Sunleadsme Magazine

I first heard Half Moon Run’s 21 Gun Salute and the intensely dramatic beginning to that song with lead vocals by Devon Portielje on the CBC at a live show, just a couple of months ago. It was meditative even ambient – and I was entranced –instantly inspired – including other songs like Full Circle.Although I had not heard of them before, I felt it was a new mission of mine to share the gift of music with my family (including my preschool age children on some certain tracks (Call me in the afternoon even by one by one [x2 ]is sung around the hosue like a Christmas Carol substituting some words in for the obvious) and all my friends and social network so they too could enjoy this gift. That being said there was something sacred in hearing them for the first time. It was so different yet modern but there was a comfort in it that seemed to be missing in most modern music, and not felt by me personally, since artists like Bob Dylan, and Ballads from Simon & Garfunkel, I was introduced to in my youth.
That same day after discovering and enjoying the first album on iTunes (Dark Eyes Released June 2013) My musical journey with HMR led me to discover the second album which coincidentally was released that same day!
Sun Leads Me, Released Oct 23, 2015
It was a groovier sound and a more uplifting album than the first. It assisted in my creativity and put me in a greater mindset, having just emerged from the writing depths, after 10 years and creating again myself personally.
In researching the journey of the band, from recording in the desert (Texas) to California (For some seaside inspiration, leading up to the Second Album, and living in a dome shaped Oceanside house fit just right for a inspirational surf all day and late night magic sessions ) To experimenting in Europe in what appears to be a bit of a Rave Scene – road testing songs like Trust - it all lines up triumphantly.
I was lucky enough to experience this live set of troubadours on Dec 7th, 2015 at Sugar Nightclub in Victoria BC to a sold out show where some fans paid 9 x the door price just to get in. After staying late and meeting the eclectic mix of supporters, including a High School French Teacher and his wife who also thought their sound was as transcendent and made the journey to support them from up Island (Where most of the band hails from in Comox), to the sprawl of young woman who clearly were there for the "act" to the Lead Vocalist Devon Portielje who you could say in my excitement of après show and with my slight nerves "When a sip of gin saved an hour of speech - Nerve " I didn’t quite get the interview I thought I would - instead Briefly – you could say I found speaking with Devon clearly exhaustive from his end.
This band tours and plays almost nightly I would have asked him who "stole his Sunny Day" – but I could tell he was wiped. I asked him if the band would emerge on the Island again soon (Returning to play Rifflandia in 2016 like in 2014 but he didn’t commit to that.)
I spoke to his interests and would he get a chance to Surf the Jordan River on his visit to the Island but he said they only had 8 hours in the city and then off to Vancouver for the next nights sold out show at the Imperial.
This Band works hard – you forget sometimes when you haven’t seen an emerging act for awhile ( My last show was UB40 in the summer at the Commodore in Vancouver ) that to really put yourself forward you have to put in the hours (years ) on Tour (They actually toured Dark Eyes for three years !)
Just the fact that the Lead from the opening act for that nights show (Nick
Vallee from Folly & The Hunter) was assisting behind the counter at the merchandise booth after a long night and travel… well that’s a team of working mans bands.
More on the Music, there is huge variety in sounds on the current album, Sun Leads me – with the gritty Narrow Margins - There is a hint of Flamingo music that quickly folds into a somewhat Hip Hop beat – the sound not found anywhere else on the album, speaks like a story its very cool and soulful. It wasn’t played in the show, as I had anticipated – it’s a story of sorts that sounds very introspective.
Highlighting the further talents of Connor Molander (Harmonica being my favorite) one can find a cover done of the modern, Chvrches –The Mother we Share on the BBC Radio 1 (01/2014) then found again in the finale to the current live show touring with the Cover to Bob Dylan’s , Shall be released – seeing it live is spectacular - it was clever and mirrored the original art but with a tang of HMR.
There are confessional tones and a little sadness on both albums – and stories of what appears to be glimpse into the world of addiction – Music is a challenging business for anyone who has had this in their lives – this band however appears to live clean and is into a very healthy lifestyle from surfing to organic gardening mentioned to me by a family friend at the show about Issac’s Symonds (Mandolin extraordinaire and haunting vocalist) wishes for at organic landscaping book for Christmas.
I have heard Dylan Philips (Drummer – who has a great timing and a soulful sound as a professionally trained pianist – and always rocks the keyboard) said in other interviews that in terms of personal struggles that they have had the music guide them as a group – I noticed words formed around the struggle with being saved and loss of faith - perhaps even a loss of hope there – I hope they will continue to explore some further element of faith and that this translates to even more extraordinary music from this talented group, I am proud to call Canadian and will continue to share as their talents that will be sure to surprise us with further gifts in the future.
I clicked the you tube link on HMR’s website and watched some videos they had favored and found: TORA : and now I feel like the gifts just keep giving.
In the next feature story coming in January 2016:
　
Artist Profile: Half Moon Run
Singer Devon Portielje on vocals, guitar and percussion;
Conner Molander on vocals, guitar and keyboard;
Dylan Phillips on vocals, drums and keyboard;
Isaac Symonds on vocals, percussions, mandolin, keyboard and guitar.

Sunleadsme

CAPITOL TO CAPITOL Travel review tie in

Family event the Blues School and all Family photos

FOO FIGHTERS NIGHT 1 JULY 10

1. All My Life

2. Learn to Fly

3. The Pretender

4. The Sky Is a Neighborhood

5. Rope

6. Drum Solo

7. Sunday Rain

8. My Hero

9. These Days

10. Walk

11. Blues Jam / Another One Bites the Dust

12. The Dee Da

13. Imagine / Jump / Blitzkrieg Bop

14. Under Pressure (Queen cover)

15. Monkey Wrench

16. Run

17. Breakout

18. Dirty Water

19. Best of You

20. Still:

21. You Oughta Know (Alanis Morissette cover) (Dave and Taylor with a brief… more )

22. Big Me

23. Times Like These

24. Everlong

Foo Fighters rock Bluesfest
Concert review

Foo Fighters, Greta Van Fleet

City Stage, RBC Ottawa Bluesfest

The Foo Fighters have a response for the pundits who keep saying rock is in danger of extinction, certain to be taken over by country music or forced to the backburner by hiphop and R&B.

