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The first time I saw Wilco perform in the summer of 2006, it was my first opportunity to experience a live show from a band who has long been one of my favorites. The show immediately became one of my Top 3 shows of all time (I can’t even begin to consider what the other two would be…) and so it was with great anticipation that I took in Wilco’s show at the Halifax Forum on March 3, 2010.

The show was sold out and a swell of humidity immediately greeted us upon our entrance. Leading up to the show, I had been warned about the potentially dubious acoustics of the venue and though I personally would have liked to hear drummer Glenn Kotche’s snare drum boosted up in the mix, the overall sound of the show was decent, making the cavernous forum sound heavenly on multiple occasions that Wednesday night.

Opening their show with Wilco (The Song), the band could do very little wrong in the more than two hours that followed. The group played material from each of their records but leaned heavily upon their last four studio albums: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, A Ghost Is Born, Sky Blue Sky and Wilco (The Album). And as their set progressed, they showed their fans and the curious alike why they are one of the must see live bands in music today. 

I was blown away by the sonic bombardment of Via Chicago as much as I was taken by other material like Impossible Germany (which featured an excellent guitar solo by Nels Cline), I’m The Man Who Loves You and Jesus Etc, in which the crowd enthusiastically handled Tweedy’s vocal duties for about 90% of the song.

Despite a false start on Can’t Stand It in the encore, the group is undoubtedly one of the most engaging groups you can see in concert nowadays. While some bands have to rely on gimmicks and pyrotechnics to hold your attention, Wilco rely on what they know best: Kick ass songs played by some of the most talented musicians walking the earth today.  

www.wilcoworld.net

With the posthumous release of American VI: Ain’t No Grave, the legendary Johnny Cash wraps up a career that remains largely unparalleled to this day.

The 10 songs included here were recorded in the time after the unfortunate passing of his wife June Carter Cash and prove to be a hauntingly uplifting end to his career. Although Cash’s voice here is a frail shadow of its past self, there is a certain comfort to hearing his voice one more time on previously unreleased material such as Sheryl Crow’s Redemption Day, Kris Kristofferson’s For The Good Times and the eerily prophetic I Don’t Hurt Anymore and Can’t Help Wonder Where I’m Bound.

BC musician Alex Cuba has been making waves in the international music scene for years now. This latest record finds the musician in excellent form, crafting upbeat tracks that owe as much to his Cuban roots as they borrow from modern pop influences.

With only one of these 13 tracks in the English language, Cuba quite capably demonstrates that musical is a universal language best experienced with an open mind. He explores pop/rock music (Solo Tu, If You Give Me Love) while getting funky (Gira) but still finds the opportunity to pay homage to his roots on songs such as Directo and ends his record with a beautiful ballad, Contradicciones.

Anyone who might recalls Glengarry, Ontario punks The Stand GT from the 90’s will want to stand up and take notice of this release from former Stand GT member Chris Page.

On this, his third solo release, Page trades anthemic punk rock for melodically pop songs with outstanding results. Centered around Page’s earnest vocals and his acoustic guitar, he brings a contagious Springsteen-like enthusiasm to songs like Slideshows while more introspective tracks like Summertime Out, Hello Danger Bay and Awfulizing showcase an equally fascinating side of the musician.

Great Big Sea multi-instrumentalist Sean McCann steps away from his multi-platinum band to release his first solo effort. As you might have gathered from the album’s title, the record isn’t necessarily the most upbeat affair for the whole 30 minutes that the record runs.

There are many poignant ballads to be found here including opening track Somewhere as well as Don’t Cry while tracks like Hold Me Steady and Lazy Lover inject a couple of doses of rambunctiousness that every Great Big Sea fan will easily and happily identify with.

After six records and more than a decade performing with her sisters in the renowned  Ennis Sisters, the lovely and talented Teresa Ennis released Stars, her second solo album in November 2009.

