I wrote a little over three years ago about some strange things afoot at the CBC. I was impressed at the time by their experiments in new media, and I remain so. In particular, I’ve been enjoying the many live concerts and studio sessions recorded for CBC Radio. Many of these sessions end up on the site JustConcerts.com.
The CBC has a well-deserved reputation for great audio production. As several of these sessions clearly illustrate (particularly the Sarah Harmer and Hawksley Workman sessions) the talent of the CBC recording engineers.
In hopes that you might enjoy some of the sessions that I have enjoyed, here are some of my favourites from the CBC’s JustConcerts.com:
Sarah Harmer in session, January 29, 2004- A great example of CBC Radio recording. You can hear here fingers on the guitar strings and if you close your eyes, you’d swear she’s sitting in the room. Sarah plays tracks from her new album. Track of note: “Almost”.
The Weakerthans at Lee’s Palace in Toronto, November 6, 2003- The Weakerthans played three nights in a row at Lee’s Palace in Toronto. I saw the third show – this was the first. The site also has two other great sessions with the Weakerthans: John K. Samson (lead singer) in session in December of 2002 (this is one of the rest recordings on the site – amazing) and a great older show, The Weakerthans in session in May of 1999.
Hawksley Workman in session, October 15, 2003- More great CBC Radio audio production. Performing tracks from the remarkable Lover/Fighter album. Look for Workman in future sessions of Acts of Volition Radio. Track of note: “Autumn’s Here”.
Buck 65 in session, March 11, 2002- This guys is way more east coast than Jay-Z. Buck 65 is more of a story-teller than a rapper. I’ve yet to have the opportunity to see him live, but my friend Geoff always seems to always be hanging out with him
Rufus Wainwright in session, December 15, 2003- Recorded in the CBC Studio 2 in Vancouver in front of a small studio audience.
A few other sessions and concerts that look promising, but I haven’t had a chance to listed to yet:
- Joel Plaskett in session in November, 2003
- The New Pornographers in session in November, 2000 (includes video)
- The New Pornographers at Richards On Richards in Vancouver in June, 2001
- Hayden in session in June, 1998
- Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks at Lee’s Palace in Toronto in May, 2003
- Frank Black and the Catholics at The State in Regina in April, 2003
- Gomez at The Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver in October, 2002
- The Breeders at Lee’s Palace in Toronto in July, 2002
- Andrew W. K. at Richard’s on Richards in Vancouver in June, 2002
- The White Stripes at The Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver in June, 2002
- Mogwai at Lee’s Palace in Toronto in May, 2002
- Cranes at Luv-A-Fair in Vancouver in May, 2002
- Billy Bragg at The Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver in April, 2002
- Mike O’Neill at The Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto in May, 2001
- Badly Drawn Boy at the Starfish Room in Toronto in November, 2000
Hey Steven. Great site. Used to visit awhile ago….but have found CBC Radio3 (a great site as well) picks up some of the material.
Have you picked up her latest CD? Great stuff.
Sarah that is
I only wish the CBC would create a 24 hour webcast of CBC3. Steve – wouldn’t you like to live near The Commodore in Vancouver. My whole life I have been hearing about great shows at The Commodore. [Jason, I have some ten second clips of Sarah live from a couple weeks ago in Kingston. Low tech product.]
Thanks Alan. Did you get the whole show? If so, you should turn it into MP3s. I know of fans doing this for their favorite bands, I’m sure Sarah has a server somewhere with taped shows.
I can certainly say CBC is great to music, between zedtv,new mmusic canada,just concerts and cbc raido 3, they defintley have their finger on the pulse of the bulk of music in canada…
Jason – Nope. I just have 64 MB memory stick so it is only clips for now. I have another three clips of Luther Wright and the Wrongs here, too. I like the short clip as an illustration rather than an attempt to create the whole show. That being said, it would be really interesting to see an entire show based on patched together short clips from 50 or so angles.
I was at the Billy Bragg show that they recorded at the Commodore and it was kickass.
Buck 65 is from the hell-hole of a town I briefly lived in in Nova Scotia- Mt Uniacke. I believe my older brother went to high school with him.
Steven,
Sweet. Thanks for putting this list together. It was great to hear Sarah’s concert. Although I lived in Kingston for a long time – I only meet Sarah a few times.
Hi Steve
You mention Buck 65. Here is the site that James did for his last album that was a runner up for the best Album cover design in last years Junos. There are few novel ideas not the least that you can listen to most of the album on the site. Plus you have Buck being weird in an interview – lastly the whole site is a freehand very non corporate
Personally I can’t bear it but then I don’t think much of Sloan either – I think it is an age thing