Review - Carmen Townsend - MTS CENTRE- Winnipeg MB. Canada - 2/17/2011

Wake Up Winnipeg Review - CARMEN TOWNSEND - MTS CENTRE- Winnipeg MB. Canada - 2/17/2011

By: Andru Valpy.  

Photo by Andru Valpy

In 2005 Carmen Townsend set out on a musical adventure not realizing that she would one day be
touring with rock and roll queens Ann and Nancy Wilson.

But getting there took time, energy and sacrifice. Like any other adventure in life, Carmen had her challenges to face and obstacles to overcome to get where she never dreamed she’d be.

Carmen’s story goes back to her humble child-hood in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia where she grew up listening to her parent’s record collections while playing guitar and singing along with her sister. Carmen would also sneak up to her bedroom and secretly record herself on a tape player only to destroy the evidence after hearing it back.

Though she knew that she had a talent and calling to live the life of a musician, Carmen was shy and un-easy about public performing.

In a recent interview with Andru Valpy of CJUM’s Wake Up Winnipeg, Carmen admits that it wasn’t until her teen years when she finally felt ready to play for the world.

“I was a teenager in the 90’s when Nirvana exploded onto the scene, and I felt like I was really connected to the world when I heard that record. It’s pretty funny, it just kind of took over everyone at that time, it was kind of like our Beetle mania, and I was like that’s it, I’m going to play electric guitar and I’m going to be in a band”.

After years of playing guitar and quietly recording herself in the safety of her own bedroom, Carmen's secret talent was unexpectedly shared while at a friend’s house party.

“I was at a party, and I think it was a boyfriend at the time that recorded me singing a blind melon song and he took this tape to a party and played it and OF COURSE I almost had a heart attack and ran out of the room! But everyone was like, ‘Is That You? No Way, That’s not you!’ and I said ‘yes that’s me’.

So I kind of got that re-assurance from my friends I guess, and then I just started playing anywhere I could. I played at all ages shows, high schools, skate park fund raisers and just kept going and I loved it.”

Photo by Andru Valpy

Shortly after making the decision to go big, Carmen’s journey took her away from her Cape Breton home and carried her onto cities like Toronto and Vancouver where she was fortunate to meet a lot of supporters, like Mike Fraser of Vancouver who had produced bands like AC/DC, and brought her all sorts of “crazy situations” that ultimately lead to her success.

In 2005 Carmen brought her talent back to the East Coast and took them by surprise during the 2005 East Coast Music Awards in which she had preformed.  In 2006, she was once again invited back to the ECMA’s where her performances created a sensationalized hype with local fans and media outlets.

In 2008, Carmen teamed up with band mates Tohmas Allen and Shane O’Handley (who have now become known as “The Shakey Deals”) and with the help of Mike Fraser set to work on her first studio recording.

“We wanted it to be as good as it could be…we just wanted to take our time, and make sure we made the right decisions, and make sure we had the right people on board to help us along”.

After 3 long years of work and suspense, Carmen Townsend released album her album ‘Waitin And Seein’ in January of this year.

The album features 10 beautifully produced tracks that instantly brings the listener into Carmen’s world.

The first track entitled River Rat can simply be described as dark and powerful rock ballad that highlights the emotion captured in Townsend's Lyrics and is beautifully delivered by her intense and ear capturing vocal talents.

While performing at Winnipeg’s MTS Centre on February 17^th, Townsend sang the song acoustically with clarity and passion while adding a rock and roll edge that over 5,000 fans seemed to enjoy.

Though Winnipeg fell under blizzard conditions on the night of her stop, fans still went out of their way to get to the arena early to watch Carmen with a majority of the seating filled for her opening performance.

“She’s awesome!” stated Winnipeger Corrine when asked about hearing Carmen’s performance at the MTS Centre.

“She certainly has a lot of energy more so with the way she was kicking her legs and jumping around.  I really enjoyed it.”

While listening to the album, I found that though the album has mainly been labeled a rock recording, Carmen’s folk roots have a tendency to appear in selected tracks such as the melodically pleasing  ‘Sweet Little Bird’. Appropriately titled, as the song seems to flow in ways similar to birds singing beautifully in the morning hours.

Photo by Andru Valpy

Carmen states that when writing her music it is a challenge to juggle her folk abilities with her rock and roll blood, but when listening to Waitin’ and Seein, the two influences work well together.

“It’s something that just happens really.  I guess it kind of depends on what I’m saying, like what I’m singing about.

If it tends to be a song that has a lot of frustration and anger in it, sometimes it’s going to be louder, but then again there’s Sweet Little Bird that is kind of like a sad Song. It’s about hope, but it’s a broken hearted song too. It’s got a lot of good energy, and it’s got good rhythm to it.

So I don’t know really, I’m all over the board!”

