Canadian Vampire Invasion Weekend !

April 30, 2009 by · Leave a Comment
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Here’s a cool little cover song for you today from one of our Philly favorites. It’s Canadian Invasion putting their own spin on  Vampire Weekend‘s Mansard Roof  recorded live at WXPN studios in Philadelphia.  Check it out.

Canadian Invasion – Mansard Roof (Vampire Weekend Cover)

[MYSPACE] [WXPN]

PHOTOS : 03.29.09 Canadian Invasion , Golden Bloom, Sudden Ensemble @ M Room

April 2, 2009 by · 1 Comment
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Some photos from this past Sunday’s Bag of Songs Night @ M Room in Philadelphia with Canadian Invasion, Golden Bloom and Sudden Ensemble. Many many thanks to everyone who came out and all of the bands who trekked through the freaky early evening hail storm to get to Philly and deliver an excellent night of music.

Jim and Chris Of Canadian Invasion

Jim Foley & Chris Morita Of Canadian Invasion

George Groves(drums) And Eric Miller of Canadian Invasion

George Groves(drums) And Eric Miller of Canadian Invasion

Jim Foley, And Canadian adn Eric Miller Of Canadian Invasion

Chris Morita, Andy Canadian & Eric Miller Of Canadian Invasion

Dan Saks and Michael Azerrad of Golden Bloom

Dan Saks and Michael Azerrad of Golden Bloom

Shawn Fogel, Michael Azerrad and Jeff Patlingrao of Golden Bloom

Shawn Fogel, Michael Azerrad and Jeff Patlingrao of Golden Bloom

Golden Bloom's Shawn Fogel & Jeff Patlingrao and his magic shoes

Golden Bloom's Shawn Fogel and Jeff Patlingrao and his magic shoes

Jeff Preishcel, Doreen Kirchner & Wayne Garcia of Sudden Ensemble

Jeff Preishcel, Doreen Kirchner & Wayne Garcia of Sudden Ensemble

HOT: BOS Presents Canadian Invasion, Golden Bloom and Sudden Ensemble @ M Room

March 27, 2009 by · Leave a Comment
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I’ve been raving about Canadian Invasion‘s new record, Three Cheers For The Invisible Hand to just about anyone who cares to listen ever since I got an early preview a year or so ago. It’s one of 2009’s best records so far, filled with darkly satirical lyrics surrounded in gorgeous chiming guitar pop.[More] The boys delivered a standout show to a packed World Cafe Live a couple of weeks ago at their CD Release party, so don’t miss out on what promises to be a just as amazing a show in the more intimate confines of the M Room.

Canadian Invasion At World Cafe Live 03.14.09

Canadian Invasion – My Swashbuckling Days Are Over
Buy Three Cheers For The Invisible Hand
Canadian Invasion – Public Witness Program (Fugazi Cover)
Non Album Track

[MYSPACE]

Shawn Fogel Of Golden Bloom

Shawn Fogel Of Golden Bloom

Hypertalented multi instrumentalist Shawn Fogel is at the heart of New York’s Golden Bloom, who were recently picked as one of “8 Undiscovered Bands Worth A Listen” by Spin magazine. They are currently in the studio with producer/engineer Peter Katis (The National, Interpol, Mates of State) working on their highly anticipated new LP. Golden Bloom‘s music is a powerful blend of solid songwriting, alt country and Beatlesque pop that WXPN’s Bruce Warren touted as “a fresh take on ye olde tradition of sensitive power pop.”  Shawn’s played Philly solo before, but this time he’s bringing the whole band down for a rare Philly appearance that is a must see.

Also be sure to stop over to see our lovely friends at Popwreckoning who have a contest running to give away 3 autographed copies of the limited edition Golden Bloom 7″ vinyl single for Doomsday Devices.(Thanks Jess!) Click Here To Enter

Golden Bloom – Doomsday Devices
Ltd Edition 7″ vinyl
Shawn Fogel – Leaves, Corners, And Stones
Buy One Day In The Desert EP

[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE] [TWITTER]

Sudden Ensemble

Sudden Ensemble

New Jersey’s Sudden Ensemble are  musician and visual artist Doreen Kirchner, illustrator of the Neil Hagerty comic book “Adventures of Royal Trux vol…10”  amongst other artistic achievements and Wayne Garcia, ex of the band Adrenalin OD, and a writer of the novel “The After Effects of Zero Gravity”. Their most recent album Life In A Birdcage is an addicting blend lo-fi indie pop. You’ll want to be sure to get there early to see them.

