The Coolest Thing About Love

Of course I named the show after the great album by the Smittens and I pay homage to the band by using a clip of their song 11:11 for my theme. I hope the band doesn't mind, but when I have talked to various members of the band after shows they seem like nice people whom I think would be good with it.

I also use this name for my DJ night happening occasionally at the Jane Bond in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

Note that the links to shows older than 6 months might not be working, if you really want those shows please send me an email and I can get them to you. (Note that prior to 2018 I called my podcast FireballXL5, so don't be confused if you look at an old setlist)

Special thanks to Jeff Woods for finding my a place to host my mp3s!

May 16, 2014

This show started with a funky set after a fantastic top song called "Fantastic Man" by a mysterious man named William Onyeabor. Basically he released 8 albums in the late 70s and early 80s in his native Nigeria and then pretty much disappeared. Recently the albums have be re-discovered, even prompting a tour this year of musicians such as David Bryne doing his songs. You can see his entire story in the video link below.
For the rest of show I presented some recent indie pop along with a lo-fi sort of set at the end.

Best song I heard since the last show - William Onyeabor - Fantastic Man - See the great video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyL4c_LDCl0&feature=kp

Websites I mentioned during the show:

See the video about William Onyeabor here:
http://noisey.vice.com/en_uk/you-need-to-hear-this/fantastic-man-full-length----a-film-about-william-onyeabor

Video for Jacques Dutronc f. Francoise Hardy - Mini, Mini, Mini:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ye7XYuW_fE8&feature=kp

You can download the latest show directly here:
http://76.163.12.179/2014-05-16_final.mp3

For information on how to sign up for the podcast or join the Facebook group, see the bottom of this message.

Fireball XL5 Setlist - May 16, 2014
TALK - Theme
William Onyeabor - Fantastic Man
S.O.S. Band - Take Your Time
Donna Loren - Love's A Secret Weapon
Midnight Star - Midas Touch
Odyssey - Don't Tell Me Tell Her
TALK
The Swapsies - Another Game On Saturday
Finnmark! - Everyone's Dying
Making Marks - Lemon Sheets
The Prophet Hens - High Times
Quiz Kids - Hey You
TALK
Cath Carroll and Steve Albini - King Creole
Jacques Dutronc f. Francoise Hardy - Mini, Mini, Mini
The Groupies - Primative
Melodica, Melody and Me - Piece Me Back Together
Hannah Peel - Tainted Love
TALK
Kidstreet - Birthday Boy

Fireball XL5 Podcast Homepage: http://www.fireballxl5.ca/

Podcast link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19384881/fireballxl5.rss

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fireball-XL5-Podcast/225528710795185

April 18, 2014

Yes, I know that everyone has heard of Future Islands by this point, but it would have been a great shame if they were not one of my top songs this year. I had heard them before on Satellite radio but seeing their performance on Letterman (link below) really put them over the top.

This led to a set of electro pop that I quite enjoyed, followed by a more traditional indie pop set. After the final set that was more on the rockin' side the random ending were The Diskettes a great band that I haven't heard in a long time (I guess that is the point of the random ending).

Best song I heard since the last show - Future Islands - Seasons (Waiting On You) - See their great performance on Letterman here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ee4bfu_t3c

Websites I mentioned during the show:

Video for In Decay by Phedre (NSFW):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unrn-wf4cDg&feature=kp

Get the debut album by Alpaca Sports:
http://alpacasports.bandcamp.com/album/sealed-with-a-kiss

You can download the latest show directly here:
http://76.163.12.179/2014-04-18_final.mp3

For information on how to sign up for the podcast or join the Facebook group, see the bottom of this message.

Fireball XL5 Setlist - April 18, 2014
TALK - Theme
Future Islands - Seasons (Waiting On You)
Pendentif - Embrasse Moi
Frankie Rose - Gospel/Grace
PHEDRE - In Decay
Lemaitre - Cut To Black
TALK
The Blanche Hudson Weekend - Let Me Go
Chocolate Barry - Popmusic Crazy
Let's Whisper - It'll Be OK
Math and Physics Club - That's What Love Is
Alpaca Sports - Telephone
TALK
Shrag - Faux Coda
Marnie Stern - Immortals
The Sparkles - No Friend Of Mine
DIANA - Strange Attraction
Weaves - Take A Dip
TALK
The Diskettes - Art

Fireball XL5 Podcast Homepage: http://www.fireballxl5.ca/

Podcast link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19384881/fireballxl5.rss

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fireball-XL5-Podcast/225528710795185

March 21, 2014

My first show with new music for a while that started out with a great band that I heard about through the new radio station in Toronto called Indie88, which is definitely the best commercial radio station I have heard in a long time. The band is named Alvvays and that isn't a mistake, they use 2 "v"s instead of a "w", I assume that is because there is another band named Always (but I haven't been able to find them). Anyvvays, I saw the band live a few weeks band and they were really good, I hope to hear a proper album or at least some more songs very soon.

