A lot of hard work, perseverance and talent went into making this, the music video for Cody Westman‘s I Had a Lover. I glimpsed some of that personally when I pitched in on a couple of the many days and nights the video (and an extended version short film) were shot on over the cusp of 2010.

The results speak for themselves.

That’s Cody they’re transporting in the video. This track is the first single off his album I Am Cody Westman, which is having its CD release party at The Ship this Friday with special guests The Pathological Lovers.

The music video for I Had a Lover will be screening at the CD release party, while Black Clouds, the extended version short film, will debut at The Nickel Film and Video Festival this June.

Congratulations to filmmaker Christian Sparkes, the cast and crew, and Cody for pulling off an incredible music video with no budget in their spare time.

As if a warm sunny Friday in March weren’t enough cause for celebration, here’s two more:

Joe Belly‘s first music video, unveiled Wednesday at The Rose to a packed house, is online and ripe for the streaming.

The video was shot on super8 film, which helps to give it that wonderfully nostalgic look and feel. As director Brad Gover tells me, he was warned not to shoot indoors with the finicky film stock, known for its tendency to underexpose in low light. But Gover threw caution to the wind, and as many lights as he could get his hands on up behind the camera, and the results speak for themselves.

Now in case you were considering knocking back a cold one while you enjoy a second viewing of Nickles and Dimes, I’m overjoyed to report that as of today your options just expanded at the Liquor Store.

Behold:

Unlike last year’s Beer Fest, this weekend’s is packing fresh heat. Even better, it’s all being added to the permanent collection.

Somewhere on the rocky shoreline of Newfoundland, just beyond the fringes of our city and society, a mad scientist, his trusty sidekick Igor, their pal the Wolfman, and a plucky young Frankensteinian monster learn the true meaning of love — and friendship — in this debut music video from The Pathological Lovers.

And the award for best set design goes to…

I gave the Quidi Vidi Brewing Company flak back in July for not taking their fan base seriously. A delicious home brewed ad made by devout QV drinkers was passed up by QV for one reason or another for nigh on a year before the company finally connected the dots and started running the video on their Facebook page.

A lot’s changed since last summer, if the latest QV Brewery initiative is any indication.

I’m happy to report that many of the same hands involved in the fan ad were involved in this officially sanctioned QV ad/music video.

Keep it up, QV. This is definitely the way forward.

Weed, Mary Brown’s, a sketch bag with a baseball bat by the name of Sketchy Jerome: this latest music video from Colleen Power‘s album REJECTS is a microcosm of townie culture.

Sketchy Jerome, directed by Roger Maunder and Colleen Power.

It’s the 80′s in downtown St. John’s, where Wish Crosby and Flo Murphy are in their pitiful prime. Such is the backdrop for a TV series being developed by filmmaker Roger Maunder and musician Colleen Power called Downtown Freaks.

Although the pilot for the series is still in the writing stage, the characters and the setting come alive in Power’s latest music video, Dead Bird in the Garbage.

While the setting and the characters are quasi-fictional, the story behind Dead Bird in the Garbage is based on an experience Maunder and Power shared years ago, so you could view this video as a kind of therapy through comedy.

Both had a hand in directing the video. As Maunder explains, “the whole concept of the video was to make it seem/look like an 80′s local cable station. Very low tech as you can see. We shot it over a couple of days. The other characters are Geoff Panting on accordion and Jeff Ryan. Jeff’s been in all of Colleen’s videos.”

That would be Panting on the accordion, with Ryan John Quinton on nightcrawler digging duty and Ryan giving Flo chase from his flower bed.

For more Colleen Power goodness, including her full collection of music videos, information on show dates, and how to buy her new album, Rejects, featuring New Townie Man and Dead Bird in the Garbage, check out her website.

AE Bridger, one of my favorite local bands (listen to my interview with them here), apparently played at Night Music this past month, and I missed it! They’re like a cross between Primus and The Unicorns. Thanks to Patrick Canning and his awesome blog (you are reading it, aren’t you?) you can see all the AE Bridger action here.

Canning has many other great videos of local musicians and great reviews as well, so check his blog out.

Also, you do know about Night Music, don’t you? Every third Thursday at The Ship you can expect a great time with a featured band (usually experimental in nature) and an improv jam session in between sets where you can bring your own instruments and jam with others. I don’t go because of the conflict with The New Spin, but it’s a must-see gig, which I didn’t know about until several years after living here.

And if you haven’t done so, pick up a copy of AE Bridger’s cd, I am a Ghostly Leech. Here’s my review of it. They also might have a new album coming out this year? Dunno, but I hope so.

Short Production Films have just released their first music video. From the Vimeo page:

Sailor’s Ode is a music video/short film for Amy G. Dala, a four piece from St. John’s, Newfoundland. Sailor’s Ode is available on their self-titled debut album available July ’09.

Sailor’s Ode was written and directed by Alex Mugford. With Brad Batten behind the camera and a team of producers made up of best friends, Sailor’s Ode is sure to make you rock the fuck out.

The video has an interesting visual style, sort of like the cut scenes from an old gangster video game, with dialogue appearing on the screen, the frame always moving, sometimes closing in on a certain area for emphasis.

Done on a budget of love and free time, the cast and crew of the Sailor’s Ode music video manage to deliver what at times feels like a full scale cinematic experience thanks to their obvious commitment to realizing Mugford’s vision. You get the impression that this is more than just a production company — this is a team.

I’ll be keeping my eye on Short Production Films. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing more of what they have in store.

Sailor’s Ode from Short Production Films on Vimeo.

[via Alex Mugford]

Check out these two spankin’ new Errand Boy music videos by Brian Williams.

Fireworks never looked so good.

Chad Young, photographer for Signal, has a knack for live music photography. And seeing these photos makes me wish I was able to be at the show even more (as stated in my last post).

But for those of you who missed out on the show last night, there’s another one going on tonight that will most likely host the same high energy.

So check out the photos, and check out the show tonight at the Ship, 11 pm.