The Low-Fi Laboratory

The Low-Fi Lab Gets Tucked

2011-11-10T05:17:00.001-08:00

The Low-Fi Lab makes its record release debut on the new Al Tuck album, Under Your Shadow from New Scotland Records. The song ‘Hello, Prince Edward Island’ was posted here last year (with the title ‘Compass News Blues’) after Al joined me for a Lefurgey House gig in Summerside (more details about the gig & song HERE).

The record is receiving great reviews & ‘Hello, Prince Edward Island’ is getting singled-out for its Alan_Lomax-Library of Congress-Field_recording vibe. This is sort of a justification of this whole project & my belief that good music can be captured on low-quality equipment. The performances are essential, the recording, not so much. If you spend any amount of time listening to lo-fi music, be it cassette culture artifacts or historical recordings from the 78 era, you learn to hone in on the meat of the matter. And it’s well worth it with folk like Charlie Patton, Blind Lemon Jefferson or Skip James largely undiscovered by many people because of the poor sonic quality of their 1920s-30s recordings.

Al added a quiet harmony vocal to his track & that’s it. East Coast Blues by way of Jackson, Mississippi.

Listen to the track HERE where you can also sample or BUY the whole album.

More Tuck & other East Coasters onboard at the Lab . . .

November 2011 Low-Fi Lab Mix

2011-11-01T13:17:00.001-07:00

Ross Neilsen came over to PEI in September for a couple shows. Here he is at the Lefurgey House in Summerside playing some fiery slide guitar on his vampire blues ‘Walk In the Sun.’

WALK IN THE SUN (Ross Neilsen) Download song HERE

(photo from Chris Carragher)

‘My Creole Belle’ is a real pretty, old Mississippi John Hurt tune that has been widely covered over the past 50 years. Here’s me & Ross giving it a spin at the Trailside Inn Café in Mt. Stewart.

MY CREOLE BELLE (MS John Hurt) Download song HERE

Gordie MacKeeman & His Rhythm Boys joined me at the Lefurgey House back in May & we had one hell of a wild night. Above is a sample of more to come at the Low-Fi Lab.

The Saddle River String Band played several shows for the 2010 Small Halls Festival & here we are down in Eastern Kings performing a Mississippi Fred McDowell tune called ‘61 Highway.’

61 Highway (MS Fred McDowell) Download HERE

I’ll leave with some old Summerside punk . . . here’s Noise covering the Dayglo Abortion’s ‘Argh . . . Fuck . . . Kill’ from waaaaayyyy back in 1994.

Coming Soon . . . Al Tuck, more Ross Neilsen & Gordie & the Boys, more classic Summerside Punk from the 1990s, Leonard Cohen B-side covers, PEI folk songs & who knows????

Fish & Bird @ Babas Lounge, May 2011

2011-08-18T13:27:00.001-07:00

Fish & Bird played the annual ‘Funk The Dunk’ gig in Breadalbane & the next night performed this quiet set in Charlottetown. Talented musicians & ambitious songwriters, their set was really strong & here’s some of it for y’all.

Lydia

Both Sides Now – Joni Mitchell

Crazy Dream

Here’s the band’s webpage (HERE) & I’ll be sharing more tunes from the night down the road. More regular postings in the future.

Hardcore Punk & Metal In Summerside, Dec. 2010

2011-05-27T18:34:00.001-07:00

Here’s some low-fi video from a great Punk & Metal show that happened at the Regent in Summerside last December, 2010. I didn’t get vid of all the bands, & in fact I showed up late & missed my buddy’s band . . . but he took video & here it is from YouTube. This is Aggressive Consumption playing their tune F. F. T. S. They are: Mike Bernard (bass), Scott DesRoches (guitar & vocals), Steve Gallant (guitar) & Jason Birch (drums).

Aggressive Consumption–F. F. T. S.

Skurm are a Hardcore band from Charlottetown. Their set kicked my ass & here’s pics & a couple vids of some of their tunes. I only know Jamie on bass so if anyone knows the names of the Skurm gang & what the titles of their songs are go ahead & leave them in the comment section.

