NEW MUSIC.
FOR YOU.
FROM US.
FOR FREE.
IT’S TRUE.
And thank you to our dear friend Justin Scott for the use of his beautiful painting.
Happy xmas. xoxo.
‘Don’t Tell Anyone’. Broken City, YYC.
Hello. If you’re a member of the press and you’re looking for high-res photos, please visit our EPK.
ALL WE MAKE IS ENEMIES
All lyrics © Chris dela Torre (SOCAN)
For more information, or to purchase, visit our DISCOGRAPHY.
All We Make Is Enemies
This is the dance of the empty promise. This is the sound of our breaking bones. This is the dream that we threw in the fire. We did it all for the failure of love. It was a dream. I fell up the stairs and through the window and back to where everything began. Are you alive? Or are you a ghost with an alien charm and the illusion of calm? But it was a dream. It was only a dream. If you’re unable to talk just try waving your arms and I’ll know what you mean. The things we threw away, they all came back again to reclaim their space and original names. You keep locking the door I keep walking in. You keep giving more, I never wanted it. You keep locking the door, I keep walking in. You were right. I couldn’t wait and you were waiting in vain. All this time, I couldn’t wait. You were waiting in vain. Stop talking to me. Don’t go.
The Pull (Morgan Greenwood Mix)
There’s a pull of will and a pull of love. We spin our heels until we’re stuck. We all want to be the one to rise above. We all want the things we want to be enough.
Ladders and Snakes
I took a vow of perpetual poverty. Now I’ve got everybody thinking something’s wrong with me. I took a vow of perpetual poverty. They’re saying ‘what were you thinking?’ I’m thinking something’s wrong with you. I counted five six seven-hundred ladders and snakes. You know the market value’s climbing. Baby, act your age. We’ve got prostitutes cleaning off their dinner plates. See baby, that’s what it comes to. So tell me, what are you going to do? Oh Love, don’t turn on the light. I’ve been losing this fight all my life. It’s a concrete building in the downtown core. We’ve got a cozy little carpet on the hardwood floor. You know this inner-city living can be such a chore, but you’re friends don’t come over cuz’ your neighbourhood is such a bore. I took a vow of perpetual poverty. Now I’ve got everybody thinking something’s wrong with me. I took a vow of perpetual poverty. They’re saying ‘what were you thinking?’ Well, I’m thinking something’s wrong with me. Oh Love, don’t turn on the light. We’ve got to keep it together. Just keep it together. Forever and ever. We’ve got to keep it together.
DELUSIONS OF SAFETY
All lyrics (c) Chris dela Torre (SOCAN)
For more information, or to purchase, visit our DISCOGRAPHY.
Readymade Heart Attack
This is where you’ll always want to be. This room has everything you need. There’ll be no reason or desire to leave. This exit must always stay closed. Boarded-up doors and corridors. These barred-up windows remain closed for your protection. No worries no cares no money no bills no friends no lover don’t be late you’re on your own you’re on your own but don’t panic now it’s far too late. We’ve come prepared. It took the whole year, but your lover guards the door with all her heart. We came to mourn. Forbidden and forlorn. We ache for days when everyone would say to you ‘we’re sorry but the drugs, they just don’t work. We’re sorry but they only make things worse.’
They Can See Your Ghost
‘Children! Listen! Leave the suburbs! Children! Listen! Leave the suburbs, where culture goes to die!’. So I read in the morning paper. That’s outdated and archaic. A goddamn betamax. I wasn’t built for the modern world. I’m outdated. I wasn’t built for the modern world. I wasn’t built for these modern girls. I’ll just say it, I’m outdated. A goddamn beta. Men and women in the suburbs. Living, competing with another. Just listen to each other.
Don’t Be Alarmed (there’s a carcass)
You packed up all your things and laid them down beside the dying plants and hallway lamp that saved me more than once from a drunken fall in the dark. A beat-up suitcase and some old photographs with colours fading, they look so much older than they really are. Now that they wilted in the flood. Don’t be alarmed but they’ve found a carcass down where the crows fly ‘round in circles up above. That old light in the hall, we’ll keep it on in hopes your ghost can make it home. You packed up all your things and you threw them down and dug a hole beside the one thing that could make you think of me: the only tree without its leaves. It’s all you had to do. I’ve got the same excuse.
