--- Capable Of More ---

The Story Of Anvil

Anvil have been around forever... They were once among the top metal bands in the early eighties and then just kind of slipped into obscurity only to be remembered for Metal On Metal.
Anvil: The Story Of Anvil screened last year at Hot Docs in Toronto and Sundance, I saw it at Canadian Music Week last month and now it's had premieres in New York and LA.

There's not much I can say that hasn't been in some of the other reviews out there... When you see it you really do feel for a band that has worked so hard and just haven't been able to break through and get back into the world scene again. Well, looking at the pictures from the L.A. premiere it looks like they'll definitely be getting lots of attention... hopefully it'll get them back into the metal world and give them a little more recognition for their contribution to that scene.

Either way, it's a great movie... unintentionally hilarious and surprisingly touching. Go see it.

great interviews...

You may have heard about the Billy Bob Thornton interview from yesterday, I just watched it and it is gold.

Reminds me of this... though Sigur Ros are at being pleasant, just not very good at elaborating.

Dogs

So, I saw Dr. Dog again on the weekend... I saw them back in October and it was a great show at a small venue with a good crowd. This time around a less inspired performance (they've been playing straight since, so it happens) at a bigger venue with a bunch of hipsters who were just there cause it was a Saturday night and they've heard of the band playing. You know the type, the ones who are more interested in telling their friends how great the song is rather than listening to it... At least they play loud enough to drown out most of them. I'll just have to go to more shows by obscure bands or by old ones that the cool folk have moved on from or were never into (that was a good thing about Primal Scream a couple weeks ago).

Anyway, my favorite dog band, Dog Day, has a new album called Concentration coming out later this month. It was produced by John Agnello (Buffalo Tom, Dinosaur Jr, Screaming Trees, Raging Slab, Son Volt, etc...) so I'm excited to hear the results considering Night Group blew me away a couple years ago.

Here's a sneak peek: Dog Day - Rome

a visit from my lady, trip to Montreal, two Tindersticks shows, Canadian Music Week, some Rock Of Love and that brings us up to date for the most part.

This is some good new music:
Contrived - Attention (black ops)
Elvis Perkins In Dearland - I Heard Your Voice In Dresden
Benjy Ferree - Fear
Bat For Lashes - Siren Song

This is tomorrow night... Iron Giant
featuring this guy on bass....

Lover's Day...

or at least that's what we're told. It's great to be in love and have someone you care for without a doubt. I still think designating one say to express that is a bit lame. Regardless it can be a good topic for songs so here's a few of those with varying takes on the theme.

Bill Janovitz - My Funny Valentine
Martina Topley-Bird - Valentine
Steve Earle - Valentine's Day
Ron Hawkins - St. Valentine's Day Massacre

Buddy Holly

Buddy Holly died 50 years ago this week. So in tribute...

Exciting things...

So, Tindersticks are touring in North America and are going to make me very happy in March since I'll be seeing them in Montreal and Toronto. They're a band that I slowly grew to love and now can't find wrong in anything they do... I kind of figured that I'd never get to see them live and was thinking about flying to London to see them when they were playing all of II at ATP. That didn't pan out and I'm already setting my expectations ridiculously high for the shows. The Montreal show could be extra fun since there's a good chance Lhasa De Sela will make an appearance, I know she did when Stuart Staples was touring solo. Anyway, here's some good stuff from them... there's been a fair bit peppered throughout this blog in the past too if you go digging.
Tiny Tears (BBC Session)
A Sweet, Sweet Man
No More Affairs (Instrumental)

Heartless Bastards have a new album called The Mountain coming out next Tuesday (feb 3rd). I'm looking forward to this though I'm not too happy that they're not coming to Toronto on the first run of touring for their album... Here's the title track that leaves me wanting to hear the rest of the album right now. The Mountain

And here's some other goodies that put a smile on my face...
Mickey & Sylvia - Dearest
The Night Marchers - Who's Lady R U
Mark Eitzel - No Easy Way Down

And this is insane... thanks for turning me onto this sweet girl Dave.

blahg

I don't come around much anymore. I guess I'll just have to make sure when I do that it's a sweeter deal to get people to drop by.

Anyway, I'm curious to hear more of this...