Apollo Ghosts Instore!

July 26th, 2010 | By: Melody Lau

Apollo Ghosts

Just a quick reminder that this Tuesday, B.C. indie rockers Apollo Ghosts will be playing a free instore at Criminal Records! Music starts promptly at 7pm so go and see what all the Polariz buzz is all about!

Apollo Ghosts will also be playing at the Ossington Tuesday night and Sneaky Dee’s, with Dog Day, on August 6.

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/adrianteacher

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Who Would You Rather Be: The Beatles or The Rolling Stones?

July 25th, 2010 | By: Melody Lau

Sandman Viper Command (Photo By Michael Fil)

As Emily Haines asks on “Gimme Sympathy” – Who would you rather be: The Beatles or The Rolling Stones? Well Toronto rockers The Balconies and Sandman Viper Command are going to bring this debate to Sneaky Dee’s on August 13 when they will present The Beatles VS. The Stones Covers Night. The list of musical guests are still TBA but doors will be at 9pm and it will only set you back $5. See you there!

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Fundraiser For Musa Tomorrow!

July 25th, 2010 | By: Melody Lau

Donate!

Earlier this month, a fire broke out on Dundas West and subsequently took down popular restaurant spot Musa. Nearby neighbor Magpie Tavern will be hosting a fundraiser tomorrow night for Musa which will include musical performances by members of White Cowbell Oklahoma, the Golden Dogs and more. There will also be a silent auction and raffle prizes. Doors for the event are 7pm and it is PWYC.

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Shamewave: A Wave of Shame and Good Music

July 22nd, 2010 | By: Melody Lau

Colleen and Paul

This Friday, No Shame and Wavelength – in association with Pop Montreal – are bringing you Shamewave and here are the four reasons you cannot miss this show.

1) Nick Storring
Toronto’s Nick Storring is anything but your traditional musician. Combining ambient atmospherics with haunting electro tinges, Storring conjures up chilling storm clouds of instrumental proportions. No samples are used in his music, just various instruments, objects and field recordings.

2) Shapes + Sizes
Off on various other projects in the past couple of years (Miracle Fortress, Elfin Saddle, Think About Life), the members of Montreal’s Shapes + Sizes have again reunited for a new record entitled A Candle To Your Eyes (due out August 3). Back is the cacophony of noisy guitar riffs, quirky rhythms and lead singer Caila Thompson-Hannant’s off-filter yet beautiful voice.

3) Braids
Dream pop quartet Braids are still fairly young, in age and in existence as a band, but the maturity they pack in their perfectly woven hits is up their in the ranks of indie heavy hitters Animal Collective or the Dirty Projectors. If we didn’t give you enough warning before about this band, here’s another one. A few more months and we’ll be saying we told you so.

4) Colleen and Paul
What do we crave most during the summer? Well of course – sugary sweet sunshine folk pop. This power duo of sorts – Colleen Hixenbaugh of By Divine Right and Paul Linklater of The Pinecones – sings simplistic indie rock gems such as the cutesy “A Home In The Top Boughs” and fans of their respective day jobs will undoubtedly love the tunes of Colleen and Paul as well.

Tickets are still available for $8 in advance ($10 at the door) and doors are at 9pm. Come celebrate Wavelength 505 with a shamelessly amazing line up!

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The Dears Play October Residency at the Garrison

July 22nd, 2010 | By: Melody Lau

Note: Not the current line up of the Dears.

Wondering what Montreal indie rockers The Dears have been up to since 2008′s Missiles? Well come October the band will be back in Toronto for a three-night residency at the Garrison (October 13-15), hopefully with new songs in tow! The band has also recently performed a residency in Mexico City and had announced back in April a new line up that consists of main members Murray Lightburn and Natalia Yanchak as well as returning members Patrick Krief, Roberto Arquilla, Rob Benvie, and Jeff Luciani. Guests for all three shows are TBA as are ticket prices but they will go sale this Friday at Rotate This, Soundscapes & www.ticketweb.ca.

