Everything

Concert Review: Franz Ferdinand, Lees Palace, December 4

Posted on by Ricky in Concerts, Everything | 1 Comment

Toronto – As Franz Ferdinand lead singer stands up on the stage and sings “You’re so lucky, lucky, you’re so lucky” to the sold out crowd at Lees Palace last night, it suddenly hits you, damn, I am so lucky (he’s so lucky..he’s a star..). In what can only be describe as a sneaky booking, Scotland’s Franz Ferdinand played Lees Palace tonight as part of a their ‘getting ready for new album by playing lots of small clubs to remind hipsters who we are’ tour.

It has been awhile since Franz Ferdinand was on top of the indie pop rock world – the second Franz Ferdinand album was not exactly the showstopper many had expected, however, as most people realize tonight, the material from the first album is still as solid as ever and songs like ‘The Dark of the Matinee’, ‘Michael’, ‘this fire’ and obviously ‘take me out’ still hold its own.

On to the show, like I said, it was sold out. Luckily, Lees Palace has been hit with so many overcrowding fines that I think sold out at Lees these days is probably not as crowded as sold out at Lees from a couple years ago. I still remember seeing Kasabian there a few years back and it was so crowded i swear if I moved my hand in a circular motion, I could have slapped 25 people. So it was sold out, but everyone had okay room I think.

Toronto’s own Born Ruffians opened, and I am sure they put on a good show as usual. I arrived at the tail end of the show, so I can’t speak about how they were, but based on past viewings of this band, I am sure they were okay.

At around 10 pm, the lights dimmed and Franz Ferdinand came out to the quite the applause. I am not going to recap the whole show song by song, but it was a good 70 minute show with a nice blend of new material and songs off the first and second album. The band definitely were into it – Nick McCarthy even ventured out onto the side bar to play guitar for awhile. Having seen them at the Horseshoe almost five years ago, you can see how much Alex Kapranos has improved as a front man. He dances, swoons, moves, plays the maracas and sings with all the convictions of a rock star. He gazes into the crowd during songs, demands a response and always gets it. (that is called ‘Call and Response’ in concert lingo) It is fairly obvious that the crowd responded best to the material off the first album – I could listen to Take Me Out live over and over again. You could even argue the concert didn’t get off its feet until around the fourth song, when they launched into ‘Michael’. The only glaring omission on the set list was ‘Darts of Pleasure’. The encore included new single ‘Ulysses’ (which sounds solid), ‘Outsiders’ and ‘This fire’.

Overall, a very solid show – the new stuff seemed decent and the old stuff was great. I guess its just a friendly reminder from the Scottish lads that they are still alive, up and kicking.

4.5/5

Concert Review: The Maynards, November 30th, Sneaky Dees [Wavelength]

Posted on by Wade in Concerts, Everything, Tweeview | 2 Comments

The Maynards
photo from 6015 Willow

It’s unofficial, The Maynards are Canadas sexiest band. Hailing from Halifax, this three piece dance rock gang spread their lusty, sweaty sweater loving all over Sneaky Dees last night.

From their myspace page you would think they were a twee pop trio. Tracks like Spinny and Dance Fight ’82 are twee greatness, but walking into Dees last night, they were anything but. They rocked it. What immediately got my attention was duo of Kristina Parlee on bass/vocals and Chantal Tardiff on drums/vocals. A girl drum-bass duo? Yeah. There is something about Chantals voice that sets her songs apart. She adds a such a sweet, melodic touch, then all of a sudden you see her rocking out on her kit at the back of the stage.

It’s also worth mentioning that The Maynards are one of 20 Halifax area bands featured in the essential rock DVD of 2008, 6015 Willow.

Captured in a house that has long functioned as a hub for creativity in the city, it follows a cast of musicians and artists as they record a document of their own time. Bands fill every room in the house, from the bathroom to the attic. On-the-fly, direct and genuinely urgent, 6015 Willow follows twenty Halifax bands over three days, sweating buckets and blowing fuses.

