Episode 101 starts off with a great cover of a Counting Crows classic by MJ Lenderman and we’ve got lots of great alt rock this week.
New music from Moncton (Sprawl), Corner Brook Newfoundland (Horse Chops), and the new project from MJ Lenderman/Waxahatchee (Snocaps)
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Grey Temples is officially surfing the information superhighway (once a week, because as we all know the internet is terrible, but probably necessary in the grand scheme of things, like a lamprey eel).
But man, if there was a representative episode of Grey Temples to start with, this is a gooder. Entrenched firmly in the 1970s, this episode is a symptom of my imagined nostalgia for a slightly crappy decade I didn’t actually have to live through.
Kicking off with a ripper of a tune from Crabby Appleton from their 1970 self-titled album, we’ve got Try. Bongo solos, organ freakouts, you can’t go wrong. Then we slide into some tasty lickz, as we call them in the biz of community radio with Canada’s own Chilliwack and their Canadian super hit, Lonesome Mary. Call your Grampy and tell him it’s time to boogie to a song he hasn’t heard in 30 years! Moving to some pub-rock, we’ve got Brinsley Schwartz and their 1974 tune Trying to Live My Life Without You. As I mention on the show, this band featured power-pop legend Nick Lowe, and this song is from the album that features the original version of (What’s So Funny Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding later made famous by Elvis Costello (who was produced by Nick Lowe). Finally, we’ve got the soft rock band Australia, from Australia, and the song Knowing That You’re There. This is a wonderful little obscurity that was featured on the great Follow the Sun compilation put out by Anthology and put together in part by Mikey Young from the band Eddy Current Suppression Ring (and other bands, but that’s the one I know).
Getting a little more psychedelic, we move on to Alexander “Skip” Spence with Little Hands from his 1969 album, Oar. Born in Windsor, Ontario, Spence was an early member of Jefferson Airplane and Quicksilver Messenger Service, he was most famous for being a founding member of Moby Grape. Who in turn, in my younger years, were most famous for being the favorite band of Mr. Van Driessen, the hippie teacher from Beavis and Butthead. Spence wrote his one and only solo album while institutionalized after attacking one of his band members with an axe. Even after this, the band continued to support Spence as they could, as Moby Grape had a more relaxed policy around axe attacks than I would have, personally. Then staying in the psychedelic folk realm (and sounding more than a bit like the aforementioned Jefferson Airplane) we’ve got Lily & Maria with Everybody Knows, from 1968. Moving ahead a few decades, we’ve got one of my favourite modern psychedelic bands with Melody’s Echo Chamber and the tune Pyramids in the Clouds. With a song name like that, you know it’s gonna be good! Melody’s Echo Chamber hail from France and are the solo project of Melody Prochet. She just released a new album! This song isn’t from it! Finally, in this set we have D.R. Hooker with A Tormented Heart from his 1972 private press album, The Truth. I recommend looking up the artwork for this one. Dude straight up styled himself to look like Jesus from a commemorative plate, but with a guitar. Really crazy keyboard sounds on this one, especially for an independently released album from 1972. The guitar line on the verse is sick on this one.
Next up, some Jonathan Richman (and the Modern Lovers) with Abdul and Cleopatra. If you don’t know the first Modern Lovers album, get on it! If you don’t like it, keep listening, because you’re wrong! Then we move on to Mike Lennox and a song from his one and only single release, 1968’s Images of You. Mike Lennox was a Canadian lad who mainly worked as a radio DJ in England leading up to the release of this track. Eventually Mike moved back to Canada and became, like, a regular dude. Finishing off this set, we’ve got a campy tune produced by noted studio lunatic Joe Meek. Houston Wells and The Marksmen were one of England’s first country bands, but this song North Wind doesn’t have a whole lot in it you’d mark as country in the modern sense, but hopefully it inspires you to blast off into outer space on a rocket you’ve named “Trigger”.
