Posts Tagged ‘boys who say no’

The Singing Lamb Recommends…

December 17th, 2009 | By: Melody Lau

Germans

Germans

Looking for a place to hibernate for this week? I know it’s a tad far for most but may I suggest the new, hot venue in town – the Garrison? Yes, I must admit I wasn’t the fondest of the Garrison when it first opened month ago but honestly, this venue just continues to improve and get better every time I go – which is often because everything’s there now, it seems! Here’s a quick run-down of why you must (yes, your hibernation at the venue is a necessity now) go to the Garrison for the next four nights.

Thursday: Lullabye Arkestra, Tropics and special guests. ($10.00, doors @ 8:30PM)

If punk/metal/noise is your area of expertise or just interest, this is the show to be at tonight. I’m not even the biggest noise-punk enthusiast and I know that Lullabye Arkestra has had a hell of a year, even garnering love from Pitchfork. And if that doesn’t sell you, then trust me when I say you won’t want to miss out on the ‘special guests’ of the night. These are two guests that you will wake up in the morning thinking, “Why the fuck didn’t I go!!” if you don’t go. Trust. Me.

Friday: We Are Busy Bodies’ 5th Anniversary Show feat. DD/MM/YYYY, Metz, Mayor McCa, Germans. ($10.00, $5.00 with five canned food donations, show @ 9:00PM)

You have to admit, DD/MM/YYYY has become an essential band to see in Toronto. Whether you like them or not, these guys put on a heck of a show worth checking out. And backed by a bill that’s equally as talented, you really shouldn’t be anywhere else in Toronto tomorrow night. Plus – it’s We Are Busy Bodies’ 5th anniversary! You don’t say no to Eric Warner; that’s just a rule in life (kind of)! Apparently the first 50 people to show up tomorrow night will also receive a free swag bag of albums and whatnot. See, you don’t say no!

Saturday: Spiral Beach, Boys Who Say No, Romo Roto, Heartbeat Hotel ($12.00 in advance, $15.00 at door, doors @ 9:00PM)

This will be Spiral Beach’s last show of the year and who doesn’t want to end the year with a bang, right? Usually, these guys put on an energetic, fun show so just imagine that…times ten. Plus, Boys Who Say No, Romo Roto and Heartbeat Hotel just add to the fun and excitement. This bill just looks better every time I look at it, really.

Sunday: Wavelength 494 feat. Germans, P.S. I Love You, Murder Ford Monument (PWYC, $5-10 suggested, doors @ 9:00PM)

There are two reasons why you need to go to this week’s Wavelength. One: great line-up. If you didn’t get enough of Germans from Friday night, or for some godforsaken reason you missed Friday, this is the perfect opportunity to catch them (again). But the important reason you cannot miss this show is: the announcement of the bands playing the big WAVELENGTH 500 shows!! I know we’ve all been waiting for this moment for a while now and are literally watching to weeks go by like a death clock is staring right at you but this Sunday, the beloved Doc Pickles will finally announce the very special guests playing WL500 which will take place February 10-14! MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW. Cancel all Valentine’s Day plans or move them over so you can come and celebrate. If you work, take four sick days. Do whatever you can. See you there!

  • Digg
  • Google Bookmarks
  • MySpace
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in News | No Comments »

[NXNE] Boys Who Say No @ Clinton’s

June 30th, 2009 | By: Melody Lau

Boys Who Say No @ Whippersnapper (Not part of NXNE) [Photo Credit: Band's MySpace]

Boys Who Say No @ Whippersnapper (Not part of NXNE) [Photo Credit: Band's MySpace

Having only caught one and a half acts at Thursday’s No Shame/Forward Music Group NXNE Showcase, I couldn’t tell you who the winners of the rumoured bedazzled plaid shirt prize were, but regardless, I have a feeling every band fought long and hard for it. Three Toronto acts (Boys Who Say No, Great Bloomers, The Darcys) versus three east coaster bands (Share, Sleepless Nights, Grand Theft Bus), all crammed into Clinton’s on Bloor St. – it’s a battle to the indie-rock death!

The only band I was able to catch (due to scheduling) was Toronto’s very own Boys Who Say No. Having seen them play multiple times this year, I must say this set was among one of their best. This band has a tendency to continuously grow and get better with each performance. Lead singer Luke Correia-Damude conveys a strong sense of confidence and conviction when he sings that just grabs people’s attention with every song; not to mention his James Dean-esque charm helps a lot.

