Krupke @ Rancho Relaxo

It's quite rare that I enthuse about a band after only hearing a few songs, but there's something about Krupke that intrigues me. When I was a child, I used to take all of my favourite drinks and throw them into a blender expecting to invent a drink that couldn't help but be a veritable taste explosion. However, I think most children have tried this experiment at one time or another and we all know what happens: vomiting and the occasional trip to the doctor. Usually these sort of blends simply do not work. However, Krupke's bizarre combo of art rock, progressive jazz, show tunes, post-punk, the avant-garde and good old fashioned whimsy may be a shock to the system, but once the brain has adjusted, it becomes a musical celebration. I declared them to be one of the bands to watch for 2010, and it was only a matter of time before I availed myself to the opportunity to watch them assault a live stage. Thankfully, the (relatively) early end time of The Cribs show at The Phoenix last Friday night gave me the chance to do just that.

I arrived at Rancho just as they were setting up onstage, and the crowd was actually quite large, which means that their reputation is already starting to circulate somewhat. I suppose that it could also be that people like cheap drinks on a Friday night, but I'd like to believe that it's a little bit of both. The band wasted no time getting things going as they immediately blasted out a ramshackle blend of intense jams that included some harsh sounding violin playing and some highly disjointed spazzy xylophoning that sounds like it shouldn't work, but it does. What is amazing about the sounds that emanate forth from Krupke is the fact that at times it may sound as if two separate bands are playing music at the same time with a wall inbetween them, but if you listen closely it becomes apparent that every single note, bweep and poot is actually carefully placed in such a way that a melody eventually forms in the brain, to the point that many people there (including the non-alcohol inspired patrons, like myself) were actually dancing to what would seem un-danceable under different circumstances. These are intensely complex arrangements indeed and one cannot help but be impressed. The fact that the lyrics, as well as Mike Walter's quirky delivery, remains relatively lighthearted, allows for humour to flow freely amidst the complexities. You also get a lot for your entertainment buck at a Krupke show. Some things worked well, such as a good old fashioned pinata smashing, ring-led by their new drummer Kate Pittman, while other things, not so much, such as a hyperactive microphone situation that accidentally clocked an audience member in the head. Still, overall the audience seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely (including the mic in the head guy) and I wouldn't be surprised if the band continues to draw new fans with each performance. The possible directions that the band can take from here are endless, and it'll be great to see what type of journey they will continue to take their followers on before releasing a full length album, hopefully sometime this year.

Photos: My shots of Krupke @ Rancho Relaxo are on flickr.
Myspace: Krupke

Other stuff:
Last week I mentioned that Dinosaur Bones are taking advance orders for their new 7-inch vinyl single of Royalty backed with Ice Hotels over at the Hi Scores Recording Library website. Well, they've just released a pretty cool video for the song Ice Hotels as well, which can be seen here. [Myspace: Dinosaur Bones]

AfterpartY were recently interviewed on The Indie Rock Invasion Show and the video footage is up on their facebook page. AfterpartY play The Horseshoe on February 2nd. [Myspace: AfterpartY]

There's a few exciting announcements involving the amazing Optical Sounds label. First of all, Action Makes have recently been added to the Optical Sounds roster. They are playing The Silver Dollar on Friday January 22nd. Secondly, The Hoa Hoa's have released a video for the song Wasting Time from the album Pop/Drone/Pedals that is delightfully (and expectedly) trippy. And thirdly, The Disraelis will be playing The Silver Dollar on Saturday January 23rd. [Myspaces: Action Makes, The Hoa Hoa's, The Disraelis]

And finally, since I don't know if I'll be posting anything else this week, it should be noted that this Saturday January 23rd marks the very last show for locals Oh No Forest Fires. They are one of the most interesting and entertaining bands in the city and I'm distraught to see it all end, but I'm sure that we'll see the various members popping up in other bands around town. Still, if you're interested in checking this charismatic bunch out one last time, then the show is at The Horseshoe and entry is a measly $7. Also on the bill are The Darcy's, Songs From A Room and Arietta. This is going to be one hard rockin' night! [Myspaces: The Darcy's, Songs From A Room, Arietta, Oh No Forest Fires]

Brett Caswell and the Marquee Rose @ The Horseshoe

I'm not going to lie: I've been rather enjoying my concert going hibernation over the last month or so. The brief spurts of time off have been refreshing as they've allowed me to indulge my other passion for classic foreign films, not to mention trying to find a decent recent movie to enjoy also, which was extremely difficult to do. "Not impressed 'cinema of 2009', not impressed at all!" (I'm talking to you Mr. Cameron! Give me my money back or I'll continue to hold these 3D glasses for ransom!)

Still, a concert goer has to hit the venues again at some time, and there was no better way to ease back into the show goings then with a brief and free (and not to mention early) show at The Horseshoe featuring a man whom I'd heard tons about, yet had never really taken the time to properly acquaint myself with: Mr. Brett Caswell. In preparation for the show, I had spent some time with his debut release Love Waiting, which came out almost two years ago. It's a very easy-to-digest collection of piano and guitar based pop rock tunes that bring to mind guys like Ben Folds or Elliott Smith. Although the material is far from earth shattering, the melodies in particular, are exceptional and there was no doubt in my mind that the man had the talent and capabilities to expand that sound even more. Well the performance that night proved that my assumptions were correct.

