Andrew Bird @ Tarrytown Music Hall (NY) in October (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

Andrew Bird will pack-up the horsehair and steel (that makes playing the violin sound so burly!) as part of a string of dates in celebration of his forthcoming long-player Break It Yourself, out March 6th in the US (5th internationally) via Mom + Pop Records. Look for Bird to play selections from the follow-up to 2009's Noble Beast on that three-month jaunt that will include two nights at Beacon Theater, May 4th with Patrick Watson and May 5th with Tift Merritt. Tickets for both May 4th and May 5th go on AMEX presale at 11AM tomorrow (12/7) with regular sale hitting on Friday.

In related news, Chicago is welcoming the opening of Andrew Bird and Ian Schneller's Sonic Arboretum at the Museum of Contemporary Art today (12/6). Details are available at BV Chicago.

Tour dates and a teaser video for Break It Yourself is below.

Continue reading "Andrew Bird announces new album & tour dates (2 nights @ Beacon Theater included)"

words and photos by Dominick Mastrangelo

Patrick Watson's Sacred Sunday

The afternoon of day 5, the final day, at Pop Montreal 2010 (catch up with day 1, day 2, day 3, and day 4) was a toss up between children's entertainer, Fred Penner and friends, or Patrick Watson's Sacred Sunday. With promises of pieces by Arvo Pärt and Bach and artists like Socalled and Brad Barr (from the Slip) along with Patrick Watson in a venue like Ukrainian Federation, it was an easy sell.

I walked into Pärt's "Fratres for String Quartet" and stayed until the end. In between it was an eclectic mix of religious and not-quite-religious songs with a rotating cast of performers. Watson's piano arrangement of "The Lord's Prayer" was beautiful as was Barr leading a re-worked version of Bach's "St. Matthew's Passion". Josh Dolgin of Socalled remembered Lhasa with a Kurt Weill cover. (Mary Margaret O'Hara mentioned Lhasa on Saturday night and it's clear not just by the tributes but in conversations over the course of the festival she is deeply missed by those she touched in the city she called home.) The event closed with everyone involved joining Watson for a rousing, uplifting version of "Old Time Religion." For even the most nonreligious it was hard not to be moved as people clapped, and Watson encouraged the audience with his megaphone. Early on, Socalled's Katie Moore said at the start or her version of "Satisfied Mind" something to the effect that all good religious songs should make you feel good about yourself. Well, the Ukrainian Federation was packed and as the "congregation" filed out there was no shortage of people, even a full 30 minutes after the event, walking - some even skipping - away singing the chorus to "Old Time Religion" and feeling very good about themselves.

I'd like to say that the festival ended on a high note, and maybe if I wasn't airport bound at 3:30am, it would have. Then I would have made it to the closing party headlined by Big Freedia at Espace Reunion. But the logistics were too great to overcome so my festival would come to an end at Casa del Popolo for Film School, Depreciation Guild and if I could swing it, Scout Niblett across the boulevard at Sala Rossa. Not entirely excited about what I had heard from Montreal's Receivers, I arrived an hour late, just in time for... Receivers. The entire show was pushed back as Film School were delayed at the border. So, Receivers were on and the venue was full but even live they failed to impress. It was uninspired shoegaze and the most underwhelming set of the festival. Depreciation Guild were next and when one of the band members said to the in-over-his-head sound guy, "We've lost all power on stage," things looked to get even worse. The power was eventually recovered, but clearly things were not right as band members continued to ask for more vocals. The Brooklyn band soldiered on and were tight and energetic but on a Sunday night, and late at that, the crowd had thinned and gave little back.

I skipped over to Sala Rossa, presented to me as the 'Bowery Ballroom of Montreal', to catch some of Scout Niblett. She was already into her set and had the crowd fully cast. Her hushed, sparse vocals gave way to vicious guitar and heavy metal-drumming on "Hot To Death" and everything felt more sinister with the velvet red background and decor. The evening looked to be turning.

However, by the time I got back to Casa del Popolo I imagined Film School would already be on, but they were still pulling everything together and apparently having more sound issues. By the time they started it was well over an hour from their original start time and the crowd had thinned a bit more. They started strong and sounded good until Greg Bertens' mic went out during the second song. A verbal back and forth with the sound guy, who looked shattered at this point, culminated in Bretens, no doubt frustrated from the delays at the border and scurrying to get to the venue, telling him he should just "leave the board." They played the song over with the mic working this time and carried on but the vocals were still way down and it marred what had the potential to be a great set. And what should have been a positive end to a very enjoyable festival.

