Phog Lounge

Gobble Gobble (San Francisco/Edmonton) Saturday, September 25th at Phog

2010-09-24T23:11:00.002-04:00

We don't know anything like this yet.
If you want to dance...Phog is actually the best building in downtown for it this Saturday...for real.
This band is new to our senses, and is only recently on our radar.

To put it plainly, this band has more fans than the Phog Lounge Group on Facebook. Lots of people know just how incredible this is...

I have been stopped at least a dozen times by hardcore music fans in Windsor asking me if this is actually true or not, Gobble Gobble playing Phog...and when I look surprised at their excitement, they go on to explain that this band is simply unlike anything else they've ever seen.

The synth/pop/dance band is going to be a gift to anyone smart enough to come out. They have been loved by NME, Pitchfork, and Stereogum.
Here's the proof:
http://pitchfork.com/forkcast/14327-lawn-knives/

http://stereogum.com/367382/gobble-gobble-seizure-to-the-metronome/mp3s/

http://www.nme.com/blog/index.php?blog=122&title=the_dead_weather_scissor_sisters_muse_ph&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1#music
http://pitchfork.com/forkcast/14228-wrinklecarver/

Video proof:

Allie Hughes...would you see the show?

2010-09-22T15:05:00.000-04:00

This wonderful performer, Allie Hughes, might come to Phog soon. Would you come and see her perform? Her videos are reason enough...
According to Musebox, "She's opened for Mother Mother, Chromeo, and the Do. She also opened for Born Ruffians on their hometown CD release party earlier this summer at The Horseshoe."

ALLIE HUGHES - O Chad from Mitch Fillion (southernsouls.ca) on Vimeo.

Friday, September 24th - An Evening of Reading and Amazing Live Music presented by Biblioasis

2010-09-16T18:23:00.000-04:00

On Friday, September 24th we'll be kicking off our Fall publishing season with a four author launch at the Phog Lounge. Windsor born and raised Alexander MacLeod will be launching his long-anticipated first collection of short stories. Light Lifting offers a suite of darkly unflinching urban elegies, all of them set in the streets of our fair town. London's A.J. Somerset will be launching his Metcalf-Rooke winning novel Combat Camera, about a burned-out Pulitzer-prize winning photographer who washes up in Toronto and takes a job with a low-budget pornographic impresario, then hatches a plan which just might save his career, an actress he gets involved with and, hopefully, himself. Marius Kociejowksi will be here from England to launch his Pigeon Wars of Damascus, the follow up to his best-selling Street Philosopher and the Holy Fool (destined to become a classic, Adam Thorpe, TLS), Kociejowski returns to post 9-11 Damascus to discover an Islamic society in search for its true self. And poet Norm Sibum will read from his two latest collections, The QWF nominated Pangborn Defence, and Smoke and Lilacs (Carcanet, distributed by Biblioasis.)

To round out the night, Kenneth, Marion and Lewis MacLeod will be providing musical entertainment into the late hours in support of Lewis's just released album For Sale As Is. It promises to be a great night of books and music.

Hope to see you out there.

Phog's September/October Schedule of Events

2010-08-29T22:24:00.007-04:00

September
2 - Blood On The Flat Track (roller derby documentary)
3 - Tony Coates w/ Alec Lauziere
4 - Cut Throat Britva (Toronto) w/ Square Root of Margaret
8 - JUICE Open Mic Poetry
10 - Mike Hargreaves and Crissi Cochrane (5PM ALL AGES)
10 - Paint (Toronto) w/ Red Rows and The Tyres (Night 19+)
11 - The DoneFors (Toronto) w/ The Rheostats (London)
14 - FREE SHOW - NO COVER - Scatterheart (Vancouver) w/ The Eric Welton Band
16 - Bend Sinister (Vancouver) w/ Will Currie and The Country French (Toronto) w/ The Zolas
17 - Steph Copeland CD Release!
18 - Ten Indians
Thursday 23 - Young Rival (Hamilton) w/ The Pack A.D. (Vancouver)
Friday 24 - Alexander MacLeod Book Launch/Reading followed by Kenneth MacLeod
Saturday 25 - Gobble Gobble (San Francisco) w/ TBA
Tuesday 28 - Moon Duo (San Francisco)
Wednesday 29 - Allison Brown w/ Scott Cook (Alberta) and The Hung Jury
Thursday 30 - Motown in Yo'Town FREE Dance Party

October
Saturday 2 - FAM FEST -
9:30pm – Abigail Lapell
10:00pm – Meters to Miles
11:00pm – TBA
12:00pam – Eric Welton Band
1:00am – Square Root Of Margaret
Sunday 3 - FAM FEST - FILM SCREENINGS – 9PM
Selected Works From:
Eric Boucher
Mike Evans
Brent Kore
Sean Macleod
Nirvana The Band The Show
Chris Paco
Michael Poirier
Chris Quick
Jared Rabb
Rose City Sessions
Benjamin Young Hart
Wednesday 6 - FAM FEST - 8:00pm – JUICE POETRY
11:15pm – Kick Everything
12:15am – The Stick
Thursday 7 - FAM FEST - In-House DJ Aj Jimenez
10:00pm – TBA*
10:45pm - Black Vegaz
11:30pm – Flow and Smooth
12:15am – Academy
Saturday 9 - 10:15pm – Silent Movie Type
11:15pm – Avery Island
12:15am – Explode When They Bloom
1:15am -The Peace Leeches

Friday 15 - Square Root of Margaret CD Release
Saturday 16 - Red Rows, six gallery, the bulletproof tiger
Sunday 17 - FREE SHOW - NO COVER - The Falklands (Edmonton) w/ Plus Perfect (Vancouver) w/ State of Us (Windsor)
Wednesday 20 - Olenka and the Autumn Lovers (London) w/ The Locusts Have No King, and The Rheostats (London/Windsor)
Friday 22 - Pat Robitaille CD Release w/ Efan! and Adam Rideout Arkell
Saturday 23 - Ron's 65th Party - Ten Indians
Sunday 24 - Ron's 65th Party - Part 2
Tuesday 26 - Rah Rah (Regina) w/ We Were Lovers (Regina) and James O-L and the Villains
Friday 29 - Language Arts (Vancouver) w/ Ruby Coast (Toronto)
Saturday 30 - Poughboy w/ The Vaudevillianaires
Sunday 31 - Hannah Georgas' (Vancouver) w/ Allie Hughes (Toronto) and Jody Glenham (Vancouver)

Minced Meat and Big Fish Small Pond deliver a Hip-Hop Night for FREE!

2010-08-21T19:23:00.000-04:00

Join us Thursday August 26 at 8:00PM for a live hip-hop showcase at Phog Lounge! Bring your friends, it's free!

Phog Lounge and Phog Phest on A Channel with Christie Bezaire

2010-08-10T20:39:00.003-04:00

Thanks so much to Christie Bezaire for featuring us on A Channel News!

Phog Phest 2 - A Preview

2010-08-09T01:04:00.000-04:00

Just a friendly reminder, as we are less than a week away from Phog Phest 2...

Tickets are $10.
They're being sold by Joe Rabie (Red Rows), David Dubois (Locusts Have No King - often found at Taloola Cafe :)), Jamie Greer (The Magic Hall of Mirrors - often found at The Manchester), and Phog Lounge itself.

We're looking at an amazing gathering of local music creators, supporters, and awesome weather.

The forecast is already calling for sunny skies with a high of 30 and a low of 20! It's the ideal day to be at a music festival!

We'd be honoured if you found us, and our large outdoor festival (in Phog's parking lot) to celebrate the local music scene on this Saturday, August 14th.

CJAM 99.1FM will be live-streaming a portion of the evening on the radio, which is thrilling!

Thanks.

Phog Phest 2 music schedule:
1pm-1:40 - Red Rows
2pm-2:40 - Lindy
3pm-3:40 - James O-L and The Villains
4pm-4:40 - Locusts Have No King
5pm-5:40 - Bulletproof Tiger
6pm-6:40 - The Mark Inside
7pm-7:40 - Grand Analog
8pm-8:40 - Magic Hall of Mirrors
9pm-10:00 - Young Rival

No alcohol consumption allowed after 11pm.
This will be a great opportunity to head out to the other music venues in Windsor that make this scene as vibrant as it is. Their shows should just be getting underway around that time. A perfect night of music for all venues in the core.

Local product vendors include:
Big Fish Small Pond
CJAM 99.1FM
Jason Deary
Printhouse / Denial
Silver Heart Boutique
Slice of Style
SPOTVIN Creative
Windsor Eats
Windsorite.ca

VIDEOS:
LINDY

JAMES O-L AND THE VILLAINS

THE LOCUSTS HAVE NO KING

THE BULLETPROOF TIGER

Rose City Sessions - The Bulletproof Tiger from Rose City Sessions on Vimeo.

THE MARK INSIDE

GRAND ANALOG

MAGIC HALL OF MIRRORS

YOUNG RIVAL

Pre-sale Incentives for Phog Phest!

2010-08-03T17:31:00.000-04:00

Anyone who buys (or has bought) their Phog Phest ticket by August 7th (Aug. 7th included) is entered into a draw to win 1 of 9 professionally framed Phog Phest posters (by Nancy Johns Gallery), signed by all Phog Phest band members and performers!

So make sure you pop into Phog Lounge after 5pm Tuesday through Saturday (or after 8pm Sunday and Monday) and get some for you and your friends!

There's 10 bands for only $10!

Dave Kant Art Show and Opening Reception! Sunday August 1st - 12th

2010-07-21T22:50:00.000-04:00

This show's reception is on Friday August 13th!
Come see some new art and hear some great music Dave has scheduled.

Phog Phest 2

2010-07-13T01:55:00.001-04:00

Tickets are $10 per person.
On sale now at Phog.

Phog Phest 2 boasts bands that have treated Phog as their home. As their headquarters. Not just local bands, but the ones from out of town that continue to find us and connect beyond the music. Or, these performers have made strong connections with Frank and Tom, and with the Windsor music community at large...and they were all available this weekend!!

This year, the festival will have far fewer bands than the multi-stage marathon last year. We know this will make the event far more enjoyable for all attending. This way, there will be less insanity between sets. Longer sets from bands you love. This made it very difficult to figure out who to ask to play, but with an annual event (and more special surprises to come in the future months) we know we'll get to everyone we love and appreciate eventually.

It is a 19+ event, as we are selling alcohol at the festival. We welcome all under 19 to get vantage points in the neighbourhood surrounding the lot so they can enjoy the music too.

Local vendors (business owners we know and appreciate) who's products suit the "booth aesthetic" will be selling their goods on the perimeter of the event to those looking for cool Windsor clothing, jewelry, and art.

Here's the line-up, for now (alphabetical):

The Bulletproof Tiger (Windsor)
Grand Analog (Toronto)
James O-L and The Villains (Windsor)
Lindy (Toronto)
The Locusts Have No King (Windsor)
The Magic Hall of Mirrors (Windsor)
The Mark Inside (Toronto)
Raised By Swans (London)
Young Rival (Hamilton)

Set times to come.

Reminder:
Tickets are $10 per person.
On sale now at Phog.

http://www.myspace.com/thebulletprooftiger
http://www.myspace.com/grandanalog
http://www.myspace.com/jamesol
http://www.myspace.com/lindymusic
http://www.myspace.com/thelocustshavenoking
http://www.myspace.com/magichallofmirrors
http://www.myspace.com/themarkinside
http://www.myspace.com/raisedbyswans
http://www.myspace.com/youngrival

July/ August Listings - Updated

2010-06-26T21:28:00.002-04:00

June
Tuesday 29 - Comic Book Syndicate Filming
Wednesday 30 - Billy The Kid (Toronto) w/ TBA - 9pm - ALL AGES
AND
Art Opening by Mike Edwards / Jay Drummond / Steve Burrell

July
Thursday 1 - James O-L and The Villains w/ The Charming Ruins - 9pm - 19+
Friday 2 - Great Bloomers (Toronto) w/ - 10pm - 19+
Saturday 3 - Explode When They Bloom w/ Cut Throat Britva (Toronto) and Vultures! - 10pm - 19+
Sunday 4 - Forest City Lovers (London) w/ Evening Hymns (Toronto) w/ Kevin Echlin - 9pm - ALL AGES
Monday 5 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts - 10pm - 19+
Wednesday 7 - Juice Open Mic Poetry
Friday 9 - Fjord Rowboat (Toronto) w/ Two For The Cascade - 10pm - 19+
Saturday 10 - The Junction (Toronto) w/ Frontiers - 10pm - 19+
Monday 12 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts - 10pm - 19+
Tuesday 13 - Michou w/ TBA - 9pm - 19+
Wednesday 14 - 87 Things For The Future w/ Kevin Romain's Free Jazz Alarm Clock and Anna Atkinson - 9pm - 19+
Thursday 15 - Pat Robitaille w/ Sarah Loucks (Peterborough) and Dan Roth (Toronto) - 9pm - 19+
Friday 16 - Cap'n Jerry and the Mermaids (Detroit) w/ TBA
Saturday 17 - Eamon McGrath (Edmonton) w/ Mohawk Lodge (Vancouver) and Wax Mannequin (Hamilton) - 9pm - 19+
Monday 19 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts - 10pm - 19+
Tuesday 20 - Killmore Place (Vancouver) w/ This is Franco (Vancouver) and Red Rows - 9pm - 19+
Wednesday 21 - Old Crowns (Ottawa) w/ Brett Caswell and The Marquee Rose (Barrie) and TBA - 9pm - 19+
Thursday 22 - Yukon Blonde (Vancouver) w/
Friday 23 - Artful Vandelays (Toronto) w/ Frontiers and Point in 7
Saturday 24 - Jetset Motel (Toronto) w/ Great Diviners (Toronto) - 10pm - 19+
Sunday 25 - Fringe Fest Afterparty
Monday 26 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts - 10pm - 19+
Tuesday 27 - Chrissi Cochrane (Halifax) w/ Mike Hargreaves and Efan Music - All Ages - 5pm start!
Friday 30 - Birthday Cakes (Sudbury) w/ The Tyres and This is Me as a Woman - 10pm - 19+