First of all, I was pleasantly surprised to see that his band consisted of some backing vocals by my favourite little Barrie-ite Carleigh Aikins of Fox Jaws, as well as some amazing fiddle accompaniment by the incredibly talented Sarah Morano. Still, the biggest surprise was the fact that the songs that were presented that evening went far above and beyond the standard singer- songwriter fare of the aforementioned album. His new album, entitled A New Balance, is coming out this spring and, judging by the songs that he played that evening, he's boasting a heavier, rockier edge that places greater emphasis on playing and musicianship while still keeping that gift for melody fully in tact. One would assume that a set so short (he only played six songs) would mean that it ended just as he was starting to find his groove, but the fact is that Caswell is obviously such a seasoned performer that he was able to hit the stage on a high and keep that going throughout. The evening's highlight was an explosive performance of a song called Show On The Road, which boasted a slightly country-ish vibe that built into a full-on country rock assault that was reminiscent of some of the impressive jams you would hear performed by The Allman Brothers or My Morning Jacket. There are few things more impressive than watching Caswell attack the keys the way that he does. I think it's safe to say that Caswell is one charismatic and electrifying performer and I'm looking forward to catching a full set before the year is through.

Brett Caswell and the Marquee Rose are back in town tomorrow night opening for Clothes Make The Man at The Garrison (Ossington & Dundas). They'll be hitting the stage around 10pm.

Photos: My shots of Brett Caswell and the Marquee Rose @ The Horseshoe are on flickr
Myspace: Brett Caswell

Other stuff:
My email box hath runneth over with stuff and info so let me quickly share some with you before I run off to work today.

Whale Tooth has a new video for Hibernation Song which was shot and directed by The Cobourg Boys, who have also worked with The Bicycles. [Myspace: Whale Tooth]

Lucky Soul has posted a new video as well for the song White Russian Doll, which will be featured on their upcoming album A Coming of Age, which is due out this spring. [Myspace: Lucky Soul]

And Forest City Lovers also have a new video for their song If I Were A Tree, directed by Colin Medley and Jared Raab. [Myspace: Forest City Lovers]

While preparing to unleash their heavily anticipated full length, Dinosaur Bones are releasing a limited edition 7-inch white vinyl copy of Royalty/Ice Hotels on the upstart Toronto/New York vinyl label Hi-Scores Recording Library. Fans can pre-order the record at the Hi-Scores site now. [Myspace: Dinosaur Bones]

By now I'm sure that everyone has heard about the big Pavement reunion which will affect Torontonians at the Toronto Island Festival on June 19th when they hit the stage with Broken Social Scene and Band of Horses. Despite the fact that it hits me on the weekend of NXNE, I'm pretty sure that I'll be picking up some tix for this one. In the meantime, if you desire to see Pavement perform somewhere more exotic (like New York), Matador is holding a contest in connection with the tour and their upcoming greatest hits release. [Myspace: Pavement]

And finally, it looks like the Thrush Hermit reunion is on and the tickets to their two shows at Lee's Palace (March 26th, 27th) go on sale today. Say what you will, but the solo works of Joel Plaskett haven't come even close to impacting me the way that his former band did. To be honest, despite the amount of love and praise Three has received by just about everyone I know, I still haven't been able to listen to the whole thing all the way through. Some excellent songs buried in there, but still way too much meh if you ask me, which continues to be my personal beef with Plaskett's solo output. But when it comes to the sounds of the thrush, to my ears they are virtually meh-less, which means that I will certainly be attending one of the shows in March. [Myspace: Thrush Hermit]

2009: The Local(ish) Rock Star Elite

Just over a year ago, I posted a cheesy US Magazine-styled list of the ten biggest rock stars in the city, and (relatively) surrounding area. It wasn't meant to be taken too seriously, since such a list would mean that I was excluding hundreds of other worthy contenders, since our city and (relatively) surrounding area is teeming with them. It was also kind of a spur of the moment thing that was initially intended to be sort of a one-off thing. But I've come to realize that people (especially rock stars) love to see themselves on lists. So I figured that I would do it again. Firstly though, a few explanations:

Although there are a few on last year's list that could have easily made the list again this year (Carleigh and Rajiv come to mind immediately), I figured that for the sake of variety I would do up these lists sort of 'Hall of Fame' style, which means that once you're in, you're in. Secondly, there is no scientifical explanation for anyone's inclusion other than you're the first ones that came to mind. I figured that with all of the local shows I attend, if you came to my head that quickly then you must've had an impact. And thirdly, just to keep things in perspective, these are all just the opinions of one man, that man being me. The Jennifer Polk's, Melody Lamb's and Lauren Schreiber's in the city see way more local talent than I do, and would likely be more qualified to make such a list but whatever. I'm having fun. So, without further ado, here's my list of the top ten local(ish) rock stars of the past year.