Until next year. More pictures from Sunday, and a video from the Patrick Watson church show, below...

Continue reading "Pop Montreal 2010 - Day 5 in pics & review (Patrick Watson's Sacred Sunday, Film School & more)"

photos by Chris Graham

"At the sold-out Sasquatch, bands holding down the headliner spots haven't necessarily turned out to be the biggest draws. Sure, My Morning Jacket played to a mostly packed house on Saturday, and Massive Attack was overwhelmingly solid on Sunday despite a not-so-full amphitheater floor, but the band drawing the most populous, most stoked, most deserved gathering was unquestionably Vampire Weekend." [SPIN]

Continue reading "Sasquatch 2010 Day 1 in pics (My Morning Jacket, Hold Steady, Broken Social Scene, Vampire Weekend, Miike Snow & more) "

by Gabi Porter

Patrick Watson has a rare gift of making serious music that isn't really serious at all. He manages to be playful and ramshackle, drinking what he claimed was a pint glass full of whiskey, and looking like he was mischievously playing his mother's piano when he knew he wasn't supposed to, and with posture that would have terrorized piano teachers the world round. He mesmerized a room full of chattering adults at 92YTribeca Friday night, into respectful silence. According to friends at the Bell House for the show the previous night, at one point you could actually hear crickets.

Doveman, who next plays a show at LPR on Thursday night, opened the evening with Thomas Bartlett's sweet and understated falsetto. More pictures below...

Continue reading "Patrick Watson & Doveman played 92YTribeca (pics)"

by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Sam Amidon - Relief (R. Kelly cover) (MP3)

Sam Amidon @ The Bell House in January (more by Vincent Cornelli)

Sam Amidon is currently in Europe playing with the Whale Watching tour, a group show that includes Ben Frost, Nico Muhly, Valgeir Sigurðsson and others. A live video from one of their recent gigs is below. Sam will be back to play Mercury Lounge on Wednesday, June 23rd. Tickets are on sale.

Sam Amidon's I See the Sign, out now on Bedroom Community, is an amazing listen, and one of the highlights, maybe surprisingly, is the R. Kelly cover posted above. At the album release show in April his comments on the tune - "I thought R. Kelly had done something really amazing...He'd written a song that had no bearing on reality" (via Village Voice) - shed some light on the foreboding irony of the song. The albums' other songs come from a variety of sources: bluegrass, Appalachian folk, blues - all become recognizably his, with instrumentation by composer Nico Muhly, parts played by Daniel Bjarnason and Shazad Ishmaily, and backup vocals from Beth Orton. He discusses recording the album in Iceland in a recent World Cafe session. Listen here. Also read our interview with Sam conducted at Big Ears.

Sam's friend & collaborator & band Doveman opened the album release show at 92YTribeca on April 10th. Doveman plays tonight at Bell House and at 92YTribeca Friday (5/6 & 5/7) opening for Patrick Watson.

Doveman also plays with Elysian Fields at (Le) Poisson Rouge on Thursday, May 13th. Tickets are on sale.

Videos of Sam and the Whale Watching tour are below...

Continue reading "Sam Amidon (album out now) & Doveman (opening for Patrick Watson tonight) add shows (dates) "

Canadian songwriter Patrick Watson will be playing a pair of NYC shows this May to kick off a run of US dates. He visits Thursday, May 6th at the Bell House (tickets) and Friday, May 7th at 92YTribeca (tickets). Before those shows, he plays Canada with Timber Timbre (who play NYC and tour with the Low Anthem this April).

Opening the two NYC shows will be Doveman, who joined the National at their recent shows at the Bell House. Doveman/Thomas Barlett also plays with Nico Muhly at the Kitchen on March 18th and 19th in a project called Peter Pears. Tickets are still on sale.

Patrick Watson tour dates and videos are below...

Continue reading "Patrick Watson touring (dates), playing NYC shows w/ Doveman who plays w/ Nico Muhly @ the Kitchen this week"

We'll get a more complete press release in the morning (and confirm what is listed below is 100% correct), but in the meantime below is a picture of the 2010 Sasquatch poster (that someone Tweeted) and the lineup as read by Bradford Cox at tonight's Atlas Sound show in Seattle (and being listed all over the Internet)....

