In other news: The BEST Venn diagram EVER.
EVERYONE who has any care for Canadian music and culture…please share this.
You’re probably not all familiar with the Toronto Sun’s approach to journalism. If it helps to give you an idea, on the morning after Osama Bin Laden was killed, the Sun bore the banner “ROT IN HELL” across its cover. It’s the sort of fair and balanced reporting that would make Cronkite proud,…
(Source: stinkfiction)
Secret Broadcast play stellar CMW show
I got a chance to catch up with Matt Lightstone and Keith Heppler of Secret Broadcast last night before their absolutely stellar Canadian Music Week set for a chat about the upcoming show and more.
Last year Matt moved over to Toronto from Calgary bringing his music with him and looking for someone to work with him and actually was connect to Keith by a member of The Ascot Royals who I also love so much. The show last night was at Clinton’s and Keith actually informed me that this is where they had their first band “date” to celebrate getting together.
So it was in the end a great venue for them to debut 4 new songs. They also had a surprise string section consisting of Katrina and Nina on violin and cello to provide accompaniment for most of the songs. Keith also equated the debuting of their new tracks and busting out the string section to losing your virginity on prom night, “you know it’s gonna happen.”
The new songs were Neon Love, Los Angeles, Don’t Feed The Crows and Raygun. They were right mid-set and had the audience dancing and enjoying the show, I’m really looking forward to hearing these songs again and hope they make it onto the album that Matt and Keith are actually currently working full force on recording. No name yet, although there was a teasing Charlie Sheen reference for the working title as a joke when I asked.
Added in the surprises of the night section they actually had Jeff of The Fast Romantics guest appear on bass for the evening and he rocked it and helped complete their line up for the night. There was also a “dance contest” during the new songs in which Matt was going to give one lucky audience member a french tickler, which looked like a tiny little match box package.
Ending off the set with two very familiar songs. They played Out of Control which I posted in my recent review of their album here. Everyone was singing along, and I even kept singing the song after leaving the venue. And an even more familiar song for those who aren’t too familiar with Secret Broadcast as of yet was a cover of Nirvana’s “Breed”.
All in all a really strong set in a what was actually supposed to be the “Korean Kollective” showcase, but since Clinton’s cancelled the Friday and Saturday night showcases for CMW they got moved earlier and I think they made a bunch of new fans that night. Including this previous fan who got to leave with a t-shirt and a great set of photos.
Check out the full set of photos from the show here. Courtesy of Rachel Lee Tentcher.
Eureka! I’ve discovered a new album…
With their catchy single The Stand that has been constantly charting everywhere including on CBC Radio 3, Vancouver based indie rock band Mother Mother has caught the attention of most of Canada.
They are releasing their album Eureka on March 15, 2011 and it’s currently exclusively streaming in it’s entirety on the Exclaim! website.
As always their music is eclectic and slightly all over the place. They definitely have their own unique sound and I love it. I find the opening track Chasing it Down sounds like 3 songs in one, but it’s not overwhelming. It works VERY well. And of course it has The Stand which I think is reason enough alone to buy the album. They also have a track entitled Baby Don’t Dance which is somewhat reminiscent of Sweet Thing’s “Dance Mother” or Scissor Sisters “I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’”, all songs with themes about not dancing that make me want to get up and move. To be honest, I got up and danced to this track before finishing writing this, it’s just that awesome. Mother Mother is known for their very quirky sound, that apart from being an independant Canadian artist doesn’t fall under the style we tend to attribute to the indie genre. I felt strongly about this until I heard the track Problems. It is such an indie pop/rock track and super catchy.
They are different through and through, and it’s nice to add some variety to your record collection. Make sure to pick up a copy soon. If you go to their website you can pre order it at a discounted price. They will be playing Wednesday night for Canadian Music Week at the Phoenix Concert Theatre.
Jess Hill’s Orchard - Album Review
It seems like I’ve been posting a lot of Canadian indie music from out this week, and I’m going to keep on going. Another wonderful example of talent from Vancouver is Jess Hill. Her second album Orchard is coming out on March 24, 2011 and I’ve had the privilege of hearing it in it’s entirety and letting you know about it.
The best way to describe her sound is a very Canadiana take on Regina Spektor meets Tom Waits. I’ll start off by pointing out that the album art is just gorgeous and very appropriate to the look for something titled ‘Orchard’. The music hits that note too.
Right off the bat my favourite track would be the second one, entitled Stagger. She has a lovely deep, slightly grovely yet smooth at the same time, female power voice. The banjo adds a nice touch to the song.
The album slows down for her next track Precariously. This one has a particularly earthy feel to it.
It’s a mixture between wanting to lay in a field and listen to her tracks, or dance in the leaves. Either way it’s fantastic start to finish. Make sure to pick up a copy when it’s released. And if you’d like to see her live she will be playing at the Tranzac on April 28th
Cross posted to Halfway between Here and There, based out of Sudbury, Ontario.