1. Branko Scekic

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario (well, initially Serbia but...)
Bands: Dinosaur Bones; Serb Superb
What Makes Him A Rock Star:
Although my personal enthusiasm for Dinosaur Bones is a tad more reserved than many, I know a rock star when I see one, and brotha! Branko oozes rock star. He's like the bizarre alien spawn of Frank Zappa and Flavor Flav. Whether he's blasting bass with the Bones, spitting improvised rhymes as the animated Serb Superb, or simply bounding around the audience at someone else's show, he definitely makes his presence known and I have a feeling that every band secretly wishes he was in there's as well.

2. Cameron Jingles

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Bands: The Disraelis
What Makes Him A Rock Star:
Some people are cool without even trying, and if you've ever caught a live show by The Disraelis, than you already know that Jingles (or Ingles depending on which source you read) isn't even interested in trying. He's our city's Lou Reed, and his rebel without a cause demeanor should be off-putting, but for whatever reason, it isn't. More like compelling.

3. Elise LeGrow

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Bands: Whale Tooth; Elise LeGrow
What Makes Her A Rock Star:
She's a firecracker of energy when she performs, and the fact that she can keep that flawless voice of hers in tact while bounding around that stage with an almost unnatural animation, is what makes her the rare case of being a jazz singer that still rocks.

4. Jason Loftman

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Band: The Paint Movement
What Makes Him A Rock Star:
The Paint Movement is the type of band that works so well together as a team, that standing out in such a group is no small feat. But the moment in every show when Loftman wails a solo on that sax is consistently the evening's highlight as he solidifies the fact that this band is doing something that I'm hearing no other band do right now, local or otherwise.

5. Jacquie Neville

Hometown: Ottawa, Ontario (now relocated to Toronto)
Bands: The Balconies; Jetplanes of Abraham (formerly)
What Makes Her A Rock Star:
Jacquie has a unique ability to completely own the stage with phenomenal poise and confidence while making sure that this self assured-ness never delves into arrogance and loss of control. I've seen performers on TV with twice the experience she has lose control of their vocals while getting drunk on their own inflated ego. Despite the amount of devotion that is thrown her way during a performance, Neville manages to avoid all of that while still having the audience eating out of her rock 'n roll hands.

6. Lee Brochu

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Band: The Hoa Hoa's
What Makes Him a Rock Star:
The rock star that plays the part 24/7 usually ends up burning out and/or fading away at the height of his/her success. The rock star with longevity however, lives more of a superhero lifestyle by being a mild mannered citizen by day, and a melt your face off rocker by night. This is what will likely allow supply teacher Mr. Brochu to fall into the latter category as the respected day job is undoubtedly what frees him up to whip a crowd into that psychedelic haze that he does at every show.

7. Paul Banwatt

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Bands: Rural Alberta Advantage; Woodhands, We're Scared
What Makes Him A Rock Star:
It has been consistently noted that the drummer is the backbone of the band. In other words, a bad band can have a great drummer and actually sound pretty good. In the case of the bands that Banwatt plays in, a great drummer can make an already great band sound absolutely earth shattering. Banwatt is currently my favourite drummer in the city (next to last year's #1 rock star on my list) and his ability to take a simple pop song and turn it into something epic (i.e. Don't Haunt This Place) is a rock 'n roll move that cannot be overstated.

8. Matt Bahen

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Band: The Schomberg Fair
What Makes Him A Rock Star:
This speed gospel renegade preaches with an electrified ukulele in hand and manages to convert every crowd member to his lyrical cowpunk methodology. The man is the most down-to-earth type of gentleman you'll ever meet offstage, but onstage, the dude is downright exhausting and with new opening slots for Ron Sexsmith and The Sadies on the horizon, I'm pretty sure that you'll be seeing his name on a few more lists by this time next year.

9. Yann Godbout

Hometown: Montreal, Quebec
Bands: Half Baked; The Sound of Sea Animals
What Makes Him a Rock Star:
It may be a risky move to include a guy whom I've only ever seen once, but the impression he made was very strong and according to some other reviews that I've seen, that one show was not a case of him simply having a particularly good night. The man pulls out every cheesy rock 'n roll cliché the book contains, from swirling windmills to down-on-your-knees Hendrix-isms to run-through-the-audience-like-a-madman jocularity. When it comes to rock 'n roll, originality may be an asset, but sometimes a tried and true cliché is just as much fun.

10. Brad Weber

Hometown: Waterloo, Ontario
Bands: Pick A Piper; Caribou.
What Makes Him a Rock Star:
Being a rock star is undoubtedly a lot of work, and you'd be hard pressed to find someone who works harder on stage than Brad Weber. As soon as he hits the stage, he exudes a hypnotic mystique that cannot be forced nor faked and the second he joins his bandmates in that tribal percussive assault that PaP have been garnering great recognition for, you cannot help but forget about the cares of the day and succumb to his mysterious charm.

