J'aime. J'aime. Le French Semester.

Let me set up the scenario. It’s 9:00 Saturday morning and I’m grumpy and fried because I made 48 crème brûlée last night, and ate five of them. I’m also wired on espresso. I don’t know if this all affects my ears or objectivity, but fuck objectivity anyway.

Sunny sounding indy-pop? Yes, it is. Endearingly homemade sounding? Yup. Catchy? Uh-huh. Plus-the lyrics that I managed to catch sounded pretty cool. I also heard phantom harmonies where, on second listen, there were none. Implied parts that fool you into hearing things within the space of the song that don’t exist are always good. Sort of like how Hemingway says things by not saying them. I suppose that’s the point of minimalism. So far, so good.

The tunes made this cold Canadian morning slightly warmer, tricked my ears, and helped the bad mood a bit.

– Review by Biff of The Woodrunners

Sugartune Review
I dig the 60s influence. Your Master Plan struts like Day Tripper with the bass and guitar duplicating the main riff. The Blue Distance sounds like it belongs on ‘Hollywood Dream’ by Thunderclap Newman. Lots of open space between the instruments with simple interplay throughout driven by naive, stutter step drumming. Engaging, charming pop fare served up lo-fi. Might very well sound like Brian Wilson’s brain, back in the day, as he awoke from the sandbox before the neurons started to compose the vocal harmonies and orchestra parts.

Feeding from the trough of: Big Star, Guided By Voices, Thunderclap Newman

Play MP3: Arrowheadings

Play MP3: Your Master Plan

MySpace: www.myspace.com/thefrenchsemester

After months of editing and tinkering with the footage, our super-hero, Vince has finished the video. Feast your eyes and tell us what you think…

Check out Vincent Scotti’s Portfolio
Check out other Sugartune Videos
Buy the Warped 45s CD, 10 Day Poem For Saskatchewan
Take in the Warped 45s Live

A Diary of the Making of the Radio Sky Video
Part 1: Creative Forces Coming Together
Part 2: Making Videos Is Sexy
Part 3: Vincent Scotti (a.k.a. The Vinman): A Man of Action
Part 4: Radio Sky Video Now Live. It’s a Wrap!

The Vinman - Actual Size!

After finishing a day of shooting the band performance, focus quickly shifted to the story aspect. The story surrounds the objects a child might find in an attic and the wonderment and inspiration they are prone to induce. Ryan McEathron had recently purchased an antiquated mandolin that would act as the prefect centerpiece to compliment the many beautiful mandolin passages throughout Radio Sky. In addition, our own personal attics and basements were raped of goodies to compliment the overall feel. Old hockey cards, a milk jug, a turntable, wind-up toys, stacks of 45s, and a ViewMaster were thrown into the mix.

The largest obstacle was to find an actor who approximated a young Ryan McEathron. And pronto. The days of the warehouse rental were dwindling. Friends were solicited but to no avail, nobody was available in the tight time frame. Undeterred (the guy didn’t even blink!), The Vinman was on the phone with the Montreal School of Performing Arts. He casted his man in under 3 hours. Not only was the kid a dead-ringer for a young Ryan, but his name was Ryan, too. Talk about planets aligning. Young Ryan showed up the next day, parents in tow as production assistants, and preceded, in short order, to deliver the needed performance of a curious kid in the center of a world of wonderment.

In the process of bringing this video together many obstacles were met, but none too large to stop the always focused Vinman.

Action figures available soon.

A Diary of the Making of the Radio Sky Video
Part 1: Creative Forces Coming Together
Part 2: Making Videos Is Sexy
Part 3: Vincent Scotti (a.k.a. The Vinman): A Man of Action
Part 4: Radio Sky Video Now Live. It’s a Wrap!

Are we having fun, yet?

The Warped 45s were embarking on a series of firsts. First ever tour, first ever video shoot, and first ever cellphone (ask the band for details!). Their tour of Atlantic Canada had already proven to be a learning experience. They arrived at the shoot sleepless in crooked and contorted shape; victims of sharing a caravan of three or four compact cars with their instruments et al. On future tours, they promised, a van would be a necessity. So how would they fare during a tedious 18-hour shoot in the midst of a dark, dusty warehouse with pumping smoke machines? With flying colours, baby!

The Warped 45s have already proven to be exceptional musicians; winning the 2009 NXNE Rogers Fan’s Choice Award, inking a deal with Pheromone Recordings and receiving much acclaim for their debut full length CD, 10 Day Poem for Saskatchewan. But exceptional musicianship is only a part of being a great band. These guys are great for many other reasons. Namely, they are great people. During the course of the shoot they were attentive, available and kept things loose with the kind of amiability you love to see from a brotherhood intent on making their music the focus of their life.

For Those About To Roots Rock (We Salute You)!

A Diary of the Making of the Radio Sky Video
Part 1: Creative Forces Coming Together
Part 2: Making Videos Is Sexy
Part 3: Vincent Scotti (a.k.a. The Vinman): A Man of Action
Part 4: Radio Sky Video Now Live. It’s a Wrap!

