Sound Seekers by Fateema Sayani is published weekly at OttawaMagazine.com. Read Fateema Sayani’s culture column in Ottawa Magazine and follow her on Twitter @fateemasayani

The Ottawa Rock Lottery is a big ol’ love-in for the local music scene. It’s the community cup of spontaneous music-making that happens annually with proceeds going to charity. The fifth edition takes place this weekend with 25 musicians participating.

Daniel Spence, centre, of The Pelts will participate in the fifth annual Rock Lottery.

It works like this: on Friday night, organizers put the names of individual musicians into a hat. They draw out five names at a time and put those people together to form an insta-band. Over the next 24 hours, those five new bands create a half-hour set of original music to be performed on Saturday night for all to see.

The hilarity, camaraderie, rivalry, shining moments, and flubs are what make the show interesting, particularly to those who see live music often and are familiar with the city’s band-folk. The Ottawa Rock Lottery deck-shuffling allows those people to display talents that may be hidden in their other bands — or perhaps the deadline pressures will be evident. As organizers promise on their Facebook page: “It could be great. It could be awful.”

Sarah Bradley of The Fevers. Photo by Mélanie Broguet.

It is all in the name of charity. Proceeds go to the Ottawa Food Bank and the goal is to raise $1,500 for 10 emergency food baskets. Participating bands also get a chance to win a record session with Steve Foley at Audio Valley Recording Studio — though the best bait, for some, is the chance for creative growth.

Songwriter Kalle Mattson is participating for the first time this year. “I’ve been asked to play in the past, but my band and I have been on tour each time, so I’m really excited to be playing this year,” he says. “I’m usually the guy who writes the songs and sings them, so it’ll be really awesome to play in more of a supporting role.”

Singer Sarah Bradley of Fevers says the rock lottery requires a lot of effort and compromise in order to churn out a half-hour set in less than 24 hours. “You have to combine your different song writing processes, styles, and tastes to create music together. It’s a mega challenge, but it’s also kind of a bonding experience,” she says.

Singer Daniel Spence says he’s looking forward to a change of scenery after nearly five years of being “locked down with my dear lads,” in reference to his band mates in The Pelts. “There’s nothing like having a peek out into the world to make you appreciate what you’ve got back home, and maybe I can even bring back something new.”

Kalle Mattson

Bradley’s soft vocal touch is a big part of her band’s sound. In Fevers she sings contemporary indie-pop tunes, but is looking forward to branching out at the rock lottery.

“I learned how to sing by covering Destiny’s Child and Mariah Carey, and I feel like that says something significant about me,” she says. “I see the Ottawa Rock Lottery as an opportunity to unleash my repressed diva. I suppress some of my inner-sass with Fevers, but I am really excited to let my freak flags fly this weekend.”

Spence of The Pelts also hopes to loosen up this weekend. He says he’s not much for restrictions, despite having the stage name of Revered D. Spanx.

“I’m flexible, multi-instrumental, and not burdened with any particular notion of musical theory. I just play by gut and by ear, so my role will depend on the strengths and interests of my other rock lottery band mates and the chemistry we develop,” he says.

“My normal approach to song writing involves a great deal of solitary crafting on the guitar before introducing a nascent song to the band, where we re-work it for weeks until it starts to feel mature enough for our live show. With the ORL, I look forward to experimenting with pretty much the exact opposite way of writing music, relying on the talent and creativity of my fellow lottery winners to help make something beautiful crawl out of our little petri dish after 24 hours.”

Ottawa Rock Lottery. $10 or $9 with canned food donation. Saturday, May 18. Mavericks, 221 Rideau St. Doors at 8p.m. 19+. 

ALSO ALSO ALSO
On the subject of possible train wrecks, we bring you to the phenomenon that is Hip Hop Karaoke — that’s where people dress up and imitate their favourite rap tunes from the ‘80s and ‘90s. It started up in Ottawa last summer and it’s been a hoot to watch. The evening’s hosts are MC Atherton and DJ So Nice and they are gracious. Before an evening of hip-hop karaoke, they instruct the crowd with some ground rules. The first of them being that “everyone is a star at hip-hop karaoke,” meaning you can’t boo the tuneless ones off stage. There is also a no N-bomb rule. They suggest using the word “ninja” or “neighbour” in place of that word. (Think “Neighbours With Attitude” or “Sucka Ninja.”) The event happens monthly throughout the year. The summer schedule sees HHK go down on the third Friday of every month in the Mugshots Courtyard of the Ottawa Hostel.