 Containing a mix of Ennis originals along with her interpretations of traditional material, Ennis embraces her Newfoundland roots on songs like The Pines, Fair and Tender Ladies and Winter Slowly Passing. She turns in delightful covers of Rod Stewart’s Gasoline Alley as well as Neil Young’s Captain Kennedy.   

Whatever her future brings, we can only hope that Ennis continues to share her talents with the rest of the world.

It might have taken the better part of three years but at long last, Hot Toddy member Thom Swift’s sophomore solo record sees the light of day.

His debut record Into The Dirt earned him accolades right across this great country of ours; Blue Sky Day proves that it was more than luck that drove that success. With a voice reminiscent of Dire Straits’ Mark Knopfler (but with a little more gruff), Swift confidently works his way through a melange of blues, rock and roots on these 12 tracks.   

Highlights include the reflective title track, Killer, the instrumentally simplistic Down The Road and his cover of The Carter Family’s No Depression In Heaven.

Although many of the songs on what many consider to be a “classic” Costello release have seen the light of day via other outlets, the newest release from Elvis Costello’s vaults documents this historic 1978 concert in its entirety.  Hot on the heels of last year’s Live At The El Mocambo reissue, Hollywood High features Costello and The Attractions powering through a 70+ minute show to the delight of the sold-out crowd.

After starting the show with a subdued Accidents Will Happen, the band kicks into high gear with Mystery Dance and rarely relents through the 18 tracks that follow these two album openers. 

While Costello has been mining his past with somewhat alarming frequency lately, this collection is well worth your time and money.

Halifax musician Meaghan Smith might not have a whole lot of shows currently on her schedule but don’t assume that the musician is resting on her laurels now that her debut record “The Cricket’s Orchestra” is now in stores.

…If anything, now the real work begins.

Inspired by the simplicity of music created in the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s, Smith made her excellent new record on her own dime with producer Les Cooper. And though she wanted her music to maintain the early 20^th century feel, Smith complimented this sound with modern conveniences such a string section, an eight-piece horn section as well as a Mellotron.

Shortly after having her song “5 More Minutes” placed in the TV show Grey’s Anatomy, Smith signed a major label record deal with Sire Records out of the United States. With many artists choosing to release music independently these days, Smith didn’t take her decision to sign with a major label lightly but feels confident in her decision.

“Sire work with artists that are a little left of centre and are willing to take a bit of time to help nurture them and allow them to develop,” she says. “That really appealed to me.”

And though her record has only been in stores for a little under a month, Smith has kept busy over the past two years touring her music on both sides of the 49^th Parallel.

Canadian tours with kd Lang and Chantal Kreviazuk have undoubtedly helped increase Smith’s exposure in Canada but she has also spent many of her days touring throughout the US.

“I’m lucky that I have gained acceptance in both Canada and the US. The States are such a huge market though. They have ten times the people we do in Canada but I also like to think that means there are ten times the opportunities to be had as well.

“Realistically though, I’m well aware it will take a bit of time to really spread word throughout the US.”

As Smith continues to promote her record with two new videos and dates on the upcoming Lillith Fair tour this summer, she already has her sights set on making a new record:

“I’m obviously very proud of The Cricket’s Orchestra but am very excited to move on,” she admits. “My first record was done with limited connections and resources but now that I am aligned with Sire, I will be able to reach people that I didn’t necessarily have access to before.

“And more importantly, I don’t have to spend the next four years of my life saving up money so that I can make a new record.”

Visit Meaghan Smith’s official website at www.meaghansmith.com

With her debut full-length record due in stores on February 9, Halifax resident Meaghan Smith quite capably proves why she could be the next great female talent to emerge from Atlantic Canada.

With a swing/jazz vibe circa 1940-1950 running through the bulk of these tracks, Smith’s voice compliments the choice of musical direction. Like Jill Barber before her, Smith makes a retro-inspired album work in today’s world, lending a modern twist to tracks like A Little Love. Smith should watch out though: suitors are bound to be knocking at her door based on the sweet nature which she lends to songs like Drifted Apart, I Know and the seductive-sounding Soft Touch.