Winding up, as I often like to, with a few instrumental tunes. Starting off with Kleopatra from Salah Ragab & Cairo Jazz Band, this was originally released in 1974 by the Arab Republic of Egypt Ministry of Culture, this song features a lot of instruments that will sound familiar, but used in pretty unfamiliar ways, plus the sound of what I assume is a hookah being smoked. Salah Ragab went on to do some work with Sun Ra in later years. Moving on, next we have Canada’s Badge Epoque Ensemble and the song Lujon. And finally, Who Knows When, from cinematic soul jazz maestros, Glenn Fallows & Mark Treffel. I have no grand story to tell about either of these songs. Vibes is vibes.
Finally, wrapping up as always with some Canadian punk (or punk adjacent) we have Protest the Hero with Heretics & Killers. If you’re not familiar with the band, they put out an EP to start, and everyone who heard it seemed to generally like it. Then, they released Kezia, the album this song is from, and absolutely blew the doors off. I can’t stress enough how mind blowing this album was at the time. Put out by a bunch of teenagers who had clearly been OBSESSING over their instruments in a way that only a teenager can, they put out a prog metal punk album that still has few equals. And they’re still putting out great music.
Til next time,
JW
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This is Testing For Echo Episode 91 on CHSR FM 97.9 in Fredericton and around the world and I am always pleased to be your host Tim Scammell.
There are a couple of things that may be old news by now but important regardless.
I ask that you give your thoughts to the family and friends of John Lodge of the Moody Blues. John passed away on Oct 10 2025 at 82 years old. John was the bassist and vocalist and was really the voice and face of the band. The Moody Blues were Prog Rock legends.
Rest in Peace John.
Now this news is wild and most of the world would never imagine these words would come out of my mouth.
RUSH is going out on tour next year.
Listen for more details.
Episode Play List
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In this episode, Jeff Burrows looks back on the 90s as a wild, defining decade — a blur of massive festivals, MuchMusic-fueled momentum, and moments that didn’t feel surreal until years later. From the chaos and camaraderie of Edgefest to touring with Foo Fighters and Green Day (“walking through art museums with them in the afternoon, then watching them destroy their trailer at night”), he remembers the era as both overwhelming and deeply formative. Festivals felt like summer camp for Canadian rock bands, and the sheer scale of it — playing for tens of thousands a night — didn’t fully hit him until much later.
He speaks fondly of Lollapalooza ’96, signing with Rush’s management team, and the eclectic mix of Canadian bands who were all doing their own thing without chasing trends. MuchMusic, he says, was the great amplifier — the reason bands could show up in any town and draw a crowd — even if the video budgets left them half a million dollars in debt. Looking back, Burrows feels the loss of that era and the platform that helped shape it. The 90s Canadian rock scene was a rare, messy, electric moment in time, and for The Tea Party, it was a ride that took them far beyond anything they ever expected.
Tracklist:
1.) The Tea Party – Temptation || Transmission
2.) The Tea Party – The Messenger || TRIPtych
3.) The Tea Party – The River || Splendor Soils (on broadcast version only)
4.) The Tea Party – Writing’s On The Wall || Seven Circles (on broadcast version only)
Did this conversation resonate with you? Let us know your favorite part! Follow Once On Much on Instagram, and share this episode with a friend!
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Episode 21. Surf guitar, ‘steam punk’, guerrilla folk punk and beyond.
| Artist | Song | Album | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet | Zombie Compromise | Savvy Show Stoppers | 1988 |
| Hoodoo Gurus | Bittersweet | Mars Needs Guitars! | 1985 |
| The Screaming Blue Messiahs | Wild Blue Yonder | Gun Shy | 1986 |
| Abney Park | Katyusha | The Circus At the End of the World | 2013 |
| Lemon Bucket Orkestra | Frank’s Freylekh | Cuckoo | 2024 |
| Clan Of Xymox | A Forest | Kindred Spirits | 2012 |
| The Twilight Sad | I Could Give You All That You Don’t Want | Nobody Wants to Be Here and Nobody Wants to Leave | 2014 |
| Hey Rosetta! | Red Heart | Into Your Lungs (and Around In Your Heart and On Through You | 2008 |
| Thornley | All Fall Down | Tiny Pictures | 2009 |
| Beth Orton | Live As You Dream | Trailer Park | 1996 |
| Kristina Lao | Mice | Mice – EP | 2015 |
| Blondie | Angels On the Balcony | Autoamerican | 1980 |
| Yellow Magic Orchestra | Light In Darkness (The 808 State Remix) | Hi-tech / No Crime | 1992 |
| Young American Primitive | Young American Primitive | Young American Primitive | 1993 |
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Episode 20. This week’s segment of X Years Later features the late Jimmy Cliff.