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Sound Seekers by Fateema Sayani is published weekly at OttawaMagazine.com. Read Fateema Sayani’s culture column in Ottawa Magazine and follow her on Twitter @fateemasayani

Three years ago, singer-songwriter Sherwood Lumsden rounded up the dads in his Preston Street neighbourhood to form a band. He knew Matt Young and Geoff Paisley for years before that — but he never knew their vocal talents until they started writing songs for their kids as the band Hey Buster.

The new album features cover art by Sherwood Lumsden’s son, Thomas Slaughter, 7.

Between the three dads — plus newest recruit Tom Stewart (Furnaceface, Slo’ Tom) — the band members have nine kids from the ages of two to 9. They write tunes for little ones without the preachy educational elements common to kids’ music. Their style hits somewhere between Junkyard Symphony and Robert Munsch with lyrics about family life that are observational and funny. Hey Buster’s first album called Bing Bang Bong was released in 2010 and includes songs about poo, pee, pink eye, and getting lice.

The song “Lice Twice” is about an experience familiar to parents of grade-schoolers. It rhymes hats with gnats. The chorus of “Pee Dance” describes the contorted moves kids make when they clearly have to go. “Oh no, I don’t have to go. No siree, I don’t have to pee!” goes the chorus.         

“We’re getting away from poo and pee on this second album,” Lumsden says. That album, called Yeti Likes Spaghetti, will be released at the band’s afternoon show on Mother’s Day. The album focuses a lot on routines and everything that gets in the way of those routines. “Without a Hat” is about leaving the house improperly attired, “Monkey Breath” is about getting out of bed, while “Go to Sleep” is a gentle pleading.

The vocalists are almost placid in their acceptance of the bumps of family life. There is no Go the Fuck to Sleep -like exasperation in these tunes, but that’s not to say that they lack energy. There is the same kind of revving excitement one sees in hyperactive toddlers in the driving rockabilly rhythms that make the songs fun for kids and a laugh for the hipster parents who would congregate at the band’s Elmdale Tavern shows. Hey Buster played there regularly when it was still a venue for live music.

Pints with the pint-sized! The band Hey Buster at one of their regular shows at the Elmdale Tavern.

It was a popular gig. “Sellout crowds, I’ve never had that in my life,” Lumsden laughs. He was a singer-songwriter active around Ottawa in the ‘90s. These days he renovates part-time and teaches songwriting at schools. Young is a Grade 2 teacher and also leads the Hey Buster dance numbers for kids in the audience. This summer the band will play a number of community events and a CHEO fundraiser.

Hey Buster’s CD release show on Sunday at the Westboro Legion will feature guest musicians Michael Ball, Al Bragg, Dave Draves, and Dave Kerr. 3 p.m. $7.50. Kids under two are admitted for free.

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Sound Seekers by Fateema Sayani is published weekly at OttawaMagazine.com. Read Fateema Sayani’s culture column in Ottawa Magazine and follow her on Twitter @fateemasayani

Songwriter John Allaire put on his photo-hacking hat and did this stitch job for me. It’s a pasted-together pic of some band mates he’s corralled for a weekend gig. It was a quick-and-dirty deal (the photo, not the band-herding, natch). We here at Ottawa Magazine needed a photo to run with this column and the task of rounding up musicians rarely squares well with tight web deadlines.

Four players and one twirler. (That’s a drumstick. He’s not flipping you the bird). Photo by John Allaire

This banner image is a poor replacement for the real thing; it lacks all of the characteristics of a live setting: the vibrancy and sizzle that boils over when those with six strings and salty humour gather for a show.

That’s set for this Friday at Irene’s with Allaire at centre stage with a band of O-town all-stars. The band is called The Confederation and comprises Anders Drerup, Lynne Hanson, Kevin “Breeze” Smith, and Dean Watson.

Here’s a primer, from Allaire, on his band The Confederation:

Anders Drerup (pedal steel and guitar, vocals)
Anders has played with just about everyone in O-town at one point or the other. In the Confederation, Anders will be adding the colour to the songs with his eclectic leads and his incredible vocals. Anders will take centre-stage on a song or two and will be featured in most songs performing the lead instrumentals.

