Said the Whale | “Curse of the Current”

It’s been almost nine months since I left Vancouver. But now that CBC Radio 3 is playing this Said the Whale song for what seems like 92 times a day, on loop, it’s forced me to think of it over and over and over again. I’m getting a little verklempt over here, guys. Stop it, or I may have to curse the current of radio overkill.

The video here is a little slow, but if you have any ties to that rainy west coast city, it may make you all moody and verklempt, too.

Said the Whale – Official Site | MySpace | Wikipedia | Last.fm

Final Fantasy | “The Ballad of Win and Regine”

I did the craziest thing and moved my butt back to Toronto. It was the last thing I could conceive of doing, and it’s precisely that that makes this decision exciting and ideal for me. Things have surprisingly come together in a matter of weeks, and I’m happy about this turn of events.

Now that I’ll be a little more “settled” and not travelling around from one North American city to another, I’m hoping to be a little more consistent with this site, at least by year’s end. My love for music is vast, and my love for video storytelling is equally intense.

In honour of my return, and my nostalgia for T-dot’s nightlife, my first video here is Final Fantasy’s “This Is The Dream Of Win And Regine”, filmed in Kensington Market’s hipster live music venue, The Boat. Yes!

Hayden | “All in One Move”

Since I left Toronto, I’ve lost track of Hayden. However, this video pops into my head every time I think about my childhood and the genuine love I had for music. I’m not saying I love music any less; youth was just a time when anything that had a beat was brilliant and worthy of repeat listens. I simply loved everything I heard.

I recall my days lip-synching on the coffee table to Donna Summer’s “Bad Girls” on our 8-track player. And though there’s no real comparison between the disco queen and this Canadian indie folk heartthrob, the video above of Hayden’s own adorable niece singing along to “All in One Move” reminds me of me… in that very short stage when I was young and fantastically adorable. Where have the years gone?

Hayden – Official site | Wikipedia | Last.fm | Amazon

Rock Plaza Central | Pat’s Pub, Vancouver

With Eaton’s new electric guitar in tow, RPC’s blossoming into a distinctly more rocky sound than delivered at previous shows. There was a paltry gathering of diehard music fans, as evidenced in a review by Bunklelife. The friend I’d dragged to the show said something to the effect of “these guys deserve a much better venue than Pat’s”. I know I’ve avoided heading down to this venue at least three times purely based on location. I don’t know. I’m just saying.

Rock Plaza Central – Official site | Myspace | Last.fm | Amazon

Sufjan Stevens | “For the Widows in Paradise, for the Fatherless In Ypsilanti”

If anyone can locate a musician more gorgeous than Sufjan Stevens, please provide substantial proof and about 45 minutes of private time for me and the boy in question. If not, just give me a heaping helping of Sufjan Stevens himself. That will do. That will do very well.

(Banjos are seriously one of the sexiest instruments in the world. Sigh.)

Sufjan Stevens – Official Site | MySpace | Last.fm | Wikipedia | Amazon

Similar artists: Iron & Wine, Great Lake Swimmers, Royal City, Smog

Ukulele kid | Britney Spears’ “Toxic”

I’d say my taste in music is pretty discerning. But that sure doesn’t mean I would pass on a good pop song if it’s offered to me. So allow me to boldly proclaim that “Toxic” is one of the best dance hits to come out of the mainstream world in the last few years: Britney Spears may know crazy and ditzy, but she also knows catchy, and I ain’t gonna fight that.

There’s no need to display her overplayed video here. Instead, I present a fine ukulele rendition of the hit single, which is as contagious as the original. Get ready to dance, folk style.

Note: for more ukulele action, please see the Ukulele Orkestra of Great Britain do Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”.

The Choir Practice | Beltin’ It Out @ Ukrainian Hall, Vancouver

The choir genre is hot, and there’s more to love in this group than meets the ear: it’s a hodge-podge supergroup of the Vancouver indie scene, including members of P:ano, Great Aunt Ida, The Gay Straights, and the A.C. Newman band. And if you can’t get a grasp of what’s going on in the video above, check out the written review of Friday night’s extravaganza.

The Choir Practice – Mint Records | MySpace | CBC Radio3 | Last.fm

Similar artists: Akron/Family, Langley Schools Music Project, P:ano, Great Aunt Ida