GORD DOWNIE & THE SADIES POSTHUMOUS LIVE ALBUM COMING SOON
For many Canadian music fans, the brief collaboration between Gord Downie and The Sadies seemed almost too good to be true. Thankfully, it was captured on the 2014 album Gord Downie, The Sadies, And The Conquering Sun before Downie’s passing in 2017, and Sadies co-founder Dallas Good’s death in 2022.
However, the magic they conjured can be experienced again with a new album Live At 6 O’Clock, set for release Feb. 27 via Arts & Crafts Records. The eight-song collection is drawn from the handful of shows Downie & The Sadies played to together and includes covers of deep cuts by Neil Young, The Who, The Stooges, The Gun Club and Roky Erickson. The album is being previewed with a version of “Generation” by Toronto post-punk band Fucked Up, recorded at the Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival in Fredericton, New Brunswick on Sept. 12, 2014. Live At 6 O’Clock can be pre-ordered HERE.
In related news, Yep Roc Records has announced that Dallas Good’s collaboration with Arcade Fire’s Richard Reed Parry, Were ‘The Watchtowers’ will be released April 18 as a Record Store Day exclusive in limited edition vinyl.
THE BLACK KEYS ARE RETURNING TO CANADA ON WORLD TOUR
Akron, Ohio’s finest, The Black Keys, recently announced the release of their 14th album, Peaches!, on May 1, and they’ll be supporting it with a world tour that brings them back to Canada at various times this summer and fall. They’ll make their first trip over the border on May 8 to play Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls before heading west to Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary. They’ll then return in October for an east coast run before wrapping things up at Caesars Windsor on Oct. 18. Most of the Canadian dates will also include Toronto soul rocker Jeremie Albino as support. General public tickets for all dates below are on sale now at Ticketmaster.
A press release describes Peaches! as a return to the band’s early raw blues-based sound, influenced by Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney’s deep passion for record collecting. As stated, “In recent years, that hobby has evolved into a series of ‘Record Hang’ DJ-set dance parties, where the duo spins vintage 45s for packed dance floors in cities around the world. That energy and love for classic soul, blues, and R&B is reflected throughout the new release.” You can hear the album’s first single, a cover of Earl Hooker’s “You Got To Lose,” on streaming services now, and pre-order Peaches! HERE.
The Black Keys / Peaches ‘N Kream World Tour Canadian Dates:
May 8 :: Niagara Falls ON :: OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino
May 31 :: Vancouver BC :: Rogers Arena
June 3 :: Edmonton AB :: Rogers Place
June 5 / 6 :: Calgary AB :: Spruce Meadows
Oct 13 :: Moncton NB :: Avenir Centre
Oct 14 :: Halifax NS :: Scotiabank Centre
Oct 16 :: Laval QC :: Place Bell
Oct 17 :: Ottawa ON :: Canadian Tire Centre
Oct 18 :: Windsor ON :: The Colosseum at Ceasars Windsor
REBRANDED HAMILTON ALT-COUNTRY OUTFIT THE PINTOS ANNOUNCE DATES WITH ELLIOTT BROOD
Originally known as Matt Paxton & the Pintos, the Hamilton, Ontario-based alt-country group has evolved into a collaborative band, an evolution now reflected in their name change to simply The Pintos. The line-up remains consistent, with Matt Paxton (vocals/guitar), Carrie Clark (bass/vocals), Chris Altmann (pedal steel) and Robin Pirson (drums). Having released their debut EP, Tornado, in 2023, The Pintos are currently recording new music in their hometown with Stephen Pitkin of Elliott BROOD. They’ll debut some of this material on opening dates for Elliott BROOD on May 6 in Paris ON (River’s Edge at the Arlington), May 7 in Niagara Falls ON (Market Hall) and May 9 in Hamilton ON (Bridgeworks).
In an Instagram post, Matt Paxton said in part, “After three years of Matt Paxton & the Pintos we have become more than a backing band backing up a singer-songwriter. We have become close friends, a family, and one as a band. We are The Pintos! We are excited to show off some new songs and art we are creating currently, while still playing the ‘old’ ones too. Thanks for listening and for all of the support from the past few years. Here’s to the next chapter!” You can stay up to date with The Pintos on Instagram at @thepintosss.
GILLIAN WELCH AND DAVID RAWLINGS SET GRATEFUL DEAD TRIBUTE SHOWS
In the wake of the passing of Grateful Dead co-founder Bob Weir, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings have announced they will perform the Dead’s 1981 acoustic live album Reckoning on a special limited run of dates. Unfortunately, they don’t include any Canadian stops, but anyone willing to travel to the U.S. can catch them on April 9-11 at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester NY, April 17-18 at the Fox Theatre in Oakland CA, and April 23 at the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans LA. The duo also plans to perform the album for their appearance at this year’s Newport Folk Festival in Newport RI on July 25. General public tickets are on sale now.
In a joint press statement, Welch and Rawlings said, “The Grateful Dead flirted with acoustic music throughout their career, until they released their Reckoning album, 45 years ago. We have flirted with Grateful Dead music throughout our career, until this anniversary was suggested as a good reason to book these shows. We know the Dead’s music is a mountain, and we’re hoping to start up from base camp this Spring in celebration of their legacy.”
WATCH THE BARR BROTHERS ON CBS SATURDAY MORNING
Montreal-based roots rockers The Barr Brothers recently released Let It Hiss, their first album since 2017’s Queens Of The Breakers. Ahead of kicking off their North American tour this week in Ottawa and Toronto, they stopped by CBS studios in New York to perform three songs for CBS Mornings’ Saturday Sessions.
The Barr Brothers play Feb 28 in Montreal at MTELUS and March 1 in Quebec City at Imperial Bell before fans in western Canada can catch them March 28 in Vancouver at the Commodore Ballroom, March 29 in Victoria at McPherson Playhouse, March 31 in Red Deer at Bo’s, April 1 in Edmonton at Sherwood Park Festival Place, and April 2 in Calgary at The Palace Theatre. Go to thebarrbrothers.com for full ticket info.