The Foos’ stance on the issue was obvious on Tuesday as the band demonstrated its vitality with a loud and thrilling knockout punch of a rock concert in front of a sold-out crowd at RBC Ottawa Bluesfest.

“Hey, I know we’re at a bluesfest right now,” hollered singer-guitarist Dave Grohl, who was dripping with sweat by the second song, “but I came here to play some rock ‘n’ roll. You want some rock ‘n’ roll?”

The crowd roared its approval, and off he went with his bandmates, careening through a marathon, close-to-three-hour show that bristled with intensity at every turn. The Grammy-winning U.S. rockers blasted out of the gates going full-tilt on All My Life, hitting top gear in a fraction of a second and barely letting up on the gas, except to banter with fans and introduce the band.

Blowing a kiss to fans, the 49-year-old Grohl promised to play at least one song from each of their nine albums. He was clearly having a great time dashing across the stage, wielding his sky-blue guitar and screaming into the microphone, possibly even more fun than the fans packed onto the LeBreton Flats plaza. A diverse crowd ranging from grizzled rockers to young punks pumped their fists and sang along.

The pace was intense through Learn To Fly and The Pretender, two of the Foos’ most popular and radio-friendly singles, and they kept it up for The Sky is a Neighbourhood, one of the tracks from the latest album, Concrete and Gold. Later on came another flurry of singles, including Monkey Wrench, Breakout and Best Of You, plus a version of a newer tune, Dirty Water, that featured Grohl’s daughter, Violet, helping out with the vocals.

The concert also featured a wicked display of guitar dexterity by lead guitarist Chris Shiflett, which morphed into some blues for the occasion. “I don’t think we’ve ever played a blues song,” declared Grohl. “Let’s play a blues song.”

Somewhere in the middle was an entertaining medley that included an inventive keyboard mashup of the Beatles and Van Halen, as well as snippets of Queen, the Ramones and more.

RELATED
Fans don’t have to battle long Bluesfest lineups to get in to see Foo Fighters
The barrage of melodic hard rock was interrupted for some of the obligatory rituals of a rock concert, including, of course, a drum solo. In one interesting aside, drummer Taylor Hawkins referred to his time touring the world with Ottawa native Alanis Morissette. That’s when he first met Grohl, he said, giving props to the city of Ottawa and Alanis for the opportunity that led to his long career with the Foos.

Alanis came up again when Grohl returned to the stage for an encore, teasing an Alanis tune and reminiscing about the time he and Miss Thang had the same pigtail hairstyle in separate, mid-90s music videos. In honour of the “serendiptious hairdo” memory, he played that old-school Foos’ song, Big Me, before ripping through Times Like these and Everlong.

Grohl was well aware that it had been a decade since the band last performed in Ottawa. It was long enough that anticipation was at a fever pitch for their Bluesfest debut, which was also one of the rare occasions the festival has declared a sellout in advance. Organizers opened the gates ahead of schedule to accommodate the throngs, although they should have had more personnel serving beer, too.

The main-stage opener, by the way, provided further proof of the positive state of rock music. Michigan’s Greta Van Fleet consists of the three Kiszka brothers, with a friend, Danny Wagner, on drums. In their ’60s-inspired outfits of fringes, feathers and bellbottoms, the baby-faced crew played with the passion of Led Zeppelin and The Who combined, their energy focused on a curly haired singer, Josh Kiszka, whose searing voice rose to Robert Plant-like heights. It was a great match for the Foo Fighters, solidifying the case that rock is most definitely not dead.

lsaxberg@postmedia.com

DMB BluesFest 2018

1. So Much to Say

2. That Girl Is You

3. One Sweet World

4. Don't Drink the Water

5. What Would You Say

6. Again and Again

7. Sledgehammer (Peter Gabriel cover)

8. Samurai Cop (Oh Joy Begin)

9. Jimi Thing

10. You Might Die Trying

11. Can't Stop

12. Crash Into Me

13. Warehouse

14. Why I Am

15. Ants Marching

16. Encore:

17. Do You Remember

18. Pantala Naga Pampa

19. Rapunzel

RBC Ottawa Bluesfest
Wednesday
Dave Matthews Band
Still cooling off from the fire and fury of the Foo Fighters the night before, Bluesfest returned to its lazy, hazy summer ways Wednesday with the Dave Matthews Band taking over the tie-dyed festival grounds.

The venerable Virginia-based jam-band made their long-awaited festival debut — their local contingent of loyal fans petitioned Bluesfest for years to offer DMB an invitation — with an epic set of groovy jams showcasing each bandmate’s supreme musicianship.

It’s been awhile since the band played the capital. Their mammoth tours once made the old Corel Centre a regular stop during their late-90s hey-day, and local music-lovers still talk about their 1996 club show at a packed Barrymore’s.

Matthews and Co. made up for the extended absence (their last show here was in 2002), with a two-and-a-half hour set stacked with crowd-pleasing favourites from an extensive repertoire.

“It’s been a long time, we’re very, very grateful,” the affable Matthews said by way of introduction. “I love visiting this very civilized country to the north of the one I call home. So much so, on occasion I’ve wondered about moving up here.

But while other heavyweights may have fallen behind the times, DMB not only survived the era, they keep their fans under a spell by creating more of the same magic on their studio efforts as they do in their live performances.

Their latest, and ninth studio album Come Tomorrow, peaked at number one after its release in June, proving again the band’s staying power and crossover appeal.

Part of that has always been due to Matthew’s front man charm, on full display at centre stage as the band started up the new tune That Girl is You from the latest record, Matthews strumming his ever-present acoustic, his falsetto soaring above the bed of percussion and stinging guitar lines.