Continue reading "Sasquatch announces 2010 lineup (includes Massive Attack & My Morning Jacket) (and many more) "

Thursday, 10/22 - CMJ showcase @ Mercury Lounge in NYC

Sean Bones 1:00
Local Natives 12:00
Hockey 11:00
Ambulance LTD 10:00
Alec Ounsworth (of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah) 9:00
Patrick Watson 8:00
JBM 7:00

Continue reading "Alec Ounsworth playing shows (dates), CMJ w/ Ambulance LTD, Patrick Watson, JBM, Sean Bones & more"

Steve Jordan, Founder and Executive Director of the Polaris Music Prize, today revealed the Short List of 10 Canadian albums eligible for the fourth annual $20,000 award.

Continue reading "2009 Polaris Prize nominees "

by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Patrick Watson - Tracy's Waters (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Patrick Watson - Luscious Life (MP3)

At the beginning of March we premiered the first single, "Tracy's Waters" (above), from Canadian songster Patrick Watson's new record, Wooden Arms - out in the US May 5th on Secret City Records. The release follows Watson's last album, Close to Paradise, which won the 2007 Polaris Prize for best Canadian album of the year.

The day before that album drops, Patrick Watson and band will play a Monday, May 4th show at NYC's City Winery, before heading out for early summer dates in North America and Europe. Tickets for the Winery show are on sale now.

The venue has a steady schedule of upcoming music events - including "Philip Glass with Patti Smith: Footnote to Howl, The Poet Speaks, Homage to Allen Ginsberg" on April 5th and Alejandro Escovedo & Joseph Arthur on June 18th. On March 4th, the Winery hosted Rufus Wainwright, who paired with special guest David Byrne on The Talking Heads' "Road to Nowhere".

Watson's fellow Canadians and Secret City labelmates Human Highway (Jim Guthrie and Nick Thorburn) are set to visit NYC's Le Poisson Rouge on Wednesday, March 25th, with The Magic and Cotton Jones opening. Tickets are on sale.

All tour dates, and video for Close to Paradise track "The Great Escape," below...

Continue reading "Patrick Watson - 2009 tour dates & other City Winery shows "

DOWNLOAD: Patrick Watson - Tracy's Waters (MP3)

Written during a Montreal winter and recorded in Montreal and Iceland, Patrick Watson's 'Wooden Arms' cements him in the territory between serious composer and indie pop artist, with stage charisma to spare. Watson produced the album with his band, bassist Mishka Stein, drummer Robbie Kuster, and guitarist Simon Angell. Secret City Records will release 'Wooden Arms' on May 5 in the U.S.

Continue reading "Patrick Watson releasing Wooden Arms - here's the first MP3"

by BrooklynVegan Mike

DOWNLOAD: Torngat - You Could Be (MP3)

Torngat was a real discovery highlight for me at this past Pop Montreal. The instrumental trio modestly refer to themselves as "French horn, keyboards, and drums" on their myspace, but their brilliant and unique songs weave compelling melodies that are all encompassing and welcoming, proving the axiom "the whole is greater then the sum of it's parts." The group features Pietro Amato who moonlights in Arcade Fire side project Bell Orchestre, sometimes plays with the Arcade Fire and Islands, and is in one of my favorite Montreal bands The Luyas. Patrick Watson is among those whom Torngat can call a collaborator.

You may have caught Torngat when they opened for Mum at the Wordless Music Series show in NYC on November 9th. If not, you can always listen to the whole show courtesy of WNYC. Torngat's next trip to the United States is for SXSW this March. Check out a video and more tour dates below...

Continue reading "Torngat - from Montreal, SXSW, MP3, video, WNYC stream"

DOWNLOAD: Division Day - "Reversible" (Ginormous Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Viva Voce - Fashionably Lonely (from Lovers, Lead The Way!) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Viva Voce - Free Nude Celebs (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Viva Voce - Wrecking Ball (Tunng Remix - bonus track on 2xCD) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Fucked Up - Blaze of Glory (live on Dinner with the Band) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Foreign Born - Into Your Dream (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The GoStation - All Together Now (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Art in Manila - Set the Woods On Fire (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Art in Manila - The Abomination (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Cinematic Orchestra - To Build a Home (MP3) (w/ Patrick Watson)

