Toronto – I really enjoy seeing shows at the Silver Dollar. It is a small venue with character. Once I got in, I made my way to the bar, ordered myslef a bottle of 50 and had a look around. The crowd was mostly young geek-sheek girls. Lots of girls. There were Young Galaxy t-shirts and members of Ohbijou everywhere. Truthfully, I felt old. Meh, whatever.

The Luyas went on and Jessie rocked it out. The live show was much more upbeat than the CD which was a good thing since Faker Death can be pretty mellow at points. The bare foot French horn player was different too.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Katie Stelmanis since I don’t think I have ever been to an experimental, classically trained composers’ show. Now that I think about it, that description really fit what I heard. Katie belted out lyrics over whatever was on her ipod, a marching-drum-line and keyboard loops. It was all very intesnse and movie soundtrack-ish. Her voice can be pretty haunting and when you put it over some simple percussion, it intensifies it that much more. I could only stay for the first four songs before I had to leave, but from what I saw and heard I would definitely check her out again.

One more thing I need to mention. A certain fashion trend that caught my attention at the show. High rise jeans. Maybe this is a new trend, or maybe it is an old one and I am just catching up on, but there were more than a few ladies wearing their pantaloons up around their under wire. I first noticed the trend on a girl who was standing a few steps away from me while I clicked a couple of pictures during the Luyas set. She had on a pair of high rise jeans that clearly were zipped up well above her belly button and showed the entire curvature of her stomach. I looked at them for a couple of seconds, then looked up at her and realized that she was looking at me looking at, what would seem her, her crotch. It was awkward for a moment, but the moment passed. Then I thought to myself “hmmmm, those are different”. Then I thought some more and realized that my thoughts were positive. Seems that I kind of like the high risers. They are sharp and they didn’t look out of place on my new friend. Maybe I’m thinking this way becasue I was a huge Dallas fan (who shot J.R.?) back in the day? Yes, high rise jeans, two thumbs up.

Shit, Maybe I am old?

Toronto – Last week the Horsehoe Tavern celebrated their 60th anniversary. As part of the celebrations, The Joel Plaskett Emergemcy played 6 shows. Each night he featured songs from one of their albums. We went to the Thursday night show, which was La De Da, a Joel Plaskett solo album.

The most important thing to know about a Joel Plaskett Emergency show is that whenever he mentions Nova Scotia, you need to yell like you just shot-gunned your 9th straight can of Keiths. Even if you grew up in Kandahar City, when at a Joel Plaskett show you are allowed to act as if you just got in your first fist fight at pizza corner*.

The show started with some guy saying a little blurb about the Horseshoe and all the legendary acts that have played there. He then brought up the fact that the evening would be filled with ‘special guests’. Next, he held up a picture and announced “Here I have a freshly signed picture of Stompin’ Tom Connors, one of the legends who have graced this stage”

Freshly signed? Special guests? My friend Danielle and I looked at each other and simultaneously mouthed the words “Stompin’ Tom?”. Holy shit, Stompin’ Tom is one of the special guests?!?

Joel took the stage. I would say that La De Da is one of his less rocking/anthem albums, and the show really reflected this. I lost count how many times he started playing a song by saying “We haven’t played this one in a while”. Yah, well there is probably a reason for that Joel.

Then the conveyer belt of special guest started.

Special Guest #1 – Joels’ dad who played some guitar. It was sweet.
Special Guest #2 – The guy from Winnipeg based band Big Sugar. Mehhh.
Special Guest #3 – Gord Downie (The Tragically Hip). Kick ass. He is one sexy man. He sang ‘I Love This Town’. Then he sang some Christmas themed song which totally killed any momentum that the show had going for it.
Special Guest #4 – Danielle and I looked at each other…could it be…Stom…nope, Sarah Harmer. Still pretty awesome.
Special Guest #5 – No special guest #5. The show is over, go home.

No Stompin’ Tom. What the deuce?

Danielle put it all in perspective on our way up Spadina. “Stompin’ Tom is 71 years old. You can’t expect him to show up, unannounced in downtown Toronto at 1:00 in the morning to play one single gig”. Yah, I suppose she has a point.

4/5 – Good show Joel. Thanks for playing ‘Snowed In’. That is a funny song that could have only been written by and pulled off by an east coaster. The special guests were a nice surprise even if Stompin’ Tom wasn’t one of them. Sarah Harmer and Gord Downie are of equal sex-atudes.

*Pizza Corner – 3 different pizza restaurants at corner of Blowers and Grafton in Halifax. Good cheap pizza and donairs (Gyro-type wraps, often overflowing with meat and sauce). However, this area can descend into anarchy when the bars let out, and the restaurants often lock their bathrooms, even to customers.

Vancouver (although I wish it was London), Robert Plant and company shook off the cobwebs and got the Led out in London last night. Sounds like it was an amazing show as well. Not so surprised as I had the privilege to see Plant at the Molson Amphitheatre in 2005 and the dude still had the chops to belt out ‘Way down insiiiiiiiiiide, WOMAN! you neeeeeed love’, making Zeppelins Latter Days sound much like their Early Days.

Below is a clip of ‘Kashmir’ from last nights show and a link to a page that has compiled a Whole Lotta more clips:

More clips