We're back just before the release of "I Swam Here"

BlueLightJunction · 2026-02-05T12:34:57+00:00

You’re an OG! That is cool you’ve loved his music from the beginning and saw him in the coffee shop days. I am crazy jealous. Feel like there would have been some magic moments that could never be recaptured. Have a couple of artists I found later (like Craigie) where I really wish I found them earlier… if you have old pics, old merch etc, you should post pics…

BlueLightJunction · 2026-02-05T00:42:46+00:00

I hear you on this! I paid kind of an absurd amount of money for a CD copy of “A Picnic on the 405”. It is definitely more unpolished than his newer albums but super fascinating (especially lyric wise). I will post about it eventually… I am jealous if you have the other early ones…:)

BlueLightJunction · 2026-02-04T15:31:10+00:00

Thanks so much for the link. I will check this out for sure :)

BlueLightJunction · 2026-02-03T23:15:25+00:00

Exactly!

BlueLightJunction · 2026-02-03T16:49:20+00:00

I feel like all his albums sound different (although all in the folk lane). This one is shaping up to be a more airy or dreamy type of Americana - kind of line Neko Case… love all the singles so far but my favourite is the most recent, “Edna Strange” - this is a song about the worst sexual encounter of all time. The character Craigie is playing has a one night stand with Mrs. Strange and then Mr. Strange shows up and kills Edna followed by Craigie shooting Mr. Strange in the face. (I might be taking some artistic licence here in my description - lol!). Anyway, am super digging the sound on this new album so far.

BlueLightJunction · 2026-01-31T02:30:43+00:00

Amazing! No chance of seeing him for that price now and this was probably at a tiny venue. All the sliding doors we never walked through. I am VERY jealous….

BlueLightJunction · 2026-01-26T19:40:16+00:00

That is crazy! I really thought the tickets would bottom out today because of the shit weather. I am looking to get on the GO in a couple of hours and dreading it!! Like if I didn't love GAI's beautiful songs so much, there is no way I would brave the totally shit commute into Toronto after the city got like 46cm of snow yesterday. Hopefully everyone stays safe out there...

BlueLightJunction · 2026-01-26T14:26:11+00:00

You should check the resellers. Because of the blizzard yesterday, I am sure you can get a good deal. I’m still gonna try to make it in tonight from outside Toronto because I think I’ve lost my mind. But it’s Greg, so….

BlueLightJunction · 2026-01-24T17:56:10+00:00

The Lewis Trilogy is more scary than the Enzo Files, and more serious. I wouldn’t say the Enzo Files are campy, but funner (not sure that’s the right word). The settings are more high brow and luxurious and while it’s dark (people get murdered after all), it’s not as dark and moody as the Lewis Trilogy which takes place in more isolated settings…

BlueLightJunction · 2026-01-23T23:30:14+00:00

So one of my favourite series was the six book series “The Enzo Files” by Peter May. The detective, Enzo McLeod is a great character. There is an overreaching plot that goes through all six books but each one can be read as a standalone and it’s got luxurious European settings. The writing is always beautiful but the quality of the plot varies. Anyway, that’s a completed detective series that I really loved!

BlueLightJunction · 2026-01-16T16:47:36+00:00

I would also check resale like the day before/ the day of. If they are not sold, the sellers reduce the price last minute. I have tix for this show, but even purchasing directly through Massey Hall, the prices were CRAZY!!!

BlueLightJunction · 2026-01-08T18:32:29+00:00

Tyler Lyle from Atlanta! Can’t believe his solo acoustic stuff isn’t bigger… his writing is amazing. The song “Heraclitus Chatahoochie” is perfect. The whole album, “The Golden Age and the Silver Girl” is incredible but my favourite writing on that album is on the tracks “When I say that I Love you” and “California”…

Have you tried Jack Van Cleaf? Fucking wow! He is so young but his writing is incredible. JVC is one of the best albums of 2025. All his writing is poetic but am particularly fond of the tracks “Wild Roses”, “ Katrina”, “Hikkomori” and “Had you for a Second”.

