The management at the London Music Club has chosen to cancel the open mic night on Wednesdays b/c of poor turnout. I don't think I'm going out on a limb if I demurely suggest that the $2 levy had something to do with the size of the turnout.
-Olenka
Friday, October 31, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Week 8, 9, 10: Sweet Davita! the tour & the GES
this will be a quick update; unfortunately, i haven't really got the time for much else. Davita Guslits has kindly offered to take over hosting duties of Mot Juste, while the band and i are away on tour. SO - tonight and next Wednesday Mot Juste is happening under the direction of Sweet Davita. she is a bright, politically savvy, young lady, with a delicate voice that belies the aggressiveness of her songwriting. come out to support her!
Week 10 (Nov. 12th) will see me returning to hosting duties. the GES crew (the Graduate English Society) will be usurping the night for the benefit and refinement of us all. expect many articulate musicians and poets, an intellectually stimulating environment, and a couple of boozehounds (graduate students in the humanities are known to covet flasks).
usciski,
Olenka
Week 10 (Nov. 12th) will see me returning to hosting duties. the GES crew (the Graduate English Society) will be usurping the night for the benefit and refinement of us all. expect many articulate musicians and poets, an intellectually stimulating environment, and a couple of boozehounds (graduate students in the humanities are known to covet flasks).
usciski,
Olenka
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Week 6 & 7 & the November tour
hey folks,
thanks to everyone who came out last week (Week 6): Trevor, Maxim, Linda, Mike, Paterson. it was a really special night w/ a lovely focus: storytelling in more traditional musical genres and contemporary pop, & the role of the singer-songwriter as storyteller. and this lovely topic developed serendipitously over the course of the night!
i don't have any thematic focus for this week either, although the question of women in music and their increasing/waning? influence did come up in passing last week, so we could consider that... in any event, we'll see where things go. i may be ending the night shy of midnight, as i have to head over to the APK afterwards for the Zephyr Suburbis Issue 3 Launch.
and that leads me into my tour. the band and i are heading off to the Maritimes for c. 2 weeks, so Mot Juste will be on hiatus during that time. there won't be an open mic on either Wednesday, Oct. 29th, or Wednesday, Nov. 5th. i'll be back in the city for Wednesday, Nov. 12th, but that night may be shortened a bit, if I'm still drained from the tour (we'll be back in the city the night before).
wow, this entry sounds much more like a housekeeping list than the previous entries, but housekeeping needs to be done, otherwise musical furballs and dust will collect in all the corners and we'll develop allergies.
and that's all for now.
thanks to everyone who came out last week (Week 6): Trevor, Maxim, Linda, Mike, Paterson. it was a really special night w/ a lovely focus: storytelling in more traditional musical genres and contemporary pop, & the role of the singer-songwriter as storyteller. and this lovely topic developed serendipitously over the course of the night!
i don't have any thematic focus for this week either, although the question of women in music and their increasing/waning? influence did come up in passing last week, so we could consider that... in any event, we'll see where things go. i may be ending the night shy of midnight, as i have to head over to the APK afterwards for the Zephyr Suburbis Issue 3 Launch.
and that leads me into my tour. the band and i are heading off to the Maritimes for c. 2 weeks, so Mot Juste will be on hiatus during that time. there won't be an open mic on either Wednesday, Oct. 29th, or Wednesday, Nov. 5th. i'll be back in the city for Wednesday, Nov. 12th, but that night may be shortened a bit, if I'm still drained from the tour (we'll be back in the city the night before).
wow, this entry sounds much more like a housekeeping list than the previous entries, but housekeeping needs to be done, otherwise musical furballs and dust will collect in all the corners and we'll develop allergies.
and that's all for now.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Week 6
hey folks,
nothing all that new to report. some friends from the Maritimes are in town, and they'll likely be stopping in at some point tonight. i don't have any grand plans for our night tonight, so come w/ some questions and songs. we'll see what happens. anybody want to talk politics? ha ha. down w/ FPP, up w/ Proportional Rep.
-olenka
nothing all that new to report. some friends from the Maritimes are in town, and they'll likely be stopping in at some point tonight. i don't have any grand plans for our night tonight, so come w/ some questions and songs. we'll see what happens. anybody want to talk politics? ha ha. down w/ FPP, up w/ Proportional Rep.
-olenka
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Week 5: the Americans & the $2 cover charge
THE AMERICANS
As promised (and with many more hours to spare than last week), I would like to offer you a little background information on the two touring musicians who will be featured at today's open mic night. I met Miwa about a year ago, Oct. 12th, 2007 to be exact, at a singer-songwriter showcase that she was hosting at last year's Toronto Indie Week. And by a certain serendipitous alignment of the stars, she, Nathan and I shared a show, only a few weeks later at the Alex P. Keaton.
Miwa's music is arresting and emotionally driven, teetering between rockabilly aggressiveness and confessional fragility. Miwa is based out of New York City (I believe Brooklyn as of recently), and her professionalism is certainly a product of that ever so imposing and demanding city. Nathan and Miwa are long-time friends. I believe Nathan was living in NYC for a while, before moving out to Frisco. However recent his move to the Pacific coast, there is certainly a pacific mode about his music: reflective, melodic, flowy pop (something you may expect from that region). Oh yes, and the man knows how to play a singing saw.
