Plumtree Live!

I know there are at least a few readers to this blog that have heard of the late great all-girl Halifax band, Plumtree. If you are not familiar with the band, have a look from their Wiki-bio.

Plumtree was formed in 1993, when the original line-up of the band were teenagers. Carla Gillis (aged 17) on vocals and guitar, sister Lynette (14) on drums, Amanda Braden (15) guitar and vocals and Nina Martin (16) on bass. In their 7 years of existance, they produced 3 full-length CD's, one EP and five 7" singles. In 1996, they were awarded a YTV achievement award for the best Canadian band under twenty and appeared on the nationally broadcasted show. Their popularity was helped by the fact around this time, a boom of great young bands sprung up in the Maritimes region (Sloan, Jale, Eric's Trip), that gained national and American attention (think, Sub Pop!). Plumtree earned a solid fan base with their down to earth, fresh approach to indie-rock that took them on tour throughout Canada and the US. They toured with bands such as, Superfriendz, Thrush Hermit, Inbreds, Weakerthans and the Local Rabbits.

I had the pleasure of seeing the band 4 times during their last tour in 2000 and I wished I had discovered them sooner. About a year ago, in one of my past blog postings I talked about meeting the band after a show and about how I recorded their shows I attended (Also you can still download the Flutterboard cassette ep). If there is interest, I could transfer some of my tapes to CD (or mp3's) and post some more live Plumtree.

Today, I have a recording that was broadcast on the CBC during a East Coast Music Awards showcase concert. Plumtree played a short set (I'm not sure if this was edited down) at the Halifax Convention Centre on January 31, 1998. The sound quality is excellent, as it's a radio broadcast, but there is a glitch between Effin' and You Just Don't Exist, I must have knocked the tuner dial or something as I lost reception for a few seconds, other than that, it's good.
Enjoy!

PLUMTREE
Halifax Convention Centre
Halifax, NS
January 31, 1998
FM Broadcast

1. Hang Up Baby
2. Fatherhood
3. The Game's Over
4. Sodium Chloride
5. Effin'
6. You Just Don't Exist
7. Racing Gloves
8. Go! / outtro.

PLUMTREE- 1-31-98. rar

Jale- Closed EP

This is my very first blog entry written on my brand-new laptop I purchased yesterday. Having the portability and availability (instaed of having to share the desktop with my wife and daughter), I now have the freedom to post new entrys from anywhere and hopefully more often.

Two of my co-workers are presently on the East Coast on vacation (with a third following next week) and it got me thinking of the great Canadian bands that have come from out East, specifically Halifax. Sloan, Superfriendz, Thrush Hermit, Plumtree and Jale, but to name a few.

The late great Jale formed in 1993 and released two fine full-length CD's, a handful of 7"ers and an EP. Their EP, Closed was released between their first album, Dreamcake and their last, So Wound. It still featured their original lineup of Jennifer Pierce, Alyson MacLeod, Laura Stein and Eve Hartling, if you take the first letter of their first name, you have JALE. I never had the chance to see Jale live, but I almost did during their last tour when they were scheduled to play our town, but the tour was abruptly cancelled when guitarist Eve Hartling announced she was pregnant and unable to complete the tour, the band soon after disbanded in 1996. The other three members of the band reformed as the Vees, but more on them later.
Enjoy!

JALE
Closed (1995)
1. Nine Years Now
2. Wash My Hands
3. Jesus Loves Me
4. Long Way Home
5. Double Edge

Download: Jale-Closed EP. rar