Last Year's Ten:
1. Robbie Butcher (Tin Bangs; Nights)
2. Jamie Greer (Golden Hands Before God)
3. Carleigh Aikins (Fox Jaws)
4. Dorian Wolf (Spiral Beach)
5. Patrick Krief (Black Diamond Bay; The Dears)
6. Wayne Petti (Cuff The Duke; Wayne Petti)
7. Rajiv Thavanathan (Oh No Forest Fires; Five Blank Pages)
8. Johnny Maldorer (Les Breastfeeders)
9. Sarah Smith (The Joys)
10. Lonely Vagabond (Maestro of Myspace)

CONTEST: Win Tix to the Broken Pencil Fantasy Party featuring Dinosaur Bones and Whale Tooth

If you're a connoisseur of all things indie and cool in the city of Toronto, than you're likely already familiar with Broken Pencil Magazine. It is one of the few magazines in the world devoted exclusively to underground culture and the independent arts. This Friday August 21st, they're hosting a party at the Whippersnapper Gallery, and they managed to secure a couple of the city's best acts to perform.

Besides the beats that will be provided by the great DJ Hemmingway, local favourites Dinosaur Bones and Whale Tooth will be performing live. Tickets are being sold at the door for $10, and I believe that includes a year's subscription to the magazine.

The magazine itself was holding a pretty awesome contest for those wanting to attend the show on the VIP list, but if you're just reading about it now, then sorry, you've already missed your chance. Or have you?

I sweeping in at the proverbial last hour to offer one happy winner one more chance (sort of):

I couldn't score the VIP thing, but thanks to the kind folks at Audio Blood Media. I've got two regular people tickets to the show taking place at Whippersnapper Gallery this Friday night (August 21st), along with a couple of the latest EP's by both Dinosaur Bones and Whale Tooth. If you're interested in winning, please email me at quadb2001 [at] gmail [dot] com with the words "Get me in to the Broken Pencil Party" in the subject line, and your full name in the body.

Contest is now closed. Congrats to Michael S. Thanks to all who entered.

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

The Sound of Sea Animals, Dinosaur Bones and Broken Bricks @ Legion Hall

Legion Hall was probably the most unique and hilarious venue I've ever attended for a live concert. Although its ambiance was settled somewhere between high school dance and bar mitzvah, that didn't stop the bands and fans from rocking out most triumphantly as Toronto welcomed its very first visit by Montreal psych rockers The Sound of Sea Animals.

Opening the evening was Broken Bricks, who are a Toronto band who give off an organic rock 'n roll vibe that is tempered with a knack for presenting a decent pop hook. I realize that I tend to compare a lot of bands with The Kinks but hey, if the shoe fits, right? It's pretty hard to ignore the fact that their sound is steeped in the idiosyncrasies of the British music hall combined with the awesome shuffle of the distinctive beat era. The harmonies were beautiful, the performance was gold, the guitars were loud, the energy was high and we all know how I feel about that authentic 60's sound!

Photos: Broken Bricks @ The Legion on flickr
Myspace: Broken Bricks

The second act of the night was Dinosaur Bones and they were ... well ... Dinosaur Bones. Although this is only the second time that I've ever seen them, I think I pretty much know what to expect when they play, and that is certainly not a bad thing. The organizers needed a ringer for this show; someone that they know is going to bring the people around, and someone who is certain not to disappoint. If that's your goal, then there really is no better choice than Dinosaur Bones, at least not here in Toronto. They always do a solidly energetic show, and fans and music lovers alike are guaranteed to show up in droves. As per usual, the crowd went nuts when they played Royalty and N.Y.E., while the rest of their set was comprised of their more brooding material. After the show, there was also the usual buzz of fans singing their praises as well as the ecstatic din of new converts. The only downside is the fact that fans of the 'Bones are not necessarily going to be fans of the psychedelic scene, which means that the other two acts were not to be greeted with the same rampant enthusiasm. Trust me though, this is through no fault of the bands themselves.

Photos: Dinosaur Bones @ The Legion on flickr
Myspace: Dinosaur Bones

The Sound of Sea Animals were brought to our fair city for the specific purpose of being an initial ingredient in building a psych rock revival from the ground up. In other words, start with smaller bands, establish a solid psych rock scene in Toronto, and hopefully allow the buzz to lure other great bands of a psychedelic nature to play here. It's a lofty endeavor since the psych scene doesn't get nearly as much publicity as some of the others scenes here, but I for one can never seem to get enough of it. So I say "Vive la psychedelia!" and this Montreal band was definitely a great way to get the ball rolling.

On record, the "band" is pretty much the pet project of Etienne Chan Kane, who basically recorded and performed the album himself. For this show, an entire band was present, and they were definitely in 'perform to impress' mode. The trippy ambiance of their sound would lend itself nicely to a more reserved performance and given the nature of this beast, I think most fans of the scene would've been cool with letting the music transcend on its own, without a lot of show. What makes their music unique however, is the fact that it also takes a cue from some of the more indie-centric jangle pop of the past, which means that stoner droning is not what this band is about. This aspect of their sound is what enabled them to show real professionalism by refusing to settle with a performance that was merely adequate. Their heady rock assault never let up for a minute, as their performance was an example of 'how to be a rock star 101' most notably displayed by the swagger filled antics of Yann Godbout. In simpler terms, they killed!

