Phog Philanthropy - June 3rd, 2010

June 3rd will be the first of many Phog Philanthropy nights we've been meaning to do at Phog since 2009.

How?
Pay attention.

A series of artists who are looking for micro-funding/micro-grants under $300 attend the Philanthropasta Dinner.

Only 5 possible entries will be chosen to present the art idea/project that they need the money ($300 or less) to complete.

Everyone else attending will first, pay $5 cover, and then sit down for a Frank's Special Pasta Dinner (free).

While the group eats, they will hear 5 pitches for the arts-related funding.

Drinks and conversation will follow.

After dinner, everyone will vote for who they think the money collected at the door will go to. Who's idea will win the money? Democratic process will tell.

The artist who's pitch receives the most votes will be expected to give Phog an update on the event, which will be posted on the Phog Blog for all to see.

We anticipate a high volume of people wanting to attend a free-meal-event, as Phog will donate the pasta dinner...so if you want to save a spot, you can make reservations at Phog anytime, by bringing $5 to the bar.

$4.50 will still be in effect on that particular Thursday.

Any artist/musician/project co-ordinator interested in applying to present at our first Phog Philanthropy event must e-mail pitches to phoglounge@gmail.com with Phog Philanthropy in the subject line.

Looking forward to getting the pitches!

UPDATED Phog Listings for May/June

MaySaturday 1 - Detroit artist - Jackie Zimmer Art Show Begins!! YES!!!! Opening Reception! COME OUT!
Sunday 2 - Yukon Blonde (Vancouver) w/ Magic Hall of Mirrors - 9pm - 19+
Monday 3 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts - 9pm - 19+
Tuesday 4 - High Mother w/ Mrs. Smith - 9pm - 19+
Wednesday 5 - Juice Open Mic Poetry
Thursday 6 - Karyn Ellis (Toronto) w/ Janine Stoll (Toronto) w/ James O-L and Steve O-L - 9pm - ALL AGES
Friday 7 - USM, Magnolius (Toronto) and Leo37 - 10pm - 19+
Saturday 8 - Meadowlark Five (Sudbury) w/ Dirty Nil (Hamilton) and Bulletproof Tiger - 10pm - 19+
Monday 10 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts - 9pm - 19+
Wednesday 12 - This City Defects (Calgary) w/ Man Your Horse (Vancouver) and Bulletproof Tiger - 9pm - 19+
Friday 14 - ASK w/ James O-L and The Villains and Two For The Cascade - 10pm - 19+
Saturday 15 - Jetset Motel (St. John's, NFLD) w/ Great Diviners (Toronto) and Black Unicorn - 10pm - 19+
Sunday 16 - Explode When They Bloom w/ Silent Movie Type Cut Throat Britva (Toronto) and Vultures! - 9pm - 19+
Monday 17 - Anti-Homophobia Day w/ Tara Watts and MORE TBA - 4pm - 19+
Tuesday 18 - Comic Book Syndicate filming (Open to public)
Wednesday 19 - Kalle Mattson (Sault Ste. Marie) w/ Kevin Echlin and Tim Davidson - ALL AGES - 19+
Thursday 20 - The Locusts Have No King Family Tree Show - 9pm - 19+
Friday 21 - Stereo Goes Stellar w/ The Archives (Toronto) and Tim Davidson - 10pm - 19+
Saturday 22 - Surdaster w/ Red Rows and (wh)y.m.e.(??) - 10pm - 19+
Sunday 23 - David Simard (Toronto), Erin Lang (London, UK), and Kevin Echlin - 9pm - ALL AGES
Monday 24 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts - 9pm - 19+
Tuesday 25 - Perilelle w/ Brzowski (Maine), H.W. (Boston), Jesse Dangerously (Halifax) - 9pm - 19+
Wednesday 26 - MEDIA CITY AFTER PARTY - 10pm until 2am
Thursday 27
PITTER PATTER FEST SHOWCASE - Rude City Riot (Vancouver) w/ Credible Witness and That's The Spirit (Ottawa) - 7pm - 10pm
MEDIA CITY AFTER PARTY - 10pm until 2am
Friday 28 - MEDIA CITY AFTER PARTY - 10pm until 2am
Saturday 29
PITTER PATTER FEST SHOWCASE - Yellow Wood w/ Courtney John (Jamaica) and Jon Epworth  (Toronto) - 7pm - 10pm
MEDIA CITY AFTER PARTY - 10pm until 2am
Sunday 30
PITTER PATTER FEST SHOWCASE - The Bulletproof Tiger w/ Donlands and Mortimer (Toronto), The Darcys (Toronto), and Styrofoam Ones (Toronto) - 7pm - 10:30pm
Monday 31 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts - 9pm - 19+

