KO, Feb 25th at the Sound Academy, 102.1 The Edge, Fearless Fred

Nothing can be better than being welcomed by Imperial Storm Troopers at the door. 102.1 The Edge organized the crazy fun " Fearless Fred show" on February 25th, at the Sound Academy. The venue was arranged as a wonderland for adults: A bunch of pool and table tennis tables, gigantic video game screens, a stylish tattoo booth, and humerous t-shirt sales, while Darth Vader, and Storm Troopers were perambulating the venue.

In between the free giveaways of numerous toys and gift certificates by the radio dj, Fearless Fred, there were four Toronto bands strutting their stuff as part of the night's line up. The winner of the Edge's Band of the Month, Automatic Toys, delivered decent electro pop beats to warm up the audience. The Ska rock band, Prince Perry and the Gladtones let loose some fun ska tunes. By the time the indie rock band, the Junctions hit the stage, the crowd had been built up perfectly.

The last artist of the night, Toronto-born hip hop/fork artist, KO, wowed the crowd by appearing on the stage just like Darth Vader. (Click here to read my review of KO in 2010) He started in with a bluesy tune "Let's Blaze", showcasing  his charisma on stage: his compelling voice reached out to my heart so deeply that every lyric stung it. What sticks in my mind was the lead guitarist. His haunting guitar riffs wailed through the audience and whenever he performed his intricate guitar solos, he became the centre of the attention immediately.

Continuing with up-tempo tunes, Kurt Kobain, Mountain Tops, and Represent, KO controlled the audience using "the force" and delivered a vivacious performance. My favorite song of the night was "Good Man, Bad Man" while his acoustic guitar echoed through the venue along with his voice. Closing with a his hit song, "Capable", the night reached its apex and everyone just sang along with KO, creating a memorable moment.

If you missed his show, there are more shows coming up. He is playing on March 12th at Horseshoe Tavern just for you that missed out.  KO also posted a Youtube video of the performance today. Check it out!!!




P.S Thank you so much KO for putting me on the guest list.

Stuck Tune Syndrome: Bonjay, Stumble

The song, "Stumble" by Toronto duo, Bonjay, has all the elements to make it stick in your brain immediately after listening to it. The sharp synthesized beats of the intro kick you off  the edge of a cliff. After being sent into free fall by the sharp vibe at the offset, Alanna Stuart's vocals proceed to calm you down, giving your imagination the power of flight, and take you off on a soaring journey. In short, the song is refreshing and infectious. 

The Duo will be spending their spring touring in North America. They will be performing in Toronto on march 12th at Mod Club and  on March 26th at Wrongbar ( Junos festival). more information, click here to go to their official site.

TV on the Radio Announced the North American Tour

In addition to a recent announcement that a Brooklyn rock band, TV on the Radio, is set to release a new album, "Nine Types of Lights" on April 12th, the band also decided to go on a North American tour, including a show at the Sound Academy on April 18th in Toronto. it looks like it is just a beginning for a new chapter for the band. 




Tour date:

4/8 Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
4/9 Charlottesville, VA - Jefferson Theatre
4/10 Baltimore, MD - Rams Head Live
4/13 New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall
4/16 Boston, MA - House of Blues
4/17 Montreal, QC - Metropolis
4/18 Toronto, ON - Sound Academy
4/20 Detroit, MI - St. Andrew's Hall
4/23 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
4/24 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
4/25 Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre
6/22 Zagreb, Croatia - T Mobile Inmusic Festival
7/3 London, England - Wireless Festival
7/8 Bilbao, Spain - BBK Live Festival 







here is a new track, "Staring at the Sun", from the new album, "Nine types of lights'. Enjoy!!!

The Black keys announced a Canadian Tour

The Grammy awards winner, The Black Keys announced a Canadian Tour yesterday. The duo recently canceled their spring European tours in Germany, Switzerland, and France due to exhaustion. But luckily they decided to continue their tour again in Canada. It will be kicked off from Vancouver, BC on June 27th. We, Torontonian are welcoming them on July 7th, 2011 at the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre.The American Express Pre-sales will start today and the General ticket sales will be from Friday, Feb 25th on TicketMaster. 

