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The next few months are all about the road (see GIGS page)...

Posted: 2009-04-24

It's just under two weeks until we leave our winter home on the beautiful island and head back to the UK to prepare for our May tour. Our six months here have certainly scurried by. Both Jez and I have the odd but pleasant sensation of being equally sad to leave the place we are and excited to arrive at the place we're going.

Taiwan has proven to be a very productive place to spend the winter in terms of writing, practice, and recording. We've also had some wonderful shows, and we very much hope to be back next winter. In the meantime, we've got one more show here in Taipei at Witch House on Saturday, March 24. Show starts at 9, and we'll be doing two full sets.

Our UK tour starts in May, then we'll be in Canada for June and July. We're adding new shows all the time, so keep on checking the GIGS page.

Farewell for now, Formosa, and hello to the highway!

Posted: 2009-03-11

We're featured on the latest edition of Graham Holland's It's a Frog's Life Acoustic Podcast. It's a Chinese New Year special featuring almost exclusively music with a connection to Taiwan, the Ihla Formosa, beautiful island on which we currently, if temporarily, reside. Also included are groove and good-time guru, the wonderful Scott Cook; and Taipei's favourite jug-band David Chen and the Muddy Basin Ramblers.

I have yet to figure out how to post links on this page, so to listen, just go to our myspace site and you'll easily find Graham's page. Remember, you don't need an iPod or spacepod or peapod or any kind of pod to listen to a podcast. If your computer can load this page, it can stream a podcast.

Check it out, and use the links on Graham's page to check out other podcasts. There are some good ones, whatever kind of music you dig. Podcasters are all discerning music lovers who are constantly having new music sent to them online, so to me they are the vintage clothing store owners of the over-saturated internet music pool. They've already trolled through Value Village and pulled out the good stuff.

Posted: 2009-01-31

I think 2009 is going to be a good year. As I write this, there is only one more agonizing day left in the Bush Reich, and incidentally, for those of you who know our song 'We Know The Secret', I've got a new third verse ready to go now that Dubya's time has run out and his verse is now irrelevant. The new one's about bankers.

I feel so good about things, I told a friend whose husband is a Hong Kong businessman that if he doesn't think this was a good year by the end of it, I'll eat my hat. I'm so confident, I'll go out and buy myself a hat so that I can make good on that promise. After all, 'they say the darkest hour is just before the dawn'.

Thanks to everyone who came out to Sappho on the 17th and gave us their money to donate to Medical Aid for Palestinians. We were able to give £140; a modest amount perhaps, but certainly more than we could've come up with on our own.

In coming weeks, we'll spend our last two months in Taiwan enjoying our new digs up a mountain in Xindian, getting some recording done with wonderful Italian sound engineer (and our roommate!) Saul, and having plenty of shows and jams on our own and with Neon, Muddy Basin Ramblers of all descriptions, and as many of the great Taipei musos we can hook up with. It's amazing how many great players we've met in the last four months, and it's gone by so fast.

Happy Year of the Ox. May you spend it working like an ox at what you love, and reaping the inherent rewards to be found therein.

Dana

Posted: 2009-01-19

As 2009 approaches, I look forward to it more and more...the Spring and Summer tours are coming together nicely, and I'll begin posting confirmed shows on the GIGS page shortly, so keep checking back.

In the meantime, we wish you a joyous and perhaps slightly excessive holiday season (the thing about excess is that you don't want to go overboard with it), and we'll look forward to seeing you on the other side.

Of course, if you happen to live in Taipei, we hope to see you once or twice more on this side. I'll be celebrating my 29th on the 26th at Sappho on An He Road. It's the coziest little jazz bar in town, and owner Aliang and her staff of friendly vixens are the best. And the wine glasses are as big as my head which is always fun. We'll be playing a couple sets of course, and I imagine I'll end up boozily noodling on the lovely upright til 3 or 4 am, as I am wont to do at Sappho. Yay! Do come down...

