Oh No Forest Fires Last Show @ The Horseshoe

with Arietta, Songs From A Room and The Darcy's

I have to admit that I wasn't prepared to bid adieu to the boys in Oh No Forest Fires so early on in their career. The announcement of their breakup was a shock to say the least, considering the fact that, in my mind, they were just getting warmed up. Rajiv released a statement just prior to the show which indicated that there were no hard feelings and they even recorded a new EP to mark the occasion, which makes theirs possibly the most amicable breakup I've ever witnessed. Judging by the performance (and sentimentality's) of that Saturday night, the band was in the mood to celebrate all that they've accomplished over the last couple of years, and rightly so. Admirably, all of the money from the show went to Haiti relief.

ONFF brought a few of their hard rockin' friends along for the ride, and the first band on the bill was The Darcy's. I last saw them just under a year ago, which is just far enough in my past that I can remember liking them, while not really remembering exactly what they sound like. Upon witnessing their show this time around, that last statement kind of surprises me a bit, considering that they seem to dabble in all things progressive and post-rock-y, which is a style that I usually remember well. The band played a set full of atmospheric changes and mild electronic dabbling while still maintaining a fairly organic, rootsy sound. It's rare to compare a band to both Spiritualized and Neil Young in the same breath, but it's that combination of guitar laden hooks and substantial experimentation that enables them to pull off such a complicated sound so convincingly.

Photos: My shots of The Darcy's @ The Horseshoe are on flickr
Myspace: The Darcy's
Download: House Built Around Your Voice @ drop.io

Upping the rock ante to a determined high was Songs From A Room, whom I had seen several times way back in 2007, but haven't been able to catch in the two years to follow. At the close of their first song, it became clear to me that this band was twice the band that I had witnessed back then. They were tighter, raunchier, louder, and did I mention tighter? Although their sound had a definite classic rock feel to it, they managed to steer clear of all of the bar band cheese that is often associated with that style and kept things sounding surprisingly vital. I don't know how Braydon Jones even has a voice box left, as he managed to tear at it continuously throughout the course of the set, culminating in an AC/DC cover that, if left in lesser hands, would've come across as cliched and desperate, but in the punk rock hands of SFAR, sounded nothing short of triumphant.

Photos: My shots of Songs From A Room @ The Horseshoe are on flickr
Myspace: Songs From A Room

Arietta was the third band of the night, and while I could understand the logic behind placing them on such a bill, I have to admit that they didn't thrill me as much as the other acts did. This was certainly not due to their stage demeanor, since they displayed all of the energy, drive and professional showmanship required to whip a crowd into a frenzy, which, by and large, they successfully did. I think for me personally, it was just the fact that the material didn't come across for me as strong as I had remembered it. To be honest, I haven't really spent a lot of time listening to them since I last reviewed them, so logically the benefits that come with familiarity presented a bit of an obstacle. But I can't say that their performance really did much to make me want to change that either. I will say that the crowd was clearly more into it than I was though, and one person even turned to me after the show and remarked on how awesome they were so, y'know, 'different strokes for different folks' and all of that. (Editor's Note: I've listened to the album again since the show and it's actually very good, so I must've just been tired or out of it or something. We rabid concert goers can be a bit of a fickle sort.)

