Mathias Kom lives in Peterborough, Ontario, a town he loves for all it offers, from the busy, tight-knit music community to the daily sense of apocalypse conveyed in the citys fortunes. Its not a wealthy town, Kom says on the phone from Guelph, on tour and on his way to Halifax. Besides Trent University, where he studied, theres some manufacturing in the city. The G.E. factory is still there, but its not really producing much anymore. Kom has a song called General Electric vs. The Imperial Moth. You can guess who wins what he calls the epic battle. Though written on travels south of the border, the song reflects on the rise and fall of factories on a community. Rich metaphors and imagery enliven Koms latest album Happy Birthday---released under the moniker The Burning Hell---along with his baritone voice and striking arrangements, and featuring his soprano and baritone ukulele. (SF)
Friday at FRED, 8pm, $7-$20 (all-venue pass). Songwriters circle w/Lindsay Barr, David Celia, Saturday at FRED, 7pm, $7-$25 (all-venue pass).
