I love you, in the snow, in the wilderness

Fred Squire will be the artist who inaugurates our ongoing discussion here. This is fitting for several reasons, but perhaps the most important is that he has a couple of shows coming up here in Montreal. The first is on Sept. 30th at Le Cagibi, and it’s only $5. It starts at 8:00 P.M. The second is at O Patro Vys, it starts at 9. Both shows feature other amazing artists; I really hope everyone who reads this will go.

Because, friend, let me tell you, Fred Squire is an elusive guy. Google him, and you’ll find a few videos and maybe two bloggers telling you more what they don’t know about Squire than what they do. From what I’ve gathered, Fred lives in Sackville, New Brunswick and when he’s not busy playing music with his pals Julie Doiron or Dan Romano, he has an excellent solo project that has been woefully under-heard. Consider the following:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oAyxS9j0SM

There is no reason why songs of this quality should be ignored. The melody and lyrics are timeless, and Squire delivers them in a powerful yet tender voice. One of the things I like best about Fred is that he doesn’t seem to buy into what I see as a recent trend of vocal affectation. He sings sweetly, clearly, and with control. Give me his strong, enunciated baritone any day over the anguished yelps of some indecipherable wienee.

Another thing I like a lot is his guitar playing. In the video clip shown, Squire frames the melody with 1st position chords and simple bass runs in the changes. It’s very effective, but it does not betray the full extent of Squire’s mastery of the guitar. As capable as he is with acoustic folk playing, he is equally capable of tearing down the house Crazy Horse-style with his trusty electric.

A few months back, I actually ran into Squire. As luck would have it, he happened to be in Wakefield, QC, a little, beautiful town about a half hour outside of Ottawa, the night of my band’s CD release there at the Blacksheep Inn (as luck would not have it, he did not see my show). He was outside on the patio with a small entourage, inexplicably wearing 3D Glasses, which, as you may notice, he's also wearing in the video. I approached him and mentioned my admiration for his music. To my surprise and relief, he was very gracious. He asked me twice for my name, as if my acquaintance was truly valuable and not just an interruption into whatever he and his friends were doing. When I came outside again at the end of the show, he was gone. His kind gesture and, really, the whole encounter moved me in the same way his music does: it was strange, mysterious and simple; but most of all, highly enjoyable.

Please go see him, you will not regret it. Here he is again with "Boat!":

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/bg-3018759/camera_music_fred_squire_south_by_southwest_special/

speak in new tongues.

First of all, welcome to Glossolalia.

This blog was formed in the early fall of 2010. Its objectives are simple. We (although, at this time, it only me) will attempt to document interesting and perhaps unconsidered elements of the Montreal music scene. This does not necessarily mean another bearded and bespectacled band with a clever use of “wolf” or “Japan” in its name (not that there is really anything wrong with such bands).

Rather, this blog considers independent, local, or just straight-up great music that has either fallen under the radar of current music criticism or been rejected by those who dictate its tastes. We firmly believe that excellent art is created every day and deplore the fact that it is simultaneously ignored.

Now more than ever, independent criticism in North America is in need of a wake-up call. It is often smug, cliquey, and predictable. Worst of all, many of its most widely-read publications seem predicated on the notion that it is cool to remain detached and uncaring about the music they review. This is not always true, but the trend is alarming to those who care deeply.

A great writer once said: “Irony is the song of a bird that has come to love its cage”. While a simple blog like this can’t hope to drown out such a song, Glossolalia hopes to offer a positive, if small, alternative.

It is cool to care.

Music is interesting, meaningful, really, really fun to listen to, and, in my opinion, sacred. Whether we agree on that last point doesn’t really matter if you’ve followed me this far. I hope everyone who reads this will start their own blog about the music they love.

If we are sincerely interested in changing the way people talk about music, we will all have to learn to speak in new tongues.