| Artist | Song | Album | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fadi Sabri | Silver Morning Sun (Eastern Dawn Mix) | Viva! Beats Presents Global Chillout Cafe | 2012 |
| System 7 | Song for the Phoenix | Phoenix | 2008 |
| Kristy Thirsk | What If I | Under Cover | 2008 |
| Gaudi w/ Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan | Dil Da Rog Muka Ja Mahi | Dub Qawwali | 2007 |
| Whitehorse | Downtown | Leave No Bridge Unburned | 2015 |
| Jimmy Cliff | Wonderful World, Beautiful People | (Single) | 1969 |
| Jimmy Cliff | Here I Am | Refugees | 2022 |
| Klaatu | Doctor Marvello | 3:47 E.S.T. | 1976 |
| The Psychedelic Furs | Sister Europe | The Psychedelic Furs | 1980 |
| Ria Mae | Hold Me Down | Under Your Skin | 2011 |
| Jonah Blacksmith | Off the Track | Northern Trail | 2014 |
| Contrived | Avatar | Addicted to Sadness | 2024 |
| Patrick Holland | Soft Recycle | Simstim | 2020 |
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Lordy lordy, look who’s 100?!?
Check out this week’s episode that is chock full of great jams to celebrate the 100th episode of Away From The Mire!
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hiya! welcome back to another episode of the fox den, where i bring you tonal inconsistency, consistently! in this episode you’ll hear .. Continue reading
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welcome back to another episode of the fox den – where i bring you tonal inconsistency, consistently! in this episode you’ll hear.. Continue reading
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you’re listening to the fox den – where i bring you tonal inconsistency, consistently! in this episode you’ll hear .. Continue reading
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hiya! welcome back to another episode of indie whimsy, in this episode you’ll hear..
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hiya hi! welcome back to another episode of indie whimsy, in this episode you’ll hear..
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In this episode, I sit down with Trevor Hurst, the unmistakable voice of Econoline Crush, to revisit the electric landscape of late-’90s and early-2000s Canadian rock. Trevor reflects on a moment when MuchMusic helped build a true star system at home, giving Canadian bands space to break through in a meaningful way. From the heavier West Coast energy that shaped Econoline Crush’s identity to the challenges of experimenting with sampling and electronics before the industry was ready for it, he paints a vivid portrait of a band carving out its own lane—often against the grain. We also dig into the unlikely rise of You Don’t Know What It’s Like, the song that almost wasn’t, until a detour through the U.S. and a recording session with Bob Rock turned it into one of the most memorable tracks of its era.
Trevor also opens up about the turning points that made the ride unforgettable—from the surreal night Econoline Crush stepped into Celine Dion’s slot at the Juno Awards to backstage moments that confirmed they’d truly arrived. Today, he balances life as a musician with his work as a psychiatric nurse, but music remains his anchor. Our conversation closes with a powerful look at why he still believes in the magic of music—its ability to ground us, connect us, and remind us to tell the people we love that we love them. It’s a raw, generous, and passionate conversation with one of Canada’s most enduring rock voices.
Tracklist:
1.) Econoline Crush – Sparkle and Shine || The Devil You Know
2.) Econoline Crush – You Don’t Know What It’s Like || Brand New History
3.) Econoline Crush – New Gold Magic || single (on broadcast version only)
4.) Econoline Crush – All That You Are (x3) || The Devil You Know (on broadcast version only)
Did this conversation resonate with you? Let us know your favorite part! Follow Once On Much on Instagram, and share this episode with a friend!
