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)

The Hoa Hoa's / Your 33 Black Angels / The Disraelis @ Silver Dollar

As every music loving listmaker knows, December is a month for lists, and my thrill of culling together a year's best predates this here blog by at least a solid 15 years or so. Of course, the year end lists of my 9 year old self would no doubt be a little embarrassing if unearthed these days which makes me glad that the blogging phenomenon didn't happen until I was well into my 30's. Part of the fun that comes with creating such a list is the reworking of said list when something else comes to mind or, better yet, something better enters the picture and on that note, the psych rock extravaganza that I witnessed last week at The Silver Dollar means that my top 10 shows of the year is going to have to be reworked. You'll have to pardon the hyperbole, but this show was life altering!

The first band of the evening was The Disraelis. Although their recorded output has been highly regarded by most, their live show often gets mixed reviews. Cameron Ingles' "could care less" demeanor no doubt has the ability to repel as much as it may attract and in the end, your personal feeling on their live show is going to be just that: a matter of personal taste. Myself, I loved it! The combination of Ingles' lazy drawl, along with Colin Bowers' ringing guitar sound and David Barnes' precise and original drumming made their set rise above my expectations. There was definitely a psychedelic vibe in the air, and although the band owes just as much to Echo and the Bunnymen and The Charlatans as it does to 60's garage past, their slightly abrasive persona was a perfect match for the reverb soaked drones that emanated forth from the stage. There are an awful lot of bands claiming to emulate that nouveau psychedelic shoegaze sound, and most of them either sound a little bit contrived or they are just plain bad, but the incredibly precise musicianship of The Disraelis makes them sound authentic and, more importantly, genuine. What's scary is the fact that the band is likely to get even better, which makes me marvel at the potential.

Photos: My shots of The Disraelis at Silver Dollar are on flickr
Myspace: The Disraelis

A couple of years ago, a rabid Your 33 Black Angels fan went about emailing a whole bunch of bloggers to tell them about his favorite New York band and, by and large, the blogging community seemed to be pretty impressed. Also impressed was one David Fricke of Rolling Stone who labeled them a 'treasure.' I remember liking them quite a bit; thinking that they shared a cool vibe with the Thurston Moore's and Lou Reed's out there. But when I heard that they were added to this bill, I admittedly remembered their name more than their sound. It was two years ago after all, and I'm not sure if you've noticed, but I listen to a lot of music. I was looking forward to getting reacquainted though, and within a few notes, I realized that their inclusion on this night made perfect sense as they boasted a similar 60's sensibility, albeit more rooted in the 'pop' end of the spectrum as opposed to the 'psych' end. Their set was a sweet contrast to The Disraelis, as they turned up the energy and rocked out by cranking out one compelling hook after another. They were definitely heavy on the riffs and although their music lacked the atmosphere of the bands that preceded and followed them, where they excelled was in their ability to create music that is immediate and accessible. Although the less informed may credit another New York band with saving rock 'n roll (I won't mention any initials but I'm talking about The Strokes), those in the know think that the underground credit belongs somewhere else. This was Your 33 Black Angels first visit to Toronto, but hopefully it won't be their last.

Photos: My shots of Your 33 Black Angels at Silver Dollar are on flickr.
(I'm really happy with how these turned out. The lighting was awesome!)
Myspace: Your 33 Black Angels

As you may remember, my introduction to the live version of The Hoa Hoa's was a triumphant success, making them one of a select number of local bands that I must see at every opportunity. This is a very elite list that literally consists of only a handful of acts, which explains my return to their live set a mere four weeks after the last time. This show was to celebrate the release of their excellent Pop/Drone/Pedals album, which has only sounded better since attending this show. There's no need to rehash the fact that the band themselves sound amazing live, since I covered it well in my last review. But this was a night where the whole show seemed extra special for some reason, and although I'm sure they're going to continue to blow me away the more I see them, I doubt that they'll be able to perfectly duplicate the experience of that Friday night. The psychedelic air was thick that night, and this was not due to any particular waft of chemical substances because trust me, I likely would've smelt it if it was there. (For the record, psychedelic chemicals are not my scene; psychedelic music however, very much is.) No, that air was created by several other factors. First of all, the light show was intense which was amazing given the fact that the Silver Dollar is not a large venue at all. There was one person off stage holding a strobe light, which presented an interesting challenge when it came to picture taking, since I had to time my clicks just so. Another person in front was holding a multi-coloured light that created some pretty trippy effects. Another ingredient to the overall vibe was the fact that almost everybody in the audience felt compelled to engage in their own version of freaky 60's dancing, which made the whole room feel as if we were transported back to 1967. It was pretty awesome! The main ingredient of course was the music, and, believe it or not, they were even tighter than they were the last time. By the time the last song was finished playing, I remembered turning to the guy next to me and saying that I had to leave because, with all due respect to Action Makes, who were closing the evening, I didn't want anything to tarnish what I had just witnessed. I'll catch that band at a later date, but the band's final freak out was the perfect way to the end the evening. I've only experienced it on a couple of occasions, but I love that moment at the end of a show when everybody in the audience looks at each other knowing that they've just witnessed something amazing. That happened that night. And amazing this was.