Lynne Hanson (guitar, vocals)
Lynne is a road warrior, spending much of her touring time in the UK and Europe. The Confederation will be playing a few of Lynne’s whiskey-soaked Americana songs, where Lynne will be featured up front and centre. She will also be providing her rich trademark vocals as part of the big vocal sound that will define the Confederation show.

Kevin “Breeze” Smith (drums)
Breeze has been keeping the rhythm in John’s bands since the early days of The Town Cryers in the ‘80s. Currently a member of Ottawa’s BushPilots and The Campistas, Breeze’s ability to “play to the song” made him a natural choice to keep the backbeat for this project.

Dean Watson (bass, vocals)
Dean is at the forefront of defining the O-Town sound through his production at Gallery Studios. Producing dozens of albums annually out of his Glebe studio, as well as playing bass for Shannon Rose & The Thorns, Dean will be dropping the bottom end for the Confederation’s rhythm section.

The Confederation will open for Bill Toms. Toms is a Pittsburgh singer-songwriter invested in the rhythm and blues whose style is complementary to Allaire’s.

Allaire is a strong storyteller on and off the stage. I still laugh when I think of an interview we did way back. We got onto the topic of artist’s bios with their standard-issue info and Allaire told me of a slip of a keystroke he once made that saw him issue dozens of releases that claimed he had “a Bachelor o fArts.”

On the topic of troubadour’s travails, Allaire’s song Trails in the Sand is about playing cover gigs to pay the bills. Those gigs where you spend a night playing classic rock for the inebriated may not be your career high, but it’s a means to an end.

Lately, Allaire has been improving the format of the standard pub show with a weekly Saturday gig at Quinn’s in Old Ottawa South. It’s called The Allaire Show and it’s where he sharpens his storytelling, while welcoming an array of songwriters from the Ottawa scene and out-of-town guests for an afternoon of music and brews. He’ll welcome Toms to the stage this Saturday (3.5 p.m.). Next week, it’s Tony D.

John Allaire and the Friday, May 3. Irene’s Pub, 885 Bank St. 

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Sound Seekers by Fateema Sayani is published weekly at OttawaMagazine.com. Read Fateema Sayani’s culture column in Ottawa Magazine and follow her on Twitter @fateemasayani 

How does “strip-hop” work anyway? Is it like a drinking game where you chug at the appointed cue? Hear a three-syllable word and everyone peels?

Jesse Dangerously, Pillar of Nerd Rap and Frequent De-Clother. Photo by James Dechert

“It’s not that integrated—I wish,” laughs Jesse McDonald, the Ottawa MC who goes by Jesse Dangerously.

Strip-hop isn’t about dropping your drawers for a choice rhyme; rather, it’s a night of performances by members of the city’s burlesque scene interspersed with music by electro pop team Billz & Woo and MC Dangerously.

“People are accustomed to me taking my shirt off at shows,” Dangerously says of his on-stage showmanship. Off-stage, on gig posters and websites, he subtitles his handle with the words “Genuine Independent Rap Legend,” in keeping with the genre’s boast-and-hype conventions.

Dangerously figures the burlesque organizers approached him for his messages about feminism and being body positive. Some of his rhymes push for loving pudginess:

“Although jerks have mocked that I’m fat since age ten / I work it, I rock it; ask your girl or a gay friend!”

“Half-stepping cats packing weapons ask for rap lessons / while I slap bad physicians on behalf of vengeance for Fat Acceptance.”

“If you don’t think that I could carry that burden / you don’t know the strength of a very fat person.”

Dangerously’s wordplay is sharp. He manages to rap about issues — without being annoyingly preachy. It’s a technique that balances heft with honey. He plays to an audience’s need for fun while trying to keep a kind of consciousness in the mix.

Just this week Dangerously got a chance to teach the next generation about rap. He led a class of 11-and-12-year-olds at Emily Carr Middle School as part of a Jer’s Vision program on anti-bullying. In the warm-up session, one kid freestyled this lil’ nugget: “I love Barack Obama. He’s my llama from another mama.” A cute start.

Although jerks have mocked that I’m fat since age ten / I work it, I rock it; ask your girl or a gay friend!” Jesse Dangerously. Photo by Frank Pomerleau

A political rhyme from Jesse Dangerously goes more along these lines: “No-one in my corner could never privatize healthcay-err / got to keep it public ‘cause I be a taxpayer!”

