was a pretty good year. Still reeling from the death of Kurt Cobain we found some sweet solace in the likes of Hayden, a Canadian musician who hasn’t only survived the 90’s but did pretty well then too. With his debut album, Hayden introduced us to his super-slowed-down folk style and his super-low-down voice. We liked it, and continue to. Since then Hayden has gone on to record a whole bunch of really good music; his song-writing has steadily improved. I especially like his the story-telling style of his music and the fact that, as demonstrated on his famous live album, he can really do a lot with just a guitar and his voice.

Bad as it Seems (1995)

So I grew up in the 90’s, I couldn’t help it. In this new series I’d like to explore some great music from the 90’s. It does exist, of this I’m sure. Somewhere in my parent’s basement exists a CD titled “Absolute 90’s” and while the bands on that album, acts like Elastica and White Zombie, are exactly the kind of talent that I have in mind there was some good music to be had amongst all the, well, other stuff.

I Mother Earth, remember them? Remember the think metallic-beaded necklaces and the spiky, bleached blond hair? That certain way of holding the microphone that Fred Durst later made popular. These were the 90’s and it was all fair game. But I Mother Earth did some things right. Hailing straight out of the grunge movement, and trying to look the part, they mixed in just a touch bit of World Music and interesting percussion into their compositions to make them stand out. Not necessarily their singles, but certainly their b-sides, were often very cleverly composed and interesting-sounded pieces full of heavy toms and light bongo drums and if you can get past the machismo vocals they’re not so bad to listen to.

And so I present to you, readers, I Mother Earth. Love children of the 1990’s, born of the grunge movement and firmly planted in the memories of adults just about my age all over this great country. They’re not so bad.

Used to be Alright (1996)

This afternoon the Conservative government introduced a new copyright bill in the House of Commons.

The last time the Tories tried to pass new copyright legislation was two years ago. Jim Prentice was the Minister in charge back then and he was widely seen as being in the pocket of American interests. In fact, the Bill he originally introduced was so backward, so heavily favoured towards huge American media conglomerates that the public outcry was simply impossible to ignore. As a result of the outcry, the Conservatives put the legislation on the back burner and, last summer, went on a whirlwind tour across the country soliciting public opinion and feedback on copyright.

Lots of us spoke out, hundreds of thousands, during these public hearings and it seemed like the government was truly listening. However, today’s Bill indicates that while some of what we said got through, serious and fatal flaws remain in the law.

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In this special Victoria Day edition of Favourite Tracks I’d like to give a nod to two things: The fact that we don’t have to work today(!) and to the Monarchy who made all of this possible. To celebrate this great Canadian tradition, here are two tracks for one of the greatest bands of all time The Tragically Hip.

Music @ Work

After seeing the power and energy behind this performance I’ve decided that I could probably spare a couple digits to see The Hip live; that or I could just save up and pay for tickets.

Poets

And, of course, a classic piece of Canadiana. If you haven’t seen this before, you must. It’s The Hip performing live at the Queen’s Jubilee in Canada. I’ve never seen the whole Jubilee concert but if The Tragically Hip were on the bill I can’t imagine what other acts were involved, and what kind of wacky showcase of Canadian culture the Queen was treated too. Brilliant though, really.