Photos: My pics of Arietta @ the Horseshoe are up on flickr
Myspace: Arietta

As the clock struck approximately midnight-thirty, the moment that we had all been waiting for with a mixture of anticipation and sadness had arrived. All gussied up in a dapper tuxedo type of jacket sort of thing, drummer Adam Nimmo was the first to take the stage, as he started pounding out the opening strains to an amazing new instrumental number called Real Talk For Manhunter, Know Your Talk, Know Your Prey, which I would call the first really great musical piece I've heard this year. As the rest of the band headed onstage in similarly semi-formal attire, it was easy to see that this was going to be a special night. Like true professionals, the band did not let the slight hint of melancholy in the air get in the way of pounding out their usual display of powerhouse riffs, calculated instrumentation and spasmodic whirlwind-y stage acrobatics as they blasted through songs both old and new. They were working up such a sweat that of course it didn't take long for them to lose the jackets and continue on unhindered, and Rajiv Thavanathan continued to make his presence known by bounding across the stage with reckless abandon. Fellow "guitards" Brock Swanek and Matt Delbuono were also in the mood to celebrate, making the entire band's overall performance amongst the warmest I've ever seen, and I felt privileged to be there. When it came time for the encore, Nimmo walked onstage first so that he could take the mic and wax full-heartedly about his appreciation for his bandmates and all that they mean to him. It was a sapfest of Conan-like proportions but the crowd (myself included) wouldn't have wanted it any other way. It was followed by enthusiastic performances of Swing And A Misdemeanor and the always hilarious Footloose cover, which had approximately 30 people joining the band for an onstage party, the sight of which I won't be forgetting anytime soon.

With the amount of great bands in and around the Toronto area, it would be easy and understandable that some bands would get lost in the crowd. ONFF deserve respect by avoiding that by consistently making their presence known, both in terms of their musicianship and their playful personality. They're going to be missed for sure, but I, for one, feel privileged to have witnessed their intensity firsthand over the last couple of years.

Photos: My pics of Oh No Forest Fires @ The Horseshoe are on flickr
Myspace: Oh No Forest Fires
Download: Their entire new album Wants To Try Something is available for download here.

Arietta and The Junction w/Serb Superb @ The Horseshoe

It's been almost a week and a half since I attended the show that I'm about to tell you about. Wow, I'm slipping! Actually it's been quite the hectic and stressful week so I have a good excuse, but that doesn't mean that remembering the details is going to be any easier. Thankfully, it was the type of show that possessed such an inordinate amount of power that I don't think that I could forget it even if I tried to.

It really has been a long time since I've attended a loud and aggressive, in-your-face, punky rock show. Truth is, for the most part, I've pretty much outgrown my harder edged leanings of the past. But every once in a while, a music lover needs to have his face rocked right off, and if you're gonna do it, then you may as well get it done by Arietta. As I had mentioned in my review of their album, Arietta is not just one of those bands who play loud music simply for the sake of being loud. There is a definite maturity in their sound, and that means that they are generally appreciated by mature fans which enabled me to take in this punk rock assault without literally being assaulted by an out of control audience. Their wickedly infectious songs are meant to be experienced live, and this band held back zero punches as they leaped and bounded across the stage with reckless abandon. Frontman Tyler Johnston is a pistol onstage, impossible to ignore, while the rhythm section is one of the tightest I've seen. It was cool to see Lowell Sostomi from Great Bloomers join the band onstage for a song. Finally, one has to give props to Shehzaad Jiwani, the drummer and undisputed backbone of the band. Although he remained in the relatively silent background, his hyperactive pounding of the skins was definitely the ingredient that firmly solidified the performance into creating an undeniable force of nature.

Photos: Arietta @ The Horseshoe on flickr
Myspace: Arietta

Although several other bands performed that night, the only other full set that I caught was from Brampton's The Junction. The band has been around for quite a bit longer than some of the other bands we see milling around the city, and their professionalism and experience is certainly apparent in their live show. The music boasts a pretty straightforward pop rock sound with melodic hooks and roaring choruses. I'm not sure if it's because they knew that Arietta was going to be melting our faces off later on or not, but they seemed to be cranking out a slightly harder edge than their recorded material would suggest. This made them the perfect complement for the evening lineup as they held their own with a top notch, solid rock performance.

Photos: The Junction @ The Horseshoe on flickr
Myspace: The Junction

The only other act I caught was the evening's master of ceremonies, Dinosaur Bones' Branko Scekic's altar ego, the kooky and schticky Serb Superb; doing more of that silly freestylin' rap thing that he does so well. Always entertaining.

Photos: Serb Superb @ The Horseshoe on flickr
Myspace: Serb Superb

Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career

Should I be worried that some tortured souls make me happy? It's just a fact that there are some artists out there who have built their career on depressing music yet oftentimes, those very songs for some reason put me in my happy place. The Smiths, for example, are funny to me, but not depressing. The Cure makes me dance. To some people this is just weird. Thankfully, there are other artists that do manage to somber me up, like Ryan Adams for instance. I suppose the fact that I do not derive joy from every maudlin career should be enough to keep me from seeing a therapist just yet.