Waitin’ and Seein’ is certainly a nice listen. The 3 years that it took to produce the album were well worth all 37 minutes of listening it.

I was actually disappointed that there were no further tracks past ‘Til The Morning as Townsend has a way of pulling the listener in with her high energy levels.

The album itself has been receiving positive reviews, in fact, 3 days after Waitin’ and Seein’s release Carmen was informed that she would have the opportunity to perform it live as a opener for classic rock band “Heart’s” cross Canada 2010 tour.

“…Company House Records and EMI Canada pitched the idea to Heart’s team, and I had to live with that on my brain for a little while wondering ‘is it going to happen, is it going to happen’, thinking positively, and then trying NOT to think about it.

..But then I got word that Ann and Nancy were going to make the decision, and lo and behold they picked me!

 So it’s still surreal, like ‘OH MY GOSH’, because 3 weeks ago I was touring in a Toyota Corolla like, trying to get to New Brunswick in two snow storms and now I’m in a mega tour bus and it’s totally comfortable and awesome, and it’s so easy to tour in a mega tour bus!”

Townsend started her tour with Heart in Newfoundland and will be the entire way across the country, including a stop over in Toronto’s Famous Massy Hall.

“We’re halfway through the tour now and I kind of want time to slow down a little bit because this has really just been a treat. Touring with (Heart) is amazing and surreal, you know it’s amazing, after 35 years of performing they don’t miss a beat and they’re Wonderful.

They’re really sweet ladies too, very supportive and encouraging and the shows have been killer! I didn’t realize that I actually over the years had ripped off Nancy Wilson’s poses and stuff so I was like oh S***!

Carmen Townsend’s tour with Heart will rap up February 26^th at Vancouvers Queen Elizabeth Theater. Shortly thereafter, she will make a brief stop over at Texas’s famous South By South West music festival for the Halifax Pop Explosion Party.

Her new album Waitin’ and Seein’ is available in stores and online now through EMI Music Canada.

Hopefully, it won’t take another 3 years of waiting to see another album from Carmen Townsend.

-Av

Bravestation Interview From 'Ben In The Pen' On CFRC 101.9FM

Toronto band Bravestation played Kingston's Clark Hall Pub on Thursday, January 20th, 2011 in support of their latest record, The 2010 EP.

Prior to their set, the band conducted an interview with 'Ben In The Pen' on CFRC 101.9FM in Kingston. It includes a look at the creation of the new EP, a live performance of the song "White Wolves" as well as a discussion about the difficulties of recreating Hall And Oates' 1982 hit "Maneater".

Y'know...the important stuff.

Call the Office, The Beauties are Back!

Tonight... Head West, Young Man... head West...a LOT West of the fun and funky charm of The Dakota Tavern till you land at Call the Office tonight to catch The Beauties while you still can. If you've never been to one of their shows? Strap on your boots, fasten your belt buckles, secure your snap shirts and prepare to be blown away!

With their self titled debut disc getting raves - and YES, it's definitely worth a buy; their live shows are where the guys really shine. Watching them open for another artist recently, a friend of mine commented that he found their set amazing and wondered why they were the opening band and not the headliner. All in good time. All in good time.

Lineups don't lie and with their Sunday night slot at The Dakota Tavern The Beauties have been rewarding the faithful fans who line the sidewalk week after week by killing it with their always high energy show. You may be able to pull that off once in a while, but for over 4 years? You can't phone that shit in, you have to be the real deal. Tonight is the third of four Thursday night Call the Office gigs, featuring some of the best in Bluesy, Alt Countrified Rock you'll find anywhere.

Not to tell tales out of school, but following their London show last week, The Beauties headed straight to Jersey... Asbury Park if you please, to play the BEYOND Iconic Stone Pony, a venue that has launched legends. A brush with greatness may or may not have happened while there and I wager if you ask nicely, you just might be regaled with the scoop on The Boss, tequila and a whole lot more. Don't be the chump on the sidelines hearing from your buddy about the great night you missed because you stayed in to be 'fresh' for work on Friday. Get real. No one expects anything out of you on a Friday. With a $5 cover, you can't go wrong!

new Bad Vibrations video - "Waking Up"

A sweet new jam and video directed by KC Spidle from the Halifax trio BAD VIBRATIONS just popped up on the youtube.



Try not to trip to hard on the salvia tip.

Aimless & Andy Review - ALEXISONFIRE - BURTON CUMMINGS THEATER- Winnipeg MB. Canada - 12/04/2010

Aimless & Andy Review - ALEXISONFIRE - BURTON CUMMINGS THEATER- Winnipeg MB. Canada - 12/04/2010

Photo's and review by: Andru Valpy with contributions from Danielle Starr.