* Luke Temple is playing Lit Lounge
* Scorpions are at Beacon Theatre
* John Vanderslice & Bishop Allen are at Bowery Ballroom
* listen to John Vanderslice & Bishop Allen live on NPR
* Beirut & Balkan Beat Box are playing in Central Park
* Steve Earle & Allison Moorer is at Town Hall
* Secret Machines continue their residency at The Annex
* Thurston Moore is at the Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Cinematic Orchestra are at Webster Hall

Sometimes I procrastinate posting about something so much, that it just never happens. Such is the case so far with The Cinematic Orchestra who I wished I was going to see at Webster Hall tonight (and who played Summerstage and Joe's Pub this summer - and cancelled a show at Bowery Ballroom, actually). I don't know what their lineup will be at Webster, but Polaris Music Prize winner Patrick Watson sings on some of the best songs on Ma Fleur - their new album that I like, but don't love. I wanted to love it like I love This Mortal Coil (or something like that), but some of the songs just don't do it for me.

On a related note, Patrick Watson's own album just came out in the United States this week, and you can listen to it at AOL. What else?

Owen Pallett hands Patrick Watson a big check (MORE)

* Genesis is at MSG
* Steve Vai is playing Irving Plaza
* Turbonegro is playing Nokia Theatre
* Johnathan Rice is at Knitting Factory
* GWAR is playing Starland Ballroom
* John Vanderslice is playing in Ridgewood, NJ
* Bruce Springsteen plays in Asbury Park again
* Kate Nash is playing two shows at Joe's Pub
* Joe's Pub in the Park has Carmen Consoli & more
* Bat For Lashes and Lewis & Clarke are at Bowery Ballroom
* Takka Takka & The Silent Years are @ The Delancey
* Nellie McKay is at the Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Patrick Watson wins the 2007 Polaris Music Prize

What else?

DOWNLOAD: Patrick Watson - Luscious Life (MP3)

And the winner of the 2007 Polaris Music Prize goes to.......Patrick Watson!

Previously
* The 2007 Polaris Music Prize is about to be awarded
* PATRICK WATSON playing Joe's Pub ++ the 2007 POLARIS MUSIC PRIZE nominees
* Eleven bands from Montreal (that happen to be playing SXSW)
* Patrick Watson - MP3s, video & 2007 Tour Dates
* Final Fantasy wins the 2006 Polaris Music Prize

by BrooklynVegan Mike

The 2007 Canadian Polaris Music Prize winner will be announced on September 24, 2007. Canadian resident BrooklynVegan Mike discusses the nominees, and who he thinks might walk away with the monetary prize. Note: He wrote this a few weeks ago - it's all still perfectly relevant, but worth keeping in mind......

The Polaris Music Prize is nigh. In its second year the judges have the task of not only picking a winner from a competitive field but also continuing the quality streak they started last year by selecting Final Fantasy's album He Poos Clouds. This year's nominees are a good mix of established acts (Arcade Fire, Feist), Canadian indie-rock lifers (The Dears, Julie Doiron), and some fresh faces (Miracle Fortress, The Besnard Lakes).

This is one humble writer's opinion on the likelihood of each band winning the prize, in descending order from less likely to most likely. Canadians take their national pride more seriously than I think the average American realizes, so when an award meant to represent the best of Canadian music is being awarded, nationalism does play a part. Of course, if prizes like this were based purely upon the music, then the winner and the nominees would look very different. What, no love for Handsome Furs, or Frog Eyes? Anyway, let's begin.

Arcade Fire

Let's dispense with the 700 pound elephant in the room. I don't think they are going to win, for a number of reasons. Mainly, as Cadence Weapon said in reference to Broken Social Scene's non-chances of winning at last years Polaris; "They win at everything....in life." The band is so huge in North America, let alone Canada, that I think voters will shy away from it. The second reason is tied to the first, and that is the fact that the prize money ($20,000 Canadian, which is as good as 20K American now because the exchange rate is awful) would be a great windfall for many of the bands nominated, and I am sure those judging will put that into account (no pun intended).

The final reason is the album itself. It is a very good album, but not a great album. Funeral was a cultural touchstone, and will be one of those albums that people will point to when thinking fondly of the first decade of the 21st century. It was the success, in part, of Funeral that led to the creation of the Polaris in the first place. Anything that isn't Funeral 2 will be dismissed by some people, no matter how good it is. I do think, however, they will get their fair share of first place votes, and therefore should be higher on this list, but not enough to win.

