Canadian Music Round-Up

Smallman Retrospective:

I’ve been working on a retrospective for Smallman Records since as you may already know, the label closed its doors last year. If you want the long story about why I'm doing this, head here. But all you need to know is that I’ll be sharing little chunks from my project in this space. Today's excerpt comes from Selfmademan. They were one of Smallman's quickest break-ups, putting out a record in May 2003 and calling it quits by October 2003. According to Rob he still has thousands of copies of that record in his basement. Right before I had to send in the final PDF last Monday, I finally heard back from the band's drummer Rich Bouthillier and here's all of what he had to say:

How did Selfmademan form?

The band started with a girl singer and without Jay. She came up to me in a bar after I played drums in another band and asked me if I wanted to play in her “punk band.” I said yes. She took me to Phil's house. We jammed. We played for a while, me, Sterling, Phil and her. (Steph) We were called Sideburner. Eventually Steph left the band and we found Jay. Then Selfmademan happened.

What were your memories of the label before you got signed?

We thought that Smallman was an awesome Canadian label with some pretty awesome bands. Bands that toured and bands that sold records, two things that we wanted to do.

When did you first meet Rob and Jason?

I think the first time we met Rob and Jason was in Winnipeg. We drove from Fargo, ND to Winnipeg to meet them and then drove straight back to Montreal. They had initially come out to Montreal to see us play. We were late for the show. We showed up and played two minutes later. They didn’t seem to be to impressed with our professionalism that night, so I guess they didn’t introduce themselves. I don’t know what ended up happening, but things seemed to work out later on.

What made you choose to sign with them?

I think that Moneen had actually spoken to Rob and Jason about Selfmademan. We had played a couple of shows with them and we got along. Moneen was a band that toured non stop and that’s what we wanted to do. It seemed that Smallman was the place to go to get that done. Choke might of had something to do with it as well.

Memories about recording/releasing The Daylight Robbery?

Watching Japanese wrestling.
Getting five parking tickets that I haven’t paid yet.
Excited to tour being backed by an awesome and respected Canadian label.
Drinking Faxe 10% and not realizing that I jumped into bed with our host and his girlfriend.
Meeting Greg, a totally awesome dude.
Our first “real” studio experience

What’s something you did that wouldn’t have been possible without Smallman?

Being on Smallman helped us get shows. Being associated to this respected label gave us some sort of credibility. They helped us apply for grants. Helped us with showcases. A wide distribution where even my aunt calls me to tell me that she saw my record at her record shop out in Alberta. They also kind gave us hope in the band. That we were doing something other than playing in the garage. Other people kinda believed in our band and actually wanted to invest in it.

According to Rob he was pushing that record in the States with CMJ appearances, etc. Anything you can add to expand on that?

That was the most awkward showcase ever. We played with some maniac noise bands in a real dingy bar. Totally didn’t fit. Rob did get us a grant to do that show though. A little bit of money to pay back our still standing debt to them.

Why did you break up?

Phil didn’t want to tour anymore. Being away for too long was getting to him. We then had the option to continue without him and to find another guitarist or call it quits. Sterling and Jay, I think, wanted to continue, but at this same time The Sainte Catherines we looking for a drummer and I made the decision to quit Selfmademan and join The Sainte Catherines.

[button=http://smallmanrecords.com/mp3/SMM_WhoWillSingToThis.mp3]Selfmademan - "Who Will Sing To This?"[/button]

Check Out The Previous Excerpts Too:

Layaway Plan
Guy Smiley
Choke/Passenger Action
Another Joe
Moneen
Sixty Stories
Small Brown Bike/Broadway Calls/Misery Signals
The Reason
Comeback Kid/Sights & Sounds
Ghosts of Modern Man
Sylvie
Our Mercury

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In case you missed them during the week, here are the posts made about Canadian content:

Bare Bones Form Out of the Ashes From The Holly Springs Disaster

Cancer Bats Headlining Canadian Tour

Caribou Music Video

Chad VanGaalen Release Date

Crystal Castles Perform at NME Awards Show

The Golden Dogs Song Stream

KEN mode Tour Dates

Living With Lions Song Stream and Release Date

Malajube Download

Memphis Tour Dates and Downloads

The Midway State Release Date

Rah Rah EP Info

The Rural Alberta Advantage Album Stream

Silverstein Music Video and Pre-Order

Simple Plan Release Date

Sum 41 Cancel Yet Another Tour / Post New Song

Tonight Tonight Acoustic Video

Wayfarer Post a New Track

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Additional News:

Canadian Music Week kicks off in Toronto this Wednesday. Are you going? The schedule is here.

The winners of the Verge Music Awards can be seen here.

The New Cities are in LA working on a new record.

The second release of Zeus' 7-inch series will be out on April 12.

Oh Susanna will release Soon the Birds on April 19.

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Additional Music and Videos:

Royal Canoe's music video for "Nightcrawlin'" can be seen here.

A new B-Lines song titled "Psychedelic High School" can be heard here.

Code Pie will release Love Meets Rage on April 5. Stream a new song called "Heart Spit" along with their cover of Justin Bieber's "Baby" here.

Listen to a new Dinosaur Bones song titled "Point of Pride" here.

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Additional Tour Dates:

Royal Wood is heading off on a (mostly) Canadian tour:

3/5 Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern (Juno Decades)
3/11 Burnstown, ON - Neat Coffee Shop
3/12 Sudbury, ON - Townehouse
3/16 New York, NY - Living Room
3/17 Collingwood, ON - The Bay School of Arts
3/18 St Catharines, ON - Centre for the Arts (Brock University)
3/19 Mississauga, ON - Living Arts Centre (RBC Theatre) *
3/23 Toronto, ON - Massey Hall, Juno Songwriter Circle
3/31 Stratford, ON - Factory 163
4/1 Highgate, ON - Mary Webb Centre
4/2 Wakefield, QC - Blacksheep Inn
4/3 Wakefield, QC - Blacksheep Inn
4/7 Nanaimo, BC - Rendezvous
4/8 Chilliwack, BC - Bozzini's Lounge
4/9 Kelowna, BC - Minstrel Café
4/10 Nelson, BC - Royal on Baker
4/12 Coleman, AB - Blackbird Coffee House
4/13 Canmore, AB - Communitea Café
4/14 Lethbridge, AB - Geomattic Attic
4/16 Salmon Arm, BC - Shuswap Theatre
4/28 Halifax, NS - Company House
4/30 Fredericton, NB - Arts Street Center
5/1 Saint John, NB - Bourbon Quarter
5/5 Cannington, ON - Cameron St. Co-op Café
5/6 Madoc, ON - Art Centre Hastings
5/11 Hamilton, ON - The Pearl Company Theatre
5/13 London, ON - Aeolian Hall
5/14 Guelph, ON - Dublin St. United Church
5/15 Meaford, ON - Eco-Inhabit
5/27 Jordan, ON - Zooma Zooma Café
5/28 Dunville, ON - Flyers Café
6/10 Sarnia, ON - Paddy Flaherty's Irish Café
* with Jenn Grant

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If you’d like to submit news for this round-up, email me at deborah.remus@absolutepunk.net or send me a PM with “Canadian Round-Up” in the subject line.

Man The New Cities got big.

HolyGodJesus how I wish I was attending Music Fest.

The Wonder Years are in Toronto tonight! :D

Originally Posted by The.Grim

HolyGodJesus how I wish I was attending Music Fest.

I'm stoked to be flying around this city like a chicken with my head cut-off for interviews/show reviews haha.