Slowcity.ca Open Mic: The Gertrudes, Sarah Hiltz, Busty and the Bass + Cadence Weapon, Scott Hardware, Skeggs, The Night Owls, Harrow Fair, and Wet Leg

Will McGuirk February 3, 2022

By Will McGuirk

"... The Gertrudes' "Boys' Town" music video reflects on the 1969 documentary "Dear Landlord", Directed by Dennis Crossfield and featuring nationally renowned activist Joan Kuyek, who analyse Kingston's housing crisis at that time. Unfortunately, not much has changed. Kingston's housing continues to be in short supply — historically, the city has had some of the lowest vacancy rates in the province." - Greg Tilson

“We are all human beings meant to experience the breadth of human emotion, including anger. That doesn’t have to be negative or even divisive. It’s true it might be uncomfortable, but discomfort and danger are not the same thing." - Sarah Hiltz

"finding a way to allow yourself to truly relax and disconnect in the age of the notification." - Cadence Weapon

“The night I wrote it, I was in a mad rush against my own urge to self-censor, the lyrics bare no mystery or even much poetry. More than that, they're honest in a way that STILL makes me uncomfortable. Being able to get them out before I could stifle this loud and proclamation of love was a big deal for me as a songwriter and as a person." - Scott Hardware

"I think I wrote it a while ago, being in a mood where it's epic to try and ride out your ambitions and try and always look back when you kook it at life, and say I will try to be better, be a better friend, better partner, get better at getting better,” - Ben Reed, Skeggs

“We like to play music at night. The only thing that matters is each other, because in those times we feel like there’s only the two of us in the universe.” - the Night Owls

Broken Social Scene, photo by Richmond Lam

Slowcity.ca Open Mic with Mad Ones, Broken Social Scene, Sarah Hiltz, Tennyson King, Scott Hardware, Sam Weber, AHI, Particle Kid, and Misfire

Will McGuirk January 12, 2022

By Will McGuirk

"It's a poem for time and distance and whether or not peace and prosperity are possible amidst chaos. It is a meditation on our proximity to circumstances and our enduring love for those who contribute something powerful in our lives.“ - Andrew Devillers, Mad Ones

“Life isn’t easy in the music industry or with any dream you want to achieve. It’s full of ups and downs, people who don’t believe in you, but we need to acknowledge this, step out of our comfort zone and keep at it.” - Tennyson King

"My mom lived near this lake for a while, and whenever I’d go to visit her, I’d want to walk along the shore and have a moment. She’d always tell me before heading out to watch out for the water snakes.” - Scott Hardware

“This track is about quitting everything you’re passionate about and trying something else - and the process of returning to that first thing with a new perspective and taking stock of all your changes.” - Sam Weber

‘Fractured’ unearths the feelings of uncertainty and dread we were faced with in 2020. Inspired by the current state of the world, it delves into the madness that is the pandemic. The song poses the question, ‘What’s left of who we are?,’ as we are left with humanity divided and fractured. - James Nicademus, Misfire

Slowcity.ca Open Mic with Robyn Ottolini, Katie Tupper, Sarah Hiltz, Simon and the Island, Dan Mangan, half•alive, Local Natives, Lexxicon, Butcher Brown and Carrtoons, Chris Pastore,

Will McGuirk November 22, 2021

By Will McGuirk

I”t feels like vulnerability and bravery in confessing an old love but it really is more of seeking comfort in the familiar and begging those around you to create that for you.” - Katie Tupper

“Hot Tea is a deep longing to be touched by life.” - Josh Taylor, half•alive

Chris Pastore · Deliver Me