August
Monday 2 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts
Friday 6 - Kenneth MacLeod and The Windsor Salt Band
Saturday 7 - Pigeon Park (Vancouver) w/ TBA
Monday 9 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts
Tuesday 10 - This City Defects (Calgary) w/ TBA
Wednesday 11 - Mountains and the Trees (NFLD) w/ The Wilderness of Manitoba
Saturday 14 - Phog Phest 2 - Tickets are $10 per person. ON SALE NOW.
The Bulletproof Tiger (Windsor)
Grand Analog (Toronto)
James O-L and The Villains (Windsor)
Lindy (Toronto)
The Locusts Have No King (Windsor)
The Magic Hall of Mirrors (Windsor)
The Mark Inside (Toronto)
Raised By Swans (London)
Young Rival (Hamilton)
http://www.myspace.com/thebulletprooftiger
http://www.myspace.com/grandanalog
http://www.myspace.com/jamesol
http://www.myspace.com/lindymusic
http://www.myspace.com/thelocustshavenoking
http://www.myspace.com/magichallofmirrors
http://www.myspace.com/themarkinside
http://www.myspace.com/raisedbyswans
http://www.myspace.com/youngrival
Monday 16 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts
Tuesday 17 - Free Boat Rentals (Toronto)
Wednesday 18 - Beware! The Leopard (Toronto)
Thursday 19 - She Roars! (Fredericton) w/
Friday 20 - Keek w/ Frontiers
Saturday 21 - Pistol George Warren (Sudbury)
Monday 23 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts
Wednesday 25 - The Ginn Sisters
Saturday 28 - Big Wheel and The Spokes (Sault Ste. Marie)
Monday 30 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts

Michou does it again...with June Balloons!

2010-06-03T17:57:00.000-04:00

Friends of mine (members of the band Michou) ...and boosters of Windsor, Phog, Kid Cardigan, and more...are doing something fun this month.

Throughout the month they are having a series of promos and interactions planned that involve lots of balloons. The first chunk of this project is to place balloons in high-traffic areas with the phrase, "It's Nice To Michou" written on each of them. So far, all of the balloons are bright yellow. They're meant to be found by their fans, scavenger-hunt-style, just for fun.

Fans are encouraged to photograph or videotape the balloons, wherever they find them, and upload their links to Michou's Facebook page - HERE.

I love this kind of interaction/promotion by artists simply because they are creating something else, something new to engage their loving fans. I'd like to see more of it from bands that can make it work. Granted...Gwar likely can't do a June Balloon promo, but certain acts can leverage creativity to remind fans of their projects.

Check out these videos of them explaining June Balloons and installing a couple of them in the downtown Windsor area.

This first video is crazy.

THEN watch the Eavesdropping (balloon-heavy) video!

Even MORE updated May/June/July listings

2010-05-24T23:24:00.000-04:00

May
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 - 7pm - 10pm
MEDIA CITY AFTER PARTY - 10pm until 2am
Friday 28 - MEDIA CITY AFTER PARTY - 10pm until 2am
Saturday 29
PITTER PATTER FEST SHOWCASE - Courtney John (Jamaica) - 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 - 9pm - 19+
Wednesday 2 - Justin Rutledge (Toronto) w/ Field Assembly - 9pm -ALL AGES
Thursday 3 - Phog Philanthropasta: Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
Friday 4 - NuRokSol (Detroit) w/ TBA- 10pm - 19+
Saturday 5 - Lindy (Toronto) w/ TBA - 10pm - 19+
Monday 7 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts - 10pm - 19+
Tuesday 8 - Yellow Wood w/ The Bulletproof Tiger and The Dead Letters (Winnipeg) - 9pm - 19+
Wednesday 9 - Juice Open Mic Poetry
Thursday 10 - Big Wheel and The Spokes (Sault Ste. Marie) w/ TBA - 9pm - 19+
Friday 11 - Kenneth MacLeod and The Windsor Salt Band - 10pm - 19+
Saturday 12 - Megan Hamilton and the Volunteer Canola (Toronto) w/ The Locusts Have No King and The Eric Welton Band AND Ryan Bourne (Calgary) - 9pm - 19+
Monday 14 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts
Tuesday 15 - Rah Rah (Regina) w/ Olenka and the Autumn Lovers (London) w/ The Rheostats (London) - 9pm - 19+
Wednesday 16 - Fanshaw (Vancouver) w/ Colleen Brown (Edmonton) - 9pm - 19+
Thursday 17 - Wax Mannequin (Hamilton) and Jenny Omnichord (Guelph) w/ A Welcome Breeze - 9pm - 19+
Friday 18 - Corrina Keeling (Toronto) w/ The Paperbacks (Winnipeg) - 10pm - 19+
Saturday 19 - High Mother's Last Show... - 10pm - 19+
Monday 21 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts - 10pm - 19+
Tuesday 22 - The Zolas (Vancouver) w/ We Are The City (Kelowna) - 9pm - ALL AGES
Wednesday 23 - Nightwood (Montreal) w/ Welsh Cinema (NFLD) and Michou - 9pm - 19+

Friday 25 - Kenneth MacLeod w/ Lewis MacLeod Band AND Andrew MacLeod Band - 10pm - 19+
Saturday 26 - Library Voices (Regina) w/ - 10pm - 19+
Monday 28 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts - 10pm - 19+
Tuesday 29 - Comic Book Syndicate Filming
Wednesday 30 - Billy The Kid (Toronto) w/ TBA - 9pm - ALL AGES
AND
Art Opening by Mike Edwards / Jay Drummond / Steve Burrell

July
Thursday 1 - James O-L and The Villains w/ TBA - 9pm - 19+
Friday 2 - Great Bloomers (Toronto) w/ Donlands and Mortimer (Toronto) and TBA - 10pm - 19+
Saturday 3 - Explode When They Bloom w/ Cut Throat Britva (Toronto) and Vultures! - 10pm - 19+
Sunday 4 - Forest City Lovers (London) w/ Evening Hymns (Toronto) w/ TBA - 9pm - ALL AGES
Monday 5 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts - 10pm - 19+
Wednesday 7 - Juice Open Mic Poetry
Friday 9 - Fjord Rowboat (Toronto) w/ TBA - 10pm - 19+
Saturday 10 - The Junction (Toronto) w/ Frontiers - 10pm - 19+
Monday 12 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts - 10pm - 19+
Tuesday 13 - Five Alarm Funk (Toronto) w/ TBA - 9pm - 19+
Wednesday 14 - Kevin Romain w/ TBA - 9pm - 19+
Thursday 15 - Pat Robitaille w/ Sarah Loucks (Peterborough) and Dan Roth (Toronto) - 9pm - 19+
Saturday 17 - Eamon McGrath (Edmonton) w/ Mohawk Lodge (Vancouver) & Wax Mannequin (Hamilton) - 9pm - 19+
Monday 19 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts - 10pm - 19+
Tuesday 20 - Killmore Place (Vancouver) w/ TBA - 9pm - 19+
Wednesday 21 - Old Crowns (Ottawa) w/ Brett Caswell and The Marquee Rose (Barrie) and TBA - 9pm - 19+
Saturday 24 - Jetset Motel (Toronto) w/ Great Diviners (Toronto) - 10pm - 19+
Monday 26 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts - 10pm - 19+
Tuesday 27 - Shred Kelly (Fernie, BC) w/ TBA - 9pm - 19+
Friday 30 - Birthday Cakes (Sudbury) w/ The Tyres and This is Me as a Woman - 10pm - 19+

Karyn Ellis (Toronto) w/ Janine Stoll (Toronto) and James O-L & Steve O-L at Phog Thursday, May 6th

2010-05-05T18:35:00.000-04:00

Karyn Ellis (Toronto) w/ Janine Stoll (Toronto) and James O-L & Steve O-L are at Phog Thursday, May 6th. The locals are a huge draw, and awesome performers. They are luring in a crowd that I KNOW will not be expecting the deluge of awesome that will come from Janine Stoll and Karyn Ellis.

Here's some videos of them playing...so you can gauge their talent...and realize how wonderful this performance will be.

Oh, and pints are $4.50 on Thursday instead of $5.75.
Pint and a Poutine is only $10!!!
Come with an empty stomach!

Phog Philanthropy - June 3rd, 2010

2010-04-30T23:48:00.000-04:00

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

2010-04-27T23:11:00.001-04:00

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...

2010-04-26T18:59:00.000-04:00

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

2010-04-23T23:59:00.000-04:00

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

2010-04-07T00:57:00.001-04:00

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

2010-04-06T23:29:00.000-04:00

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)

2010-04-06T22:29:00.001-04:00

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

2010-04-06T22:17:00.001-04:00

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

2010-04-06T14:05:00.001-04:00

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!).

The Pack A.D. play Phog Tuesday, March 30th with Bradley (Vancouver) and The Magic Hall Of Mirrors

2010-03-29T22:25:00.007-04:00

They're coming Tuesday March 30th.
The last time they were here was July 17, 2009 for the CBC Radio 3 Phog Phest celebration!
Come see an un-rushed, full kick-ass set!
Oh YEAH!
9pm show start!

Windsor Star, Phog, and Politics

2010-03-28T14:21:00.000-04:00

Phog goes out of the normal expectations of a bar, music venue, and otherwise to host an election open-house.

The Windsor Star covered it. You may want to check it out.
http://www.windsorstar.com/news/Windsor+election+hopefuls+gather+Phog/2723350/story.html

Upcoming Music at Phog Lounge

2010-03-19T02:26:00.000-04:00

Thursday March 25 - Jadea Kelly (Toronto) w/ Joshua Gropp (Stratford) and TBA - 9pm - $5 Friday March 26 - Gardening, Not Architecture (Los Angeles) w/ Crazy Diamond (Toronto) and A Welcome Breeze - 10pm - $5 Saturday March 27 - Diana Catherine and The Thrusty Tweeters (Toronto) w/ The Eric Welton Band - 10pm - $5

Tuesday March 30 - The Pack A.D. (Vancouver) w/ Bradley (Vancouver) and The Magic Hall of Mirrors - 10pm - $7 Advance or $10 Door

A glimpse of Yukon Blonde (Vancouver)

2010-03-04T01:51:00.000-05:00

Yukon Blonde played Phog at the end of February with Two For The Cascade, and it was epic.
Wonderful.
And I already have them booked again for May.

Just a teaser until then.

March/April Events 2010 Listings for Phog Lounge - UPDATED

2010-02-26T17:14:00.006-05:00

March

Friday 19 - Ramona (Toronto) w/ The Heels - 10:30pm - 19+

Saturday 20 - NOTHING BOOKED - NO COVER - COME DRINK

Monday 22 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts - 9pm - 19+
Tuesday 23 - In Review Magazine Launch w/ Marty Gervais

Wednesday 24 - Smash The Glass Publication Launch

Thursday 25 - Jadea Kelly (Toronto) w/ Joshua Gropp - 9pm - 19+

Friday 26 - Gardening, Not Architecture (Los Angeles) w/ Crazy Diamond (Toronto) and A Welcome Breeze- 10:30pm - 19+
Saturday 27 - Diana Catherine and the Thrusty Tweeters (Toronto) w/ The Eric Welton Band - 10pm - 19+

Monday 29 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts - 9pm - 19+

Tuesday 30 - The Pack AD (Vancouver) w/ Bradley (Vancouver) and The Magic Hall of Mirrors - 9pm - 19+

Wednesday 31 - Citizfaction Election Event

April

Friday 2 - The Wheat Pool (Edmonton) w/ Tom Curry - 10pm - 19+

Saturday 3 - The Peace Leeches (Blenheim) w/ The Details (Winnipeg) and WHYME - 10pm - 19+

Monday 5 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts - 9pm - 19+
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) w/ TBA - 19+
Sunday 11 - Devin Sproule (Charlottesville, Virginia) w/ Mantler (Toronto) and TBA - 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+

Poutine is unleashed at Phog!

2010-02-17T17:54:00.000-05:00

Yes. A new menu exists at Phog.
Frank has been thinking about it for a while, and he has a heap of cheese-curdy, gravy goodness in store.
The first night of release, Tuesday, February 16th, there was a veritable carnival of calories.

Frank was on fire, delivering the currently large menu of poutine combinations.

The Classic Poutine and the Phonions (onion rings covered in gravy and cheese curds) were quite popular, with at least one of the Phonions orders going out with BACON!

Kyle Marchand approved of the poutine onion rings!

The poutine named after the CBC, (maybe as a tribute to having the Searchlight contest last year) which stands for "corned beef and coleslaw", smelled better than anything ever has in this building!

The Cheeseburger poutine was love on a plate. It was ordered several times on the opening night.

Come on down to Phog Lounge between 5pm and 10pm, Tuesday through Saturday, and make Frank hustle in that kitchen!!

