Music

The Wu Tang Clan of the North? Whether it's warranted or not, we tend to think of Canadians as nicer than us. Maybe it's because they put gravy on their French fries, or their health care system keeps them in tip-top shape. Whatever the reason, these neighbors to the north seem less pissed off.

And even when it comes to hip-hop music, which all too often in the States digresses into a battle of egos and semi automatic firearms, Canadians rappers just seem like they're in a better mood. Such is the case with Vancouver, B.C.'s seven-piece rap squad, Sweatshop Union.

Black and White, yes. But not old timey.Langhorne Slim is in North Carolina gearing up for a friend's wedding and he's telling me about the iPod that his girlfriend gave him for Christmas. But he's not talking about the new Radiohead he just dumped onto the device - like a whole lot of new iPod owners probably did in the wake of the holidays - he's telling me about all the Lee Hazlewood tracks he loaded up.

Hazlewood, the iconic country music rebel who died of cancer just this past summer, isn't who I'd expected Langhorne Slim - one of the most promising young songwriters playing today - to be listening to. Then again, after a few more listens to Langhorne's tunes, it makes sense.

If you're not watching and listening carefully, the Emma Hills of the world can slip right past you. Like so many other young artists, Hill finds herself in the often crowded and sometimes vanilla-flavored waiting room known as the female singer/songwriter genre.
But thankfully, Hill is toward the front of the line and there's a good chance her number will be called before most of the soft strumming, tender-voiced songstresses waiting behind her. And nothing against the rest of the room, most are probably talented and hardworking, it's just that they all seem to get buried amongst each other and it takes someone like Hill to get out front.

The blues never looked so young.It's morning here in Bend, but "tea time" on the Isle of Man, a small
self-governing kingdom in the Irish Sea that Davy Knowles calls home,
and he's talking about his age, and why it seems to be the only thing
anyone wants to discuss about the emerging blues guitar prodigy and his
band, Back Door Slam.
"We want to be seen as good musicians full stop
and not because of our age. I understand the sentiment, but it's kind
of a back-handed compliment when somebody says, 'you're really good for
your age,'" Knowles says in a delightfully articulate accent.

On the surface, not much changes from seasonal festival to seasonal festival here in Bend. Like clockwork, streets are closed off, artisans sell their wares, food carts sprout up and music is played. It’s really the lineup of bands that makes one festival better than another. This year’s Fall Festival, held Oct. 5, 6 and […]