NEW VIDEO: Actual Factual

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I’ve been creating some pieces loosely inspired by Ken Nordine’s Word Jazz – narration over background music.

Nordine is one of my early, big influences. He told tales and made commentary on the world with a fabulous, mellifluous voice over the sounds of cool jazz by the Fred Katz group.

I listened to the albums over and over and over when I was a kid.

First up is “Actual Factual”, a laid-back groove in which I have something to say about disinformation. Of course, there is accordion.

Enjoy the video on our YouTube channel. Please hit the like button and subscribe to our channel. That’s a super easy way to support us.

Listen to the audio file on our BandCamp.

Video: Dead Air – a rock/pop tune with dub stylings

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Dead Air is a rock/pop tune with vintage dub stylings. The lyrics describe that feeling when you finally leave for good.

Try singing along. It is very satisfying.

The fab noir-inspired illustrations are by multi-talented artist Wendy Pires (Instagram: @_wkpires)

Watch the new video on our YouTube channel.

For a high quality audio file, go to our BandCamp.

Mixed and mastered by Wally Sound at the Wally Sound, Oakland, California.

Featuring:
Johny Blood: tuba
Ian Luke: drums
Maggie “Mags” Martin: accordionist, vocals, composer, bass & synths
Mark Nemoyten: trumpet
Gary “GDub” Wium: guitar

the Mad Ms project: However Improbable

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“However Improbable” is a confection of ska, border polka, country, dance and brass band. The tune, written by yours madly, is a perfect example of the Mad Maggies “Hard to Describe, Easy to Love” style.

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.

-– Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, stated by Sherlock Holmes

Watch the video However Improbable on our YouTube channel.

The video features fantastic, detailed illustrations by Montreal artist Daniel Fiorito.

For a high quality audio file, go to our BandCamp.

the Mad Ms project: Surely, Shirley

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Will Shirley ever notice Sam?

Will they fall in love?

To find out, watch the video now.

The video features whimsical sketches by artist Mason Fernandez.

If you’re like me and have some word nerd in you, you will enjoy the homonyms, internal rhymes and expressions.

And with the handy onscreen lyrics, you can sing along.

For a high quality audio file, listen on the Mad Maggies BandCamp.

Mixed and Mastered by Wally Sound at the Wally Sound, Oakland, California

the Mad Ms project: Groove d’Hiver

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After so much warm, humid here in Montréal, it is hard to believe that the streets were covered in snow just a few months ago.

Enjoy a very snowy, wintry trip through the streets of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Montreal, Quebec while listening to The Mad Maggies’ release Groove d’Hiver* (Winter Groove), a dub-infused instrumental.

Watch and like on YouTube.

Listen to a high quality audio file on our BandCamp. 

 

The Streets of Montreal. I had big fun filming the hood during snow storms. Each shot had to have snow falling.

The streets I wandered looking for video shots for Groove d’Hiver are specifically the streets of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve (Ho-Ma) and Viauville, two neighbourhoods on the eastern side of the island of Montréal which border the St. Lawrence River.

Before the Europeans came, Iroquois inhabited the area. By the early 1800s, it was a rural village, then a working class slum, then a busy manufacturing district. By the 1980s, the manufacturing sector had shrank and the economic decline hit the area hard. There is some rebound now because of the affordability of the real estate.

All this history makes the area’s urban landscape a hodgepodge of blight and gentrification. There’s Beaux Arts architecture from its glory days, remnants of factories, blocks of condos, empty storefronts and plenty of graffiti. Alleyways thread through the backs of most streets, some rough and ignored, some family friendly and “greened”. Copper-clad church steeples are everywhere.

the Mad Ms project: Within the Wyrd

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I haven’t been letting a pesky pandemic stop me from writing and producing music. 🙂

We — the Mad Maggies — have been recording tracks remotely and sending them to Wally Sound in Oakland, CA for mixing.

In December ’21, we released “Within the Wyrd“, a cool groove with shades of first wave ska.

Enjoy the danceable, retro feel. Kick off your shoes, turn up the volume and shake what you got.