Then on the 27th and 28th, we'll be at the Taipei Artist Village, doing workshops and concerts and all kinds of stuff for their open studio. It's quite exciting, as this is the first time they've incorporated music into their programming. Jez and I are having a sort-of open rehearsal/workshop on the afternoon of the 27th, and we'll be filling in for some missing Muddy Basin Ramblers for the same kind of thing the following afternoon. Jez is gonna be Conor and I get to be Will! Beardy harp player replaces beardy harp player, and tiny white girl replaces tall genteel tap-dancing, trombone-wielding emcee...perfect. Then, on the evening of the 28th, we'll all be doing a concert. This should be a very interesting event altogether.

Happy New Year! 新年快樂!

Dana

Posted: 2008-12-15

Hiya folks,

I'm updating this page for the first time in ages from a cafe here in Taipei. The whole summer (and to a certain extent, the three-and-some years since Jez and I left Taiwan to pursue Musical Adventures In The Western World) is a bit of a blur. But I do feel quite content and fortunate at the moment because I recall that we enjoyed a beautiful Canadian summer, a lovely English September which was reminiscent of a Canadian summer, and have just arrived to a Taiwanese October which is very much like both, with a little more heat and humidity. This weather will last until December and grateful I am for that!

The last three months on the road really couldn't have been better. I am trying to think of one gig that wasn't really special in some way, and I'm not coming up with anything. There are too many people to thank and waaaaaay too many good times had to mention them all here, so let me just throw out a big thanks to anyone and everyone in Canada and the UK who watched us, listened to us, befriended us, booked us, reviewed us, bought CDs off us, played with us, let us sleep on their couches/floors, made us a meal, showed us around their town, took us on a hike, led us to a good lake/river/swimming hole/beach...I'm sure there's more. It's when you rely upon the generosity of people that you find out just how generous people are.

Plans are in the works for another UK tour in May and another summer in Canada, and lots of the shows are already tentatively booked. Keep an eye on the GIGS page for updates on that. For folks on Ihla Formosa, we'll be doing as much gigging as we can here over the next few months.

I'll leave you with a review of one of our live shows in Bath in September:

"16 September 2008
Right this, I promise, isn't an all out comparison, in fact it's not even a ‘sounds like'. Dana Wylie is to Norah Jones a true contemporary in the sense that she seriously knows how to lay down a melody, and (which is more intoxicating) collude with her piano and guitar in creating something far greater than a song.

At the pub tonight, it's rather busy. This must partly be accredited to the fact that someone in the Dana posse myspaced their arses off, but generally there's a lot of people here that've had the pleasure of listening to this seriously on-it, genuinely beautifully toned singer before. I've only had a fleeting listen on the Myspace page recently, and while I was expecting good things, I wasn't expecting anything quite so ridiculously good as this. As a band, the trio have obviously gigged extensively, and it pays dividends - a tightness and confidence of performance which maintains a reliable backdrop to a mixture of song writing and kick ass solos. As a word, Americana is a pretty crap one - especially as these guys are from Canada, but it gives you an idea. Throw in some blues and folk and you get a bit closer. The visit the set plays to bluegrass ("I'm not going to play second fiddle to your guitar") is definitely welcome, and not least because it strengthens any likeness to Norah. In fact the band have a firm command of anything they turn their hands to making it their own with no room for doubt.
Nye parsons is an incredible upright bass player. He really is seriously entertaining, and the dexterity of his fingers is a captivating performance in itself. Equally impressive is drummer Jeremy Hellard's pleasingly frequent harmonica solos which add another dimension to the sound, and generally make you feel very blues-happy indeed.

Persuading a Porter sound engineer to work past eleven is impressive enough, but to make one sway (it's definitely almost a bob) and smile is sheer virtuosity For this I applaud you Dana Wylie Band. The album ‘The Unruly Ones' is out now on Tiny White Girl Records and is very good indeed but if you get a chance make sure you go and see these guys live.