Photos: My pics of The Hoa Hoa's at Silver Dollar are on flickr
Myspace: The Hoa Hoa's

Anthony Rochester - Music For In The Spaceship

Upon first listening to Anthony Rochester's Music For In The Spaceship album, it's very easy to understand how one might think that he comes from Sweden, where he would share the lyrical whimsy of Jens Lekman. Perhaps you could be forgiven for thinking that he hails from Norway, where he would be influenced by the vocal subtlety of Erlend Øye. And the true music aficionado would be justified in assuming that he must comes from Glasgow, since his gift of melody was obviously taught at the school of Belle and Sebastian. However, the truth of the matter is that Hobart, Australia is where Rochester lays his hat, and although all of the aforementioned references are a good starting point and all, Music For In The Spaceship is an excellent album that truly stands on its own in terms of originality and heartfelt ebullience.

Anthony self records and plays most of the instruments himself, and his vocals showcase a vulnerability that adds to his immediate charm. With song titles like Did You Lose Weight?, If Only She'd Mind Read He Won't Have To Tell Her By Himself, and Interplanetary Relationships Can Be Problematic At The Best Of Times, it becomes apparent that Rochester is very witty and refuses to take himself too seriously. The songs are all very soothing, easy to absorb and instantly likable. She Visits Her Friends On The Moon has a 60's Casio French Pop feel to it (although it's sung in English) and Gigi is laugh out loud funny with it's cheesy lounge style keyboard work, and funky blaxploitation bass line. The album closes with It's A Secret But I Want To Sing About The Girl That I Love which is a beautiful song that seems to fit nicely into the Beautiful South songbook, only without all of the veiled sinisterism. In fact, there isn't anything veiled when it comes to the music of Anthony Rochester. What you see (or hear) is what you get and Music For in The Spaceship is pure pop music for pure pop people.

'Music For In The Spaceship' is available for download on iTunes or you can send $13 paypal to seriestworecords@gmail.com for a limited edition CD-R. Only 300 have been pressed.

Myspace: Anthony Rochester
Video: I Love You Baby on youtube
Download: Mathematics mp3


Download: Lipscombe Larder mp3


Other stuff: More local concert goodness this month that you may or may not be aware of.

Leh-Lo, the man behind Sunday open mic nights at The Supermarket, is doing a special show at Revival bar on Monday December 15th. His last album Zig Zag is pretty good but it seriously does not do justice to what the man is capable of. Also on the bill is The Action Mob and they're both opening for Japanese hard rock legends The Flower Travellin' Band. Erm, Strangest. Bill. Ever.The tickets are $17 and apparently the show is being filmed so be on your best behaviour kids! [Myspaces: Leh-Lo, Action Mob, Flower Travellin Band]

Also, The Golden Hands Before God Conducts Incredible Magic Band and the Spirits make another triumphant return to Toronto when they play Rancho Relaxo on Saturday December 20th with The Speaking Tongues and Terror Lake. Seriously, if you haven't seen The Golden Hands... yet, what is your problem? Yes, they are THAT good!! $7. [Myspaces: The Golden Hands..., The Speaking Tongues, Terror Lake]

Finally, there are two interesting tribute shows taking place in December. The first one is also at Rancho Relaxo on Sunday December 14th and it's called Rock The Clashbah: A Tribute To The Clash. A whole whack of local bands including Provincial Parks, The Wilderness and Leonids are going to be playing covers of various Clash and Joe Strummer songs. Promises to be epic! Cost is $7.

The second tribute show is taking place at The Velvet Underground on Wednesday December 17th, and the cities most impressive psych rock bands will be paying tribute to the music of The Jesus and Mary Chain. On the bill is The Disraelis and The Hoa Hoa's. Others are likely to be added as well. Cost is $5.

The Disraelis - Demonstration EP

So we're all familiar with how much I love the shoegaze, aren't we? Many bands have caught my attention over the last couple of years that easily fall into that category, and now we can add Toronto's The Disraelis to that list.

The Disarelis are Cameron Jingles, Colin Bowers and Dave Barnes, and they understand exactly what is takes to create that stellar psych / shoegaze sound. The ringing guitars contain just the right measure of distortion to make it sound interesting without ever hiding the melody away for extra effect. Cameron's vocals are almost lazy, giving off the impression that very little effort was made to sound cool, and that adds a whole other level of intrigue to their sound.

I hear traces of Joy Division in the raw vocals, and of Stone Roses in the guitar based delivery, and this first EP is a must have as far as I'm concerned. It starts with The Bitter Ash, where he vocalizes that "the bitter ash tastes the same but I still want more." It is an example of what I would consider to be an instant classic. In fact, listening to this song makes me feel as if I must've heard it before in my teens, because it instantly takes me back to being that angst fueled youth that honestly had no reason to be angsty at all. The opening riff from In Memory is reminiscent of U2 circa Boy, or the self proclaimed punk years, while the melody is straight out of a John Hughes movie, but in a good way. Blackmail is sung and performed with reckless immediacy. David Barnes' drums are particularly immediate, especially during the last half of the song, providing a masterful enrichment to Jingles' declaration that "This Is Blackmail!!!" You can almost sense the look in his penetrating glare as he sings that he "knows how it feels, feeling old, feeling sad, feeling cold, feeling pain that you don't know." Distance has a bit of a harder edge to it, and the backing vocals create a sonic timbre that fills things in nicely. On Earth is epic, and all I can do is encourage you to listen to it.

The Disarelis are a band that MTV would love to corrupt and make crappy, in much the same way as they did with bands like Interpol. Thankfully this band seems genuinely not interested. And that interests me, as it likely will others who come across their music.

The Disraelis have a CD Release show with The Hoa Hoa's at Sneaky Dee's on Saturday July 12th.

Photo by Sonya Surbek
Myspace: The Disarelis