RSS
Thousands protest Quebec’s lockdown, Firefighters urge caution while at home, New vaccine shows high efficacy after phase three testing
Reporter: Shanellie Marie
Stories: Luca Caruso Moro
Thousands protest Quebec’s lockdown
Thousands marched the streets of Montreal on Saturday to protest the province’s pandemic measures.
Marchers began their route near McGill.
Several people were handed tickets by Montreal police for not wearing masks.
Firefighters urge caution while at home
In other news…
People are staying home now more than ever to stay safe from the coronavirus, but that has created a new problem for Montrealers.
The city’s fire department says to check your fire alarms.
It turns out there were a lot of fires last year, hundreds more than the year before.
Officials blame the extra time spent at home.
New vaccine shows high efficacy after phase three testing
Finally…
A phase 3 trial has found high efficacy rates for the Novavax coronavirus vaccine.
Following late-stage trials in the UK, the Novavax vaccine has shown to be 96 per cent effective against mild to moderate symptoms of the original strain of the virus.
It was also reportedly effective against the British and South African variants.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has signed a preliminary deal with Novavax to manufacture the vaccine in Montreal.
The facility is under construction, but according to a February CTV News report, the rollout isn’t expected until fall at the earliest.
Metal My Movie: Donnie Darko
Re-Inventing Queens
Lady Gaga
A legendary pop star whose influence has reached every corner of the world, Lady Gaga burst onto the music scene in 2008 with breakout hit Just Dance. Drawing inspiration from artists like Madonna, David Bowie, and Freddie Mercury (her stage name is derived from a Queen song), Gaga’s wildly theatrical stage presence and over-the-top glamour brought an updated version of campy performance art into mainstream circles. Her versatility as an artist is evident through the ease in which she approaches musical styles ranging from dance-pop and electronic rock to jazz and musical theatre.
She had a starring role in the 2018 musical drama film remake of A Star is Born. Its lead single “Shallow” earned her an Oscar win for Best Original Song the following year. She made history in 2019 by becoming the first woman to win an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Golden Globe Award in the same year. She has won a total of 11 Grammy Awards, and received the first ever Contemporary Icon Award from The Songwriters Hall of Fame.
An openly bisexual woman who has long been involved in advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, she credits the gay community as being a key source of her early success prior to her gaining radio airplay. Her activism extends to the Born This Way Foundation, a non-profit that she co-founded with her mother. The organization, which launched in 2012, focuses on amplifying mental health awareness for youth and eliminating the stigma surrounding it.
She has made an astonishing impact on the music scene and pop culture in general by creating a space where embracing outspoken individuality is not only accepted, but celebrated, too. While her lyrics containing messages of hope and perseverance served as an outlet for fans, Lady Gaga’s dedication to unapologetic artistry is what solidified her status as a genuine trailblazer.
TW: Domestic Violence
Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, musician, actress and businesswoman Rihanna kept showing us her versatility in a career that has spanned an entire decade.
Her first single “Pon Da Replay” was released in 2005 and marked the beginning of a successful career. She went on to release 7 studio albums with fans patiently waiting for the artist’s next release. Some notable favourites from RiRi include: "Work", "We Found Love" and "Umbrella".
Rihanna said that one of her biggest musical influences was Madonna, an artist that we have covered in this series. She praised Madonna for being able to “reinvent herself” with each record she produced. This is definitely an influence that we have seen throughout Rihanna’s career as she has been able to move between genre’s with ease. She shifted from pop to rock, to EDM to dancehall with ease and precision.
Rihanna has received 9 Grammys and 13 American Music Awards.
While Rihanna has had a very successful music career, she has venture off to create her own cosmetics and clothing-line under the name FENTY. She revolutionized the make-up industry by have a 40 foundation shades upon the brands release, which had been unheard of her. Her Savage X Fenty Lingerie brand brought fashion shows to new heights and included inclusive sizing.