Autumn In Juilliard
Well, I can see you now. How you were hanging around. Oh, how I cramped your style. I really cramped your style. To watch you blow your load and put a stain on your coat. They’re spending all that dough to see your spectacle. This is not the way it was back in the day when you were young. This is not the way it was in Juilliard. And with your knitted scarf, it made you look so smart. A European car. An intellectual heart. I watched you play the part. You made it past the guards. They’re spending all that dough to see your stupid show. This is not the way it was back in the day when you were young. This is not the way it was in Juilliard.
Stop The Car
Don’t get in your car or travel on your own. There’s trouble on the road. I’ve got this crazy feeling you better stay home. You better stay home tonight. Something’s just not right. I’ve had this crazy dream for the past few nights. Flashing coloured lights. I can’t believe you bought it when they told you I was lying to make you stay the night. That’s fine. Believe what you like. But if you’ve got to go, I don’t ever want to know who you’re with or what you’ve done. If you’ve got to go, I just want to let you know that I won’t pick you up again.
L’Axis de la Conversation
‘Hi.’ ’Uh, hi.’
The Pull
There’s a pull of will and a pull of love. We spin our heels until we’re stuck. We all want to be the one to rise above. We all want the things we want to be enough. I don’t ask for much. Save your pennies cuz’ your dreams are about to come true. Just pray you never come to. We all want to be in love with what we want. We all want the things we want to be enough. I don’t ask for much. Just live by your heart and not the clock that winds you up. And I want love.
Christian Science
Have you thought about me? Or thought a little more on what you’ve done? How’s it stand without me? Jesus, where’ve you gone? And if I sing that story that brought you here, will it cancel out the burdens and burns you got from me? And if I resurrect the story that brought you here, will I get apologetic and pledge undying loyalty? Where’s your loyalty? Oh the lines you scored, the smile you wore behind the back door. You were hiding. Yeah, I knew before they found you on the floor that you were lying. So I got high. As always, I got high and kept on flying. I don’t know. Oh here we go. And I’ll be watching you and everything you say. And I’ll be watching you and everything you say. And I’ll be watching you and everything you say. And I’ll be watching you and everything you say. And I’ll be watching you and everything you say. And I’ll be watching you and everything you say. And I’ll be watching you and everything you say. And I’ll be watching you and everything you say. And I’ll be watching you and everything you say.
![THERE’S HOPE FOR YOU YET (JUST KIDDING)
All lyrics (c) Chris dela Torre (SOCAN).
For more information, visit our DISCOGRAPHY.
L’Axis de la Conversation
(Hi). [Um, hi.]
Dizzy and Drunk With Love
I go for long walks alone (me and my headphones), strolling real slow, no particular place to go. I’m just unwinding my mind like slow-mo convoes. Me and my girl on the phone lost in translation like Sophia Co. I tell her I love her and hang up the telephone. The pressures of life, they got us down real low. Together forever? These things I don’t know. Check it out. Ooh…no. So with my minidisc and mini-mic I press ‘record’. Ambient street sounds, commit to tape now. And you can’t stop starting and it just don’t stop. And it can’t stop starting and it just don’t stop. It’s the excuse I use not to commit to you, instead I keep talking about the tapes in my head. You can’t stop starting and it just don’t stop. No, you can’t stop starting and it just don’t stop. The time and the place in your life what a waste cuz’ I lie to your face. I’m dizzy and drunk with love.
The Pull
There’s a pull of will and a pull of love. We spin our heels until we’re stuck. We all want to be the one to rise above. We all want the things we want to be enough. I don’t ask for much. Save your pennies cuz’ your dreams are about to come true. Just pray you never come to. We all want to be in love with what we want. We all want the things we want to be enough. I don’t ask for much. Just live by your heart and not the clock that winds you up. And I want love.
Homemade Hearts / Highway Arteries
There could have been a situation, but I was thinking on my feet. We just avoided a disaster, unless of course, I’m still asleep. And if I am, can you remember to wake me please? But if I’m not, I’ll say I’ll miss you all, but I’m glad I’m gone. You’ll never know how close I’ve come. You’ve got your mother’s milky skin and your father’s rotting teeth, and I love you like a childhood memory. I’ll miss you all, I’m glad I’m gone. You’ll never know how close I’ve come.