Mixed and Mastered by Wally Sound at the Wally Sound, Oakland, California
 
Johny Blood: tuba
Ray Fernandez: saxophone
Ian Luke: drums
Maggie “Mags” Martin: accordionist, composer/arranger
Mark Nemoyten: trumpet
Tim Sarter: bass
Ned Stone: trombone
Gary “GDub” Wium: guitar

Why Wyrd?
In Norse mythology, under the huge tree of life, Yggdrasil, there is a well. This well is called the Well of Wyrd (Well of Urðr). Three Norns tend to Yggdrasil every day by bringing water from the well to the tree to keep it green and healthy.

These beings of time, Urðr (what was), Verðandi (what is) and Skuld (what will be) are said to spin our destinies.

I think of the “Wyrd” as the twists and turns of our lives, a weaving of experiences — some ordinary, some extraordinary. We’re all in this tapestry of life together.

Music from everywhere flows around and through us. It flows from the past to the future. In Within the Wyrd, the sounds flow from the Caribbean to the Northern realms to the west coast of California.

🎶 🎶 🎶 🎶 🎶

New song: Reva’s Revelation

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A New Release!

The Mad Maggies’ new song Reva’s Revelation is now available in high quality audio download from our BandCamp: https://musicshop.themadmaggies.com/track/revas-revelation

I named the tune for the main character in the wonderful Swedish movie “Border”. This fantastical tale of self-discovery by director Ali Abbasi is a must-see.

Over the last ten years, my love Gary and I have crossed the North American continent twice by train and over 7 times by car, besides several times by plane.

I especially love the open road and videotaped many stretches along the way.
You can see some of that footage in the video.

Enjoy!

Scott Renfort, 1952-2019

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Our friend and musical colleague Scott died yesterday, November 26.

He was an exceptionally gifted fiddler, dedicated to the Irish/Celtic traditional music community.
We met him many years ago through our mutual friend Roxanne Oliva, who was his musical partner and, as time passed, his longtime caregiver.

The best way I can think of to honor him is by sharing his playing.

Here is a set of hornpipes and reels from the album ” 水精 Water Spirit ” which he recorded with Junji Sirota (guitar) and Robin Petrie (hammered dulcimer).

Walsh’s – The Knotted Cord – Green Groves Of Erin – The Flowers Of Redhill

 

Go mbeidh neart ceoil ann cibé áit a bhfuil tú anois, ár gcara.
(May there be plenty of music wherever you are now, our friend.)

Scott Renfort

Ceol do Lá Fhéile Pádraig 🍀🎶

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🍀🎶💚🍀🎶💚🍀🎶💚🍀🎶💚

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh!
Bain sult as na foinn seo agus tú ag caitheamh siar ar Éirinn.

Happy St. Patricks Day!
Enjoy these tunes while tipping one back for Ireland.

 

🍀🎶💚🍀🎶💚🍀🎶💚🍀🎶💚

Drunken Sailor’s Hornpipe

Teach Tábhairne Mhaillí Ní Dhuibh – Molly Black’s Tavern

Musical Priest S

Morning Star

Sleepy Maggie

#Gaeilge #StPatrickDay #theMadMaggies

New Video: Blue Ska

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The Mad Maggies have another new video. This time it’s something blue for blues waves and the blue skies ahead. Let’s dance and celebrate a little.

Enjoy our live version of the ska classic “Blue Ska” on YouTube now.

“Blue Ska” was recorded by the Cavaliers most likely in the mid-60s. The 45s I’ve seen on YouTube list J. Willacey as the writer. I can’t find much about him except that he was trained in the Alpha Boys School, a catholic educational institution in Kingston which produced some of Jamaica’s finest musicians. Willacey recorded with Lester Sterling, the Jamaican saxophonist and trumpet player best known as one of the founding members of the Skatalites.

When I first heard the tune, I loved its simple but infectious hook and its irresistible dance beat. I arranged it for us making sure we were true to the original groove and giving plenty of room for the horns to strut their stuff.

Videographer Mira Stenger caught us live at Lagunitas Beer Sanctuary. The live show audio was impressively good. Add some B-roll from our Cotati Accordion Festival show (thanks to Jeff Stafford) and other bits and I was able to edit together an authentic taste of a Mad Ms performance.

We’ve also recorded “Blue Ska” at Wally Sound and will be releasing that studio version soon.