Rihanna has been an outspoken advocate who has recently spoken about the Farmer’s Strikes taking place in India to raising funds for individuals and children suffering from domestic violence during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
There’s really nothing she can’t do.
Brutal Pet Sounds: Metal Bands Fronted by Animal Companions
Since the introduction of harsh vocals in heavy music, metal singers have tried to imitate the sounds of the animal kingdom, from the bark of a dog to the squeal of a pig. And although us humans have come close, nothing strikes fear in our primitive minds quite like the roar of an apex predator. Take for example the title track off of Body Count’s latest album Carnivore, which features the roar of a lion in the chorus, ripped straight from an internet video. Making these kinds of guttural noises comes naturally to animals, making them much more qualified to front a metal band than any human. Below, I’ll be discussing the metal bands fronted by pets, and their owners who provide the backing music.
You’ve probably seen the internet videos of various animals making ungodly sounds, with added distortion and blast beats playing underneath them. Just look up Death Metal Rooster or Death Metal Walrus or Death Metal Howler Monkey. Then there’s Animal Covers by Insane Cherry, a YouTube channel that autotunes videos of dogs, cats, birds, goats and other creatures, doing covers of popular rock songs like System Of A Down’s “Chop Suey,” Rammstein’s “Du Hast,” and Slipknot’s “Duality.”
In 2012, ANIMAL New York published a video called “Pug Destroyer: Dogs Singing Death Metal.” The video caught the attention of grindcore band Pig Destroyer, who reached out to ANIMAL and offered to print Pug Destroyer shirts, with all proceeds going to a pug rescue charity in Florida. More “Dog Metal” videos started to pop up. The music videos produced by channels like The Bubbas and Beelzebuddies featured small dogs barking into microphones and close-ups of their paws slapping the strings of a bass or pressing down on the keys of a piano.
Probably the most popular Dog Metal band to grow out of this trend is Caninus, a deathgrind band fronted by two pitbull terriers Basil and Budgie, backed by members of hardcore band Most Precious Blood. In 2004, they released their debut album Now the Animals Have a Voice, and the year after, they put out a split with the world-famous deathgrind band Cattle Decapitation. Unfortunately, the band is no longer active because both dogs have since passed away.
But before Dog Metal, there was Bird Metal. In 2003, Hatebeak (a parody of hardcore band Hatebreed) came onto the scene. The band is fronted by an African grey parrot named Waldo on vocals, with Mark Sloan and Pig Destroyer noisemaster Blake Harrison on guitar, bass and programmed drums. Their discography is full of bird-related metal puns, such as their 2015 album Number of the Beak (parody of Iron Maiden’s Number of the Beast) and their song “Seven Perches” (Possessed’s Seven Churches). But they’re not the only Bird Metal band, there’s also Naegleria Fowleri, featuring the vocals of an Amazon parrot named Luna.
Hatebeak are trailblazers in the novelty genre of animal metal. They’ve done splits with Caninus, Birdflesh (a grindcore band comprised of only humans), and mostly recently, Böar Glüe, a band fronted by Tico, Taco and Sugar, three guinea pigs. Their backing music is courtesy of Richard Christy, who previously drummed for bands like Death and the early years of Iced Earth (long before Jon Schaffer fell into the far-right deep end and participated in the Capitol insurrection). I’ve never heard of the term “boar glue” before, so I looked it up and immediately regretted it. For those who are curious, Google at your own risk. As the owner of a guinea pig myself, imagining distorted guitars under my pet Hippo’s incessant squeaking makes him somewhat more tolerable. It might be worth starting my own side band with Hippo on vocals, that way he can sing for his supper.
On the topic of pigs, the last band I’ll be highlighting is Pig Cage, a death metal band from China that uses samples of pigs squealing and grunting for the vocals. The enigmatic man behind the project, known only as Maihem, gets his pig sounds from field recordings of farms near his home, as well as from internet videos. In 2018, he put out his only album Screaming pig in China. In a way, it’s genius getting pigs to do your vocals, since the Chinese government tends to crack down on most aggressive forms of music.
