#festivalseason - Victoria Ska & Reggae Fest, bringing together musical worlds.

June 03, 2018 by Blake Morneau

Full disclosure – I'm highly involved with the Victoria Ska & Reggae Society and Festival. The people who are part of it, who help put it on, have become like an extended family. I don't see them all the time but when we do it's always lovely and once a year we all get together downtown and throw a big party for the city. As such, I'm around this stuff so much, around the band and artist bios constantly for months on months. Their music becomes the soundtrack to so much of my working day. I know this lineup inside and out. But favourites always crop up. This is just a list of the first five that came to my head. I'm writing this intro after the body of the article was written and I regret not being able to put Kingston Rudieska on this list. That's going to be really special. Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad is going to be wild, I mean as “wild” as a roots reggae show can get, I suppose. Anyways, if you like the idea of concerts as places for people from different communities and age groups and such, to gather and dance off the Weight of Life together, then you should probably come to Victoria and dance in a couple of weeks.

Yellowsky

Wednesday, June 20 – Lucky Bar w/ Bousada (Full band)

Each and every year, without fail, Victoria Ska & Reggae Fest leaves me with at least one artist that sticks with me, that I know I'm going to be a fan of for a long time. Last year that artist was Yellowsky. A captivating performer, Yellowsky is one of the finest examples of the hip-hop and reggae coming together I've heard in years. Of Plains Cree First Nation and South American bloodlines, Yellowsky is coming at this with a completely unique perspective. Since opening for the mighty Mike Love at last years festival, Yellowsky released his debut album Mixed Medicine. The album is probably the best melding of gritty hip-hop and that good street reggae that I've encountered this side of Jamrock. This is saying a lot. But this dude is legit. Inside the brick embrace of Lucky Bar, this is going to be a helluva set from Da Lion. (I'd also like to put this wish out into the world: Yellowsky rapping over some beats from Bousada and his band late in the evening. Fingers crossed, friends!)

#festivalseason - Bass Coast X is dripping with incredible music and here are five acts you should check out.

May 28, 2018 by Blake Morneau

I've been to many festivals of many kinds over the years. Few names in the world of festivals, especially in my home province of BC, are spoken to me with such high regard as Bass Coast. Over its 10 years of existence I've encountered countless people that tell me Bass Coast is where you find the best. The best music. The best vibes. The best dancing. The best stages for having room for said dancing. The best place for discovering new music and sounds in the great wide open that is electronic music. The best for reconnecting with old favourites in a special space. These are the reasons why my head is turned towards Bass Coast more than ever. I want new sounds and if this is the place to find the sounds of the future, then this is where we all need to be looking for new things to put into our ears. A quick scan of the lineup release instantly got the blood flowing with excitement. These are the five names that jumped out right away. In the next couple weeks, I'll be back to take a deeper look as I dig deeper and get into the shockingly vast expanse of names that are new to my eyes and ears.

Mndsgn

For lovers of quality, chilled-out space-funk, there are few names as essential as Mndsgn. The L.A. transplant is a staple of the legendary Stones Throw records, the home to his incredible, wholly unique albums. His debut record Yawn Zen is a lo-fi funk gem that demands repeated listens to unravel its intense mystery. It's been a constant staple of my listening diet since I first got it into my ears. The gentle funk push, combined with a phenomenal ear for hip-hop makes homie one of the most unique and consistent DJs doing the thing right now. Mndsgn is undoubtedly the first name that jumped out at me when I saw the lineup for Bass Coast X, as I wouldn't entirely expect him to be at an electronic music festival on a river. But, Bass Coast is clearly curated by true music nerds, so I probably shouldn't have been surprised. Soft, warm and embracing, Mndsgn is sure to lay down a sultry festival highlight.

from the album Body Wash (9/16/16) http://stonesthrow.com/mndsgn

Lazy Syrup Orchestra

Anyone who's heard whispers of Bass Coast the last few years has probably heard something about Lazy Syrup Orchestra. Legend has it they were birthed right there on the Bass Coast grounds. Their Slay Bay sets have become legendary staples of the festival, and mentioned as highlights from goers pretty much across the board. I caught them last summer during an incredible performance on a mountain at Tall Tree and their annually-released sets from Bass Coast remain in constant rotation (Also great to put on in a room full of people with disparate tastes because, from my own research, no one ever disagrees with Lazy Syrup). Their sets are always sonic adventures and the endless collaboration adds an extra level to the excitement. It kinda feels like: If you haven't seen Lazy Syrup at Slay Bay, have you really seen Lazy Syrup Orchestra?