Hopefully the next time around they are featured on a bill that is more geared towards their style, since a large number of people had left already by the time they hit the stage, which was a real shame as far as I'm concerned. The smart ones who did stick around seemed suitably impressed, and there were even a few up front who were dancing around and really taking it in. Although everybody put on a great show, The Sound of Sea Animals was by far the money act and I'm certainly looking forward to their return.

Photos: The Sound of Sea Animals @ The Legion on flickr
Myspace: The Sound of Sea Animals

CMF Day 3: Dinosaur Bones, Daniel Wesley, The Bicycles, Black Diamond Bay, Black Hat Brigade, Amos The Transparent

Friday night of Canadian Music Fest was an enjoyable mix of bands that I've seen several times before, and others that I have meant to see but due to circumstances, never did.

Most of my music loving friends were shocked to hear that I had still never gotten around to seeing Dinosaur Bones perform. Along with Still Life Still, they are currently the most well supported act in the city, and to say that my expectations were high is no mere exaggeration. I do quite enjoy their four song EP, although not in any sort of mind blowing way. Add to that the fact that extreme gushing from an indie loving fanbase automatically causes me to cop a little extra 'tude, and you've got a blogger who is not going to ease into hipster euphoria without putting up a bit of a fight. Thankfully, a couple of songs into the night, the gloves were down, and I was able to settle in and enjoy the show. It's easy to see what people like about Dinosaur Bones. Although the songs themselves settle into a territory that is somewhat dark and brooding, the band performs with a fervent enthusiasm that encourages the audience to stop looking at their shoes and pay attention. If I have one small critique, it would be that a couple of the songs seemed to end just as they were getting interesting. I do recognize that CMF places a bit of a time restraint on sets, but the sophisticated nature of their songs are such that, with a little bit of musical adventure, they could be downright epic. Still it was an impressive set that gave off a pretty cool downtown vibe (whatever that means.)

Photos: My Dinosaur Bones @ The Horseshoe pics are up on flickr.
Myspace: Dinosaur Bones

I wasn't at all familiar with the next act, but since White Rock's Daniel Wesley was sandwiched in-between a couple of bands that I was dying to see, it was obviously easier to just stick around and check out his stuff. Daniel Wesley is both the band name and the lead singer's name, and their music comes from a blues based bar band territory that also incorporates a touch of reggae and ska. In terms of strict musical abilities, these guys have mad skillz, being a very tight and structured sort of band. In terms of sound, well, they remind me a lot of Jack Johnson. If you like Jack Johnson, you're going to like these guys. Personally, I can only take Jack in small doses and, although it was a solid performance, it probably isn't the type of thing I'm going to be spending a lot of time with. Still, if we're strictly speaking in terms of overall talent, they may have been the best band I saw the whole festival. Respect.

Photos: My pics of Daniel Wesley @ The Horseshoe are on flickr
Myspace: Daniel Wesley

For an album that didn't quite make my year end 'best of' in 2008, The Bicycles' Oh No It's Love is becoming one of my most listened to albums of this year, so far. The songs are such enjoyable blasts of upbeat hooky power pop that it's impossible not to succumb to their immediate charms. Believe it or not, I hadn't yet seen these guys live either, so I was really looking forward to this. Their happy time bubblegum vibe translates well to the live stage, and their giddy stage presence is all kinds of cute. They all took turns on lead vocals, and they seemed to be having a fantastic time on stage. It turns out that this was a good time to catch them, because apparently, they are going to be taking an extended (possibly permanent) hiatus. I didn't realize this beforehand, so all of the subtle hints (ahem) were actually lost on me. Things like, the vocalist asking if The Handsome Furs are looking for another member, as well as a person in the audience yelling out, "don't break up!" actually weren't enough to clue me in to the situation at hand. Still, it appears that the rumours are true, which is too bad, because they're a really great band that I would've liked to see again sometime.

Photos: The Bicycles at The Horseshoe on flickr.
Myspace: The Bicycles

At that point I probably made some Handsome Furs fan very happy as I decreased The Horseshoe overflow by one, and headed on down to Rancho Relaxo so as to enjoy some high quality music but with a significantly smaller crowd. Or so I thought.

I arrived at Rancho just as Black Diamond Bay was starting into their set, and the place was absolutely packed! I had never seen Rancho like this before. In fact, mere minutes after I entered, people were being turned away at the door due to lack of room. Initially, I didn't intend on seeing Patrick Krief's band perform since I was going to use the walk from Horseshoe to Rancho as an opportunity to grab a slice of pizza or something. I'm glad I chose hunger pains instead.

I've seen Patrick Krief perform enough times to know what to expect and, in their case, this is a good thing. If you've been hesitating on seeing them, I cannot recommend enough that you just go ahead and do so. Even if you've sampled their music and have come to the conclusion that it's really not your thing, their live show is a separate entity unto itself. When Patrick jumps into the audience wailing away on that wicked white Strat of his, it is easily one of the most intoxicating live music moments that I consistently have the pleasure of experiencing. It should also be mentioned that, even though I have a tendency to single out Krief in my reviews, it is the unparalleled chemistry of the entire band, that allows them to reach such legendary levels of exaltation.

Photos: Black Diamond Bay @ Rancho Relaxo on flickr.
Myspace: Black Diamond Bay

Black Hat Brigade was the third band of the evening that everybody thinks I've seen before, but I actually hadn't. They play the same kind of late 70's artsy post punk style that Wolf Parade tries to emulate, but to be honest, I think that I like Black Hat Brigade even better. Actually, I'm going to go ahead and make an even bolder statement here and admit that, although the vocals remind me quite a bit of Isaac Brock, I actually find them less irritating than the Modest Mouse frontman. Flame me all you want, but it's true. They put on a very good show that had them moving back and forth between swirling percussion heavy epics to eclectic synth heavy dance songs. The best moment was during their last song when they incorporated a dead-on rendition of Television's Marquee Moon that would have even impressed Tom Verlaine himself. It took me a long time to finally see them, but they certainly appear to have honed their craft nicely.

Photos: Black Hat Brigade @ Rancho Relaxo on flickr.
Myspace: Black Hat Brigade

And finally, I ended the night by seeing Amos The Transparent for the third time this year. Are you getting tired of me talking about them yet? You can read this year's previous reviews over here and here, but basically I'll just repeat a sentence that I've already stated a couple of times before, that is, that this was probably their best performance to date. Yes, they just keep getting better. They played a lot of songs from the new EP My, What Big Teeth You Have, which was released to the public for the first time at this show. Also notable, was seeing Mark Hyne take over on lead vocals for one of the songs, and doing such a great job. It's become very clear that Toronto has been bitten by the Amos bug and overall, the band was feeding heavily off of the crowd's rabid enthusiasm. Jonathan once again expressed his love of Toronto, and they all voiced appreciation for the support from our city. I'm curious to know if the band is having a similar reception elsewhere, because if they are, then I should definitely be hearing more about them than just blog buzz. I hope that this new EP garners them even more publicity.

Photos: Amos The Transparent @ Rancho Relaxo on flickr
Myspace: Amos The Transparent

Andre Ethier- Born Of Blue Fog

Last year my tardiness caused me to miss out on including Andre Ethier's On Blue Fog in my 2007 year end best of, even though it would have definitely been there had I heard the album when I should have. Well wash, rinse and repeat, it look like I've done the same thing again this year. Andre Ethier's sequel to that brilliant album is entitled Born Of Blue Fog and it was released late last year to such little fanfare that I once again heard about it too late. And just like it's predecessor, it definitely would have made my top 10 of 2008 had I been more on the proverbial ball, so to speak.

Born Of Blue Fog takes all of the elements that made the last album so great, namely the grand acoustic versatility of the song arrangements and his highly literate lyrical depth, and just simply makes it better. The Only Wine I Crave opens the album with a classical sound that dips into the progressive pool ever so slightly with its inclusion of mandolin, moog and vibraphone. Andre's voice is dark and brooding on this one, creating an aire of the renaissance. The tenor sax on Easiest Game is a welcome surprise. I used to joke around about the fact that many sax players must of went on unemployment once the 80's ended, but here Ethier shows how to put them to good use on a song that borrows once again from bands like Traffic and Supertramp, but in a way that sounds way cooler than my description would lead you to believe. The string arrangement on By The Stables is chilling, with a sound that is very baroque symphonic and segues nicely into the next blusier number Infant King. Black Is The Colour Of My True Love's Hair features only Ethier's emotive bassy vocals and his acoustic guitar. This is a traditional number that is so hauntingly beautiful that it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention. Heaven Above You reminds me of classic JJ Cale, with the vocals being nicely accompanied by a classic Wurlitzer sound. Polynesian Branch takes all of the aforementioned elements and combines them together, serving as a tasty appetizer to what follows, the laugh-out-loud funny Cop Killer. Despite the seemingly angry title, this is easily the most upbeat song on the album which sees Andre harnessing his inner Lou Reed and delivering lines about his girl "really knowing her way around a badge" with an effortless coolness. Y'know, the way Lou Reed does. The album ends with Can't Go Back Again, a subtle acoustic number worthy of all of the Dylan comparisons that has been heaped upon Ethier over the last couple of years. This is true both in the lyrical depth and in the mild delivery.

From what I understand, this album is only part two of the trilogy, with a third album already being prepared for public consumption. I'm going to keep my eyes and ears peeled for this one so that I can pick it up on time to be included on whatever list it will undoubtedly deserve to be on.

This album is a must-have, as far as I'm concerned. It is available on the Blue Fog Recording Label which distributes its music through Sonic Unyon.