Those are the kinds of messages that will likely come out at the May Day gig Dangerously will play on Wednesday. It’s an event by the staunchly communist Proletarian Revolutionary Action Committee. He says it’s a group of passionate, politically engaged people.

“They’re more doctrinally communist than I am, but I’m happy about how passionate they are,” he says.

The May Day gig will be followed by a series of shows Dangerously is calling the Stay at Home Hip-Hop Tour. From there, he’ll dive into his next recording with co-producer Corboe (Dream Jefferson, Owel Five). They’re recording eight songs with 18 guests including Buck 65, Wax Mannequin, and Rae Spoon.

It’s tentatively titled, Songs About Anything Else But The Aching Voids Left By The Departures Of My Ex-Lovers, Nearly All Of Whom I Still Desire & Care For. “Fiona Apple-style,” Dangerously laughs.

It’s got more of a New Wave feel to it, a departure from some of the nerdcore style he’s known for.

“I haven’t interacted with synthesizers that much yet,” Dangerously says, who self-identifies as a lover of “Spider-Man spinnerets, itinerant webcrawler of general interest, inveterate yes-y’aller.”

Strip-Hop takes place Saturday, April 27 at Babylon, before the regular Grind party.

Dangerously returns to Babylon on Wednesday, May 1 for KeThe Proletarian Revolutionary Action Committee May Day party.

Look for Jesse Dangerously at The Herd Magazine launch party Friday, April 26 at the Mercury Lounge, and at Pressed Café (May 3) and ComicCon (May 11).

COMING UP
Her Harbour is the placid-pop project of Ottawa’s Gabrielle Giguere, whose tunes draw a line to contemporary indie artists such as Grimes and Groenland. She hosts a CD release show Saturday, April 27 at St. Luke’s Church in Chinatown.

Hilotrons hitmaker Mike Dubue returns to his other love — scoring for film — with a presentation Tuesday, April 30 as part of the Ottawa International Writers Festival. He and seven other musicians will play live on stage underscoring the fanciful, imaginative 1926 fairy-tale The Adventures of Prince Achmed.

The Ottawa Industrial League holds a two-night showcase (April 27 and 28) at Swizzles and Café Dekcuf. Check out their sampler  of music from Ottawa industrial musicians.

Calypso band Kobotown, popular around these parts in the ‘90s and ‘00s return to the scene Saturday, April 27 at Ritual with a CD release party for their new album Jumbie in the Jukebox.

DJ Peanut Butter Wolf, founder of hip hop label Stones Throw Records (ex-home of Aloe Blacc and J Dilla), is at Ritual Friday, April 26 with current label artist Homeboy Sandman.

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Sound Seekers by Fateema Sayani is published weekly at OttawaMagazine.com. Read Fateema Sayani’s culture column in Ottawa Magazine and follow her on Twitter @fateemasayani

Of all places to pull from.
Director Steve Matylewicz is taking inspiration from the Bon Jovi song “Wanted Dead or Alive” for Shannon Rose’s next music video for her song, “If We Come True.”

Photos: Shannon Rose: She’s not a cowboy on a steel horse ride. Photo credit: Mauricio Ortiz

It’s a bit of a head scratcher, because the musicians’ styles couldn’t be further apart. Rose is an Ottawa pop songwriter concerned with all life’s little moments, while the pride of New Jersey wants to blow stadiums apart with eardrum blasting rock songs.

To clarify, Matylewicz — part of Rose’s band The Thorns and her spouse — says he likes the video’s context. (If you haven’t seen it in a while, “Wanted Dead or Alive” takes highlights from a day in the life of the band).

He’s not so inspired by the video’s style of painted-on pants, teased hair, and dudes making cheesy guitar sex face. Rather, he’ll apply the concept to a day in the life of Canadian indie artist Shannon Rose. The video will show Rose doing musician things including a sound check, being interviewed by a music writer (I’ll be making a cameo) and playing a show.

The show segment will be filmed tomorrow night at Irene’s, where Rose is playing with opener Christina Martin. Be part of the video’s wide crowd shots and hear tracks from Rose’s recent release Seasons. Doors at 9. Cover is $10. More at the event’s Facebook page.

ALSO
Four experimental-electronic artists expand the boundaries of the genre at the Mercury Lounge tonight. On the bill are a host of Montreal and Ottawa artists, including Andre and Michele, as well as a collaboration between installation artist Andrew O’Malley and songwriter Michael Glenwright.

