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

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

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Slowcity.ca Open Mic with Nation of Language, Kaia Kater, D.W. Waterson, Cherry Blaster, The Davenports, The Gertrudes, Francois Klark, and Jeremy Dion,

By Will McGuirk

“As I was working on the lyrics I had a kind of fixation on terrible tax policies, our cultural addiction to meaningless consumption, and it all got swept together into this punchy, kind of fun track.” - Ian Devaney, Nation of Language

“It’s about ripping out harmful beliefs that have grown and taken root inside many of us like weeds. I wanted to create a sense of sonic chaos—as if anything could happen—because mine and my friends’ experiences in the last few years have been to show up and care for each other amidst the chaos of job loss, financial instability, mental health crises, environmental disasters and more.” - Kaia Kater

“Within hetero society, it’s typical to hate your exes, but in the queer community, exes are viewed differently. When collaborating on the track, Casey and I had the inherent understanding of having queer exes; who frequently run into each other, can end up as close friends and will always be within the same circles as one another. That’s where All The Girls With The Boys Names came to be; a dedication to our former lovers, but still appreciating where we landed." - D.W. Waterson

“Despite the luxury of time to 'breathe in the terpenes', the song also describes our ongoing and underlying levels of anxiety about not having enough time to help make the changes needed in our community and world.” - Greg Tilson, The Gertrudes

“Music is a chance to tell stories of pain and beauty. I want my songs to make people feel something unexpected.” - Jeremy Dion

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Slowcity.ca Open Mic with Nadjiwan, Jonathan Roy, Titus Bank, The Gertrudes, Lung, NOV3L, and the Brothers Comatose

By Will McGuirk

“Humans have always questioned and wondered about both our purpose and origins in the universe. There are numerous stories in Indigenous cultures of the ‘star people’ visiting us throughout history with the purpose of teaching us a greater understanding of not only the universe, but ourselves. In short, we ultimately come from the stars.” - Marc Meriläinen, Nadjiwan

"The feeling of emptiness, confusion and not knowing what road to take really takes a toll on you. Everything seems to be falling apart around you and the walls that kept you safe are crumbling down.” - Jonathan Roy

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Slowcity.ca Open Mic with Edwin Raphael, PIQSIQ, Haviah Mighty, The Gertrudes, Leah Barley, Craig Strickland, Moscow Apartment, Kodiak Arcade, Jesse Roper, Overcoats, Bodysnatcher,

By Will McGuirk

Its an uncomfortable place we find ourselves in, under, holding our breath, we are our own bubble, above, hope is just the slightest change in hue on the surface, hazy, mirage, a promise weak as water, but we must turn to this maybe as we know the darkest darkness lies still below. We must rush towards the surface for air, for rebirth, for a new becoming.

“Producing this song was a bit of a challenge to hone in on really feeling underwater, I also essentially looped the main guitar to portray the vicious cycle of anxiety with constant additions to reflect and parallel the textures of the sea and the abstract nature of feeling underwater.” - Edwin Rapheal

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“Essentially, this song is about the low expectations that people have of those that don’t follow or fit the status quo, and how I’ll push to overcome those doubts and surpass those expectations. The 'occasion' is my downfall, and in this song, I fight its existence,” - Haviah Mighty

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"“Emergency To Emergency" is an attempt to express and reflect on some of the anxiety and profound sense of isolation so many people are experiencing at this time…” – Greg Tilson, co-composer for The Gertrudes

jgtilson · Emergency To Emergency

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““Enemy” was written a few months ago at a time when it seemed like the world had never been more divided. It’s about falling apart from someone you love, hoping that through your differences you can still find compassion and common ground. “ - Craig Strickland

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Hidden Pony · 18 (Thieves Like Us Remix) - Moscow Apartment

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KodiakArcade · Silicon Hill - Single

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JesseRoper · Right Now

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