Canadian Tour date:

June 27: Vancouver, BC - Deer Lake Park
June 28: Calgary, AB - Stampede Corral
June 29: Edmonton, AB - Rexall Place
June 30: Saskatoon, SK - TCU Place
July 2: Winnipeg, MB - MTS Centre
July 7: Toronto, ON - Molson Amphitheatre
July 10: Quebec City, QC - Quebec City Summer Festival
July 11: Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
July 12: London, ON - John Labatt Centre

Lullabye Arkestra live at Wavelength's 11th Anniversary

I've never actually been to the Garrison before. All I really knew about it was that Shaun - who had previously been in charge of booking Sneaky Dee's - either owned the Garrison or was in charge of booking it. Wavelength had long held a residency at Sneaky Dee's and moved to the Garrison shortly after they opened the doors.

At least I think so. I could be wrong - heaven knows I've been wrong many a time before. Either way - that isn't what this blog is actually about. It's about one of my favourite bands, Lullabye Arkestra.

This was my second time seeing Lullabye Arkestra - I was pretty excited. Last time when I saw them, they had opened for the Dead Weather. While the band was great, most of the crowd had not heard of them; aside from myself - the crowd was less than responsive. So I was excited to see them on their home turf, playing to their own crowd.

As soon as Justin Small and Kat Taylor-Small took the stage you could feel the crowd's energy change - it got heavier and hotter, really fast. They didn't waste their time getting right into their set. From those first pounding notes they had our attention. And things just sped up from there.

After only a couple of songs, Justin and Kat invited a few friends (and one family member) onstage to play with them. They powered through "We Fuck the Night" and I don't think I've ever heard it played with such intensity.

Having the additional band members also gave Kat and Justin the opportunity of singing a duet without having to play their instruments. I personally loved that part of the show. I heard a different review from another person in the audience, saying that it was "like listening to bad karaoke". I just don't think they got it. To me, it was everything it was supposed to be: a deep, soulful, bluesy love song. It was sweaty, messy, sexy and powerful. You could feel the love coming from the stage.

Ya make me shake.

For me the highlight of the night was their encore - after briefly employing a Napalm Death riff as the opening of the song, the band started playing "Icy Hands" - easily my favourite track off of their Threats/Worship album. I finally stopped playing the "blogger" and just went crazy and started moshing.

What an excellent way to end the weekend!

Hard Rock Cafe : Battle of the Band: A Primitive Evolution

For Hard Rock's Battle of the Band 2011, only 4 gifted bands from all over the world will earn a spot to play at Hard Rock cafe Calling in London, England in June 2011. Toronto local bands have been competing for this opportunity since the beginning of February to decide who will represent Toronto's rock scene.

Invited by my best friend, Dani, I decided to check out the free semi-final at Club 279, located above the Hard Rock Cafe Toronto. There were 4 bands playing, including Left Turn City, Karma Kreeps, A Primitive Evolution, and Justus.

I was impressed with delicate guitar solo by Left Turn City and Justus, and charismatic vocalist from Karma Kreeps, I couldn't imagine how hard it would be for the judges to decide who will grab a ticket for the Toronto final, which is scheduled on February 23rd, Wednesday . However, when the third band, A Primitive Evolution, hit the stage, the answer became obvious.

The gothic quartet's stage presence seperated them from the rest. Not only do they have the looks, but also the chemistry between the  band members was almost palpable. To learn that it was a very first show with their newly added, Scott Carruthers took me by surprise. 

The show went into overdrive when girls in costumes and mascots jumped on the stage. Despite the crowded stage, the dynamic performance of the band was still the center of attention: the compelling vocals by Brett Carruthers, outrageous bass performance by Stephany Seki, supportive, yet, powerful rhythm by Stu Dead, and Scott Carruthers' expressive guitar howls. They picked up the momentum as their set progressed, and by the end of the show, they certainly have gained a number of new fans, including myself of course. They reminded me how much I love going to gigs  and made me realize that I have missed too many shows lately.

As predicted, A Primitive Evolution earned their spot in the free Toronto Final, which takes a place on Wednesday February 23rd, at Club 279. Make sure to show up next week to support this amazing Toronto Band.


