BB is getting ready to play Blocks Recording Club's Thursday Confidential with Tomboyfriend at the Gladstone this week. The whole event gets going at 9pm. The whole event is FREE, which is fantastic, and it is co-presented by the amazing Blocks Recording Club and The Gladstone Hotel.
Blocks is a workers' co-operative based here in Toronto. Visit this link to read more about this important local institution.
For this show, Sheila, Jo and I will be joined again by the ghost of a drum machine. This might be a permanent haunting.
We hope you will join us for this special evening.
xo
BB
Showing posts with label betty burke. Show all posts
Showing posts with label betty burke. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Saturday, November 28, 2009
A love song, or a moritat, for a stray cat
Bragging about being tough and dangerous has a long tradition in music. There is the moritat- a murder ballad of a dangerous character and his amazing misdeeds- Stagalee, Staggerlee, Tom Dooley, Magali, or one of the most famous examples, the Moritat vom Mackie Messer- Mac The Knife from Brecht and Weil's Threepenny Opera. But at what point did the "I'm so tough," rather than "he's so bad" version of the moritat come to dominate popular song?
When I was young, and even more lost than I am now, I heard a rumor that Bo Diddley is Jesus. He would never have said that of himself, but he did spend a lot of time explaining his fighting skills, his gunslinging ways, and even if he didn't originate the art of bragging about one's toughness, Diddley took it to a whole new level, when he bragged about having a chimney made from a human skull. In Bo Diddley, the murder ballad became something new; when Bo posed as a gunslinger for the album of the same name, an entire alter ego of danger was born. Hank Williams also transformed the murder ballad from mere song into a way of being, and resorted to recording under the pen name Luke the Drifter to release the spiritual songs that clashed with the popular image of a man adrift on the lost highway.
But whether it's Luke the Drifter or Bo Diddley the Gunslinger, cries of "get away, I'm dangerous" often have a tinge of 'wounded cat' about them. You know that cat- it very slowly moves into your house, into your heart, and one night you wake up to find it peacefully sleeping on your chest.
Here is a little tribute I wrote to wounded cats. Holly and I performed it as a twosome the other night at the Gladstone, at the Blocks Recording Club night:
"Suitcase Full of Trouble"
After our set, dreamy Michelle McAdorey played with a band that included Eric Chenaux and Ryan Driver, then The Phonemes took the stage. Magali was backed by John Tielli on kick drum, guitar and theremin, and Stephanie Markowitz on vocals and keys. Magali's new songs are amazing, and the Stephanie and John lineup brings out the other worldly quality, as well as the beat, in Magali's songs. I'm looking forward to the next Phonemes record with anticipation.
Now I'm off to see if that old stray cat is on the front steps again.
When I was young, and even more lost than I am now, I heard a rumor that Bo Diddley is Jesus. He would never have said that of himself, but he did spend a lot of time explaining his fighting skills, his gunslinging ways, and even if he didn't originate the art of bragging about one's toughness, Diddley took it to a whole new level, when he bragged about having a chimney made from a human skull. In Bo Diddley, the murder ballad became something new; when Bo posed as a gunslinger for the album of the same name, an entire alter ego of danger was born. Hank Williams also transformed the murder ballad from mere song into a way of being, and resorted to recording under the pen name Luke the Drifter to release the spiritual songs that clashed with the popular image of a man adrift on the lost highway.
But whether it's Luke the Drifter or Bo Diddley the Gunslinger, cries of "get away, I'm dangerous" often have a tinge of 'wounded cat' about them. You know that cat- it very slowly moves into your house, into your heart, and one night you wake up to find it peacefully sleeping on your chest.
Here is a little tribute I wrote to wounded cats. Holly and I performed it as a twosome the other night at the Gladstone, at the Blocks Recording Club night:
"Suitcase Full of Trouble"
After our set, dreamy Michelle McAdorey played with a band that included Eric Chenaux and Ryan Driver, then The Phonemes took the stage. Magali was backed by John Tielli on kick drum, guitar and theremin, and Stephanie Markowitz on vocals and keys. Magali's new songs are amazing, and the Stephanie and John lineup brings out the other worldly quality, as well as the beat, in Magali's songs. I'm looking forward to the next Phonemes record with anticipation.
Now I'm off to see if that old stray cat is on the front steps again.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Future!
It's a wet spring day in Toronto, which raises hopes for a green and flowery near-future. When Francis Fukuyama proclaimed the end of history, it shed an unflattering light on the old punk slogan 'No Future.' In times like these, it's more rebellious to believe in the future, a future that has yet to be determined.
Today the words 'swine flu' are on everyone's lips. Whether we're talking about pandemics, war, or other proverbial horsemen, there isn't any corner of North America where one can hide from the peculiar rhythm of our culture- the pounding, relentless anxiety that drives us to work and spend.