June
Tuesday 1 - Elephant Stone (Montreal) w/ Oblisk (Detroit) and Magic Hall of Mirrors
Wednesday 2 - Justin Rutledge (Toronto) w/ Field Assembly
Friday 4 - NuRokSol (Detroit) w/ TBA
Saturday 5 - Lindy (Toronto) w/ TBA
Monday 7 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts
Tuesday 8 - Yellow Wood w/ The Bulletproof Tiger and The Dead Letters (Winnipeg)
Wednesday 9 - Juice Open Mic Poetry
Thursday 10 - Big Wheel and The Spokes (Sault Ste. Marie) w/ TBA
Friday 11 - Kenneth MacLeod and The Windsor Salt Band
Saturday 12 - Megan Hamilton and the Volunteer Canola (Toronto) w/ The Locusts Have No King and The Eric Welton Band AND Ryan Bourne (Calgary)
Monday 14 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts
Tuesday 15 - Rah Rah (Regina) w/ Olenka and the Autumn Lovers (London) w/ TBA
Wednesday 16 - Fanshaw (Vancouver) w/ Colleen Brown (Edmonton)
Thursday 17 - Wax Mannequin (Hamilton) and Jenny Omnichord (Guelph) w/ TBA
Friday 18 - Corrina Keeling (Toronto) w/ The Paperbacks (Winnipeg)
Saturday 19 - Curbside Sofa w/ TBA
Monday 21 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts
Tuesday 22 - The Zolas (Vancouver) w/ We Are The City (Kelowna)
Wednesday 23 - Nightwood (Montreal) w/ Welsh Cinema (NFLD) and Michou
Thursday 24 - Khari McClelland SHOWCASE!!!
Friday 25 - Kenneth MacLeod
Saturday 26 - Library Voices (Regina) w/ Pascale Picard Band (Quebec City)
Monday 28 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts
Tuesday 29 - Comic Book Syndicate Filming
Wednesday 30 - Billy The Kid (Toronto) w/ TBA
AND
Art Opening by Mike Edwards / Jay Drummond / Steve Burrell

English Words, Yukon Blonde, ASK, Magic Hall of Mirrors, Black Unicorn and more...

www.myspace.com/smotheredinhugsband

English Words (formerly Smothered In Hugs) is coming to Phog from Charlottetown, PEI, and they're going to thrill you.

Just take a listen to their songs on the myspace link provided above, and you will be clawing at the chance to see them rock Phog in a very unique way. This is a hugely anticipated show by those "in the know" with this band, as they have been turning heads across Canada in a very short period of time.

www.myspace.com/askwindsor

Not only will these east coast darlings play, but ASK (formerly Another Saturday Knight) with the new addition of Nancy Drew are going to revisit their show-prowess after a huge Rasied By Swans show last week.

And that's not all...
Darren Dobsky and Sean Barry's new side-project from Magic Hall of Mirrors - called Black Unicorn - will be making its debut as the opener of this evening.

The show begins at 9pm.
Three bands on a weekday means this show STARTS ON TIME at 9pm. Late? You miss.

$5.
It's going to be beautiful.

And with video PROOF below this post...Yukon Blonde is returning to THRASH YOU!
www.myspace.com/yukonblondeband
www.yukonblonde.com

They played at the end of February. They performed to a level unseen by most, stunning all in attendance with their vocal harmonies, driving/momentous songwriting, and pure sound.