Miwa and Nathan are both excellent musicians, and I hope you will be able to support them as they make their way across our country and theirs. They will be asked to share some of their songs and thoughts on songwriting over the course of the night, and they will have merchandise with them, so if you're able to afford a CD or two, you should bring a little extra money tonight.
Here are their myspace links again:
Miwa Gemini: http://www.myspace.com/miwagemini
Nathan Moomaw: http://www.myspace.com/nathanmoomaw
THE $2 LEVY
And since I have ended the previous segment on the topic of money, let me elucidate another important, though far less pleasant, issue. As of this week, the LMC will be charging a $2 cover at the Mot Juste open mic. This levy has been applied to most (if not all) of the LMC's events (open mic nights and regular shows). I have a very strong opinion on the matter; however, I will reserve expressing that opinion for the moment, as I've not yet had an opportunity to discuss my opinions and feelings with the LMC management. I did, however, want you all to be aware of this new charge, so that it doesn't come as a surprise to you, if you decide to show up tonight. I know that some people may choose to enact their disapproval of this policy, by not attending this week's open mic. I cannot and will not tell you whether I believe such an act of protest to be justified (it's not my place to do so, and it's your right to make such decisions for yourselves). I would, however, like to point out that this week I will be hosting two great, touring musicians, and I'm certain that they would appreciate your support, local politics aside.
Take care,
Olenka
As promised (and with many more hours to spare than last week), I would like to offer you a little background information on the two touring musicians who will be featured at today's open mic night. I met Miwa about a year ago, Oct. 12th, 2007 to be exact, at a singer-songwriter showcase that she was hosting at last year's Toronto Indie Week. And by a certain serendipitous alignment of the stars, she, Nathan and I shared a show, only a few weeks later at the Alex P. Keaton.
Miwa's music is arresting and emotionally driven, teetering between rockabilly aggressiveness and confessional fragility. Miwa is based out of New York City (I believe Brooklyn as of recently), and her professionalism is certainly a product of that ever so imposing and demanding city. Nathan and Miwa are long-time friends. I believe Nathan was living in NYC for a while, before moving out to Frisco. However recent his move to the Pacific coast, there is certainly a pacific mode about his music: reflective, melodic, flowy pop (something you may expect from that region). Oh yes, and the man knows how to play a singing saw.
Miwa and Nathan are both excellent musicians, and I hope you will be able to support them as they make their way across our country and theirs. They will be asked to share some of their songs and thoughts on songwriting over the course of the night, and they will have merchandise with them, so if you're able to afford a CD or two, you should bring a little extra money tonight.
Here are their myspace links again:
Miwa Gemini: http://www.myspace.com/miwagemini
Nathan Moomaw: http://www.myspace.com/nathanmoomaw
THE $2 LEVY
And since I have ended the previous segment on the topic of money, let me elucidate another important, though far less pleasant, issue. As of this week, the LMC will be charging a $2 cover at the Mot Juste open mic. This levy has been applied to most (if not all) of the LMC's events (open mic nights and regular shows). I have a very strong opinion on the matter; however, I will reserve expressing that opinion for the moment, as I've not yet had an opportunity to discuss my opinions and feelings with the LMC management. I did, however, want you all to be aware of this new charge, so that it doesn't come as a surprise to you, if you decide to show up tonight. I know that some people may choose to enact their disapproval of this policy, by not attending this week's open mic. I cannot and will not tell you whether I believe such an act of protest to be justified (it's not my place to do so, and it's your right to make such decisions for yourselves). I would, however, like to point out that this week I will be hosting two great, touring musicians, and I'm certain that they would appreciate your support, local politics aside.
Take care,
Olenka
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Week 4 & the Vancouverites!
Hey folks,
So Week 4 is almost upon us (I seem to only have time for updates just shy of the open-mic nights themselves... gotta do something about that...). This week brings us some open mic material, and some travelling guests!
The contemporary political milieu is kinda unavoidable at present: tacky campaign signs cluttering views, largely uninspiring drivel (in the form of advertisements and scripted interviews) clogging the airwaves and television broadcasts, financial crises... and so on. Lovely material for songwriting at least. A question I have for all of us therefore, is to consider the role of politics in songwriting, or politics in art. Artists have been commenting on political and philosophical issues for centuries (cf. Plato's banishment of the poets from his Republic). Lately celebrities (of various levels of intelligence) have gotten in the game, and have been met with a variety of reactions ranging from outright repugnance to mild annoyance. What do you think? What, if any, is the role of politics in art?
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE LIGHTER:
This week's guest performers are coming through all the way from VANCOUVER! James Lamb and Emily Brown will be sharing a bill at the London Music Club w/ local band "The State Bird of Idaho", but prior to heading down into the Cellar Lounge, they'll be hanging out in the LMC Front Room w/ us, and hopefully sharing their songwriting insights. Please come by early if you can, to meet them, talk to them, and listen to some of their tunes. All are invited to go watch their performance later in the Cellar Lounge. James and Emily will also likely have some merchandise with them, so if you enjoy their music and are in a position to help out some hungry Canadian artists, by all means feel free to buy something!