[MYSPACE]

Canadian Invasion, Golden Bloom & Sudden Ensemble
Sunday March 29th
M Room
15 W Girard Avenue Philadelphia PA
8pm | $8 | 21+up

The Canadian Invasion is Coming! The Canadian Invasion Is Coming !

February 18, 2009 by · 2 Comments
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Here’s one I’ve been listening to for quite a while now, but now it finally saw it’s offical release yesterday so you can too. Canadian Invasion‘s Three Cheers For The Invisible Hand is my favorite record released so far in this still young year, and one that I can pretty confidently say will have a spot in the best of 2009 list when December rolls around. It’s a record filled with soaring melodic pop songs that embed themselves in your subconscious, a sound that a friend who I played it for likened to a mix of Oasis and REM.  But deeper listens reveal that beneath it’s shiny pop exterior lies a dark and biting satirical take on the characters existing in the dead end neverland of modern suburbia. Even the song titles read like the chapters of some bizarre fairy tale, Pop Magic Fantastical Masterpiece, My Swashbuckling Days Are Over, How To Build A Jetpack, and so on. Check out the warped weekend commando surrealism of Standing On The Shoulders Of The Carcass Of John Mayer, an instant classic with it’s opening lines of “Hey, I murdered John today, snuck up like a Green Beret, in line at the grocery store…”

Recorded at Philadelphia’s Miner Street Recordings with production genius Brian McTear and engineer Amy Morrisey, the album sounds amazing and includes guest spots from numerous local luminaries including BC Camplight‘s Brian Christinzio.

The CD Release Party is going to be Saturday March 14th at World Cafe Live(upstairs) and should be a blast. They’ll also be playing March’s Bag Of Songs night at The M Room along with Spin Magazine 2009 Band To Watch, Golden Bloom and NJ’s Sudden Ensemble.

Canadian Invasion – Standing On The Shoulders Of The Carcass Of John Mayer
Buy Three Cheers For The Invisble Hand

Upcoming Shows
Mar 14 2009 8:00P CD RELEASE SHOW!!! – World Cafe Live (Upstairs) Philadelphia, PA
Mar 27 2009 8:00P Matchless Brooklyn, NY
Mar 29 2009 9:00P M Room Bag Of Songs Presents Canadian Invasion w/Golden Bloom and Sudden Ensemble Philadelphia, PA
Apr 11 2009 8:00P Chaplin’s The Music Cafe w/Slo-Mo! Spring City, PA
Apr 17 2009 8:00P The Fire w/Victor Victor Band & more TBA Philadelphia, PA
May 1 2009 8:00P Johnny Brenda’s Philadelphia, PA

[MYSPACE]

Catching Up After A Week Away…

October 26, 2008 by · Leave a Comment
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Back catching up on a few things today after a week away. If you ever get to Las Vegas I highly recommend the Beatles themed, LOVE Cirque Du Soleil show, it is excellent. A little lighter on the acrobatics than your usual Cirque Du Soleil show but chock full of cool special effects and rare Beatles audio snippets.

I had left you all with a nice mix to tide you over for the week while I was away, if you’re wondering where it went, well apparently it was too good and got BOS smacked with it’s first DMCA takedown notice, causing Google/Blogspot to immediately pull the post. I can’t repost the songs, but for those of you who missed it, here’s the playlist.

