Friday, October 9, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Vinylideos!!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
The Olympic Symphonium BBC Radio 2 Session
The guys speak with legendary radio host Bob Harris about the band, there home and making music.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Since we last left you, snow had shutdown the city, our first 2 shows were cancelled and we spent our time sightseeing around snowy snowy London.
Ok so now, it’s the end of the tour for Dennis and I. We got to spend some time in Glasgow with my sister as the rest of Share(Andrew, Nick & Kyle) travel to Germany to perform in Berlin as a trio to finish off the very first Forward Music European Tour.
This last week has been amazing. The snow melted in London, things got back to normal. Grand Theft Bus was able to showcase at 229 in London to a packed house. We all got to see some familiar faces and want to thank our friends for coming out to support the band. After a week in Ireland, Andrew finally met up with the rest of us at the flat in London, needless to say he was happy to see us. Share’s first show was unknowingly in a country bar. We played to a packed house of country folk who surprisingly enough, loved it. Not that we aren’t country but, really we aren’t country. Tim, Bob and James headed home leaving the rest of us to finish off the tour.
Share & the Olympic Symphonium continued on to York to play this amazing venue, the Duchess. Headlining the bill was Bella Union artist Peter Broderick, a one man musical maniac looping keyboard, guitar, violin, a saw, plus a load of percussive toys while singing sad folk tunes. He really was amazing, blew all of us away and know we have crushypoos. At the point in the tour we rented a car to get us from York to Glasgow while playing some dates in between, I learned that driving on the left side isn’t so bad, you feel weird at first but you just need a little reminder from the guys what side is the right side right before you start the drive.
Andrew, Dennis and I went on to Leeds while the others hoped a train back into London to tape there BBC Session for the Olympic Symphonium. The guys were actually photographed by Papparazzi on there way out of the BBC studio(never know maybe it’ll be worth something someday). The rest of us played as a 3 piece for an open mic night hosted by an Elvis impersonator in a bar located in the Industrial Park in Leeds. Lets just say it was interesting. Elvis got up to the mic and introduced as “Smare” to the 6 people waiting to play after us. Some of the best footage we ever shot.
Newcastle was amazing we meet Joel and Jack the promoters of The End Bar, played to a create crowd. The boys treated us like gold and took us out for bitters after.
Then it snowed again…
Seriously it followed us the whole trip. We drove to Edinburgh, got to lay eyes on the North Sea while making our way along the coast, showed up to the Bowery our venue for the night, it was in the basement of like old church. Great space, great people, great openers called “2nd hand marching band” who were literally a 20 piece band with a Beirut feel to them.
We finally made it to Glasgow to play with Women an awesome Canadian band on the rise right now. We were lucky to see some good friends of ours plus play to a packed house, it was the best show to end our tour as a 5 piece band and send the rest of the guys off to Germany.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
UK Blog 3: REUNITED!!
I can't believe Andrew and Zach just ran into each other on the street, then they decided to play some shows!!! Small World!!!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Non-Stop Sisk Posts
Andrew Sisk has yet another video update. This time it's from Ireland!!
mmmmmm Curry Flavored Condoms!!
mmmmmm Curry Flavored Condoms!!
Monday, February 9, 2009
Hey London Meet Minto/Chipman
Here is the Balcony TV interview/performance that we saw behind the scenes footage of earlier in Andrew's Video BLOG.
After further research into the topic "man-flu" is British humour for when a male exaggerates a common cold into "The flu" or something more serious. Of course Andrew, being a good Canadian lad that he is, has no concept of such an affliction.
Ya know what I think? I think all of London has "meteorological-man-flu" by calling a few centimeters of snow a "storm". Thus halting our good Canadian boys from bringing the rock a few days back.
Now for something completely unrelated, check out this kid high on drugs:
"I feel Funny"
"...Kinda felt good did-nit"
After further research into the topic "man-flu" is British humour for when a male exaggerates a common cold into "The flu" or something more serious. Of course Andrew, being a good Canadian lad that he is, has no concept of such an affliction.
