blog post Live on CBC Radio 3 w/ Grant Lawrence: SEARCHLIGHT 2011! The Best Music Website in Canada Top 60!

Craig played Booze Can by your band leading into your show!  Nice segue!

That's your guest today?...oh boy. We're so not going to hear any music today! :D

I hope he crowd surfs the office.

I can't decide. I am pretty sure I have voted for a different website every day.

My votes were split, mostly for the obvious choice, but also for a band I like and a certain Vancouver website which is awesome.  I needed an extra week just to give one vote each to the sites I nominated.

I'm hoping that my photo website goes away, because I STILL haven't updated it (mainly because i'm too busy with the other one that is nominated).

I hope VIA indie makes it through... wait til you see what we're doing today!

How could I forget? Yes, Nardwuar will be here in a bit to give his reaction to the Top 60... not knowing if his site has made the cut or not. Should be... interesting?

hey has anyone ever tried "turning the tables" on Nardwuar by persistently prodding him with questions about obscure details of his life that they've meticulously researched?

that's an interview i'd like to see.

I'd like to vote for my site The Can Con during round two, but I'd take being able to vote for my other site Punknewsm or Exclaim which I love to write for.

...sigh.

I'm voting for Go North to Detroit South to Windsor!

...sigh.

I voted for Canada is a Music Mecca of course.

@CMac - Rough day?  Just wanted to let you know I think you're pretty cool.

@nvp - Questions for Nardwuar: "Do you still eat?" or "Would you like a hamburger?" or "Are you going for the Scott Weiland look?"

All over the map - haven't voted for a single site twice.  Ear Buds and Ticket Stubs, Exclaim.ca, Vancouver is Awesome, etc...  Can't wait to see the short(er) list!!

Your modesty is marvelous. 

The Halifax blogging turf war is on!

isn't that a sign that the people voting aren't actually fans of the site since they aren't checking it or if they are, aren't listening to their wishes? If they're so adamant about no one voting for them, we should respect their honourable request.

...or something like that...

From my office computer I've been voting for i(heart)music each day.  I think they/he does a great job at presenting music news and reviews and it's been a daily read for me for some time now (and I'm not even in the Ottawa area!)

From home, I've thrown a few votes towards SouthernSouls who I only learned about through this contest.  Since their nomination, I've managed to watch a good number of the videos they've posted up on there.  The Huron set is probably my favourite; what a great bunch of rockin' tunes!

Fingers crossed that one of the two make it through to the next round!  Good luck guys!

Not to go all Benoit on you, but I think that sets a new record for your most rambly- run-on sentence- most-confusing-est-post in a while.

NxEW.ca

Sure I have a personal stake as a person who writes there. But so does 100+ other Canadians from one side of the country to other.

Are there any other sites that are owned and maintained by that many people that care that much about Canadian music? 

That's not to say other sites don't care – I think Searchlight wonderfully showcases this. But, I do think that NxEW.ca has a really great thing going here.

I've been voting for Southern Souls! Great website and really inspiring video work.

i was JUST about to head out the door to shovel ma's car out (anyone in charlottetown have a tow?) buuuuut i think i'll stick around here for a few minutes!

i've been voting for canada is a music mecca since that's where mine & suckamc's radio show is hosted. if we make it to the next list, i'll be pretty ecstatic!!

also, i haven't seen too much promotion from the bigger blogs, NxNE, AUX, etc. i think that's nice of them. (it's QUITE possible that i just wasn't paying that much attention..)

I'm just jealous that my team hasn't won a super bowl ever. 

Are you in Fredericton? Did I see you a couple weeks back?

I was all over town that weekend and somehow didn't run into you. I'd make a terrible detective. Nice reading.

Our good friends from Winnipeg are currently looking for a home in the Mississauga/Milton area.

Well, it's a great place to be, IMO.  We're close to Toronto, but not too close... and close to Guelph and a lot of other mid-sized cities in the region.  Mississauga, where I grew up and still work, is starting to feel a little over-crowded in places; Milton is a great 'satellite town' and is growing quite quickly.  Good luck to them with the move!

Congrats all! <3

Congrats Kirk, CMac, CDNz1!

Condolences to BLee aka kn0ttyn3rb

The Broken Speaker made it!

And Kirk! And NXEW.ca! And Hero Hill!

...a really solid list of Canadian music websites!  Congrats to all the R3 bloggers for their efforts and progress on to the next round!  Well deserved!

zing. did you vote for them/him?

Contrats to everyone! So much passion... so little profit (well, for some/most of us)   :)

No one in the radio business should ever be "speechless".

Congrats!

To all in the top 60.  Fantastic sites all around, and I know I'm biased, but I hope one of the blogs takes the belt.

BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE

is nothing short of awesome

I can't do anything but stomp my feet when this song is on.

Can you imagine a stadium full of people leaping in unison.

My eyes are crossed, but wow!

Happy for VIA. :)

wohoo! Indie Craft Attack... that's so exciting. What a great list! Lots of great sites!

No Nardwuar.com!

My vote is now for sale to the highest bidder. 

Took out Brenda.

Is it Kirk vs Christine now?

Those Olympic posts is what got me hooked onto her site. And by association Kirk's blog and a few other awesome Vancouver sites.

i think each year the searchight proves that you don't have to be big to be important.

it was a small venue who won

it was a small record store who won...

even best festival of the year didn't go to one of the big ones.

(ok ok, i'm really going now!)

We duel at dawn.

Were there any close calls?

Because they're TOO popular?

Also, Arcade Fire's website is ugly as sin.

I have a few theories:

1) Many of the frequent listeners/bloggers also frequent and/or operate or otherwise participate in nominated sites.  I love many of these musicians, but I'm more likely to get off my butt (or in this case stay on my butt and move my fingers) to vote for a friend or a site that I'm going to be checking out anyway. 

2) While many musicians have beautifully designed websites, they don't always have the kind of update frequency that many have come to expect from their favorite sites.  It's time consuming to be a touring musician, and it's time consuming to run a site, so it's understandable that even the best-intentioned musicians won't necessarily have the extra time and/or energy to make their site a daily destination for listeners, as opposed to an occasional stopping point for new info.

To sum up: Given the large number of nominees, it's most likely that people would think to vote for the sites with which they're a) most familiar, b) feel the most connected, and c) don't require them to go out of their way to cast said vote (because they could just follow a link from twitter, facebook, or the site itself)

Ouch.  Are you criticizing my web-authoring skills now?  That burns dude.

As I said last week(?), I think it's because band sites -- as amazing as they might be -- are too singularially focused on themselves (by design) to really represent everything that Canadian music has to offer right now.  You could argue that someone like BSS or AF are so huge right now that they are drawing attention to the CDN Indie scene, but I would say that it's because of their music, not their website, that this is happening.

Compared to some of the general music blogs out there who are reviewing and conversing with a wide number of bands, big and small, I'm not surprised that so many of them were cut this round.

MAN. Young and Sexy! I've not heard that song in forever! That was a favourite of mine back in the early podcast days.

Searchlight is twitter-trending in Canada.

As much as I love Hollerado's site, I felt band sites should be reserved for the Buckys. But I understand the inclusiveness theory, as well.

Yeah but Hollerado's site is so cool!  They're getting part of my vote.  That's one of the few artists sites where I click on it and let out a Keanu-style "Whoa" every time.

I hope this set list will include "World in a wall" by Martin Tielli. It must be the most heart-wrenching Canadian breakup music since Blue.

What is about that site that you're voting for in relation to Searchlight?

Cause I have to side with Yort.

Let Nardwaur know how much he's appreciated!  I honestly voted for the site that I hit up most frequently, so I apologize to him.  It's a gosh damn shame Nardwaur couldn't crack the top 60!

Har har har.

Haha, you're the best! :)

hahaha! what the heck indeed...i've never actually heard this song! :P

I've laughed out loud multiple times this show.

ha ha.  THAT was radio gold.  "What the heck .. oh it's the actual song"

Even with this tweet when he found out he was nominated!?!: 

My tweets are hotter than Charles Spearin's moustache. @CBCRadio3 #Searchlight

...rips off the Kinks!

Grant farted into the mic again.

Is it time that we get down to this survivor style and make some alliances before the next tribal council? And then backstab each other later?

Good questions! I think allegiance is a big part of the voting right now, and a lot of people seem to have split allegiance right now.

I vote for utility and fun.  Sites that look good are nice, but I go to a site because it fulfills a need that I feel that I have in my life (in this case, for information on CanInRock).  I only voted for sites that I actually visit (and I voted for multiple in the previous round), but I will certainly be giving more scrutiny to other elements (design, amount/quality of content) as the list gets shorter.

I have split allegiance... I will admit that much. I am personally looking at originality, content, and the overall look. It's a toughie, that's for damn sure...

I hope you don't feel the slightest bit guilty about it.

I mean if we weren't supposed be in favour of things we like and want to see them succeed, there really isn't much point to being a music fan is there?

i'm glad i (heart) music is advancing. as i posted when i made it my one nomination--after the R3 site, which is ahead by miles!--i've gotten turned on to more good CA indie music via this site than any other.

now, i don't live in canada and have only been following CA indie music for approx. 2 1/2 years. some CA artists come to NYC, but i just can't partake in the local live and club scenes (though I'd like to!), so I'm probably unfamiliar with many sites that are key in other listener's music lives. that's the beauty part about having the whole list since last week and i began looking at sites new to me.

i should add too that on i (heart) music you can download a song or two from a new album (but not more) so the reader can get to know the work before making a full committment to buying something.  

love the contest!

i like how Nard says "Ba-Boom!"

I think Colin would agree with you

Form and function, largely, in my case determine what will get my vote.  A site has to be aesthetically pleasing, right from my initial click.  Its purpose has to be obvious and it has to serve that purpose simply and easily, it has to be easy to navigate, and it has to provide a depth of content.  

who designed the site (or whether I know that person) will have no bearing on my vote.  For me personally, my decision will be based solely upon the site itself, as much as it possibly can be.  I want everyone I know who has a 'horse in the race," so to speak, to succeed, which either means voting for everyone all the time, or deciding to take my personal feelings out of it.  so I'm going for the latter.  You guys all suck.  i'm voting for the Canadian Tire website.