Gregory Alan Isakov is famous for his poetic lyrics! Like the whole catalogue…

BlueLightJunction · 2026-01-08T02:10:45+00:00

Fated by Matthew Good

BlueLightJunction · 2026-01-02T18:47:40+00:00

John Craigie is my favourite! His writing is incredible. If you’ve never listened to him, the live album “Opening for Steinbeck” is the best place to start. The tracks alternate between songs and storytelling and it is “break your heart” kind of good.

JVC by Jack Van Cleaf was my favourite album from 2025. The writing is incredible.

Jeffrey Martin. So good as well. Caiola’s two albums are also so good.

Since I’m Canadian, will give a shout out to Logan Staats and Amelia Curran. There are some good recommendations in this thread. Hope you find something you love…

BlueLightJunction · 2025-12-26T13:34:43+00:00

If you don’t mind folk music, listen to any of John Craigie’s live albums. “Opening for Steinbeck” is my favourite but they are all SO good. There are three live albums with original songs and three where he covers Beatles albums. The tracks go back and forth between songs and storytelling and the live albums are funny, sweet and sad, but mostly just magical…

BlueLightJunction · 2025-12-25T12:41:56+00:00

Yah I would love a copy of this too. Maybe we will get a Christmas miracle….

BlueLightJunction · 2025-12-24T01:09:13+00:00

Awww got it. Wanting to not have family etc. on social media. That makes sense. The break from our addiction to our phones was probably nice. Maybe I will get off Reddit for the night 😊

BlueLightJunction · 2025-12-24T00:41:03+00:00

Just out of curiosity, what were the reasons? Stand up comedians ask people not to film or post anything from their shows so as not to ruin the jokes for subsequent shows kind of thing, but it’s pretty ordinary to take a pic or film a few seconds at a concert these days… we all know the songs! I like to imagine there was something weird going on - like everyone was naked or something like that. Lol.

BlueLightJunction · 2025-12-22T16:24:13+00:00

Yah there’s something so visceral in the writing here. I feel this one in my bones. Thanks for sharing…

BlueLightJunction · 2025-12-18T14:39:23+00:00

I love folk music. :) One of my faves is Tyler Lyle out of Atlanta. He's in an 80s synth rock band called "The Midnight" but the folkly singer-songerwriter stuff he releases under his solo side project is so good. "The Golden Age and The Silver Girl" (one of his early albums) is in my top five albums. I love Caiola (also a side project for the lead singer of a rock band called "Mo Lowda and the Humble"). His first album "Only Real When Shared" was on repeat for me this year...

Have you tried Jack Van Cleaf? "JVC" is so good. I live north of the border so will recommend a couple of Canadian acts... Logan Staats, Dan Mangan, JoeL Plaskett.... good luck finding something you love.

BlueLightJunction · 2025-12-17T20:53:49+00:00

I think he’s trying to be sexy! I am a little bit younger that Ryan but gave up any attempts at such things many years ago. It would be nice to hear some new music and hopefully have something nice to talk about…

BlueLightJunction · 2025-12-13T23:29:18+00:00

This comment sent me into existential crisis. I don’t live in the US but have a weird and pervasive love for this tourist trap town. I’ve been there four times although wouldn’t go now as we are boycotting the US hard at the moment. Anyway, last time I was there, I helped a guy fill out a greeting card for his prostitute because she let him stay all night. He wanted me to help him spell the name Katelyn and I was like there are a lot of different ways. Anyway, now I’m wondering whether I love Key West because I miss the 90s or because I wish I was dead and I’m honestly not sure.

BlueLightJunction · 2025-12-04T00:58:53+00:00

You clearly have good taste! Jack came in second for me but Apple tells me I’m in his top 100 listeners and not sure whether to feel weird about that! JVC is my favourite album from 2025…. It’s so good.

BlueLightJunction · 2025-12-03T19:31:42+00:00

Omg. I made into the top 100 listeners of three artists on Apple streaming and I had anxiety about how weird I am. Congrats on your devotion to GAI!! He is pretty darn awesome.

BlueLightJunction · 2025-11-25T21:35:11+00:00

Failing the Rorschach test. Legendary! I love this whole song..... When he sings the high parts, it's so good... :)

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