Chris Chislett, Moles UK"

Cheers all,

Dana

Posted: 2008-10-05

Just got a couple of nice reviews I thought I'd share:

"Here is another one of those little gem CDs that comes along every once in a while, and when you dig into the performer's background, you find that she's another Saskatchewanite pounding out some really excellent music.
While Wylie is a native of Saskatchewan, the band was formed in Taiwan, and they list England as one of three bases of operation, so this gal is well-traveled, and that shows in the maturity of the music of this CD, their second.
Musically, they call their sounds acoustic roots pop, but truly there is also a strong element of jazz, stage style music, at least to my ear.
Wylie has the style of a storyteller on a time limit. The words roll staccato fashion, veritable tongue twisters which she gets away with crystal clear perfection. The trick, as the listener, is to keep up, and get the depth of the material, the plays on words, the humour, both dark and joyous depending on the song.
And just so you know Wylie hasn't forgotten her roots, one of the best songs here is What the Mirror Said, a piece with a farm-connected theme.
Of the 13 songs here Wylie has written 11, and a 12th Fear No More, she has written the music, while using the words of William Shakespeare as lyrics. Not a bad guy to have on board as a writer. And, the song works as a top piece here.
The sound comes across as light, and friendly, although there are songs here which offer more once you get into the rhythm and can follow this songstress sprite as she speeds through the words with a tongue as sharp as a well-sharpened foil. At times you will simply smile in awe of the way she handles the material.
This is a fun album. It has depth, surprises, humour, and it's all carried by Wylie's sweet voice.
Wylie is another performer who, based on this effort, deserves to be better known than she is. Very well done."

- Calvin Daniels, Yorkton This Week

"The Unruly Ones, is the Dana Wylie Band’s sophomore album. It will make you laugh, squirm, engage in introspection, clap your hands, stomp your feet and want to play the juice harp. Dana Wylie reminds me of a stage girl version of Tom Waits with a sprinkle of Joni Mitchell. One wonders how such a big voice, talent and seemingly big attitude fit into such a diminutive frame. When you add the other two wandering minstrels, Nye Parsons and Jeremy Hellard the combination becomes a runaway train that gains velocity by the second.

Dana Wylie’s lyrics tug at your shirt tail, and, at times reach down through your ears and give your guts a little twist. “Talent Crush” shows up our penchant for placing people on pedestals, much to our own detriment. When you think she’s going to poke at the conscious collective again, Dana goes on an inward spiral of self examination and discovery, with a song like “What the Mirror Said”. The Ballad of June and Dougie (I’m Not Gonna Play Second Fiddle to Your Guitar) has some great work by contributing musicians and is a rollicking good yarn to boot. All this is couched by outstanding musicianship by all three members of the band. I mean, how did they find that double bass player, Nye Parsons? He holds the bottom with such a nonchalant looseness that you can take a breath in the space between the notes. Jeremy Hellard shows us yet another layer of talent, by the strength and clarity of his voice in “Hometown Boy”, which is a great mid point in the album.

The Dana Wylie Band plays together in an easy, natural way. Nothing sounds contrived or forced. The Unruly Ones by the Dana Wylie Band is well worth seeking out and really listening to."

Shelley Gummeson, Earshot

Posted: 2008-07-11

People! We here at the Dana Wylie Band have been on something of a vacation for the last few months. I've been acting my little butt off in 'The Full Monty: The Musical', which hasn't left much time for gigging. But I've had a wonderful time, really. It's a really funny show, full of heart, with great music, and I've enjoyed myself immensely. I've also enjoyed being an employee for a while. As much as I love being my own boss, sometimes it's just nice to be told where to go, what to do, what time to show up, what to sing, what to say, what to wear...

All that said, now that the curtain is closing on that baby, I am soooo looking forward to taking off my show makeup and putting on my wandering minstrel hat once again. (That’s a figurative hat, of course. I’m not sure what an actual wandering minstrel hat would look like, but it would probably be pointy.) And, holy crap, are we ever wandering this summer! Do check out the GIGS page for details. We're all over SK, AB, and BC from the end of June to the beginning of September, then we're off to the UK for a wham-bam three-week tour before we head off to Taiwan for the winter.