Skurm live in Summerside #1

Skurm Live In Summerside 2010 #2

The Insubordination is made up of Summerside guys but their home base was Halifax. Andy Crosby (guitar & vocal), Bubba (vocal), Steve Gallant (guitar) Travis McKinnon (bass) & Jason Birch (drums). I don’t think the band is operating at the moment but they got together for the Regent show & played some of their classic tunes. They were good, I never get to hear real Punk music much anymore . . . the whole show was great & I hope there’s more to come in the future.

The Insubordination Live in Sside 2010 #1

The Insubordination Live in Sside 2010 #2

Low-Fi FREE EP #1: Phillips & Dixon at the Lefurgey

2011-03-20T19:59:00.001-07:00

Me & bud James Phillips recorded an EP’s worth of original tunes late last year at his Sunza Horse Studio in Arlington PEI (Go HERE if you don’t know what an EP is). We did a release at the Lefurgey House this month & had a great night. Thanks to the near 80 folks who attended . . . & sorry to those who had to be turned away. Darn fire regulations.

The Low-Fi Lab offers the six songs from the EP as were played at the show, for listening and downloading . . . in the EP order except for one slip up by me.

Our friend Ryan Hutchinson has dummied up a cover for the download & you can click to enlarge (above) & then save to your computer. If you want to.

Garter Snake (M. Dixon) (download song & info HERE)

Snowfall Warning (J. Phillips) (download song & Info HERE)

Ain’t A Kid (Dixon) (download song & info HERE)

Hey Hey Little Blue Jay (Phillips) (download song & info HERE)

I’m On My Way (Phillips) (download song & info HERE)

Jellyroll Soul (Dixon) (download song & info HERE)

Check out our webpage HERE

The EP is available at Back Alley Discs in Charlottetown & can be mail- ordered by contacting James & Mike at bluescanuck@hotmail.com

Thanks to Ryan & Gillian Mahen for the photos

Low-Fi Mix, February 2011 . . . Blues & Instrumentals

2011-02-26T09:48:00.000-08:00

I've been rehearsing original tunes with the Wileys & we recorded an impromptu version of the Doors' 'Cars Hiss By My Window' from the 'L. A. Woman' record. This record introduced me to the Blues, to piano music & so much more. Ray Manzarek was great on teenaged ears used to distorted guitar & riff-based music.

Cars Hiss By My Window (The Doors)

listen to song HERE

Music has mostly been about songs with lyrics for me but every so often you write something that just doesn't take to words. Back in university I wrote a bunch of little intrumentals, including this one that is a bit of a rip of Neil Young's 'I Am A Child.' This is from an old cassette.

This Is Not A Test Instrumental (M. Dixon)

listen to song HERE

Another instrumental off of a chewed up old cassette is this one from back in 1993 when our friend Don Hunter filled in on bass in our band Schpinsch while 'Skin' was in Belize, South America for school. This is from a jam at Jamie Peters' folks' place. There is a lot here taken from Tool & especially the old Alice Cooper Band, Easy Action-era.

(Skin & Don)

Schpinsch Jam (McKinnon-Dixon-Hunter)

listen to song HERE

Sweetheart Jim & the Bros. Grimm LIVE!!!!

2011-01-06T13:45:00.000-08:00

Rock N' Roll might be dead but it gets its legs back for approximately 40 minutes on the new Sweetheart Jim & the Brothers Grimm album. James Phillips, Nathan Wiley, Dale DesRoches & Tom DesRoches offer up 11 slices of almost classic rock tunes. One of the great things about this record is that it's like a house you've always lived in but have suddenly discovered secret rooms you didn't know were there. At times the spirit of The Stones, The Byrds, Them & Neil Young with Crazy Horse lingers but with a feel you will be familiar with if you're a fan of James' music.