Continue reading "The 2007 Polaris Music Prize is about to be awarded"

by BrooklynVegan Mike

Osheaga 2007 (CRED)

A label rep I was talking to told me that it takes a festival four to five years of good reviews and turnouts to be considered a serious destination on the festival circuit. In its sophomore year, Osheaga has followed up their triumphant debut with an impressive lineup that should continue the reputation they built for themselves last year. Once again, I was granted the task of covering this event...

Thunderheist @ Osheaga 2007 (CRED)

Arriving for day one of the two day festival around 12:30, I could hear the tail end of Apostle of Hustle opening the festivities on one of the alternating main stages. I made my way to the smaller stages on the other side of the park. Hopes were high for Thunderheist, a local hip-hop/house outfit comprised of DJ Grahm and female rapper Isis,. Taking the stage, Isis seemed to apologize in advance saying "we've been up all night." What followed was a rather limp set that took the wind out of my sails. I chalk it up to just a bad set, as I've heard that their smaller shows around town have been really good. It happens to the best of them. Over on the main stage, Jamie T performed to a somewhat apathetic audience. Unfamiliar with his music before that day, he vocally reminded me a lot of The Arctic Monkeys, a point I'm sure he'll have to have to answer questions about for years to come if his career gains traction.

Continued below...

Continue reading "Osheaga 2007 - Day 1"

DOWNLOAD: Patrick Watson - Giver (MP3)

Patrick Watson (from Montreal) is playing Joe's Pub on September 4th. Fellow Canadians The Besnard Lakes are playing NYC this weekend.

Final Fantasy won the 2006 Polaris Music Prize - a prize given out to Canadian musicians. Check out who is nominated this year....

Continue reading "PATRICK WATSON playing Joe's Pub ++ the 2007 POLARIS MUSIC PRIZE nominees"

I asked Montreal resident "BrooklynVegan Mike" if he could give is a quick preview of some of the bands from Montreal that are traveling to Austin for SXSW this year. Here's what he came up with....

Montreal has created an environment of great, imaginative music. We have our own indie music showcase and outdoor music festival, and are the artistic capital of Canada (despite what Toronto might tell you). Faster then you can say poutine, the city has erupted on to the indie stage with a flurry of good bands. Many of them (along with all of indie-dom) are descending to Austin for South by Southwest. We all know the big names, so I've been asked to comment on some of the lesser known bands being produced by my corner of the great white north. Here is a rundown of a few of the (unsung) Montreal bands worth checking out at SXSW.

DOWNLOAD: Patrick Watson - Luscious Life (MP3)

Patrick Watson has been plugging along for a few years, releasing their brand of soft, electronically subtle folk. Vocally sounds like the love child of Nick Drake and Jeff Buckley and makes no effort to hide it. Of all the Montreal bands playing SXSW this year, they have the biggest chance at the dreaded "crossover" appeal. He could become your mom's favorite artist (has been featured a couple times on "Grey's Anatomy"). Fall in love now before it gets played out everywhere.

Also see
* Patrick Watson - MP3s, video & 2007 Tour Dates

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DOWNLOAD: Miracle Fortress - This Thing About You (MP3)

Spearheaded by Graham Van Pelt of Think About Life, Miracle Fortress is a departure from the keyboard party punk of his "day job," but not by as much as you would think. It's a more spaced-out affair, with Van Pelt exploring the sounds he creates with a psych-pop bent and a healthy dose of delay. If Think About Life is the ecstasy rush, Miracle Fortress is the comedown.

Also see
* An Interview with Think About Life (Matt, Graham & Martin)
* Think About Life @ Knitting Factory, NYC | pics

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DOWNLOAD: Land of Talk - Speak to Me Bones (MP3)

A sign you are unheralded in your own hometown; when the local culture press anoints you next big thing status AFTER the national media does. Such is the cross Land of Talk has to bear. At Osheaga they stole fans from the Bell Orchestre set - no small feat (Arcade Fire are GODS here). A power-trio that merges early Cat Power with Sonic Youth in a straight forward style, just don't tell them that. They should have a full album later this year, but Boo Hiss Cheer Applause is a great introduction. We've talked a lot about them here, so you should be familiar with them by now. If you haven't, what's wrong with you?

