Canadian Music Week 2011 Preview

Posted on March 8, 2011 by Paul in Canadian Music Week, Concerts | 1 Comment

Toronto – Another year, another Canadian Music Fest.  From March 9 through to March 13, a whole lot of bands both Canadian and otherwise will be filling venues throughout the city.  Here’s a selection of the ones who caught our attention.

Alcoholic Faith Mission: If you’ll forgive the bad alcohol based pun, these Danes have had a good buzz going lately.  Ricky wrote about them here.

Alcoholic Faith Mission play Rancho Relaxo on March 9 @ 12:00 pm, The Dakota on March 11 @ 12:00 pm, and The El Mocambo on March 12 @ 8:00 pm.

Alcoholic Faith Mission – Closer To Dallas by Paper Garden Records

Butterfly Explosion:These Irish shoegazey alt-rockers have been described as “My Bloody Valentine meets M83 meets Sigur Ros in Heaven.”

Butterfly Explosion plays The Hideout on Thursday, March 10 @ 2:00 am.

Butterfly Explosion :: Closer by Harmless Noise

Charlotte Cornfield:This Montreal based singer-songwriter offers up some catchy folk-rock that has already garnered her radio play on the CBC as well as appearances at the Hillside Festival, Mariposa Folk Festival, the Ottawa Folk Festival, and Pop Montreal.

Charlotte Cornfield plays Thursday, March 10 @ 8:30 pm at Sneaky Dee’s as part of the Audio Blood showcase.

Elephant Stone: Awesome sitar tinged, poppy psych rock from Montreal.  They’re playing here before they head to SXSW to play about a billion shows.  Should be a good time.

Elephant Stone play Rancho Relaxo @ 1:00 am on Friday, March 11.

Elephant Stone – Bombs Bomb Away by 360degreemusic

Heavy Cream: Fun, energetic punk rock from Nashville.  They definitely bring the goods live.  Their video for “Watusi”is all kinds of awesome and features smoke bombs, ouija boards and various shenanigans.

Heavy Cream play Wrongbar @ 11:00 pm on Saturday, Mar. 12.  Also on the bill are The Pack A.D. and Ty Segall.

J Mascis/Kurt Vile/James Vincent McMorrow:  If you’re looking to stay in one place for awhile, this is a pretty good lineup.  The Dinosaur Jr. frontman and Mr. Vile will offer up some guitar heroics while McMorrow brings the mellow folk tunes.

At The Great Hall on March 11.  James Mc Morrow @ 9:15 pm, Kurt Vile @ 10:00 pm, Kurt Vile @ 11:00 pm.

Janet Jackson: Because you never know when you might witness a wardrobe malfunction in action.

Janet Jackson plays The Sony Centre on March 12 and 13.

Maestro Fresh Wes: Let your backbone slide!

Maestro Fresh Wes plays Maro on Saturday, March 12.

Monster Truck: Let’s face it, monster trucks are awesome.  They can crush other, smaller vehicles and have cool names like Grave Digger.  Therefore, a band named Monster Truck must also be awesome.  The Hamilton band’s bio describes their sound as “big like metal, classic like rock, fierce like punk and sweet like pop.”  

Monster Truck play 2 shows on Friday, March 11 @ 11:00 pm at The Bovine Sex Club and  @ 2:00 am at Lee’s Palace. 

Runnin’ by Monster Truck

Topanga:Calm down, Boy Meets World Fans.  Danielle Fishel will not be appearing at CMW.  However, this Toronto band, whose rambunctious sound falls somewhere between folk and punk, will be. 

Topanga plays The Silver Dollar @ 2:00 am on Thursday, March 10. 

Topanga-Loose Circus by Topanga

Young Galaxy: Ricky wrote about them here.

Young Galaxy play Lee’s Palace on March 10 @ 11:30 pm

There you have it.  Just a small sample of the many bands playing Canadian Music Week.  Enjoy.

