Courtney Gilmour is also raising funds through a Go Fund Me campaign for her recently acquired $100,000 prosthetic leg, which she affectionately calls her #DreamLeg. So far, the campaign has raised $45,000 of its $100,000 goal.

On Monday,  August 26 at 9 pm, Courtney is performing at the ALTdot Comedy Lounge at the Rivoli with comics Arthur Simeon, Chris Robinson, DeAnne Smith, Nigel Grinstead, Jackie Pirico, and Mike WIlmot. Proceeds from the event will be donated towards her newly acquired prosthetic leg.

We had a chance to speak with Courtney recently!

What do audiences want to know most about you?

I think they’re curious about how I live my life and what kind of sense of humour I have. I mean, I don’t take polls so I’m guessing here, but from the feedback I get from crowds after a show, they always seem to enjoy relating to my petty observations, like how I have 45 frozen bananas in my freezer that I’m never gonna make banana bread with.

What always surprises people about you?

People seem surprised by my independence and confidence, which is baffling to me. I’ve had people ask me if I’m able to live alone. It’s crazy. One of my favourite things about doing stand-up is being able to clue people into reality, to let them see that someone like me is just another person.

You’re raising funds and also awareness as to how much prosthetics cost. Tell us more?

Prosthetic technology is amazing and complicated. Even the most state-of-the-art prosthetics, which is what I’m raising money for, is not without its flaws. It’s still not perfect or anywhere close to replacing a real limb and I think that’s what people don’t understand. I’ve been calling this new leg Dream Leg. Yes, it’s incredible but it’s such a lengthy, arduous process to adjust it, fine-tune it, and have it properly fitted. Even then it’s still limited. The most expensive advanced technology on the market right now is still very limited. It’s important to note because it needs to keep evolving. People also have no idea of the cost. A standard prosthetic limb is around $10-$20K. A state-of-the-art prosthetic limb is $100,000.

Which comedian inspires you the most? 

I love Tig Notaro. She does her own thing her own way and is so good at it. Anyone who commits to being themselves on stage inspires me because it can be a tough thing to do.

If you could have lunch with any comedian in the world, who would that be?

John Mulaney. He’s so funny and smart and seems charming. I think he’d be a good lunch chat.

If you weren’t performing comedy, what would you most likely be doing?

Writing! I’ve always been a writer and I would pursue that full time if it weren’t for comedy.

Your favourite places to hang out (or even dance) in Toronto? We saw a clip from your show that’s posted on your site that talks about dancing!

The Piston is a great spot for dancing on Motown nights! Otherwise, I like hanging out at the Toronto Music Garden, or anywhere around the waterfront.

For more information on how to support Courtney’s #DreamLeg visit her gofundme page.

Tickets to her August 26th show, visit: http://www.altdotcomedylounge.com

The post Comedian Courtney Gilmour has an amazing dream leg appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Energetic blues-soul-rock singer SATE, aka Saidah Baba Talibah, is making moves for her debut album. She is working with PledgeMusic, a popular crowdfunding site, to release 3 EPs over the next few months with pledgers having input on choosing 10 out of a possible 20 songs that will make the final cut for the her full length RedBlack&Blue.

SATE was dealing with heavy emotions associated with dealing with her mother’s dementia and being estranged from her sister. She was emotionally trying to find herself and some peace within. In order to move forward in her life, she had to confront those issues and writing these songs was very therapeutic way to do just that.

The 3 EPs, produced by Tom McKay (JoyDrop) translate SATE’s raw feminine energy in three colours Red, Black and Blue and each EP is represented by one of her totem animals: the Robin Red Breast, Black Panther, and Blue Morpho Butterfly which correlate to the three important women in her life: her mother, daughter, and sister.

SATE has released 2 singles so far including a music video for Warrior, a song serving as a call to action and urging listeners to seize the day.

I had the chance to chat with SATE about her new music and all the things she loves about Toronto.

What is story behind your music name SATE?

Well, I wanted something bold, short, strong and sexy. I wanted something that had depth, something that when people call me by name, my mission is the definition. Needless to say, the dictionary definition of SATE is to satisfy (an appetite or desire) fully. So, my mission is to satisfy.

Crowdfunding seems to be the way to go these days. But why did you choose Pledge over the others?

I loved how focused PledgeMusic was on music. I also loved how supportive they were, how accessible they were, their success rate, and their commitment to making sure every client of theirs is successful.

How long have you been performing music? What keeps the fire going?

Since I was a little girl. I have a very musical family. What keeps the fire burning is my deep love for performing and interacting with an audience.

Do you find it’s easier to write a happy or sad song?

I’m all about the drama, so I’d say, sad songs.

What’s your proudest moment on and offstage?

