More like “Let’s get out of this venue”. The Camera Obscura/Essex Green show on January 31 has been moved from the ideally-sized Lee’s Palace to the grumble-inducing Opera House. I’m obviously not very thrilled with this news, but I remain confident/hopeful that the combined pop goodness of both acts will defeat the general crumminess of the new venue.

But on to other things – namely, my wondering why The Essex Green doesn’t get more respect? And that includes from me. Their latest album, last year’s The Cannibal Sea, is a rather splendid piece of folk-rock, blending a pastoral, laid back-ness with some urban pop smarts all seen through a soft-focus 60s filter. Chris Ziter and Sasha Bell’s boy-girl vocals are supremely smooth and elegant together – in fact, that’s a fair description for the album as a whole. If there’s any complaint to be filed, it’s that they’re a bit too polite – maybe if they were a bit more in your face, more people would pay attention – but I rather like them just the way they are. But Canadians appreciate politeness, dontchaknow. Looking forward to seeing them, even if it is at the Opera House.

MP3: The Essex Green – “Don’t Know Why (You Stay)”
MySpace: The Essex Green

As for the headliners, they’ve just released the third single from Let’s Get Out Of This Country, the Motown-eriffic “If Looks Could Kill”. The CD version of the single comes with two new b-sides while the 7″ has a cover of The Paris Sisters’ “I Love How You Love Me”. There’s also a shiny new video!

MP3: Camera Obscura – “If Looks Could Kill”
Video: Camera Obscura – “If Looks Could Kill” (YouTube)

Also schedule-shifting – the Rob Dickonson show that had been scheduled for February 7th at Lee’s Palace has been moved up to Monday, February 5th. Purchased tickets will be honoured and if you just can’t bear to miss an episode of Heroes or 24 and need a refund, those are available at point of purchase. And speaking of Rob, he’s made a new MP3 available on his website, which he describes thusly: “I recorded ‘Hush Little Baby’ in the spring [don’t ask] and listened to it again tonight ….it sounded OK so thought I’d share it”. …but Rob, I want to ask!

MP3: Rob Dickinson – “Hush Little Baby”

Congoese kalimba orchestra Konono No 1 will be at the Phoenix on May 1, tickets $20 in advance.

Poster boys for blog-hype/backlash Cold War Kids are at the Mod Club on April 4. I saw them at Lollapalooza and my verdict then? “Nothing astonishing, but alright.” File under: blog indifference. Full tour dates at You Ain’t No Picasso.

Zoilus directs us to “the only article about Joanna Newsom’s Ys you ever need to read,” over at Arthur.

I Heart Music has got Amy Millan’s radio session for KCRW from last month MP3-ed and available to download.

And “Black Mirror”, the first single from the new Arcade Fire album Neon Bible (no, “Intervention” wasn’t it) is now streaming off their website – go to Win’s scrapbook and make with the clicky. Final album release and touring info (including T.O.) should be coming in the next few weeks.