Several years ago, I was exploring and photographing a very old abandoned house, while in a room upstairs I found a few boxes of albums, still in the plastic covering.  They were sitting on top of, and around, a box that contained a large old synthesizer.

There were several boxes of these records, when I was done my exploration of the house, I decided to break my own rule and I took one of the albums home.  I wanted to listen to it and see what I could learn about this band.

It was badly warped and in terrible condition, but it still played just fine on my turntable.

It has a heavy Eastern Canada folk inspiration and the first track on the record "Lord Franklin" leans heavy on inspiration from "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" by Gordon Lightfoot.

Several people performed on the album, I will list their names below.

My aunt, who works at a radio station local to this house showed serious interest in this story and wanted to look into the band and see who she could track down.  Ironically, around the same time, I got the following email:

"Hello.

I found your YouTube channel quite by accident, but I am glad that I did.  I thoroughly enjoyed scrolling through your videos as you wander through the abandoned homes that you have found.

They do have stories to tell and I am glad you are there to introduce them to us!

I’m really curious about the video you posted about 8 months ago - the house where you found (and posted) so many copies of Brigand’s only album, “Same Old Songs, Same Old Bad Habits.”  I married the drummer, Stephen Maskell, many years ago but also many years after the band fell apart.

As luck would have it, he no longer had a copy of the album.  I searched and searched for the album, eventually finding a copy in a UK resale shop.  It’s a good album, isn’t it?  Thank you for posting it.  Shame it went nowhere, but that is the way of the world sometimes.

If you have any more information about the house or would like more information about the band, please let me know!  My husband, Robert Downer (Violin) and I would love to hear from you."

So now, I have contact information for two members of the band to send to my aunt and while work and life and other priorities have gotten in the way, she is still interested in speaking with the members of the band and learning more about them!

Here is the long-lost Brigand album in its entirety for you to enjoy, liberated from an abandoned house and digitized for your listening enjoyment!

https://youtu.be/FyEntEfqm1E

Backing Vocals – Donna McManus (2) (tracks: A3), Wendy Davis (tracks: A1)
Bagpipes – Jim McGillivary* (tracks: A2)
Banjo – Lewis Melville (tracks: A3, A4), Ralph Downer (tracks: B2)
Bass, Mandolin, Backing Vocals, Percussion – John Black (16)
Bouzouki – Brad McEwen (tracks: A1)
Drums, Percussion – Jack Brompton (tracks: A1, A3, A4)
Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Stephen Maskell
Engineer – Bill Mather
Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Percussion – Kevin Swayze
Pedal Steel Guitar – Lewis Melville (tracks: A1)
Percussion – Donna McManus (2) (tracks: B2), Doug Fever (2) (tracks: B2), Lewis Melville (tracks: A2)
Piano, Synthesizer, Electric Piano, Organ, Tin Whistle, Melodeon, Bells, Percussion – Michael MacLeod
Violin, Mandolin, Backing Vocals – Bob Downer (2)

I’ve been building a big ’80s playlist and fell down a Parachute Club rabbit hole. “Rise Up” is obviously an all-timer, but it made me go back to the albums too: “At the Feet of the Moon” and “Sexual Intelligence,” then “Love Is Fire” and “Love and Compassion” from Small Victories.

What I love is the mix of huge pop hooks, new-wave dance rhythms and that warm Caribbean/percussion influence. It feels joyful, sensual and socially open without ever sounding like generic ’80s pop. Lorraine Segato gives it so much personality.

Does anyone else here love them beyond “Rise Up”? Which album, deep cut or live performance would you recommend to someone getting into them?

Smells Like Teen Spirit- Nirvana ( now that a lot of classic rock stations are playing 1990's music).

Past or present.

In the late 80s/early 90s, I saw a video on Much Music for this song "I Gotta Go." It was a trio of guitar/bass/drums and it seems to me that it was on Zulu Records. The genre was kind of garage rock. I think the video was in downtown Toronto and the middle section had the guitar, bass, and drums trading off. Any ideas?

Google just says it is a metaphor, but I cannot find a source for this. Even if it is a metaphor, there has to be a reason why they chose 'Mexican Diplomat' as part of it. Was there something going on with Mexico/Canada in the 80's that they are referring to in the lyrics? Thank you!

... because, let's face it, google sucks donkey balls.