My proudest moment onstage was playing in Australia to a packed tent of people up on shoulders, moshing, singing songs with me that they’d never heard but were moved by. My proudest moment offstage, was running a half marathon.

When can we expect a full album?

I’m in the midst of collaborating with my pledgers to help me choose the 10 songs that will go on the album, so, I’d love to say by year end, but it’ll most likely be 2016.

If you had to collaborate with one Toronto band, who would it be and why?

July Talk. Because they rock hard, have a great stage show and I wanna get between Leah and Peter.

What’s your favourite song you’ve ever written?

That’s really an evil question to ask an artist, who’s a Libra (one who desires equality)! It’s like asking a mother of ten, who’s her favourite child? They’re each special in their own way. But a song that I hold dear to my heart is a song that didn’t end up on the EPs called ‘Another Place’, about watching my mother struggle with dementia. I wrote it while I was on a writing trip in New York, and it just poured out of me. I would love to put it out in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada or something.

What do you do when you’re not doing anything musical?

I cook. I got that from my dad. I’m a health, nutrition and fitness nut too.

Top 3 artists that have inspired you?

Big Mama Thornton, Betty Davis, Jack White

Favourite place to eat in Toronto?

Tabule on Queen East

What do you think of physical vs digital album sales? Do you have a preference?  Are CD’s done?

I’m such an analog girl in a digital world. Who said that? Erykah Badu? I so prefer the physical. I love the immediacy of digital, but I want to see who wrote and played on the album, I want to see the lyrics, I want to see the artwork. CD’s are done for some people, but there are still people buying them, plus I’m so happy that vinyl is having a little bit of a comeback.

What is one random thing about you that people wouldn’t expect?

I’m a shy person most times.

***

Rapid fire:

Sneaky Dees nachos, Hey Meatball spaghetti or a superfood salad from Fresh?
Superfood Salad from Fresh

Queen or College St? Queen Street

Trinity Bellwoods or Highpark? Trinity Bellwoods

EP or LP? LP

Early bird or night owl? Early bird

Road or studio? Road, hands down!

So what’s next for SATE?
Taking this show on the road.

A release show for SATE is in the works but for now, you can catch SATE live in Toronto on August 13th at The Rivoli.

Follow her for up to date news on concerts.

The post SATE – aka Saidah Baba Talibah appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Metz
May 1 & 2 at Lee’s Palace at 11pm

Broncho
May 7 at Horseshoe Tavern at 11pm

Scott Weiland and the Wildabouts
May 7 at The Mod Club at 11pm

LYON
May 8 at The Mod Club at 10pm

Stu Larsen
May 2 at The Rivoli at 10pm

King Tuff
May 7 Lee’s Palace at 12am & May 8 at Hard Luck bar at 10:45pm

Death Cab for Cutie
May 7 at The Sony Centre for the Performing Arts at 9pm

CMW website.

The post Canadian Music Week 2015 – Must See Shows appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Coming off a jam packed week at North by Northeast Music Festival, Toronto’s Papermaps are keeping their momentum going by premiering their new single “There Are Wolves,” preparing for their EP release Inferior Ghosts for August (on Sparks Music), and getting ready for a month-long residency at the Drake Hotel’s Underground venue. It hasn’t all been smooth sailing either. Lead singer, guitarist and songwriter Dean Marino, citing increasing rent and a diminishing music scene, was forced to close his eminent Toronto studio, Chemical Sound, which had played host to an incredible array of musicians. Tokyo Police Club, The Born Ruffians and The Black Keys were just some of the artists that recorded at Chemical Sound during its run. Papermaps has preserved the legacy of Chemical Sound with their forthcoming EP, Inferior Ghost, one of the last recordings to be done at the beloved Toronto studio.

The band has been dealt a bad hand in recent months, but that only seems to fuel the fire this young group already has. Not a band to stand still, even in the balmy days of summer, audiences can expect a huge flurry of activity from Papermaps in the coming months. Their Drake residency is a perfect place to start, and promises to bring the band’s music to more and more listeners. Bandleader Dean Marino took a few moments to speak to me about the band’s new EP, life, and some of his favourite things about Toronto.

You have a new EP “Inferior Ghost” slated for release in August. What can fans expect from the new record?

This record has a darker mood, overall than the self-titled debut. There are still a few upbeat songs and we’ve been playing them at shows but no one has heard the recordings yet.

Your first single “There are Wolves” seems to be stylistically different than your previous material. Was this a conscious change or
a natural progression for the band?

This is a natural shift.  I like the stylistic shift that “Wolves” takes, but it was not done in any conscious or preconceived way.  Our process is too slow and reductive to allow conscious shifts in genre or style. Basically, I’ll write what comes to me and if a song survives with me we’ll work on the arrangement as a group, and if the arrangement is working the song will survive with the group and then we might record the song, if the recording is good we’ll add the song to the live show. About 10% of my songs make the cut. It’s a process of elimination, really.