E-mail: (andru(at)aimlessandandy(dot)com) -
Written 12/5/2010 - (Originally posted on http://aimlessandandy.com/)

For the second time in 2010 Alexisonfire rolled through Winnipeg as part of their headlining 2010 tour.

Upon taking my place in the self-made photo pit inside the Burton Cummings Theater, I found myself wondering what surprises Alexisonfire would bring with them to Winnipeg after having visited in March of this year with friends Billy Talent?

The answer to my question came very quickly.

A new sound.


Dog's blood is the latest EP in the bands quickly growing discography following last years 2nd place Canadian chart topping album Old Crows/Young Cardinals.

And it seemed to be the talk of fans within the theater.

A few strums into the title track it was instantly apparent that Alexisonfire still has a lot of creative fuel left in their gas tanks and when preformed in front of their Winnipeg fans, the theater suddenly felt like it could explode at any moment.

When listening to tracks from Dog's Blood, any AOF fan will find the steeple trademarks that the band has become famous for; hard-core guitar licks, fast passed bass drum action, and lead screamer George Pettit's now famous voice.

But when reviewing the Dog's Blood ep in depth, it is apparent that Alexisonfire has added a touch more "edge" in their sound, and can be differentiated from last years Old Crow's/Young Cardinals album quite easily.

Long instrumental breaks float almost seamlessly into each-other on this experimental 24 minute EP, and is a refreshing breakaway from your main-stream AOF play-list.

I would dare say, it's a dark EP.

It's interesting to note that though the EP may seem harder at first listen, there are still brief moments where Dallas Greens soft soothing voice can be heard blending in with the screaming guitar and bass riffs.


In a recent interview with Spinner Magazine, guitarist Dallas Green told Spinner that "A really crazy riff" is what started the leggings of Dogs Blood.

"[The riff] turned into a song, which probably would have never made it onto an album because it's a bit too crazy. Then George came up with 'Dog's Blood' so we decided to name the EP that," - Dallas Green - (via Spinner Magazine.)

I am impressed to see that even after a successful 9 year career, Alexisonfire was not afraid to think and step outside of the box to create new material for their fan base.


AOF managed to surprise fans with a mix of tracks from their 2009 full length album while digging back into their archives and playing a track from their 2006 album Crisis.

Though some fans were heard questioning the choice of venue for such a hard core show, Canadian tour history has proven to me that Burton Cummings Theater is the last step before a bigger headlining venue.

Take former Alexisonfire tour mates Billy Talent for example; One of their last stops in Winnipeg before the MTS Centre was The Burton Cummings Theater to support Billy Talent II.

At the rate Alexisonfire is putting out music, it shouldn't too much longer before fans are bobbing their heads at the acoustically famed MTS Center.

I certainly can't wait to be there.

-Av

(ED Note: Additional photographs from this show by Andru Valpy may be found on our Facebook Fan Page).

Japandroids Close Out Their Long Tour at Maxwell's in Hoboken

During Wednesday night's show at Maxwell's in Hoboken, Brian King of Japandroids announced that this was their first ever show in New Jersey. As it turns out, he and bandmate David Prowse couldn't have chosen a more appropriate place for their first concert in the Garden State, which also happened to be the last date on their lengthy tour.

After more than a year and around 250 gigs, Japandroids wrapped things up with sore voices but energy to spare at the club that for more than 30 years has hosted a who's who of up-and-coming artists. R.E.M. played there in 1981 (back when Michael Stipe still had hair), and since then the Maxwell's stage has hosted performers ranging from Beck to The Fall to Throwing Muses, The Donnas, and Sleater-Kinney.

Although the show (amazingly) didn't seem to be sold out, the crowd that was there was, well, enthusiastic. They sang out and pumped their fists to the Japandroids' songs, and at times formed a mini mosh pit which never quite got out of control—a good thing, since the stage is only two feet off the floor.

At times King sounded wistful about the end of the long tour. Before "Young Hearts Spark Fire" he mentioned each member of their crew by name and thanked them for their hard work on the road. (And one crew member, whose name I can't recall, crowd-surfed through the audience near the end of the show.)

By the time Japandroids tour again, their popularity may preclude them playing a venue as small as Maxwell's (which holds about 200). And they've already played much larger venues in New York. But for me it was great to see them in such an intimate space for one night, especially after having missed them several times when they played in the New York area.

DORA ALEXANDER FREE EP DOWNLOAD

DOWNLOAD TRAVELERS EP

Toronto's Dora Alexander recently released their 8 song EP Travelers on October 22nd and have now kindly put it up as a free download. If you haven't heard of the band, they recorded their album with John Critchley who has also worked with Dan Mangan and Elliot Brood.

Here's a review of their album from NOW and if you would like to hear more from the band you can check out their MySpace, join their Facebook or follow them on Twitter.