Fret not. When you rest your head on your pillow at night, remember that the sound you are hearing is not the trotting hooves of the four horsemen, but the sound of your own worried heart beating. Yes, a hard rain is falling, but a hard rain is better than no rain, so press on, dear friends.
If you're in Toronto, maybe we'll see you tomorrow at This Ain't The Rosedale Library- our show with Brian Joseph Davis will be an early one, starting at 8pm. If not tomorrow, we hope to see you soon!
xoxo
Betty
Today the words 'swine flu' are on everyone's lips. Whether we're talking about pandemics, war, or other proverbial horsemen, there isn't any corner of North America where one can hide from the peculiar rhythm of our culture- the pounding, relentless anxiety that drives us to work and spend.
Fret not. When you rest your head on your pillow at night, remember that the sound you are hearing is not the trotting hooves of the four horsemen, but the sound of your own worried heart beating. Yes, a hard rain is falling, but a hard rain is better than no rain, so press on, dear friends.
If you're in Toronto, maybe we'll see you tomorrow at This Ain't The Rosedale Library- our show with Brian Joseph Davis will be an early one, starting at 8pm. If not tomorrow, we hope to see you soon!
xoxo
Betty
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Late to the dance, or early to the afterparty
Like a squirrel nesting in a hollow tree, Betty Burke has finally carved out a myspace nook. Let's be friends! Our myspace account is so new that we haven't even received any salacious ads disguised as wall-posts yet.
We're getting excited about the show next week at This Ain't The Rosedale Library, so excited that a certain member of the band has been loitering at the shop on a regular basis. On Sunday, while thumbing through the music book section, I found a copy of "Otis! The Otis Redding Biography" by Scott Freeman. It's a juicy read.
The most stunning Otis anecdote I can share so far is about the whistled verse in "(Sitting On) The Dock of The Bay." Otis wasn't finished writing the song yet when he recorded it, and meant for the whistled lines to serve as a placeholder. But before he could return to the studio, he died in a tragic plane crash, which makes the song all the more painful to contemplate.
Whatever the genre- pop, soul, metal, r&b, country- sad songs abound. But "Sitting On The Dock of The Bay" receives my nomination for the best sad song of all time. A broken heart can leave you hopeless, but unemployment can leave you hopeless and homeless. Otis' story of leaving Georgia to look for work in California, and winding up jobless, with nothing to do but watch the waves, is a thousand times sadder than any old hony tonk lament about being left by a woman.
On that note, I'd like to end this blog by thanking This Ain't The Rosedale Library for stocking books Like "Otis!" If you're in Toronto next week, visit the shop Wednesday night for our show with Brian Joseph Davis, and take some time to browse. We hope to see you there, and if not there, maybe we'll see you on Myspace.
xoxo
BB
We're getting excited about the show next week at This Ain't The Rosedale Library, so excited that a certain member of the band has been loitering at the shop on a regular basis. On Sunday, while thumbing through the music book section, I found a copy of "Otis! The Otis Redding Biography" by Scott Freeman. It's a juicy read.
The most stunning Otis anecdote I can share so far is about the whistled verse in "(Sitting On) The Dock of The Bay." Otis wasn't finished writing the song yet when he recorded it, and meant for the whistled lines to serve as a placeholder. But before he could return to the studio, he died in a tragic plane crash, which makes the song all the more painful to contemplate.
Whatever the genre- pop, soul, metal, r&b, country- sad songs abound. But "Sitting On The Dock of The Bay" receives my nomination for the best sad song of all time. A broken heart can leave you hopeless, but unemployment can leave you hopeless and homeless. Otis' story of leaving Georgia to look for work in California, and winding up jobless, with nothing to do but watch the waves, is a thousand times sadder than any old hony tonk lament about being left by a woman.
On that note, I'd like to end this blog by thanking This Ain't The Rosedale Library for stocking books Like "Otis!" If you're in Toronto next week, visit the shop Wednesday night for our show with Brian Joseph Davis, and take some time to browse. We hope to see you there, and if not there, maybe we'll see you on Myspace.
xoxo
BB
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Free show with Betty and Brian Joseph Davis at This Aint The Rosedale Library
On Wednesday, April 29th at 8pm there will be a special FREE show with Betty Burke and author/artist Brian Joseph Davis at This Ain't The Rosedale Library. This Ain't The Rosedale Library is a Toronto institution, run by father and son team Charlie and Jesse Huisken. Now in a new location in Canada's flaneur capital, Kensington Market, the UK's Guardian newspaper listed This Ain't as one of the top ten best bookstores in the world!
Brian Joseph Davis is an author and artist we admire for his work on paper, on stage, and at the DJ booth. He is involved in the venerable Blocks Recording Club, and ran a Parkdale gallery out of his home with Emily Shultz. One of our more memorable encounters with Brian was at a Republic of Safety show, at which he read from his book Portable Altamont, delighting us with a comedy poem constructed entirely from Canadian band names. This indulged the band's latent MC5 fantasies, hearkening back to the days when oratory and rock and roll went hand in hand to drive people to a frenzy.
Not long ago, Brian released an album version of Theodor Adorno's Minima Moralia (Reflections from Damaged Life). While the album is not easy to find, many Frankfurt School titles are available at This Ain't The Rosedale Library, along with independent books, art books, GLBT books, poetry collections, magazines (including some fun hard-to-find art magazines), and an amazing selection of books on music.
We hope to see you there on April 29th. Doors are at 8pm, thought the shop is open all day at 86 Nassau Street, next to Ideal Coffee.
XoXo,
BB
PS Today is Holly Andruchuk's birthday! Happy Birthday, Holly!
Brian Joseph Davis is an author and artist we admire for his work on paper, on stage, and at the DJ booth. He is involved in the venerable Blocks Recording Club, and ran a Parkdale gallery out of his home with Emily Shultz. One of our more memorable encounters with Brian was at a Republic of Safety show, at which he read from his book Portable Altamont, delighting us with a comedy poem constructed entirely from Canadian band names. This indulged the band's latent MC5 fantasies, hearkening back to the days when oratory and rock and roll went hand in hand to drive people to a frenzy.
Not long ago, Brian released an album version of Theodor Adorno's Minima Moralia (Reflections from Damaged Life). While the album is not easy to find, many Frankfurt School titles are available at This Ain't The Rosedale Library, along with independent books, art books, GLBT books, poetry collections, magazines (including some fun hard-to-find art magazines), and an amazing selection of books on music.
We hope to see you there on April 29th. Doors are at 8pm, thought the shop is open all day at 86 Nassau Street, next to Ideal Coffee.
XoXo,
BB
PS Today is Holly Andruchuk's birthday! Happy Birthday, Holly!
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Shaun touring with A.C. Newman, hitting Letterman in April
Where oh where is Shaun Brodie? Since late February, Betty's darling multi-instrumentalist-- that chap with the puckish twinkle in his eye-- has been galavanting up and down the coasts with A.C. Newman. We had the good fortune to catch the A.C. Newman show in Toronto at Lee's Palace and it was fantastic. They band is incredibly tight, which is amazing since the musicians hail from far-flung corners of North America. They will be appearing on David Letterman in mid-April. I hope they feature many close-ups of the trumpet player ;)
Betty will be playing gigs again when Shaun returns from the voyage. Our next show will take place at a super special spot in Kensington Market, Toronto, the details of which will be announced soon.
Until then, look for Shaun in various North American venues with Newman. And check out Holly Andruchuk's blog about the Monster at: http://fencepostsandplainfolks.blogspot.com/
She will be playing at Lee's Palace on April 11th, so don't be a hermit, get out there and hear those prairie pipes- featuring East Toronto's Elliot Brothers on rhythm (by East Toronto, I mean the city of several million that starts at Yonge Street and ends at Scarborough, not an industrial zone in Toronto, Ohio).
xoxo,
B.B.
Betty will be playing gigs again when Shaun returns from the voyage. Our next show will take place at a super special spot in Kensington Market, Toronto, the details of which will be announced soon.
Until then, look for Shaun in various North American venues with Newman. And check out Holly Andruchuk's blog about the Monster at: http://fencepostsandplainfolks.blogspot.com/
She will be playing at Lee's Palace on April 11th, so don't be a hermit, get out there and hear those prairie pipes- featuring East Toronto's Elliot Brothers on rhythm (by East Toronto, I mean the city of several million that starts at Yonge Street and ends at Scarborough, not an industrial zone in Toronto, Ohio).
xoxo,
B.B.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Talkin' bout last night
We had a great time at the Tranzac last night. I want to extend special thanks to Magali for organizing the show, and to Gentleman Reg, the Metal Kites and The Youngest for being great.
The Youngest is Amy, solo on her guitar, singing tender songs. She has a great voice.
The Metal Kites are harder to describe, and that is a complement. Mysterious lyrics, haunted guitars, creature harmonies and Magali on bass- if that's not enough to make you listen, you are immune to persuasion.
We are planning to do a show soon at a very special spot in Toronto, so I will post more information about that when we firm up details.
Thanks for reading, and have a happy Thursday.
xoxo
Betty
The Youngest is Amy, solo on her guitar, singing tender songs. She has a great voice.
The Metal Kites are harder to describe, and that is a complement. Mysterious lyrics, haunted guitars, creature harmonies and Magali on bass- if that's not enough to make you listen, you are immune to persuasion.
We are planning to do a show soon at a very special spot in Toronto, so I will post more information about that when we firm up details.
Thanks for reading, and have a happy Thursday.
xoxo
Betty
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