For More,
MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/thedears

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SummerWorks 2010: Music Series

July 12th, 2010 | By: admin

August 5-15

Toronto’s annual SummerWorks Theatre Festival (August 5-15) has announced their line up for this year’s Music Series and it’s definitely going to be event of the summer for fans of local indie talent. The Hidden Cameras will headline the festival with two nights at The Lower Ossington Theatre (100A Ossington) on August 5 and 6 with Toronto indie-songstresses Allie Hughes and Maylee Todd performing downstairs at the Performance Bar, respectively. Here is the rest of the line up:

August 5
Mainstage – The Hidden Cameras
Performance Bar – Allie Hughes

August 6
Mainstage – The Hidden Cameras
Performance Bar – Maylee Todd

August 7
Mainstage – The Elastocitizens Kamau
Performance Bar – Ghost Bees

August 8
Musical Works – Prison Dancers
Performance Bar – Laura Barrett

August 9
Musical Works – Joni Loves Mitchell
Performance Bar – Snowblink

August 10
Musical Works – Biggish Kids
Performance Bar – Colleen and Paul

August 11
Mainstage – Diamond Rings/PS I Love You
Performance Bar – Grand Analog

August 12
Mainstage – Wilderness of Manitoba/The Weather Station/Entire Cities
Performance Bar – Claire et Tom

August 13
Mainstage – Evening Hymns/Picastro
Performance Bar – Nifty/Bob Wiseman

August 14
Mainstage – Bocce/Rat Tail

For more information about SummerWorks, click here:
http://www.summerworks.ca/2010/home.php

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Stream Best Coast’s Debut Album NOW!

July 12th, 2010 | By: Melody Lau

Best Coast

Best Coast has become this summer’s breakout stars, garnering praise left and right from everyone including Pitchfork, Stereogum and us here at the Singing Lamb. After months of anticipation, Urban Outfitters is currently streaming their debut album Crazy For You on their site. Click on the link below to give it a listen and let us know what you think! Do they live up to the hype?

Stream album here: http://blog.urbanoutfitters.com/features/best_coast

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Must Watch: The Balconies – “Serious Bedtime”

July 12th, 2010 | By: Melody Lau

It’s no secret that The Singing Lamb loves The Balconies. The Toronto, by way of Ottawa indie-power-pop trio has recently released a video for “Serious Bedtime”, a stomping jam that features all three members on vocals in one of the most fun sing-along choruses of last year. The video is simply an amalgamation of everything we love about this band live – singer Jacquie Neville’s wide-eyed quirkiness, the band’s fun sense of humour and a hell of an energetic performance in a light, cartoony garage that reflects the band’s colourful music perfectly.  Watch below:

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/thebalconies

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The Singing Lamb Summer Soundtrack

June 29th, 2010 | By: Melody Lau

Maylee Todd

Still trying to cope with the bright, beaming rays of that ball of fire called the sun? Yes, we’ve officially reached the prime of summer and with the picnics, bikes and rollerblades coming out in full force, here’s a little playlist to accompany everything you do in the next couple of months.
Sunny day at the beach: Best Coast
A day spent lying down and relaxing by the water must be marked by the simmering ease of Best Coast’s effortless melodies washed over with layers of fuzzed-out guitar charm, all narrated by the romantic coos of lead singer Bethany Cosentino’s voice. With a highly-anticipated debut record entitled Crazy For You due out July 27, expect to hear the sunny hits of this California duo in more places than just the sandy beach. (Must play: “When I’m With You”, “Boyfriend”)

A lazy afternoon at home: Wilderness of Manitoba
Too humid to get out of bed? Then spend the day at home, grab a pair of headphones and lie back and relax to the breezy warm tones of the Wilderness of Manitoba. More suited for a calm autumn night, the band’s new record When You Left the Fire also works really well as a summer cool-down with a calming cup of tea. (Must play: “Orono Park”, “Summer Fires”)

Coffee date in Kensington: Jason Collett
Kesington Market and Jason Collett almost go hand in hand (“Charlyn, Angel of Kensington”, anyone?) and for good reason. There’s no better pairing than a sip of comforting, warm coffee with the smooth, whisky voice of Collett and his sunny folk charm. (Must play: “Love is a Chain”, “High Summer”)

Those crazy parties that you will have no recollection of in the morning: Wavves
We all attend at least one of these each summer. And this year, there’s no better soundtrack to your wreckless incoherent nights than the wreckless incoherence of California stoner rockers Wavves. Their new record King of the Beach (out via iTunes this Thursday, physically August 3) isn’t as soaked in droning layers of noisy fuzzed-out reverb but it allows for main man Nathan Williams’ adolescent voice and fun lyrics to truly shine through. So grab a beer, smoke a joint and let the Wavves wash you away. (Must play: “Post Acid”, “So Bored”)

