James McNally
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jmcnally.bsky.social
James McNally
@jmcnally.bsky.social
Teacher/Writer/Film Programmer/Festival Director (Shorts Not Pants)/DJ (#DJOlNerdyBastard). Rhythm synth, FAXMODEM (ok, kidding on that one).
TONIGHT in TORONTO CITY! Join me at Houndstooth from 10pm on for the postpunkiest tunes in the city! NO COVER!
November 21, 2025 at 9:14 PM
T minus ONE day until my debut set at Houndstooth. I've included another song I'll be playing. First released in 1983, "Sleeper in Metropolis" finds English poet Anne Clark reciting her dystopian words over a haunting and infectious musical track written by David Harrow.
November 20, 2025 at 9:08 PM
T minus 3 days until my Houndstooth debut! My playlist will include a song from one of my favourite albums from 1979. I bought this as a 14 year-old and played the grooves off it.
November 18, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Stranded in Toronto City tonight with nothing to do? Come and hear some great music in a friendly room. No cover, free pool, cheap thrills and alcohol!
November 14, 2025 at 12:31 PM
From Squamish, BC, cistern are a post-punk band who remind me a lot of early Modest Mouse. I also hear a little bit of Chicago's Deeper. Highly recommended! cisternband.bandcamp.com/album/rhizome
October 30, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Stuck in the boring hellhole of Toronto City tonight? Come out and listen to punk choons while drinking cheap booze, playing pool and pinball. Cheap Thrills! Hey Ho, Let's Go! 10pm - late!
October 10, 2025 at 3:51 PM
TORONTO CITY! Friday September 5, 10pm, Swan Dive: HEAR the NOW sounds of the past demi-decade. Accompany the sounds with fine libations, free and cheap amusements, and social intercourse. Report for mandatory enjoyment!
September 1, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Overlooked and underestimated again, Gen X. Sigh.
May 8, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Larry Norman got a raw deal.
May 5, 2025 at 11:02 AM
The year at SXSW that @dansays.bsky.social had a suite. Good times! Cc: @weegee.bsky.social @glenda.nyc @leiascofield.com
March 16, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Friday Night in Toronto City! 10pm at Swan Dive, until the lights go off. Pop in for some Power Pop. Drink a beer, shoot some pool, buy a t-shirt, play some pinball, listen to some great tunes, make a new friend. #djolnerdybastard
March 7, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Unbelievably, against all odds, this is still happening. Come and help us eat what's looking now to be a comically oversized birthday cake!
February 16, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Baby Lemonade - Waiting By The Phone, from 1998. Power pop perfection!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJnk...
February 13, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Caddy - Caddy (2024) is the latest from longtime one-man band Tomas Dahl.

Sløtface - Film Buff (2024) is the latest from these infectious pop punkers fronted by Haley Shea.

These are all worth your time!
January 31, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Vibeke Saugestad - check out all of her albums but especially Overdrive (2003) and The World Famous Hat Trick (2007)

Beachheads - Beachheads (2017) and The Needs - You Need the Needs (2019) are both side projects of members of hard rock band Kvelertak.
January 31, 2025 at 4:14 PM
I turn 60 next month! I'm hosting a drop by, say Hi, kind of thing at one of the coziest rooms in Toronto. Sunday February 16th from 7pm onwards upstairs at The Bell and Beacon. There will be music and Guinness and probably some cake, too. Come say Hello!
January 12, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Next DJ gig isn't until February, but it's going to be killer. Glam rock, old and new, from 10pm onwards at Swan Dive. No cover! Special thanks to Swan Dive (Abra/Mike) & Low Bar (Noelle) who allowed me to fill their rooms/your ears with music in 2024. Hoping to do it even more in 2025.
December 30, 2024 at 7:00 PM
Port Dover, Boxing Day 2024
December 26, 2024 at 6:41 PM
Listening to this unappreciated masterpiece from 1998 this morning. Post-punk for the wide open spaces of Texas. My Spoon cover band will be called 30 Gallon Tank. @spoontheband.bsky.social
December 21, 2024 at 6:17 PM
TONIGHT from 10pm until late, I'll be playing some choons over at the Swan Dive. Free pool, cheap drinks, free music, cheap laughs. NO COVER! C'mon! #djolnerdybastard
December 6, 2024 at 10:49 PM
Power pop fans, SOFTJAW is a must-listen! One of the best EPs of the year!

softjawlb.bandcamp.com/album/s-t-ep
December 2, 2024 at 8:07 PM
Coming up on Monday at 7pm EST, the 20th edition of NO FUN, an hour of tunes selected by that venerable miserabilist, DJ Ol' Nerdy Bastard! Tune in at fsr.live.
November 29, 2024 at 7:16 PM
A week tomorrow at SWAN DIVE, a freeform set of great tunes mixed by the oldest, dirtiest bastard in the city! Never a cover, bring an open mind and a friend! (There will be no actual BINGO at Swan Dive, folks. Maybe another night?) #djolnerdybastard
November 28, 2024 at 11:13 PM
Enormous croissant our friends brought us this weekend. As large as a loaf of bread but much tastier.
November 25, 2024 at 12:27 PM
Not sure if this will stand the test of time, but right now it's all I want to listen to. Party rockers Jagged Baptist Club release their debut full-length, Physical Surveillance: jaggedbaptistclub.bandcamp.com/album/physic...
November 21, 2024 at 9:11 PM