And Matthews has always surrounded himself with the finest of players to support his songwriting, the band’s membership now swelled to a seven-piece after the departure of founding member and violinist Boyd Tinsley.

Tinsley’s flashy presence was missed most dearly on set pieces like Jimi Thing and Ants Marching, where in place of his usual flame-thrower fiddling, the band had trumpeter Rashawn Ross and sax-man Jeff Coffin trading licks with keyboardist Buddy Strong and longtime Matthews collaborator Tim Reynolds on electric guitar.

But the star of the show for many in the crowd was the powerhouse drumming of Carter Beauford, navigating an enormous kit and weaving intricate splashes of cymbals and percussion, or pounding out a furious double-kick beat.

The interplay between Beauford and Matthews was near-telepathic on the vintage One Sweet World, from a collection of their earliest recordings released back in 1993.

Matthews snarling voice was only amplified by Beauford’s thunderous beat on Don’t Drink the Water, and they continued to play off each other’s intersecting rhythms on the funky What Would You Say, from their 1994 smash Under the Table and Dreaming, now serving as a launching pad for Coffin and his searing sax.

The band touched on its entire catalogue, with hits Crash Into Me and fan-favourite Ants Marching mixed with road-tested tunes from their new album.

Again and Again and Samurai Cop were among the best of the new batch, served up before breaking into a midset highlight with a ripping cover of Peter Gabriel’s Sledgehammer.

There are few who can take on such a daunting tune, but DMB shot it into the stratosphere. And they were just getting warmed up.

Bluesfest continues with festival favourites Blue Rodeo Thursday.

ahelmer@postmedia.com

Blue Rodeo / The Lynnes

But after Shaggy pulled out and Blue Rodeo stepped in, it meant the hip hop crew became the warm-up act for Canada’s beloved country-rock stalwarts, which was something of a head scratcher for everyone involved.

Leave it to Bluesfest to come up with one of the most unlikely pop-music pairings conceivable, although credit goes to both acts for making it work. After all, both rose to popularity in the ’90s, and it seems they share a certain, slim demographic of fans.

For Blue Rodeo, it was their 12th concert at the festival since 2001, and all the elements fell into place for yet another enjoyable night. The weather was beautiful, the sound was terrific, and the crowd was a manageable size.

Co-singer-songwriter Jim Cuddy greeted folks like old friends: “So nice to be back at Bluesfest,” he said, getting into the spirit of the night. “Don’t worry we’ll keep the hip hop going up here.”

Well, not exactly. Blue Rodeo followed their usual roots-rock groove, but kept it upbeat and played with a swagger, almost like there was something to prove.

And maybe there was.

After a hearing problem experienced by co-frontman Greg Keelor caused some uncertainty in the Blue Rodeo camp this year, the band may be feeling the need to flex their musical muscle on this string of summer dates.

Whatever the reason, they played remarkably well, and it was reassuring to see the full lineup operate at peak capacity, cranking out shapely arrangements of the familiar songs that so many Canadians have grown up with.

The oft-requested ballad Five Days in May was a starting point that drew everyone together, the lush version decorated by the guitar work of Colin Cripps. The old nugget, Diamond Mine, was extended with an intense and trippy keyboard interlude by keyboardist Michael Boguski, who also provided an accordion flourish to Bad Timing.

Young Jimmy Bowskill, who’s a part-time member of the band when he’s not busy with Sheepdogs gigs, added a range of textures to the songs, too, contributing mandolin, violin and pedal steel to the proceedings.

The contrasting, honey-and-grit voices of Cuddy and Keelor were strong and true, and they had some assistance from Ottawa singer-songwriter Kathleen Edwards, who made a surprise appearance singing backup vocals on Try and Lost Together in the encore, joined by a chorus of thousands in the audience.

Earlier in the evening, the New Jersey hip hop trio Naughty By Nature delivered a show that was designed to please a wide audience, kicking it off with a soft-rock singalong and a show of respect for elders born in the 1960s.

It was an easily digestible beginning for an audience that looked to be mostly Blue Rodeo fans seeing Treach, Vin Rock and DJ Kay Gee for the first time. All three performers worked hard to build a party atmosphere. Shots of liquor were consumed and single ladies were encouraged to disrobe in the 25th-anniversary hiphop celebration.

Highlights included the old-school hits O.P.P. and Hip Hop Hooray, the beats getting heavier as the show progressed. References to Tupac, the Humpty Dance, Marty McFly, and A Tribe Called Quest were tossed out along the way, a series of pop-culture tidbits that helped ease the transition between American hiphop and Cancon campfire tunes.

BECK

1. Devils Haircut

2. Loser

3. Mixed Bizness

4. Qué Onda Güero

5. Wow

6. Colors

7. l'm So Free

8. Go It Alone

9. Lost Cause

10. Debra

11. Raspberry Beret(Prince cover)

12. Blue Moon

13. Dreams

14. Girl

(Kanye West's 'Power' snippet)

15. Up All Night

16. E-Pro

17. Encore:

18. Where It's At

19. Good Times / Miss You / Cars / Once in a Lifetime / In the Air Tonight

20. One Foot in the Grave

21. Where It's At

(Reprise)

Beck came to party Friday night, the L.A. troubadour delivering a dynamic performance touching on every phase of his eclectic career as a horde of fans turned Bluesfest’s sun-baked lawn into a giant dance party.

His crack eight-piece band striking a pose along the laser-lit stage, with the flashing neon grid backdrop looking as if it was lifted from Tron, Beck stood centre-stage with his guitar held aloft as the thunderous opening riff of Devil’s Haircut came crashing down around him.

“How ya doing Ottawa?” Beck shouted over the teeming spectators, all raising their hands to the heavens as the unmistakable slide guitar hook of Loser washed over them.

The catchy chorus, ultra-funky beat and stream-of-consciousness lyrics somehow still sounded as fresh and distinct in the flesh Friday as it did when it first soared across the radio waves back in 1994.