Here's a look at the current poutine menu:

The Classic

- cheese curds and gravy - $5.50 plus tax

Porky
- pulled pork and coleslaw - $9 plus tax
CBC
- corned beef and coleslaw - $9 plus tax
Cheeseburger
- ground beef, onion, and tomato - $9 plus tax
Poulet et Pois
- BBQ chicken and peas - $9 plus tax
Hot Lips
- pepperoni, hot peppers, and hot sauce - $8 plus tax
Veggie
- fried onions, mushrooms, and peppers - $8 plus tax
Bacon
- real bacon on poutine - $7.50 plus tax
Phonion
- poutine made with onion rings - $5.50 plus tax

Add a veggie topping to any poutine for $1.50
Add meat topping $2

Just fries or onion rings - $3.50
PS - THE GRAVY IS VEGETARIAN

Take-out available!

My Tale of Two Cities movie showing AND filmmaker on panel discussion

2010-02-16T12:56:00.000-05:00

Phog Lounge has been trying to encourage customers, community members, artists, and more to become involved in the improvement of their city. This pertains to all levels of life such as the block you live or work on, your neighbourhood, or your ward.

A FREE opportunity to see how Pittsburgh changed itself through business and community involvement is coming on Friday, February 26th.
Writer/producer/director of My Tale of Two Cities, Carl Kurlander, will be on site for the showing of the film at The Capitol Theatre.

Filmed in the style of “Super Size Me” and “Roger and Me,” My Tale of Two Cities is a funny and heartfelt movie that tells the comeback story of “St. Elmo’s Fire” screenwriter Carl Kurlander, who moved back to Pittsburgh from Los Angeles - only to find himself and his hometown in mid-life crisis. Kurlander asks his neighbours - from the famous (Steelers Franco Harris and Teresa Heinz Kerry) to his old gym teacher and the girl who inspired “St. Elmo’s Fire”- how this once great industrial giant, which built America with its steel, conquered polio and invented everything from the Big Mac to aluminum, can reinvent itself for a new age. With many in our region wondering the same thing, “My Tale of Two Cities” is a charming, engaging feel-good film that explores home, community and ultimately proves “it’s never too late for a comeback."

Panel discussion afterwards “What Windsor Can Learn from Pittsburgh’s Comeback” featuring writer/producer/director Carl Kurlander and special guests.

This FREE EVENT is presented by the Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association as part of our Re:Vision Downtown series. http://www.downtownwindsor.ca

Support for this project from the Windsor International Film Festival

FREE tickets available at:

Coffee Exchange - 266 Ouellette Ave.
Milk Coffee Bar - 68 University Ave. West
Pause Cafe - 74 Chatham St. West
Ray & Kim's Super Convenience - 353 Ouellette Ave.
DWBIA Office - 474 Ouellette Ave. (or call 519-252-5723)

Magnolius (Toronto) and Perilelle at Phog, February 20, 2010

2010-02-13T19:24:00.000-05:00

MAGNOLIUS, on their 5-venue tour of Southwestern Ontario brings explosive Hip Hop from Toronto, on stage with Windsor's PERILELLE. It's your best bet if you're looking for a break from indie rock and crave a show of authentic talent. MAGNOLIUS incorporates assembly-line style emceeing with lush beats and breaks, while PERILELLE fuses warm trip hop with hard technical rhythms via synthesizer, drum machine and of course, her silvery voice.

When: Saturday, February 20th, 2010

Where: Phog Lounge, 157 University Ave West, Windsor ON.

Details: $5, 19+

RSVP via Facebook

What are critics saying about headliners MAGNOLIUS?"The chemistry between the duo, Shan Vincent de Paul & Derek DaCosta... well if you could bottle it, you could sell it back to N-Power and make some tidy wedge. It's angry and aware, yet sharp and has sense of humor" - WHISPERS Mag (UK)

"Best of all is their successful spanning of that sometimes-massive space existing between the disparate sides of tradition and experimentation within hip-hop, moving from one to the other with casual ease." - EXCLAIM! (Toronto)

Listen to MAGNOLIUS Music on Bandcamp
Hear trip-hop from PERILELLE

Bonus: You can catch Magnolius twice while they're in the area. Check them out in Detroit at the 1440 Collective on Friday, February 19th with friends Stryfe, Detroit CYDI, RenCen and more!

Visit MAGNOLIUS myspace and find out about the other stops on the tour!

Queens of The Stone Age member joins Pat and Jackie Robitaille on Valentine's Day at Phog!

2010-02-09T02:43:00.000-05:00

www.myspace.com/patrobitaille
www.myspace.com/jackierobitaille
www.myspace.com/minimansionsmusic

Here's how this went.
Pat asked me out of the blue if Valentine's Day was open.
He promptly scooped it up and told me he'd be booking someone else to play with him.
It turned out that it would be his sister Jackie, who has recently released an awesome CD...

But the big surprise for this show came in an e-mail from Queens of the Stone Age bassist, Michael Shuman.

He wanted to get into our place and play with his band, Mini Mansions, as they're going to be in the area for Canadian Music Week (Toronto) and they'd rather play than sit idle...

And Pat, in true "Pat form", when asked if he'd mind the overwhelming company on his bill said, "Yeah man! That'll be great!"

What a guy.
What a show.
See you on Valentine's Day!

CROFOOT CONNECTIONS!!!

2010-02-09T02:12:00.000-05:00

One of the most debilitating setbacks facing any community is a lack of connections.
Connecting with like-minded folks is key to expanding your scope outside of your own.

This has been a priority for Phog, and for me personally, with regards to Windsor, and NOW with Detroit.
We wonder how we don't have a pile of Detroit residents, or music fans, or MUSICIANS coming to STUNNING shows in Windsor. I have a guess.

I ask you...how many true FRIENDS do you know that live in Detroit?
Unless you are a major exception to the rule, the numeric answer can fit on one hand.
This is a major contributor to the lack of cross-border cultural traffic (among other complications).

Sure we go see live shows at certain places, but we rarely go WITH Detroit friends. And, the acts we see are huge national acts touring THROUGH Detroit. I think it's imperative that we start connecting in a big way with Detroiters we share a kinship with...a love of music and culture with...an river with...a passion for strong art with...

And this process has more than begun to spring up.
Recently, the general manager of the Crofoot Ballroom in Pontiac came over for a visit.
For a place with a "ph" where an "f" should be in the name, it was an omen when I learned that the general manager's name was PHREDDY!

The point is, Phreddy and Dan (another key figure in The Crofoot) made a REAL EFFORT to connect with myself and other music supporters in Windsor earlier this month.
They were brethren, to the truest sense, and it felt neglectful on my part for not having found these guys sooner. Class acts. And fun, excited individuals who want to see Windsorites in Pontiac, and Detroit...and who also want to see Detroiters at Windsor shows!

It was a true pleasure to meet these two.

I think they realize that when a band like You Say Party, We Say Die! plays Phog, and then plays their building in the following month...we might have a lot in common.

With that minor teaser of what's to come, here is an e-mail I got from Phreddy tonight, inviting Canadians to a great show at The Crofoot for FREE. Yes. Show your passport and get in free!

A brilliant start. Read below for event information.

"Hello Neighbors!

My name is Phreddy and I am the General Manager of the Crofoot Ballroom in Pontiac, MI. This Saturday Feb. 13, 2010 we are hosting an event to celebrate women's contributions to art and culture. To encourage more creative cross-pollination between the left and right sides of the river, we would like to make the event free for all Canadians. Anyone that shows a Canadian passport /drivers' license at the door will not have to pay admission.

The night will feature 18 female-led musical acts, over 20 female visual artists, 2 fashion shows, and 4 comediennes plus dozens of crafters and non-profits. It should be tons of fun and creative networking opportunities will abound.

Hopefully we can keep doing more events that welcome Canadians warmly to the states and vice versa. Please keep me in the loop and let us know what we can do for you.

Thanks a million,
Phreddy"

You going?
I'm working.

WCMF (Windsor Canadian Music Festival) is coming! You showing up?

2010-02-01T22:56:00.000-05:00

The Windsor Canadian Music Festival is unleashing itself in many locations from now until February 6th.

As described by the WCMF website:

"The 2010 Windsor Canadian Music Festival looks at music and media, bringing composers, musician and video artists to create gesamtkunstwerk--comprehensive, all-embracing work of art."

Here's the schedule. Plain and simple. This is some unique stuff on display, within and outside of Phog Lounge, and I think it's going to imprint some new ideas to the people who decide to support this great event.

* Free Event ++ $5 cover at Phog.

† Adults/ Seniors $20; Students (with ID) $10 available at the Chrysler Theatre Box Office. Call (519) 252-6579 to order by phone. Tickets available at the door.

‡ Adults/ Seniors $15; Students (with ID) $5 available in advance by phone at 519-253-3000 ext. 4212.
Tickets available at the door.

Monday, February 1
● Take 4: WCMF Welcome Presentation*
4:00 p.m.
University of Windsor, School of Music Room 139
● Milkmen at MILK*
9:00 p.m.
Milk Coffee Bar & Lounge, 68 University Ave. W.
Tuesday, February 2
● Phog Phunk Phest IV*
9:00 p.m.
Phog Lounge, 157 University Ave. W.
Wednesday, February 3
● Take 4: WCMF Composers’ Roundtable*
4:00 p.m.
University of Windsor School of Music Room 139
● NMW: Romeo Sierra Tango Student Recital*
7:30 p.m.
Windsor Armouries
Thursday, February 4
● in/fuse 10: Five Ideas About the Relation of Sight + Sound with Virgil Moorefield*
7:30 p.m.
Windsor Armouries
Friday, February 5
● Windsor Symphony Orchestra Concert†
7:30 p.m.
Windsor Armouries
Music by composers Robert Lemay, Brent Lee, Jordan Nobles, Robert Rival with video artists.

● DoneFors at Phog++
11:00 p.m.
Phog Lounge, 157 University Ave. W.
Saturday, February 6
● School of Music Faculty Concert‡
7:30 p.m.
Windsor Armouries
Music by composers Robert Lemay, Brent Lee, Jordan Nobles, Robert Rival and Sundar Subramanian performed by faculty musicians and guests.
● Make Me Young! at Phog++
11:00 p.m.
Phog Lounge, 157 University Ave. W.

According to those on the inside of this festival, the show on Thursday at the Armories is going to be unreal. Virgil Moorefield is doing Five Ideas About the Relation of Sight and Sound. This guy has worked with Bill Laswell, Elliot Sharp, Damage, and the Swans.

And the show on Friday with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, video artists will be mixing live while the orchestra plays. According to Shelley Sharpe, "At least one of the pieces has the orchestra split into sections that will be placed in different areas around the Armouries."

Can you imagine a symphony playing AROUND you while video art is being displayed?
INSANE.
Take another look at this schedule, and try to make it to some of these events.
All events are marked as to whether they are free, or if a cover charge is applicable.

Grand Analog: In Retrospect

2010-01-27T01:55:00.000-05:00

I don't know how to preface these videos.
Grand Analog (@grandanalog on Twitter) played Phog in January of 2010.
I was anticipating his brilliance, and his brightness far before he ever walked into Phog.

Odario Williams has been a darling of CBC Radio 3 for a while. I have wanted to get his band into Phog for as long as I've known he exists. I could not even believe that I was able to book him.

It turns out, that he is one of the most brilliant performers in the entire country.
Flat out.
This guy is a tank. His band is a menagerie of brilliance and fun.

His reputation far outpaced him, having arrived in Windsor YEARS before anyone ever considered having him play here.

He didn't disappoint.

He and his band were easily one of the most engaging live acts we've ever hosted, and if you missed it...it's akin to missing Patrick Watson's first (and only) show at Phog.

If you're from Windsor, or not, and you see a Grand Analog show listed, make it your job to be in the presence of these phenomenal showmen.

Enjoy the videos of their live videos at Phog.

Phog's February & March Listings

2010-01-23T20:57:00.003-05:00

Monday 1 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts - 9pm - 19+

Tuesday 2 - Brent Lee - University of Windsor Jazz and Funk Recital - 8pm - ALL AGES

Wednesday 3 - Canadian Lawyers Abroad Fundraiser w/ Mike Hargreaves and Efan Music - 9pm - ALL AGES

Thursday 4 - Andy Brown - full band (Fredericton) w/ TBA - 9pm - ALL AGES

Friday 5 - The DoneFors (Toronto) w/ James O-L and The Villains - 10pm - 19+

Saturday 6 - Make Me Young! (Toronto) w/ A Huron Union (Sarnia) and Muzzin - 10pm - 19+

Sunday 7 - Coastal w/ My Last Summer Sky - 7:30pm - ALL AGES

Monday 8 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts - 9pm - 19+

Wednesday 10 - Juice Open Mic Poetry

Thursday 11 - Vicious Guns (Toronto) w/ TBA - 9pm - 19+

Friday 12 - Michou w/ TBA

Saturday 13 - Lonesome Lefty and The Cryin' Shames - 10:30pm - 19+

Sunday 14 - Pat Robitaille w/ Mini Mansions (Los Angeles) and TBA - 9pm - 19+

Monday 15 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts - 9pm - 19+

Wednesday 17 - Stephen Surlin (DJ FURS) Electronic TBA - 9pm

Friday 19 - Chris Page (Ottawa) w/ Leighton Bain Full Band - 10:30pm - 19+

Saturday 20 - Magnolius (Toronto) w/ Perilelle - 10:30pm - 19+

Sunday 21 - CR Avery (Vancouver) w/ TBA - 9pm - ALL AGES

Monday 22 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts - 9pm - 19+

Tuesday 23 - Rah Rah (Regina) w/ Stereo Goes Stellar - 9pm - ALL AGES

Thursday 25 - Twilight Hotel (Nashville) w/ TBA - 9pm - ALL AGES

Saturday 27 - Yukon Blonde (Vancouver) w/ TBA - 10:30pm - ALL AGES

March

Monday 1 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts - 9pm - 19+

Tuesday 2 - Woodhands (Toronto) w/ The Peace Leeches (Blenhiem) - 9pm - ALL AGES

Wednesday 3 - Pat Robitaille w/ Dan Roth (Toronto) and Sarah Loucks (Peterborough) - 9pm - 19+