Parasite
These things I feel for you, they cut me up in pieces. When you told me of your guilty truth, I wished so badly I could hurt you. We lived inside each other. We lost ourselves and left our souls to burn. You were my angel, always overly inviting. Forgot everything we needed when I sewed my heart into your hands. The eyes of everyone told us we never had to give this up. You always had the gift of changing every colour in me. Cling to imaginary shadows just so they could throw me out in the rain to realize I’m just as breakable as you. I told myself I was your hero and you couldn’t be without me kissing your tears, making you new again. The eyes of everyone had no idea we were breaking down. Parasite good night parasite I’m tired. I’m tired, good night.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kxxaehk9Gu1qzikuto1_500.jpg)
THERE’S HOPE FOR YOU YET (JUST KIDDING)
All lyrics (c) Chris dela Torre (SOCAN).
For more information, visit our DISCOGRAPHY.
L’Axis de la Conversation
(Hi). [Um, hi.]
Dizzy and Drunk With Love
I go for long walks alone (me and my headphones), strolling real slow, no particular place to go. I’m just unwinding my mind like slow-mo convoes. Me and my girl on the phone lost in translation like Sophia Co. I tell her I love her and hang up the telephone. The pressures of life, they got us down real low. Together forever? These things I don’t know. Check it out. Ooh…no. So with my minidisc and mini-mic I press ‘record’. Ambient street sounds, commit to tape now. And you can’t stop starting and it just don’t stop. And it can’t stop starting and it just don’t stop. It’s the excuse I use not to commit to you, instead I keep talking about the tapes in my head. You can’t stop starting and it just don’t stop. No, you can’t stop starting and it just don’t stop. The time and the place in your life what a waste cuz’ I lie to your face. I’m dizzy and drunk with love.
The Pull
There’s a pull of will and a pull of love. We spin our heels until we’re stuck. We all want to be the one to rise above. We all want the things we want to be enough. I don’t ask for much. Save your pennies cuz’ your dreams are about to come true. Just pray you never come to. We all want to be in love with what we want. We all want the things we want to be enough. I don’t ask for much. Just live by your heart and not the clock that winds you up. And I want love.
Homemade Hearts / Highway Arteries
There could have been a situation, but I was thinking on my feet. We just avoided a disaster, unless of course, I’m still asleep. And if I am, can you remember to wake me please? But if I’m not, I’ll say I’ll miss you all, but I’m glad I’m gone. You’ll never know how close I’ve come. You’ve got your mother’s milky skin and your father’s rotting teeth, and I love you like a childhood memory. I’ll miss you all, I’m glad I’m gone. You’ll never know how close I’ve come.
Parasite
These things I feel for you, they cut me up in pieces. When you told me of your guilty truth, I wished so badly I could hurt you. We lived inside each other. We lost ourselves and left our souls to burn. You were my angel, always overly inviting. Forgot everything we needed when I sewed my heart into your hands. The eyes of everyone told us we never had to give this up. You always had the gift of changing every colour in me. Cling to imaginary shadows just so they could throw me out in the rain to realize I’m just as breakable as you. I told myself I was your hero and you couldn’t be without me kissing your tears, making you new again. The eyes of everyone had no idea we were breaking down. Parasite good night parasite I’m tired. I’m tired, good night.
June 17, 2013
Things are getting very exciting around here lately. Sled Island kicks off this week, and we’re very happy to be playing the festival this coming Thursday June 20. We’re headlining a bill that also includes Jessica Jalbert and Kenna Burima, two musicians that we greatly admire.
As you know, our new album is finally in our hot little hands. Although our CD-release is not scheduled until September (details to come)…we thought we’d make a few copies available exclusively at our Sled Island show.
We hope to see you this Thursday at The Palomino. Bring an extra $10 and pick up our new record. Email us at axisofconversation (at) gmail dot com to reserve your copy.
Happy summer. — AxiCon
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May 14, 2013
Hi. Look what showed up on my doorstep today:
Also, we hope you’ve picked up tickets for our upcoming show with The Crackling. Jon Gant has been added to the lineup, too. Get yer tix here: http://www.ticketfly.com/event/270269-crackling-axis-conversation-calgary/
xo,
cdt
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February 21, 2013
Today I listened to our mastered album for the first time. We started recording two years and 11 months ago today.
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December 21, 2012
‘Isa’ was written and recorded in 2.5 hours with an 1980s Yamaha keyboard, a snare hit from a 1972 funk record and a kaoss pad.
‘Take Off Your Coat’ was recorded in two afternoons with a guitar, an ebow, a loopstation and a toy keyboard.
They both come from an unused pile of sketches originally intended for our upcoming, “long-awaited”, ALMOST FINISHED record.
Speaking of which…Reuben and I spent the entire fall mixing this motherf*cker (the full-length, I mean). THE ENTIRE FALL. Early on (last year?), I told him this would be the kind of album in which it’s success lies upon its mix. I knew there would be a long and sometimes painful period of back-and-forth’s, of disagreements and (ear) fatigue. And there was. But it was worth it. Trust me on this one.
You’ll find out soon. The album will soon be on it’s way to sunny California for mastering.
In the meantime, enjoy Isa, Take Off Your Coat!
And have a lovely Christmas.
CdT / AoC / TLC / OPP / YaYouKnowMe
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October 30, 2012
Here’s one of several illustrations from the upcoming artwork for our new record, courtesy of the very talented Heather Kai Smith.
And they say no one cares about packaging anymore.
CdT
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October 10, 2012
Here now is a video from my recent visit to Toronto as more “proof” that we’ve been “busy” this year.
Also, as you may have seen on our Facebook, we’ve decided to come out of the woodwork to play Vicious Circle in Calgary this coming Sunday Oct 14. We’ve had some nice times at that bar and we thought we’d bid it adieu before it turns into an empty space the next day.
Christopher dT
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June 01, 2012
Hi. I’m proud to announce that we’re finishing our album with the great Arran Fisher (The Summerlad, Woodpigeon, SAvK, etc). I wish I could play you what we were working on as this picture was taken, but there’ll be time enough for countin’ when the dealin’s done.
Also, since I’m terrible at keeping this thing updated, please mark your calendars on July 27 with a big ‘x’ with a heart around it. Axis of Conversation will be playing with Ghostkeeper (!) at the Grey Eagle Casino (?). Yeah. The Grey Eagle Casino.
And we’d also like to congratulate Double Fuzz, Rockets and Dinosaurs and The Suppliers on winning Xposure. We’re honoured to have made the Top 10.
Keep fit and have fun.
Hal J.
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March 16, 2012
After many years of writing, consulting and re-writing, we are proud to announce Axis of Conversation has been awarded an Art Project grant from the Alberta Foundation For The Arts.
Therefore, we can announce with 100% certainty that the album we have been working on for the past two years WILL BE COMPLETED AND RELEASED AS EARLY AS FALL 2012.
Thank you to AFFTA for all of their very kind consideration. And to our Shelly, who did the heavy lifting.
xo.cdt.
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February 16, 2012
Our radio silence continues. But the worst is over.
You might be wondering about our album. All that is left to do is (most) strings and vocals, plus a few odds and ends. Then we will be mixing with an old friend in Toronto. :)
In the meantime, go out and see our dear Matthew Doherty this spring as he tours Canada with the amazing Samantha Savage Smith. He also started an awesome two-piece band called High Kicks with Dan Vacon from The Dudes. They’re so new that they don’t even exist on the internet yet. But they’re a must-see, folks.
We love you and owe you our lives for your patience. Seriously.
CdT
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October 18, 2011
Hello. Here is possible proof that we are alive and actually making something:
Also…we’re coming out of hiding again to play three (3!!!!) shows in Calgary between Oct 25-Nov 4. Please see the SHOWS page for details and plan to be there. That would make us very happy.
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September 1, 2011
Our machine is molasses. We trudge and crawl and smoulder along, but we always get where we need to go.
And at last, we are home.
We’re very happy to be finally playing a show in our hometown of Calgary in full capacity for the first time since January. We will be joined by We Were Lovers (Saskatoon), Hunger Hush (yyc) and Paperboy (Kelowna). We also hope to be joined by you.
xoxo, AxiCon
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July 21, 2011
Hello. Since we last spoke, we’ve drove some miles, flown on a plane, reunited with our prodigal drummer, played a show or two, spent a good chunk of time away from each other…and, as per usual…had more babies!
