Scroll down or click here to find out who is the TTBTGH Artist of the Year for 2005

The Best of 2005:

TTBTGH wants to hear from you! Send in your list of your favourites from 2005 and I'll post them here. You hear all the time what I like, but I want to know what you like for a change. These lists can be goofy and useless, but they also can provide valuable advice. When I see someone who's listed a bunch of things that I like and one or two that I haven't heard, it makes me want to check out those one or two things. 

Send in your list of the best of 2005. It can be your favourite albums, songs, concerts, radio shows, anything!

My list submitted to UMFM:

I'll be questioning these picks for a long time to come, but here's what I've decided on thus far. Not a lot of truly amazing records this year, but quite a few very good ones.

These are by order of the alphabet. Numbers are not my thing.

NQ Arbuckle - The Last Supper in a Cheap Town (Six Shooter)
Geoff Berner with Wayne Adams & Diona Davies - Whiskey Rabbi (Black Hen)
Elliott BROOD - Ambassador (Six Shooter)
Caitlin Cary & Thad Cockrell - Begonias (Yep Roc)
Rodney Crowell - The Outsider (Columbia)
Eliza Gilkyson - Paradise Hotel (Red House)
Paul Kelly & The Stormwater Boys - Foggy Highway (True North)
Colin Linden - Southern Jumbo (True North)
Matt Mays & El Torpedo - Matt Mays & El Torpedo (Sonic)
Shannon McNally - Geronimo (Back Porch)

My FAR Report list:

The FAR (Freeform Americana Roots) Chart is a monthly report made up by nerdy DJs like me. We contribute a list of our "favourites" and the chart is compiled. At the end of the year, we have to submit a "Far & Away" Best of list. These lists are kind of political in the sense that the smartest votes are for albums that are roots & americana, but also ones that other DJs are likely to vote for; so, I wouldn't vote for Rheostatics because they don't fit others' playlists and I wouldn't vote for someone local unless they're widely distributed and likely to be popular elsewhere (although Stu and I have ganged up to get Nathan, NQ Arbuckle, and Elliott BROOD on the list.) So, basically, don't take these albums or rankings as my absolute favourites:

FAR & Away 2005

ALBUMS OF THE YEAR 

1. Elliott BROOD: Ambassador (Six Shooter) *JR
2. NQ Arbuckle: The Last Supper in a Cheap Town (Six Shooter)
3. Paul Kelly & The Stormwater Boys: Foggy Highway (Cooking Vinyl/True North)
4. Eliza Gilkyson: Paradise Hotel (Red House)
5. Rodney Crowell: The Outsider (Columbia)
6. Caitlin Cary & Thad Cockrell: Begonias (Yep Roc)

DEBUT ALBUM

1. Sarah Borges: Silver City (Blue Corn Music)
2. Shiloh Lindsey: For My Smoke (Independent)
3. Elliott BROOD: Ambassador (Six Shooter)

VARIOUS ARTISTS/TRIBUTE ALBUM (up to 3)

1. Big Sweet Life: The Songs of Jon Dee Graham (Freedom)
2. These Times We’re Living In: A Red House Anthology (Red House)
3. This Is Americana2 (Americana Music Association)

REISSUE/HISTORIC ALBUM (up to 3) 

Hobart Smith: In Sacred Trust – The 1963 Fleming Brown Tapes (Smithsonian Folkways)
Blind Willie McTell: The Devil Can’t Hide from Me (Fuel 2000/True North)
Willie Dixon: Boss of the Chicago Blues (Fuel 2000/True North)

FEMALE ARTIST (up to 3) 

1. Eliza Gilkyson
2. Mary Gauthier
3. Shannon McNally

MALE ARTIST (up to 3) 

1. Rodney Crowell
2. NQ Arbuckle
3. John Prine

SONGWRITER (up to 3)

1. Rodney Crowell
2. Eliza Gilkyson
3. John Prine

BEST IN THE INDUSTRY (up to 3)

Julian Tuck – True North Records
Ken Beattie – Killbeat Music
 

More lists, because making lists is fun.