Thursday 4 - Ron Leary w/ TBA - 9pm - 19+

Friday 5 - Brasstronaut (Vancouver) w/ TBA - 10:30pm - 19+

Saturday 6 - 72Blues (Australia) - 10:30pm - 19+

Sunday 7 - Ace Kincaid (Ottawa) w/ What Seas, What Shores and The Bulletproof Tiger - 9pm - 19+

Monday 8 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts - 9pm - 19+

Tuesday 9 - Pawnshop Diamond (Vancouver) w/ TBA - 9pm - ALL AGES

Wednesday 10 - Juice Open Mic Poetry - 9pm - ALL AGES

Thursday 11 - Innes Wilson and his Opposition (Guelph) w/ Gregory Pepper and His Problems (Guelph) w/ TBA - 9pm - 19+

Friday 12 - Stephen Surlin (DJ FURS) Experimental/Interactivity/Noise

Saturday 13 - Language Arts (Vancouver) w/ TBA - 10:30pm - ALL AGES

Sunday 14 - Ghostkeeper (Calgary) w/ Silver Starling (Montreal) - 9pm - ALL AGES

Monday 15 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts - 9pm - 19+

Tuesday 16 - Jean Paul De Roover (Thunder Bay) w/ WHYME and Efan Music - 9pm - ALL AGES

Wednesday 17 - Lonesome Lefty and The Cryin' Shames - 9pm - ALL AGES

Thursday 18 - The Balconies (Ottawa) w/ TBA - 9pm - 19+

Friday 19 - Ramona (Toronto) w/ The Heels - 10:30pm - 19+

Saturday 20 - Ketch Harbour Wolves (Toronto) w/ TBA - 10:30pm - ALL AGES

Sunday 21 - Neosupervital (Ireland) w/ TBA - 9pm - ALL AGES

Monday 22 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts - 9pm - 19+

Wednesday 24 - Oceanographer - Stephen Surlin

Thursday 25 - Jadea Kelly (Toronto) w/ TBA - 9pm - 19+

Friday 26 - Gardening, Not Architecture (Los Angeles) w/ TBA - 10:30pm - 19+

Monday 29 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts - 9pm - 19+

Tuesday 30 - The Pack AD (Vancouver) w/ TBA - 9pm - 19+

Recent press...for Phog...because of you.

2010-01-19T21:30:00.001-05:00

With all the pleasant byproducts of CBC Radio 3 still making it into the minds of many outside of the Windsor music community, there have been a couple of more mentions in the press.

I thought it might be a good idea to share it with those who make this place what it is...

Aaron Binder of Fazer Magazine wrote a piece on Windsor music, with bits about many of the local music venues. Check it out.

And we, specifically, were mentioned in a recent Windsor Star article about the new Canadian Monopoly board being voted upon by the country.

A week to contend with at Phog - January 18th - January 23rd

2010-01-18T01:40:00.002-05:00

First of all, Monday night's Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts begins at 9pm.

This is the second week in, when the evening begins early, and will continue to do so...so for those who may have been interested in participating in the past, but couldn't due to time restraints, I hope you reconsider now that the schedule has been shifted to accommodate as many as possible.

Tuesday the 19th is FAMiversary with tons of local acts playing AFTER the monthly Raw Shock Film Festival. You see, this monthly film-screening event is meant to encourage local film makers, video magicians, etc. to bring out their creations to share with other people enjoying the same profession/hobby. And since FAM has a significant film emphasis (the "F" in FAM), they are going to partner in the early part of this night to show films and shorts before the music begins.

And oh dear...
One of Canada's most beloved performers, whose reputation arrives FAR before he ever does, Odario G. Williams is bringing his incredible act to Windsor.

Wednesday the 20th is a day I've been waiting for...never really expecting it to come to fruition.
Grand Analog (Winnipeg) will be playing an ALL AGES show with local ska/rock band Brass Knuckles. Holy shit. Go ahead and say it. Holy shit. This show begins at 9pm sharp, and it will be one of the best feel-good events we'll ever host. Honestly, get to this show. $5

It'll be great to finally get Brass Knuckles in the building, and it'll be a chance for the dancing, grooving crowd to come and have a great time...and hopefully woo Grand Analog back another time in the future.

If that wasn't enough, someone with a lot of hype is coming the next night and he's sharing the stage with a local staple in musical performance - David Dubois! Thursday the 21st, we host Leif Vollebekk (Montreal) who was described this week on CBC Radio's Bandwidth (during an interview/live session with him!) as a combination of Bob Dylan and Patrick Watson. Incredibly, they hit the nail right on the head with this one.

Our Ottawa-connect to all things indie music, Ming Wu, just went to a live house-show with Leif headlining. He takes photos...awesome photos. Check this link to read his take on the show, and to see his photos of this intimate show.
It's an ALL AGES joint, so if you love his music, don't fret about your age...just come enjoy this guy!

And Friday the 22nd sees the return of our good friend Alun Piggins (Toronto) who will be dredging up hilarity and amazing rock-artistry with local band, The Heels. Show begins at 10pm, and is only for those over 19 years of age...sorry!

Last but not least...Saturday the 23rd will find a slightly older Lonesome Lefty sharing the gig with Vera Colley of the rockabilly dance twangsters, Whoa Nellie! (Toronto). 19+ please. And bring your dancin' cowboy boots, not the regular ones.

Phog Lounge on Today's Windsor - Part 2

2010-01-12T14:56:00.001-05:00

This is part two of the interview with Today's Windsor, with less "hot tub" references than part one.

Phog Lounge featured on Today's Windsor!

2010-01-11T15:30:00.000-05:00

Bevin and I talking at length about Phog Lounge...and why people seem to enjoy what we offer.

Tim Chaisson & Morning Fold (Charlottetown, PEI) with Tom Curry playing Wednesday, January 13, 2010

2010-01-11T14:48:00.000-05:00

http://www.myspace.com/timchaisson
http://www.myspace.com/tom.curry

Tom Curry is a guy who listens, and then makes things happen.
I spoke to him about the simple initiative it takes to start booking shows at Phog, and he immediately booked an opening slot for himself in the dwindling 2009.

He then quickly suggested that an artist he admires was coming to the area, and that he'd like to get them into Phog and play with them, Tim Chaisson & Morning Fold from Prince Edward Island.

I jumped at it.
Here's why.
VERY FEW bands tour from PEI or Newfoundland unless they have serious skill. Why? It costs a fortune. SO if this band is coming this way, and Tom Curry likes them, then other people are going to love them.

Don't let me forget that Windsor's own Mr. Chill seems to think a heck of a lot about this band, as I saw them leaving messages of support on each other's Facebook pages a few weeks ago.

Come out this Wednesday. We'll get it started early. 9pm.

ALL AGES show with Chris Velan (Calgary) w/ Mike Hargreaves - Saturday January 9, 2009

2010-01-07T16:02:00.001-05:00

http://www.myspace.com/chrisvelanmusic
http://www.myspace.com/mikeharg

Chris Velan played Phog a while ago.
He played on a bizarre bill with 72 South 1st (from Brooklyn) and Miwa Gemini (Japanese-American blues folk).

It was STELLAR.
Chris opened the show, and had us all doing double-takes, as this James Taylor-like voice was mixed with sunny sounds and looping pedals.

Velan creates tapestries that are done by a few performers who all have the same "Holy shit!" factor when they pile sound after sound on top of one another before your eyes. Final Fantasy (Toronto), Jean Paul De Roover (Thunder Bay), Pat LePoidevin (Sackville), and more make these kinds of atmospheres, and they leave you wondering how the hell they were possible.

I encourage you greatly to come to this ALL AGES, laid-back show on Saturday, as Michael Hargreaves will also be adding his brilliance to the pile.

He has a new solo CD out, with help from Jen Mireault, that he will hopefully have some copies of...as he has been GIVING THEM AWAY.
Come out, and see if you can snag a free CD, and then, with your savings, buy one of Velan's CDs. His newest is in my collection, and I dig it.

See you Saturday?

Nightwood (Montreal) w/ Modernboys Moderngirls & Michou - January 15, 2010

2010-01-05T22:31:00.000-05:00

January 15th, a Friday, Michou will play local host to Nightwood (Montreal) and Modernboys Moderngirls (Toronto).

The returning Modernboys Moderngirls is an energetic, dance-inducing band that we're thrilled to have back. Nightwood is the newcomer we are keen to break-in on the Phog stage.

Nightwood (Amber Goodwyn, Jeremy MacCuish, Erin Ross) is a heavy, dark but totally fun rock trio from Montreal. They have been touring Quebec and Ontario following their Pop Montreal album release (their debut full-length Carta Marina) and are planning a national tour this coming spring. Fiercely D.I.Y., Nightwood have been knee-deep in many aspects of the band; filming their music videos, silkscreening band t-shirts and posters and managing an art and style blog on their website. The members of the band are similarly eclectic in their lives outside of Nightwood: Amber is part of the experimental film collective Double Negative and publishes Lickety Split smut zine and Jeremy also plays in the bands Parlovr and Cotton Mouth.

Modernboys Moderngirls (Akira Alemany, Brett Millius, Juan Carlos Rivas) songs and shows combine punk and soul music. The band released their highly praised debut album I Might As Well Break It this past September with distribution from Fontana North. The band has built upon rave reviews for their live performances at showcase in the past year at Edgefest, NXNE, Halifax Pop Explosion, as well as their debut shows in NYC. Modernboys Moderngirls will be recording several new singles as well as producing their first music video this winter.

THE BUZZ ON NIGHTWOOD

“Their DIY ethic draws similarities in my opinion to the North-Western Olympia, WA, K Records scene, drawing influences from punk and playing pop music with an edge.” - For the Records

"(Nightwood's) Carta Marina is yet another reminder of all that Montreal's independent music scene has to offer... It shows remarkable maturity to craft an album which flows together so well and demands such attention from the listener. Nightwood have established themselves as a band worth watching." - In Your Speakers

“Nightwood: Montreal’s own take on the lovely lady-smacked scene of dark, moody rock.” - Nightlife Magazine

THE BUZZ ON MODERNBOYS MODERNGIRLS

"With the kind of spirit that could make a ship full of seasick sailors feel well enough to rock out to the point of sickness all over again, MBMG have reached their goal" –-Exclaim Magazine

"Modernboys Moderngirls are doing their part to crank up the amps and put the brashness back in rock 'n roll. The band's debut record - I Might As Well Break It. - is ten songs that really play like a gig at a dark and dingy club. It leaves you sweat soaked, bruised and battered and remembering." -- Herohill.com, Halifax

The Bright Girls of Summer from Nightwood on Vimeo.

Phog starts 2010 in a talented way...January Listings

2010-01-02T15:23:00.002-05:00

January
Saturday 2 - Phog's 6 Year Anniversary w/ The Peace Leeches (Blenheim) and Lindy (Toronto)
Monday 4 - Open Mic Surgery with Travis Reitsma - 9pm
Wednesday 6 - Magic Hall of Mirrors (2 sets) - 19+ - 9pm
Friday 8 - Poughboy w Space Vampire & (WH)Y.M.E.(?) - 19+ - 10pm
Saturday 9 - Chris Velan (Calgary) w/ TBA - ALL AGES - 10pm
Tuesday 12 - "Dive: The Film" MOVIE showing - 7pm
Wednesday 13 - Tim Chaisson & Morning Fold (Charlottetown, PEI) w/ Tom Curry - ALL AGES - 9pm
Thursday 14 - Engineers Without Borders fundraiser w/ acts TBA
Friday 15 - Nightwood (Montreal) w/ Modernboys Modergirls & Michou - 19+ - 10:30pm
Saturday 16 - Art's Birthday Celebration w/ acts TBA - 19+ - 9pm
Tuesday 19 - FAMiversary w/ acts TBA - 9pm
Wednesday 20 - Grand Analog (Winnipeg) w/ TBA - ALL AGES - 9pm
Thursday 21 - Leif Vollebekk (Montreal) w/ TBA - ALL AGES - 9pm
Friday 22 - Alun Piggins (Toronto) w/ The Heels - 19+ - 10pm
Saturday 23 - Lonesome Lefty w/ Whoa Nellie! (Toronto) - 19+ - 10:30pm
Tuesday 26 - Jackie Robitaille CD Release Party - ALL AGES - 9pm
Wednesday 27 - Lucciana Costa (Ann Arbor/London) - ALL AGES - 9pm
Thursday 28 - Dinosaur Bones (Toronto) w/ Frontiers, The Archives, & Kid Brother - ALL AGES - 9pm
Friday 29 - Ron Leary Quintet (Toronto) - 19+ - 10:30pm
Saturday 30 - CJAM Xmas w/ acts TBA - ALL AGES - 10pm
Sunday 31 - Broken City Lab Community Mapping Project

Elvyn and The Matavaras, in retrospect.

2009-12-22T18:39:00.000-05:00

Elvyn, from Peterborough, played here on Saturday, December 19th with The Matavaras.
We were laughing perpetually, only breaking to allow time for their performances.

It had been a while since Elvyn had been to Phog, and it was The Matavaras first time...but I had forgotten how much fun those Peterborough boys were.

They posted a little something on their blog about their show in Windsor.

They make reference to the sound check that I live-streamed, so I figured I'd link you to their blog post, and post the video of The Matavaras.