Congrats to our Shelly and her husband Tynan on the birth of their third child, Eli Matthys Groves. We have yet to meet him but we already know he is beautiful, thanks in part to the magic of the internet. The birth of young Eli officially means there are now as many AxiCon children as there are AxiCon band members. Our legacy is secure.
We will spend the rest of the summer huddled away in our corners, working on our record and on some newer stuff I’ve been writing. My fingers are crossed that at least a few of these will make the album too.
Unfortunately, it will be a while before we play another show. We hope the wait will be worth it when we re-emerge with new stage postures, new haircuts and a few more new songs. In the meantime, enjoy these live reviews of our recent shows in Lethbridge and Toronto. Pics and links included for good measure:
L.A. BEAT’S REVIEW OF OUR JULY 9 SHOW IN LETHBRIDGE.
STICKY MAGAZINE’S REVIEW OF OUR JUNE 18 SHOW AT NXNE IN TORONTO.
We love you. Happy summer.
AxiCon
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June 8, 2011
Thanks to www.twowaymonologues.com for the interview and story. It has served only to further excite us for NXNE.
CdT
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May 29, 2011
A lady in the audience gave this to us while we were onstage with Chris Gheran at the Calgary Folk Music Festival last summer.
C
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May 9, 2011
Hello again.
We had a lot of fun playing the TransCanada Alberta Music Series in late March. Matt was touring the U.S. with This City Defects and couldn’t make the show. As such, playing a drummerless set gave us a rare chance to pay unusually close attention to the rest of the instruments. We played several new songs and even revisited the ‘old’ version of ‘The Pull’, complete with its dusty movie samples and backwards guitars. Comfort food to these ears.
I think it’s safe to say we were all very happy with the results. You can hear for yourself when CKUA FM broadcasts the set this fall, along with what was one of the most revealing interviews I’ve ever done about the inner-workings of our band dynamic. Haha. We’ll give you the show’s airdate when we have it. In the meantime, checkout the live video of the new song ‘Prince’s Island’, if you haven’t already.
Meanwhile, work on our second album has hit yet another bump in the road. Cody is no longer serving as our engineer/co-producer, and we’re in the midst of choosing the right candidate with which to complete the album. We love him and wish him all the best - he’s a lovely and talented dude and we were very lucky to work with him.
We apologize if you’ve grown impatient and frustrated with the process of this album. You are not the only one. :( Please know that this album WILL see the light of day. By hell or high water. We all feel very strong about the quality of this music, and we know you will too. We were originally aiming to have the album released by the fall, but this is probably no longer the case. I promise that you’ll be the first to know when we’re ready for folks to hear it.
But hey! Here’s some good news: I’m very happy to report that we will be returning to Toronto this June to play NXNE. Please mark your calendars and come see us at Bread & Circus on Augusta on Saturday June 18 @ 11pm. We will once again be without our high-flying drummer, as Matt will be on tour with my favourite YYC band, Raleigh. As such, we’re happy to welcome Jack Abad back into the fold for this show. Jack played the very first AxiCon show in 2006, and was also part of an awesome Filipino grunge band in the late 90s and early 2000s called Sheldon Overboard. I’d recommend that you look them up, but they’re so obscure, THEY’RE NOT EVEN ON THE INTERNET.
Thank you again for caring about our little band. As a gift, I’ve posted some new music for you to hear and hold and love. Click on the picture of colourful tangles of yarn on the main page, or just go HERE.
XXXXXXXXXX,
CdT
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February 19, 2011
I need to get better at keeping you up to date.
Work has resumed in earnest on our full-length album. We are confident we will meet our deadline of September 2023.
It may be hard to believe, but things are coming along. We laid down five bed tracks in about eight total hours. And I say without hesitation that Matt played some of the best drums I’ve ever heard him play. That’s saying a lot.
In other news, we’re flattered to have our song ‘Memorial Hall’ included in this year’s edition of Film/Music Explosion, presented by the Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers.
Alex Mitchell has made a short work based on our song that we have not seen and know nothing about. We will perform the song Friday March 4 at the historic Plaza Theatre to celebrate the screening of this and many other short independent filmworks. For more details visit www.csif.org.
Rehearsals have also begun for our upcoming appearance at the TransCanada Alberta Music Series (see SHOWS page). Songs are being stripped down, re-arranged and acoustized. I’ve also started to formulate bullsh_t backstories to accompany our VH1 Storytellers-esque stage banter.