And although this is definitely a band effort JP is the wizard behind the curtain. He wrote all the tunes & recorded, mixed & engineered the album at his Sunza Horse studio in Arlington, PEI. The album has a great raw, fresh & live feel that makes this & James' previous solo effort, 'Notes From the Underground,' real pleasures to listen to.

The boys have been playing together for a couple years & have chalked up some great shows . . . I remember a particularly magical, drunken & stoned night at the Dunk in Breadalbane at Hall Mills' famous spot. The band was on the outdoor stage with about 50-70 souls dancing & laughing (& drinking) to the music & no one wanted the night to end . . .

I got the opportunity to record the band a couple times at the end of 2010 at the Taproom in Summerside & the Alibi in Charlottetown for their CD release. This was the first time I used the IC Recorder to capture a live, loud Rock band & I got mixed results but, as always, the spirit is there even if you find your speakers distorting a little on the three tunes in this post.

We'll start with the band at S'side's newest hopping spot, The Taproom (in the basement of the Causeway Bay Linkletter Restaurant). 'Confessions' is a minor-sounding rocker that really reminds me of some of Neil Young & Crazy Horse's tunes & is probably my favourite track on the record.

Nathan Wiley is mostly known as one of PEI's premier singer-songwriters but did you know that he is also a great rhythm & lead electric guitarist? The DesRoches boys add some high harmonies on the bridge/chorus that really bring the tune home.

CONFESSIONS (SJBG-J. Phillips)

click HERE for song

Go slow . . . Go slow . . .

My mind is fading & I still don't know

I think I might be headed for home, this time

Did anybody leave the light on for me

I strain my eyes but I still can't see

I think I might be headed for home this time

I've seen a lion & I've seen a lamb

My next door neighbours still don't know who I am

Every night before I lay down to sleep I pray . . .

Ooooo . . . Seasons change and I stay the same

Ooooo . . . It's been a fine ride, now I'm satisfied

Many friends I've had love me true

And all the time I've wondered what if they knew

I could not stand the weather outside, no

Many times I craved to spill my guts
Then my conscience raved, you must be nuts

You could not stand the weather outside, no

I've seen a lion & I've seen a lamb

My next door neighbours still don't know who I am

Every night before I lay down to sleep I pray . . .

Ooooo . . . Seasons change and I stay the same

Ooooo . . . It's been a fine ride, now I'm satisfied

If they only understood, how it felt so good

Oooo . . . what seemed so right at the time

Oooo . . . could never be a crime

'Alright' is a straight-ahead rocker about a woman. Really, what else is a Rock N' Roll band supposed to write about? This is another one from the Taproom.

ALRIGHT (SJBG-J. PHILLPS)

click HERE for song

She was the classic stranger

With just a hint of danger

She took you on for a ride

Well you tried to use her

But you could not refuse her now

Now she's clawed her way inside

Well it's alright!

Your mama's gonna rock you to sleep at night

And it's alright now! (x2)

With a poison herb

And a seductive word

She made a careless wreck of my mind

And with a subtle twist

She took you by the wrist

And now she drags you on behind

Well it's alright!

Your mama's gonna rock you to sleep at night

And it's alright now! (x2)

You underestimated the girl

Now she's the only one in the world

She took the escalator

Got on the elevator

Now you're on your way back down . . .

Down . . . Down . . . Down . . . Down . . .

Well it's alright!

Your mama's gonna rock you to sleep at night

And it's alright now (x2)

'When Midnight Rolls Around' closes out our post & the album & is probably one of the best tunes James ever wrote. I think he got requests for it even before it made it to this album & you'll see why. This has a real classic Soul, R&B feel to it . . . you could hear Van Morrison singing this baby . . . hey, anybody got his email? This version is from The Alibi in Ctown & isn't the best-sounding recording, apologies. When James first brought this tune around I remember trying to play it on the fly . . . HA! The thing's got enough chord changes for 10 songs. (Nathan was stormed-in this night but the boys were fine as a three-piece).

WHEN MIDNIGHT ROLLS AROUND (SJBG-J. PHILLIPS)

Click HERE for song