Sonny Smith - "The Stick-Up". Sonny sings a song about a bad race. This town's not big enough for both of us. A petty crime set in the browns and faded mauves of Peanuts. An alcoholic behind the counter, a kid with a ski mask, guns. Acoustic guitar and dusty recorders, playing in a line. A story like this cannot be photographed, only taped, captured accidentally. There are no paparazzi at a stick-up; the only flashes are muzzle fire. So the song is a recollection, a fiction, or a lie. It is deliberate, no matter what. The song of a stick-up is never impulsive, accidental - it's a tale being told, in one particular way.

[Sonny plays in Sonny & the Sunsets / buy / This is my favourite song but One Act Plays also features guest appearances by Neko Case, Jolie Holland, Mark Eitzel and John Dwyer.]

Mirrors - "Hide and Seek (demo)". Starshine getting weaker by the minute; squint squint fire up the spotlights, turn them off, anything to change the fade. Venus rising, mercury twinkle, flashlights off snow. Sunglasses, let your eyes adjust. Close your eyes and extend your hand to the heavens and hope the stars'll flare up, brighter bright, then come and take your hand, to dance. Or else go inside: screw it, what does the calendar know anyway. Also: disco ball.

[buy Mirrors' completed Lights and Offerings / thanks Ami, from long ago]

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Elsewhere:

• I support the student protests in Quebec. Did you know that this was what Montreal looked like last night?
  
• Montreal's excellent, striving, searching Young Galaxy are seeking help to make their new album. They want to make it with producer Dan Lissvik in Sweden. Lend them your support on RocketHub, the Canadian Kickstarter - flip the tables and buy your copy of whatever-they'll-make now, in advance.
• Finally, this: