It's been a strange week in Alberta. I arrived in Calgary last Wednesday for the Sled Island Music Festival, just in time to see a few incredible shows (Swans and Superchunk!) before the Bow River got out of control. You can check out some of my photos on CJSR's tumblr.
On Friday morning Sled Island execs announced that, due to epic flooding in the downtown core (many people had already been evacuated by this point), the festival would be cancelling the rest of its scheduled lineup. Edmonton did its part, as quickly as it could, to accommodate some of the Sled Island bands that didn't get a chance to play in Calgary. The result was Shred Island: three days of awesome tunes hosted by Barber Ha and the Wunderbar. Days later, some Calgary residents are starting to move back into their homes and clean up, countless others are pitching in where they can.
Back in Edmonton, the rain continues to fall. I have a feeling that the tenants in my basement will experience flooding if they haven't already. This morning, I found a leak in the ceiling above our living room.
Water, rain, floods, rivers: it's not uncharted territory for songwriters. Today's playlist focuses on what's right there in front of us.
"Water" - PJ Harvey - Peel Sessions (1991-2004)
"River to Consider" - White Denim - D
"La Violence Sur Les Champs-Elysees - Actual Water - The Paisley Orchard
"Tread Water" - Shotgun Jimmie - Still Jimmie
"Water and a Seat" - Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks - Pig Lib
"Rain on Tin" - Sonic Youth - Murray Street
"Little One" - Beck - Sea Change
"One Foot" - Doug Hoyer - To Be A River
"Wet and Rusting" - Menomena - Friend and Foe
"River" - Akron/Family - Set 'em Wild, Set 'em Free
"A Dream of Water" - Colin Stetson - New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges
"Knife in the Water" - Metz - Metz
"The Lapping Sea" - Energetic Action - Becoming
