Slowcity.ca Open Mic with Chastity, Andrea Ramolo, Jasper Sloan Yip, Ellyn Woods, Chris de Burgh, Bazooka Joe 204, Conditioner, Mauvey, and Thao and the Get Down

Will McGuirk September 15, 2021

By Will McGuirk

"This song is about stepping out of the silence and coming together to use our voices for change. There is power in numbers and in song and in carrying each other.” - Andrea Ramolo

“In ‘On the Beach’ we float through the ‘wild motion’ of this new frontier, affirming that we can ‘separate the water from the waves’ before looking up one last time “as the constellations drift apart and lose their shape” to say that we ‘would do it all again’” - Jasper Sloan Yip

“Many people have experienced the challenges of staying together despite being apart, and this is my own story of feeling that pull and hoping that a relationship would survive.” - Riley McCluskey, Conditioner

“Endless thanks to director Linda Mai Green and her fantastic team for giving me the opportunity to physically do what I have been trying to figuratively get at for so long: destroy artifice and defense and false altars, tear away shame and guilt strip by strip, and to be light and free enough to join my life and love, already in progress.” - Thao

Slowcity.ca Open Mic with Haviah Mighty, James Vincent McMorrow, Andrea Ramolo, Troy Junker, Nathan Lawr, Coda Facto, John Orpheus, and Ben Sefton,

Will McGuirk July 22, 2021

By Will McGuirk

“While we’re always a work in progress as humans, I feel much more stable now that I'm more comfortable with myself and what I have to offer. This is a reminder that if you're not confident in your own strides, you'll end up following somebody who is!” - Haviah Mighty

(“why don’t I just dig out my rollerblades and film myself learning to skate again in the park behind my house?”) - James Vincent McMorrow

“The whole point of the song was to not overthink it and just have fun. It's important to me to remain authentic and to always give 100 per cent in everything. That's the wave." - Troy Junker

CODA FACTO · Rock 'N' Roll Sounds

John Orpheus · IG

Slowcity.ca Open Mic Local Edition: Tania Joy, Ellis, Meghan Patrick, Andrea Ramolo, Bob Bryden, and Slow Death Lights

Will McGuirk June 25, 2021

By Will McGuirk

But first. . .

Stacey Laforme is a poet and Chief of The Mississauga's of the New Credit First Nations.On May 28th 2021, he composed the poem 215/Reconciliation as an emotional response to the discovery of 215 unmarked graves at the residential school in Kamloops ,BC. The poem has been set to music by Kevin Hearn and Josh Finlayson, ( members of The Secret Path Band) . It was recorded and mixed by Kenny Luong . Please go to DownieWenjak.ca to get involved and help build a path towards cultural understanding and reconciliation. The National Residential School Crisis line is: 1-866-925-4411 ( support for residential school survivors and their families)

"Who I Am” is about all of those honest unspoken fears that make us who we are, and at the end of the day I am comforted by the sum of my parts," - Tania Joy

“DUST is about the fine line between human connection and toxic attachment. It’s about our human longing and addictions. . . to things. . . to each other. . . and about the acceptance that we are truly mirrors for one another in this life. We all have our poison, which I believe must be embraced without judgement. And we all need love." - Andrea Ramolo

Slow Death Lights · Slow Death Lights - I Wanna Be Somebody (feat. Chris Holmes)

Slowcity.ca: Why did u choose Wasp to cover?

Andre Skinner (SDL): “I chose to cover WASP because my musical influences were were strongly forged with metal bands such as Motley Crue, Maiden, Ratt, Twisted Sister and especially WASP back in the mid 80's. I bought WASP's self titled tape at A&A Records back in 1985 as a 10 year old and the opening track 'I Wanna Be Somebody' REALLY stuck with me over the years. That album played a strong role in making me decide on a music career and a young man and Chris Holmes was always a MAJOR rock hero in my books.

SC: when you reached out for the ask what was the discussion?

AS: “With setting up the guest appearance, I tracked down Chris Holmes management via FB and simple asked if he would be down with cutting a track with us. Catherine Homes (Wife and Manger) quickly got back to me asking about the band and the song saying she would play it for CH over the weekend and would get back to me. Three days later, I received an email with good news! I pretty much freaked out at the news. . . I thought for sure it would be a no go since (first off) it's a WASP cover and CH famously doesn't get along with Blackie (the songwriter), and secondly because it was generally a major long-shot of an ask. I had cut the original lead guitar and solo which was sent to CH as a reference, once again sending my nerves for a ride knowing CG would hear it. CH cut the lead guitar tracks at his home studio in Cannes France and did a killer job. He was also gracious enough for a couple of phone calls about production. He and his wife are first rate people!”

SC: is this a one off or do you have further plans for covers or with Wasp?

AS: “This is a one off. I want to explore more covers down the line of other artists. (one per album would do just fine) and continue exploring the guest appearances by big artists as it adds great content to our PR rollouts.”