Recorded live at 5AM Saturday Morning - Slay Bay Stage, Bass Coast Festival 2017. Featuring @thomas-workshop (Raps & FX) , Cole Grizzy (Trumpet), @qcdef3 (Raps), & @Dunks (DJ/Conductor/MC). Tracklist below... Cover Design by Matt DL - https://www.behance.net/dezinedesigns Tracklist: Barrio Lindo - History of Colour Joe Hertz - At Dawn FKJ - Skyline Moontricks - Mountains Tessellated - Streets Kaytranada - Got it Good Ft Craig David (Lazy Syrup Live Version) Esbe - Tribute to Music (Lazy Syrup Jam Planet Version) Romare - L.U.V. Stro Elliot - The Summer Love Song Kartell - 5AM Goldbloc - Days are Dreaming (Wyln Remix) Tambour Battant - Open Your Eyes Resin Dogs - Space Beats (Lazy Syrup Get Down Version) Def3 - El Fin Del Mundo (LIVE) Alpha Channel - Yonder Stars Praful - Moon Glide (Mark Rae Remix) (Lazy Syrup Live Version) The Avener - Celestial Blues Persian Empire - To Na Bi (Lazy Syrup Live Version) Jain - Come Gater - Light of Love Ft Black Castro The Funk Hunters & Chali 2na Ft Tom Thum - Word to Spread (Smalltown DJ’s Remix) Clem Beatz - Somewhere Nice Plump DJ’s - Lost In Space Jamie George, Chris Lorenzo & Pete Graham - Let Me Down Parrov Stellar - Follow the Sun (Lcaw Remix) Buddy Guy & Tracy Chapman - Aint No Sunshine (Achtabahn Remix) Nicolas Jaar - And I Say (Xinobi Edit) - Justin Jay - Let Go (feat. Benny Bridges & Josh Taylor) Tom Misch - Beautiful Escape (feat. Zak Abel) Elton John - Rockit Man (Lobsterdust Dub Remix) Follow the syrup: facebook.com/lazysyruporchestra twitter.com/lazysyruporchestra instagram.com/lazysyruporchestra Download for free on The Artist Union

D. Tiffany

If you like a good dose of weird with your dance intake, then D. Tiffany is for you. Her grooves are trance-inducing, helping lull your hips and mind into thoughtless movement. Once you are properly captivated it's the easiest of tasks to pump weird musical ideas and sounds into your bloodstream to both discombobulate and delight. Her recent set here in Victoria's infamous Frequency Saturday series was in my body for days. I can't imagine how my brain will respond after a day or two of dancing in the melting heat. Hopefully her set as is as deep in the schedule as possible to allow for maximum brain-melt. Get weird.

@d-tiffany

Ivy Lab

I accidentally saw the last half of Ivy Lab's set last year at a festival and was mesmerized instantly. I didn't know anything about them before that, but their electronic music fit perfectly in with my decidedly hip-hop tastes, but this wasn't just hip-hop beats. It was weird and dark, heavy and groovy, pouring itself slowly into my ears and around my brain. It was an all-encompassing musical experience. When I would mention Ivy Lab in conversation afterwards, many people didn't know who I was talking about but the ones who knew the trio lit the fuck up at the mention of their name. The fervour of their fanbase gets me riled up and this new album, Death Don't Always Taste Good, they released a couple weeks ago, HOLY SHIT. This thing is a beast. I can't wait to hear what they do with these tracks as a framework on a proper, chest-rattling system. 10/10 can't miss.

Ivy Lab ‘Death Don't Always Taste Good’ Release Date: 11th May 2018 Label: 20/20 LDN Format: 2xLP // CD // Digital Cat No: 2020LDN012 Buy Vinyl/Digital from the 20/20 LDN webstore: http://bit.ly/2020LDN012 Ivy Lab present the ‘Death Don't Always Taste Good’ LP, their debut album proper, released 11th May 2018 through their own 20/20 LDN label. Tracklisting: 01. Fortune Teller 02. Ugly Bubble 03. Jet Lag 04. Astral Pirate Theme 05. Cake 06. Vanity Fair 07. A & E 08. Death Don't Always Taste Good 09. Snack Time 10. Calculate 11. Ozbo 12. Cadillac Ivy Lab http://www.ivylab.co.uk http://www.facebook.com/IvyLab http://www.twitter.com/ivylab_ http://www.soundcloud.com/ivylab http://www.instagram.com/ivylab 2020 http://2020ldn.com http://www.facebook.com/2020.LDN http://www.twitter.com/2020_ldn http://www.instagram.com/2020ldn

Woodhead

I've written about Woodhead before, but I honestly think that every chance you get to see Woodhead is a chance that you should take. One of the artists who helped open up house music for me, I have yet to come across anyone who consistently delights me with the utter warmth of their beats and grooves. His mixes have fuelled many a living room dance parties and his night-saving set from Shambhala in 2016 remains one of my most treasured electronic music highlights. If you like swampy warm house and disco grooves you definitely want to get after this set, and even if house isn't something you fuck with, you'll probably find something to dig if you like deep grooves of any kind.