Songwriter Ingrid Gatin amplified her cabaret tones by recording in a church in her hometown of Winnipeg. She refined her songs with producer/engineer Howard Bilerman in Montreal. See her tonight as Pressed as part of her cross-Canada tour.

Nick Catchdubs, head of DJ label Fool’s Gold, is at Babylon Friday.

Will “Quantic” Holland branched off from the Quantic Soul Orchestra and Limp Twins to produce more textured collections that move from jazz to soul to funk. His plans to release his 15th record later this year. Catch him at the Mercury Lounge for some dancefloor fire on Friday.

A gaggle of musicians gather to pay tribute to the late Stompin’ Tom Connors Friday at the Rainbow Bistro. Proceeds go to the Shepherds of Good Hope.

Gary Moore of Slim Moore and the Mar-Kays unveils his new dub reggae project, Ranking Yout and the Dub Pilots, Saturday at Ritual.

Fevers and The Good Luck Assembly  play the Black Sheep Inn Saturday. Both bands have new albums slated for release this year.

The post SOUND SEEKERS: Shannon Rose riffs off Jon Bon, dancefloor fire at the Merc, plus Stompin’ Tom saluts, dub reggae and more appeared first on Ottawa Magazine.

Sound Seekers by Fateema Sayani is published weekly at OttawaMagazine.com. Read Fateema Sayani’s culture column in Ottawa Magazine and follow her on Twitter @fateemasayani

Slo' Tom, shown here in shit disturber mode, will be playing the Atomic Rooster this Saturday. He'll show his twangy side when he takes part in a Stompin' Tom Connors tribute on April 19.

Tom Stewart is centre stage Saturday for a country set under the name Slo’ Tom. Stewart has a long history in Ottawa (see: Furnaceface) and keeps a hand in a number of bands with various musical styles from troubadour to sludge-metal. When he’s feelin’ a little bit country, you’ll find him with slinging country tunes his backing band, The Handsome Devils, or going it alone like a cowboy.

Stewart headlines solo this Saturday at the Atomic Rooster. In addition to playing songs from a forthcoming CD with the working title, I’m Sick, Stewart will be in country icon mode as he warms up for the April 19 Stompin’ Tom Connors tribute, where a number of Ottawa artists will be covering Connors classics. Stewart will be playing “Good Bye Rubberhead” and “The Consumer,” and describes the latter as “the punkest song in Connors’ catalogue.” The Seasick Mammas open the show. It’s the country side-project from members of the Glorious MoonRockets. Look for a new seven-inch single from Slo’ Tom & The Handsome Devils on Ottawa label Pretty Bad Records in the coming weeks.

ALSO
Two Montreal bands, Suuns and Valleys, roll into Ritual Nightclub Saturday. Both bands play moody, slave-to-the-synthesizer dream rock. The NME approved, calling Suuns the best new band in 2011.  Their new album, Images du futur, was produced by Jace Lasek of the Besnard Lakes.

Toronto band New Country Rehab does just that — they torque country tunes with a rock edge and bluegrass injection. Uncut magazine compared them to Mumford and Sons. New Country Rehab is the latest sign-on to Kelp Records. See them Saturday at the Black Sheep Inn and April 20 at The Branch in Kemptville.

Hometown DJ crew Jokers of the Scene (now of Toronto) return to the capital, where their party-rock anthems were first created. See the DJ duo at the Mercury Lounge Friday. DJ Linus Booth, who used to run the Disorganised record shop on Bank Street, and Chris Macintyre (aka Chameleonic) signed a record deal with DJ label Fool’s Gold in 2007.

NEXT WEEK

Bonobo will take the stage at Barrymore's on April 17. Photo by Andrew de Francessco.

Ninja Tune roster mainstay Bonobo, aka UK electronica grandmaster Simon Green, released his new album The North Borders earlier this month. It’s less out there than past works, bringing together some signature Bonobo sounds from previous albums (melancholy, melody, electro-quirkiness) into low-speed thrills that are hypnotizing without being relegated to background music. The show has been moved from Babylon to Barrymore’s. It takes place Wednesday, April 17.