“Thank you so much for welcoming us and embracing us,” the just-turned 48-year-old Beck told the boisterous crowd on his Ottawa debut.

· “I’m in the mood for something soulful, a little bit moving. Something to take it a little bit higher.”

GALLERY:

PHOTO GALLERY: BLUESFEST ON FRIDAY NIGHT (JULY 13, 2018)

· Beck on the City Stage for a Friday night performance during RBC Ottawa Bluesfest continues on...

· Sturgill Simpson and his band perform on the City Stage of RBC Ottawa Bluesfest on Friday...

· Sturgill Simpson band members Miles Miller on drums, and Chuck Bartels on bass guitar, perform...

· Sturgill Simpson and his band perform on the City Stage on Friday evening. Wayne...

· JW-Jones performs on the City Stage on Friday. Wayne Cuddington/Postmedia WAYNE...

· A close-up view of the guitar of JW-Jones during his Friday evening performance at RBC Ottawa...

· JW-Jones performs on the City Stage on Friday evening. Wayne Cuddington/Postmedia WAYNE...

· Cassidy Taylor performs in the Barney Danson Theatre during RBC Ottawa Bluesfest on Friday...

· Cassidy Taylor performs in the Barney Danson Theatre of the Canadian War Museum as part of RBC...

· Hip hop performer BLACK IRI$H on the Black Sheep Stage on Friday evening. Wayne...

· Fans of hip hop performer BLACK IRI$H cheer him on at the Black Sheep Stage on Friday evening....

· Megan Kardos, 19, is all sparkled up for a night at RBC Ottawa Bluesfest on Friday. Wayne...

· The performer BLACK IRI$H joins with fans at the Black Sheep Stage of RBC Ottawa Bluesfest on...

· Beck performs on the City Stage during RBC Ottawa Bluesfest on Friday night. Wayne...

· Beck on the City Stage of RBC Ottawa Bluesfest on Friday night. Wayne Cuddington/Postmedia

· Beck on the City Stage for a Friday night performance during RBC Ottawa Bluesfest continues on...

· Sturgill Simpson and his band perform on the City Stage of RBC Ottawa Bluesfest on Friday...

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When the band didn’t play it hot enough for his liking, Beck took it upon himself to rev up the tempo with Mixed Bizness, the disco-infused hit single from his hard-partying Midnite Vultures album.

He instructed the crowd to “Giddy up” on the throbbing Wow, from his latest Colors, then busted out the dancey title track, which he (fairly accurately) described as “psychedelic Michael Jackson,” while pulling out his best MJ dance moves.

Always eclectic, Beck showed he had been equally adept at keeping up with his contemporaries with slickly-produced robotic beats, synth sounds and electronic bleeps and blips colouring new tunes I’m So Free, Wow and the furious Up All Night, its club-worthy pumping beat with shades of Timberlake.

He took time out to showcase the many other sides of Beck, though, gathering his band along the front of the stage for some acoustic samplings of the best of his back catalogue: the beautiful Lost Cause, rendered even more spare than the album version on Sea Change, the haunting Blue Moon, from his Grammy-winning Morning Phase, and the hilariously cheesy Debra, with Beck inserting an ad-lib vocal about driving around Ottawa listening to his favourite song on the radio and teasing a tidbit of that tune, Prince’s Raspberry Beret.

By the encore, a roaring version of Odelay smash Where It’s At, Beck had already worn each one of his influences loudly on his sleeve.

Still, in case anyone missed the clues, he cued them all up in sequence with riffs on The Beatles’ Strawberry Fields Forever, The Stones’ Miss You, a verse of Once in a Lifetime by the Talking Heads and a rip-snorting take on the Delta blues of One Foot in the Grave from his earliest days as an anti-folk hero.

***

Sturgill Simpson and his band perform on the City Stage at RBC Ottawa Bluesfest on Friday night. Wayne Cuddington/Postmedia WAYNE CUDDINGTON / POSTMEDIA

Making a fine example of Bluesfest’s new festival format pitting two headliner-worthy acts on the main stage, early-arriving fans were treated to a scorching evening set from Sturgill Simpson.

The self-professed purveyor of Metamodern Sounds in Country Music — the title of his 2014 breakthrough album — Simpson and his band blazed through another genre-bending set, equally at ease with the earnest ballads, soul-infused heavy blues, heartland rockers and outlaw country boogie that make Simpson so difficult to define.

Opening with It Ain’t All Flowers, Simpson let loose his gritty growl and searing Telecaster licks as his lean, mean four-piece churned up a deep groove seeped in soulful Hammond organ.

The band barely took a breath cutting into The Promise, a cover of the ’80s new wave hit given the twangy Nashville treatment. Simpson said only a quick hello before that tune broke into the thick funk intro of Some Days from his self-funded, self-released 2013 debut High Top Mountain, with Simpson showing off his hot electric guitar licks and wearing influences of Highwaymen Waylon and Willie on his sleeve.

The band — drummer Miles Miller, bassist Chuck Bartels and Bobby Emmett on keys — had barely broken a sweat by the time they shifted seamlessly into Turtles All the Way Down, the thick blues riffage and chunky beat of Keep It Between the Lines, and the rippling waves of Breakers Roar, from his Grammy-winning 2016 album A Sailor’s Guide to Earth.

His cover of ’60s Stax soul hit You Don’t Miss Your Water, later featured on The Byrds’ essential Sweetheart of the Rodeo album, was further proof both of Simpson’s cross-genre appeal and his defiance of any convenient category the music industry may try to apply.

ahelmer@postmedia.com

Beck has been promising since 2014 that his latest (then next) album Colors would feature "high-energy songs, designed for live shows," and boy if he didn't deliver on that promise. Tracks like "Wow" (which was accompanied some ridiculously psychedelic visuals) and title track "Colors" were downright uproarious.