(Photo Credits: Copyright Dani Dee 2011)

Small Sins: Why Don't You Believe Me?"

Back in December 2010, we had an amazing interview with Thomas D'Arcy from Toronto indie rock band, Small Sins. As D'Arcy predicted in the interview, 2011 will be an exciting year for the band. The quintet recently released a new video of the song entitled, “Why Don't You Believe Me?” This song is quite different from their previous single, "Deja vu", as it is more up-tempo one, with an alluring verse of synthesizer. I'm sure that you will enjoy a difference face of Small Sins. The band has just announced their spring tour dates, which includes playing at Horseshoe Tavern on March 4th. You can check out their website for more information! 

3/2 Chicago, IL - Schuba's
3/3 Grand Rapids, MI - Founders Brewery Co.
3/4 Toronto, ON - Horseshoe
3/5 Montreal, PQ - Casa del Popolo *
3/7 Halifax, NS - The Seahorse
3/9 Boston, MA - O'Briens Pub
3/10 New York, NY - Santo's Party House
3/11 Brooklyn, NY - The Rock Shop
3/12 Philadelphia, PA - Kung Fu Necktie
3/13 Washington, DC - The Red Palace
3/14 Knoxville, TN - The Pilot Light
3/16 Austin, TX - Maggie Mae's Gibson (12AM - SXSW)
3/17 Austin, TX - The Trophy Room (4:30PM - SXSW)
3/18 Austin, TX - The Mohawk (12PM - SXSW)

Timber Timbre released a New Track "Black Water"

The Canadian folk trio, Timber Timbre released the first single, "Black Water" from the upcoming album, Creep on Creepin' On, to be released on April 5th. (Arts &Crafts) The song is now available for a free listening.  It is also avaiable for purchase on GalleryAC.com and iTunes. Don't forget to pencil the release date in your schedule. Enjoy!


 Timber Timbre - Black Water by Arts & Crafts

Free Download: Moby " Be the One"

An American DJ, Moby has set a new album release, "Destroyed" on May 17th. In addition, he is offering a free three track EP, "Be the One" from his website. You can download it from the below link. For further information, you can read an article by Moby himself on his site.

  

Queen of the Stone Age announced the spring tour

The hard rock giant, Queen of the Stone Age just announced their spring tour date on their website today. Luckily, they are coming to the town on March 29th at Sound Academy. The tickets are going to be on sales from this Friday at Ticketmaster. there is a rumor that they are recording a new record. Stay tuned for any updates on Music Psychos!






3/18, New Orleans, LA (One Eyed Jacks)
3/19, Birmingham, AL (Workplay Soundstage)
3/20, Nashville, TN (Ryman Auditorium)
3/21, Atlanta, GA (Center Stage)
3/23, Asheville. NC (Orange Peel)
3/24, Philadelphia, PA (Electric Factory)
3/25, New York, NY (Terminal 5)
3/26, Boston, MA (House of Blues)
3/27, Montreal, QC (Metropolis)
3/29, Toronto, ONT (Sound Academy)
3/30, Cleveland, OH (House of Blues)
3/31, Indianapolis, IN (The Vogue)
4/1, Chicago, IL (The Riv)
4/2, Omaha, NE (Sokol Auditorium)
4/4, Des Moines, IA (Val Air Ballroom)
4/5, St. Louis, MO (The Pageant)
4/6, Kansas City, MO (Beaumont Club)
4/8, Denver, CO (Ogden)
4/11, Oakland, CA (Fox Theater)
4/12, Los Angeles, CA (Wiltern)

The Dears- live performance at livestream.com

It's always nice to see the trend when big indie bands take advantage of technology to share their live performance on the internet. The Toronto-based rock giant, Broken Social Scene, has recently streamed their live show at Terminal 5 in New York City, January 18th, and made it available on the internet for fans to enjoy.


In addition to an internet available live performance, the creative alternative quartet, Ok Go, also sells a USB flash drive, which is loaded with a live recording of the band performance at each show. This USB flash drive can be purchased right after the show at a merch desk or from their website later on. These options enable more fans to watch and experience the live performance 

Another band who has taken a step further with sharing their live performance on the internet is the Montreal psychedelic rock band, the Dears. They have set up a channel at livestream and they have been streaming their live show every Mondays from 7p.m (EST). 