Tracklist: Good2Groove 1.Let Love Live (Frankie Feliciano Vocal Mix) 2. Piece Of Soul (Bas Roos & Guy Steve) 3. Keep On Dancing-Williams Carrol (Vs Edit) 4. Love Is The Message (Moon Rocket- Re-Tide) 5. Why Can’t We See - Blind Truth Ft Tata & Stone (Club Mix) 6. Power - Javi Frias 7. Bad Girls -Used Disco (Original Mix) 8. Don’t Look Any Further - Danilo Rossini (Rossini & Mappa Rmx) 9. Mack Vibe Mr Meaner Ft Jaqueline Woodhead: 1. Luvless - Right Now 02. Loz Goddard - Now Is Where We Are 03. OJPB - Mysteries 04. Ari Bald - That Lonely Night 05. KIU D - Love In NY 06. Eli Escobar - City Song (COEO remix) 07. M.ono & Luvless - Eins A Legge 08. Tiger & Woods - Moonswing 09. Silk 86 - Rhapsody 10. Chevals - Lights 11. Chevals - Hot 12. Long Island Sound - I Chose You Because 13. Adryiano - Me & You & Her 14. A. M. Limonata - After Midnight Special 15. Tee Mango - This Is Where I'll Stay (With U) 16. Demuja - Turn Me On 17. The Black Madonna - Stay

#festivalseason - The Phillips Backyard Weekender brings the goods once again in year 5.

July 17, 2017 by Blake Morneau in Reviews

In a very short time, the Phillips Backyard Weekender has grown into a calendar-mark-worthy event in the Victoria summer. Over three days, the Weekender – hosted in the back lot of Phillips Brewery, the brightest jewel in world of Victoria beer – annually brings a lineup that stretches across a staggeringly vast array of genres and moods, bringing a little something for everyone, no matter where your tastes fall in the musical spectrum. This year was no different – with a newly added second stage (Dubbed the “Picnic-er”) packed with local talent, and a main stage that rarely experienced downtime, the Weekender was yet another feast for those with big musical appetites. There was a ton of tunes to take in and process, but here are the acts that made each pop and crack for this lover of groove.

Friday – Oddisee

I've been obsessed with The Iceberg, since its release in February of this year. It's one of the most thoughtful, precise and powerful records of any genre, not just hip-hop, that's come across my ears in some time. A new Oddisee album is always a welcome gift to the world, but the good homie really kicked it up a notch with The Iceberg and I to say I was excited to see these songs live would have been an understatement. Oddisee came to Victoria ready to go. The sound was fantastic, all of Oddisee's intensely thoughtful and precise raps were crystal clear – overcoming an all-too-common problem with live hip-hop shows. Audience interaction is and always should be a huge part of rap and Oddisee kept everyone engaged with the show having the crowd sing along with varied, and properly spaced out, singalongs, including Iceberg standout “Like Really.” (I've been singing “notlikereally” in a loop to myself for a week now.) With all that interaction there was very little asking us to throw our hands in the air. In fact, he only asked us to do it once, which is the correct number of times to instruct the crowd to throw their hands up.

“Hold It Back” and “Want To Be Free” pulsed and roared on that crisp soundsystem, Oddisee's nimble raps dancing around and through the beats. The rapid-fire rhymes of “Killing Time” from 2013's Tangible Dream were a welcome surprise, but the incredible sets highlight might have been a trap remix of “Want Something Done.” The track was a perfect display of Oddisee's immense talent as an MC, reworking lyrics originally set to a more classicist hip-hop beat and shifting them to perfectly fit a hyper-modern beat. Oddisee would be achieve Lord status in any era of hip-hop. We're incredibly lucky to have him working so prolifically right now, in our time. I talked with a number of people who were at the festival who pointed to the good homie as their “festival discovery” and the world is probably a little bit better of a place for it. A huge thank you to the folks behind the Weekender for bringing Oddisee to Victoria and giving him a proper introduction to the city I call home.

5 Questions with Rags #52b - Illvis Freshly (Jesus and Danimal)

July 04, 2017 by Blake Morneau in 5 Questions With Rags

If you've been paying attention to West Coast music at all in the last couple years, you've probably seen the Illvis Freshly around. Legit: They're pretty inescapable and it's easy to see why. Their heavy-hitting, ultra-fun, partyrific electronic rap songs are sure-fire ear-crushers, made for those days and nights with all the friends. As the summer finally taken hold of us all, Illvis Freshly's music is even more relevant, assured to keep you moving in time with all this glorious weather. And as we are now in the midst Festival Season, they're bound to show up in your face and plug your ear holes up with funky rap goodness – having already smashed up audiences at Victoria Ska & Reggae Fest, Tall Tree, KAMP Festival with more to come, including a stop at Legend's Valley in August. In part B of the first ever 2-part entry into the live questions, we get down with the charismatic MC duo Danimal and Jesus.

Check Part A with Doyle and Phil here!

1. Do you remember the first album you bought with your own money?

Danimal: It was basically my own money because I facilitated it happening and got my mom to pay my friend. I got Jam by Michael Jackson. He had a Columbia House CD thing and I wanted one.

Do you still listen to it?

D: Not routinely. But there are times. You can't go out and not hear Michael Jackson, so, sort of.

Jesus: This is pretty tough because when I first started getting music I'd listen to the radio with my tape player and tape songs. I was sneaky like that. In terms of tapes, the first tape I can remember buying and having in my hand is Beastie Boys' License to Ill. It's the first one I can think of that I went out and bought because I wanted to hear all of the tracks.