But those were only offered mid-set. He began his Toronto show with a slew of classics from his earlier albums, immediately whipping the crowd into a nostalgic frenzy. First on the list was "Devil's Haircut" from his 1996 record Odelay. It was an opener that not many expected, but one that was most definitely appreciated. He then followed it with his breakout single "Loser," which then ran into "The New Pollution."

Up to this point Beck was still guitar-less, simply jumping around donned in one of his trademark hats. This was fairly short-lived though, as he cracked out his acoustic for "Mixed Bizness." From there on in his set was a perfect blend of intimacy and hype. To accomplish this, Beck could have easily ran through a mix of his latest album, and his previous, award-winning record Morning Phase, but that wasn't to be case — this was a show packed with oldies and goldies. Surprisingly a lot of the highlights came from his divisive 2005 album Guero. "Go It Alone," "Earthquake Weather," and "E-Pro" proved to be some of the best tracks of the night.

His covers of other artists' songs stuck out like a jazzy thumb; his slowed-down version of Prince's "Raspberry Beret" was one of most beautiful parts of the night. This was probably overshadowed, however, by perhaps the longest interlude of any live performance to date. Here, halfway through "Where It's At," Beck took some time to introduce the band and let each member bang out a 30-second jam of their choosing: the bassist treated us to a snippet of Chic's "Good Times," the keyboardist gave us a slice of "Takin' it to the Streets," by the Doobie Brothers, before the rest of the band dished out "Cars," by Gary Numan, "Once in a Lifetime," by Talking Heads, and a whirlwind of a solo by drummer Chris Coleman.

At this point it was easy to forget that they were actually in the middle of a song, and though no one wanted the funky renditions to end, "Where It's At" had to kick back in some time, and kick it did. Just before that though there was a lovely moment when the whole crowd sang happy birthday to Beck (he was turning 48 at midnight). If his birthday wish was to put on a majestically memorable show, then he must have blown the candles just right, because that's exactly what he got.

It’s not a riddle it’s a stepping stone

Although I had not heard of them before, I felt it was a new mission of mine to share the gift of music with my family (including my preschool age children on some certain tracks (Call me in the afternoon even by one by one [x2 ]is sung around the hosue like a Christmas Carol substituting some words in for the obvious) and all my friends and social network so they too could enjoy this gift. That being said there was something sacred in hearing them for the first time. It was so different yet modern but there was a comfort in it that seemed to be missing in most modern music, and not felt by me personally, since artists like Bob Dylan, and Ballads from Simon & Garfunkel, I was introduced to in my youth.

That same day after discovering and enjoying the first album on iTunes (Dark Eyes Released June 2013) My musical journey with HMR led me to discover the second album which coincidentally was released that same day!

Sun Leads Me, Released Oct 23, 2015

It was a groovier sound and a more uplifting album than the first. It assisted in my creativity and put me in a greater mindset, having just emerged from the writing depths, after 10 years and creating again myself personally.

In researching the journey of the band, from recording in the desert (Texas) to California (For some seaside inspiration, leading up to the Second Album, and living in a dome shaped Oceanside house fit just right for a inspirational surf all day and late night magic sessions ) To experimenting in Europe in what appears to be a bit of a Rave Scene – road testing songs like Trust - it all lines up triumphantly.

I was lucky enough to experience this live set of troubadours on Dec 7th, 2015 at Sugar Nightclub in Victoria BC to a sold out show where some fans paid 9 x the door price just to get in. After staying late and meeting the eclectic mix of supporters, including a High School French Teacher and his wife who also thought their sound was as transcendent and made the journey to support them from up Island (Where most of the band hails from in Comox), to the sprawl of young woman who clearly were there for the "act" to the Lead Vocalist Devon Portielje who you could say in my excitement of après show and with my slight nerves "When a sip of gin saved an hour of speech - Nerve " I didn’t quite get the interview I thought I would - instead Briefly – you could say I found speaking with Devon clearly exhaustive from his end.

This band tours and plays almost nightly I would have asked him who "stole his Sunny Day" – but I could tell he was wiped. I asked him if the band would emerge on the Island again soon (Returning to play Rifflandia in 2016 like in 2014 but he didn’t commit to that.)

I spoke to his interests and would he get a chance to Surf the Jordan River on his visit to the Island but he said they only had 8 hours in the city and then off to Vancouver for the next nights sold out show at the Imperial.

This Band works hard – you forget sometimes when you haven’t seen an emerging act for awhile ( My last show was UB40 in the summer at the Commodore in Vancouver ) that to really put yourself forward you have to put in the hours (years ) on Tour (They actually toured Dark Eyes for three years !)

Just the fact that the Lead from the opening act for that nights show (Nick
Vallee from Folly & The Hunter) was assisting behind the counter at the merchandise booth after a long night and travel… well that’s a team of working mans bands.

More on the Music, there is huge variety in sounds on the current album, Sun Leads me – with the gritty Narrow Margins - There is a hint of Flamingo music that quickly folds into a somewhat Hip Hop beat – the sound not found anywhere else on the album, speaks like a story its very cool and soulful. It wasn’t played in the show, as I had anticipated – it’s a story of sorts that sounds very introspective.

Highlighting the further talents of Connor Molander (Harmonica being my favorite) one can find a cover done of the modern, Chvrches –The Mother we Share on the BBC Radio 1 (01/2014) then found again in the finale to the current live show touring with the Cover to Bob Dylan’s , Shall be released – seeing it live is spectacular - it was clever and mirrored the original art but with a tang of HMR.

There are confessional tones and a little sadness on both albums – and stories of what appears to be glimpse into the world of addiction – Music is a challenging business for anyone who has had this in their lives – this band however appears to live clean and is into a very healthy lifestyle from surfing to organic gardening mentioned to me by a family friend at the show about Issac’s Symonds (Mandolin extraordinaire and haunting vocalist) wishes for at organic landscaping book for Christmas.

