Toronto Bands To Watch in 2010

It's becoming increasingly more difficult to keep on top of all of the great new sites and blogs emerging throughout the city of Toronto and the surrounding area these days, much like the scene itself. Richard Trapunski is a writer for one of the good ones, a site called Resonancity. The site's mandate is to cover the Toronto music scene on a very local level, and from what I've read so far, it's doing an excellent job. The site has recently published its list of Toronto-area bands to chase for 2010 and Richard has asked several local music buffs (including myself) to contribute some their thoughts and choices. The final list was as diverse a list as I've ever seen, and it was good to see such variety. The final list of 20 acts was divided into three parts and they can be found here: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.

For my list, I decided to go beyond some of the more obvious choices in favour of some of the ones that are still hovering quite below the radar right now, but given the current musical climate here in the city, still have a good shot at breaking out in the year ahead. And here they are, in no particular order:

The Davey Parker Radio Sound (pictured above)

Thanks to The Hoa Hoa's and The Disraelis, the Toronto psych rock scene is finally starting to get some recognition, which means that this band from the right side of Parkdale should be raising a few eyebrows in the new year. Their live shows are apparently getting better and raunchier with every blast and the city seems to be poised and ready for their high octane, fuzzed out, bluesy guitar sound. [Myspace]

Hut

I'm sure that Daniel Lee's main project Hooded Fang, along with the all ages showcases that he provides as part of Daps Duo, is going to be keeping him plenty busy throughout the upcoming year, and I don't even know if this lo-fi side project of his is something that he's working hard to expand upon or not, but I do know that Hut continues to be recording new material, and hopefully that will translate into a full release with accompanying live shows because the city needs more cool post punk lo fi sounds. [Myspace]

Pick A Piper

Each show brings them closer and closer to being one of the most exciting bands in the city, eliciting a rapturous response every time. Their psychedelic percussive onslaught is just so intoxicating that they are sure to garner even more enthusiasm as they embark on an east coast tour in March. [Myspace]

Clothes Make The Man

I remember being seduced by CMTM's rocking blend of raw emotional energy and smooth musical ability all the way back in 2006 when I reviewed their debut album for the (now defunct) indie music project. After basically forgetting about them for a couple of years, I saw them again in '09 and was blown away by how much they had progressed. They have a new album poised and ready for release and from what I've heard, Ryan Mclennan's throat tearing rasp is sounding stronger than ever. [Myspace]

Krupke

Although they're still pretty new, Krupke is a band that continues to impress with every show that they perform. At first listen, they can be a bit jarring since they're so difficult to pigeonhole into any one category. But this is not a case of a bunch of amateurs banging on pots and pans and proclaiming it art. These are multi talented instrumentalists indeed, and I think that, although a bit of an adjustment period may be in order for the average listener, their ambitious nature may be just enough to win people over. [Myspace]

Jen Polk has recently posted her picks, and all of the expert lists, with full commentary, will be posted as a secondary article over at resonancity.com.

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)

Roky Erickson w/The Sadies @ Lee's Palace

If you're at all familiar with the sordid past of psych-rock pioneer Roky Erickson, than you know that it was only a few years ago that the possibility of ever seeing him perform live seemed about as likely as a warm winter in Toronto. His heavily permissive lifestyle back in the 60's while he was the leader of seminal psychsters the 13th Floor Elevators led to his being diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 1968, resulting in jailtime, electroshock therapy, and even a brief stint where he believed that aliens were coming to Earth to do him harm. It was only shortly after the end of the 90's that Roky finally received both the medical and legal aid necessary to help him on the road to recovery. It was in 2005 that he performed his first full length concert in 20 years, and it was from there that the momentum continued to grow, culminating this year in a brief four date tour that brought him to Chicago, Detroit, Hamilton and right here to Lee's Palace in Toronto last Wednesday night.

Since I attended another performance earlier in the evening, the situation lined up in such a way that I got to Lee's early enough to plop myself down on an elevated stool that was right up against the stage. In other words, best seat in the house, not only for Roky, but also for the openers whom I probably don't have to tell you too much about: The Sadies.

The insane talent of The Sadies has been documented quite extensively on this here site and I really don't know how much more I can add to what I've already said. When I first heard that my favourite cow-punkers would be opening for the garage rock legend, the match-up did not seem hugely unfathomable. I've seen The Sadies cover everyone from Love to The Stooges to The MC5, so their love of all things psychedelic and garage-y has been duly noted and sharing a stage with Roky seemed appropriate. I will say that limiting The Sadies to a 35 minute set is somewhat criminal because, although their set was as intoxicating as it always is, to my ears it felt as if they were just getting started. I will also say that they made good use of their limited time by blasting through as many songs as possible, including an outstanding new song that showcases just how diverse the Good brothers are. If the new album is as promising as the new song they played, it is sure to be a significant release for them.

Photos: My shots of The Sadies @ Lee's Palace are on flickr
Myspace: The Sadies
Download: Anna Leigh mp3
Video: Flash on youtube

As great as they were, the crowd was clearly there to see the legend, and right from the start Roky and his band commenced to rocking, obviously with the intent of laying any doubts to rest as quickly as possible. Roky was smart to surround himself with some highly experienced bandmates for the evening. He had Kyle Ellison (Meat Puppets / Butthole Surfers) on guitar, Matt Harris (The Posies / Oranger) on bass and Kyle Schneider (Ian Moore / Charlie Sexton and a billion other bands) on drums and they were as tight as could be. For obvious reasons, Roky can only get so animated but the enthusiasm exuded by the band themselves more than made up for that. Actually, it was admirable to see a fully competent band care for the areas that Roky was unable to care for himself, while not using the situation as an opportunity for personal grandstanding. To the band's credit, never once did they detract from the reason we were all there in the first place, that is, to see Roky Erickson. He played for about an hour or so, and played a variety of songs from different areas of his career. My personal highlight was hearing him end with some Elevators classics, namely Splash 1 and their signature hit You're Gonna Miss Me as well as a song from his Bleib Alien days called Two Headed Dog. After leaving the stage, the band shouted, applauded and hammered for an encore but, even though the setlist indicated that he was going to come back out with 1982's Don't Slander Me, apparently it was not meant to be. Personally, I've always appreciated an artist that can just make the last song count, instead of contriving up the joint with an anticlimactic encore. This is exactly what Roky did, and the show was everything I could ask for and more.

It's not too often that one gets to see a living legend perform, especially not at a moderately small venue like Lee's. The image of Roky on that stage is one that I will not be forgetting anytime soon. I think it was expressed most eloquently by a friend of mine, who was also there, when he described the image of Roky with his back to us playing guitar, fan blowing his silver-ish hair like he was on a beach in psychedelic garage heaven as completely blissful. Nicely put.

Photos: My shots of Roky Erickson @ Lee's Palace are on flickr.
Myspace: Roky Erickson
Myspace: 13th Floor Elevators
Video: You're Gonna Miss Me on youtube

Other stuff:

There's an interesting interview with Andrew Whiteman of Apostle of Hustle and Broken Social Scene by Matt McKechnie over at Thick Specs. He will be at Lee's Palace on November 19th. [Myspace: Apostle of Hustle]

The Wooden Sky have recently put together a project entitled "The Wooden Sky: A Documentary in Pieces" directed by Scott Cudmore on their summer ‘09 Bedrooms & Backstreets tour. The first two pieces are available here. They will be playing Lee's Palace on November 13th with Hooded Fang and Brian Borcherdt. [Myspace: The Wooden Sky]

Pick A Piper also have a new video up for their song Rooms using footage from all the way over in Iceland. Although today's mild snowfall has made me hate pretty much anything associated with the word "ice", the video is still actually pretty good. You can watch it here. PaP are playing Polish Combatants Hall on Nov. 7th and Rancho Relaxo on Nov. 21st. [Myspace: Pick A Piper]

Exclaim has an exclusive on the Born Ruffians follow up to last year's excellent Red Yellow and Blue. Apparently Luke Lalonde has decided that thinking too much is overrated and they're just going to do what feels right for the new one. We'll be able to find out how well the method worked when the album is released on Warp Records early next year sometime. [Myspace: Born Ruffians]

It may be still a little bit early for such lists, but Amazon has just compiled what is, to my knowledge, the first official list of the 100 Best Albums of 2009. And, big surprise, it looks nothing like what mine is going to look like. You can see the list here.