A recent press release said “The band has rallied around their new EP as a symbol of their ability persevere though difficult times.” Tell us a bit about that regarding  your studio shutting down.

Chemical Sound was a recording studio that survived in name for about 20 years.  I and my business partner Jay Sad took over the name and the studio equipment in 2005.  We relocated the whole studio because the original spot got demoed for condos. We built the new studio from scratch. During our run we worked with some great Canadian and international bands but we were a first-come-first-serve business – we just couldn’t survive any other way. I think I engineered well over 100 records in a 6 year period and as the those years went by the budgets got smaller and smaller (basically more work for less money). Although bands need good quality recordings in order to promote themselves online and in the physical world, the record industry is suffering and that’s where we used to get most of our work from.

I and my business partner made the decision to close the studio months before it actually happened.  We were officially moved out June 1st – but the studio actually stopped functioning sometime in April.  It was unfortunate, but to be honest I was getting very tired of playing the commercial studio game – in this day and age it’s an incredibly tough business.  My goal, as a record producer, was to move into a smaller space with a much smaller overhead so I could cherry pick the bands I work with, work with smaller budgets and allow for more personal use of the studio.  What was scary was finding a new place in such a short period of time – we have a lot of gear.   We found our current location (which is a secret, BTW) by pure luck. Our space is still under construction, but we can rehearse there. In a few months I hope to be recording there. Meanwhile, a producer named Lorne Hounsell has taken over the Chemical Sound space and that’s where I mixed our new record.

Where do you plan on touring after the August release?

We will be traveling to the East Coast (Halifax) and playing shows along the way and then back again.

Do you use a papermap or go the electronic route with a GPS while on tour? (Sorry I had to haha)

Actually, on our last trip out to the East Coast (last October) we had no paper maps in the van! I thought we could rely on GPS, but it was a big mistake! The GPS went out while we were looking for the Holland Tunnel to get us to our CMJ showcase at Arlene’s Grocery (Lower East Side of Manhattan).  We were nearly late for the show – basically we ran onto the stage with our guitars and keyboards as soon as we arrived!

Having recently played at a few NXNE showcases here in Toronto, what were some highlights?

I would have to say it was our first ever in-store performance at Of A Kind (College/Dufferin).  It was our last show of four at the festival and we were surrounded by friends and family.  My 5-year old nephew got to see me play!

You must be excited about your local residency at The Drake in July. Tell us a bit about it.

We want to over-saturate Toronto before we hit the road!  In all honesty, Mondays nights are our usual rehearsal time, so we thought, why not kill two birds with one stone?  We’ll play 5 shows before the tour and be “tour tight” before we even leave town. I’m especially excited about all the guests we have invited for these 5 shows.

Favourite venue to perform at in Toronto?

That’s like asking which child/sibling is your favourite.  I’m not sure, we only play small venues like Rancho Relaxo, the Rivoli, the Drake or the El Mocambo.  I think what makes a good venue is the people who attend more than the actual place – although the Of A Kind record shop is gorgeous.

What is your favourite thing about living in Toronto?

Coffee shops and long walks.

Preferred method of getting around the city: bike, street car, and by foot?

I’m a happy pedestrian.  I don’t even think twice about walking from Queen and Spadina to Bloor and Bathurst.  Sometimes I’ll take the TTC if I have to go far.  I have a car but use it mostly for in-town gigs.

Lastly, what is one thing about each band member that people may not know about you guys?

Dean: “I started the Internet’s obsession with cats.”

Wendy: “4 out of 5 of us wear wigs. not telling who.”

Bobby: “Hahaha love the wigs. Bobby was birthed in a sensory deprivation tank sometime in the late 60’s. His mother still resents him for interrupting her trip.”

Todd: “Todd’s softball strengths are catching the ball and hitting for placement. He cannot throw with any accuracy, however, and cannot hit a ball further than the near outfield, nor pitched to him at any speed besides “slow.” Beer-league slo-pitch teams seeking a first baseman should contact Todd by carrier pigeon (they’ll know where to find him).”

Betty: “I don’t wear a wig.”

____________

*Check out Papermap’s current single “There Are Wolves” on the band’s website and catch them live on the dates below with their special guests:

July 2 //  w/ Soi Disant (TOR)

July 9 // w/ Jay Sad (TOR)

July 16 // w/ Purpine et Goodralph (MTRL) // Wendy Versus (TOR)

July 23 // w/ JF Robitaille (NYC / Montreal)

July 30 // w/ Jenn Mierau (MTRL)

For now, enjoy their video for “Complicate Things.”.

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