Our Music Director Riley Jabour walks you through the songs he’s currently listening to while in self-isolation and why he’s got them spinning:

 

The Glorious Sons – Quarantine In A Rental Car

This is the first of what the Sons are calling their Isolation Songs series. It’s a little on-the-nose for a COVID-19 playlist, but it’s great to see our local boys doing what they can to help everyone cope with this weird time.

 

The Black Keys – Strange Times

You ever have a song you haven’t listened to in a while just pop into your head out of nowhere? This one just crept up on me over the last day or two. I mean, it’s maybe because these are strange times right now, but I never claimed to be deep.

 

Dan Mangan – Cold In The Summer

It’s seemed like almost every touring act on the planet came to a screeching halt over the last few days. Dan Mangan was one of them. He was set to perform the second of two sold out shows at Toronto’s Danforth Music Hall (one of my favourite venues on the planet) on Friday night when the word came down that shows are a no-go. What he did instead was record the performance to an empty building and put it up on YouTube for everyone to watch from the comfort of their social isolation chamber. Yeah, it’s a song about being sick when you don’t want to be, but it’s also got a mellow, soothing vibe and I think we could all use that right about now. Also, wholly unrelated Riley Jabour fact: Dan Mangan and I went to rival public schools for a year or two in the early 90s. Go Cannington Public School Cougars, way better than the HW Knight Hawks. Take that, Dan.

 

The Dirty Nil – Pain Of Infinity

If you look real closely in the background of that Glorious Sons video, you’ll see the album art from The Dirty Nil’s first full length hanging on the wall behind Brett. The Nil are a great three piece from the Hamilton area making crunchy classic rock inspired tunes. This track was the real standout of their most recent album.

 

Sam Coffey & The Iron Lungs – Talk 2 Her

80’s rock is alive in 2020, and it’s coming straight from Toronto’s Sam Coffey.

 

And finally… This Kid’s Cover Of Piano Man

Because it’s what’s happening inside everyone’s brain right now.

 

Try to stay clean and stay chill and we’ll all make it through this.

 

– Riley Jabour