Warped 45er Ryan McEathron: "I'm ready for my close-up Mr. Scotti!"

Vincent Scotti, a talented director & friend of Sugartune, came to us this summer looking for a band to hook-up with to create a music video. The Warped 45s were prime for the plucking. They were touring the East Coast and would be in Montreal in July for a show. Bids for funding were made and rejected, but so what!? A combination of creativity and focused ambition will always trump cash. A treatment was made. Consensus over diverging creative direction was quickly met.

It was all over but the blood, sweat and tears. Warehouses and fog machines were rented. Talent, props, lights and gels begged, borrowed and stolen. The band was in town July 15 and we had a day to shoot before their show the following day. Time was as tight as the budget, but wild horses ain’t dragging us away.

Join us here over the next few weeks as we chronicle the making of the Warped 45s Radio Sky video; a diary in what people can accomplish with little financial resources and a whole lotta heart.

The Cast of Characters:

Kevin Hewitt – Keyboards
Hamal Finn Roye – Drums
Alex Needleman – Bass
Dave McEathron – Guitar, Lead Vocal
Ryan McEathron – Mandolin
Dan Wilson – Photographer, Supplier of Cigarettes
Graham – Gopher, Grip, Slate, Sugartune Dude
John – Director of Photography
Phil – Lighting, Production Assistant, Alternate Supplier of Cigarettes
Vincent – Director, Visionary

Featuring:
Young Ryan Kay – Young Ryan McEathron
Mr. & Mrs. Kay – Production Assistance. All Hands on Deck. Thanks Folks!

A Diary of the Making of the Radio Sky Video
Part 1: Creative Forces Coming Together
Part 2: Making Videos Is Sexy
Part 3: Vincent Scotti (a.k.a. The Vinman): A Man of Action
Part 4: Radio Sky Video Now Live. It’s a Wrap!

A sample of where they can be heard:

• 

  Give It Up will be included in an upcoming episode of Degrassi: The Next Generation

  “It’s So Easy” , “I’ll Bleed Out”  and the Gleedsville remix of “Give It Up”  have been placed in the feature film “A Life Less Gone”.

• “Give It Up” is scheduled to be in an upcoming episode of “Degrassi: The Next Generation”.

• “Fit In” will be featured in the Canadian Short Film “Ten Seconds”.

• “Fake It” appeared on the 2008 Short Film Festival’s cd, along side such artists as Serena Ryder, The Golden Dogs and The Tom Fun Orchestra.

• The whole Safe Word Project cd was recently licensed to Red Bull AudioFiles out of Austria for use in Red Bull sponsored event videos and podcasts.

Keep your eyes peeled to this site. Annelise Noronha (Safe Word Project Queen) has a few shows coming up in the Greater Toronto Area. Details to come.

NITRO ROADWARRIORS – It´s Spring, time to shred! from Nitro Roadwarriors on Vimeo.

Check out the reviews. They’re smokin’.

Track List:
10 Day Poem For Saskatchewan
Progress
Really Don’t Mind
Leader Of The Lost Expedition
(Bring On That) New Depression
Trestle For A Train
Two Month Old Apologies
To The Daybreak
Why Oh Why
Takes A Toll
Radio Sky
We Know One Thing
Why Have You Passed Me By Grim Reaper

Here’s a look at some of the reviews:
Herohill
Fazer Magazine
Exclaim!
Eye Weekly
Now Toronto
Exclaim – Wood Wires & Whiskey: Top 10 for 2009
View Magazine
Americana UK
Spill Magazine

Warped 45s * 10 Day Poem For Saskatchewan

Date: Thursday, August 20th 2009
Time: 9:00pm
Venue: The Horseshoe Tavern
Address: 370 Queen St. West, Toronto, Ontario
Admission: $8 or $15 w/CD
Age restrictions: No minors
Special Guests: Romney Getty and The Beauties

Let Google do everything, but drive ya there: Google Map

08/14/09
Gananoque, ON – 1000 Islands Music Festival (Second Stage)
Time: 5:00pm.
Address: 15 PYKEVIEW RD.

08/28/09
Collingwood, ON – JD’s Bar and Grill
Time: 9:00pm.
Address: 94 Pine St.

08/29/09
Whitney, ON – The Mad Musher
Time: 8:00pm.
Venue phone: 1-866-551-5534

09/04/09
Windsor, ON The Phog Lounge
Time: 9:00pm.
Address: 57 University Avenue West

09/05/09
London, ON – The Blackshire Pub
Time: 9:00pm.
Address: 511 Talbot St.
Venue phone: 519.433.7737

09/19/09
Oshawa, ON – The Shwaltz
Time: 8:00pm.
Note: Will be performing as part of The Shwaltz Festival in Oshawa.

09/24/09
Hamilton, ON – This Ain’t Hollywood
Time: 9:00pm.
Address: 345 James St. Venue phone: 905.529.9500

Check out the band’s web site for updates and more show listings.