I Party, You Party, We All Party Down
Eli “Paperboy” Reed And The True Loves – (Doin’ The)Boom Boom [Roll With You]
James Hunter – She’s Got A Way [The Hard Way]
The Clash – Wrong ‘Em Boyo [London Calling]
Alice Cooper – Be My Lover [Mascara & Monsters]
Black Kids – Look At Me(When I Rock Wichoo) [Partie Traumatic]
The Ting Tings – Fruit Machine [We Started Nothing]
Michael Franti & Spearhead – Say Hey (I Love You) [All Rebel Rockers]
The Pretenders – Break Up The Concrete [Break Up The Concrete]
The Sonics – Psycho [Nuggets]
My Name Is George – You’re No Good [Black And Blue]
Beck – Gamma Ray [Modern Guilt]
Cold War Kids – Something Is Not Right With Me [Loyalty To Loyalty]
Kanye West – Love Lockdown #2 [808s And Heartbreak]

Our friends in Canadian Invasion have also been busy this week, their excellent new album Three Cheers For The Invisible Hand is now set for a February 2009 release date and graphic artist Melinda The Martian has created a video for the title track. They’ve also put together a Phillies fight song to help usher the Phils into a World Series win against Tampa Bay. Check ’em out.


Canadian Invasion – Three Cheers For The Invisible Hand


Canadian Invasion – C’mon, Phils! Fight

MP3: Canadian Invasion – C’mon, Phils! Fight
[MYSPACE]

In the help wanted column, bass players in Brooklyn take note, I Am The Heat is looking for a new bass player. Heres’ the scoop from their myspace blog:

Looking for a Bassist!
Category: Music

Sadly, Anthony has left the band to pursue his endeavors as an all-star graphic designer. He will be missed. So we’re going to finish up these last few shows with him and in the meantime, we’re looking to fill his shoes. Here is the ad we’re posting everywhere:

WE ARE:
A fun, catchy, raucous, danceable indierock quartet (including you). We gig 1-2 times per month to an ever-increasing crowd of friends and fans. Our live show is awesome. We practice twice a week in WB. We have an UNSHARED lock-out that’s really nice!

We’ve self-released 2 EPs and gotten some very positive feedback (http://www.iamtheheat.com/press/). We’re currently spending our time compiling material for a full-length record. And we’ve recently filmed for the Fearless Music TV show – our spot should air in a month or so. . Things are going well…

YOU ARE:
– accomplished bassist
– comfortable writing collaboratively (we really stress this – we write as a band)
– ability to quickly learning a set’s worth of existing material
– energetic, enthusiastic, and dedicated
– someone who loves to hang out/party/etc. We love fun. You should too. We’re all good friends, blah blah blah.
– someone who will take this serious. We all have full-time jobs, but we do intend to start taking small tours (days, not weeks) within the next few months.

* ability to sing backing vocals is a plus!

This is a great opportunity to join a rad band with some fantastic momentum. If you are interested, please check out the tracks we have online (links below) and then message us with some juicy details about YOU! Influences? Best show you’ve ever seen? Best show you’ve ever played? Links to previous bands are welcome!

Please note: at this time we are only looking for bass players.

Have a fantastic day!
xoxo,
I am the Heat
http://www.myspace.com/iamtheheat
http://www.iamtheheat.com/

I Am The Heat – What Would Lou Reed Do?
Buy The Future Doesn’t Need Us

And one more reminder, don’t forget :
TONIGHT !!! TONIGHT !!! TONIGHT !!!
The Bag Of Songs 2nd Anniversary Party
8PM at The M Room
15 W Girard Ave in Philadelphia PA
co hosted by my friends from Girl About Town
with The Swimmers,The Figgs, The Thirteen,and Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears

BOS Exclusive : Brand New – Canadian Invasion Covers Fugazi

August 6, 2008 by · Leave a Comment
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Sorry about the lack of posts over the past few days, Google’s automated web scanning misidentified the site as a bag of spam and quarantined me for a few days until they could verify it was really legit. Back today with a special treat, a Bag Of Songs exclusive from Philadelphia’s Canadian Invasion who have taken the track Public Witness Program from Fugazi‘s
In On the Kill Taker and covered it with their own decidedly cool Brit Rock spin. Brilliant.
Keep your eyes peeled as well for their upcoming full length, Three Cheers For The Invisble Hand, I’ve heard it, and it’s one of the year’s best records on it’s way to a release date real soon.

Canadian Invasion – Public Witness Program (Fugazi cover)

[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]

BOS Presents : The Shots,Murder Mystery,Thinking Machines, Canadian Invasion PLUS A CD Giveaway !