Whenever Grant is talking to nardwuar its like nard is running way ahead, dragging Grant behind him and every now and then Grant catches up, gets a question in, and then Nardwuar takes off running again.  That's just the mental image I have. Love it every time

Haha I love Nardwuar - what a random guy.

 I'm doing what I can.

Hummingbird - Imaginary Cities

I Were the Bird - Rose Cousins

This Bird Has Flown - The Wooden Sky

Birds on  Sunday -Royal Wood

He shouted us out! :)

Looks like my site didn't make it through... but the three sites I nominated (Island SoapBox, CFUV, and Discorder) all made it so I guess that's something. (EhBSeasides: Not much of a following, but we have good taste! :P) Congrats Kirk, the CIAMM gang, Russ and Cathy, Monica, Adam, the NXEW gang, and Christine for making the first cut!!! I'm very excited for you all, and this really didn't make my voting choices any easier. :)

It's a crime that Brenda's site didn't make it through.

Thanks to Radio 3 for hosting this contest, it really has made a difference in the amount of traffic I've been getting. I'll nerd out with some stats sometime soon and share exactly how much Searchlight has impacted my site. Thanks especially to anyone who bothered to vote for EhBSeasides! 

so when are we gonna go creepin for Lisa so we can take her for waffles...

that sounded like it could have been a euphemism for something

I am not the least bit surprised that site is gone.  It is very difficult to manouver through, cluttered, and I personally don't find it visually appealing.  Totally expected that to fall off.

I just so happen to write for their radio mag Renegade Radio

Nardwuar vs. Grant Lawrence is a wild ride.  and educational.

I smell a regular feature.

(though it could be cheese i'm smelling)

It almost seems like I'm out of breath after that!

... because Nardwuar wanted to do "one word" reviews on ALL 60 SITES!!!

Great song by the Pointed Sticks!  Sounds abit like Sweet - Fox On The Run though!

Nardwaur must get some intense cardio from talking like he does. LUNGS OF STEEEEEEL.

Thorough and energetic! haha

It isn't just the shitload of stuff, but its how quickly he can access it and spill it out.  Just hanging around him must be totally exhausting.

And @Korvaras - very well said!

I'm not sure I could handle him in person.  I think he could be easily overwhelming, especially if he was talking at you like that.  I'd have to be in the right frame of mind or he could kind of freak me out.

I definitely respect the wealth of knowledge he has at his disposal, though.  It's pretty impressive.

ONE WORD AND NARDUAR  does not compute.

"... the guy clearly picked a niche to fill..." 

Can't a brother get a "hi-o?"

Hi-o.

Great nomination!  

I don't get on here nearly enough, but I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who is voting in this Searchlight contest!  So many great sites were nominated, it is so nice to see such a strong music community here in Canada!

@lee:  oh, I have no doubt that nardwuar is really like that.  I think it would be impossible to create and sustain a character that convincing.  I'm quite sure he's 100% like that.

@binsy:  ya, Painting over Silence is still in

@wapuche:  If you have to ask for your own hi-o...not sayin', just sayin' (actually it was a pretty good one)

@calculust thank you again for the nomination Michelle :)

an "E-Ticket" ride. 

(Old Disneyland designation for the very best rides.)

Hehe. Sorry, I didn't correct it, Grantie. It was too funny.

Isn't VJ Beauchamp... a... girl?

glad to see friends still in consideration! I'll be rooting for North by East West. now, back to sleep.

Yep, Vickie will pound you for that slight.

Nardwuar HAS been to Desolation Sound, and in fact there is a song on the Evaporators "Gassy Jack" album called "Desolation Sound". He sailed the area with his Dad when he was a kid, but he has refused all invitations to the cabin...

I've said this privately and now publicly... thanks a lot to Radio 3 hosts, particularly you Grant for being magnifiers of little voices. you guys had been the biggest supporters of my blog, thanks for turning a personal hobby into a way to help artists and music fans.

much love to you guys :)

One from the past: Le pic-bois, by Beau Dommage. (=woodpecker)

See here.

Congrats on your blog being nominated, and sorry you didn't make it further! You are awesome though, and so are the insights and music reviews on your blog!! :)

having met nardwuar once at an evaporators show, i can tell you that he was pretty calm and mellow (relatively speaking). He is also very friendly and it's all genuine! he was also a big help via email when I was looking for things to do and check out while in vancouver

You'll always be in the Top 60 in my heart.

Agree to disagree?

and don't stop reading earbuds & ticket stubs!!

Hey guys, thanks to everyone who voted for Noisography.

We are super excited and a bit suprised to have made it to the second round. Hope we can squeeze another vote or two outta for this round too *hah*

So great to see so many fantastic Canadian music websites out there, who are all about the music!