Shows of the Year: 

April 10 - The Lowest of the Low - Pyramid Cabaret

OK, I admit, my reasons are slightly sentimental. Earlier this same day I had a chance to interview Ron Hawkins and Stephen Stanley, two of my biggest musical idols live in the studio. This also may turn out to be their last Winnipeg show ever, if not for a long time. But aside from the sentimental reasons, it was a really damn good show, and almost nobody was there to see it. Sigh.

 July 4 - Roger Marin & Hayes Carll - High & Lonesome Club

I knew of Hayes mostly by reputation only before this. I had heard some of his stuff and had been lucky enough to have him and Roger in to chat and play live on Steel Belted Radio, so I knew he was good, but I guess I didn’t quite realize how good he really is. I love the classic Texas singer/songwriters with all my heart, and this guy is a legitimate member of that club. His songs are gritty, honest, and wonderful. With a super tight backing band and an energetic appreciative crowd out, this was one of those events that some day I’ll be able to say, “I was there.”

 July 6 - NQ Arbuckle & Carolyn Mark - High & Lonesome Club

Carolyn was the headliner, but I have no idea why. She may have been around for a long time and may know what she’s doing, but playing solo, she was no match for the hot, rockin’ NQ Arbuckle band. NQ started off strong and never let up. As much as I love Carolyn (and I do, especially live) her set was a total letdown. But even on a bad night or even following a band that was better, she’s still witty and fun. This show gets on the list thanks to NQ alone, although Carolyn had some killer guests, including Matt Allen, and Luke Doucet.

 July 9 - The Gourds - Winnipeg Folk Festival

Although they hated the festival, the festival loved the Gourds. Perhaps because they were so miserable being there, this set was one of the most electrifying sets I’ve seen. The heat was sweltering, and major technical difficulties had Kevin Russell in a fit of rage that ended the show early, but it was an amazing opportunity to see this legendary outfit, even if it is to be their only Winnipeg show ever.

July 9 - Camper Van Beethoven - Winnipeg Folk Festival

I admit, unlike many of the nerds in the audience, I hadn’t been a massive Camper Van fan back in the day. Actually, I missed them entirely. It wasn’t until I heard Luke Doucet do “Take the Skinheads Bowling” that I even knew they existed. But, as H would say, once I got to the Camper Van Beethoven party, I was there to stay. I had been listening to a lot of Camper Van before the festival, so I was super pumped about this, but I still wasn’t sure what to expect. Were these guys doing the reunion thing for the money and sleepwalking through the old songs? Were they going to go over with a typically conservative, boring Winnipeg Folk Fest Crowd? The answers are no and yes respectively. They put on a tight, rockin’, amazing set that would put younger bands to shame, and the audience ate it up. I’m not sure if I’ll ever see this band again, but boy am I glad I got at least one opportunity.

July 10 - Buddy Miller - Winnipeg Folk Festival

There was really no doubt that this show was going to be amazing. Of all the things that I was looking forward to at the festival, this was probably the biggest. I’d been listening to quite a bit of Buddy Miller’s stuff over the past year or so, and I love everything I’ve heard. I just knew that he was going to be stellar, but I don’t think that even I could have predicted how amazing he’d be. With guest appearances by a bass player Miller recruited right before his set (nice improvisation by the dude, I gotta say, he held his own well) and a “surprise” guest appearance by Emmylou (I’d heard the rumours and spotted the signs from a mile away) this was a special event that capped off an amazing festival. Good job Frayer, good job.

 July 23 - Luke Doucet - Hillside Festival, Guelph

Luke is the consummate performer. I’m sure that he was born on stage with a guitar in his hand, because he is absolutely comfortable on any stage he gets on, and it’s hard to take your eyes off of him whenever he performs. So it’s no surprise that he put on a great show in Guelph, but what was a surprise was his amazing band, which he doesn’t usually bring to Winnipeg. He played with Paul Brennan of one of Odds fame and had his girlfriend Melissa McClelland along to sing backups, but all of those seasoned vets were put to shame by Luke’s 9 year old daughter Chloe, who got up to sing Tom Waits’ “Gun St. Girl” and was a knockout.