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Have you ever experienced something which pushed you out of your preferred space, emotionally, physically or mentally?
My guest today is Emily Blair, the Executive Director of Connexion ARC, a long-running artist collective. Their most recent exhibition, Displacement, is currently on display at the UNB Art Centre‘s East and West Galleries until December 12. Emily joined me to talk about the organization, and about curating the exhibit.
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Artist – Track || Album
1.) Jungle – Back On 74 || Volcano
2.) Begonia – Hotter Than The Sun || Fantasy Life
3.) Sudan Archives – DEAD || The BPM
4.) Shad – Slanted || Start Anew
5.) Scott Hardware – Costume Off || Overpass
6.) The Afghan Whigs – Please, Baby, Please || How Do You Burn?
7.) Wednesday – Townies || Bleeds
8.) Geese – Husbands || Getting Killed
9.) Penny & The Pits – Montenegro On Ice || Liquid Compactor
10.) Nate and the Busy Boys – Twist Then Shake || Busy Doing Nothing
11.) Heaven For Real – Hold Me Back || Who Dies & Made You The Dream?
12.) Ross Neilsen – Good Enough || Within Tension
13.) The Deep Dark Woods – Circle Remains Unbroken || The Circle Remains
14.) The Besnard Lakes – Give Us Our Dominion || The Besnard Lakes are the Ghost Nation
Artist – Track || Album
1.) Alexisonfire – Fully Completely || Copies of Old Masters Vol. 1
2.) Danko Jones – Everyday is Saturday Night || Leo Rising
3.) Hollerado – Keep On Moving || Start A Band
4.) LCD Soundsystem – Dance Yrself Clean || This Is Happening
5.) Mola Oddity – POP-UP LIFE cc || Cave Crackers
6.) Motherhood – Propeller || Thunder Perfect Mind
7.) Altameda – Stuck In Your Ways || Crazy Blue
8.) Ruby Singh – Good God || Ruby Singh and the Future Ancestors: Celestial Libation
9.) Sam Salmon – If I Needed You Now || DOWN FOR LIFE
10.) The Liquor Store, Malia Laura – If I Knew About It || Right Place Wrong Time
11.) Boutique Feelings – 0 Goes || Shwaya, Shwaya
12.) Alison’s Halo – So Far Away || Skywide
13.) Oneohtrix Point Never – Lifeworld || Tranquilizer
New music this week from Chris Ballew and Superchunk and I play a couple of songs from the recently departed Todd Snider.
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Artist – Track || Album
1.) Beach House – Myth || Bloom
2.) SPELLING, Weyes Blood – Destiny Arrives || single
3.) Purity Ring – place of my own || Purity Ring
4.) Hannah Jadagu – Normal Today || Describe
5.) Austra – Siren Song || Chin Up Buttercup
6.) Begonia – Deep Red Cherry Night || Fantasy Life
7.) Jayli Wolf – Gold || Daughter of the Haze
8.) Yndling – It’s Almost like You’re Here || Time Time Time (I’m In The Palm of Your Hand)
9.) Lammping, Bloodshot Bill – Never Never || Never Never
10.) TOPS – Stars Come After You || Bury The Key
11.) FONTINE – Land Back || Good Buddy
12.) The Hidden Cameras – Quantify || BRONTO
13.) Tame Impala – Afterthought || Deadbeat
14.) EVRO – Time Has Changed || EVRO1
15.) Maneater – Good Things || Curb Your Appetite
Artist – Track || Album
1.) Metric – Help I’m Alive || Fantasies
2.) Hatchie – Sage || Liquorice
3.) Hayley Williams – Showbiz || Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party
4.) Hawksley Workman – Striptease || (Last Night We Were) The Delicious Wolves
5.) Econoline Crush – New Gold Magic || single
6.) Team Trust – Wuggis || Treat Box
7.) Hiding Places – Holy Roller || single
8.) Odonis Odonis – Distraction || Odonis Odonis
9.) fanclubwallet – Cotton Mouth || Living While Dying
10.) Sorry – Today Might Be The Hit || COSPLAY
11.) Remember Sports – Across The Line || Bug
12.) Heaven For Real – A Little Bit Of Space (and The Heart Starts Dancing) || Who Dies & Made You The Dream?