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Yet another Calgary native who has recently relocated to good old Toronto to add more awesome to our local music scene is Secret Broadcast. They are an alternative indie rock band and have done a lot of shows with the Fast Romantics who I recently reviewed.
Their album Exploding Spiders has been out for a bit but I don’t want to dismiss it just because it’s not brand new. It’s a very recent addition to my collection and has heard many plays since I saw them live when they played with The Ascot Royals at the Bread & Circus a month ago.
It starts off really energetic and then my favourite track has to be the second on it I Am Sound. Not only is it catchy and has a wonderful name (that it shares with a song by the Dandy Warhols). The beat is fantastic and Matt’s vocals make you want to dance and sway, and the repeat in the lyrics of the chorus are really strong and have me singing along every time.
The next track, Red Underground, is a slower pace and I find is reminiscent of 90s alt rock and artists like Radiohead but still their own unique sound.
The catchiest song on the album has to be Out of Control, which I have posted for your listening pleasure. It’s a good get up and dance song and they find a good use of starting a song with “Na na na na na, na na na na na…” without it being tacky.
One of the most unique and stand out tracks on the album has to be Too Much Too Soon. The guitar riff is really different from most of their other tracks and would definitely be one I love to play on loop just itself.
I find the album has a really good flow from track to track, it doesn’t feel like just a bunch of singles thrown together and having been recorded by Laurence Currie (Sloan, Wintersleep, Holy Fuck), it’s no surprise that the sound quality is also fantastic. Wonderful start with a debut LP and hopefully we’ll be seeing their sophomore album soon enough.
Make sure to check them out for CMW at Clinton’s on Thursday March 10th doors at 8pm! I’ll be catching up with them for a personal interview, and if you RSVP to their event on Facebook you can get a FREE COPY of their CD. So heed my CMW advice and come check them out!
Canadian Music Week 2011 - Must See
As you can tell this is QUITE the list of artists, and not even everyone who is playing. Canadian Music Week is one of my favourite music events in Toronto and it’s fast approaching. Running from March 9th - 13th with over 800 bands to choose from you might not know where to start. So I will give you some hints and tips of people I definitely feel you should go see. Then you can make the decision to get a wristband or splurge on tickets for individual showcases!
WEDNESDAY MARCH 9TH
Cardinal Chase, Michou, Eric Hutchinson, Behind Sapphire and To Tell at The El Mocambo. Doors open: 8:00 PM.
Michou recently walked away with the title of “Artist of the Year” at the Verge Music awards and I’m definitely excited to check them out. As per my review recently I hightly suggest that you go see Behind Sapphire. They are definitely going to rock the house with their stage presence and I’m sure the bigger names here in Toronto will help draw a crowd for them. Make sure not to miss one of their last shows in Toronto for the next while because they will be headed back to Vancouver soon.
THURSDAY MARCH 10TH
Hands and Teeth, Paper Lions, Allie Hughes, Behind Sapphire, Wool on Wolves, Hooded Fang and The Elwins at The Toronto Institute for the Enjoyment of Music (near Trinity Bellwoods Park). Doors open: 1:30 PM.
This is actually going to be the first of 3 showcases at TIFEM during the week and as one artist I saw mentioned recently it’s apparently the only place in Toronto where you are allowed to enjoy music so it’s obvious to go. Apart from the obvious, this lineup is absolutely stellar. The Elwins who I also did a quick review of that I linked earlier in this article are wonderful and their acoustic sets are spot on. Allie Hughes always draws a good crowd, last I saw her she had invited all the audience to her wedding which took place before a Sweet Thing show and she was sadly left at the altar. She is definitely a theatrical treat. Behind Sapphire is playing once again, and that’s not the only reason I picked this and I don’t feel I need to touch on artists like Paper Lions and Hooded Fang because most Canadians should know them by now. If you are one of the few who haven’t, come see them! It’s a bit trickier because it’s a daytime show, but it means there aren’t many other conflicting shows to stop you from coming to this.
Modern Superstitions, Molly Rankin, Memphis, Still Life Still, Zeus, Rich Aucoin and The Wilderness at The Horseshoe. Doors open: 8:30 PM.
It’s going to get trickier with multiple options on Thursday night but I’ll give you a few to choose from. Trust me, I’d love to be able to go to all of these shows. First with Zeus also having done well at the verge awards they will draw quite the crowd. My focus lays more on The Wilderness, they are a Toronto indie band who I find draw strongly from Joy Division. I have yet to see them live but if they are as good as they are recorded we’re all in for a treat. And Memphis, if you haven’t heard of Memphis yet I’m surprised. Coming out of the woodwork quite recently it is Torquil Campbell (the male singer from Stars) and it’s a very similar sound, but still much his own.