 The channel is constantly streaming their music videos, rare tracks and sessions if you miss the Monday live shows. There are only one episodes left! (Feb14th) If you haven't seen any of them before, don't worry about it you can still watch full past episodes from the channel as well.

thedears on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free

The Black Keys: Howlin' for You

2010 was a glorious year for the blues rock band, the Black keys, due to the big success of their latest album, "Brothers", and numerous nominations for music awards, including last nights' Grammys. But they seem to prefer the Oscar instead.

The duo released the official video of  their latest single from the album, "Howlin' For You" last Thursday. It breaks with traditional music video fare in an interesting way. The video is produced as if it were a movie trailer for a Tarantino, tongue and cheek, western. Both Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney appeared as "Las Teclas De Negro."

If you really want to listen to the song, then I would recommend checking out some of their live performance videos as the video here could distract from the pure enjoyment of the music. However, this is a great change-up for those who have been really digging this track since the release of the album. Well, either way, I'm sure that you will be entertained by this video. Enjoy!

\

The Kills: Satellite

The psychedelic rock duo, the Kills is set to release their new album, "Blood Pressure" on April 5th. The band released a video of their first single,"Satellite" from the upcoming album. Enjoy!


The Kills is playing in Toronto on May 1st at the Sound Academy.

Free download: 140 songs from SXSW 2011

If you liked Yesterdays' post for free download of the Strokes' first single,"Under Cover Of Darkness", you will also like this awesome deal. According to Spinner Canada, you can download songs from 140 artists, who are participating this year's South by Southwest. (aka SXSW) This festival will be held between March 11th to 20th in Austin, Texas.  Click here to get your copy of 140 songs! I hope we will get the same deal for our North by NorthEast (aka NXNE) in Toronto. 

Free Download: The Strokes "Under Cover Of Darkness"

The New York quintet, The Strokes is set to release their first new album since 2006, Angels on March 22nd. If you can't wait until then, I got a good news for you.

They will release their first single from the album, "Under Cover Of Darkness" as a free download from their official website, starting from February 9th at 2:35p.m (EST). You will be able to get it there for a full 48 hours. Don't miss out this great opportunity!

Top 10 Super Bowl Halftime Show

Likewise my co-writer, Bryen, if you are extremely disappointed by this year's Super Bowl halftime show (Click here to read what he has to say about it),
remember the good old days when a number of great artists were actually capable of leaving the audience in tears during their performance. Pat Pemberton from Spinner Canada shared her Top 10 Super Bowl halftime show this week.(click here to read the article) I was stunned by the Michael Jacksons' performance much more than any other artists. Let me know what is your favorite one!

Stuck Tune Syndrome: Dinosaur Bones " Ice Hotels"

Dinosaur Bones is one of the most anticipated young Toronto bands. Their sound reminds me of Radiohead's, with its moody melodies and rhythms, but they have their own freshness to them.  I am looking forward to see them in the future, after having missed their show last weekend on January 29th at Mod Club.  They just announced the release of their debut LP, " My Divider" set to come out on  March 8th. It contains 11 tracks according to AUX TV:

01 – Making Light
02 – Sharks In The Sand
03 – Bombs In The Night
04 – N.Y.E.
05 – Hunters
06 – Life In Trees
07 – Point of Pride
08 – Ice Hotels
09 – Royalty
10 – Highware Act
11 – My Divider

If you are like me, who is regretting not attending the show last weekend, do not despair. The quintet is playing again for the Canadian Music Festival on March 11th at Lee's Palace - followed by an EdgeFest show on July 9th at Downsview Park.

Here is one of the songs of the album. "Ice Hotels". Enjoy!

SasquatchFestival Lineup announced.