Still, I gotta say, that even though Camera Obscura's Traceyanne Campbell has described the new CD as "dark and brutal", I have to admit that I actually find myself feeling inspired by the album's larger than life sound. It's very common for people to refer to the band as 'twee' and to make innumerable comparisons to Belle and Sebastian, but I think at this point the band has moved quite a bit beyond that, chartering the same course they set on 2006's Let's Get Out Of This Country, but solidifying their sound with even greater production and very solid track organization. The flow of the album is seamless, and the sound is once again a Spector-inspired toast of saccharine perfection. This is noticeable right from the first song French Navy, a song with delicious orchestration and the sweetest dang vocals around. That description continues to grow ever more appropriate with each successive track. The Sweetest Thing is a definite standout with its emotive vocals, harmonies that are heavy on the 60's girl group throwback vibe and more heart tugging orchestration. In mellower numbers like James and You Told A Lie, the sincerity in her voice are sure to soften even the hardest of hearts. I also appreciate the fact that, although the band certainly has their sound, I don't get the feeling that their simply treading the same ground. Careless Love for example, has some pretty kooky tempo changes that keep things interesting while still remaining subtle enough not to detract from the overall feel. And finally, although the album does fall into the category of devastating break up album, it still ends on an upbeat high note with Honey In The Sun which contains a horn section that leaves me with a satisfying smile when the whole thing is done.

Camera Obscura are playing Lee's Palace on June 27th, 2009.

Myspace: Camera Obscura
Video: Franch Navy on youtube
Download: My Maudlin Career mp3


Other Stuff:
Stereogum is streaming a new Beastie Boys track that was released as a surprise bonus 7" with their recent Check Your Head reissue. The song has probably my favourite song title of the year so far: Lee Majors Come Again. [Myspace: Beastie Boys]

Arietta (who's new album Migration I reviewed yesterday) are interviewed on this week's Zygiella podcast. They're at The Horseshoe tomorrow night (May 7th) [Myspace: Arietta]

Nevado Records has announced the East vs West Tour featuring two of my faves The Paint Movement and Fox Jaws. It's an interesting idea: After playing a gig together in Sudbury on May 30th, the Jaws will head for the east coast, while the Movement will embark on the west coast. They'll be blogging their adventures at Exclaim.ca, and then uniting back in Toronto for a NXNE showcase. [Myspace: Fox Jaws, The Paint Movement]

Regina Spektor's new album Far is set to be released on June 22nd and it features the production work of none other than ELO's Jeff Lynne (among others.) Details on the album are over at Clash Mgazine. [Myspace: Regina Spektor]

Both Pete Nema and For The Records have reviews of last week's Dears show at The Mod Club. Their video for Disclaimer is relatively new and relatively cool also. [Myspace: The Dears]

Arietta - Migration

Toronto band Arietta reminds me of many of the indie rock bands that I listened to back when I first started listening to indie rock. Their music boasts a cry of immediacy, a punkish alt-rock punch that moves and shakes with a high-strung longing that, when left in more juvenile hands, is accompanied by a snotty nosed false arrogance. But you'll notice that their name is not followed by a dash 182 or any other trivial number. No, taking a cue from more noble acts such as Minus The Bear, Moneen and even the local boys in Oh No Forest Fires, Arietta incorporates an aire of sophistication to their music that allows for a meeting of generational minds. In other words, it's angsty music for the more sophisticated listener.