 July 23 - Eliza Gilkyson - Hillside Festival, Guelph

One of the main reasons I went to Guelph was to see Gilkyson, so this show was either going to be a home run or a major letdown. Luckily, it was a grand slam homerun. Playing solo to a crowd that likely didn’t know much, if any of her material, Gilkyson had everyone in the crowd silent and transfixed as she told her stories and sang her powerful songs. But the real killer was her show-ending number “The Ballad of Yvonne Johnson” which inspired the crowd to stand on its feet and scream for her for a good 10 minutes, even after the stage crew goons made it clear that she wouldn’t be back for an encore. Now that’s an ovation, and that’s a way to leave ‘em wanting more.

 November 17 - Rodney Crowell - Fine Line, Minneapolis

I think that I’ve said about all that I can say about this show already. As I’ve said, I’ve seen hundreds of shows in my time, but almost none are even close to the amazing show that Crowell and his band put on. I may never need to see another show again, because this was the show to end all shows.

 November 23 - Elliott BROOD - High & Lonesome Club

But I am glad that I did see more shows, because it meant that I got to see Elliott BROOD live. I like their CDs just fine, but somehow I knew that live was going to be where it’s at for this trio, and I was right. Live, they are engaging, powerful, and very funny. I really “got” it big time after seeing the BROOD live, and one can hope that many more will have the same experience.

CD Submissions of the year:

I know it's a nice problem to have, but I get way too many CDs in the mail. The problem is that the vast majority of them are total crap. But sometimes, somehow, a good one slips into the mailbag, and boy do I appreciate it when they do.

Melwood Cutlery - Campfire
Shiloh Lindsey - For My Smoke 
Colin Brooks - Blood and Water

Interviews of the year: (all are available to download! Just right click on the file, select "Save target as" and enjoy!)

April 10 - TTBTGH - Ron Hawkins & Stephen Stanley

August 14 - TTBTGH - Eliza Gilkyson

Most Over-Rated Album:

Corb Lund - Hair in my Eyes like a Highland Steer (how could an album of lame, awful novelty songs make so many year end best of lists?)

Biggest Disappointments:

Matt Mays & El Torpedo/The Pyramid Cabaret - never in my long history of going to shows have I had to leave a show because it was too loud. I was really looking forward to the show, but I did a surprisingly mature thing by worrying about my health before worrying about missing a show.

Moe Berg & The Pursuit of Happiness - I had so much respect for Moe and the band, but this year they proved to be nothing more than shameless cash-grabbers, with a half-assed greatest hits CD and a tour of venues close to Moe's apartment. Lame. Really lame.

The Lowest of the Low break up AGAIN! - I can't say I blame them. They're working harder than ever, and sounding better than ever, but for some reason, folks just weren't giving them the respect that they deserved. 

Stu Reid's list:

Stu can be heard playing "both kinds of music" Wednesdays, 6-8 pm on 95.9 CKUW

2005 TOP TEN ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
1 - Elliott Brood – Ambassador (Six Shooter Records)
2 - James McMurtry – Childish Things (Compadre)
3 - NQ Arbuckle - The Last Supper In A Cheap Town (Six Shooter Records)
4 - Marty Stuart – Souls’ Chapel (Superlatone)
5 - Bruce Springsteen – Devils and Dust (Columbia)
6 - Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning (Saddle Creek)
7 - Son Volt – Okemah and the Melody of Riot
8 - Ridley Bent – Blam (Maple Music)
9 - Carolyn Mark – Just Married (Mint)
10-Romi Mayes and the Temporarily Employed – Living Room Sessions

RUNNERS UP
Paul Kelly – Foggy Highway (True North)
Marah – If You Didn’t Laugh You’d Cry
Various Artists – Big Sweet Life: The Songs of Jon Dee Graham
Kathleen Edwards : Back To Me (Rounder)
Loudon Wainwright III – Here Come The Choppers
Ryan Adams – Jacksonville City Nights
Amy Rigby -

TOP 5 LOCAL LIVE SHOWS
1 - Elliott Brood – Times Changed, Nov. 23
2 - Heavy Trash/The Sadies/The Fiftymen – Pyramid, Nov. 5
3 - Emmylou Harris – Winnipeg Folk Festival, July 10
4 - Sharon Jones & the DAP Kings - Jazz Winnipeg Festival, June 23/24
5 - Evan Dando – W.E.C.C., July 23