I have heard Dylan Philips (Drummer – who has a great timing and a soulful sound as a professionally trained pianist – and always rocks the keyboard) said in other interviews that in terms of personal struggles that they have had the music guide them as a group – I noticed words formed around the struggle with being saved and loss of faith - perhaps even a loss of hope there – I hope they will continue to explore some further element of faith and that this translates to even more extraordinary music from this talented group, I am proud to call Canadian and will continue to share as their talents that will be sure to surprise us with further gifts in the future.

I clicked the you tube link on HMR’s website and watched some videos they had favored and found: TORA : and now I feel like the gifts just keep giving.

In the next feature story coming in January 2016:

Artist Profile: Half Moon Run

Singer Devon Portielje on vocals, guitar and percussion;

Conner Molander on vocals, guitar and keyboard;

Dylan Phillips on vocals, drums and keyboard;

Isaac Symonds on vocals, percussions, mandolin, keyboard and guitar.

Get ready to be positively , musically, “schooled” with GoldFish ! An electronic duo originally from Cape Town, South Africa. Their passion for mixing live jazz instruments including the electric double bass, a curved soprano saxophone with downplayed synths and samples is amazing with their unique sound of magical Electro-Jazz triumph ! We were first introduced to the group during the Rifflandia Festival in Victoria, BC . The "Fish" have that musical tenor with over 10 years of touring together, having met in music school. After the 2006 release of their debut album Caught in the Loop , they released their album (Perceptions of Pacha 2008) (Get Busy Living 2011 ) The single "Washing Over Me" featuring Morning Parade in the advertisement of the Nike+ App. & a Castle Lager advert it also also reached No. 1 on the 5FM Top 40 in July 2012. I chatted with David Poole about the moving across the pond to California, the North American tour , a new upcoming album "The Tipping Scale" (2017) and of course I got schooled in the ART of this unique style of performance that is Goldfish, as David has styled the "reinvented DJ". Dom had just ducked out for a surf so David and compared climates and chatted about the recent trip to Victoria's Rifflandia Festival.

SLM: Had you been to B.C before Rifflandia?

D: We have been to B.C before Rifflandia. We have been to Vancouver twice and played at Fortune Sound Club (one of our favorite places) and we have been to Whistler a couple of times and Calgary and Toronto as well. That is about the extent of our Canadian adventures and we are looking forward to more.

SLM: Did you find Victoria reminds you of Cape Town at all?

Yeah, definitely it a bit of a Cape Town vibe to it, we weren't there for very long but it's a cool place and we want to explore it some more next time.

SLM: (Small world) Did you get to enjoy some of the other performers when you were here for Rifflandia ?

P.J Tinham 10/13/2016

Add Text Here...

GoldFish

Schooled with theFish

Goldfish : David Poole ( Production, instruments, vocals, saxophone) & Dominic (Dom) Peters (Production, instruments, piano)

SLM: (Small world) Did you get to enjoy some of the other performers when you were here for Rifflandia ? D: There were some really cool DJ'S that were on the same stage as us like. Hodge before us who were amazing. Then we got exposed for the first time to Prozzäk - we were Prozac newbies, and they were playing after us and we quite enjoyed the crazy mix sort of anime and music. We popped into most of the stages that were out and about that were in that precinct, we didn't get a chance to get into the main festival area, as we really didn't have time for that, I was quite keen to see Michael Franti. If you travel all day then you end up playing for an amazing crowd then it makes is all worthwhile.

SLM: He was amazing. The saw another band on with a Capetown lead, Conan, Little India, highlighted in this issue as well they are amazing !

SLM: With all of your travelling it must get exhausting how to manage to keep fit on tour?

D: If we are going on a long tour eating properly where you can and like to take some running shoes with us,

SLM: You guys surf as well ?

D: Yes, but you have to have the surf around the ocean for that (laughs) where we can we have surfed for sure , in Brazil, America , France and of course when we are in South Africa toured there as well are always looking for waves, when opportunity does arise especially when we are near J Baii,

SLM: You guys have created such positive music over the years, I find for me, it truly really uplifts and enhances any mood and from whatever state I’m in and I love how connected you stay with your fans online with your blog on your website, and how much you share with your fans and followers on social media you really seem to embrace the engagement - do you enjoy that part of sharing your message, your music and ART in the digital world?

D: Amazing thing about it is like the ultimate fan club really, because people now have direct contact to us. Like on the weekend someone tweeted us ( @goldfishlive ) who has been at our show in NY a few weeks before and wanted to come to the show but didn't have the funds. So we were able to make a few calls and were able to organize them some tickets, and they were there in the front row jumping up and down, with their custom made Goldfish shoes and watch and that was pretty cool to have people invested in what we do musically in such a way is very cool. We do like the engagement, it does become a bit of a monster unfortunately where your whole entire life could be eaten up by social media, and obsessing about it, so you do need some help, but we do pretty much curate everything that goes up and goes on.

SLM: You seem very involved in the business side of your music as well?

D: We are involved in all aspects of it really; I think we are too close not to care about every single aspect. Obviously at the top of the pile there's the songs, creating and performing them, that is the main part, then there is everything leading up to and including the shows is as important, getting people to the shows and the social media part of that is very helpful. It's also great in this day and age people can listen to music anywhere in the world and that is the most amazing thing, you’re not locked into where your CD is being distribute which seems like a crazy concept but that is how it was in the past, if the CD wasn't in the shop people didn't know you existed.

SLM: Let’s talk touring it’s been a whirlwind for you guys, are there any cities you guys haven’t played or toured before you are really looking to get inspired in and perform ?

D: We have heard amazing things about performing about Montreal, and we haven't actually performed there yet so we are pretty keen to get involved there, I am sure we will be getting there hopefully soon.

We are actually working on a New Album, and we have been doing a whole bunch of singles and some cool collaboration with different ARTists. The world has become very singles based and singles driven however if you have been making albums the fans they are actually waiting for Albums it’s almost a bad thing to now have an Album so for us it is really nice for us to put a body of work together and put it out there.