No Shame's 100th @ The Horseshoe

featuring Green Go, Ruby Coast, Pick A Piper and The Skeletones Four

It was with grand enthusiasm that I was looking forward to this particular landmark on the local indie music scene. Whether she knows it or not, Lauren Schreiber has been personally responsible for a healthy percentage of my local musical knowledge, having introduced me to some excellent bands by means of her No Shame Concert Series. And this special commemorative show was destined to be pretty special with its inclusion of a couple of established greats along with a couple of new up-and-comers.

The Skeletones Four were the first band of the evening and the only one that I knew virtually nothing about. There were also the most difficult band on the roster to pigeonhole into a specific genre. Lead vocalist and apparent mastermind Andrew Collins has created a band that specializes in odd time signatures and intricately crafted instrumental breakdowns that came across to me as the oddly neglected lovechild of Rick Wakeman and Joni Mitchell. Believe it or not, I mean that as a compliment of the highest degree. There is certainly a touch of mathematical pomp in the proceedings, but Godspeed You! Black Emperor these guys are not. To create a style of music that is challenging, yet endearing is no small task but The Skeletones Four pulled it off nicely. Unlike the rest of the bands that evening, they are the type of band that requires concentration and undivided attention as opposed to being a band that you can just shake and dance too. I certainly intend on doing just that once I get around to picking up their works in some sort of physical form.

With due respect to all of the other bands on the bill, Pick a Piper did not only steal the show, they crammed it into their carry-on luggage and boarded a flight to Mexico with it. To describe their set as breathtaking would be a bit of an understatement since their tribal assault of intense percussion actually left me feeling exhausted once they were done. I had seen them before at Rancho Relaxo and was suitably impressed, but with the shoe's far superior sound system backing them up, they were able to showcase a sound that pounded right through you. What I really like about their style is the way that it creeps up on you. They like to start out pleasantly with some subtle melodies and minor hooks before bursting into a heavy drum crescendo that continued to build significantly throughout the course of their set. By the time they played their last song, a couple members had brought their percussion of choice onto the dance floor as they encouraged the crowd to break out whatever percussive toy they could find and participate in this all encompassing blast of sonic exhilaration.

Up next was Ruby Coast. I don't know why I continue to forget this, but the fact that they have some of the craziest fans around always catches me off guard. As usual, they put on a show that was lots of fun and enthusiastic, thanks to the crowds overwhelming encouragement. In reviewing and listening to their music in the past, I have always had high hopes for this band. Although they shared a certain air of familiarity with some of the basic pop stylings of many of their contemporaries, I always figured that these kids were just weird enough to stretch beyond that and create a sound that is more unique and slightly more interesting. Upon seeing them this time however, I guess I have to resign myself to the fact that I currently like them as much as I likely ever will. This isn't a bad thing, since some of their songs are amongst the catchiest tunes I know. But as far as them becoming a band that I'm likely to go out of my way to see, I don't think that's going to happen. That having been said, I don't think that anyone can deny the fact that they put on an excellent show, and as long as their fanbase continues to remain as excitable as they currently are, I'm pretty sure that the band has nothing to worry about.

Which brings us to Green Go. If your goal is to create a frenzied party-like atmosphere, then there really is no better band to end with than Guelph's Green Go. They've got all of the right ingredients for a Friday night: spazzy electro-pop beats, excitable vocals, and stellar stage presence. The fact that they look like they're having so much fun up there just adds to their charm, and the crowd was buying into it hardcore! I find it amazing (not to mention slightly educational) that a band is able to create such a great electro-friendly atmosphere while still displaying a vibe that is equally in debt to all of the great rock shows that I've attended through the years. Vocalist and synth player Ferenc Stenton even jumped onto the floor with his electric guitar and proceeded to work the crowd with all of the moves of rock star 101. The chemistry between all of the band members was equally as electric and the show was filled with such great intensity that I can't wait to see the band again. Being one of the hardest working local bands of the moment, I'm sure that they'll be plenty of opportunities.

Photos: My shots from No Shame's 100th @ The Horseshoe are on flickr
Myspace: The Skeletones Four
Myspace: Pick A Piper
Myspace: Ruby Coast
Myspace: Green Go

I'm literally running out the door right now to go to the cottage for the weekend, so have a good one and I'll post a review of last night's Joe Pernice show at The Dakota Tavern upon my return.