SXSW Preview: Matt & Kim

Posted on March 4, 2011 by Ricky in Everything, South By Southwest | Leave a comment

Toronto – Matt & Kim is simply put, one of the most entertaining shows you will see. Their energy is immaculate and their enthusiasm is more contagious then H1N1. No matter how crappy your mood is when you are entering a Matt & Kim show, you will feel a hell of a lot better after the drum and synth duo hit you with song after song of energetic punk-pop tunes. Once again, Matt & Kim are playing SXSW, this time in promotion of their new record Sidewalks. They seem to be only playing large shows in Austin, but if you can find the time, do check them out.

Here’s a video to get you prepped:

3/14 – Austin, TX @ The Belmont
3/16 – Austin, TX – mtvU Woodie Awards
3/18 – Austin, TX @ The FADER Fort, SXSW

Cameras by mattandkim

Concert Review: Sheezer, March 2nd, The Ballroom

Posted on March 3, 2011 by Ricky in Concerts | 3 Comments

Toronto – The Ballroom is the new hip destination among urban young twenty somethings who are suffering from nostalgic feelings from back in the day when they used to go bowling in the suburbs. It’s a very fitting venue for Sheezer, an all female Weezer cover band consisting of musicians Robin Hatch, Dana Snell, Alysha Haugen, Magali Meagher and Laura Barrett all of whom have their own personal projects in bands such as The Bicycles and The Phonemes. Already Rivers Cuomo approved, Sheezer have slowly been making their mark around the city with a variety of high energy shows that well, let’s face it, takes the best of Weezer (first two album) and gives it a nice swift boot in the butt. Wednesday night’s show kicks off ‘Ballroom Live’, a soon-to-be weekly Wednesday that combines bowling and really great live bands.

Having seen and enjoyed Sheezer live before, I skipped the bowling (instead opting for a night of drinking scotch on an empty stomach – bad idea) and just went straight to show. The girls took the stage shortly after eleven and began the night with a rousing rendition of My Name is Jonas (which I mistook for Zombies, while being downstairs and on the phone..why would I even think that?? wait maybe it was playing downstairs at the time in the bowling alley..anyways). Buddy Holly soon followed and we were on our way into an hour of nostalgia drenched Weezer memories. I saw Weezer open for the Pixies a few years ago and I actually like seeing Sheezer more. Maybe it was because Weezer was playing a lot of shitty songs during that show, but Sheezer plays songs like The Sweater Song, El Sorcho and Say It Ain’t So with so much enthusiasm and energy it’s hard not to get caught up in the moment. I guess it also helps that they are all pretty cute. They even teased Hash Pipe, which is obviously not off Pinkerton or the Blue Album, but I was kind of hoping they’d play it too.

Sheezer is always a fun time, I highly recommend catching them if you have the chance.

Concert Review: Smith Westerns, Feb 28, Horseshoe Tavern

Posted on March 3, 2011 by Ricky in Concerts | 1 Comment

Toronto – Once in awhile you just need some power chords in your life. This was my conclusion after listening to a short but sweet set by Chicago trip The Smith Westerns, in town to promote their sophomore release Dye it Blond.

The trio took the stage shortly after 10:30 to a generous ovation from the capacity crowd, most of whom are on the right side of twenty. I was a bit surprised at the size of the crowd, as was the band, who commented on how the crowd had doubled since the last time they were in town. The buzz from Dye it Blond has been quite palpable, stemming perhaps, from an extremely favorable Pitchfork Review.

The trio played a forty minute set which consisted of material new and old. With most songs clocking in at around three minutes, the show moved along at a brisk pace, with the band stopping sporadically to address the crowd (all be it in a youthful manner). I was pleased to see a band shamelessly using power chords. It was a great supplement to their retro hook laden garage rock sounds. The entire Smith Western discography could of soundtrack a movie like Gross Pointe Blank, which I guess is fitting since John Cusack is from Chicago as well. Highlights included All Die Young, End of the Night and Still New.

Following the mantra “always leave the audience wanting more”, the band exited stage left after about forty minutes and did not return for an encore, much to the disappointment of everyone. I just assumed they had run out of songs. Overall I found myself enjoying the show more then I expected. They are playing SXSW next week and from what I’ve seen, will be well on their way to some serious stardom this year.

Smith Westerns – Weekend by forcefieldpr

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