Ya know what I think? I think all of London has "meteorological-man-flu" by calling a few centimeters of snow a "storm". Thus halting our good Canadian boys from bringing the rock a few days back.
Now for something completely unrelated, check out this kid high on drugs:
"I feel Funny"
"...Kinda felt good did-nit"
Friday, February 6, 2009
Storm of the Century!!
So you’ve flown across the pond. You go to a country you’ve never been to. You’ve got gigs booked. You’re waiting to play music to people who’ve never heard you before. Then you realize there’s a snowstorm. And by “snowstorm” . . . I mean a gentle, cuddly blanket of snow that plays like a typical winter New Brunswick day.The sort of day in London, England that means school is closed, buses are stationary, businesses are closed and shovels are . . . wait a minute . . . what are shovels?
The Forward crew has been in London for close to a week now and two of our gigs have been canceled due to the “STORM OF THE DECADE” which dumped the largest mass of snow on the city since Prince William was in short pants. Nestled away in our cozy flat and safely away from winter’s wrath, we found inspiration in a songwriting game we call ‘Parkis Andorasis’. Let’s just say It involves divine inspiration ,a belly full of beer , ten minutes alone , a hat-drawn topic and a whole lot of laughs. Needless to say we have been making the best of our downtime. Box set to be downloadable soon….:)
We are all enjoying the convenience of the public transit, making our way through its pulsing veins each day to a new adventure. The tube is awesome.
Since we don’t have a van here, we loaded all our gear onto the bus to get to the gig tonight. Interesting…got a few odd looks from the locals, but we got there safely and soundly and on time.
The GTB show went well tonight at the Fox and Firkin in Lewisham , Firkin’ eh!! It felt good to finally play some songs over here!!! Crowd was small but mighty and seemed to enjoy themselves during the set.
Round two tomorrow night!!!!!
PS- Turns out you can drink here in the streets almost legally, so we did! No freebies at the venue so we grabbed a few at the ‘off-license’ for a pound a piece!! We aren’t lushes honest!!!!...or…..whatever.
Check out the Forward Youtube. We will be updating videos as our trip unfolds
Check out pictures from our trip so far
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| Forward Music Group |
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Europe
So a bunch of the fellas (Share,Olympic Symphonium, Grand Theft Bus) took off for the UK a few days back, leaving behind the snowy tundra of Canada. Or so they thought. Just as they arrived London, and the rest of the British Ilse's, received their worst snow storm in 20 years!!! So that is wrecking havoc for the Brits and the Forward Music Tour. Hopefully it will get under control and the tour will get back on track.
In CBC related news The Sleepless Nights CBC radio 3 Session recorded in Vancouver last fall has been posted online. I'm listening to it as I type!!
Click here for the CBC session
....I believe some of the tracks and titles may have gotten mixed up, but all the crunchy catchy content (Horaay for aliteration!) that you expect from The Sleepless Nights is there.
Also your local friendly The Capital Bar is nominated (and currently in the Top 50) Best Live Venues in Canada. The Capital Bar has been very good to Forward Music Group over the years and we hope that everyone goes to www.cbcradio3.ca and votes!
In CBC related news The Sleepless Nights CBC radio 3 Session recorded in Vancouver last fall has been posted online. I'm listening to it as I type!!
Click here for the CBC session
....I believe some of the tracks and titles may have gotten mixed up, but all the crunchy catchy content (Horaay for aliteration!) that you expect from The Sleepless Nights is there.
Also your local friendly The Capital Bar is nominated (and currently in the Top 50) Best Live Venues in Canada. The Capital Bar has been very good to Forward Music Group over the years and we hope that everyone goes to www.cbcradio3.ca and votes!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
From Sleepless Nights of Halifax Blog
So I guess forward is starting a blog and they were thinking we should all do a list of 08 or something. Here are the 10 songs i listened to most this year. Keep in mind I didn't specify FROM this year. It's a rar archive so you'll need some sort of uncompressing utility.
Surkin - Next of Kin
I heard this in the unreleased Fabric mix that Justice did and just figured it was them doing an edit of something. Then I happened on the actual track in a compilation.
Iron Virgin - Rebels Rule
I've always loved glam so one night on soulseek I got a bunch of best of's and compliations. This is the only tracks the really caught my attention but i can't stop listening to it.
Sebastien Tellier - Sexual Sportswear
Sebastien Tellier and Arpegiators. Put two of my favorite things together then add production help from a member of daft punk and you can't lose.
Portishead - Machinegun
I find some of third kind of off putting in how much every song sound like another song (silverapples much?) but this minimal electro gem easily rises above it's allusions.
Harry Manfredini - Theme to Friday the 13th Part 3
An instrumental from the 80's that could easily have been made by Chromeo.
Yuksek - Tonight
Phillip Clark showed me this song a couple weeks ago and i've since listened to it at least a hundred times. Everything about this song is perfect.
From http://sleeplessnightsofhalifax.blogspot.com
Jack White and Alicia Keys - Another Way to Die
I'm obsessesed with fuzz tone. This has got it en mass. Really crazy arrangement and the best bond theme since a view to a kill.
Women - Black Rice
I played a couple shows with them in the Jon Mckiel band not person. They didn't have any records yet so i didn't hear this until a bit latter but it was definetly a standout track of the shows.
Paul McCartney - Check My Machine
This is on the reissue of McCarney 2. From what I gather this was not a sucessful record at the time. The world was not ready. Forget about the beatles or any of those other guys. Get this record and try to tell me this isn't the music of the future.
Mr oizo Sebastian and Sebastien Tellier - Skatesteak
From the soundtrack to Oizo's movie Steak. Easier to watch than electroma.
Surkin - Next of Kin
I heard this in the unreleased Fabric mix that Justice did and just figured it was them doing an edit of something. Then I happened on the actual track in a compilation.
Iron Virgin - Rebels Rule
I've always loved glam so one night on soulseek I got a bunch of best of's and compliations. This is the only tracks the really caught my attention but i can't stop listening to it.
Sebastien Tellier - Sexual Sportswear
Sebastien Tellier and Arpegiators. Put two of my favorite things together then add production help from a member of daft punk and you can't lose.
Portishead - Machinegun
I find some of third kind of off putting in how much every song sound like another song (silverapples much?) but this minimal electro gem easily rises above it's allusions.
Harry Manfredini - Theme to Friday the 13th Part 3
An instrumental from the 80's that could easily have been made by Chromeo.
Yuksek - Tonight
Phillip Clark showed me this song a couple weeks ago and i've since listened to it at least a hundred times. Everything about this song is perfect.
From http://sleeplessnightsofhalifax.blogspot.com
Jack White and Alicia Keys - Another Way to Die
I'm obsessesed with fuzz tone. This has got it en mass. Really crazy arrangement and the best bond theme since a view to a kill.
Women - Black Rice
I played a couple shows with them in the Jon Mckiel band not person. They didn't have any records yet so i didn't hear this until a bit latter but it was definetly a standout track of the shows.
Paul McCartney - Check My Machine
This is on the reissue of McCarney 2. From what I gather this was not a sucessful record at the time. The world was not ready. Forget about the beatles or any of those other guys. Get this record and try to tell me this isn't the music of the future.
Mr oizo Sebastian and Sebastien Tellier - Skatesteak
From the soundtrack to Oizo's movie Steak. Easier to watch than electroma.
You Tube
Hi Bloggers,
Wanted to drop a line and say that we have the Forward Music You Tube Channel up and running! Please stop by and subscribe to the video feed... We have a lot more videos waiting to be posted.
Cheers,
http://www.youtube.com/user/ForwardMusicTube
Wanted to drop a line and say that we have the Forward Music You Tube Channel up and running! Please stop by and subscribe to the video feed... We have a lot more videos waiting to be posted.
Cheers,
http://www.youtube.com/user/ForwardMusicTube
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Best of 2008 (Shamos)
BEST OF 2008
Somewhat of a big year for myself, found a great girl, I finished my Business Degree in December, it only took 10 years!! Started in the Fall 1999 will graduate class of 2009 (I took 5 years off to play rock n’ roll and roam Canada.) All-in-all it was a great year, and it was capped off by taking the stage with my closest friends in a very drunkin’ sloppy but fun-filled reunion show.
