new music, this week's shows, + christmas singalongs
wowowowow, it’s already December! The weather outside has been frightful-ly delighting, as we finally got some snow here in Toronto. Twas very cinematic falling flake-like and it does brighten up the long winter nights. Fingers crossed it’s here to stay.
This is a bit of a longer update as I’ve got music to share, shows this week you should come to, and alllll the holiday mirth to hopefully induce a chuckle or two.
I promise I’ll add enough cool pics and bold italicized text to make the read worth your while.
from tape confessions to twinkle drones…
Live from Drone Rodeo 2024, the latest album from StretchMetal, captures my most recent Chicago live set in full mastery alongside ten additionally fantastic Chicago and New York artists.
You get quite the full spectrum of ambient, from straight forward drones to synth swashes to bowed white noise to my more experimental pluckings in an intimate bootleg recording vibe, but mastered and recorded with nice microphones so it sounds ~actually great~.
If ever there was an album to puzzle to, stare at water, makeout while crying a lil, or take a walk in the woods to: this is it and the fact that you get these intimate lil bites from such a wide variety of artists just makes it even tastier.
You could also consider grabbing the album via supporting StretchMetal’s Sustain the Drone fundraiser which goes towards paying artists, programming future Drone Rodeos, resources for emerging artists, et al for this delicious non-profit organization that really puts a lot of heart what they build and curate. You’ll get the album PLUS all the warm-hearted fuzzies knowing that you’ve invested in the future of this community.
Shows this Week (in Toronto)
Wednesday
For the third chapter of Arie and I’s Tranzac residency, we’re leaning more into our duo improvisational elecotracoustic explorations alongside a glitter smatter of songs by the “devastating” folktronica of Carolina Lopez and Dylann Miller.
✨anticipate cinematic wandering, oodles of plicks and plucks, and some unassumingly smooth vocal prowess✨
it’s ultimately an invitation to let a load off and dream with us for an eve.
PWYC as always, doors at 9:30, and music starts at 10!
Saturday
This upcoming Saturday, December 14th at Tranzac’s Living Room.
Odd Neighbour and I are HAULING out the HOLLY for our annual very campy, homegrown Christmas show sing-along to Sufjan Stevens arrangements and classic Christmas tunes.
It’s our seven-piece band’s attempt to fa-la-la as much musical eggnog down your throats as humanely possible, in the sweetest, most pleasantest of ways, and we need your help to do it!
Join us in singing tunes like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Oh Christmas Tree, and Grandma Got Runover by a Reindeer complete with musical comedy, powerpoint shenanigans, and more.
I very highly recommend grabbing tickets in advance - capacity is superbly limited to only 35 people, and our last show at Tranzac completely sold out.
I leave you with a few holiday treats:
DJ Cummerbund - Underneath The Mambo Tree (Santa No. 5) - it is exactly what you think it is.
If ever there was an album emblematic of ✨heartfelt and earnest✨ midwestern christmas spirit, it is the entirety of Scott Haag’s 22 Christmas Memories. A classic of my childhood years, I love this album with such sincerity, and it never fails to put me in a cheery mood. Get a taste of it with Haag’s own original tune Nog N’Cider.
Nutcracker’s Chocolate is always a fun one, perfect for prancing around the kitchen preferably making gingerbread cookies. peep macauley culkin in the back.
If you’ve made it this far, THANK YOU for reading. I promise next month to better curb my enthusiasm (or say more with less words).
sending lots of holiday cheer,
-grace
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