Next time either of them are in town, be sure to spend some time yarn-spinning with them, as they know how to entertain at the bar stool as much as they do on stage.

Field Assembly with Lee Gaul for an ALL AGES show on December 23rd

2009-12-21T15:45:00.000-05:00

Adam Fox is a friend, which makes it hard to give praise in the presence of newbies.
Would I talk-up a friend beyond their abilities? Possibly. But with Adam's newest venture - Field Assembly - I can't really say enough about it, friend or not.

This record he just popped out is BY FAR one of my favourite out of this city ever.
Songs like Alkali and especially Light Speed are songs I perpetually play at home, in the car, and in personal times of decompression. And he's playing this Wednesday before Christmas (almost like a present to me) with long-lost love of Windsor; Lee Gaul.

Lee is yet another friend, who's been trucking and hustling between Montreal, Toronto, and Windsor for the last couple of years, and it's our pleasure to house his music this season. I can't say enough honest, reverential things about his music either.
I'm super-charged to see what he's going to play, as he has done a quiet rendition of Etta James in the same set as a blinding "Black-Keys-like" rock/blues number that peels your skin back.

You don't know what you'll get, but you know it'll be incredible.
This is a sharp double-bill that I'm glad Adam took the time to build.

ALL AGES.
Show begins at 9pm SHARP.
See you then.

Construction and Destruction (Halifax) play Phog on Tuesday December 22nd with The Last Trio

2009-12-21T15:26:00.001-05:00

http://www.myspace.com/davidtrenaman

Construction and Destruction is a band, that when they were first recommended to me by Dr. Disc owner Liam O'Donnell, I knew was going to be great.

They play a certain kind of east coast music that reminds me of certain parts of other bands from out that way: Museum Pieces and Eric's Trip to name two.

The sound at the live show is notably scarce. A two-piece usually. But it's the kind of stuff I've come to enjoy...quite a bit.

Because of Liam's friendship with this musical couple, I've asked The Last Trio (Alan Penner, Liam O'Donnell +1) to play this show. Which is code for, the best vibe in all of Windsor will be happening in Phog Lounge on December 22nd.

To learn more about The Last Trio, see this quick interview I did with them: http://bit.ly/51TJIh

Come out. It will be fantastic and friendly.

I did this interview with them recently. It'll give you some sense of what kind of awesome they bring to a room. I think it's absolutley ideal for the winter months.

Promotional Head's Up, Please

2009-12-14T03:40:00.002-05:00

When a band books a gig at Phog, I supply a litany of information.
A list of things that happen, or are expected to happen before, during, and after a show.

We discuss money, posters, and promotion.

This third thing, promotion, is something I find myself having to ask bands for information about. Actually, to be more clear, I find myself stumbling onto Twitter posts from bands declaring their upcoming shows at Phog. Then, and only then, am I made aware that they even HAVE A TWITTER ACCOUNT.

Some of you are rolling you reyes.

For me, this is key to show promotion.
If I don't know that you have a band/musician Twitter account, blog, Facebook Fan Page, or FLAVORS.ME page, it hinders the promotional opportunities. People can't follow your progress on tour, photos from your other shows, video blog posts, tour video diaries, promotional giveaways, ANYTHING unless they ALREADY follow you (good luck) or if the promoter (me) can help let people know that you exist in these realms.

This week, I found a post from The Matavaras. A band from Halifax playing Phog on Saturday December 19th. Found. I didn't know they had a Twitter account. It's @thematavaras by the way. If I knew earlier, I could list it in the Facebook event listing, the blog, the calendar, etc. Since this example is leading me to making a list...I will begin doing so for you, the music fans of Windsor who ALSO embrace the tech connection.

Musicians, at the very least, I can help funnel people to your stuff if they are already interested in following or knowing more about your band, progress, and tour.

Please tell me, bands, if you are coming here, OR NOT, that you exist in these places so that I can help fans know more about your promotional efforts. This way, when you HAVE Windsor music fans following you, YOU can ask THEM great places to eat, buy guitar strings, rent a hotel room, or to find a floor of a fan to sleep on. It wouldn't be a bad idea to enact these suggestions in the cities you travel to frequently, as the only people who stand to benefit from this is you, your fans, and the venues you're playing.

Any thoughts?
Can anyone tell me ANY Canadian bands, Windsor or otherwise, that are currently using Twitter?
I will collect them for a little while, and then post them subsequently.
Thanks in advance!

EDIT - We have been gifted the answer...the list...by Brenda Lee (@kn0ttyn3rb), an awesome Canadian Music fan from Vancouver. She replied within minutes of this post with this unbelievable link to NONE OTHER than North By East West - the Canadian Music Blog SUPREME!

Here's the link to the ultimate Canadian music Twitter list. I need to add around 200 bands now...

Thanks Brenda, and thanks NXEW.ca

The Dudes...tour stories. Worthwhile read.

2009-12-09T16:59:00.000-05:00

The Dudes play Phog on Friday, December 11th with ASK (Chad Howson's Birthday) and Frontiers...a new Windsor outfit that I'm excited to hear.
Here's something from their most recent press release, to add a nice little story to their performance this week.

"What they say must be true, as after The Dudes released their album titled Bloods, Guts, Bruises, Cuts earlier this year the band (and others involved in the making and development of it) has suffered nothing but. Take for example their photographer Randy who took shots for the album and next thing you know he falls into a parked car and needs staples in his head. Or Megan who shows up at the shooting for the video ‘Girl Police’ and breaks her ankle within the hour.

None compares, however, to the injuries that the band themselves have sustained. Two days before heading out on tour lead singer/guitarist Dan Vacon’s white BMX took him down the highway of hurt resulting in 12 staples to the head and a broken collarbone. A month later drummer Scott Ross borrows and bails on the same bike to end up missing 3 of his front teeth, a bunch of his face, and a piece of his moustache. Witnesses say he got up swinging like he was in a fight. Eerily enough it was the same intersection in Calgary where both accidents happened.

Most recently Vacon crashed into a tree skiing at Lake Louise and broke the other side of his collarbone. Again two days before leaving out on tour. Last week the band got caught in a blizzard and while hailing a cab Ross slipped and got dragged 30 feet underneath the bumper of an oncoming car. With both knees busted, Scott can’t yet walk but still somehow manages to rock.

Blood, Guts, Bruises, Cuts? Exactly. Don’t be surprised if their next album foresees the title Millions Sold, Millions Made.

Nominated for a CBC Radio 3 Bucky Award for their offstage antics and voted Calgary’s favourite band for the last 4 years, FFWD Weekly calls them “a rock band capable of taking on the world at large.” These guys rock as hard as their injuries do. Catch The Dudes bloodied, gutted, bruised, and cut on their remaining tour dates."

Have a new CD coming out?

2009-12-07T00:32:00.000-05:00

If you are releasing new music, you need to take this contact info down:

Dylan Kristy - dkristy@thestar.canwest.com

He's the new CD reviewer for The Windsor Star Scene page.
This is the guy you need to contact, and get music to, in order to have your CD coevered in the pages of Windsor's daily newspaper. It doesn't matter if you're releasing digital download cards, vinyl, CD, or anything else. He's the guy to contact about getting some press about it.

Thought you'd appreciate the head's up, as it can be intimidating to cold-call the newspaper trying to find out who reviews CDs.

Simple information. Just wanted to deliver it to you as per my conversation with Dalson Chen recently.

An open call to other venue owners in Canada...

2009-12-02T19:15:00.001-05:00

I have been talking about this for a while.
A collaboration.
But there are physical barriers.
So I'm using this to reach you...venue owners!
Especially those who fell into the CBC Radio 3 Searchlight contest for their special attention to live music hosting.

Here I am, on a Wednesday night, in the winter, with nothing booked.
That means it's usually quiet in the early evening, picking up in the last half-hour.
But I know something's going on somewhere else in the country tonight.

I would LOVE to start showing LIVE broadcasts of bands playing in other venues, cities, provinces. Phog has been live-streaming shows, on and off, for a good while now. We just need an internet connection, a camera of some kind that will connect to your computer (I use a FireWire to a Sony Handycam circa. 1995). Then you need an external microphone with a USB connection to your computer. Ustream.com and other streaming sites make it pretty easy to set-up the video and audio...and then once you've got your settings...you keep them the same and simply adjust audio for volume.

I wish, wish, wish that another venue was willing to broadcast some stuff, so that I could PROJECT it onto our big screen on the nights when we don't have something booked.
I'd actually put it in the listing as something people could come and watch LIVE.
Touring bands could hit two audiences at once.

Is this a pipe dream, or is there someone out there willing to get the ball rolling by trying it out with one show?

If you're reading this and you have contact with a venue owner who might be open to this, send them to this post, or have them e-mail me at phoglounge@gmail.com.

It'd be killer to catch Said The Whale or Joel Plaskett or Jill Barber playing some other venue in Canada, knowing that they were playing to two audiences.

What do you think of this idea?

Phog's Weekend Thursday, December 3 - Saturday, December 5

2009-12-02T16:55:00.000-05:00

Anonymous Bosch and High Mother plan to knock the walls off of Phog nice and early this Thursday, beginning at 9pm, when the LOUD bands take over the building for Anonymous Bosch's forst Phog show.

Friday the 4th is an all-instrumental night, that I was hoping to book on one of the nights I work, with What Seas, What Shores playing with a band called Meadowlark Five. It going to be a great vibe...with all the ups and downs of instrumental, atmospheric awesomeness. - 10:30pm start.

Saturday the 5th is all ages.
The Original Lady Eyes bid farewell to a band member, Matt, and have asked Andrew MacLeod and Travis Reitsma to join the bill. Should be a great singer/songwriter night, as I never get to hear Travis anymore (and I love his first album), and Andrew is always busy with his west-side gigs. - 10:30pm start.

Very exctied for this fun weekend.

If you ever want updates on events, or videos, or audio from Phog Lounge, feel free to pop over to www.phoglounge.com for listings and more!

Have a great weekend. We have to party away this gloomy weather!

Exclaim's Monthly Earshot Listings

2009-11-25T19:33:00.001-05:00

Every month, when Exclaim!*@# Magazine comes out, I go straight to the back of the issue.
The Earshot Listings (The National Campus & Community Radio Report) are located in the back. The Top 40 most-played bands/musicians across Canada on Campus and Community Radio.

I get out the pen or Sharpie and I start making check-marks next to the bands who've actually played Phog. It's a great exercise. It reminds me of how much work I'm doing to bring in top acts...or how much MORE work is needed to get in bands and musicians I haven't booked yet.

Here's a picture of this month's chart. And a rarity for us, to have the number one band as one of ours, happened this month with You Say Party, We Say Die! making it to #1. Click on the photo to see a close up of our best bands...who are willing to play Phog (at one time or another).

Phog on the web this week

2009-11-25T00:38:00.000-05:00

My Google Alerts turned up these web-hits this week. Now you can check them out if you'd like.
Jean Paul De Roover's Blog
Library Voices Blog

Interview with The Last Trio

2009-11-25T00:19:00.000-05:00

Listen!
The Last Trio, made up of Al Penner and Liam O'Donnell (Dr. Disc), are one of my favourite sounds in Phog.
They are playing a kind of jazz, that almost doesn't adhere to any general definition of jazz that most people are used to...
It's like a soundtrack to an independent film that you LOVE.
Hopefully we can get more of this in here, as it sets a beautiful tone to the entire night.

Yellow Wood and Phog Lounge appear in CBC Radio 3 TV episode!

2009-11-23T23:22:00.000-05:00

When these things happen, it blows my mind, and then I get this feeling of incredible honour for being welcomed into the Canadian music scene by all of those who each play a part in it.

What am I talking about?

CBC Radio 3 produces kick-ass, weekly videos (among a litany of other things), featuring different bands, people, topics in Canadian music.

This week, they featured a documentary that Bend Sinister put together a couple of years ago while on tour. Their documentary is about life on the road, independent music, and the joys and pitfalls of those experiences. They busted out the camera while playing Phog those MANY months ago, and captured some thoughts from myself (Tom) and from the boys in Yellow Wood!

Well, to my surprise, I got an e-mail from our HUGE fan in Michigan (Jon Corbin), who is also a huge fan of CBC Radio 3, telling me that it was cool to see me in the video for this week's R3TV.

This doc looks absolutely incredible, and this R3TV episode was cool to watch, because it's weird to see Shammy from the Doers, Wax Mannequin, B.A. Johnston, and other band members we know in this way, because I'm only used to seeing them in-person.

But watch this, because it's cool...and Yellow Wood has the LAST WORD on the whole video!!!
GO HERE TO WATCH!

The Mark Inside (Toronto) w/ Young Rival (Hamilton) - Saturday, November 28th

2009-11-23T19:37:00.002-05:00

www.myspace.com/youngrival
www.myspace.com/themarkinside

I have been holding my breath.
It's very difficult to build up a show, when the shows happening in almost 6 weeks leading up to it are also phenomenal.

But this show on Saturday is epic.
These two groups are more than bands. They are friends of Phog. When we were just beginning, they were blowing this place up regularly, and playing for near-peanuts.

These days, these bands rarely cross paths, as they are both uber-headliners and aren't seen playing the same bills.

We are super psyched to have them in town, together, playing some of the best rock music in Canada.
Honestly, this is going to be a beyond-memorable night of music.

Tickets are $10 if bought in advance.
$12 at the door.

Young Rival has a dearth of video on Youtube, ranging from documentary-style vids, to live shows, music videos, and more. Check them out!

Here's a great video of The Mark Inside playing a heavy one at Phog during the P.A. Music Festival some years ago...My favourite song that they play live. The guitar solo at 2:15 of this video is just ridiculously sick.

Phog December Listings

2009-11-22T18:56:00.008-05:00

December
Thursday 3 - Anonymous Bosch w/ High Mother - 9PM START - 19+
Friday 4 - What Seas, What Shores w/ Meadowlark Lemon (Sudbury) - 10:30PM START - 19+
Saturday 5 - The Original Lady Eyes w/ Andrew MacLeod & Travis Reitsma - 10:30PM START - ALL AGES
Monday 7 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts - 10:30PM START - 19+
Friday 11 - The Dudes (Calgary) w/ ASK & Frontiers - 10:30PM START - 19+
Saturday 12 - By Divine Right (Toronto) w/ Square Root of Margaret (Chatham) - 10:30PM START - 19+
Monday 14 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts - 10:30PM START - 19+
Tuesday 15 - Raw Shock Monthly Film Festival - 8pm START - ALL AGES
Saturday 19 - The Matavaras (Halifax) w/ Elvyn (Peterborough)
Sunday 20 - Yellow Wood w/ Bulletproof Tiger & Kid Brother - 9pm START - ALL AGES
Monday 21 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts - 10:30PM START - 19+
Tuesday 22 - Construction and Destruction (Halifax) w/ TBA - 9PM START - ALL AGES
Wednesday 23 - Field Assembly w/ TBA - 9PM START - ALL AGES
Saturday 26 - The Windsor Salt Band - 10:30PM START - 19+
Sunday 27 - Pat Robitaille w/ Leighton Bain - 9PM START - 19+
Monday 28 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts - 10:30PM START - 19+
Tuesday 29 - Al Tuck (Halifax) w/ Kenneth MacLeod - 9PM START - ALL AGES
Thursday 31 - New Year's Eve with Lonesome Lefty and The Cryin' Shames - 10:30PM START - 19+

Phog Changes

2009-11-22T17:17:00.001-05:00

This might be news to you.

To others, this is old hat.

For the past 7 or 8 weeks, we at Phog had an epiphany. An ongoing epiphany.

We have been holding all of our weekday shows (any show where MOST people likely have to get up early the next day for work or school) nice and early. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday shows have been starting at 9pm. This starting point is regardless of whether there are two or three bands on the bill.

This adjustment was made due to the increasing requests from people who want to come to shows, but cannot because of their inability to leave a show and get to bed at a reasonable hour.

We listened.

So you can take this info, and put it somewhere memorable.
Shows on weekdays will begin at 9pm. Simple. You come on time, you see the show.

And believe me, it has been incredible to see so many people at weekday shows! It seems that those who begged for earlier shows are actually making it a priority to reward the early showa with their presence, attention, and good cheer. So thanks everyone for responding so heartily to the new schedule developments.

We felt it would offer more time for the bands to mingle after their shows, fraternize with the locals, making more opportunities for other events to form out of those interactions, such as future shows or after-hours fun.

Also, many of the weekday shows, when appropriate, have been ALL AGES. And this has been better-than-hoped. It's great to have people who appreciate the music in the building, rather than sequestering them in their homes, only to watch the Phog Live Stream.

So from now on, the listings will list clearly the start times of all the shows, and whether or not it's an ALL AGES show. So keep your eyes on the listings for show details.

We'll see you at some weekday shows!

If I have any advice for venue owners out-of-town...it seems like the touring bands LOVE the earlier shows. I hear them say things like, "I wish we had earlier shows back home. They start SO LATE."

I understand the apprehensiveness to do this. But we were catering to a group of people, for the longest time, who were trying to time their attendance with the "hopefully" eradicated cover charge by coming later and later. And the "cool factor" of being late was also at play. But we don't care about who wants to be cool. We care about who wants to patronize the Canadian music scene. And by taking care of THEM, everything else has fallen into place.

We just kept holding the show off longer and longer...and pretty soon, people who work the next day never come to shows, and the cover-avoiders just avoid the building altogether.

So we end up waiting for customers who really don't have their hearts set on a show.
Changing to earlier starts, the music fans, who make sure they're on time are making every show worthwhile for the bands by getting there early. It has been a wonderful two months.

Saturday, November 21 - KOUSHIK (Dundas, ON ::: Stones Throw) w/ VOWLS, Kero, & (wh)y.m.e(??)

2009-11-20T08:38:00.001-05:00

Saturday, November 21 2009

Phog Lounge 157 University Ave West, Windsor

LIVE!!!!!!

KOUSHIK (Dundas, ON ::: Stones Throw)

stonesthrow.com/koushik

ON HIS FIRST tour with a live band, the young Canadian producer Koushik will be performing songs from his lush albums Be With (2005) and Out My Window (2008), both released on Peanut Butter Wolf's Stones Throw Records based in LA. Koushik's sound can only be summed up as beautifully arranged downbeat hip hop songs that pay homage to the originators of the genre. Having collaborated with Dan Snaith (Manitoba/Caribou) and Kieran Hebden (Four Tet), Koushik's works are renown as dually pretty but weighty, creating songs that are perfect for both hip hop beat junkies and lovers of warm string harmonies and airy vocals. His output includes over 16 releases, with collaborations and remixes for some of the most important artists in underground hip hop, including Percee P, Madlib, MF Doom and Peanut Butter Wolf.

Watch/listen: Koushik's video for his song Nothing's The Same from the album Out My Window.

VOWLS (features players Brandon Hocura, Adam Trozzolo, Naomi Hocura and Alex Janssen on a variety of intstruments including the ebow, moogerfinger, circuit-bent electronics, water, the sitar and glockenspiel to say the least -- it's all wrapped together with live programming and keyboards, drums and guitar. Vowls' sometimes sparse and gentle vocals are backed by rich synths and accented with more classic hip hop beats, upbeat guitar and electronic beeps for a toasty warm West Coast effect.

Watch/listen: Click here for music video Vowls produced during the Monterey Pop Festival this past year.

Koushik and Vowls are a perfect match for a live performance that will make you forget all about the approaching cold as they share the stage with global electronic heavyweight DJ KERO (Detroit Underground) and the electronic 303 rhythms and layers of (wh)y.m.e(??). Contemporary visual ambiance will be provided by Citynoise of the Broken City Lab collective (brokencitylab.org).

Doors are at 9PM, 19 and up, $6 cover at the door.

RSVP to the Facebook event

Paper Lions KILLED at Phog last week. Here's proof.

2009-11-15T00:40:00.000-05:00

Okay.
This band from PEI was untouchable!
Paper Lions were stand-up people, to begin with, and utter pros when they got on stage.

Our own Magic Hall of Mirrors was reduced to a three-piece...opening the show...and flat out KILLING it in what I can easily say is the most impressive set I've heard from them to date.

Sean Barry, Darren Dobsky, and Justin Faubert were more than on top of their game Wednesday night. They were in the zone, as we athletic wannabes call it.

If you ever hear about Paper Lions coming back to Windsor, or to your town (for out-of-town readers), get your butt in gear and get advanced tickets. you will NOT be disappointed. Good gawd.

I recorded this interview with one of the members, David.
It is easily the best Show Up podcast I've recorded.
Listen:
Listen!

Scot McFayden and Sam Dunn filmmakers interview

2009-11-14T20:26:00.001-05:00

Lucky me! I just got to meet some awesome filmmakers who are in town to speak at the Capitol Theatre about their new documentary featuring the Canadian iconic band, Rush.
Listen to the interview I did with them for 5 minutes.
It's pretty fun.
They will likely be back at Phog Lounge tonight for the metal/punk/rock show tonight, as it is right up their alley...they directed Global Metal, Metal: A Headbanger's Journey, Iron Maiden: Flight 666, and more...
They're here as a part of the Windsor International Film Festival, which is totally surpassing all other years for turnout, interest, and acclaim.
They were SUPER-nice guys. Loved having them here. Enjoy the talk.

Listen!

Silly Week - November

2009-11-11T02:36:00.001-05:00

It's just silly.
Stupid almost.

Downright irresponsible of me.
To have booked this much firepower in one week...yikes.

Thursday, November 12th
Wax Mannequin (Hamilton) w/ Rae Spoon (Calgary) & Mark Bragg (St. John's, NL)

Friday, November 13th
Lindy (Toronto)

Saturday, November 14th
Myles Deck and the Fuzz (Halifax) w/ High Mother and Curbside Sofa

Sunday, November 15th
Amos The Transparent (Ottawa)

The Wooden Sky (Toronto) w/ MICHOU & Evening Hymns (Peterborough)

2009-11-05T13:01:00.000-05:00

http://www.myspace.com/thewoodensky
http://www.myspace.com/eveninghymns
http://www.myspace.com/itsnicetomichou

Okay, look.

The Wooden Sky just played for a month, touring with Elliott Brood. Windsor's own Ryan Fields, who's been touring with both of them has been doing sound on this tour. He messaged me on Twitter to say that this is easily one of his favourite bands right now, after watching them 24 nights in a row.

Simply put, this band has been evolving steadily since its days as Friday Morning's Regret, when they played Phog every 3 months.
This is a super-gifted band, bringing super gifted friends, Evening Hymns, from Peterborough. Their myspace music is HAUNTING, and BEAUTIFUL, and will totally KILL in Phog's little audio-space. GO LISTEN!

And to add to the madness...the UBER-talented MICHOU will be playing on the bill also! Love these fellas.
This is an all-ages show.
You should come.

Below, is three parts of a slick documentary being shot about The Wooden Sky. I encourage you to take a look.

See you Saturday!
The Wooden Sky - A Documentary in Pieces - PART ONE (HD) from Black Box Vimeo on Vimeo.

The Wooden Sky - A Documentary in Pieces PART TWO (HD) from Black Box Vimeo on Vimeo.

The Wooden Sky - A Documentary in Pieces PART THREE (HD) from Black Box Vimeo on Vimeo.

Some older vids...from the summer

2009-10-30T18:01:00.000-04:00

I have a few videos from earlier this year that I unearthed from the depths of another computer.

Here are a few older live videos of Field Assembly, The Sleepless Nights (Halifax), and Wax Mannequin.

Field Assembly

The Sleepless Nights

Wax Mannequin

The Got To Get Got (TGTGG) Videos of live show at Phog

2009-10-28T21:26:00.000-04:00

Interview with Kevin Echlin, Yukon Blonde, and Library Voices from, well, tonight!

2009-10-27T02:44:00.000-04:00

Listen!

Listen!

For those of you unaware, I have been lucky enough to get a wildly useful piece of technology called "the iPhone".
It's popular. You've likely heard of it...

I could go on and on, but won't.
There's a free app called Audioboo that allows users to record up to 5 minutes of sound, add a photo and tags to that sound, and then upload it to the internet immediately from the iPhone.

I have been using this for a little while now, interviewing bands, artists, festival promoters, etc, to show folks just how much is going on in this city, province, and country with regard to cultural talent.

So yes, when i post some of these interviews, they are happening minutes from the time they were recorded. It allows you to have a connection with an event or person that is actually still relatively within your reach (seeing their show, making it to their art opening etc.).

I'll keep you posted.

You can either listen to the posts here when I embed them. Or you can go to my Audioboo download page now and again to check what's uploaded. OR, the best option, subscribe to the podcast (internet episodes) on iTunes...so you can have them automatically downloaded to your MP3 player.

Rah Rah (Regina) w/ Stereo Goes Stellar play Phog Tuesday, October 27th

2009-10-24T21:14:00.001-04:00

http://www.myspace.com/rahrahband
http://www.myspace.com/stereogoesstellar

Rah Rah is just one of those bands.
Rock/Pop/Indie perfection. They make people dance with almost every song they perform.

You find yourself singing their songs while doing chores or driving around town. They are a six-piece, energetic, friendly, fun group, and they have made two big impressions to two small crowds.

Let's show them how Windsor enjoys its music community by coming out to this one and supporting this AMAZING band coming all the way from Regina, Saskatchewan!

As if you needed another reason, Stereo Goes Stellar, local darlings, will be joining the bill, representing the performers of Windsor as good as anyone could ever hope. I'm super excited to see both of these bands on Tuesday.

Use this link below to see some live video action of the last time Rah Rah played Phog.

Phog November Listings

2009-10-23T01:32:00.001-04:00

November
1 - Sharon Lavin Art Show Up
1 - BOOK FEST - Alexander Zelenyj Reading
2 - Peace Leeches (Blenheim) w/ TBA - 9pm
4 - Engineers Without Borders w/ What Seas, What Shores w/ James OL and the Villains
5 - Ox (Vancouver) w/ Barzin (Toronto) - 9pm
6 - Book Fest - Reading by Ray Robertson followed by Kelly Hoppe
7 - Book Fest - Reading 4:30pm
7 - The Wooden Sky (Toronto) w/ Evening Hymns (Peterborough) - 10:30pm
10 - Immaculate Machine (Vancouver) w/ The Zolas w/ TBA - 9pm
11 - Paper Lions (Prince Edward Island/Toronto) w/ TBA- 9pm
12 - Wax Mannequin (Hamilton) CD Release w/ Rae Spoon (Calgary) & Mark Bragg (St John's, NL) - 9pm
13 - Lindy (Toronto) w/ TBA - 10:30pm
14 - Myles Deck and The Fuzz (Halifax) w/ High Mother - 10:30pm
16 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts
17 - Raw Shock Monthly Film Fest - 8:30pm
18 - You Say Party, We Say Die! (Vancouver) w/ Little Girls (Toronto) & Friendly Foes (Detroit) - 9pm
19 - Radio Adelaide w/ TBA - 9pm
20 - Rep By Pop (Toronto) w/ Perilelle - 10:30pm
22 - Parlour Steps (Vancouver) w/ TBA - 9pm
23 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts
24 - Video Art Awards: Visual Arts Program - 8pm
24 - Andy Brown (Fredericton) w/ TBA - 12am
25 - Jackie Robitaille w/ Kaley Bird, Sidney York, Amy Thiessen - 9pm
27 - Caladonia (Halifax) w/ TBA - 10:30pm
28 - The Mark Inside (Toronto) w/ Young Rival (Hamilton) - 10:30pm
30 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts

Library Voices (Regina) w/ Yukon Blonde (Vancouver) & Kevin Echlin

2009-10-23T00:09:00.001-04:00

You want stories.
This is the connection between you and the upcoming show.