Secret Broadcast, Galaxy Express, Your Favourite Enemies, Idiotape, Vidulgi OoyoO and Mathemagic at Clinton’s. Doors open: 8:00 PM.
I’ll stick to what I know here and tell you that even if you don’t stay the whole show. Make sure to go early and catch Secret Broadcast. Close with Fast Romantics who I reviewed earlier on this week they also recently came over here from Calgary. Matt’s voice alone should be enough to draw you in but that’s not to say that Keith doesn’t rock it on drums, because they are definitely a good package deal. They also have two special surprises for those of us attending. First they will be debuting some new tracks along with a string section just for the show. Also anyone who has RSVP’ed as “Attending” to their event on Facebook gets a free copy of their CD which I will be reviewing later tonight so keep your eyes peeled.
Little Scream, Isis (of Thunderheist), Cadence Weapon, Hollerado and Land of Talk at The Opera House. Doors open: 7:30 PM.
It took me a while to hop on the bandwagon but Hollerado are a really great band. If you haven’t heard them yet go check out their “Philadelphia” video.
FRIDAY MARCH 11TH
Nash, Christien Summers, BRAVESTATION, Allie Hughes, Paper Lions, The Meligrove Band, Make Your Exit and DVAs at Sneaky Dee’s. Doors open: 7:30 PM.
This will be probably THE party night of CMW. Some of these artists are carry over from the TIFEM showcase that I posted earlier so if you missed that here’s your second chance. Or if you’re like me and you’ve fallen in love with those artists here’s chance number two.
SATURDAY MARCH 12TH
Down with Webster, Sweet Thing and The Envy at Massey Hall. Doors open: 7:00 PM
Sweet Thing. ‘Nuff said.
Mookie & The Loyalists, The Balconies, Paper Lions, Electric Six, Johnny Headband and Bella Clava at Lee’s Palace. Doors open: 8:30 PM
Electric Six are well known and put on a show as energetic as you could possibly imagine. I had the pleasure of catching them at the same venue at last year’s CMW. Good (yet friendly) moshing and great tunes. For the lesser known bands? The Balconies. I love them. Jacquie’s energy when she plays is amazing, jumping up and down in heels while she plays the guitar and wails. Indie pop/rock at it’s best.
A Fish Called Pirahna, L.Stadt, Lunic, The Ascot Royals and Nature Move Faster at Hard Luck Bar. Doors open: 8:00 PM
Hey look! More artists I’ve reviewed. Go see the Ascot Royals if you get the chance. They are on late in the evening. I don’t think there’s much more I can say about them that I didn’t already recently.
SUNDAY MARCH 13TH
Craig Smith, Darelle London, The Cheap Speakers, FUTURE HISTORY and Modernboys Moderngirls at Hard Luck Bar. Doors open: 8:00 PM
There aren’t too many showcases on the Sunday so I’ll put all my money on the one pick. Modernboys Moderngirls are a huge staple in the Toronto indie music scene and put on a really fun show.
Hope the previews gave you enough to choose from, and I look forward to seeing you at ALL of these shows. ;)
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When was the last time you got to listen to something downright whimsical? Winnipeg’s Flying Fox & The Hunter Gatherers brings you that and much more. This gypsy-jazz-folk sextet are a group of classically trained musicians who take you on a journey with their mythological tales of little boys and lions born of a human womb.
Very much like their own folk opera their new album Hans My Lion, which will be released on March 15, 2011, spins tales that only a vocalist like Jesse Krause can express. His unique tone reminds me of a ring master at a circus had the norm for them been in the form of song. This is the bands debut full-length album and you can tell that a lot of heart and soul went into it.
My personal favourite track on the album is Nurse. It strongly showcases their very strong brass section and is very jazz heavy. I would draw comparisons to other artists in style of lyricism like that of Jason Webley, Walter Sickert and the Army of Broken Toys, or The Dresden Dolls.
Not all the songs are as upbeat as Nurse, there are also tracks like Winter. It starts with a soft piano intro played by keyboardist Darren Grunau and is very reminiscent of the climax of a musical. Close your eyes and you can see the story being painted for you. But fear not, it does pick up and you can hear all the other instruments pick up about half way in expressing the strength and emotion in the piece.
It’s rare nowadays where you’re given an album that you want to listen to start to finish to get the entire intended effect. It is, as I’ve mentioned, a story. Hans My Lion tells a tale worth listening to over and over again.
Above I’ve posted a copy of their single Starlyng for your listening pleasure. Make sure to pick up their album when it comes out. If you can’t find it in stores make sure to go out to see them live. It’ll be a real treat. And for those of you in Toronto they will be appearing on April 21st at The Silver Dollar Room.