Opening the Swollen Members show Tuesday at Ritual Will be Cityreal, a Vancouver rapper whose new full length album, called Good Morning Blues, was recorded with Blues musician Wes Mackey. The video for the tune “Nightlife” shows the rap/blues phenom at work. It’s set against the Alberta Tar Sands and includes a few factoids about its environmental effects. One thing I don’t get? When Cityreal (aka Remi Huot) is driving around in the video, is it a comment about our dependency on oil or is he just riding along to the rhymes like some rap video trope?

SAVE THE DATE!
Some recently announced upcoming dates in the area include:

A Tribe Called Red
The DJ trio that built a regular following through their monthly Electric Pow Wow parties will release their second album called Nation II Nation on May 7 through Pirates Blend Records (a label founded by members of Bedouin Soundclash) and Tribal Spirit Music, a co-operative label for Aboriginal artists. A Tribe Called Red has brought aboriginal music to club land and its members contribute to the continuing discussion of aboriginal representation in the media. The crew of Bear Witness, DJ NDN, and DJ Shub has a host of spring and summer dates booked across North America including the New Orleans Jazz Fest, The Great Escape Festival in Brighton, UK and Osheaga. See the Tribe June 8 Electric Pow Wow (usually held at Babylon), plus an appearance at Bluesfest in July.

Danny Michel
The singer-songwriter, who briefly called Ottawa home, will re-release his most recent album, Black Birds Are Dancing Over Me (Six Shooter Records), with three new tracks. This album received a Juno nomination in the world music category, a new genre label for Michel, who took inspiration for this album from travels in Belize. The three new songs were recorded with The Garifuna Collective, who play music in the traditional Central American style of the same name. Black Birds Are Dancing Over Me will be released internationally on Cumbancha Records, later this year. See Michel at the Black Sheep Inn, June 27 and 28 and at The Neat Café in Burnstown, June 29 and 30.

The post SOUND SEEKERS: The shows coming up this weekend and beyond, featuring Bonobo, Slo’ Tom, New Country Rehab, and more! appeared first on Ottawa Magazine.

Sound Seekers by Fateema Sayani is published weekly at OttawaMagazine.com. Read Fateema Sayani’s culture column in Ottawa Magazine and follow her on Twitter @fateemasayani

Pick a Piper plays Pressed on Sunday. Photo by Scott Barber.

Brad Weber was on tour as a percussionist with electronic act Caribou when ideas for a new project came to him.

After the tour, when he returned home to Toronto, he’d hammer out his mental scrawling on a keyboard or drums to shape the songs that eventually formed the material for his debut self-titled EP under the band name Pick a Piper.

“The songs started as a drum loop or a little melody that I created on a laptop while on tour,” Weber, 31, says. He would bring the best loops back to the rest of the Pipers (Angus Fraser and Dan Roberts, both friends from Weber’s hometown of Waterloo, Ont.) and they would add their two cents. He would chop up bits of the top ideas and meld them into tracks.

The resulting album was released this week on Mint Records. It’s very much in the vein of Caribou with jolty electronica and plenty of warm touches created from live instrumentation to upend the laptop-created sound.

At times the album is very much background electronica music, and then it switches to forefront, dancefloor-rhythmic moments and back again. At just 37 minutes, the album scrolls through a number of moods and sounds.

Weber describes his album as cohesive, yet “all over the place.”

“It starts poppy, takes you somewhere strange, and leaves you with this reflective feeling at the end.”

Pick a Piper is playing a number of Canadian dates, including this Sunday at Pressed on Gladstone Avenue. Their live set up features a few acoustic instruments around one full drum kit and two partial kits near the front of the stage. The guys play standing up for a rhythmic, dancey feel. Other sounds are triggered on the fly from laptops and keyboards.

DJ Adam Saikaley will DJ between sets at the show, with streaming visual-art by Hard Science and performances by Raas and Cabaal. 9 p.m., $5. See the Facebook event here.

THIS WEEKEND
The Souljazz Orchestra plays Le Petit Chicago in Old Hull Saturday. 10 p.m., $12.

Three punk bands fill the Dominion Tavern Saturday night: Neck makes their official debut, followed by Dagger Eyes and headliners The Fuzz. 33 York St., 10 p.m., $8.

Greg Harris, better known as Lefty McRighty, played his first gig at a stag-and-doe party at a legion some 10 years ago. He’ll mark that anniversary with a show Friday at Irene’s Pub. Harris, when not playing dirty honky-tonk tunes, organizes the annual O-town hoedown. 9 p.m., $8.

