Starting yesterday (apologies for the delay – the onslaught of holiday turkey, stuffing and apple pies kept me weighed town), The Drake Hotel is holding their 4th annual What’s In the Box event, showcasing electronic/DJs the week before the new year. Given that most artists are taking some time off before kicking off their 2010 tour, or spending time hibernating to record, it’s a great place to head for some great beats and company.
There are some great bands doing sets this year, with highlights that include Holy Fuck, Air France and OPOPO. At $5 per night, how can you go wrong? (more…)
The 5th Annual Bob Marley Birthday Bash is here, raising vital funds for charity. This year’s charity if choice is Yonge St. Mission and its food bank. The legendary reggae icon’s birthday is officially Feb. 6th, the night of the event. If you’ve ever been to Jamaica, you’ll know how colossal an event Marley’s birthday is.
Indie Reggae bands will be entertaining everyone throughout the evening, with raffles for prizes. One other reason will be seeing some b/w photos of Bob Marley in the 70s, from the Analogue Gallery.
Bob Marley Birthday
The Great Hall (1087 Queen St. West)
Saturday, Feb 6th
Doors 9pm
Saturday, February 6th
$15 at the door w/non-perishable food item
Thunderheist w/Everything All the Time
Mod Club
12.03.09
It’s been quite an electric 3 years for Thunderheist’s power duo, Isus and DJ/producer Grahm Zilla. This was their final show before they take some time to pursue their own solo projects. It comes at a good time for them, riding the heels of their wildly successful self titled release in March 2009.
Up-and-coming electro-pop band Everything All the Timebegan the night. They’re quite a peculiar bunch, with some members looking more like they were heading straight from the set of the O.C. to a rock show. (more…)
DJ Champion w/Madrid
Mod Club
11.27.09
Doors @7pm | $15
DJ Champion and his G-strings (guitar strings) from Montreal are making a triumphant return to the Mod Club on Friday. Their highly entertaining blend of electro-beats and guitars, all orchestrated by master DJ Maxine Morin. They hit the electronic dance scene when they released Chill ‘Em All in 2004, and a follow up remix in 2006.
So it’s really been 5 years since Morin has come up with a sophmore album – and you can definitely hear the evolution, most discernibly recruiting the talents of montreal raw-power singer Pilou Côté, in replace of the signature soulful female vocals Betty Bonifassi that electrified their live show. Let’s see how they do!
The Rural Alberta Advantage have exploded into the indie music scene after garnering some big thumbs up from CbcRadio 3, Exclaim! and X3 a few months ago. I was lucky to see them at the Hillside Festival on July, instantly recognizing the insane drumming styling of Paul Banwatt from Woodhands. They sing about (suprise) the life, love and laments of Alberta: summers in the Rockies, oil boom, mine workers to name a few, in an indie-rock style that isn’t anything near Nickelback.
They have a completely SOLD OUT show at Lee’s Palace on Friday Nov 20, but here’s your chance to see them. The band will be performing at Soundscapes (College and Manning) playing a FREE SHOW at 7pm tonight. Go early since the place is the size of your (Toronto) living room.
Voting for the short list for the 2009 Bucky Awards from CbcRadio3 is now open. Sure, some of the lists shed a bit MTV music awardsish (e.g. Sexist musician), but all in all the Canadian artists on deck are solid.
There are some emerging artists like Hey Rosetta! and Dan Mangan, plus some established acts including Metric and Joel Plaskett. It’s also a great way to check out some new artists who’ve made it on the list.
Check out J. Tillman (from the critically acclaimed Seattle band Fleet Foxes, self described as “Baroque harmonic pop jams”). He’s currently on tour promoting some of his solo folk work, performing at the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern tomorrow.
I’ve yet to hear much of his work, but from what I’ve heard he has taken a very delicate, melodic and lyrical direction. Check out some of his work: (more…)
Since catching Woodhands at Hillside, I’ve been yearning to see them again. I was wondering how they would fare, opening for an 90s-inspired down-tempo synth pop duo. Although the Jr. Boys crowd weren’t actually prepared for their high octane brand of skat, intense beats and frequencies, they were going to get it full on.
I was in awe over drummer Paul Banwatt’s intense drumming style, relentlessly attacking the snare and cymbals with robotic precision. Rather than keeping up with the electro-funk beats and heavy bass drummed up by Dan Web (vocals/synths/key-tar), Banwatt drove the rhythm locomotive, thus showing that you DON’T need to replace the drummer with a cold beat box. (more…)
Steeltown’s own electro-pop band Junior Boys are returning to Lee’s Palace tonight, supported by the high octane electronica dance duo Woodhands. Given the wide variance of sound between the bands, it’ll be interesting to see how the crowd will respond. Nonetheless, both bands are amazing – I was able to catch the mental set Woodhands put on at Hillside 2009 (see the clip below). Let’s hope they can rise up the crowd like they did in July.
Junior Boys w/Woodhands
Friday Nov 6
Lee’s Palace
Tickets $20 adv. (tm-Rt-Ss), $25 at door
Set times: JUNIOR BOYS @ 11:45p, WOODHANDS @ 10:30p