Cogs are turning, brains are working, fingers are turning. Thank you for being patient.
xo.CdT
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January 9, 2011
Sometimes I think about my former next-door-neighbor, Lee. She was in her mid 80s when I knew her. Sweeter than sweet.
She would bake muffins for me and my stoned roommates. We would stay out and chat whenever we could, and collect her mail when she was away.
In August 2006, the band played its first show. Things with Lee kind of went downhill from there.
God bless her, wherever she is.
CdT
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October 31, 2010
Happy Halloween, you ghastly ghouls. On this day we bring you unfortunate news. As you are likely aware, we have been planning a large-scale concert called ‘Axis of Conversation Makes Amends With Suburbia’ for December 11th at Muldoons Pub in the very deep southeast.
We’re sorry to say that the show is in the process of being rescheduled, as it conflicted with the pub’s involvement with a pay-TV UFC event.
The irony isn’t lost on us.
Play stay close for updates. A new date will be announced soon.
Our apologies for the inconvenience, but I do believe it’s for the best. Far be it for us to compete with some of the strongest and most ruthless athletes in the world.
Chris
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October 29, 2010
So sorry we didn’t mention this here earlier, but Winter Gloves had to cancel the western leg of their Canadian tour because of the singer’s injured back.
But never fear, the great Dojo Workhorse will be filling in. And I’m glad to say The Shagbots are still on the bill, as well.
Come out tomorrow, YYC!
AxiCon
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October 10, 2010
Since we last spoke, our CFMF set with Chris Gheran (mentioned below) went national, thanks to the nice people at Canada Live. You can stream the set in it’s entirety and view pics from the show HERE.
We also have some pretty sweet YYC shows planned for the fall. We have the pleasure of opening for Winter Gloves along with The Shagbots at The Palomino’s Halloween party on Oct 30. Check our SHOWS page below.
We’re also making amends with all the suburbanites we regrettably pissed off over the years with a show we’re calling ‘Axis of Conversation Makes Amends With Suburbia’. We have lots of special things planned for this one. Do come.
As for the record? It’s still coming. We promise.
xo.
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August 9, 2010
Just wanted to let you know that the CBC Radio One program Key of A will be broadcasting one of our sets from the Calgary Folk Festival. It will air Saturday August 21 at 5pm MST, 99.1FM in YYC and 93.9FM in YEG. You can also livestream from anywhere else in the world at cbc.ca/keyofa, I think.
We hope you’re having a lovely summer. We had the weekend of our lives at the Folkfest, and we hope to see those of you in Western Canada in the foreseeable future. We promise to get to the rest of the country once we’re finished our album.
Til’ then. here’s some links to some press pieces from FolkFest weekend:
See you soon.
AxiCon
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July 13, 2010
We know we haven’t been very visible this year, especially for those of you who live somewhere other than downtown Calgary. We are confident that next year will be very different.
As a sign of good faith and a celebration of summer (even though it’s literally f-ing hailing the size of golf balls here), we’d like to offer you a brand new song for free. It’s called ‘Memorial Hall’. It’s about looking back with the opposite of regret.
Go get it while it’s there. It will quickly disappear, much like freak hailstorms in July.
Click on the colourful picture that says ‘Memorial Hall’ (obviously). Scroll down all the way to the bottom and you’ll find it. ALL the way down. Yes.
xoxo.CdT
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May 13, 2010
The Calgary Folk Festival announced its 2010 lineup yesterday. As you may have heard, Axis of Conversation is part of it. This means we can say we’ve shared a stage with the likes of St. Vincent, Stars, Roberta Flack, Ian Tyson, etc. Weird, huh?
We’ve known about this for sometime, but we weren’t allowed to make any official announcements about it until now. Keeping this news a secret has been very difficult. It was like holding a geyser of joy in your pants for 3 months. Not sure what that means.
But at last, we can shout our excitement from the digital rooftops. It’s accurate to say we feel somewhat like this.
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Apr 18, 2010
So, when I sat down to write a new post yesterday, I totally meant to tell you about our plans for the May 13 show. Instead, I ended up going off about Record Store Day and who knows whatever else. Sorry.