On another note, we recently received a lovely and kind review of our music from Edmonton singer/songwriter Kurt Lindal. Kurt doesn’t write for any publication at the moment, he wrote this completely of his own accord, and sent it to us:

‘The music of the Dana Wylie Band is a blend of Jazz, Blues, Funk, Blue Grass and Folk that ranks with the best being produced anywhere or by anyone under any label. Listen to only a few tracks, from one of their two CD’s or in a live performance, and you will be held captivated by the soaring vocals of that tiny white girl. The power and intensity with which she delivers her music isn’t immediately apparent when you see them take their place on stage. Dana dresses with complete indifference to the conventions that are so prevalent in main stream entertainment, she’s there to enthrall her audience with her songs and voice not her face and form. And once she starts singing, it happens spontaneously. The only way to avoid her spell is to be either deaf or dead!

‘The Dana Wylie Band

‘Jez does mainly backup vocals, guitar, drums and harmonicas. Like Dana, there is absolutely no pretension in this excellent musician and singer. When the music starts, Jez becomes so completely absorbed in the sound of their songs that it’s hard not to question which universe he’s been transported to. In the dimension that he’s been teleported to, the notes of the music their playing take control of him and he weaves his body and bobs his head as though invisible strings were pulling on his limbs, like a puppet in the hands of a master puppeteer. The music strains from his harmonicas or rolls from the drum kit he’s working or flashes from the strings of his guitar. Then he stops and begins singing in a very clear, pleasant and versatile voice. Jez is a wonderful show just to watch, the rest of his virtuosity is just icing on top.

‘Nye, who plays standup bass, takes his place off to the side of the stage with a look of complete boredom, as though he’d been forced against his will to be involved in this enterprise. Then the music begins and it’s obvious that he loves the sounds that are being produced by his band mates and the contribution that the deep and mellow tones of his double bass add to the harmonious blend of their combined musical talents.

‘Dana plays a Kurtzweil electric piano or, an acoustic guitar. She is the main songwriter for the group and their lead singer. Her songs are filled with humorous anecdotes and perceptions of life that she delivers with no apologies. Many of Dana’s ballads are stories that almost everyone can relate too. And she delivers them with such emotional intensity that even if her stories don’t touch your life personally, it’s impossible to remain aloof and unaffected by her unique and exceptional delivery.

‘Make the time and take the opportunity to be entertained by the exceptional music of the Dana Wylie Band
If you miss the chance to see them perform live then get their CD’s on their website at:
www. danawylie. net
You won’t regret it, I promise!
Kurt Lindal, singer/songwriter/guitar player and now, fan of the Dana Wylie Band.

Thanks for that, Kurt. And cheers all. See you soon,

Dana

Posted: 2008-06-14

Posted: 2008-04-06

Miles and miles of gratitude to all of the Saskatonians who came out to our launch party for 'The Unruly Ones'. We had a wonderful time playing to such a responsive crowd and were treated to a couple of pleasant surprises, including one of the members of The Weber Brothers getting up on stage for one of the wickedest impromptu melodica solos I've ever heard.


Pretty much the second we finished playing, we stuffed our trusty GMC Safari with all our worldly possessions and hit the road hard, making it all the way to Twin Butte, Alberta for a 'Jez's birthday' show at the General Store. That was the pleasure it always is, not only due to the stunning scenery in that part of the world, but also to the great people who run and frequent the place. If you are ever driving through Twin Butte, do make sure you pop into the store/pub/post office/Mexican restaurant. Jeny will treat you right.

Also in Twin Butte, we met a lovely woman named Daphne who has compiled a postcard book entitled 'Cowboy Yoga'. It is full of the most beautiful photos of the athleticism of those who know their horses and ride them well.

After another great gig at Gitter's Pub in High River, we executed the jaunt through Calgary and up the 2 to Edmonton to get ready for the City of Champion version of our album launch. This will take place at Velvet Underground on Saturday March 29, and will feature the talents of Cam Neufeld, Mike Sadava, and Jason Kodie, all well-loved Edmonton musos. AND... Matthew Ord, who is truly one of the world's best guitarists, will be setting foot on Canadian soil for the first time ever to grace the stage with us. I'm a bit excited.

'The Unruly Ones' will be available on cdbaby.com very soon, at which point, you'll be able to purchase it simply by clicking on the picture of the album cover on this page. In the meantime, you'll have to track me down if you want a copy.

Cheers to all and happy spring,

Dana

Posted: 2008-03-17