CONTEST: Win tix to No Shame's 100th Show and a copy of Green Go's CD "Borders"

Although there are many great music series, festivals and events in the city of Toronto, very few compare with the excellent No Shame Music Series that has been taking place for a few years now. This a music series that prides itself in not simply giving in to popular opinion, or the fickle musical tastes of the average Toronto-based indie music snob. On the contrary, this is a series that believes in taking risks, thriving on eclecticism, pushing boundaries and uniting different musical palates to converge on the same dance floor. It is a series that has successfully introduced local music fans to bands that they may have never heard otherwise a total of 99 times in a row now. And it is with great pride that No Shame presents its 100th show at The Horseshoe on Friday September 18th for only $10. As usual, the lineup is stellar!

The bands on the bill are as follows:

Green Go are a band from Guelph that specializes in hyperactive sweat fueled electro-pop that is guaranteed to make even the stuffiest slug dance his face off. [Download: Put Your Specs On Boy mp3]

Ruby Coast is a fun band with a knack for combining an addictive blend of shout-heavy power pop with some wickedly catchy new wave leanings. [Download: Ruby Coast's Brittle Bones mp3]

Pick A Piper are a percussive assault of tribal beats that is steeped in vocal precision and soaring melodies.

And The Skeletones Four are a newer band that specializes in a unique blend of soul and prog which combines to create a psych rock experience that is not easy to forget.

CONTEST: Thanks to the kind folks at The Musebox, I've got a prize pack to giveaway that includes the following:

1) two tickets to the show on September 18th
2) a copy of Green Go's CD Borders, which I reviewed over here.

To enter, just send an email to quadb2001 [at] gmail [dot] com with the words "I Wanna Be Shameless" in the subject line, and your full name in the body.

Contest is now closed. Congrats to Karen M. and thanks to all who entered.

Pick A Piper w/Hut & The Fishwives @ Rancho Relaxo

I apologize for the lack of postings but my motivation level has been somewhat minimal lately. I think that it's likely one of those inner head things where I am already anticipating how busy the tail end of the month is going to be, and this internal preparation of sorts has made me tired before I've even done anything. In other words, don't take it personal; it's not you, it's me. Still, I work hard to post about every show that I attend, and although we're a full eleven days into the month of June, there was still one more show in May that I have yet to tell you about. What makes my tardiness twice as inexcusable is the fact that this show was so good.

After shamelessly neglecting my friends at Zygiella seven times before, it was great to finally make it out to this eighth installment of the Zygiella series. This time around it was being held at Rancho Relaxo as part of the Pitter Patter Festival and it featured three bands that I really knew very little about. The first act on the bill was a last minute replacement for Huddle, (who had to back out due to a band member injury) known as The Fishwives.

The Fishwives are a local four piece who specialize in a hooky brand of 60's tinged power pop that should easily appeal to anyone who likes their rock 'n roll a little bit wacky. It's become apparent that, although the kids in the band have obviously taken in the art of contemporaries like The Shins and The Coral, they have likely spent a great deal of time digesting their parents music collection also. This is a good thing since their music shows a sense of openness that you wouldn't normally hear in a band so young. In fact, although these guys were not even old enough to drink that night, they played original songs that were witty, adventurous and surprisingly mature. If I can make a bit of a bold statement here: I believe that, given the right direction, The Fishwives have the ability to shine in ways that too many of their contemporaries do not. A big problem with some bands right now is that they seem to find their niche, and then settle there with total disregard to the possibility of exploration. This band, although still in an understandably amateurish stage, have already begun to dabble in different areas, which gives them an eclecticism that should only grow with time. I was impressed.

Photos: The Fishwives @ Rancho Relaxo on flickr
Myspace: The Fishwives

From a band gaining experience to a band with plenty, Hut were on next. The band is the mastermind of Daniel Lee whom I've seen a couple of times in one of his other bands: Hooded Fang. While both of these acts display a measure of pure pop sensibility, the comparisons really do stop there. The Fang have a very polished pop sound that solidifies more and more every time that I see them, while Hut tackles this territory with a frantic lo-fi approach. I realize that choosing one style over the other is really a matter of preference, but to these ears, nothing can compare to the dirty realism of Hut's guttural styling. They wasted no time blasting from one post-punk gem to the other, keeping the vibe free from lag and showcasing a sound that had all of the elements of a mutant spawn of Bradford Cox and Tom Verlaine. They closed with an amazing song called Doom, which I can't stop listening to on their myspace page. It's fantastic, and the reason for this is the fact that the song has such an infectious hook that lends itself to overproduced stadium sounds, but avoids succumbing to that, keeping things deliciously lo-fi and original. On top of that, the lyric "gravity has lost its charm" is probably my favourite lyric of the year so far. Hut keeps their endearing roughness in tact when they perform live and I'll definitely be checking them out again.