I originally had a solo show booked at Broken City for May 13, but I’ve decided to bring (most) of the band with me and make it an AxiCon thing. Matt’s on tour with one of his other 229384 bands (can’t remember which one), so we’re gonna do this one without him.
We haven’t begun rehearsals for this show yet, but the plan is to beatbox all of the ‘drums’/percussion and make loops with our Kaoss Pads, and essentially rebuild the songs from there. If any of you saw our shows at Karma Arts House (R.I.P.) in 2006, you may remember that we took a similar approach back then (only with much more nervousness) — I still remember playing the Kaoss Pad with my feet at the release party for ‘There’s Hope For You Yet (just kidding)’ all those years ago.
Anyway, you should plan on being there. It’ll be…something…not sure what, exactly…
CdT
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Apr 17, 2010
Today is Record Store Day. I hope you found the time to visit an independent music retailer in your area to take advantage of all the awesome stuff made available especially for today. I managed to pick up the last copy of Deerhoof’s ‘Green Cosmos’ re-issue at Sloth Records. I think it’s the first time this awesome 15-minute record has been made available on vinyl. Green vinyl, no less. Yum.
You might be wondering how our recording is going. We’ve decided to work on songs in batches of 3 or 4 at a time. Batch #1 is almost finished — I have some backwards glockenspiels and voices to cut up for the intro of one of the tracks and it’ll be ready for mixing, which means they’ll be ready for people’s ears very soon.
It’s a pretty weird way of working for us. After the next few batches of songs are put to tape, we’ll be onto songs that, at this very moment, don’t actually exist. You see, we’ve vowed to lock ourselves away and create things together in their entirety as a group, which is an, um, entirely new way of working for us. I’m a little nervous. Not gonna lie. That’s nothing against the band — in fact, there’s no one who’s talents and instincts I would trust more to work in such a manner. It’s just that it’s a pretty naked way to work, you know? I’ve always liked that no one knew what I was singing about until I actually printed lyrics somewhere, but I guess there’s a lesson to be learned from every toddler on this planet: it’s good to be naked sometimes.
What I’m trying to say is things are still going very well. I’ll post more pictures from the recordings in the next day or two. I’m sure you’ve figured out where we’re keeping these pictures by now.
Xo.C
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Mar 21, 2010
This is a setlist from last month. The diehards among you would know we’ve already started sneaking new music into our shows. There may not be diehards among you. In any case, new music is being documented, played back and agonizingly poured over, and we’ll continue to post photos from our recording sessions here on the site. I know it’s early, but things are already sounding far better than I expected them to sound. We’re taking this as a good sign.
CdT
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Mar 14, 2010
Today, we officially started putting some new music to tape. Our old friend & former bandmate Cody Coates is handling the nob-twiddling and board-manning.
This is pretty much all we can tell you: we’re recording an undetermined amount of music at some studio somewhere, and we don’t know when you can hear it. I wish we could say more. Just know that we are fully committed to losing sleep, keeping secrets and telling necessary lies in order to make the best recordings we can possibly make.
Anyway, we love you. We hope to see you at the shows (Think About Life! Friendo! Beija Flor! [visit the ‘Shows’ section]). We’ll talk soon.
Chris
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Feb 16, 2010
We have new songs. Lots of them. We’re hard at work in our basement, and CdT has been making home demos, often with the help of his 23-month-old co-producer (not pictured).
Beginning Feb 20 @ the Marquee Room, there’ll be lots of shows in our home city and province this spring. We have an upcoming recording to pay for, you know. We hope you can make it to a show or two — in exchange for your support, we’ll do our best to make it worth your while.
Also, watch for a LYRICS section here on our page in the near future.
xx
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Jan 21, 2010
Despite what it says under ‘release date’, All We Make Is Enemies is now available through the iTunes store, as of TODAY! We recommend you pick it up — I promise it will be the best $2.97 you’ve ever spent.
That’s right. It costs less than your latte.
xo, CdT
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Jan 19, 2010
Happy New Year to you. At least ten different people on ten different occasions have told us they’ve heard we’re coming out with a new album.
We’ve made no official announcement about this, so it’s fantastic news to us!
We are recording this spring. Please stay close to the Shows page.
Thank you for being here.
CdT
L’Axis de la Conversation / We Make Dew
Old Song + New Song + George W. Bush.
Live @ Broken City Social Club in Calgary, AB. Feb 13, 2009.