It should go without saying that none of these bands have ever played live or have gone on tour. Touring is rough enough for humans, but it would be even more stressful to a confused pet. Nevertheless, the possibilities are endless for animal metal. It’s only a matter of time before a black metal band tries to get a goat to scream for them. Or maybe we can teach a chimpanzee to sing for a handcore band (just keep it away from the moshpit because those things can be vicious). As for cats, they’re not the least bit interested in joining your metal band, so don’t even bother.
Chris Aitkens, aka The Frog, is the host of SEWER SPEWER on CJLO every Monday at 12:00 p.m.
How do you like your Pop?
International Women's Week continues as we take a look at some pop icons!
Madonna - Queen of Pop
Madonna has never been afraid to express her sensuality or sexuality through her music or performances. Madonna has 7 Grammy’s including Best Pop Album, Best Electronic/Dance Album and Best Long Form Music Video. Madonna is a queer icon in her own right and in the eyes of those within the LGBTQ+ community as she has been an outspoken advocate for queer rights.
Allie X
Canadian enigma Allie X is a masterclass of glossy electropop that occasionally borders on gritty surrealism. Her journey within the music industry took many different routes. Growing up, she studied classical piano and voice at Michigan’s Interlochen Arts Academy and graduated from Sheridan College’s Musical Theater Performance program. In 2012, she was selected as a member of the inaugural Slaight Family Music Centre residency at The Canadian Film Centre. Her mixture of bubblegum hooks with soaring vocals sharpened by past musical theatre training is most prevalent in debut EP CollXtion I, which contains earnest songs about bitterness stemming from unrequited love. Her debut live performance took place in April 2015 as part of a two-day residency at Montreal’s Phi Centre. With her spellbinding stage effects, unique artistic vision, and hyper focus on peculiarity, Allie X is definitely an act to keep your eye on.
Standout song: Sanctuary (either the studio or official live version)
Taking a Look at Upcoming Film My Salinger Year
My Salinger Year from director Philippe Falardeau was a success at last year’s closing screening for the Festival du nouveau cinéma. The film has continued on a successful run of festival circuits to much critical acclaim. My Salinger Year comes out in theatres, where open, and streaming services this Friday, March 5.
The two big stars of the film are Margaret Qualley (Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood) as Joanna and Sigourney Weaver (Alien, Avatar) as Margaret. Aspiring writer-poet Joanna leaves Berkeley, California with her boyfriend Karl to move to New York. She takes a job at one of New York’s oldest literary agencies, run by Margaret. Unbeknownst to Joanna, one of the agency’s clients is the reclusive author J.D. Salinger, famed author of The Catcher in the Rye. The film also co-stars some Canadian actors Colm Feore (Bon Cop Bad Cop) and Théodore Pellerin (Boy Erased, Never Rarely Sometimes Always), just to name a few.
I can’t wait to catch up with this film when it is released, having not had the time to see its run at last year’s Festival du nouveau cinéma. Having also read The Catcher in the Rye last year, I am definitely looking forward to putting My Salinger Year on my watch list when it rolls out to theatres and streaming services.
Remi and Danny host At The Movies, which can be heard every Tuesday morning from 8:00 - 9:00AM. Tune in for discussions about movies, soundtracks, and iconic film scores. At The Movies also covers film festivals that are located in Montreal.
Heartfelt Artistry
The Influential Women in Music series continues with two soulful artists.
Ella Fitzgerald - Queen of Jazz
Born in Newport News, Virginia in 1917, Ella Fitzgerald was an American jazz singer who has gone by various names such as Queen of Jazz and First Lady of Song. Fitzgerald was known to have a diverse voice as she was able to move between singing “sultry ballads, sweet jazz and imitate every instrument in the orchestra.” Ella Fitzgerald won 13 Grammys and would sell over 40 million records. Fitzgerald released her first album Ella Sings Gershwin, now called Pure Ella, in 1950. In 1987, she received the National Medal of Art by President Ronald Reagan. Fitzgerald passed away on June 15, 1996.