13.) Absolute Losers – You Never Say That You Love Me || In The Crowd
14.) T?th – Not Broken || single
15.) Afternoon Bike Ride – Otherworld || Running With Scissors
Hi there everyone. It’s great that you’ve tuned in today and for that I thank you.
This is Testing For Echo Episode 90 in Fredericton and around the world and I’m your host Tim Scammell
This episode feels pretty interesting to me. I think you will feel as I do as it goes on.
Let me know what you think.
Tim
“The World of Music, One Song at a Time”
Episode Song List
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In this episode, I sit down with the inimitable artist, Hawksley Workman, to explore his genre-defying career, the legendary days of MuchMusic, and what it was like creating his early, influential records. He opens up about the invigorating energy of the late ’90s and early 2000s Canadian music scene, a time when MuchMusic served as a vital “lifeline” and cultural director, creating a star system that no longer exists, and shares profound insights on being an artist who’s always trusted his “unedited self”, the importance of being both entrepreneurial and fiercely unique, and how he learned to embrace his own earnestness in a world of cool.
Tune in to hear how Hawksley Workman’s plan-A-only mentality and belief in creativity as his ultimate salvation have sustained a career that continues to risk and move in the right direction.
Tracklist:
1.) Hawksley Workman – Jealous Of Your Cigarette || (Last Night We Were) The Delicious Wolves
2.) Mounties – Headphones || Trash Rock Legacy
3.) Mounties – Tokyo Summer || Thrash Rock Legacy (on broadcast version only)
4.) Hawksley Workman – Striptease || (Last Night We Were) The Delicious Wolves (on broadcast version only)
Did this conversation resonate with you? Let us know your favorite part! Follow Once On Much on Instagram, and share this episode with a friend!
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Sometimes, the best place to meet up with all your friends exists in your imagination.
My guests today are Lauren and Matt, the cofounders of Mini World Masters. I caught up with them at the recent HalCon to talk about how tabletop roleplaying games offer a space for people to come together, explore their imaginations and provide an outlet for people’s lives, as well as how the work that they do under Mini World Masters supports that.
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Everyone needs to breath good air. It’s up to us all to make sure we do.
My guest today is Melanie Langille from NB Lung. She joins me to talk about some of the current initiatives and broad spectrum of relevant activities that NB Lung undertakes. Specifically, we dive deep into the very important issue of radon gas detection, which become vital as we start to seal up our houses for the winter.
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Stories written right here can take you fantastical worlds.
My guest today is LMG Wilson, a local author who has just published a new novella, Of Mists and Bogs: Intrigue, Espionage, and Tea. Described as “a spy fantasy novella where not even the tea is safe!” Lisa joins me to talk about her inspirations for the book, the accompanying map, and the process of transforming an idea into a book you can hold in your hand.
Lisa is doing a number of readings and presentations of the book, including a reading and signing at The Write Cup in Saint John, NB. The event takes place from 1-3pm with a reading from Of Mists and Bogs: Intrigue, Espionage, and Tea around 2pm. Be sure to stop by to say hello and check out this new book. Bonus, she’ll have the infamous map for perusal! And who doesn’t love a good map.
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Time after time, New Brunswickers demonstrate that we are people with songs in our souls.
My guest today is Gilbert Babin, the President of the Songwriters Association of NB. They were formed with the mission of connection music storytellers, and help them connect with their potential audience. We chat about the inspiration behind the group and how far they’ve come in the first two years since they started.
The Songwriters Association of NB has been hosted a series of showcases across the province. The next showcase is in Fredericton at Dolan’s Pub on Saturday, November 22. It’s an all-day affair, with the show starting at 12:30pm and not ending until 7:30pm. The showcase itself is a free event, so be sure to bring friends for a fantastic day of music.
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