BEST OUT-OF-TOWN LIVE SHOWS
Bruce Springsteen – Northrop Aud., Minneapolis, Oct. 12
Son Volt – First Avenue, Minneapolis, Oct. 13

BEST DEBUT ALBUM
1 - Elliott Brood – Ambassador (Six Shooter Records)
2 - Ridley Bent – Blam (Maple Music)
3 – Scott H. Biram - The Dirty Old One Man Band (Bloodshot)

BEST VARIOUS ARTISTS/TRIBUTE ALBUM
1 Big Sweet Life: The Songs of Jon Dee Graham
2 Guess Who’s Home

BEST REISSUE/HISTORIC ALBUM
1 Green On Red – Here Come The Snakes (Belle Sound)
2 June Carter – Keep On The Sunny Side: Her Life In Music (Sony)
3 The Morells – Anthology Live (Almeron Records)
4 The Smithereens – Mega Box Set (self)

FEMALE ARTIST
1 Kathleen Edwards
2 Carolyn Mark
3 Amy Rigby

MALE ARTIST
1 Marty Stuart
2 Bruce Springsteen
3 James McMurtry

SONGWRITER
1 James McMurtry
2 Paul Kelly
3 Jay Farrar

BEST IN THE INDUSTRY
1 Steve Van Zandt

Kristi Kolbauer:

Kristi can be heard playing great music and trying to keep me and T-Bar in line, Thursdays, 6:30 - 8 pm on Steel Belted Free Range Radio

Barb Reimer:

Barb is a loyal listener, a good friend, and knows her music, so take her advice:

Karen Engstrom:

Easily the funniest list of the year. 

My top umfm radio shows of 2005:

1). Tell the band to go home - fantabulous host ! Even better guests and music. Love the local artist coverage. Miss some of the song names as i tap my toe along to the show and then my cat attacks my socks and I get distracted. maybe i need some better fitting ttbtgh socks.

2). Epic Retro - Just discovered this one and really enjoy the music, but its making me late for work.

3). Right on Time - Invisible Man, love the ska/reggae, and he always seems so excited about everything, its like he's late for a skappointment mon.

4). Pop Infusion - Great tunes to eat my kraft dinner by

5). Knight in the Morning - I was so upset to hear that Allan got married, fell in love with his deep sultry voice. Good r&b tunes too.  wakes me up on the drive in. sigh
 

Allison Green:

Easily the most supportive, loyal, generous listener and friend you could ask for.

top ten discs 2005:

son volt:                           okemah and the melody of riot
smog:                               a river ain't enough to love
magnolia electric co:            what comes after the blues
ryan adams:                       cold roses
damien jurado:                   on my way to absence
wolf parade:                      apologies to queen mary
charlie sexton:                   cruel and gentle things
nq arbuckle:                      last supper in a cheap town
leeroy stragger:                 beautiful house
matt mays & el torpedo:     matt mays & el torpedo


top ten gigs (victoria bc) 2005:

magnolia electric co @ lucky bar
hot hot heat @ logans
leeroy stagger & the sinking hearts @ central bar & grill
xavier rudd @ open air concert centennial square
wolf parade, dante de caro & paper cranes @ lucky bar
lowest of the low @ central bar & grill
matt mays & el torpedo and the novaks @ central bar & grill
old reliable @ logans bar
the weakerthans @ sugar
rheostatics @ sugar
 

10 top events of 2005:

Bellows Falls, Vermont "Roots On The River" Fred Eaglesmith 4 day festival June

Visiting Great Grandma Lois in Cohoes NY and then Dad & Nancy in Cape Cod in June

July Folk Fest inner harbour, ten days & tons of worldbeat music

Seeing Tim's gumboot troupe dance & open for Ladysmith Black Mombazo at Folk Fest

Having sister Margy from Arizona visit us in Victoria a week in July

Winnipeg & environs week August, especially meeting *Jeff* & being in his radio studio

Tofino long weekend camping September & celebrating Tony's & my 33d anniversary there

LIVE music in Victoria twelve months a year & Tim's two marimba bands

Receiving & using my Christmas gift digital camera 365 days this past year

Finding out we are going to be grandparents by June 2006, Pat & Tim are expecting a baby!