Well, here's a little one about the bands coming to Phog in the very near future...like THIS SUNDAY October 25th.
It's an early show, with a 9pm start time!! Yesssssss....

Library Voices first played on a night where the booking was cluttered thanks to Yours Truly.
They were asked to open the night, a spot they have been unfamiliar with for some time, I'm sure.

The bummer of this show was that I was desperate to be at a previous engagement. I couldn't stay. But I wanted to...
Eight of their TEN band members took the stage, all standing, horns, drums, everything...15 minutes before I had to leave the building.

When they launched into their first song, eyebrows leapt. Mine, and the other people in the room. Rino, a friend, was simply at the bar to have a beer while his bread was baking down the street. He couldn't believe his luck.

This band from Regina was like listening to a prarie version of Broken Social Scene mixed with The New Pornographers. High energy, fun, and TIGHT...with eight members! I am so excited to see this band, you have no idea.

And the band they're sharing the stage with - Yukon Blonde - a newer band from Vancouver. I didn't know much about this band, but I had been offered three shows with them on the bill in recent months. And when Said The Whale (I think) was in Windsor recently, they told me that Yukon Blonde was one of the best bands they'd heard all year. I remember being shocked by this, wondering how they could be so good, but only SO recently realized. When I went to their myspace page, I heard what was getting people excited about them. Go check them out now, and you'll hear ANOTHER reason why you should be at the show on Sunday.

On top of all of this, local songster, Kevin Echlin will be opening the show. The kid is sharp. It's going to be a great start to the night. And hopefully a trend of performances by Kevin at Phog.

Some vids for you:
Library Voices
Library Voices
Yukon Blonde
Yukon Blonde
Kevin Echlin

And these are the shows coming on the two days BEFORE this juggernaut.
They're all so AWESOME!
October 23 - Fjord Rowboat (Toronto) w/ The Diableros (Toronto)
October 24 - The Matavaras (Halifax)

Said The Whale at Phog Videos

2009-10-22T23:09:00.000-04:00

Said The Whale had a majorly successful CD release party at Phog this month.
It was epic.
They were amazing, there were almost 100 balloons in the room, there was a confetti cannon, party hats, five CDs given away to the first five people to the show, and there was a renewed friendship.

This band is our friend.
So here are some videos I had yet to upload to Youtube at the time of the promotion for their last show.
These videos are from their SECOND-last show here, before the Canada Day live CBC TV broadcast where Ben wore the Phog Lounge t-shirt while performing and meeting the Governor General of Canada.

Enjoy.

SAID THE WHALE!!! Playing Phog Tuesday, October 13th with Hannah Georgas (Vancouver)

2009-10-12T03:00:00.000-04:00

Said The Whale (Vancouver) and Hannah Georgas (Vancouver) are gracing our stage this Tuesday at 9pm.

We are BEYOND lucky to have these folks coming in again, so soon from their last show. Usually we have to wait a year to see them again. And they are returning off of the STELLAR NATIONAL performance they displayed on CBC Television on Canada Day WEARING A PHOG LOUNGE T-SHIRT!!!! Don't recall this? Check the link.
http://thephogblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/canada-day-said-whale-and-phog.html

It's a weekday show, so we're beginning earlier than weekend shows. SO you'll be able to see Said The Whale and still make it home in time to get rested for the next day's work or school.

For those who are unaware, Said The Whale is bringing along some new beauties. New CDs. Yes, this is a CD Release Party, decked out with celebratory bits and pieces, including cake, party hats, and more.
This will not be your average CD Release Party, as Said The Whale finds a way to do things in grand style.

I cannot fully express my excitment for this show, and I can guarantee an incredible outpouring of talent to all of you wise enough to come and partake. They have consistently inspired and rocked our building during every visit, and Tuesday will be even more special with the new record poised for emergence and success.

Hannah Georgas will be opening the show. Anyone with a decent memory will remember her from the performance on Parliament Hill on Canada Day that was broadcast nationwide on CBC TV.

Go to her myspace and listen!

And if you've made it this far...and you have anything remotely Rastafari, or Bob Marley, or anything in the realm of that musical taste, bring it out that night so I can play it, as it is quite a favourite thing for Ben, one of the vocalists of Said The Whale.

Looking forward to seeing a full house for an early Tuesday night show!

Show Up with Matthew Rideout, CJAM's Power Down, and Doug Hoyer & Michael Rault

2009-10-07T13:12:00.002-04:00

Here are three more short sound bytes of some interviews I did recently with musicians, and radio folk.

Show Up is now a podcast that you can subscribe to in iTunes, if you're into hearing about stuff going on in the city that I happen to come across...

Listen!

Listen!

Listen!

Phog October Listings

2009-10-06T19:44:00.004-04:00

October
1 - Art goes up...Denial, Dave Kant, Cary Wilkins, Jason Deary
2 - FAM FEST!!! High Mother, Blasternaut, Shawn Ladd & The Wall of Bees (Toronto)
3 - FAM FEST!!! Bulletproof Tiger, The Definition (Detroit), Sledgehammer, VEX and the Computer Rock Show
4 - FAM FEST!!! Modernboys Moderngirls (Toronto), Perilelle, Shoe (Detroit), Paper White (Detroit)
5 - CJAM 91.5FM Farewell - Power Down Party
6 - Doug Hoyer (Edmonton) w/ Michael Rault (Edmonton) & Octoberman (Toronto)
8 - We Were Lovers (Saskatoon) & The Balconies (Ottawa)
9 - Dan Mangan (Vancouver) w/ Field Assembly & Will Currie & The Country French (Toronto)
10 - Corbin Murdoch (Vancouver) w/ Sarah MacDougall (Vancouver)
12 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts
13 - Said The Whale (Vancouver) w/ Hannah Georgas (Vancouver)
15 - Baird Brothers (Toronto) w/ Construction and Destruction (Halifax)
17 - Elephant Stone (Montreal) w/ The Magic Hall of Mirrors
18 - Rodney Decroo (Vancouver) w/ Dave Lang (Swift Current, Saskatchewan) & Dave Newberry (Vancouver)
19 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts
20 - Raw Shock Monthly Film Festival
23 - Fjord Rowboat (Toronto) w/ The Diableros (Toronto)
24 - The Matavaras (Halifax)
25 - Library Voices (Regina) w/ Yukon Blonde (Vancouver) & Kevin Echlin
25 - SAC Songwriters Group
26 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts
27 - Rah Rah (Regina) w/ Stereo Goes Stellar & TBA
29 - The Last Trio
30 - The DoneFors (Toronto) w/ Pat Robitaille
31 - Halloween with Lonesome Lefty & The Cryin' Shames

Octoberman (Toronto) w/ Doug Hoyer (Edmonton) & Michael Rault (Edmonton) Tuesday, October 6th

2009-10-02T23:15:00.004-04:00

The return of Doug Hoyer is about to be actualized.
He came from Edmonton a few months back, and ingratiated himself on a crowd who didn't know what to expect.
He played, sold a bunch of CDs, promised to come back, and has fulfilled his promise by booking this date with Michael Rault.
Rault, another Edmontonian, will be making his first appearance at Phog. To give his stuff a listen, head over to his myspace page.
Octoberman returns, downsized, as a solo or duo (yet to be decided).
This is always an impressive performer, with or without accompaniment.
iTunes picked Octoberman’s first single off of Fortresses, “Trapped In The New Scene”, as their Single of the Week!
Listen to the stuff on HIS website.
Or watch this video:

Dan Mangan (Vancouver) w/ Will Currie and The Country French (Toronto) and Field Assembly (Windsor) Friday, October 9th

2009-10-02T20:04:00.003-04:00

Dan Mangan is on his way. This is a big deal, for those who don't know. Look him up in musical circles and you find out that he's become a hit across the country. His Twitter account is rife with congratulations on achievements, interviews, awards, video links, and the news that he was named XM Satellite Radio's VERGE Artist of the Year! Do you need another reason?

Will Currie and The Country French will be accompanying Mangan on this tour, which is almost talent overkill. This band came here months ago, and absolutely mesmerized those in the room. They have been a band of high caliber for as long as I can remember, so when they got to Phog, I KNEW we were in for a treat, but it seemed to be more of a surprise to those in the crowd.

The songwriting, the musicianship, all of it, slick. And such great people. Being chummy with them was automatic, and I told them to hurry-up and get back here. Here they are.

The local act on this bill is the supreme match to Mr. Mangan and Mr. Currie-French. Field Assembly is slated to make a very strong argument for Windsor talent in its relation to the rest of the country. I believe the biggest mistake made on this show's evening will be people who try to come out later to catch one of the out-of-town bands. Field Assembly's album, released this year, is easily one of the best of all I've listened to, with one song in particular (Light Speed) being my favourite song all year.

This is simply the strongest folk/roots line-up I've ever had at Phog Lounge.
There.
I said it.
Be smart, and save $3 per ticket by getting them in advance.
Advanced Tickets = $7
Tickets at Door - $10

And they're ALL ON TWITTER!
@danmanganmusic
@fieldassembly
@countryfrench

Follow them.

Interview with Murad of FAM Fest.

2009-10-02T19:56:00.003-04:00

Listen!

I got Murad to talk with me about twenty minutes ago (7pm, Friday, October 2nd, 2009) about the opening night of the FAM Fest which begins tonight.
Get a glimpse.

Carl Sagan and Stephen Hawking go musical

2009-10-02T01:32:00.000-04:00

Interview with Jean-Paul De Roover and Pawnshop Diamond from Wednesday night.

2009-10-01T23:08:00.000-04:00

Listen!

Jean-Paul De Roover (Thunder Bay) & Pawnshop Diamond (Vancouver)

2009-09-29T16:01:00.003-04:00

Jean-Paul De Roover has an original name.
He also has a unique way of performing music.
He's been compared to Final Fantasy, and for some odd reason, Wax Mannequin.
The Final Fantasy reference makes sense because of his use of looping pedals, creating blankets of sound that usually make onlookers blatantly aware of how amazing deft audio juggling can be.

He booked Wednesday, September 30th a long while ago, and Pawnshop Diamond was then added to the bill.
Here's some video of Jean-Paul De Roover:

Pawnshop Diamond will be coming from Vancouver to delight everyone's ears as well.
Go to their myspace to see more video.

It'll be a great night of music on Wednesday.

Hey Ocean and Dan Mangan cover Wintersleep

2009-09-29T14:23:00.003-04:00

Hey Ocean just left Phog least week after an incredible show.
Dan Mangan is relatively unknown in Windsor, for no good reason, and is on his way here for October 9th with Will Currie & The Country French as well as Windsor's own Field Assembly.

Here's a video of Dan Mangan and Hey Ocean covering a Wintersleep song that I've been enjoying since it came out.

Come get your advanced tickets for the Dan Mangan show.
$7 Advanced.
$10 at the door.

Humanities Research Group - "Philosophy And The City"

2009-09-26T19:01:00.002-04:00

On Tuesday, September 22nd we held an event at Phog.
It was organized by Stephen Pender of the University of Windsor Humanities Research Group. The event, Philosophy And The City, was designed to bring people together to discuss the way the city works, doesn't work, and how we envision our future together.

Jeff Noonan (Philosophy, The University of Windsor), Justin Langlois (Broken City Lab), Melinda Munro (City of Windsor), and myself were "panelists" in the very open forum discussion taking place. In fact, I was holding my post behind the bar, tending to the needs of the customer, and hopefully adding an answer here and there to help move the discussion.

Of course, I live streamed the event.
And I also archived it online.
For you.
So if you want to take the time to listen to the discussion (the parts that are audible), please do so below.

Videos of the week gone by...Little Girls and Hot Panda

2009-09-19T22:00:00.002-04:00

I want to get into the habit of posting video immediately after the shows leave our stage, but it's easier said than done.

These are the two bands that I was capable (present for) of capturing on film.
Little Girls from Toronto and Hot Panda from Edmonton.

If you weren't there to enjoy them initially, this is a fraction of what it actually sounded like. Better than nothin'!

Hey Ocean! (Vancouver) w/ Secret Broadcast (Calgary), The Fast Romantics (Calgary) & Michael Bernard Fitzgerald (Calgary) Wednesday, September 23rd!

2009-09-19T19:19:00.003-04:00

http://www.myspace.com/heyocean
http://www.myspace.com/secretbroadcast
http://www.myspace.com/fastromantics

Hey Ocean is on their way to Phog.
They're bringing some solid acts behind them...and this Wednesday show will be yet another stellar Autumn show.
From Hey Ocean's myspace:

"Often described as one of Canada’s best up-and-coming acts, Hey Ocean is a young band with an extraordinary talent for blending various musical styles into a brand of infectious pop that is uniquely their own.

Together, Ashleigh Ball, David Beckingham and David Vertesi have created a musical repertoire that cannot be ignored – be it on radio, television or your neighbor’s iPod, Hey Ocean will soon be everywhere.