Halifax singer-songwriter Gianna Lauren recorded her new album at the House of Miracles studio with Andy Magoffin (Feist, The Constantines). It’s called On Personhood and she’ll hold a release party at Raw Sugar Cafe Friday. Lauren is familiar to some in the local music community. She lived in Ottawa for a few years and worked as a server at the Manx pub.

COMING UP
It began in Ottawa: The wall of noise known as METZ had its humble beginnings here. Alex Edkins, Hayden Menzies and Chris Slorach call Toronto home now and are nestled nicely amongst other avant-rawk acts on the Sub Pop label. They return to Centretown for a show April 10 at Babylon, before continuing a worldwide tour with dates all over the planet and tour spots with Mudhoney and Fucked Up.

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Sound Seekers by Fateema Sayani is published weekly at OttawaMagazine.com. Read Fateema Sayani’s culture column in Ottawa Magazine and follow her on Twitter @fateemasayani

A cultivated, curated guide to the best Easter weekend happenings. Hop to it! (Groan.)

MC Boogat plays Ritual Nightclub on Saturday. Photo by Philippe Sawicki.

For Fans of QC MC Poirier
Quebecois MC Boogat raps like his moniker. His words spill out in “boos” and “gats” with a gruff tone reminiscent of his contemporary and collaborator, MC Poirier. Unlike Poirier, who raps in French, Boogat rhymes in Spanish to a jagged beat, which he says represents the future of Latin music. Boogat (aka Daniel Russo Garrido) released his first full-length Spanish-language album, El Dorado Sunset, in February. It’s a dynamic blend of rough and smooth and the jarring effect makes for some ear-tangling tunes. Boogat plays Ritual Nightclub Saturday. DJ Nom de Plume (from Radio Radio) opens.

Don’t Miss the Opening Act
Sigur Ros is the headliner at Scotiabank Place on Good Friday and we all know how much they’re praised for their stratospheric Nordic-ness etc., etc. Alas, I must make a case for the opening act, Tim Hecker, who’s been on the Canadian electronic scene for ages and can spin out that complex, high-art, electro-fuzz, head-searing stuff like the best of them. Doors are at 7, showtime is 8 p.m., tickets range from $40-$60, plus all those unexplainable, overpriced service charges.

DJ Crew’s New Mix
A Tribe Called Red — a DJ crew whose members are often in the news for opposing bad sports-team names — are hosting a special edition of their regular Electric Pow Wow dance bashes on Friday. This one will be held at St. Brigid’s Cultural Centre on St. Patrick Street. The DJ crew will headline the event with an opening lineup featuring three different aboriginal musicians. Hear an exclusive A Tribe Called Red DJ mix here.

Bombay the Clubby Way
Awaaz is the DJ handle of Montrealer Nav Awaaz, head and founder of Bombay Records (Fred Everything, Derrick Carter). The Montreal label was launched in 1998, specializing in dancefloor/disco/soul. Awaaz is also a club DJ who produces his own tracks, remixes other artists, and handles curatorial and production duties for the label. He was instrumental in the launch of famed Montreal after-hours club Stereo too. Awaaz will be at the Mercury Lounge tonight with resident DJ Trevor Walker and Ray Ray at Overkill.

Is This Weirder Than Pet Sounds?
Halifax-dwelling wacky-electro-popmaker Rich Aucoin released this brilliantly silly video for his song Brian Wilson Is A.L.I.V.E. It’s where Aucoin lays his Beach Boys love out on the line for all to see. Aucoin and director Noah Pink took home the $5,000 Prism Prize this week for the work. Aucoin is in Ottawa Tuesday to play Maverick’s opening for k-os. While sadly the tickets are sold out for this gig, we wanted to draw your attention to a fun vid and tip our hats to a Canadian music maker.

Happy Easter!

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Sound Seekers by Fateema Sayani is published weekly at OttawaMagazine.com. Read Fateema Sayani’s culture column in Ottawa Magazine and follow her on Twitter @fateemasayani

The members of Phantom Shores, from left to right: Craig Mainprize, Ken Ain, Renée Leduc, Dave Smith, and Jenny Nasmith. Photo by Chris Barron.

There are shades of the mid-2000s Ottawa music scene in the new album from Phantom Shores. Fans of two now defunct bands: Jetplanes of Abraham — the six-member indie-rock riot, and chamber rock act As the Poets Affirm — will find familiar strains in the Phantom Shores’ debut album called To the Woods.