They had a copy of 6015 Willow at the merch desk, but after spending $20 on the Dee’s crappy veggie nachos downstairs before their show, I was out of dough. If you are reading this and are in a position to send us a copy, please do.

Here is track from The Maynards 2008 release, Date And Destroy, Spinny. That is Chantal singing. I would gladly have a menage-a-trois with any two members of The Maynards. That includes you too Mr. Heath Matheson (guitar/vocals). Yes, sexiest band in Canada.

Travel Review: West Edmonton Mall – Part 2 [2008, Edmonton]

Posted on by Ricky in Everything | 2 Comments

Edmonton – Part 1 of the review can be found here. In part 1, we covered phase 3 of the Mall, which includes a submarine, sea lions, an enormous, movie theatre, a hotel, a casino, a two floor HMV, a golf course, a waterpark, a european boulevard and a night club. Today, we look at phase 2.

Look, it’s a fuckin whale! Han Solo Carbonite style.

Poor thing never saw it coming, but neither did Hans.

Here is West Edmonton Mall’s take on Bourbon street, as re-imagined by franchised corporations.

If you visit WEM in the months of August and September, this area is flooded with two feet of water. OH HELL NOES DID I JUST SAY THAT? yep.

Naturally, on top of one of the most famous American attractions, is Chinatown.

Look at those dragons, just reeks of Chinaness.

On to Galaxyland, the amusement park inside the mall.


Space drop of doom. Muchos fun has been had on that


Here is a vomit inducing spinny thingy, good use of space though.

The Mindbender, a ride so dangerous people died on it.

Weee, well that was fun.

Phase 2 of WEM has this, a casino, a movie theatre and an ice rink.
Phase 1 consist of department stores and stuff, so no pictures there.

So there you have it, the wonderful, magical, West Edmonton Mall

Here is a song for your troubles

Travel Review – West Edmonton Mall [2008, Edmonton] – Part 1

Posted on by Ricky in Everything | 3 Comments

Edmonton – When one thinks of Edmonton, only three things can possibly come to mind – cold, the Oilers and the Mall. Well, as a person who spent seventeen frickin years in the Great White North, I have had plenty of trips to the mall. However, most of my friends in Toronto have never been, as there is no real point to visit Edmonton for anything. I was recently in my former home town and decided to show the peeps what the mall is all about.

First off, some information on the mall. It is the largets mall in North America and fourth largest on Earth. It consists of 570,000 square meters, has over 800 stores and also a waterpark, rink, movie theatre, casino, hotel, amusement park, golf course and pretty much everything you can think of. It even has another mall inside it. Jokes. Seriously, West Edmonton Mall is basically an indoor city.

Okay, so here are some random stuff.


This is the waterpark. It’s AWESOME. I have been there more then a few times, and its great. The rides are top notch, you can bungie jump, theres a wave pool and the rides are just good. Look at the red and purple rides, thats five stories you drop. Crazy. If you are light, you can actually fly off the purple slide on the first bump. Don’t go down this slide head first, or you will end up like Superman. Bad joke, I know. But fair warning indeed. It’s great to go in the winter, since its bright outside and warm inside.


Look – it’s Europe! and on the first floor, it’s a mini golf course! This is also where some of the more expensive shops are in WEM. How European. You should be allowed to smoke in this area of the mall.


How the hell did they get a submarine inside a mall? I don’t know. However, this is a popular ride at WEM, and also shows off Canada’s awesome naval powers. Russian warships patrolling the arctic waters, you better watch out, because this yellow submarine packs quite a punch.


On the left is where the sea lions are. They used to be dolphins, but apparently, that area is too small for the dolphins and they got depressed and died. How emo. To the middle in the back is a pirate ship. The water area is quite popular for drunken people to dive into at nite after they leave one of the West Mall nightclubs. Then they drown.

Part 2 coming up.

Heres a song for your troubles