James Lamb: http://www.myspace.com/jameslamb
Emily Brown: http://www.myspace.com/missemilybrown
State Bird: http://www.myspace.com/statebirdofidaho
Next week's featured guests will troubadours from New York City and Frisco: Miwa Gemini and Nathan Moomaw. I'll post some more information about both musicians (whom I've had the pleasure of playing with) shortly! For now, here are some links to their music:
Miwa Gemini: http://www.myspace.com/miwagemini
Nathan Moomaw: http://www.myspace.com/nathanmoomaw
Take care all!
Olenka
So Week 4 is almost upon us (I seem to only have time for updates just shy of the open-mic nights themselves... gotta do something about that...). This week brings us some open mic material, and some travelling guests!
The contemporary political milieu is kinda unavoidable at present: tacky campaign signs cluttering views, largely uninspiring drivel (in the form of advertisements and scripted interviews) clogging the airwaves and television broadcasts, financial crises... and so on. Lovely material for songwriting at least. A question I have for all of us therefore, is to consider the role of politics in songwriting, or politics in art. Artists have been commenting on political and philosophical issues for centuries (cf. Plato's banishment of the poets from his Republic). Lately celebrities (of various levels of intelligence) have gotten in the game, and have been met with a variety of reactions ranging from outright repugnance to mild annoyance. What do you think? What, if any, is the role of politics in art?
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE LIGHTER:
This week's guest performers are coming through all the way from VANCOUVER! James Lamb and Emily Brown will be sharing a bill at the London Music Club w/ local band "The State Bird of Idaho", but prior to heading down into the Cellar Lounge, they'll be hanging out in the LMC Front Room w/ us, and hopefully sharing their songwriting insights. Please come by early if you can, to meet them, talk to them, and listen to some of their tunes. All are invited to go watch their performance later in the Cellar Lounge. James and Emily will also likely have some merchandise with them, so if you enjoy their music and are in a position to help out some hungry Canadian artists, by all means feel free to buy something!
James Lamb: http://www.myspace.com/jameslamb
Emily Brown: http://www.myspace.com/missemilybrown
State Bird: http://www.myspace.com/statebirdofidaho
Next week's featured guests will troubadours from New York City and Frisco: Miwa Gemini and Nathan Moomaw. I'll post some more information about both musicians (whom I've had the pleasure of playing with) shortly! For now, here are some links to their music:
Miwa Gemini: http://www.myspace.com/miwagemini
Nathan Moomaw: http://www.myspace.com/nathanmoomaw
Take care all!
Olenka
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Week 2 Recap
And now for Week 2. This week was attended by many more people and particularly by many folks who were keen to share their music and perform for the audience. As such, there were fewer extended discussions of specific songwriting topics, and more of a play/talk atmosphere for each of the performers. Everyone who played picked a couple of songs (many original compositions, but some nice covers as well), and everyone talked about some aspects of their own writing or the writing of the musician whom they covered.
One participant mentioned that he'd felt a bit intimidated about offering up covers at this night, b/c so much of the focus is being directed at individual songwriting. SO, to set the record straight, I'm in no way anti-coversong. NO WAY. I love covers. I love interesting approaches to standards. Covers provide us as songwriters avenues into another person's ingenious ways of expressing ideas, and they provide us with the opportunity to be inventive w/ another person's themes, melodies, moods, etc. Covering songs teaches us subtlety, especially if we try to push these coversongs beyond their initial deliveries, for example, delivering a happy melody w/ a tinge of melancholy...
SO, feel free to feature coversongs, especially if there's something about another artist's songwriting that you admire and want to share w/ everyone!
Thanks to all of Week 2's performers (including Daniel, Paterson, AJ, Jenni & Kristen, Jason, Kevin, Aaron, Micah, Sam, and Allison!). Whew. Long list. Which is wonderful!
We've only done two of these nights so far, and each one has been distinct and special, so we'll see what happens this week!
Take care all and see you soon.
One participant mentioned that he'd felt a bit intimidated about offering up covers at this night, b/c so much of the focus is being directed at individual songwriting. SO, to set the record straight, I'm in no way anti-coversong. NO WAY. I love covers. I love interesting approaches to standards. Covers provide us as songwriters avenues into another person's ingenious ways of expressing ideas, and they provide us with the opportunity to be inventive w/ another person's themes, melodies, moods, etc. Covering songs teaches us subtlety, especially if we try to push these coversongs beyond their initial deliveries, for example, delivering a happy melody w/ a tinge of melancholy...
SO, feel free to feature coversongs, especially if there's something about another artist's songwriting that you admire and want to share w/ everyone!
Thanks to all of Week 2's performers (including Daniel, Paterson, AJ, Jenni & Kristen, Jason, Kevin, Aaron, Micah, Sam, and Allison!). Whew. Long list. Which is wonderful!
We've only done two of these nights so far, and each one has been distinct and special, so we'll see what happens this week!
Take care all and see you soon.
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