The songs on their new release Migrations, are impeccably crafted and although they do display a measure of mathiness, they are not in any way grandiloquent. (OK, I used a thesaurus, but that is a cool word 'eh? It means pretentious.) When someone punches you in the face, the contact of knuckle to face always feels the same way, whether it was carefully thought out or a move out of instinct. That's the best way that I can describe Arietta's sound. If all you want is to rock out, then this album will definitely do it for you. But if you need something a little bit meatier, this album provides that also. For example, the song Northearned shifts from frantic to subtle with an endearing complexity that is eccentric for sure, but still very easy to follow. Another example of this is a song entitled It's An Uphill Battle And It's All Downhill From Here which starts very nice and melodic before easing into a more agressive segue with a stop-start instrumental break that precedes a poppy chorus that leads to a slightly rootsier moment that includes slide guitar. And this is all within a four minute song which means that there's no time to get bored or confused by it all. Although the songs themselves are very good, some of them great, I have to admit that my favourite moments are the brief instrumental snippets that flow inbetween the songs. These are the spaces that, for me, add a sonically pleasing uniformity to the entire album. They also act as a great way to occupy the mind before the next song inevitably attacks you.

Arietta are playing a CD release show at The Horseshoe on Thursday May 7th with special guests Cancel Winter and The Junction. The evening is also being hosted by the bizarre and magical Serb Superb.

Photo taken by Emma-Lee
Myspace: Arietta
Download: Into The Deep mp3

Other Stuff:
Magnet Magazine's Over/Under feature delves into the most overrated and underrated songs by The Clash. While I would agree that Rock The Casbah is definitely overrated, they failed to mention White Riot in the underrated category. Best. Punk. Song. Ever. [Myspace: The Clash]

Pains Of Being Pure Of Heart have new video out for the song Young Adult Friction. It is being streamed over at Chart. [Myspace: Pains Of Being Pure At Heart]

The Maccabees have just released their latest album called Wall Of arms. Tailor made for fans of Hot Hot Heat and The Futureheads, the whole thing is streaming in its entirety over at Drowned In Sound. [Myspace: The Maccabees]

[Via Chromewaves] Elvis Costello and the Sugarcanes are going to be playing Massey Hall on August 28th. His most recent foray into country is entitled Secret, Profane and Sugarcane and it's is to be relased on June 2nd. [Myspace: Elvis Costello]

That's it for today since I'm literally running off to The Horseshoe right now to see The Balconies. Laterz.

'Sup In May

As you can tell by the lack of general show reviews in April, the month was a bit of a write-off as far as show goings are concerned. I did see a couple of great ones, but I didn't end up going to any of the ones that I was planning on checking out. Hopefully May will be a little bit more fruitful in that area. So let's stop regretting the past and move boldly forward into the future, shall we?

Tonight, Friday May 1st, is the CD release party for Black Diamond Bay's new long player entitled Calm Awaits. I've said it before and I'll say it again: if you haven't yet seen Patrick Krief wail a guitar, than you are seriously missing out. Seriously. The openers are pretty solid also, they being The Dress Whites (best pop band in the city) and Make Your Exit. The show's at Sneaky Dee's and the cost is $7. [Myspace: Black Diamond Bay; The Dress Whites; Make Your Exit]

Saturday May 2nd also showcases a pretty awesome CD release party, this one for Great Bloomers Speak Of Trouble. They're playing with Sports: The Band; Gavin Gardiner and the Cutting Edge and Modernboys Moderngirls. Sounds awesome! The show's at The Horseshoe and tix are $8 adv/ $10 door. [Myspace: Great Bloomers; Sports: The Band; Gavin Gardiner (Wooden Sky), Modernboys Moderngirls]

If you're in the mood to get your female fronted rock on, then there really is no better place to be on Thursday May 7th then at The Phoenix to see The Kills, who are still promoting 2007's Midnight Boom. Tix are $18.50 adv. $20 door. [Myspace: The Kills]

If local rock in a more affordable price range is your thing, than you may wish to check out Arietta's show at The Horseshoe, where they are celebrating the release of the new full length Migration. This is also on Thursday May 7th, and the cost is $7. If you're unfamiliar with them, they're streaming the entire album on their myspace page. [Myspace: Arietta]