Also see
* Land of Talk sign to The Rebel Group | 2007 Tour Dates w/ Menomena
* Land of Talk @ Mercury Lounge, NYC | pics

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DOWNLOAD: Creature - Pop Culture (MP3)

Montreal dance-punk at its finest. Long before The Arcade Fire and The Stills came out of here, Montreal had a well known DJ/House scene. Creature bridges the gap between those two genres. They get better with every beer.

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DOWNLOAD: We Are Wolves - La Nature (MP3)

We are Wolves' myspace photo shows a dizzying array of keyboards. I believe that summarizes them quite nicely. They remind me a lot of Add (N) to X, but with a more aggressive, dancey flavor like DFA79. They played a fantastic set on the Osheaga second stage this past summer. You will sweat, a lot.

Also see
* We are Wolves @ Factory People, Austin, TX (SXSW) | pics
* We Are Wolves from Montreal | Tour Dates | MP3

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DOWNLOAD: Pawa Up First - Detour (MP3)

Orginally the home recordings of local artist Serge Pelletier, the fleshed out band Pawa Up First shoots you back to 1995 when Trip-Hop ruled and Brighton was the chillest place on Earth. An amalgam of Gainsbourg, salsa, and hip-hop beats, they are one of the more dynamic bands from Montreal in quite a while.

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LISTEN: Plaster @ MySpace

A really fun, inventive electronic trio with a big underground following in the city. For as enticing as their album is, Plaster's live show is supposed to be a spectacle unto itself - always a tough ticket when they are playing. Check out their site just to mess around and deconstruct their tracks. Making their way to a car commercial near you.

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LISTEN: Krista L.L. Muir @ MySpace

The former "Lederhosen Lucil", her music incorporates sparse ukulele with her chilling vocals multitracked, creating a warm, but unsettling atmosphere. Peep the track "Libra Encore" for the best example of this. I have never Krista L.L. Muir live but would be curious to see if she can pull off the feeling her recordings elicit.

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DOWNLOAD: Malajube - Etienne D'Aout (MP3)

Malajube are finally making some noise in the U.S. after being the hottest band in Montreal for some time. Like Land of Talk, you've heard plenty about them around here.

Also see
* An interview with Malajube
* Malajube | 2007 Tour Dates (SXSW) & CMJ pics

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DOWNLOAD: Call Me Poupee - Singapore Slang (MP3)

With a sound that recalls early Blonde Redhead (including vocals, which channel Kazu Makino) through a spaghetti western prism...Call Me Poupee . There is a kitsch factor that might hinder them from garnering mass appeal, but the record is fantastic and their Osheaga performance showed they can handle a large audience. For fans of Ennio Morricone, spy records, and the first Goldfrapp record.

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DOWNLOAD: Les Breastfeeders - Tout va pour le mieux dans le pire des mondes (MP3)

Well dressed group making garage-inflected power pop, Les Breastfeeders are part of a growing number of French-language Montreal bands that are making a name outside of the city. Imagine The Banana Splits covering The Kinks.

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this post brought to you by BrooklynVegan Mike

DOWNLOAD: Patrick Watson - Step into a dream (MP3)

DOWNLOAD: Patrick Watson - Luscious Life (MP3)

DOWNLOAD: Patrick Watson - Giver (MP3)

Wolf, bear and horse bands are so last year. This year it's all about pandas & Patricks. Not to be confused with the UK's Patrick Wolf (okay, I take back the part about the wolf bands), Patrick Watson is a Montreal singer-songwriter/pianist that will have you thinking Nick Drake, Jeff Buckley, M Ward and even Pink Floyd. Already a big star in his hometown, he was just nominated for Canada's "New Artist Of The Year" in the Juno Awards and now he's "sharing chart space with Nelly Furtado".

The song "The Storm" streaming at his MySpace is one of my favorites. Three MP3s to download above, and here's the video for "The Great Escape"...

Listen to more of Patrick's 2006 Canadian album "Close to Paradise" at the album's own website, and see him when he comes to an intimate venue near you. In Manhattan it's Mercury Lounge tomorrow (March 1st). From March 2nd-10th he's on tour with Elvis Perkins. That includes Elvis' Brooklyn date on March 4th. On March 15th Patrick hits Austin for SXSW. All tour dates below...

Continue reading "Patrick Watson - MP3s, video & 2007 Tour Dates"