Come for a Ride

Performing as Mantler or his current nom de plume Marker Starling, Chris A. Cummings has cemented his status as a treasure of Toronto music. This month sees the release of his latest album, High January, another gorgeous collection of understated pop songs featuring contributions from Stereolab's Laetitia Sadier and production by The High Llamas' Sean O. Hagan. While the world remains locked down in self-isolation, Chris joins us for a remote discussion of his creative history, international connections, and one of the sweetest lists of local shout outs yet. 

Paul Erlichman is a Toronto music mainstay gearing up to release the latest album from his sophisti-pop solo project, Elrichman. The excellently titled Heaven's Mayor hits the shelves next month from his new label home of Madrid, Spain's Bobo Integral. Our conversation spans a variety of topics from Paul's previous projects to the politics of band names, orchestral arrangements, cops on horses, R.L. Stine, and family recipes for cream of wheat.

James Baley grew up singing in the church, but has since moved on to Motown covers, house music, and dazzling performances with U.S. Girls. That's his voice on her singles "Pearly Gates" and "Overtime," where he unleashes gospel-style screams in a gale force duet with the sax solo of E Street Band member Jake Clemons. In one of our funniest episodes, James joins us to talk about early inspirations, collaborations, fashion, ballroom culture, and upcoming plans for his own solo project.

Today we're excited to welcome to the pod Toronto electronic musician Gabe Knox! He releases retro-futuristic instrumental sounds under his own name with the UK label Polytechnic Youth, as well as with the duo project Analytica. Together with David Lush of Memorex, they explore vocal-driven pop in the tradition of 1980s New Romantics. To celebrate the release of their new LP, Analytica will make a rare live performance in Toronto on Friday, February 21st at the Remix Lounge. Check out Gabe's music in the links below! https://gabeknox.bandcamp.com/ https://analytica.bandcamp.com/

Today's guest is Canadian icon and riot punk pioneer, Bif Naked! Bif discusses what it is like to shake up the ol' boys club - both back in the day, and today.  We talk about her extensive catalogue, her groundbreaking presence in music over the last several decades, prankin' with Green Day and preview her new single, Jim, out today!  What an honour, check it out! You can follow us on twitter @comeforaride and on instagram @comeforearidepod

Today's episode features the fantastic vocalist and front person, Jesse Crowe.  They join us to discuss prairie punks, Heaven, Beliefs, Praises, the L word, Hand Drawn Dracula, dance, Degrassi and so much more. Check out PRAISES on March 27 at Monarch Tavern. Check us out at @comeforaride on Twitter and @comeforaridepod on Instagram.

Our guest this week is drummer, photographer, and barber extraordinaire Don Pyle! He joins us to talk about his Toronto punk history, the G.G. Allinification of the local scene, Suicide, The Screamers, Crash Kills Five, Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet, Greek Buck, busting out of gay cliches, scoring for films and TV, leaving Long Branch, and more!

It's our longest episode yet with comedian, podcaster, and punk singer Nick Flanagan! He joins us to talk about his formative experiences in Toronto, Teen Crud Combo, Brutal Knights, Wrong Hole, The Queen Haters, Nathan Fielder, Scott Thompson's punk band Mouth Congress, and more! Follow Nick at the following links: https://twitter.com/theflans https://www.ko-fi.com/nickflanagan https://www.theflans.com/ https://nickflanagan.bandcamp.com/

Founder of Headless Owl Records and band manager Niko Stratis is our guest today! Niko joins us to talk about growing up in the Yukon, Beastie Boys, CanCon classics and deep cuts and so much more. Follow us on twitter @comeforaridepod and on instagram @comeforaride    

For this very special episode - we are excited to bring you our favourites from 2019. Check out our Youtube playlist of today's tunes SONGS: Laura Barrett – “Just The Same as Always” Jose Contreras – “Grand Central Station”Basia Bulat – “Your Girl”Carmen Elle – “Every Single Day”Andre Ethier – “Froggy"Matthew “Doc” Dunn – “Ribbons”Deliluh – “Freeloader Feast”Sandro Perri – “Wrong About The Rain”Quaker Parents – “Improbable Friendship 1999”Haviah Mighty feat. Omega Mighty – “Wishy Washy”Wild Black – “Moon Star Lover”Orville Peck – “Dead of Night”MISCZYK feat. Chandra – “Bad Ride”Ducks Unlimited – “Get Bleak”Eliza Niemi – “Exercise”Evan Cartwright – “Should I?”Badge Époque Ensemble feat. Dorothea Paas – “Zealous Child”Badge Époque Ensemble feat. James Baley – “Undressed In Solitude”Just John and Dom Dias – “Pull Up”Xuan Ye and chik white – “Long May I Sleeppppp”Absolutely Free feat. U.S. Girls – “Currency”Rick White and Eiyn Sof - "Space"Daphni – “Sizzling”Doomsquad – “Let Yourself Be Seen”New Chance – “Overworked”Korea Town Acid – “Want U”Ice Cream – “Dove’s Cry”The Cosmic Range – “The Gratitude Principle”Eucalyptus – “Something Sparkly”Colin Fisher Quartet – “Living Midnight”Shabason / Gunning – “Bois Blanc”Carl Didur – “When The Going Is Smooth And Good”Protruders – “Poison Future”Scooter Jay – “Treat Me Like Leather”Hugh Man – “Creepy”Weak Hands – “Put It On Me”Pretty Matty – “Another Shot”Moscow Apartment – “Orange”L Con – “Winner"Beams – “Sweet Tea”Nyssa – “I Don’t Want To Live On The Moon Without You”Anamai – “Dream Baby”Suitcase Sam – “Honey I Know”Weaves – “Internet Tears”Scott Hardware – “Bound Together”Cindy Lee – “Heavy Metal” Visit us on twitter @comeforaridepod And instagram @comeforaride    

What a delight! Today's episode features a multi-disciplinary dynamo of Toronto's music scene: Laura Barrett! We discuss dinner theatre, pianos and kalimbas, The Hidden Cameras, Henri Fabrege and The Adorables, and her new record, "Who Is The Baker?" available now on Paper Bag Records. Follow us on Twitter: @comeforaridepod and Instagram: @comeforaride  

This week we welcome Tago Mago to Baby Pineapple Studio to discuss drag, punk, queerness, Simply Saucer, pizza with contempt and so much more!   Follow us on Twitter: @comeforaridepod and Instagram: @comeforaride

On this episode our guests are Ice Cream’s Carlyn Bezic and Amanda Crist! This month, the shredding electronic pop duo celebrate the release of their new album Fed Up. Check it out below and follow us on social media! https://icecreeeammm.bandcamp.com/album/fed-up https://mobile.twitter.com/comeforaridepod https://www.instagram.com/comeforaride/

This week our guest is Victoria Cheong (a.k.a. New Chance) to celebrate the release of her Hardly Working EP! She is an electronic artist, DJ, and one of Toronto's most prolific collaborators, lending her voice to Jennifer Castle, Chandra, and reggae legend Willi Williams. Check out her music at the link below, and follow Come For A Ride on social media! https://www.newchance.biz/ https://twitter.com/comeforaridepod https://www.instagram.com/comeforaride/

For the debut episode of our podcast, we welcome By Divine Right's José Contreras, the writer of our theme song! Check out his new solo album, At The Slaughterhouse, and follow us at our social media accounts. Links below! https://headlessowlrecords.bandcamp.com/album/at-the-slaughterhouse https://twitter.com/comeforaridepod https://www.instagram.com/comeforaride/