Best song I heard since the last show - Alvvays - Adult Diversion - See the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZHPCcFmEjc&noredirect=1

Websites I mentioned during the show:

Information about The Fireworks:
http://whenyoumotoraway.blogspot.ca/2013/11/the-fireworks-runaround-7.html

Information about the Males:
http://whenyoumotoraway.blogspot.ca/2013/01/introducing-males.html

See the lyrics to the Girl From Ciputat:
http://thesilentlove.bandcamp.com/track/the-girl-from-ciputat

You can download the latest show directly here:
http://76.163.12.179/2014-03-21_final.mp3

For information on how to sign up for the podcast or join the Facebook group, see the bottom of this message.

Fireball XL5 Setlist - March 21, 2014
TALK - Theme
Alvvays - Adult Diversion
Habibi - Sweetest Talk
Tiny Migrants - Fishpond Goldmine
Popguns - Still A World Away
The Silent Love - The Girl From Ciputat
TALK
Tender Trap - Could This Be The Last Time?
The Farmers Boys - I Built The World
Males - So High
The Fireworks - Runaround
French Films - Where We Come From
TALK
Billy Watkins - The Ice-Man
J.J. Jackson And The Jackals - Oo-Ma-Liddi
The Charmaines - I Idolize You
Eddie Johns - More Spell On You (One More Time)
Blood Orange - You're Not Good Enough
TALK
Catatonic Youth - I've Had It

Fireball XL5 Podcast Homepage: http://www.fireballxl5.ca/

Podcast link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19384881/fireballxl5.rss

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fireball-XL5-Podcast/225528710795185

February 14, 2014

This was the second part of my Best of 2013 shows, this one focused on albums. This time I counted down my list from the bottom to the top ending with my top album of the year Haim's Days Are Gone. As I said on the show, the most mainstream album I have had as my top pick in a long time.

Websites I mentioned during the show:

See my actual Best of 2013 album with links:
http://fireballxl5podcast.blogspot.ca/2013/12/best-albums-of-2013.html

You can download the latest show directly here:
http://76.163.12.179/2014-02-14_final.mp3

For information on how to sign up for the podcast or join the Facebook group, see the bottom of this message.

Fireball XL5 Setlist - February 14, 2014
TALK - Theme
Au Revoir Simone - Just Like A Tree
She & Him - I Could've Been Your Girl
Charles Bradley - You Put The Flame On It
French Films - Where We Come From
Yo La Tengo - The Point Of It
TALK
The Liver Transplants - Fake Priest (C)
The Proctors - Fun Sunday
The Pastels - Illuminum Song
Chvrches - Recover
TALK
Veronica Falls - Tell Me
Veronica Falls - Buried Alive
TALK

Capital Cities - I Sold My Bed, But Not My Stereo

Capital Cities - Kangaroo Court
TALK
Haim - Falling
Haim - Days Are Gone

(C) - Canadian Content

Fireball XL5 Podcast Homepage: http://www.fireballxl5.ca/

Podcast link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19384881/fireballxl5.rss

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fireball-XL5-Podcast/225528710795185

January 17, 2014

What will be by definition be my best show of the year, as it was me playing all my favourite singles from 2013. Not much of a mystery as I did tweet all of these songs during the month of December. To be honest any of the top 4 could have been number 1, but there always has to be a winner.

Best song I heard all year - Jessie Ware - Imagine It Was us
- See the video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u03f5Wnwff0

Websites I mentioned during the show:

Line to video for the Pastels "Check My Heart":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjxYLFWxR6E

You can download the latest show directly here:
http://76.163.12.179/2014-01-17_final.mp3

For information on how to sign up for the podcast or join the Facebook group, see the bottom of this message.

Fireball XL5 Setlist - January 17, 2014
TALK - Theme
Jessie Ware - Imagine It Was us
Capital Cities - Safe and Sound
The Pastels - Check My Heart
The Short Stories - Are You Listening Now?
Daft Punk - Get Lucky
TALK
Chvrches - Gun
The Mini Skips - Evil/Shy
Alpaca Sports - He doesn't even like you
Veronica Falls - Waiting For Something To Happen
Haim - Don't Save Me
TALK
California Wives - Marianne
Robberie - Four Seasons
Disclosure - When A Fire Starts To Burn
Au Revoir Simone - Crazy
Yo La Tengo - Is That Enough
Camera Obscura - New Year's Resolution
TALK
Foals - My Number

Fireball XL5 Podcast Homepage: http://www.fireballxl5.ca/

Podcast link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19384881/fireballxl5.rss

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fireball-XL5-Podcast/225528710795185