Kathryn Gallagher
With a string of sadcore guitar melodies and brutally honest lyrics, Los Angeles and New York City based artist Kathryn Gallagher is most likely to be found on playlists designed to reflect on hard times. Her unique wailing and ‘cry’ vocal techniques lend authenticity in presenting milestone moments that occur on a journey of emotional catharsis. Outliers include the catchy upbeat love song “I’ll Get the Coffee” and the sweetly sentimental track “Nostalgic for the Moment”. She connects with fans in an intimate setting, hosting Instagram live concerts featuring originals and cover songs alike. To promote “Nostalgic”, she created a TikTok challenge for fans to use a section of the song to share their own videos reminiscing on moments of connection and warmth.
Performing double duty as an actress, Gallagher has been a cast member in two Broadway musicals - LA based theatre company Deaf West’s adaptation of Spring Awakening, and Jagged Little Pill, a jukebox musical using songs from the iconic Alanis Morissette album. Her performance in the latter recently earned her a Tony Award nomination.
Metal My Movie - Her Smell
Influential Women in Music
To kick off International Women’s Day programming, we’re showcasing individual picks for influential women in music throughout the week.
Aretha Franklin - Queen of Soul
Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Aretha Franklin was a singer, songwriter, actress, pianist and civil rights activist. Aretha Franklin is known to be the defining star of the “golden age of soul music of the 1960s.” Franklin’s musical career spans over 7 decades and during that time she was able to amass 18 Grammys and six American Music Awards. Franklin also received three special awards from the Grammys, the Legend Award, Lifetime Achievement Award and MusiCares Person of the Year. She is known for hits such as “Respect”, “I Say a Little Prayer” and “Freeway of Love”. Aretha Franklin has sold over 75 million records worldwide and had held the top spot of having the most songs to debut on the Billboard Top 100 before being dethroned by Nicki Minaj in 2017. While she is known as the Queen of Soul, she has also produced gospel and R&B tracks.
In August 2018, Aretha passed away from pancreatic cancer. While I didn’t grow up listening to Aretha Franklin it’s quite clear that she has had a great impact on the music industry. There have been multiple artists who have said the Queen of Soul has had an influence on the musical stylings of other artists such as Jennifer Hudson or Luther Vandross. While she may be gone, her legacy lives on.
Halsey
Singer/songwriter Halsey first appeared on my radar in early 2015 after a friend sent me a link to their “Ghost - 1 Mic 1 Take” performance. Born Ashley Nicolette Frangipane, she took inspiration from an upbringing in New Jersey and New York. The moniker itself is both an anagram of their birth name and a nod to Halsey Street in Brooklyn, which they credit as being the birthplace of her song writing journey. She skyrocketed to mainstream success with debut album Badlands, released on August 28th, 2015. Debuting at #2 on the Billboard 200 chart, the album touring cycle ended with a headlining show at Madison Square Garden, where presale tickets sold out in 24 hours. Their follow up album Hopeless Fountain Kingdom was released in 2017, debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart. This achievement was doubly monumental as she was the first woman that year to have a number one charting album.
Halsey’s down to earth persona and relatability easily settled into a new niche of modern dark pop. Their lyrics read as an untouched journal entry written from the perspective of someone discovering themselves in a rapidly changing world while trying to stay connected to what is familiar. Her blend of ethereal, emotionally gripping alternative/electro pop that touches on topics such as LGBTQ+ relationships, mental health, and complicated family dynamics, is partially inspired by personal experience. Her influence as a public figure extends to an involvement in advocacy work. In June 2020, they launched the Black Creators Fund. Entirely funded by the Halsey team, the initiative aims to provide “resources, information, and points of contact” for Black creators to help them launch their platforms. The combination of her unique discography, artistic process, and usage of their platform to encourage involvement with social justice activism, has made them a household name.