A couple of years ago, Sweden's Loney Dear put on one of the most enjoyable shows that I've ever seen. Emil's great music was only emphasized by the fact that he also exuded enormous amounts of charm, charisma and hilarity. Well, on Friday May 8th, he's back again playing The Rivoli and if I can recommend one show, this would be it. To sweeten the pot, Headlights from Illinois are opening for them, and although I've never seen them live, I can vouch for the fact that their music is totally on par with Loney Dear. Rest assured, this will be an amazing show. Tix are only $10. No excuses my friends. [Myspace: Loney Dear; Headlights]

I'm finding this hard to believe, but The Vaselines are playing their first ever show in Toronto on Friday May 15th at Lee's Palace. They are an absolutely legendary indie pop band from Scotland that Kurt Cobain has sung the praises of on more than one occasion. Tix are $29.50 advance. [Myspace: The Vaselines]

The legendary Leonard Cohen plays Copps Coliseum in Hamilton on Tuesday May 19th. Tickets are $49.50-$250.00. [Myspace: Leonard Cohen]

I already have my ticket to see The National (pictured above) at the truly dreadful Kool Haus on Thursday May 21st. I'm obviously looking forward to this since The National are all kinds of amazing, but if I had paid more attention to the fact that it was on a Thursday night at Kool Haus, I likely would have thought twice about going. I'm going to be getting there a little bit later, which means I'll likely be standing near the back, which means I won't be getting any worthwhile pictures for this one, which means I'll be grumpy. Ah well, at least they're awesome. Tix are $24.50 but I think they might be sold out. [Myspace: The National]

The pretty ladies in Au Revoir Simone bring their ethereal keyboard pop to Lee's Palace on Thursday May 21st. Tix are $12 adv. [Myspace: Au Revoir Simone]

My favourites Amos the Transparent are playing The Horseshoe on Friday May 22nd with Whale Tooth, Make Your Exit and The Lovely Killbots. I am soooo there! Cost: TBA [Myspace: Amos The Transparent; Whale Tooth; Make Your Exit; Lovely Killbots]

Which brings us to this year's Pitter Patter Festival. I still haven't really settled on what I'm going to be seeing myself, but the early version of my schedule is looking like this:

Thursday May 28th: If I go out at all on Thursday, I'll likely settle at The Neu+ral where I can check out Hunter Eves (11pm), Left Of Zero (12am) and First Person Shooter (1am). Left of Zero I've seen before and really like. I'm mildly familiar with the electro punk of First Person Shooter and the progressive sounds of Hunter Eves intrigues me. I don't know anything about the openers First Noise Than Silence (10pm), whom I can't even find a myspace page for.

Friday May 29th: There's a lot of good choices on Friday including Black Hat Brigade at El Mocambo (12am), Burn Planetarium at El Mocambo (10pm), The Miles at The Boat (12am) followed by Spiral Beach at The Boat (1am) and there's also Silver Speakers at the Oxford Hotel (10pm). Since I've seen most of those artists before, I think I may go over to Bread and Circus to catch Megan Hamilton and the Volunteer Canola (12am) followed by Entire Cities (1am). Never seen Megan (love her!) and it's been a long time since I've seen Entire Cities.

Saturday May 30th: I am definitely going to be planting myself at The Embassy to see the 60's inspired rock of The Abbreviations (10pm); the pop delights of Nich Worby (11pm), the 90's alt-rock of Cedar (12am), and it'll be great to see if I finally get out to see my beloved Hoa Hoa's (1am), who I continue to miss on a regular basis for some reason. Hopefully not this time.

I likely won't be getting out on Sunday, but there are a few acts playing that night, not to mention the fact that The Boat is hosting some all ages afternoon events on both Saturday and Sunday. The entire festival is pay what you can, and you can see a pdf of the whole Toronto schedule here.

And finally, I'd just like to send out a hearty congratulatory message to the guys and gal of Rural Alberta Advantage who have just been signed to the highly influential Saddle Creek Records. I wish them all the success in the world and one would definitely be hard pressed to find a more deserving set of semi-locals (by way of Alberta, of course.) Frank at Chromewaves gives his thoughts, and the story has also been throughly covered at Pitchfork, ChartAttack, Exclaim, and Radio Exile. [Myspace: Rural Alberta Advantage]

The photo of The National was taken by Rachel Been for Spinner.com