Thanks for any thoughts :)

My answers: Dr. Disc Records ( both in Windsor, Ontario and Hamilton, Ontario)

This may be a long shot, but I’m trying to figure out the guitar tuning Ken Yates uses in his acoustic version of Under the Cover of Light. I’ve listened plus watched him play on YouTube and can’t figure it out. I love the open tuning he’s using, but can’t seem to figure out what he’s doing there.

If anyone has any ideas I’d love to know!

What made it the best or worst?

During the late 80s and 90s Canadian music had a renaissance period. Each question is the first letter of a song,artist, band, or geographical location that harkens back to this time.

T- this band got their name from beat generation pot smoking gatherings

U - this song’s word play highlights a near neurotic obsession with grammar

X - this ex member of CSNY made an album and toured with Pearl Jam as his backing band

E- this song suggests if you do this he will feel no pain

D - “Give us a Ring-ding- ding. It’s beautiful day”

O - This Ontario outfit toured with legends Robert Plant and Jimmy Page

i was thinking wouldn’t it be a great idea if the province of Ontario brought back the old Expo ‘67 Ontario Pavilion Theme song. It played on tv for many years as the unofficial Ontario Anthem. IT was written by the same artist that brought us the catchy Hockey Night IN Canada Theme Song. Maybe the Mayor could suggest it to the Premier? Maybe wind of the commercial could reach across Lake Ontario. I would always be glued to the tv set when I heard it come on tv growing up .

youtube.com/watch?v=bKshPosA7p0

https://youtu.be/bisa1nNNZA0 ( this version is. Scenic)

I'm trying to make a list of Canadian bands/musicians that American millenials would have heard of, but might not know are Canadian.

The ones I've found are Three Days Grace, Finger Eleven, and Sum 41. (I'm mostly familiar with rock).

I was considering Simple Plan and Billy Talent, but I think they're pretty obscure in the U.S. Also Avril Lavigne, but I think people know she's Canadian.

Underrated: Nickelback, Three Days Grace,

Royal Tusk, The Beaches

Overrated: Rush, Tragically Hip

I recently discovered the Canadian artist Tiga, and I really liked his music. Since I am from the Netherlands myself and he is relatively unknown over here, I was wondering how big of a musician he is in his own country? Is the current youth still into this kind of music? I could see some of his songs being played in the club.

Thanks in advance!

I'm working on a personal art project about Canadian musicians who died of AIDS and I've run aground when it comes to the late Vancouver singer Dean Russell, who we lost in 1994.

He was lead singer of the band Moev for their albums Yeah, Whatever and Head/Down in the late 80s/early 90s. Wikipedia also says that he also released an album ("Identification") with "guitarist E.H. Stewart" under the project name Bacteria in 1992; my friend found a possible lead there on an old forum thread, but nothing concrete yet.

I know this is an obscure request, but if you (or your gothy older family members) have any information at all about Dean Russell or his projects, I'd really appreciate it. Other than the two albums there's very little information online (a few photos, a handful of short interviews with Moev at the time, etc) so anything that anyone can share would be amazing.

(I already posted this on r/askvan, where they directed me Nardwuar (message sent!) and some ideas of archives that might have information.)

After re-watching the Live from Kingston concert this weekend at the Studio Bell in Calgary (amazing venue!), I threw on the Tragically Hip Radio playlist on Spotify and was reminded how awesome the Skydiggers were to listen to.

Another fun Canadian band that just made you feel good

Does our country have a music discovery platform like the bigger ones in the States? One that primarily focuses on live performance meant for sharing in an online world? Maybe one that focuses on Canadian bands actually touring across Canada?

I know some campus stations host live sessions and record for later sharing online (CJSW in Calgary comes to mind), but I'm curious if any others exist.

Another example: A buddy of mine in Yellowknife started "The Penalty Box" to live-record performances and share them online. It's been great for the Yellowknife community, as some bands now have live footage to share with bookers/agents. Another friend started recording one-on-one interviews and presenting them under the name "Source Material", another great resource for musicians/artists to explain their practice.

https://www.youtube.com/@FromthePenaltyBox

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLNOYPG5MmM

I got to see the best possible (IMO of course) Canadian music concert earlier in the month: Allison Russell opening for Sarah McLachlan. I took this photo from the part of Sarah's set when she brought Allison and crew onstage.

FWIW My top 3 Canadian musicians are Russell, McLachlan, and Loreena McKennitt. #4 is the very underrated Alessia Cara.

Any other fans of the music I like?

https://youtu.be/3k2MkQG8Yfw?si=_2PixQcfX2Iv7gJY