Click on album art to purchase.
THE HOUSE OF STAY TOGETHER
Catalog: AX005
Format: CD, MP3
Release Date: September 2013
Tracklisting:
1/ We Make Dew
2/ Prince’s Island
3/ Metamorphosis
4/ You Make Me Twelve
5/ This Is A Cover-Up
6/ Memorial Hall
7/ Don’t Tell Anyone
8/ Chainsaw Wedding
9/ Tickertock Parade
10/ Finder/Keeper
ISA, TAKE OFF YOUR COAT
Catalog: AX004
Format: digital 2-track album
Release Date: December 21, 2012
Tracklisting:
1/ Isa
2/ Take Off Your Coat
MEMORIAL HALL
Catalog: AX003A
Format: limited edition MP3
Release Date: July 13, 2010
Tracklisting:
1/ Memorial Hall (original mix)
ALL WE MAKE IS ENEMIES
Catalog: AX002
Format: 7” coloured vinyl + MP3s / iTunes / MP3
Release Dates: June 2009 (tour only), Feb 2010 (Canada, online)
Tracklisting:
1) All We Make Is Enemies
2) The Pull (Morgan Greenwood Mix)
3) Ladders and Snakes
DELUSIONS OF SAFETY
Catalog: AX001
Format: CD / iTunes / MP3
Released Date: September 2007
Tracklisting:
1) Readymade Heart Attack
2) They Can See Your Ghost
3) Don’t Be Alarmed (there’s a carcass)
4) Autumn In Juilliard
5) Stop The Car
6) L’Axis de la Conversation
7) The Pull
8) Christian Science
THERE’S HOPE FOR YOU YET (JUST KIDDING)*
Catalog: (none)
Format: handpainted CD-R
Release Date: Oct 2006
Tracklisting:
1) L’Axis de la Conversation
2) Dizzy and Drunk With Love
3) The Pull
4) Homemade Hearts / Highway Arteries
5) Parasite
*This recording is currently out of print.
Axis of Conversation is breakbeats and backwards guitars. It’s strings, samples and stolen noises. It’s familiar pop from foreign strangers.
Onstage, you’ll see weird keyboards, kaoss pads and guitar cable spaghetti. You’ll see a cello and a violin as old as your grandparents. You’ll see more Filipino men than you’ve ever seen in any other band. And once the drummer kicks in, you won’t be the least bit surprised to learn he also plays in The Dudes and HighKicks.
To the delight of Canadian music-lovers and the detriment of each other, the members of Axis of Conversation have spent a fair bit of time in oversized vans. They’ve shared stages and crumpled handbills with St. Vincent, Stars, Hey Rosetta!, Dan Mangan, Thrice, Ladyhawk and The Pack AD. They’ve played NXNE, Vancouver Jazz Festival, Calgary Folk Music Festival and Sled Island.
However, they decided to spend 2011 and 2012 away from the oversized vans, opting instead to have some kids and get married (to each other, in the case of the bass player and the cellist). They also spent the last two years very carefully recording the best album they’ve ever made. It will be released in September 2013.
Chris dela Torre: vocals/guitar/kaoss pad
Eric Estor: bass/guitar/vocals
Matt Doherty: drums
Gerry Dacanay: keys/guitar/vocals/kaoss pad/etc.
Shelly Groves: violin/voila/vocals
Cheryl Bergen: cello/percussion
The House of Stay Together -[due September 2013]
Isa, Take Off Your Coat - digital single [xmas 2012]
All We Make Is Enemies - 7” mini-EP [2009 (tour) / 2010 (retail)]
Delusions of Safety - CD [2007]
There’s Hope for You Yet (Just Kidding) - CD/EP [2006]
EMAIL: axisofconversation (at) gmail (dot) com
UPCOMING SHOWS:
May 31, 2013: The Palomino, Calgary AB. [opening for The Crackling]
June 20, 2013: Sled Island - The Palomino (upstairs) Calgary AB.
Axis of Conversation is a living & breathing collection of syllables, strings, samples and stolen noises. We are Chris dela Torre, Eric Estor, Gerald Dacanay, Shelly Groves, Matthew Doherty and Cheryl Bergen. We live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. CONTACT: axisofconversation(at)gmail.com EPK: http://www.sonicbids.com/axisofconversation