Myspace: Andre Ethier
Download: By The Stables mp3


Other stuff: Soundscapes has a couple of really cool in-stores coming up. Timber Timbre are there tomorrow, that's January 15th at 7pm and Bruce Peninsula are going to be there on Wednesday February 4th, also at 7pm. [Myspaces: Timber Timbre, Bruce Peninsula]

Hamilton singer-songwriter Jacob Moon just recorded an amazing video for his outstanding cover of Rush's Subdivisions on the rooftop of the Staircase Theatre. It has to be seen to be believed. Outstanding. [Myspace: Jacob Moon]

Danny Michel also has a new video out for his song Feather, Fur and Fin. A good quality video is found on his website, a crappier quality video is on youtube. [Myspace: Danny Michel]

Massive buzz band Fleet Foxes are going to be on Saturday Night Live this weekend, which is being hosted by Rosario Dawson. [Myspace: Fleet Foxes]

The latest episode of the Zygiella podcast features three members of Dinosaur Bones as Tyler and Jen's very special guests. The episode is available for download here. They are playing their one year anniversary show this Saturday at The Horseshoe. Congratulations to Kate for winning the Dinosaur Bones prize pack. [Myspace: Dinosaur Bones]

For those who care about this kind of stuff: Chart Attack has reported that City and Colour's Dallas Green has recently gotten hitched to Much Music's Leah Miller, while Stereogum has reported that Death Cab's Ben Gibbard is now engaged to She and Him's Zooey Deschanel. For me, the first one falls into the "yah, whatever" category while the second one falls into the "what the?" category. [Myspaces: Dallas Green, Death Cab For Cutie, She and Him]

And after only 85 253 albums, Ryan Adams has decided to call it a day. Apparently the blog where Ryan says that he's quitting music has been updated so as to sound a little bit less drastic but exclaim.ca quotes him as saying that health issues and never ending stage fright are just two of the reasons why he's decided to pack it in. This is breaking news so I'm still waiting to hear more about what this actually means. I'm intrigued to say the least. It looks like he's going to concentrate his time on being an author, since he's got three books set to be released sometime in the future. Oh, and I just noticed that Rolling Stone has reported on it as well. [Myspace: Ryan Adams]

CONTEST: Dinosaur Bones Prize Pack

DINOSAUR BONES - SELF TITLED E.P.

When it comes to the world of bloggers and music geeks, I'm just one fish in a massive ocean of pretentiousness, but when it comes to me and my friends, I'm usually the guy who recommends local bands to my peers. However, Dinosaur Bones have already done a pretty good job at making a name for themselves, and it seems like many of those same friends have been the ones encouraging me to check out this band for a little while now. Upon listening to their 4 song EP, it's pretty easy to understand why they've been able to develop such an immediate fanbase so quickly.

I've found it incredibly difficult to get the opening track Royalty out of my head. It thumps away with a steady danceable groove and includes a subtle vocal that literally sneaks up on you and burrows a hole in your brain, making it impossible to shake it off. The lyric "I'll be outside howling at the moon" is delivered in a mischievous tone that intrigues me and makes me smile. N.Y.E. is a mellower number laced with a visceral romanticism that contains all of the elements of a new wave slow dance, but still manages to impress upon repeat listenings. Point Of Pride is also quite melancholic in its delivery, although it makes good use of the build up effect in order to lift the song into the sonically shoegazed atmosphere. The EP ends with My Divider, which musically reminds me a bit of The Smiths, particularly in the Andy Rourke-like melodically structured bassline, while the vocals actually sound a bit like Hot Hot Heat's Steve Bays. The song clocks in at 5:17, but personally, I think that if the ringing guitars at the outro droned on for another couple of minutes, the song would have been even more epic than it already is. The more I listen to it, the more I love this song.

For a debut EP, Dinosaur Bones show a lot of promise and if their upcoming full length is injected with just a little bit more energy, than this band is going to be tough to beat. From what I've heard about their live performances, they are already well on their way to doing that, since apparently, their show is one of the most energetic displays in town.

Myspace: Dinosaur Bones
Photo by Mike Juno

CONTEST: Dinosaur Bones is celebrating their one year of existence at The Horseshoe Tavern on Saturday January 17th and it would be absolutely criminal for you not to be there. They'll be sharing the bill with The Junction, Black Hat Brigade and The Paint Movement. So, courtesy of Audio Blood Media, I've got one pretty cool Dinosaur Bones prizepack to give away. It contains the following:

1) A pair of passes to the show at The Horseshoe Tavern on January 17th
2) A copy of the Dinosaur Bones' debut EP
3) A few ultra-cool collectable Dinosaur Bones pins
4) A limited edition show poster

If you would like to win this prize pack, then simply send me an email at quadb2001 [at] gmail [dot] com (take note of the slightly new gmail addy) with "I Want To Dig Up Some Dinosaur Bones" in the subject line, and your full name in the body.

Contest is now closed. Thanks to all who entered.