Photos: Hut @ Rancho Relaxo on flickr
Myspace: Hut

Pick a Piper have received a lot of local love as of late, and Hut had left me pleasantly pumped for what was to follow. Thankfully Pick A Piper took that intensity and cranked it up considerably for their outstanding closing set. As they were setting up, it became obvious that this was going to be a percussive assault of sorts. They had a two drummer set up going on, and plenty other instrumental implements of destruction onstage making me very happy that I remembered my ear protection (for once.) The band consists of Clint Scrivener, Dan Roberts, Angus Fraser and Brad Weber. Brad has spent time as the touring drummer for Caribou, and it's obvious that he's brought that experience with him to this particular outfit. On record, vocal precision and soaring melodies are certainly the order of the day, but when you go to see them live, it's good to expect something a little bit more intense. Although the sound at Rancho was a little bit more muddled that their music would require, the attack of heavy percussion was still very much in tact and as you looked around the room, the tribal beats were clearly having an effect on the heads of all in attendance. It was impossible to stand still as the band played one locomotive blast of freak-psych after another. It also became apparent that the band was working hard for our enjoyment because, although the crowd begged for an encore, the sweat stained bodies of the collective Pipers were just too exhausted to go any further. After all, it's a tough job creating a heady climax of euphoria and everything.

Photos: Pick a Piper @ Rancho Relaxo on flickr
Myspace: Pick A Piper

"To Live By The Sea And Never Leave"

Music News, Local News, Indie News, Et Cetera....

Having grown bored with processing the photos I took at a show I attended on Friday night, I figured that I would take a break by visiting this here blog. No reviews or opinionated rants today, just a random whack of music related news that may or may not interest you depending on what type of stuff interests you these days:

I didn't participate in this weekend's Over The Top Festival, mainly because I found myself dealing with a tiredness that seemed to run dangerously close to the chronic fatigue variety. Hopefully, I will be able to have a share in, at least a little bit, of next weekend's Pitter Patter Fest, which is taking place at various venues in and out of the city. I've already talked a bit about it before, but I've recently come across another show that seems to be peaking my interest significantly.

Zygiella VIII is taking place at Rancho Relaxo on Friday night (May 29th). I love to support Zygiella, yet I'm an idiot since I've still never actually attended any of their showcases. The lineup this time around conisists of three bands that I'm not really all that familiar with, yet having sampled the music on their myspaces, I'm pretty sure that I'll have to set aside my previous Friday night plans and check this one out. The bands are Pick A Piper (pictured above), Huddle and Hut and if you like your shows eclectic, than this one is a must see.
[Above photo taken by K. Downey]

Dog Day are playing on Thursday night at Lee's Palace and my ticket giveaway contest is still running for another day or so. In the meantime however, you may wish to check them out when they play a free instore at Soundscapes on Wednesday May 27th at 6pm. [Myspace: Dog Day]

Fox Jaws are just about to embark on their East Coast tour but before they leave, they'll be playing a PWYC show at The Supermarket on Wednesday night. [Myspace: Fox Jaws]

The Vancouver Documentary Film Festival (DOXA) is taking place as we speak and will be continuing on all week but the reason that I'm tallking about it here is because they've got an interesting fundraiser taking place in connection with the fest. A number of disposable cameras were distibuted to different celebrities - the idea being that they would shoot them off and then auction them on eBay. Amongst the participants are Great Lake Swimmers, The Weakerthans, Jason Collett, Torquill Campbell, George Stroumboulopoulis and Narwuar the Human Serviette, as well as many many others. To see how you can get involved, check out all of the information here.

And I'm sorry to finish off on a sad note, but I just got word that former Wilco guitarist and songwriter Jay Bennett has passed away this weekend. He was a major contributor to the Wilco sound during, what I feel, was their best period of output. Very sad news indeed. He was 45.