If you think of it like a different kind of painting like a mural, an entire wall where a single is like one little picture.

SLM: Speaking of the ART, who does your ART in animation, and album artwork ?

D: We have various people and our chief animator Mike Scott he is done most of the animations, he an amazingly creative guy, has been the spark to the crazy videos. We definitely sit down with him and workshop ideas and go through creative ideas and he runs with it creative direction. He is in the middle of creating a new masterpiece for one of ours songs, I cannot wait for the video to come out, I am very excited, the Album is going to be called Tipping the Scales and aiming for February. We have moved countries and all the trappings that come from selling your house, pack up the studio and organize new home and ship it all across, and are now at the moment relocated to San Diego. So you will be hearing from more of us up in British Colombia, now that we are so close.

SLM: How did the tour & collaboration with Jack LNDN, come about?

D: It' actually an interesting story in that, 7 years ago, Jack LNDN was in Cape town and at the time, one of songs was on the radio a lot, and he heard it, came to one of our gigs and saw the gig and then was like, I have to do this !

I just got off the phone with him about it. Then he went off and starting making music and now he started the live show as well. Where it came up what should we do for this fall tour it seemed like a good match. It should be fun, it's always nice to have new input and different personalities, different music on tour, so we will see.

SLM: You guys have lots of great collaborations, as well; one of my favorites is with Julia Church on Heart shaped Box?

D: You will definitely going to be hearing more about her, there will be another single with her coming up on the new album coming up as well.

SLM: I read that DOM, was a big fan of Nirvana in the 90's, it’s been 25 years this year since Kirk Cobains death. What does this song mean to you guys or why did you choose this remix ?

D: The funny thing is we didn't know that was even coming up for the anniversary.

The interesting thing is that the song came through in very organic way, by accident and actually a lot of songs have happen in a similar fashion, we’ll be jamming at some point, someone will play a riff and we’ll say we need to do something with this. At that we were at Belly Up Aspen on one of our first tours, about 2 years ago and they had an old Fender Rhodes electric piano there , which is a classic, they had it set up on the stage and everything and we were just sound checking and Dom was jamming on that and it just sounded really great. At some point Dom played the melody to Heart Shaped Box and I was like that sounds amazing and then we proceeded to jam it for about half an hour and then when we were looking for another sound to do, we said lets change it up and maybe add a female vocal to it. When we were back in Cape Town I ran into a friend at a coffee shop and he was new to music management, I have this girl you should listen to and heard I her, it was Julia Church, and after a few minutes I said we need to set this up like tomorrow! Julia knew the song really well and loved the song and the actual recording session took about 25 minutes, she is really good.

SLM : Your sound is so unique , I wondered have you considered or have plans with your new album to mix in any blues, reggae, or salsa into your music cause I know you already have the Jazz background and element already in your music ?

D: The Jazz element comes through quite naturally, I actually met Dominic when we were at studying jazz, and we started out as jazz musicians and I suppose it was like the obvious thing to do. We both play jazz instruments that are very jazz orientated, that is probably 60% jazz instruments, the double bass obviously they use it in orchestras but its main or most famed is in jazz band.

SLM: I love the saxophone as well, you don’t hear as much in Canada; it just is one of those instruments that lifts you and a song up when you hear it. In Canada I feel like my favorite French horn is really popular in newer Indie Bands like Victoria’s Aidan Knight and Montreal’s Franklin The Electric.

D: I loooove the French horn it’s a beautiful instrument. The saxophone is kind of like it’s kind of a takeover and blew up in prominence places like Europe with King Under Baker Matt making saxophone music but we have already been making that music for a long time.

SLM: Is there is a favorite Jazz Musician that you would like to collaborate with?

D: It is more a case of too many it's quite overwhelming here. We have come from a place (Cape Town) where you have no access to really big names and now anything is possible really.

Go to L.A and you could potentially meet anybody. There are also different aspects of it; there are obviously some amazing vocalists we would definitely like to collaborate with a lot of them from here. We have access to certain things as far as samples go, the sample from " The Storm “, is actually a recording of these old guys the perform these old slave songs from a couple of hundred years ago, and they were performing at Lincoln center in Washington and it was so soulful and amazing that we jumped on it, or having some of the great jazz vocalists from our upbringing, like a Nina Simone or Ella Fitzgerald that kind of voice. As far as someone living artists in North America Bob Moses and Autograph as well.

Get ready to be positively , musically, “schooled” with Goldfish ! An electronic duo originally from Cape Town, South Africa. Their passion for mixing live jazz instruments including the electric double bass, a curved soprano saxophone. Downplayed synths and samples mixed with the live instruments creates the unique sound of magical Electro-Jazz Triumph ! I chatted with David Poole about the moving across the pond to California, the North American tour , a new Album coming out soon and of course I got an schooled in the ART of the music that is GOLDFISH the DJ reinvented.

Bakermat, Klingande

SLM: Bob Moses is an amazing live show as well, we are highlighting them soon too, and we just saw them in a show last week in Victoria !

We went on to talk about a new yardstick for travelling form their new home in California, as we chatted about our ARTicle on Visiting Lanai, we discovered a greater love for Surfing and a desire to visit Hawaii as well.

We travel to Maui every couple of years and I suggested he watch the ICONCLAST on Eddie Veder and Laird Hamilton which is amazing bringing in the passion of music and surf together.

Cannot wait for "The Tipping Scale" to come out next year ! Have a great Tour.

Hope we chat again when the album comes out and hook up again when we go on tour in Canada ag

D: There were some really cool DJ'S that were on the same stage as us like Hodge on before us who were amazing. Then we got exposed for the first time to Prozzäk , we were Prozzäk newbies, and they were playing after us and we quite enjoyed the crazy mix of anime and music. We popped into most of the stages that were out and about that were in that precinct, we didn't get a chance to get into the main festival area, as we really didn't have time for that, I was quite keen to see Michael Franti. If you travel all day then you end up playing for an amazing crowd then it makes is all worthwhile.