The musical constants are singer-songwriter Craig Mainprize, ex of Jetplanes, and Renee Leduc, former strings player for both bands. Mainprize brings a fiery folk vocal to a placid musical genre, while Leduc gives each of the 12 tracks a warm weight with violin, viola, keyboard, and accordion flourishes. Adding to the texture and feel of the tunes are Dave Smith (percussion), Ken Ain (bass, guitar), and Jenny Nasmith (vocals, percussion) with guest album artists Derrick Rathwell (bass) and Celeste Cote (vocals).

Mainprize started the band in 2008 while he was part of Jetplanes of Abraham. He took a hiatus to backpack through Europe, where most of the songs were written. The songs have that wanderlusty feel with titles such as “Solitude” and “The Starkest Questions” and lyrics about trying to put words to inner struggles and figure it all out.

The band shows its lighter side in this campfire cover of Tom Cochrane’s “Life Is a Highway.”

Stream the new Phantom Shores album here and catch the release show this weekend.

The Phantom Shores album release party takes place Saturday, March 23 at Maverick’s, 221 Rideau St., with guests Kalle Mattson, Loon Choir, and Andre Bluteau. Doors: 8 p.m., $10 cover.

ALSO THIS WEEKEND
Toronto synth-worshippers Trust play Ritual tonight. The band features members of Austra. 8 p.m., tickets are $10 through ticketfly.com. The Fader described them as, “Moody, skulking pop that reminisces downcast ’80s dance at its best.”

West Ottawa folk force Brock Zeman hosts his annual birthday bash Friday at Irene’s Pub. $10.

The Kate Rogers Band and Shannon Rose & the Thorns play the Raw Sugar Café Friday.

The Peptides play two shows at the Black Sheep Inn on Friday and Saturday. It’s in celebration of their new album based on the stories of The Vinyl Café. $10 adv.

Chicago band Mister Lies headlines a triple bill of ambient-experimental music Saturday at Café Dekcuf with guests Organ Eyes and Adam Saikaley. 8 pm.., $10 adv.

The Wooden Sky plays Café Dekcuf Tuesday. 8 p.m., $17 adv.

Sex Pistol Glen Matlock is at Zaphod’s Wednesday. 8 p.m., $20 adv.

Danny Michel plays the NAC Presents series on Wednesday, March 28 and Thursday, March 29. $33.

The post SOUND SEEKERS: Phantom Shores’ release show — plus eight more concerts to rock your weekend appeared first on Ottawa Magazine.

Sound Seekers by Fateema Sayani is published weekly at OttawaMagazine.com. Read Fateema Sayani’s culture column in Ottawa Magazine and follow her on Twitter @fateemasayani

Homebased holds its album release party this Saturday at Ritual. (Left to right: Kane "Kane B" Beard, Tom "Textstyle" Bent, and Liam "Betavel" Kendall.) Photo by Amy Sparrow Photography.

Ottawa hip-hop trio Homebased focuses on golden era-style hip-hop on their new album called Get Busy. Homebased is Liam “Betavel” Kendall and Tom “Textstyle” Bent on rhyme duties with Kane “Kane B” Beard on samples and scratches. Their feel-good tunes have a late-night vibe thanks to all those bassy samples. Their tune “Go On” gives you a good sense of the album’s style. Check out the video here and stream the entire 13 tracks of fierce mic talent here.

Homebased began nearly a dozen years ago when Kendall and Bent met as teenagers and tried out some rap stanzas. It was early-phase stuff with songs made up of big boasts and odes to hip-hop. As time passed, their writing became a bit slicker. One evening, the duo saw Beard’s sampling talent at a producer showcase and invited him to join their group. They put out a mixtape and started working on their full-length album. The results are big and bold with added dazzle from guest artists Ducats, Ghettosocks, Grusm, Jeff Spec, SD the Scholar, and J.E.T.S.

Homebased is part of the Vinyl Tap crew, led by capital city MC Devin Atherton. He’s featured on the album’s “Atherlude,” and serves as a mentor to the young rap crew. Atherton helped the Homebased boys with booking shows and related details of music making.

The Homebased album release party takes place Saturday, March 16 at Ritual with special guests Ghettosocks, Jeff Spec, Atherton and SD the Scholar, plus DJs Calkuta, Circa, Grusm and Prufrock. 9 p.m., $6.

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