If you are disappointed by the fact the tickets for the the Coacella Festival were quickly sold out, don't be so sad. As Bryen predicted in the past post,  here is another chance to see the Death Above From 1979. The Sasquatch Festival just announced its lineup last night. Some of the big names are Foo Fighters, Wolf Parade, Death Above From 1979, Modest Moose, Death Cab For Cutie, Wilco, Flaming Lips, The Decemberists, Bright Eyes, Iron & Wine, Robyn, Cold War Kids, Chromeo, Tokyo Police Clubs, Black Mountain, K-Os, Twin Shadow, Sam Roberts Band, and more. Is it only me who believe that the lineup is way better than Coacella's?  Click here to check out the full list of the line up.

Sasquatch Festival takes place between May 27-30 In the Gorge in George, Washington

You call that a halftime show?

Hey Super Bowl.... next time, do you think it might be a better idea to get a halftime show where the performers are talented outside of the studio?

Slash is the obvious exception here.

But even vocal effects couldn't save the Black Eyed Peas!

Watch this embarrassing show here:



I'll admit, the visual effects were neat. But seriously - is this what the music industry is calling talent nowadays?

Damn.

Death From Above 1979 back for good?

Death From Above 1979 may be back for good.

Sebastien Grainger's cryptic warcry alludes to the fact that they may have had something planned beyond Coachella.

Says Sebastien:

"It’s been 5 years since Death From Above 1979 played a show, 10 years since Jesse played me the first demos & 11 years since we sat in his parents basement and played so loud we knocked the china off the shelves upstairs. 11 seems to be a YES number for me. Though I am usually a pretty rational guy, if I have something on my mind and I see an 11 somewhere, I know I’m on the right path. It’s one of my last remaining superstitions. 2011 has a nice ring to it & if you’re so inclined, it may be the last year ever! So why not say YES? Why not say YES to Coachella? Why not say YES to playing the music we designed to be an undeniable source of power? Why not say YES to stirring up a writhing pit of sweaty humans? YES to riots! YES to heavy music! YES instead of maybe, and YES to make death your adviser and remind yourself always, that this is not a dress rehearsal. This is the big show.

Jesse and I have decided that what we can do together should not be denied.
Together again, as was always the intention, as a collaboration.
The collision of two different worlds.
As this all takes shape, we will reveal it to you.
All of it happening, as it always has, in our own way.
Thank you all for sharing in our excitement!"

Cryptic, but certainly alluding to more than Coachella (good thing, because it sold out before I grabbed a ticket!) Then I decided to check their site; which is revamped for 2011 with new content, a blog, twitter - all that good stuff!

But more than anything - there is a section marked "Shows" - and there is an additional date - May 6th! The Two Headed Elephant in the room may be back for good!

and if they are...

I will freak...


...the fuck...


out!

The White Stripes Disband!

It's not a joke.

The White Stripes are officially done. Just the other day my fiancee and I watched The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights and were talking about how awesome it would be to see them.

I guess I was too late. Or too lazy - they've been around for 13 years, what the hell did I wait for?

With just two people they crafted a resurgence in the garage rock scene, and then left it behind altogether.

Shite bands like the Von Bondies and the Hives (apologies to their fans, this is just my opinion) kept making the same records year after year.

But not Jack and Meg. They really branched out. Expanded their creative pallet, especially considering that all the creation comes from just two people. The Garage rock of "Fell in Love with a Girl", The Hard Rock of "Blue Orchid", the sexy 70's swagger of "Icky Thump", the poetic beauty of their haunting cover of "Jolene" - they really bridged the creative gap most bands never cross. They are many bands, but one band all at the same time.

Or were.

The statement on the matter from their MySpace reads:

The reason is not due to artistic differences or lack of wanting to continue, nor any health issues as both Meg and Jack are feeling fine and in good health. It is for a myriad of reasons, but mostly to preserve what is beautiful and special about the band and have it stay that way.

Third Man Records will continue to put of items through their Vault Subscription. A few final parting words from the band:


"The White Stripes do not belong to Meg and Jack anymore. The White Stripes belong to you now and you can do with it whatever you want. The beauty of art and music is that it can last forever if people want it to. Thank you for sharing this experience. Your involvement will never be lost on us and we are truly grateful."

The White Stripes Announced their breaking up

It's a heart-breaking news. The Jack Whites' legendary duo, the White Stripes announced that they are breaking up. There is going to be no performances or record releases. Click here to check out any further information from the ABC Entertainment website.