*meeting Jeff & Kristi & Terry & Jenna & Joey & Buddy*

Tim Green

Gigs
Wolf Parade - Lucky Bar. Small venue, and the opening local act Paper Cranes were great too!

5440 - Sugar. Awesome 2 hour set with tunes that rocked. A few new ones and all the great classics!

Hot Hot Heat - Logan's. Again, small, intimate venue! Preview of new songs!

Xavier Rudd - Summer in The Square - Outdoors at sunset. Slower songs but a decent length show. It's Xavier!

Lowest of The Low - Central Bar and Grill - Saw them twice this year, and what could have been the last for a while, were both quite awesome!

The Hidden Cameras - Central Bar and Grill - The stage antics, music, cellos, everyone dancing, great introduction to the band! Opening band: The Blow

The Weakerthans - Sugar - Another great performance by one of my favorite Canadian bands! All together with the Constantines singing Tom Petty at the end!


Albums
Wolf Parade - Apologies to The Queen Mary - Great full length from this upcoming indie band

Matt Mays and El Torpedo - Kick ass album. Powerful begining with Standdown at Sundown

Cuff The Duke - Alt-Country Rockers with an album I can always listen right through

Leeroy Stagger - Beautiful House - His sophmore album which can be found worldwide, has poppy sound with Danny Michel contributing

 

Jeff O'Leary

best cds

ryan adams - jacksonville city nights

best concerts

martyn joseph and ron sexsmith

best moment at folk festival

handsome family lead workshop

Oly Backstrom

Dan Magat

Best band of the year : Easily Amused
Best solo artist: Emm Gryner
Best website of the year: Adtunes.com
Best film of next year: Sicko by Michael Moore
Best food of the year: pizza (again)
 

Jared McKetiak

our esteemed Station Manager proves that if you send it, I will post it, and that late is indeed better than never.

ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
1. Andrew Bird - Andrew Bird & The Mysterious Production Of Eggs (Righteous Babe)
2. Elliott BROOD - Ambassador (Six Shooter)
3. Hold Steady - Separation Sunday (French Kiss)
4. Cage - Hell's Winter (Definitive Jux)
5. Sons & Daughters - The Repulsion Box (Domino)
6. The Magic Numbers - The Magic Numbers (Heavenly)
7. Spoon - Gimme Fiction (Merge)

DEBUT ALBUM

1. You Say Party We Say Die! - Hit The Floor (Independent)
2. Wolf Parade - Apologies To The Queen Mary (Sub Pop)
3. MIA - Arular (XL Recordings)

VARIOUS ARTISTS/TRIBUTE ALBUM

1. Cold Heat: Heavy Funk Rarities 1968-74 (Now Again)
2. Various Artists - The Free Design: Now Sound Redesigned (Light in The Attic)
3. Various Artists - Stubbs The Zombie (Shout!)

REISSUE/HISTORIC ALBUM

1. Can - Future Days (Mute)
2. Dark Holler: Old Love Songs & Ballads (Smithsonian)
3. Gang Of Four - Entertainment! (Rhino)

Top 5 Live Shows
1. Hold Steady @ The West End
2. Handsome Family Solo Show @ Wpg Folkfest
3. Magnolia Electric Co @ The West End
4. RJD2/Diplo @ The Pyramid
5. Evan Dando @ The West End

Best In The Industry

1. The Volunteers ( and staff ) @ UMFM
2. Jessica & George @ Fanatic Promotions

The 2005 TTBTGH Artist of the Year:

With more plays than any other artist on Tell the Band to Go Home in 2005, our official artist of the year is none other than Michael Johnston. 

I thought that it would be fun and somewhat interesting to keep some stats this year to find out which artists, albums, and songs I played the most. Thanks to a great effort, some amazing dedication, and super support by the wonderful Kristi, we were able to keep track of every song that was played on the show this year, and these are the summative reports. 
 

THANK YOU KRISTI!

The most played artists on TTBTGH in 2005:

Miscellaneous Statistics: