Edmonton’s Jam Union Podcast The best in local music, arts and current events in the city of champions.

Naughty! Naughty!

World exclusive hot new single “Leaving For Me” (<- free download!), from Mass Choir’s forthcoming album, “Live My Life On The Backbeat“.

We’ve got some killer remixes from GOBBLE-GOBBLE, Cadence Weapon and local beats from Old Ugly’s rap mega-group CBT. Music from Dojo Workhorse, Calvin Harris, the Hood Internet and much much more!

Don’t forget, it’s not “two thousand and ten”, it’s Twenty-Ten!

2009 was a strong year for lots of Edmonton bands but the group that takes away the official title of Jam Union’s Band Of The Year, is none other than Christian Hansen & the Autistics.

That may not come as a huge surprise to anyone who’s been following the podcast, but with the release of their hit album ‘Power Leopard‘, they’ve firmly cemented themselves as one of Edmonton’s top independent acts. If these guys don’t get signed to a label in 2010, it will only be because the internets have been such a game changer, that they don’t need to.

Here’s DJ Earworm’s video for the State of Pop track I played on the podcast… now that Michael Jackson is dead, it looks like Auto-Tune is the new King of Pop:

…last but not least, here is a sweet video showing how they made that Techno Jeep track!

 

 #33 - Naughty Aughties [63:24m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (42)

Dog Hoyer is a pimp that'll fuck you up

If you’re one of the cool kids who haven’t seen Doug Hoyer yet, then you’re in for a treat this Saturday. If you’re not cool then you won’t be going to the Black Dog to see him live. The cost is free. Can’t beat that.

His project Bike Month is stellar as well…

… absolve yourself of Christmas by listening to this track now, and head over to Old Ugly to download the full album… for free!

 

 Bike Month - How Does Your Family Celebrate Christmas?: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Hope you all had a dece Holiday. NYE is nigh, but for today, here’s a solid vid from The Joe, made by the fine folks at Highwire Films. Amazing work by everyone involved, but a special kudos to all the local kingpins who humbly took part. You know who you are.

Enjoy!

Tonight there’s a killer show at the Pawn Shop on Whyte… via the facebook event page:

Silly Kissers
http://www.myspace.com/sillykissersmusic
So pitted *WAPUH*

Sean Nicholas Savage
http://www.myspace.com/seannicholassavage
Music for the jilted generation

Makeout Videotape
http://www.myspace.com/makeoutvideotape
MAC DADDY, THE DADDY MAC

The Bummers
http://www.myspace.com/thebummers
Madden braggart and the Peacekeeper

Cadence Weapon DJ Set plus
http://www.myspace.com/cadenceweaponmusic

chocolate rain

Doors at 8:30 PM | Bands 9 PM SHARP!

Sunday, December 27th
The Pawn Shop
10551 - 82 Avenue
$10

As a promoter, I can’t stress enough how it important it is for kids to show up for concerts on TIME. Get there on time.

HOMECOMING

… music needs to take itself less seriously. Like this boss…

War Is Terrorism

Tonight, Jam Union Presents an evening of progressive folk! Kirby Criddle, Graham Tilsley from Saskatoon join forces with Noel Johnson from Calgary and our very own Jeff Morris at the Wunderbar on Whyte Ave. This is not an all-ages show, so bring your ID, $15 bucks and get there at 9 sharp! It’s gonna be gooooood.

On the podcast we’ve got a hit list of tunes from the likes of Japanther, Phoenix, Bon Iver, (Edmonton’s best kept secret) Jill Pollock, The Joe, Spreepark, Pete Samples & more!

See you at the Wunderbar tonight! (click the image for facebook event/show info)

An Evening of Progressive WHAT!?

 

 #32 - Wayward [55:44m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (70)

Coming soon to a QE2 near you!

This represents part 1 of our coverage of the epic Sled Island music festival in Calgary earlier this summer. Congrats and a big shout out to Marshall Watson, Micahel Wichuk and Richard M. who all won festival passes in June at the Hydeaway where CJSR and Jam Union presented the official Edmonton showcase party for the festival. We’ve got an exclusive interview with Amy Cole of the Rural Alberta Advantage, who are playing the Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago tonight.

This episode is filled to the brim with killer tracks from a steaming hot sweaty pile of awesome Western Canadian talent that represented at Sled Island. On the next episode there’ll be even more interviews and bits from that amazing weekend this past June.

This Fall be sure to attend the High Speed Rail Canada Public Educational Seminar in Red Deer.  Road trip it down on Wednesday, October 14th 2009, where the free event is being held from 5:30pm to 9:00pm at Red Deer County’s Council Chambers, 38106 Range Road, 275, Red Deer County.

Paul Langan, Founder of High Speed Rail Canada states, “Public opinion polls have clearly shown that Albertans want passenger rail service to return between Calgary, Red Deer and Edmonton. This educational seminar will give the public a chance to learn and ask questions about the different modern passenger rail options that are available.”

The symposium will consist of speakers from some the world’s largest high speed rail manufacturers such as Alstom Transportation and Siemens Canada. There will also be a presentation from Alberta Rail Inc. Residents will then have a chance to ask the speakers questions during a panel discussion. Modern high speed rail videos will be shown.

Seating is limited so pre-registration is highly recommended. Call or email Lindsey Hutton with the Red Deer Chamber of Commerce at 403-347-4491 or lhutton@reddeerchamber.com
If you’d like to share your thoughts on High Speed Rail in the meantime, you can check out this awesome thread on the Alberta Demosphere, “High Speed Rail on the Horizon“.
Events this week… Greenpeace Alberta is hosting a Volunteer Meeting tonight for those interested in helping fight unsustainable Tar Sands development. Afterwards you can head on down to Prohibition on Jasper to see Doug Hoyer live.

On Friday, August 28th, Notebook Presents the release of Great Northern Revival: Notes from the Edmonton Underground Vol. 1 and Notebook Magazine issue #10.

Great Northern Revival is a compilation CD of Edmonton acts that is the brain child of local musician Scott Cook and Steven Teeuwsen of Notebook Magazine. The compilation features 19 different Edmonton bands and will help draw attention to the scope and variety of great original music coming out of Edmonton now.

This first incarnation of Great Northern Revival features tracks from Bill Bourne’s new project Bop Ensemble, Jesse Dee & Jacquie B, The Wheat Pool, Joe Nolan, the Swiftys, Jeff Stuart & the Hearts, The Secretaries, The Dana Wylie Band, Darrek Anderson, the City Streets, the Low-Flying Planes, Darren Frank, Dub Vulture, Jay Gilday, Ariane Lemire, Ido, F&M, Ben Sures and Scott Cook.

Finally on Saturday night there’s a kick-ass show at Alberta Avenue:

Christian Hansen & The Autistics
http://www.myspace.com/christianhansen

Michael Rault
http://www.myspace.com/michaelrault

Eamon McGrath & Peacemaker
http://www.myspace.com/eamonmcgrath

The Paperbacks- Winnipeg Mb
http://www.myspace.com/thepaperbacks

and The Fucking Lottery
featuring members of Wolfnote, WolfGoat, Desiderata, and some jerk named Alex.

Track Listing:

• The Joe - It’s A Jungle Out There - 01:00
• Christian Hansen & the Autistics - Father Ray - 05:25
• Oldfolks Home - Power of the Sun - 08:31
• The Yells - Breakdown - 12:49
• Japanther - Fuk The Prince-A-Pull Iz Dum - 15:10
• Modern Leisure - 17:36
• Andrew WK - Fun Night - 18:00
• The Whitsundays - Antisocial - 21:25
• The Rural Alberta Advantage - Frank AB - 24:02
• Interview - Amy Cole - 27:12
• Ohbijou - Black Ice - 36:07
• Matthew Skopyk & the Future - It Shows Where You Should Have Been - 40:32

 

 #31 - Alberta Advantage [47:07m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (79)

Smart Comedy for the Masses

Wow. Episode numero 30. It’s been a shade over two years since I started the podcast, and I can honestly say it’s been one of the great joys of my life so far to have met so many wonderful people from all across Canada along the way. Big things are coming for Jam Union so stay tuned!

In the meantime, what a summer it’s been! From Heritage Days, to the Folk Fest to the Fringe, it kinda feels like Edmonton collectively climaxes near the end of August. Pretty soon it’ll be time to kick back, light a smoke and take a nap. Or chew some gum and relax, whatever suits you.

The intro music for #30 is Tick Tack Talk from the Mark Birtles Project, and Spreepark with the interview backing track, There’s Nothing You Can Say Now.

