This week SongTalk Radio has a special episode celebrating the 35th anniversary of the classic film, “This Is Spinal Tap”. And joining us in our trip down memory lane is one of our favourite guests on the show Blair Packham. We talk about where and when we first encountered this classic cult comedy and how true it was to our own experiences in the music business (hint: very!)
On this episode, Neel, Phil, Michael and Blair talk about:
how the film was made
what has made the movie so popular many decades later
Singer-songwriter Pete Eastmure grew up on a horse farm, on the side of Blue Mountain. Needing to find something else, Pete at a young age hitchhiked out to California and entered into a personal musical journey that forever changed him. Pete honed his craft of songwriting from many years of exploring musical genres like folk, pop and jazz, only to go back to the well spring of his country roots.
Pete just received, “Honourable Mention in American Songwriter Lyric Contest March / April issue.” American Songwriter Magazine 2019
As a recording artist, Pete has worked with some of Canada’s finest including John Switzer, Oliver Schroer, and cellist Rachel Mercer. The response to Pete’s last two albums, Songs for MeZZ (2012), and EASTMURE EP (2014) has been strong, co-produced by four-time Juno nominee Rob Teehan (Lemon Bucket Orkestra, Boxcar Boys, Heavyweights Brass Band), and generated positive plays on C.B.C. and campus radio stations. Pete has been described as “a genuine vintage Americana voice”.
Pete is back in the studio wearing his influences proudly on his sleeve, evoking Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams and The Drifting Cowboys spring to mind. Collaborating with producers James Paul of Rogue Music Lab, Burke Carroll pedal steel guitar virtuoso, the album, “Keep Your Love Steady” (2019), is a authentic, vintage journey to the heart of what matters.
Singer/songwriter Linda Lavender shares the story of her song They Won’t Catch Me Again. Follow her journey from it’s birth on a five-hour road trip to its studio recording. We talked about:
Linda’s album The Rosseau Sessions with Often Running
Eric Walker is a singer/songwriter from Toronto and a member of the blakeley walker band. He was a founding member of the Toronto Songwriters Association which has met the second Saturday of the month for the past 17 years. We talked about:
Virtuoso harmonica player and singer-songwriter Harpin’ Norm Lucien joined us to talk about two of his songs and why you need many, many harmonicas, ideally on a Batman-style utility belt. Sherry Jacoby filled in for Neel – thanks Sherry! We talked about:
how to write simple songs that are also nuanced and have substance
starting your songs with the chorus or the title
how to incorporate sing-alongs in your performances
The next time Halloween will occur on a Tuesday will be in 2023, so we were supernaturally possessed to take advantage of the freaky intersection and dig up some Halloween themed songs for this show.
But first, the important stuff. Since this is radio, we figured Halloween costumes were in order. Phil showed up as the classic Frankenstein’s Monster, Neel just kept with his usual weekday morning look as a corporate zombie, Bruce donned a pretty (scary) tiara to complete his princess outfit, and Vanessa came in dressed like a sushi, because, well, she digs sushi.
We also welcomed our newest team member, Anthony, who will be taking over technical duties next week. Glad to have you aboard, Anthony!
Kirk Felix arrived at our little studio with a whole band; bass, violin (fiddle), and cajon. As we did our sound check the Song Talk crew all savoured the gentle, soothing and heart-warming sounds of a folk ensemble. Patrick Ballantyne sat in for Neel Modi who was on assignment. In addition to two very authentic folk songs (Dusty Roads and Whispering Peace), we talked about:
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