Each time they come, everyone says, “YOU HAVE TO GET THEM BACK!”

Well, they’re back, but you’ll need to buy tickets before the show-date to get the $12 deal on the $15 ticket price.

$12 Advanced or $15 at the Door / Tickets available at Phog Lounge

I’m bringing my Dad and my brother (hopefully) on my day off…as there’s nothing better to listen to perhaps all Spring than this band. They play alone, starting at 10pm.

It’s $5. It’s worth $10.

If you’re a fan of folk-rock/roots/dancey-stand-up-bass/fiddle/lap-steel/brilliant-vocals/country AWESOMENESS…you’ll find an Old West version of Valhalla at Phog on Sunday night. I’m not exaggerating.

See you there.

This event is FREE!

The only change to this Arcade night is that there’s a FREE Sega Genesis NHL 97 tournament. Anyone who thinks they’re capable of winning against any other players should send an email to phoglounge@gmail.com and confirm your attendance. There will be a series of modest prizes for the CHAMPION.

We have several other systems waiting to go including an Intellivision, NES, Super Nintendo, Nintendo Game Cube, and more.

Our hope is that avid gamers will bring in their games associated with these systems, and even bring in systems we don’t have yet (TurboGrafix16, etc.).

We’re always beyond grateful for the coverage we get for our exceptional events and musicians at Phog.

Here’s yet another.

Again, with so many performers in the area for Canadian Music Week, we mash up all kinds of genres that otherwise might never be in the same BUILDING…ever…

And that’s what this show consists of…for only $5.
From Téa’s website:
“Téa is a Vancouver-based singer/ pianist/ songwriter who fuses elements of R&B, Soul, and Pop music into her own brand of “City Soul”. Drawing inspiration from artists like Sade, Amy Winehouse, and Remy Shand, Téa has crafted an unmistakable sound that continues to win audiences over.

Born in Belgrade, Serbia, Téa started playing piano when she was 7 years old. At the age of 14, after moving with her family to Vancouver, BC, she started writing songs on guitar and piano. Téa went on to receive the A.R.C.T. diploma in piano performance at 18, and a B.A. in music from UBC at age 22.

An award-winning songwriter, Téa won 1st place in the R&B/Hip-Hop category of the 2008 International Songwriting Competition (ISC) for her song “Fire & Flame”. The following year she won 2nd place for the song “In a Minute” (co-written with Dane Deviller and Krischan Grohne). The ISC contest accepted almost 15,000 entries from nearly 100 countries around the world. Also in 2009, Téa was selected as one of the top 20 finalists (out of 450+ applicants) in the Peak Performance Project. She was the first artist to be featured on Virgin Radio’s ‘Best of BC’ new artist series, and her song “Fire & Flame” also won 3rd place at Music BC’s Songbird West Songwriting Contest.”

And then we change gears CONSIDERABLY with Dekadens…from Bucharest/UK…booked by Windsor’s own, Reginald Ray (Reg Thiessen)…

From Dekadens’ Myspace:
“The band starts in 2006 with Becky (UK) and Janin (former AB4 and Zebre). The two started composing their first songs with Bogdan Crucianu (former AB4) on bass and Florin Dinu on drums. Shortly after, Mihai (previously in Nociv and Crize) joins on bass.

In 2009, during the American Tour, Becky decides to establish herself in Toronto and at the end of the tour she leaves the band. The boys return quickly to Romania to find a replacement voice to honor the concerts already set.

After a six months pause, in January 2010 Dekadens finds the perfect replacement for the vocalist established in Canada in the person of Andreea Lupescu.Dekadens is now formed of Andreea Lupescu (vocals), Janin Pasniciuc (guitar) and Andrei Petrila (drums), and is preparing great shows for all the fans.”

Rococode (Vancouver) w/ Sea + Air (Germany), and Benjamin Winter (San Francisco) are playing Phog on an odd Sunday in March, The 25th. This is what happens when Canadian Music Week occurs in Toronto. We get KILLER bands looking for gigs on off-nights in Windsor…and we’re happy to oblige.

To begin, Rococode is a beast of a band containing ex Tegan & Sara, Said The Whale, and Hannah Georgas members. Holy crow.