April 19, 2008 by · Leave a Comment
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The M Room in Phildelphia is where you need to be tomorrow night to catch the first “Bag Of Songs Presents” night. Here’s a little preview of what you have in store, plus, read all they way down for info on a CD giveaway !

The Shots:
Colt Morris – Vocals, Bass
Alex Blyskun – Guitar
Marcos Zerpa – Drums

Why you need to see The Shots : Ever say to yourself I wish I could have seen Led Zeppelin in 1969,or The Who Live At Leeds,or U2 in small club,or [insert your most lamented “I wish I saw them when”, musical regret here]. Well don’t blow it again. Your time is NOW to see The Shots delivering their amazing show in small venue.

The Shots – Do Me Wrong
More at [MYSPACE]

Murder Mystery:
Jeremy Coleman: Lead Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards
Laura Coleman: Drums, Vocals
Adam Fels: Bass, Vocals
Graham Roberts: Guitar, Vocals

Making their Philadelphia debut is Murder Mystery who released their album Are You Ready For The Heartache Cause Here It Comes in the fall of 2007 and have been garnering non stop accolades ever since. Bring your dancing shoes because their retro meets indie grooves will have you jumping around like you’re at a fifties sock hop.

Murder Mystery – Love Astronaut
Buy Are You Ready For The Heartache Cause Here It Comes
[MYSPACE]

Thinking Machines:
Cody Brown
Marcus Epler
Sean Wolfe

This essentially the cd release party for The Thinking Machines who released their excellent A Complete Record of Urban Archaeology in early 2008. A rhythmic guitar driven record that translates exceptionally well into a powerful live show. Think something along the lines of Fugazi meets Gang of Four, or The Constantines and you’ll have an idea of what they’re all about.

Thinking Machines – Return To Red Sun
Buy A Complete Record of Urban Archaeology
[MYSPACE]

Canadian Invasion:
Andy Canadian – vocals, guitar
Jim Foley – bass
Eric Miller – guitar
George Groves – drums
Chris Morita – guitar, vocals

Canadian Invasion holed up at Philadelphia’s Miner Street Studios with the amazing production team of Brian McTear and Amy Morrisey to record the followup to their Songs For The Atco Ghost and recorded what is currently one of the best unreleased records of 2008 in Three Cheers For The Invisible Hand, a jangly, harmony laden, lyric rich gem of a power pop record.

Canadian Invasion – Juvenilia
More at [MYSPACE]

GIVEAWAY : You can’t buy their album yet, but I have five copies to give away of a special limited edition 3 song sampler CD from Canadian Invasion‘s Three Cheers For The Invisible Hand. All you need to do to win is leave a comment or send an email to bagofsongs@gmail.com with “CI Contest” in the subject line. I’ll pick five random winners on Tuesday April 22, so don’t waste any time, get those entries in now.

Bag Of Songs Presents : The Shots, Murder Mystery, Thinking Machines, and Canadian Invasion – Sunday April 20th @ The M Room

March 29, 2008 by · Leave a Comment
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Mark your calendar now for Sunday April 20th and be sure to head on out to the inaugural Bag Of Songs Presents night at Philadelphia’s M Room. Featuring three of Philly’s finest bands The Shots, Thinking Machines and Canadian Invasion along the with what I’m pretty sure will be the Philadelphia debut of New York City’s Murder Mystery. A guaranteed night of great music and fun. See you all there.

Brand New Music From Canadian Invasion : My Swashbuckling Days Are Over

February 18, 2008 by · Leave a Comment
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Some brand new music today from one of my favorite Philadelphia bands. The jangly guitars and sweet sounding harmonies of Canadian Invasion. You may have heard the song My Swashbuckling Days are Over played on WXPN recently. BIG thanks to Andy from the band for supplying me with the “exclusive internet premiere” of the track for you all. It’s from their upcoming cd recorded with Philadelphia’s amazing producer Brian McTear (also responsible for last year’s brilliant disc from the Philly’s A-Sides). Based on what I’ve heard so far it’s going to be a power pop gem and a surefire contender for one of 2008’s best discs. Check it out.

MP3: Canadian Invasion – My Swashbuckling Days Are Over
more at [MYSPACE] [WEBSITE]