The fact that this band is coming back to us is a treat...as this band is certainly on its way to much bigger things. We're beyond grateful for their return, and we anticipate a robust, excited full house.

www.myspace.com/magichallofmirrors

Magic Hall of Mirrors will be the local support! This is the perfect pairing of music stylings one could hope for, and the MHOM boys are psyched to play this show. It will truly be one of the year's best.

Tickets are $10, or $7 advanced. That means you need to pop into Phog after 5pm to get your advanced tickets before Sunday, May 2nd.

This show begins at 9pm SHARP...as it's a Sunday. People work the next day.

My brother makes a Phog video

I got a random phone call from my brother Mark, a constant, die-hard supporter of Phog Lounge (and everything else I try my hand at). He sent me an e-mail with a link to this video, and he wanted to make sure I got it.


Even at this point, almost a week later, we've both been so busy that we haven't spoken about it.


I wanted to post it, simply to share it, as I was extremely flattered that he took the time to make it.
Love you brother!

April/May Phog Events Listings

April
Wednesday 7 - Juice Open Mic Poetry - 9pm - ALL AGES
Thursday 8 - Huron (Hamilton) w/ Bend Sinister (Vancouver) and The Eric Welton Band - 9pm -
Friday 9 - The Polymorphines (Ottawa) w/ Krupke (Toronto), The Bulletproof Tiger, and Life in a Vacuum (Kitchener/Waterloo) - 9pm - 19+
Saturday 10 - Graham Playford Trio (Montreal) w/ Shane Murphy Band (Montreal) and John Pilat - 19+
Sunday 11 - Devin Sproule (Charlottesville, Virginia) w/ Mantler (Toronto) and Kristen Sweetland (??) and Jackie Robitaille - 9pm -
Monday 12 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts - 9pm - 19+
Tuesday 13 - Leif Vollebekk (Montreal) w/ Giant Hand (Ottawa) and David Dubois - 9pm -
Wednesday 14 - FURS Electronic/Interactive Show - 9pm - 19+
Thursday 15 - Amos The Transparent (Ottawa) w/ The Bad Ideas (London) and The Magic Hall of Mirrors - 9pm -
Friday 16 - Raised By Swans (London) w/ ASK - 10pm - 19+
Saturday 17 - Sean Connery Supergroup w/  - 10pm -
Monday 19 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts - 9pm - 19+
Tuesday 20 - Laura Peek and The Winning Hearts (Halifax) w/ Pat LePoidevin (Sackville) - 9pm -
Friday 23 - The Micronite Filters (Oshawa) w/ Sandman Viper Command (Burlington) and The Archives (Toronto) - 10pm -
Saturday 24 - Young Rival (Hamilton) w/ Muzzin - 10pm -
Monday 26 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts - 9pm - 19+
Thursday 29 - English Words (Charlottetown, PEI) w/ TBA - 9pm -
Friday 30 - Allison Brown CD Release w/ Lonesome Lefty and The Cryin' Shames - 10pm - 19+

May
Saturday 1 - Detroit artist - Jackie Zimmer Art Show Begins!! YES!!!! Opening Reception
Sunday 2 - Yukon Blonde (Vancouver) w/ Magic Hall of Mirrors
Monday 3 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts
Wednesday 5 - Juice Open Mic Poetry
Thursday 6 - Karyn Ellis (Toronto) w/ Janine Stoll (Toronto) w/ TBA
Friday 7 - USM, Magnolius (Toronto) and Leo37
Saturday 8 - Meadowlark Five (Sudbury) w/ Dirty Nil (Hamilton) and Bulletproof Tiger
Monday 10 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts
Wednesday 12 - This City Defects (Calgary) w/ Man Your Horse (Vancouver) and Bulletproof Tiger
Friday 14 - ASK w/ TBA
Saturday 15 - Jetset Motel (St. John's, NFLD) w/ Great Diviners (Toronto)
Sunday 16 - Explode When They Bloom w/ TBA
Monday 17 - Anti-Homophobia Day w/ Tara Watts and MORE TBA
Tuesday 18 - Comic Book Syndicate filming (Open to public)
Wednesday 19 - Kalle Mattson (Sault Ste. Marie) w/ Kevin Echlin and Tim Davidson
Thursday 20 - The Locusts Have No King w/ TBA
Friday 21 - Muzzin w/ TBA
Saturday 22 - Lonesome Lefty and The Cryin' Shames
Sunday 23 - David Simard (Toronto), Erin Lang (London, UK), and Kevin Echlin
Monday 24 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts
Tuesday 25 - Perilelle w/ TBA
Wednesday 26 - Myles Deck and The Fuzz (Halifax) w/ Sleepless Nights (Halifax) and TBA
Thursday 27 - Sunday 30 (IN FLUX)
Monday 31 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts

Devin Sproule (Charlottesville, Virginia) w/ Mantler (Toronto) and Kristin Sweetland AND Jackie Robitaille

ALSO joining this show is Kristin Sweetland
http://www.devonsproule.com
http://www.myspace.com/kristinsweetland
http://www.myspace.com/mantler
http://www.myspace.com/jackierobitaille

Yes, we have a guest from Charlottesville, Virginia. And she's amazing. She's been written up and featured in:
The Guardian
Paste
The New Yorker
Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange
Uncut (Feature)
fRoots
Mojo
& WAY more...
Go here to see all of her INCREDIBLE press!

She's bringing Mantler from Toronto, Kristen Sweetland (parts unknown), and will also have the WONDERFUL Jackie Robitaille playing local support!

Man-oh-man!
She's a beast, and you should come on this Sunday for a killer show!

The Polymorphines (Ottawa) w/ Krupke (Toronto), The Bulletproof Tiger, and Life in a Vacuum (Kitchener/Waterloo)

http://www.myspace.com/thebulletprooftiger
http://www.myspace.com/thepolymorphines
http://www.myspace.com/lifeinvacuum
http://www.myspace.com/krupkeband

I might wear a helmet to this one.

Bend Sinister (Vancouver) w/ Huron (Hamilton) and The Eric Welton Band

http://www.myspace.com/huronband
http://www.myspace.com/bendsinisterband
http://www.myspace.com/ericwelton

I don't know how to express how insanely huge this show just got.
I'll explain it this way.

One of Phog's favourite bands in Canada, Arkells from Hamilton, told us that THEIR favourite band in Hamilton. Whoa.

So add to that a band that hasn't played Phog in a WHILE...Bend Sinister, who has been one of the stand-out performers in Vancouver since we opened Phog. Every time they play Phog, it's like a modern-day Queen show, with unbelievable energy, and shockingly strong vocals.

Add all this to the loving local Eric Welton Band and you have one of the strongest shows of 2010 EASILY.

I can't really understand how this blessed show has fallen on us.
Hopefully this is enough notice to let you know you need to rearrange your schedule.

Comics and Poetry

This Tuesday and Wednesday Phog revisits some new monthly events that've been VERY successful.

To begin with, Michael Poirier's (CircleBox) Comic Book Syndicate that runs on Cogeco cable is now being filmed at Phog Lounge! They recorded their first Phog episode a month ago, and it was such a natural fit, one wonders what took so long to get them onto the Phog stage. For those of you who enjoy reading comics, you had better already know about this fun, humourous, and well-informed show.

Having them at Phog is a treat, and we count ourselves lucky for hosting them. For those of you looking to pop in for a poutine, there is NO COVER to come in (as some have wondered). Just come in, grab a seat close to the action if you like comics, or move to the back and gorf on some poutine if you're impartial. Either way, it's great to see some creative doers in our space, making a cool TV show. The show records TONIGHT (Tuesday, April 6th) from 7pm until 9pm.

As for Wednesday, Juice Open Mic Poetry has EXPLODED back onto the scene with originator, Tamara Kowalska. Here's a link tot he Facebook group, which you should join so that you can know about ALL upcoming poetry events around Windsor.


Both Juice nights, since it's reinception, have been completely packed! A hugely supported re-emergence of written and spoken word is all thanks to Tamara's commitment to rebuilding the once-flourishing event.


The readers are fantastic, and the crowd is respectfully attentive. If you have anything to share with the Windsor (and often smatterings of Detroit - yes you GetChristieLove) come down and READ! Or at least come and meet some of your contemporaries (I cast my glare directly at all creative writing students at the University of Windsor who need to GET OUT TO THIS!).