Join us as we catch up with Jacob Bannigan von Theater Im Bahnhof , Amy Shostak and Joe Vanderhelm, three of Edmonton’s finest improvisers, and cast members of The Big Stupid Improv Show at the Fringe. Their final (freaking fantastic) show is tomorrow at 2pm at the Laugh Shop (that’s the old Stolli’s on Whyte) - get your tickets here! If it’s sold out,  and who are we kidding, it probably will be, you can always get your improv fix with Rapidfire Theatre at the Varscona starting September 18th!

If you’re in Germany or Australia keep an ear to the ground on Scratch dates:

Kevin and Arlen, the twisted brains behind Scratch, have been working together to tickle audiences in inappropriate places since that fateful summer of 2005. The duo let their unique, long form improv show sharpen its claws on the Canadian fringe circuit before unleashing it on unsuspecting places like Europe and Australia. At some point this beast became one of the touringest improv shows in the world, turning Kevin and Arlen into millionaire playboy bunnies. Legend has it that they are still collaborating, even today, using the material created in their improv shows to fuel sketches, scripts, videos and the occasional panty raid.

I interviewed Kevin way back almost two years ago to the day on #2 - Patio Fringe, which remains to this day my favourite episode - but only because he free-styled a kick ass rap about his Veggie Burger at the Next Act. Well worth a listen.

The first person to share THEIR favourite episode along with a musical request will win a sexy limited edition Jam Union Tee!

Seriously. They are hot and I’ve only got a few left - designed by the fabulously local In3sTees.

On Monday #31 will feature sounds from Sled Island in Calgary this past June, as well as an interview with the lovely Amy Cole of The Rural Alberta Advantage.

Have a great weekend!

listen below…

 

 #30 - Stupid Improv [10:14m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (81)

Peek-a-boo

Get the skinny on the Lady GaGa interview as we go in-depth with Shelly Solarz and Caroline Gault of Parlour Magazine, Edmonton’s hottest new fashion and lifestyle magazine. Don’t forget to catch their Dollhouse fashion show 9pm sharp on Saturday night. Tickets are $15, available at Bamboo Ballroom (8206-104 St) or Mousy Browns (10240-124 St).

Tonight, Notebook’s issue 9 launch party features a line-up of performances as varied and inspired as the magazine.

We are getting really really excited for Sled Island in Calgary from June 24th to 27th. Jam Union will be co-presenting the official Edmonton send-off show at the Hydeway with CJSR on June 18th. More details will be announced next week after the festival lineup is released.

Backing tracks for the interviews are Lady GaGa’s Poker Face (Dave Audé Remix), and The White Cliffs of Dover by Glen Miller for Shelly and Caroline respectively.

Track Listing:

• Interview - Shelly Solarz - 00:45
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Soft Shock - 08:56
• Interview - Caroline Gault - 12:57
• Feist - My Moon My Man (Boyz Noize Remix) - 15:50

Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast using iTunes to see all the behind the scenes photos from the Lady GaGa interview, links and other goodies. Let us know what you think of this episode and leave a comment. Have a great weekend, see you for episode #30 on Tuesday!

 

 Profiles: Parlour Life [22:32m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (158)

Alcohol Abuse

Kicking off the summer drinking season with DJ Roland Pemberton III a.k.a. Cadence Weapon, about his hot new Wednesday night residency at Prohibition on Jasper Avenue. Indoor bocce ball + cheap drinks x great music = you having a blast.

Golden Times Ahead

Need something to do this Saturday? Why not check out an awesome Guerrilla Gardening event on 118th Ave. It’s a nonviolent, and proactive way to get involved in the community…

…plus in the words of organizer Dustin Bajer, “it’s totally rad”.

They are meeting at the Alberta Avenue Community Center (9210 - 118th Ave) at 10:00 am. This will be a daytime event and serve as a partial demonstration of Guerrilla Gardening for the Bloomin’ Garden Show.

Track Listing:

• Phonesex Intro - 00:00
• Bush Tetras - Can’t Be Funky - 01:21
• Interview - DJ Roland Pemberton III - 03:59
• Michael Rault - I Want You For Mine - 08:34
• Yello - Bostich - 11:32

 

 #29 - Summer Prohibition [16:05m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (147)

Thunderheist absolutely slayed last night. This, despite it being a Tuesday and not a packed or particularly pissed evening. Kudos, but can someone please turn the fucking bass down at the Starlite room? If I wanted to feel soul crushing, brain melting bass, I’d go to a god-damn rave. Turn that shit down, and turn the mids up so we can hear/enjoy the music for fuck sake.

Happy Earth Day folks. How are you celebrating/saving the world?

thunderheist - jerk it from thatgo on Vimeo.