The Tragically Hip are releasing their latest effort, “We Are the Same” on April 7th. I’ve had a listen to the first couple tracks from the album, and I must say so far it definitely isn’t the same (yet again) as the tried and true HIp sound and feel they’ve been coming out with for the past 15+ years.
The Hip are doing an “Evening with…” two-set nights with no openers. And playing a monumental 5-nights stint @Massey Hall couldn’t be more of a perfect venue for this iconic Canadian band. Tour Dates: (more…)
Jill Barber w/the Hyzoloists
Mod Club
12.21.09
8.5/10
Jill Barber swooped through Toronto on a frigid Saturday in February, promoting her new album, Chances. Using this night as her “official” launch party for this album, I couldn’t think of a better venue than the Mod Club to host. With a hybrid of seats, cocktail tables and a giant mirrorball set, the venue was as classy and chic as our the beloved East Coast singer/songwriter who graced the stage. (more…)
Dan Mangan from Vancouver has been recording a sophomore album to his first release, Post Cards and Daydreaming. He’s got a deep, raspy powerful voice accompanied by stripped down acoutic guitar that’ll make anyone stop to to listen.
Although he was a bit rusty being in the studio vs. relentessly on tour and playing folk festivals up the guitar hole, he put on a decent set at the Wreck Room on the corner of Bloor and Spadina. It was part of IndieCan Radio, a local indie music radio/podcast that puts on a free weekly show showcasing indie artists.
What a way to spark up a freezing Wednesday night. A trio East Coast artists put on a show at the Horseshoe, showcasing great breadth of music and talent emerging from the East. Opening the set was Oh No Forest Fires, a firey indie punk band, with as much ragged bounce as it’s lead singer’s hairdo. Although I only caught the last 2 tracks of their set, I could tell they could’ve gone all night.
Following up was Museum Pieces. Although they had a few technical issues and temperamental front man right out of the gates, they put in a decent set. Essences of Northern Lights and prog rock shimmered through, but overall I had trouble deciphering variance between songs, to a point where everything simply melding into one. Their rolling instrumental proggy sequences that never climaxed, and with mediocre on-stage performance, the band had trouble connecting to and engaging with audience. We never really got past their name, let alone their live set. (more…)
Apologies, but the concert page is under construction. Tibconcerts (the company I work with to list Toronto shows) is totally revamping their site.. so my SPOT the Groove page is on the list, hopefully coming up soon.
Jeffery Straker
Bread and Circus, Kensington Market
09.10.08
On a referral from a friend, I mosied down one cool Wednesday evening on September 10 to check out Jeffery Straker, a queer small town prairie boy come singer/songwriter in Toronto. It was a friendly songwriters circle, with two other musicians sharing the stage. It was at a small venue that I’ve walked by a million times while in Kensington Market, but never entered. The Bread and Circus is a tiny nook bar tucked between the fish, fruit and random army surplus vendors on Baldwin Street. (more…)
Over the past few years the organizers for UofT Orientation week have consistently delivered on steller Canadian acts to perform at the end of frosh week. Previous performers include Hidden Cameras, Stars and Metric. This year they have delivered again. Although they say you must be a UofT student to go, they’ve pretty open to non-froshies coming to party with them. As long as you can handle standing among confused and socially awkward 17-year olds, I suggest you head out.
TOKYO POLICE CLUB w/Cadence Weapon and Basia Bulat.
DRAGONETTEis headlining the afterparty, a poppy Esthero-esque electropop band.
Last week NXNE hit Toronto for another year of indie music and film mostly centered around Queen St. West. For $29 music fans and hipsters can parade from venue to venue, checking out anything from old time favourites, international sounds or local basement bands. From June 12-14, 2008 musicians from around the world strolled the streets of Toronto, attending the industry conference by day and playing as many clubs/bars/street corners as possible to get noticed.
Even though NXNE pails in comparison to the world famous mecca of indie music festivals, SXSW in Austin, TX, 500 bands in 40+ venues isn’t too shabby! TIP: 2 wheeled transport is king. With bands going on at the top of each hour from 8PM to 1AM (some as early as 6PM and as late as 4AM) and playing 40-45 min sets, you’ve got about 15 mins to get to your next venue. Battling traffic is a breeze by bike on Queen street since at the core, cars and streetcars are pretty much a standstill. All you need to mind are the odd schmoes swinging their door open in front of you excited they actually found a parking spot.
Thanks to my handy bike and wristband, I was able to hit up quite a number of acts. Every year I question whether it’s worth fighting with hipsters at venues just because it’s busy, watching pretentious music industry folks pass through the line only to chat with themselves through the entire set, or simply enduring overly hyped and boring shows. But it’s all worth the effort when you find at least one artist that blows you away. Some highlights this year included Hey Rosetta!, Justin Rutledge, You Say Party! We Say Die! and King Sunshine . Below are a few hot acts I caught from NXNE 2008:
It’s days before the 14th annual North by Northeast Music & Film Festival (and Conference) hits Toronto. This Thursday June 12- Saturday 15, 2008 at over 50 venues in downtown Toronto will host over 300 bands from around the world. Sure, it’s no SXSE, the mecca for indie artists, but it’s still a great opportunity to see both local and international artists without slepping it out to Austin, TX.
Having been a delegate, volunteer and general concert goer in the past, NXNE will deliver some great music, helping launch local artists like Tokyo Police Club, Moneen and Pilate (whatever happened to Pilate anyway?). This year’s line up has a ton of international artists to discover, especially a bunch traveling all the way from down under.
Highlights: Sloan, My Morning Jacket, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, the Besnard Lakes, Dan Mangan, Magenta Lane, People in Planes, Two Hours Traffic, Matt Mays and El Torpedo, We Are Wolves, Great Lake Swimmers, Hey Rosetta!, White Cowbell Oaklahoma, Julie Doiron, Swervedriver, Redd Kross, Sheek Louch, the High Dials, French Kicks, Black Diamond Bay (featuring the Dears’ Patrick Krief), the Diableros, Uncut, Young and Sexy, and Carina Round.
Similar to SXSW, there’s a film festival component to North by Northeast. Of particular note is the debut of the premiere episode of “The Side Street Project”, which gets Holy Fuck, Buck 65, and Emm Gryner jamming on Springsteen’s “State Trooper”, Gordon Lightfoot’s “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”, and Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar on Me”.
Click HERE for the full list of artists and films.
Death Cab for Cutie is on tour promoting their new album, this time with the help of Toronto power house powerpop band STARS. I was quite disappointed with their Halloween 2006 show with Teo Leo last year, but perhaps it was because it was late on the tail end of a 2-year or so tour of Plans.
It’ll be an all day affair with supporting acts Rogue Wave and the up and coming buzz band Young Galaxy, so bring a blanket, soak up the sun and feel the music.
Previous Olympic Island summer concerts (not incl. Virgin Music Fest) have featured Broken Social Scene, Sam Roberts, Feist, Metric, Pilate and Sloan. The crowd has traditionally been quite relaxed (i.e. no running the stage or manic moshing) and quite passionate about the music; let’s hope this weekend’s concert will be of similar ilk. WHO: Death Cab for Cutie, with Stars, Rogue Wave and Young Galaxy WHERE: OLYPMIC ISLAND WHEN: Saturday, June 7 @2PM TICKETS: $56.50 + taxes and service fees (Rotate ThIs, Ticketmaster)
Death Cab for Cutie 