From Rococode’s website:
“Rococode is an evolving band of four Vancouver and Victoria musicians. They have been working hard to bring fans into their world through a collective desire to make adventurous, badass and meaningful pop music. In fact, all the members of Rococode have ever done is make music

As for this music, it has evolved from a set of songs Laura Smith and Andrew Braun compiled over the last few years and has been shaped by a fairly random and extraordinary set of circumstances. From Andrew grading Laura’s music history papers, to meeting the perfect rhythm section playing fake jazz at a wedding, to a chance encounter with producer to be Ryan Guldemond on the street, to Johnny Andrews and Shaun Huberts getting some time off from Tegan and Sara just as Rococode started to get busy…

And as all things begin and end with the music, Rococode has set to making exciting new pop. Their debut album Guns, Sex & Glory is a little bit dark. A little bit playful. A little bit scary. A little bit thoughtful. All whipped together with the help of Mother Mother’s Ryan Guldemond (co-producer), Andrew Braun (co-producer), engineer extraordinaire Shawn Penner (Mother Mother, Hannah Georgas, Elias) and mixer John Congleton (St. Vincent, Polyphonic Spree, The Walkmen).”

Add to this…Sea + Air from Germany.

From Sea + Air’s website:
“Ten years of trying things out, writing, recording as well as more than 1.200 concerts
worldwide as the band DANIEL BENJAMIN, this married couple had a key moment in
the summer or 2010:

When they performed live as the support act to WHITNEY HOUSTON at Stuttgart’s
sold-out Schleyerhalle, they managed to get the audience totally quiet and in awe with
nothing but their two voices and they realized that they had reached their goal of
convincing a mainstream audience by just being themselves.

The decision to re-name their group seemed very much a logical, natural step for them
as the group DANIEL BENJAMIN had not been a solo project anymore for a long time
due to Eleni’s strong musical and artistic influence. The most significant feature of their
music had been the supernatural harmony of their two voices together, but it was also
their growing conviction that the German and Greek cultural goods are strong enough
to create unique and timeless Pop music.

Inspired by the melodic beauty of the baroque style of J.S. Bach, the experimental and
deep era of German music back in the 70′s with bands such as Popol Vuh, as well as
the architectural sound size of The Scoropions, the astonishingly catchy soundwriting
of SEA + AIR always returns to simple, yet pressing hymns typical for a nation
such as the Greek who have lived by the sea side for centuries and whose artistic
craft and melodies have been passed on from generation to generation.

…

When performing live, they both play in a very artistic way – up to 5 instruments each
at a time – sounds coming from tapes or other band members are not necessary
to put across their message.”

What can I say…aside from “look out”?

Justin Faubert (of Golden Hands Before God) and Craig Gloster (of Madeira Gold and Fjord Rowboat), both renowned for their sometimes outlandish antics pull in a pal from Windsor (Paul) and a pal from Toronto (Wil) to put on an assault on your eyes, ears, and possibly a couple of other senses.

I’m sincerely confused about what to expect. I’ve heard about confetti canons, human-confetti-grenades, wet-dry vacs blowing in reverse…without any mention of the likely-psychedelia-soaked rock and roll that I’m sure they’ll pummel any attendees with.

In all honesty, just come for the spectacle…and if the music is as good as I’ve been told by some other people, then you’ll enjoy your night. It’s just the one band playing that Saturday night, so you know what to prepare for.

$5 at the door that night.
Yikes.

http://music.cbc.ca/#/bands/Craig-Cardiff

Cardiff played Phog once many years ago. He quieted a FULL house on an open mic night, and stunned everyone with his incredible voice. Now, as a JUNO-Nominated performer (Roots & Traditional Album of the Year: Solo) he returns to…… play an ALL AGES show and a later show for 19+ show-goers.

The ALL AGES show begins at 7pm SHARP. Tickets are $15.
The 19+ show begins at 10pm SHARP. Tickets are $15.

From Cardiff’s CBC Music profile:

“Noted as one of Canada’s most impressive musical workhorses, Craig Cardiff has fervently released eleven albums in the past ten years, democratizing the very process of music making each step of the way. Hailed as the Che or Kerouac of indie music, Craig is a pioneer in alternate venue touring, often appearing in churches, basements, festivals, kitchens and even the street. His outstanding 11th CD release ‘Goodnight (GoHome)’ reminds us that often the very best in art and culture can be found well outside the glass walls of the highly corporatized entertainment industry.

Cardiff’s voice has been described as ‘warm, scratched, sad and sleepy’ and his songs are landscapes that expose the human condition, putting magnifying glasses to the clumsier and less proud moments. Armed with sardonic sincerity and polished awkwardness, Cardiff’s performances are a mix of story and song, and occasional brawls.

“I think that the best shows are the ones where the lights are low, the music weaves in and out and the people forget where the audience begins and the performer ends,” says Cardiff. Cardiff’s commitment to his music is mirrored in his approach to touring and recording during the past ten years.

Craig has played with and opened for Sarah Harmer, Kathleen Edwards, Blue Rodeo, Gord Downie (Tragically Hip), Hawksley Workman, Sarah Slean, Skydiggers, 54-40 and more.

Visit www.craigcardiff.com for more information and show listings near you.”

Here’s the video (mostly audio as it was so dark) of Cardiff’s brief visit to Phog many years ago.