James Ol and the Villains play at the Capitol

By Jolene Bulmer

Oct. 10th the The Capitol Theatre was host to an album release and film premiere.

James Oltean-Lepp and Eric Boucher took part in the Harvesting the FAM Festival by taking stage in the Joy Theatre at 8 p.m.Boucher released his new documentary, Windsor Shift Change. The 50 minute documentary about the different perceptions of Windsor’s community. The film highlights how Canada, Detroit and even some Windsorites perceive the city negatively, but shows us the reality of the strong, positive community. Local musicians, artists and promoters were interviewed to provide their outlooks on the pressing issue of how Windsor’s creative scene is being looked down upon.

“In certain situations theatre people are only going to come to theatre things and music people are only going to come to music things. It’s just the anomaly,” said Boucher. “I just went on the angle in this film that there’s always something going on.  It doesn’t matter what it is, you’re going to be interested in it. Either if it’s sexually or because of the story or if you know someone that’s in it or you know someone who helped produce it, that’s the tightness of the community.”

Boucher said that he will be donating his b-roll to Windsor public library and his next project is going to focus on one specific genre relating to Windsor.

Olten-Lepp, who commonly goes by James O-L, played his set shortly after Boucher’s movie finished. His new album“For the World is Hollow and I have Touched the Sky” was distributed for the first time via vinyl and CD. His 13-piece band included band added an extra seven members, including two clarinet players, a violinist and the trombone and trumpet players from local band, The Nefidovs. With footage of people surfing in the background he played a long set at the Capitol Theatre, then moved onto Phog Lounge for an after party where Egemen Aktas was spinning vinyl. Aktas is a DJ for CJAM FM and said he will be playing a vas array of local artists at Phog. He has been part of the local music scene for as long as he can remember. He said he believes it’s important for local artists to connect with their fans and new listeners.

“DJs are one medium how artists reach fans with their music. When a DJ plays something, it gives people more chances to hear it,” said Aktas. He also said that it’s wonderful when people ask him during his set who the artist is. “ I might play some stuff tonight you haven’t  heard of and that you want to hear more of. That’s one more way some artist has connected with you.”

Aktas said that the best way to find different artists is by word of mouth or through Facebook. “How artists can connect with their fans better, and during a time of social networking, I think that’s one way.”