rockmusicnorth

2005-11-25T23:24:00.000-05:00

Black River Road

Blue Lotus Feet

2004-12-22T01:46:00.000-05:00

About a year ago I caught the Bonnie Prince at the Babylon in Ottawa. It was a really good show but Oldham was a study in aloofness. He played solo so we missed alot of his rockers. He did take requests shouted out from the audience though. I wish he could have played this one. It feels cryptically spiritual. Check out "Blue Lotus Feet"

Born of Sonic Youth

2004-12-22T01:23:00.000-05:00

I was recently reminded of how much I loved Eric's Trip back when I was about 14 or 15 years old. The pride of Moncton, N.B. they were the perfect blend of distortion, angst and melody - with dual male/female vocals! (who were dating and breaking up on record no less). Yes, those were the days, who needed Nirvana. The Peter cassette e.p. was the first "indie" release that I ever bought. I was cruising around Sam the Record Man in T.O. on a family trip and kept returning to this wild orange drugged out cover. When I started listening to it back in the hotel room, I was confused. I could not understand the lyrics, the fuzz was super heavy but they drums just kicked like there was no tomorrow. It took me awhile to figure it out but I was hooked. There was just something raw and true about it. Here is a a swirling mini-Canrock epic about the Beatles of Lobster country. Listen to:
Eric's Trip - Sloan Song

Moby Grape

2004-12-17T01:13:00.000-05:00

Here is a song from one of the forgotten great folk-rock bands of the late sixties and early seventies. They were rockier than the byrds and more unstable than Buffalo Springfield. Before Skip Spence flipped out and ended up in a strait jacket, there was Moby Grape. This song is called "Apocolypse".

Must be Santa

2004-12-16T23:37:00.000-05:00

For the Christmas Season, here is one of my favourite raffi songs "Must be Santa" redone as a rocker by Black River Road. Enjoy.

We were like the birds.

2004-12-16T23:12:00.000-05:00

My band, Black River Road, has a brand new mp3 available for downloading. It is a mid-tempo rock song called "We were like the birds". Please check it out and let me know what you think.

-JRH

Best Band in Ottawa (2004)

2004-12-16T18:25:00.000-05:00

Jim Bryson and Dave Draves

I can't believe Jim Bryson is currently without a record contract. C'mon. One of the best live shows in Canada right now. However, I am glad he is still playing around the city for awhile. Check out his website and a few free mp3 demos here. Also, you can catch Jim and Samir Khan (Kepler) at the Black Sheep on Dec. 18th.

Jonathan

Thesis is almost done!

2004-12-15T11:30:00.000-05:00

I have been working on a Master's Thesis in ecotoxicology for almost 2.5 years now and it is almost done! I can't wait to get this weight off of my neck. For now I'm taking a break to do a bit of Christmas shopping. I wonder if I can find my favourite Christmas Album: "John Denver and The Muppets".

Black River Road in concert fall 2004

2004-12-15T01:44:00.000-05:00

Black River Road is my band from Ottawa. This picture was taken at the Labour Day Festival in Cornwall, ON. Check out some of our mp3's at CBC's Zed site.

Top 5 Canadian Albums of 2004

2004-12-14T23:32:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the north.

Here are my top five picks for Canadian Album of the Year...

Hidden Cameras - Mississauga Goddamn
Arcade Fire - Funeral
Ron Sexsmith - Retreiver
Royal City - Little Hearts Ease
Gentlemen Reg - Darby and Joan

-Jonathan

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