Aside from the skillful delivery of their music, what sets Hey Ocean apart is the spirited character they bring to the stage. Three mischievous personalities combine to form a dynamic live presence that keeps concertgoers captivated and on their feet. In fact, live performance has been an integral part of what the band calls their “natural growth.” But what began as a very casual musical partnership between friends has, in less than four years, morphed into one of Canada’s most successful independent bands."

Hey Ocean - A Song About California

Too Soon - Official Music Video

Hey Ocean! - Fifteen Words

For more videos, visit Hey Ocean's myspace page. There's a TON on there.
The Fast Romantics will also be playing this evening...and here's a bit about them on their myspace page:

"The Fast Romantics are a band from Calgary, Canada. They played their first show with the current line-up in September 2007 and have since played alongside acts such as Stone Temple Pilots, the Flaming Lips, the Fratellis, the Stills and more. After playing Virgin Fest and a number of other high-profile shows, the band caught the ear of legendary Mix Engineer Mike Fraser (Franz Ferdinand, Sam Roberts, AC/DC), who recently finished mixing their upcoming self-titled debut album. The album was mastered by Grammy award winner Adam Ayan (Nirvana, Rolling Stones, Foo Fighters). After two top ten singles on commercial radio in Calgary, features on National radio (CBC) and continual praise in print, the band took their energetic live show on the road. In March they completed a national tour including a headlining slot at the Canadian Music Week Festival in Toronto, and in September 2009, they will head out on a follow up tour of Canada and the US in support of their debut release, which is now available on iTunes!"

Joining them will be Secret Broadcast.
Enjoy a video.

And yes, the fourth act...which will be starting nice and early (9pm) is Michael Bernard Fitzgerald.
A video for you to get a sense of him.

Go to his myspace to find more video.

TICKETS ARE $7 advanced or $10 at the door!
GET AHEAD OF SCHEDULE and buy your tickets to a killer show!
Frank and Tom are BOTH working this night.
It must be good.

Young Rival (Hamilton) w/ The Heels

2009-09-17T14:02:00.002-04:00

One of Canada's best rock and roll bands is playing Phog on Friday.
Young Rival (previously The Ride Theory) are back on the trail of giving amazing shows to people who really love music.
http://www.myspace.com/youngrival

This band has been startling audiences with their jaw-dropping guitar-work, energy, and songwriting since they were teenagers.
They're not much older than that NOW, but they are NEVER a disappointment.

The show will be helped out by local band, The Heels.
The show will begin around 10:30pm, and the cover price is $5.
Be there to see one of Canada's best.
Truly.
They are phenomenal.

Some vids for you to peruse of them?

This one made me laugh in the first ten seconds!

Hot Panda (Vancouver) w/ Little Girls (Toronto) on Wednesday, September 16th

2009-09-14T22:57:00.002-04:00

Hot Panda played Phog a while ago. It was a jammed bill, and they played two shows that day.
It's going to be great to have this group back, as they were wonderful to host, and we'll all get to hear them nice and early on a weeknight.

For those of you who haven't noticed, for whatever reason, the shows occurring on the WEEKDAYS are starting around 9pm. It's wonderful. You get to see a live show and head home before midnight! This will again be the case on Wednesday.

What does Hot Panda sound like?
From Hot Panda's myspace:
"When you get compared, in the same breath, to everything from Daniel Johnson to the Talking Heads, you know you have a sound that's hard to pin down. Since their formation during the particularly chilly winter of 2006, the members of Hot Panda (Maghan Campbell, Keith Olsen, Chris Connelly, and Heath Parsons) have yet to sit down and have the discussion that goes: "So, what should we sound like?". The result is a swath of tunes that sound like anything and everything. Brit pop, gypsy swing, opera solos, Robert Pollard style lo-fi jangles, glammy Roxy Music keyboards, and "melodies that will be impossible to dislodge from your temporal cortex" (ChartAttack), all find their home in the music of Hot Panda...sometimes all in the same song!

After the recording of their 2007 EP "Whale Headed Girl," Hot Panda took to the road, and I guess you could say the road took to them! The band hasn't looked back since, ever wheeling over Canada in a questionable 1977 ambulance, taking their rambunctiously theatrical live show to "kids who like to dance" all over North America (including stints at festivals such as SXSW, CMJ, and Pop Montreal!), and now Europe too, having just completed a big ol' European tour with Detroit's the Von Bondies! In February 2008, Hot Panda took the time to travel to Winnipeg and record their first full length record, Volcano...Bloody Volcano!, with Ryan McVeigh at Mid Ocean Studios, which came out on Mint Records one year later, on February 10, 2009!"

Here's some video:

And now for Little Girls, from Toronto.

There's all kinds of hype about this squad. And for good reason. GO listen to their music and find out why. They'll be touring with Japandroids a few dates after Phog, which is pretty substantial proof that they have SOMEONE'S ear.
Another Paper Bag Records band comes to Phog to remind us why we even bother to bring in out of town bands in the first place. Read the Paper Bag Records write-up here.

Awesome vid here of live performance:

So come see these two bands for $5 on Wednesday at 9pm.

You'll be happy you did.

Phog Walks Detroit

2009-09-09T21:06:00.003-04:00

I have put out a Facebook invite for an incredible walk taking place in Detroit.
Bob Goldsmith of Detroit Tour Connections is hosting the two-hour tour.
The tour will be in the area of Cass Corridor...a richly interesting space, which will lead us to the Dally in the Alley festival.

Here's the details of the walk, according to Bob:
"I think we should meet at the main branch of theDetroit Public Library. The address is 5201 Woodward. Let's meet at the rear (west) entrance, which is on Cass. People can park on Cass, or on Kirby. "Midtown" is a pretty large area of Detroit that includes the Cass Corridor, Brush Park, the Detroit Medical Center, the large campus of WSU, and the Cultural Center area.

We're mostly going to tour the Cultural Center area. Our two hour tour will include: Hecker mansion and other homes from the late 1800s; the DPL, DIA, Park-Shelton and Maccabees Bldgs from the 1920s; the Historical Museum; the Detroit Science Center; the Charles H. Wright Museum; the Scarab Club; the College for Creative Studies; and a few of the buildings on WSU's campus.

The Dally has a website -- www.dallyinthealley.com. It includes a map and directions ... but the best bet is probably to mapquest 5201 Woodward if we are going to meet at the main branch of the Detroit Public Library. People can take I-75 north to Warren, and then take Warren west to Woodward or to Cass,

or they can just take Woodward from downtown Detroit to the Cultural Center area."

We will meet initially at Phog Lounge at 9:45am. We will leave by 10am on our way to the Detroit Public Library. If you want to come, you must e-mail me at phoglounge@gmail.com or message me on Facebook (Tom Lucier). If you can drive...good...if you can't, we still have room in some cars heading over. And you need your Passport to attend.

THIS SATURDAY!!! We already have over 20 people coming, so there will be tons of opportunities to make friends from Windsor along with the endless opportunities to meet your American reflections during the walk. I think it's going to be an important first step in creating a very important community that is almost non-existent...the cross-border cultural community.

Personally, I feel that this is a KEY and CRUCIAL event for community leaders to be a part of, in order to initialize, strengthen, and solidify our relationships and understanding of our American brethren.
If you find yourself to be a leader here in Windsor, I really think it's a good time to start thinking about sharing your strengths with people across the way, who know little or nothing about this community of artists, musicians, and doers.

Wax Mannequin and company will conquer...

2009-09-06T13:04:00.002-04:00

One thing to understand about this show is that Wax Mannequin (Chris Adeney) is one of the nicest, most pensive people I've ever met.

He is truly a man living outside of his art, yet FULLY submersing himself in his creations when on-stage. The transformation is unlike any other performer who comes to Phog. Yes, some people put on costumes and make-up...or they wear the costume they wear every day, the musician's costume, but they do not do a 180 degree turn like Chris/Wax.

When Chris becomes Wax, well, it's transformative to more than just him. Onlookers see the vein in his forehead start to pulse, and as he rocks back and forth toward the microphone, one wonders what he's bound to do.

This show coming up on Tuesday will be phenomenally up-tempo, fiery, and memorable, as Wax Mannequin brings a band supposedly from Cuba (Popeye's Golden Theory), and is joined by the local powerhouse Bulletproof Tiger.

The Cubans look terrifying if I found their videos properly on Youtube. Giant cardboard masks etc. are tantamount to me having nightmares after the show, but having some ethnicity in our midst is a hell of a prospect! I was asked sardonically online if it was illegal for Americans to come and watch/listen to this band (especially to PAY them). Nice. I liked that.

Bulletproof Tiger will be bringing bigtime heat to support this show.
The boys seem genuinely keen on seeing/hearing Wax's crew unload in a full-band mix that is rarely gifted us.

Do you need another reason?
The cover charge will be $7 at the door.
If you could take ten minutes out of your day between now and Tuesday to come get a ticket in ADVANCE, it will cost you $5.
And for that matter, if you are wanting to be made aware of these shows sooner, join the Phog Lounge Facebook group.

Phog September & October Listings

2009-09-01T19:24:00.014-04:00

September
1 - Liz Beattie (Victoria) w/ Jean-Paul Maurice & Simon Margetts (Victoria)
4 - Schomberg Fair (Toronto) w/ The Warped 45s (Toronto) & James O-L and The Villains
7 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts
8 - Wax Mannequin w/ Popeye's Golden Theory (Cuba), and Bulletproof Tiger
11 - Vaudevillianaires w/ Lodown & The Speaking Tongues (Toronto)
12 - David Simard (Montreal) w/ Kevin Echlin (St. Catherines) & Travis Reitsma Trio
14 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts
16 - Hot Panda (Vancouver) w/ Little Girls (Toronto) & TBA
17 - Derek Cerovski Art Show Opening
18 - Young Rival (Hamilton) w/ The Heels
19 - Richard LaViolette (Guelph) w/ TBA
20 - The Yageletters (Guelph) w/ Ace Kincaid (Kitchener)
21 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts
22 - HRG Philosopher's Cafe
23 - Hey Ocean! (Vancouver) w/ Secret Broadcast (Calgary) & The Fast Romantics (Calgary) & Michael Bernard Fitzgerald (Calgary)
24 - Shotgun Jimmie (Sackville) w/ B.A. Johnston (Hamilton) & Cousins (Halifax)
25 - Jay Clark & The Jones (Toronto) w/ Andrew Vincent (Ottawa) & The Ketch Harbour Wolves (Toronto)
26 - Arctic (Vancouver) w/ Paisley Jura (Toronto) & A Welcome Breeze
27 - SAC Songwriters Group w/ a show by Aaron MacDonald (Mabou, NS) afterward.
28 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts
30 - Jean Paul de Roover (Thunder Bay) w/ Pawnshop Diamond (Vancouver) & TBA

October
1 - Art goes up...Denial, Dave Kant, Cary Wilkins, Jason Deary
2 - FAM FEST!!! High Mother, Blasternaut, Shawn Ladd & The Wall of Bees (Toronto)
3 - FAM FEST!!! Bulletproof Tiger, The Definition (Detroit), Sledgehammer, VEX and the Computer Rock Show
4 - FAM FEST!!! Modernboys Moderngirls (Toronto), Perilelle, Shoe (Detroit), Paper White (Detroit)
5 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts
6 - Doug Hoyer (Edmonton) w/ Michael Rault (Edmonton) & TBA
8 - We Were Lovers (Saskatoon) & The Balconies (Ottawa)
9 - Dan Mangan (Vancouver) w/ Field Assembly & Will Currie & The Country French (Toronto)
10 - Corbin Murdoch (Vancouver) w/ James Lamb (Kootenay Mountains, BC)
11 - Luke Nares (Guelph) w/ Dave Lotimer (Guelph) & Daniel Roth (Toronto)
12 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts
13 - Said The Whale (Vancouver) w/ Hannah Georgas (Vancouver)
15 - Baird Brothers (Toronto) w/ Construction and Destruction (Halifax)
17 - Elephant Stone (Montreal) w/ The Magic Hall of Mirrors
18 - Rodney Decroo (Vancouver) w/ Dave Lang (Swift Current, Saskatchewan) & Dave Newberry (Vancouver)
19 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts
20 - Raw Shock Monthly Film Festival
21 - The Matavaras (Halifax)
23 - Fjord Rowboat (Toronto) w/ The Diableros (Toronto)
24 - Library Voices (Regina) w/ TBA
25 - SAC Songwriters Group
26 - Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts
27 - Rah Rah (Regina) w/ The Wheat Pool (Edmonton) & TBA
29 - The Last Trio
30 - The DoneFors (Toronto) w/ Pat Robitaille
31 - Halloween with Lonesome Lefty & The Cryin' Shames

This weekend (August 29th & 30th) Lonesome Lefty, Make Me Young!, and The Lesson

2009-08-26T17:46:00.002-04:00

This Friday, Lonesome Lefty comes back to Phog, with his freshly broken (left) leg.
It's an acoustic set being performed this time, with the full band coming back to perform some time in October (or sooner).
For Lonesome Lefty goodness, come out on Friday night.

Saturday night is one I'm hoping to be back from vacation for...because it's going to be awesome.
Make Me Young!, a band from Toronto (with founding member Jay Merrow from Windsor), is one of the most dynamic bands I've heard in a WHILE. They played FAM Fest last year and shocked me. They were unpredictable, energetic, and exuded something I don't often see.
I'm thrilled to finally have them booked at Phog again, but I cringe at the thought that I might miss them due to vacation.

Make Me Young! is coming with The Lesson, a Toronto act, which is a band who will fit in quite well with the local listeners, I'm sure.
My advice is to check them out online first, and then go see them live on Saturday night.
www.myspace.com/thelessonmusic
www.myspace.com/makemeyoung