Getting pumped for a day at a festival: Sleigh Bells
Some people drink coffee, some drink beer but either way, one needs some good energetic jams to pump through your veins before attending those overwhelming music festivals. Wake up, brush your teeth and blast a healthy dose of Sleigh Bells’ debut record Treats as you’re preparing breakfast. It’s a surefire way to get pumped for a day full of overpriced water bottles, long waits and ultimately, hours of mindblowing music. (Must play: “Tell ‘Em”, “Infinity Guitars”)

Picnic in the park: Maylee Todd
Make some sandwiches and salads, pack a few refreshments, head to the park and enjoy a lovely picnic with friends while listening to the quirky pop gems of Maylee Todd. There’s a little something for everyone on Todd’s debut record Choose Your Own Adventure, from loungy jazz tunes to spacey, funkadelic workouts. (Must play: “Summer Sounds”, “Aerobics in Space”)

Hanging out with friends: The Drums
A great conversation piece (or am I the only one who can go on for hours about the Brooklyn music scene, preppy indie boys and this surf-rock trend?) and a universally accessible band to bond over cups of lemonade would definitely be New Yorker quartet The Drums. I dare you to prove to me that “Let’s Go Surfing” is not a perfect pop song. (Must play: “Let’s Go Surfing”, “I Felt Stupid”)

Let’s go to the mall: Two Door Cinema Club
In need of some retail therapy? Then to keep the spirits high, bring your iPod along and enjoy the Phoenix of this summer, Irish trio Two Door Cinema Club. Their vibrant, super-catchy hits are sure to make you smile and somewhat help you cope with your hatred of crowded malls. (Must Play: “Something Good Can Work”, “Cigarettes in the Theatre”)

A backyard BBQ under the stars: Forest City Lovers
Just as the day cools down and you’re relaxing on a friend’s patio, awaiting the sizzling burgers on the grill for dinner, the saccharine melodies of Forest City Lovers will surely suffice as the starry soundtrack to your evening as well as the cherry on top of your sundae that will undoubtedly follow the delectable main course. The band’s first release in two years, since 2008′s gorgeous and dazzling Haunting Moon Sinking, Carriage is out today so pick up a record and give it a spin tonight! (Must play: “Tell Me, Cancer”, “If I Were A Tree”)

A lonely night at home: The National
We can’t always have exciting evenings out, sometimes we just need a night in. And what better company to have than the melancholic crooning of The National and their latest record High Violet. Just make sure you don’t get too depressed. (Must Play: “Afraid of Everyone”, “Bloodbuzz Ohio”)

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Overheard at Shows: NXNE 2010 Edition

June 28th, 2010 | By: Carmel Garvez


Thursday, June 17th

in line for Zeus @ the Rivoli
Dude (taps woman on the shoulder): I forgot my wallet, so I don’t have ID… Can I pretend to be your date? You look old.


HEALTH @ Sneaky Dee’s
“I really hate Twilight for ruining vampires because I love vampires.”


Thee Oh Sees @ Great Hall
(referring to a guy in a suit)
“I wonder if he’s lost…”


Friday, June 18th

@ the Gladstone
Person 1: So what did DD/MM/YYYY sound like?
Person 2: God’s vagina queefing
from the Torontoist: http://bit.ly/dpiFYf

outside the Horseshoe Tavern
“That guy from Superbad? He’s in that new movie… Get Him to the Jew?”


Saturday, June 19th

Surfer Blood @ Dundas Sq.

Chick: “So, what did you think?”
Dude: “They’re good…when they’re not talking.”


Wavves @ Dundas Sq.

“People can just lie on the grass at U of T and look cool. You do that at Ryerson, and you just look like a homeless person!”

Iggy and The Stooges @ Dundas Sq.
@fyang You are a lucky man. I’m so far back, I think I just bought socks at Sears. – Criminal Records Twitter

Chick 1: I’m hungry!

Chick 2: I’m drunk!


Les Savy Fav @ Wrongbar

“Who goes to shows to shush people?”

“The last time Les Savy Fav played Toronto, you were 12.”

Chick: People born and raised in Toronto were taught that this city was better than all others.
Torontonian: I’m not denying that.
Dude: BITCH.
Overheard any funny/strange conversations at shows lately? Share them with us! We want to hear them. E-mail me at carmel@singinglamb.ca!

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