SLM: He was amazing. Another band with the lead, Conan Karpinski, from South Africa as well , Little India, highlighted in this issue as well, and are more rock electronic, and fantastic !

SLM: With all of your travelling it must get exhausting how to manage to keep fit on tour?

D: If we are going on a long tour eating properly where you can we take some running shoes with us.

SLM: You guys surf as well ?

D: Yes, but you have to have the the ocean for that (laughs) we surf where we can for sure , in Brazil, America , France and of course when we are in South Africa toured there as well are always looking for waves, when opportunity does arise especially when we are near J-Bay.

SLM: You guys have created such positive music over the years, I find for me, it truly uplifts any mood. It's so great how connected you stay with your fans online with your blog on your website, and how much you share with your fans and followers on social media you really seem to embrace the engagement. Do you enjoy that part of sharing your message, your music and ART in the digital world?

D: The amazing thing about it is, it's like the ultimate fan club really, because people now have direct contact to us. Like on the weekend someone tweeted us ( @goldfishlive ) who had been at our show in NY a few weeks before and wanted to come to the show but didn't have the funds. So we were able to make a few calls and were able to organize them some tickets, and they were there in the front row jumping up and down, with their custom made Goldfish shoes and watch and that was pretty cool to have people invested in what we do musically in such a way is very cool. We do like the engagement, it does become a bit of a monster unfortunately where your whole entire life could be eaten up by social media, and obsessing about it, so you do need some help, but we do pretty much curate everything that goes up and goes on.

SLM: You seem very involved in the business side of your music as well?

D: We are involved in all aspects of it really; I think we are too close not to care about every single aspect. Obviously at the top of the pile there's the songs, creating and performing them, that is the main part, then there is everything leading up to and including the shows, is as important, getting people to the shows and the social media part of that is very helpful. It's also great in this day and age people can listen to music anywhere in the world and that is the most amazing thing, you’re not locked into where your CD is being distribute which seems like a crazy concept but that is how it was in the past, if the CD wasn't in the shop people didn't know you existed.

SLM: Let’s talk touring it’s been a whirlwind for you guys, are there any cities you guys haven’t played or toured before you are really looking to get inspired in and perform ?

If you think of it like a different kind of painting like a mural, an entire wall where a single is like one little picture.

SLM: Speaking of the ART, who does your ART in animation, and album artwork ?

SLM: How did the tour & collaboration with Jack LNDN, come about?

D: It' actually an interesting story in that, 7 years ago, Jack LNDN was in Cape Town and at the time, one of our songs was on the radio a lot, and he heard it, came to one of our gigs and saw the gig and then was like, I have to do this ! Then he went off and starting making music and now he started the live show as well. Where it came up what should we do for this fall tour it seemed like a good match. It should be fun, it's always nice to have new input and different personalities, different music on tour, so we will see.

SLM: You guys have lots of great collaborations, as well, one of my favorites is with Julia Church on Heart shaped Box?

D: You will definitely going to be hearing more about her, there will be another single with her coming up on the new album coming up as well.

SLM: I read that Dom is a big fan of Nirvana , it’s been 25 years this year since Kirk Cobains death. What does this song mean to you guys or why did you choose this remix ?

D: The funny thing is we didn't know that was even coming up for the anniversary. The interesting thing is that the song came through in very organic way, by accident and actually a lot of songs have happen in a similar fashion, we’ll be jamming at some point, someone will play a riff and we’ll say we need to do something with this. At that we were at Belly Up Aspen on one of our first tours, about 2 years ago and they had an old Fender Rhodes electric piano there , which is a classic, they had it set up on the stage and everything and we were just sound checking and Dom was jamming on that and it just sounded really great. At some point Dom played the melody to Heart Shaped Box and I was like that sounds amazing and then we proceeded to jam it for about half an hour and then when we were looking for another sound to do, we said lets change it up and maybe add a female vocal to it. When we were back in Cape Town I ran into a friend at a coffee shop and he was new to music management, I have this girl you should listen to and heard I her, it was Julia Church, and after a few minutes I said we need to set this up like tomorrow! Julia knew the song really well and loved the song and the actual recording session took about 25 minutes, she is really good.

SLM : Your sound is so unique , I wondered have you considered or have plans with your new album to mix in any blues, reggae, or salsa into your music cause I know you already have the Jazz background and element already in your music ?

D: I looove the french horn it’s a beautiful instrument. The saxophone is kind of like it’s kind of a takeover and blew up in prominence places like Europe with Bakermat and Klingande making saxophone music but we have already been making that music for a long time.

SLM: Is there is a favorite Jazz Musician that you would like to collaborate with?

D: It is more a case of too many it's quite overwhelming here. We have come from a place where you have no access to really big names and now anything is possible really. Go to L.A and you could potentially meet anybody. There are also different aspects of it; there are obviously some amazing vocalists we would definitely like to collaborate with a lot of them from here. We have access to certain things as far as samples go, the sample from " The Storm “, is actually a recording of these old guys that perform these old slave songs from a couple of hundred years ago, and they were performing at Lincoln center in Washington and it was so soulful and amazing that we jumped on it, or having some of the great jazz vocalists from our upbringing, like a Nina Simone or Ella Fitzgerald that kind of voice. As far as someone living artists in North America Bob Moses and Autograph as well.

SLM: Bob Moses is an amazing live show as well, we are highlighting them soon too, and we just saw them in a show last week in Victoria !

David and I went on to talk about a new yardstick for travelling form their new home in California, as we chatted about this issues ARTicle on visiting Lanai. We discovered a greater love for Surfing and a desire to visit Hawaii as well. We travel to Maui every couple of years and I suggested he watch the ICONCLAST on Eddie Vedder and Laird Hamilton which is amazing bringing in the passion of music and surf together. Cannot wait for "The Tipping Scale" to come out next year and we hope to be chatting again soonon their next tour to Canada.