'Sup In January

I have to admit that a part of me has been enjoying the last few weeks away from the concert goings. I've read somewhere that the best way to know whether or not you're addicted to something is to try doing without it for awhile and see how you hold up. At this point I can honestly say that live music has finally become an enjoyable pastime in my life without being the hardcore addiction that it once was. So, now that I know I can quit anytime, it only makes sense to get right back at it again, doesn't it? Starting tomorrow night...

As I just finished contesting out on this page, Amos The Transparent is playing a TWM show at Rancho Relaxo on Friday January 2nd with Whale Tooth and Bellewoods. I just got the heads up that Amos is going to be filling the tiny Rancho stage with the six piece version of themselves. I also know that there are going to be a lot of people there so I'd definitely get there early, if I were you. $7. [Myspaces: Amos The Transparent, Whale Tooth, Bellewoods]

The 2nd anniversary of local indie label Out Of This Spark is being celebrated here in the city on Saturday January 10th at the Tranzac. Looks like it's bound to be a pretty wicked show since it's featuring some of the buzziest buzz bands that the city has to offer, namely The D'Ubervilles, Forest City Lovers, Timber Timbre and Jenny Omnichord. Tix are $8 w/ a non-perishable food item; $10 without. [Myspaces: The D'Ubervilles, Forest Ciy Lovers, Timber Timbre, Jenny Omnichord]

Another interesting looking show is at the Tranzac on Wednesday January 14th, when Entire Cities takes the stage once again. I've likely just been in the dark, but it feels like it's been forever since they've played live in the city. At any rate, it has been forever since I've seen them, and that just might be a good opportunity to do so again. They are sandwiched inbetween a couple of acts called Hobson's Choice (who are also doing a CD release show earlier in the week on the 10th, also at Tranzac) and The Owle Bird. $5 [Myspaces: Hobson's Choice, Entire Cities, The Owle Bird]

After an exciting jaunt opening for Broken Social Scene on tour, Montreal's Land Of Talk are headlining a show at The Horseshoe on Thursday January 15th. I'm thinking that this may be a good time to see them since Saddle Creek has been promoting them quite heavily as of late and their stock seems to be rising rather quickly. The days of seeing them for $12 at the 'Shoe may not be around for much longer. [Myspace: Land of Talk]

If a heavy hitting rock show is your thing, than you'll want to be at The Horseshoe on Friday January 16th when glamy thrash metal rockers Diemonds take the stage with Dean Lickyer, Drunkula, Birthday Boys and Left Of Zero opening. Not sure if I can make it or not, but I have to admit that Diemonds throwback classic rock sound has been mildly intriguing me for awhile. You can take the man out of the rawk but you can't take the rawk out of the man. Or something like that. $7 [Myspaces: Diemonds, Dean Lickyer, Drunkula, Birthday Boys, Left Of Zero]

One of the best bands in the city, Dinosaur Bones is celebrating their one year anniversary at The Horseshoe on Saturday January 17th with The Junction and Black Hat Brigade. Stay tuned because I've got a pretty cool Dinosaur Bones prize pack contest coming up soon that will allow you to win tix for this show. Otherwise, you'll be dropping a cool $7, which is still a great deal if you ask me. [Myspaces: Dinosaur Bones, The Junction, Black Hat Brigade]

Unfortunately for me, I've got a bit of a scheduling conflict on that day, because I'll be at El Mocambo on Saturday January 17th to see Bishop Allen (pictured above) perform in promotion of their upcoming Grr.. album which is due out in March. I loved their show the last time they were in town so I doubt that my feelings on this one should be any different. Opening for them are Electric Owls (from North Carolina) and the adorable Hooded Fang. $10 [Myspaces: Bishop Allen, Electric Owls, Hooded Fang]

Nickel Eye is at El Mocambo on Tuesday January 20th in support of his upcoming debut entitled The Time Of The Assassins. This is the "cleverly" monikered new act featuring Strokes' bassist Nikolai Fraiture. Personal opinion: It's never a good thing to have your name looking THAT similar to Nickelback. *shudder* Tix are $12. [Myspace: Nickel Eye]

The Fembots will be banging their pots and pans at The Horseshoe on Friday January 23rd with The Harbourcoats, Tusks and Great Bloomers. $8 [Myspaces: The Fembots, Tusks, Great Bloomers]

It's been a long time since I've had the chance to see Oh No Forest Fires so I just might pop in to check them out on Sunday January 25th at Sneaky Dee's with Adolf Glitter and The Weirdies. PWYC [Myspaces: Oh No Forest Fires, Adolf Glitter, The Weirdies]

Anf finally, a nice way to end the month would be by going back to everyone's favourite watering hole Rancho Relaxo on Thursday January 29th for the very first IndieCredit charity show. This will be headlined by Lovely Killbots and supported by Wilderness of Manitoba and Wendy Leung. Cost: TBA [Myspaces: Lovely Killbots, Wilderness of Manitoba, Wendy Leung]

Welcome to 2009, and I'll blog to ya soon!