The White Stripes disband!

It's not a joke.

The White Stripes are officially done. Just the other day my fiancee and I watched The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights and were talking about how awesome it would be to see them.

I guess I was too late. Or too lazy - they've been around for 13 years, what the hell did I wait for?

With just two people they crafted a resurgence in the garage rock scene, and then left it behind altogether.

Shite bands like the Von Bondies and the Hives (apologies to their fans, this is just my opinion) kept making the same records year after year.

But not Jack and Meg. They really branched out. Expanded their creative pallet, especially considering that all the creation comes from just two people. The Garage rock of "Fell in Love with a Girl", The Hard Rock of "Blue Orchid", the sexy 70's swagger of "Icky Thump", the poetic beauty of their haunting cover of "Jolene" - they really bridged the creative gap most bands never cross. They are many bands, but one band all at the same time.

Or were.

The statement on the matter from their MySpace reads:

The reason is not due to artistic differences or lack of wanting to continue, nor any health issues as both Meg and Jack are feeling fine and in good health. It is for a myriad of reasons, but mostly to preserve what is beautiful and special about the band and have it stay that way.

Third Man Records will continue to put of items through their Vault Subscription. A few final parting words from the band:


"The White Stripes do not belong to Meg and Jack anymore. The White Stripes belong to you now and you can do with it whatever you want. The beauty of art and music is that it can last forever if people want it to. Thank you for sharing this experience. Your involvement will never be lost on us and we are truly grateful."

CD review: Dirty Little young'uns by the 24th Street Wailers

It was over a year and a half ago when I first saw the young blues band, comprised of Humber graduates, the 24th Street Wailers. At the time it broadened my musical horizons, differing from my trend towards pop/rock indie tunes. Since then, I have allowed my ears to absorb the delights that can be found when one explores the often intimidating breadth of musical variety available to the avid listener.

The quartet has put together their first album, titled Dirty Little Young'uns. If you have heard of their old stuff on the Myspace, then you will be pleasantly surprised- their sound remains fresh, soulful, and funky.

 The album, which only took them 16 hours to record, starts with the title song, "Dirty Little Young'uns", and it embraces every members' characteristics- Lindsay Beaver's strong and evocative vocal and drums, Mike Archer's groovy bass,  Emily Burgess' delicate guitar riffs, and last but not least,  Jon Wong on saxophone, showing his skill with bluesy solos. It is clear from the get-go that these guys have been playing together for a long time, creating a chemistry that has allowed them to put this finely crafted album together in such a short period of recording time. The album peaks in the middle with the funky track "Standley" departing from the honky-tonk blues themes throughout, upping the tempo, and really demonstrating the breadth of this band. The album artfully eases us back into it's soulful beginning - culminating with the wonderfully southern romantic riffs of Turn to You.

Two of the songs on the album, "Dear Brother" and "Before You Were Gone" are dedicated to the memory of Bassist Mike Archer's brother, who was lost to him on June 28th, 2010. An important influence to his brother and the rest of the band, it is important to remember the loss of such a talented young musician and enjoy these songs truthfully and from the heart.

This band has come a long way, and it shows. I thoroughly enjoyed their album, and recommend it to jazz and blues enthusiasts, and anyone keen on broadening their musical palette.


The 24th Street Wailers are playing at the Gladstone Hotel on February 3rd from 8:30 for their CD release party! Be sure to check it out. Also stay tuned for a two-part interview with the band coming soon.

Album: Dirty Little Young'uns
Rate: 8.5/ 10
Favorite tracks: "Dirty Little Young'uns" and "Who Do You Think You Are"

Here is a sneak-peak of a song from the album, "Simulated Love" Enjoy!

Top 10 Radiohead covers by AUX

One of the best indie music sites, AUX, has shared their list of Top 10  Radiohead covers on their website this week. (Click here to check the list).  Whether you agree or not with the order, you will be surprized to find amazing covers by various artists. Personally, I love Gnarls Barkley's cover of “Reckoner” the best. Cee Lo Greens' strong voice matches with this song well. What do you think of Prince’s rendition of "Creep"?