I didn’t buy a ton of new music this year compared to years past. I Feel like I mostly listened to old Ghost Face Killah and CCR, but here are some of my favs of 2008:
11. Gutter Twins- “Satunalia” [Sub Pop] – The Afghan Whigs are my favourite band of all time, so when Greg Dulli teamed up with Mark Lanegan I had high expectations. I don’t think this album meets all of my high hopes, but I like it. The Gutter Twins are better than the Twilight Singer’s stuff I had heard from Dulli. “Idle Hands” is a great single that reminds me of the rock I used to listen to as a teen.
10. The Darcy’s- “Endless Water” - A new Canadian band I discovered via working at the Capital. They were an energetic live show and seemed like nice guys. I had zero expectations for this record and ended up staying in my car stereo for a really long time. Endless Water I an easy listen that has enough layers to keep it interesting.
9. The Constantines- “Kensington Heights” [Arts & Crafts]- A record I didn’t like at first……but c’mon it’s the Cons, it grew on me a lot. A lot of bands/artist write about Canada, but this band sounds like Canada (if that makes sense).
8. The Hold Steady- “Stay Positive” [Vagrant]- This record made a lot of year-end lists. Craig Finn is the American version of Jon K Samson. I didn’t like this album at first but after a few spins in the car it was a new favourite. Great Lyrics and Big Guitar Riffs is never a bad combination.
7. Sebastien Grainger and the Mountains [Saddle Creek]- This dude seems like a total dickhead, but he’s not the first dickhead to have written some great songs. Deep down I think it pains a part of me to like this album, it’s like the musical equivalent of shopping at American Apparel. I don’t want to be associated with the crowd, but the shit is good/comfortable.
6.My Morning Jacket- “Evil Urges” [ATO]- An early Favourite of 2008, This band just keeps getting more fucked-up and great. The “Peanutbutter-Pudding Surprise” of 2008!!
5..Grand Theft Bus- “Made Upwards” [Forward Music Group] – This isn’t making the list because I’m Forward Music Group’s Internet promo donkey, this album is a fantastic pop rock record. This is GTB’s strongest effort to date, unbelievably catchy and songs like “Roses” get stuck in my head for days.
4. Okkervile River- “Stand ins” [Jagjaguwar] – This one made my list at the last minute (I actually bought this record in 2009) This album is great, I thought it was brilliant through the first listen. Okkervile River is the sound that I’m looking for, but never get, when I listen to The National. A very fulfilling album filled with great lyrics and melodies.
3. The Bronx- “III” [White Drugs] – In my opinion The Bronx are the only band that matters in current Hard-core Punk rock. I hear a lot about “Fucked-up” and a few other cutting edge punk rock bands, but to me the Bronx is the only one that gets me jacked up and excited about a guy yelling at me for 30+ Minutes. This album is much more rock n’roll than previous records. “Six Days a Week” has one of the best hooks/choruses I’ve heard this year.
2. Mother Mother – “O My heart” [Last Gang]- One hell of a follow-up record. This album is a little less quirky than their previous effort, but I think it’s a much more solid and complete album. Catchiest record of 2008 and likely the most under-rated band in Canada.
1. Shad K- “The Old Prince” [Black Box]- The world needs more of this: clever, thoughtful, positive great hip-hop. Shad is a true talent, he seems very humble and when he is cocky it’s very tongue in cheek. I love every track on this record. It’s no wonder it was short-listed for the Polaris Award and is my favourite record of 2008.
Somewhat of a big year for myself, found a great girl, I finished my Business Degree in December, it only took 10 years!! Started in the Fall 1999 will graduate class of 2009 (I took 5 years off to play rock n’ roll and roam Canada.) All-in-all it was a great year, and it was capped off by taking the stage with my closest friends in a very drunkin’ sloppy but fun-filled reunion show.