Metal March Has Arrived
Well, well, well… if it isn’t March. You have some nerve showing your ugly mug here.
In all seriousness, I know March hasn’t been the best month over the past year. It marks the anniversary of a pandemic which has changed all our lives and, frankly doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. So… happy birthday, Pandemic …I guess?
We, at CJLO, have our own anniversary to celebrate this year in March. It’s the 5-year anniversary of our celebration of all things loud, dark, and aggressive. That’s right everyone, Metal March is back AGAIN!
Now, normally we’d be planning out concerts and events to hang out with you and revel in ear-splitting sounds for the whole month, obviously that’s not the case this year. Hell, we can’t even go into our own station to hold our usual Metal Overnight, where bands play live in studio and all of the DJs are slowly driven mad by the lack of sleep until, like all good horror movies, the sun rises, and everything returns to normal.
This year, rather than throw a big party to celebrate, we’re treating it like one of the lesser birthdays. Not the normal 5, 10, 18, 20, 21, and then every ten years type of bash this year, no no. This is a “stay at home and have a nice night at home and a tasteful order-in dinner” type of birthday. A scaled back affair. But worry not, because we still have some events and special programming for you to enjoy!
First off, in case you didn’t know, during the first week of March CJLO is going to be celebrating International Women’s Day, and the metal shows are no exception. Be sure to tune in to all of the usual metal shows as they showcase some of the most talented women in metal, whether they be the lead singer, a fierce drummer, or a blazin’ guitarist.
And, in case you want to feel old, much loved (and might I add Best Metal Record of All Time) Master of Puppets by Metallica turns 35 on March 3rd, and we at CJLO have some things to say about this album and the immense impact it has had on us and on metal music. Why not join us for a roundtable discussion set to air on the album’s release date featuring Chris the Frog from Sewer Spewer, JP and Hunter from The Iron Club, and our Head Music Director and host of The Waiting Room, Calvin.
Of course, we all know Montreal is a hotspot for metal. This year we thought we’d take a day and play the discography of one of the most famous locals in the metal scene, Voivod, who have been pushing the boundaries since their inception in 1982. Keep up to date on when we air a huge chunk of Voivod’s discography uncut for you to hear by checking out all of our social media.
Speaking of social media, that brings us to the biggest part of our month-long celebration, which is our “band advent calendar.” Each day, we highlight albums from bands that were either played a bunch by DJs at CJLO or that we really like. And much like a holiday advent calendar, you get a treat out of the deal in the form of a FREE album EVERY DAY with a BONUS on the weekend in the form of an all-metal edition of “Saturday Singles Club!”
That’s right, all of these bands are making their album or singles Pay What You Want on the day they’re featured, so you could get them for 0 dollars if you’re strapped for cash. But, if you’re not, why not help bands out since they been hit particularly hard in the wallets this year thanks to COVID cutting off their touring revenue. Be sure to connect with CJLO on all our social media platforms so you don’t miss your new favorite record!
And, on top of all of that, CJLO DJs on your favorite shows will be doing special programming, making special loud or metal episodes of their shows. Don’t know where to start? Well, if you want shows that are definitely going to be playing loud tunes all month (and every month), check these out:
- Sewer Spewer – Monday noon - 1PM
- BVST – Wednesday 7 – 9PM
- Grade A Explosives – Sunday 4 – 7PM
- The Noisy Loft – Sunday 7 – 9PM
- The Iron Club – Sunday 9 – 11PM
Stay tuned to CJLO for more information as the month progresses and be sure to check back here every Monday for a special “Metal Monday” article, where one of our very own metal DJs puts down their thoughts about whatever random topics they want to discuss.
So, bang your head, pump those fists, and raise the horns because Metal March is back, and you don’t want to miss one hot second.
Pages
Staff Login | Advertise | Our Location | RSS | Contact Us