I didn’t buy a ton of new music this year compared to years past. I Feel like I mostly listened to old Ghost Face Killah and CCR, but here are some of my favs of 2008:
11. Gutter Twins- “Satunalia” [Sub Pop] – The Afghan Whigs are my favourite band of all time, so when Greg Dulli teamed up with Mark Lanegan I had high expectations. I don’t think this album meets all of my high hopes, but I like it. The Gutter Twins are better than the Twilight Singer’s stuff I had heard from Dulli. “Idle Hands” is a great single that reminds me of the rock I used to listen to as a teen.
10. The Darcy’s- “Endless Water” - A new Canadian band I discovered via working at the Capital. They were an energetic live show and seemed like nice guys. I had zero expectations for this record and ended up staying in my car stereo for a really long time. Endless Water I an easy listen that has enough layers to keep it interesting.
9. The Constantines- “Kensington Heights” [Arts & Crafts]- A record I didn’t like at first……but c’mon it’s the Cons, it grew on me a lot. A lot of bands/artist write about Canada, but this band sounds like Canada (if that makes sense).
8. The Hold Steady- “Stay Positive” [Vagrant]- This record made a lot of year-end lists. Craig Finn is the American version of Jon K Samson. I didn’t like this album at first but after a few spins in the car it was a new favourite. Great Lyrics and Big Guitar Riffs is never a bad combination.
7. Sebastien Grainger and the Mountains [Saddle Creek]- This dude seems like a total dickhead, but he’s not the first dickhead to have written some great songs. Deep down I think it pains a part of me to like this album, it’s like the musical equivalent of shopping at American Apparel. I don’t want to be associated with the crowd, but the shit is good/comfortable.
6.My Morning Jacket- “Evil Urges” [ATO]- An early Favourite of 2008, This band just keeps getting more fucked-up and great. The “Peanutbutter-Pudding Surprise” of 2008!!
5..Grand Theft Bus- “Made Upwards” [Forward Music Group] – This isn’t making the list because I’m Forward Music Group’s Internet promo donkey, this album is a fantastic pop rock record. This is GTB’s strongest effort to date, unbelievably catchy and songs like “Roses” get stuck in my head for days.
4. Okkervile River- “Stand ins” [Jagjaguwar] – This one made my list at the last minute (I actually bought this record in 2009) This album is great, I thought it was brilliant through the first listen. Okkervile River is the sound that I’m looking for, but never get, when I listen to The National. A very fulfilling album filled with great lyrics and melodies.
3. The Bronx- “III” [White Drugs] – In my opinion The Bronx are the only band that matters in current Hard-core Punk rock. I hear a lot about “Fucked-up” and a few other cutting edge punk rock bands, but to me the Bronx is the only one that gets me jacked up and excited about a guy yelling at me for 30+ Minutes. This album is much more rock n’roll than previous records. “Six Days a Week” has one of the best hooks/choruses I’ve heard this year.
2. Mother Mother – “O My heart” [Last Gang]- One hell of a follow-up record. This album is a little less quirky than their previous effort, but I think it’s a much more solid and complete album. Catchiest record of 2008 and likely the most under-rated band in Canada.
1. Shad K- “The Old Prince” [Black Box]- The world needs more of this: clever, thoughtful, positive great hip-hop. Shad is a true talent, he seems very humble and when he is cocky it’s very tongue in cheek. I love every track on this record. It’s no wonder it was short-listed for the Polaris Award and is my favourite record of 2008.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Welcome!!
Welcome to the Forward Music Group BLOG.
I personally hate the term "blog" and never thought I would be contributing to one, but here we are. This is an idea that Forward Music Group has been tossing around for a little while and hopefully more Forward people/artist will contribute and we can share some cool junk/records/bands-artist/opinions/inside jokes/articles that we find on the inter-web.
Hopefully this BLOG will become a news-feed loosely based around Forward Music Group and the people involved.
thanks for "blogging" with me,
-shamos
I personally hate the term "blog" and never thought I would be contributing to one, but here we are. This is an idea that Forward Music Group has been tossing around for a little while and hopefully more Forward people/artist will contribute and we can share some cool junk/records/bands-artist/opinions/inside jokes/articles that we find on the inter-web.
Hopefully this BLOG will become a news-feed loosely based around Forward Music Group and the people involved.
thanks for "blogging" with me,
-shamos
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