Acting as almost a melting pot of genres, Boys Who Say No’s sound ranges from country-infused pop tunes to straight-up indie rock sing-alongs. Since the formation of the band though, they have fine-tuned and narrowed down their sound significantly; making for a more cohesive live set.

The energy level that this band feeds the audience is quite infectious, whether it made you just toe-tap a little or full out burst into a dance party. Enthusiasm, excitement and humour (as a joke, Correia-Damide introduced themselves as Japanther to the audience) – Boys Who Say No are on their way to becoming an incredible band. They’re not Japanther just yet but one day they will; and they’ll be even better.

Also, someone please explain to me why “It’s A Shame” is not a bonafide hit already. If they didn’t win the bedazzled shirt, they at least deserved a sleeve.

For more Boys Who Say No,
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/boyswhosayno

Missed Boys Who Say No at NXNE? Catch them in town on July 4th (Tranzac), 17th (Silver Dollar), and 23rd (Drake)! For more details, click on the MySpace link!

  • Digg
  • Google Bookmarks
  • MySpace
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Features | No Comments »

News Update Craziness!

February 18th, 2009 | By: Melody Lau

Peaches

Peaches

Sorry for disappearing yesterday! I was going to post a news update but ended up going to Darrelle London’s CD release party instead. Great artist; definitely worth checking out if you’re into Regina Spektor or just cutesy, piano driven melodies. Check out some tunes on her MySpace now!

Now to make up for yesterday, here’s a super-sized news update!

SHOWS ANNOUNCED:
The Dears @ Mod Club (April 30th, $20)
Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3 @ Mod Club (April 16th, $20)
TV On The Radio @ Sound Academy (June 2nd)
Wavves @ Sneaky Dee’s (March 31st)
The Whip, Late of the Pier @ Kool Haus (April 10th)
Tricky, Natalie Stewart @ Mod Club (April 2nd, $29.50)
Bruce Peninsula @ Lee’s Palace (March 28th, $8.00)
The Prodigy @ Kool Haus (March 25th, $30-40?)
The Constantines, The Weakerthans, The Waking Eyes @ Phoenix *3rd Show Added* (April 2nd, $25)
Rye Rye @ Circa (February 27th)
Gravity Wave, Paul Banwatt @ The Boat (March 3rd)
Damien Jurado, Laura Gibson @ Drake Hotel (April 14th)

Great Bloomers, whose debut album Speak of Trouble will be out on April 21st, will join Sports (The Band)and Boys Who Say No at the Drake Hotel on February 26th as part of the venue’s 5th year anniversary. Doors will be at 8:00 pm and the event will be FREE.

Other shows that’ll be part of the Drake’s anniversary series will be Mike Simonetti, Mikey Apples and Steve Yanko (TOMORROW NIGHT), Bonjay and Young Flux (March 5th), and Lee Douglas and Jaques Renault (March 12th).

Also, opening for Ladytron and The Faint at the Phoenix on April 6th will be Telepathe and a FIGO DJ set.

Opening for Mates of State/The Black Kids at the Phoenix on April 10th will be Sunbears!

Planning on trekking to the Air Canada Centre for Kings of Leon? Well here’s more of an incentive – The Walkmen will be opening for them!

If you’re looking for a show tonight, The Peter Elkas band will be playing with Zeus and The Golden Dogs at the Dakota Tavern as part of “Gods Dogs and Fire Logs” Wednesdays at the venue. Doors are at 10:00 pm!

Wanna just sit at home instead? Well here’s some suggestions of what you can watch and/or listen to:

The big news of yesterday must be the release of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ new single, “Zero”. Stream it now on their MySpace! Exciting? I thought so!

Lily Allen was recently on Leno and performed her latest single, “The Fear”. Watch here!

Ra Ra Riot has a new video out for “Can You Tell”. Watch here!

Download and listen to the Air France remix of the Friendly Fires’ “Skeleton Boy” here!

The lovely Deradoorian (from the Dirty Projectors) have a new song out called “High Road”. Download and listen here!

The Decemberists also have a new one out called “The Hazards of Love 1 (The Prettiest Whistles Won’t Wrestle The Thistles Undone)”. You can stream it on their MySpace!

If that’s not enough, Peaches has finally announced a new album entitled I Feel Cream, coming out on May 5th. That sentence sounded weird, didn’t it. Download new tracks from the album here!!!!

Also, here’s the tracklisting:

I Feel Cream:
01. Serpentine
02. Talk To Me
03. Lose You
04. More
05. Billionaire
06. I Feel Cream
07. Trick Or Treat
08. Show Stopper
09. Mommy Complex
10. Mud
11. Relax
12. Take You Out

I think that’ll be it for now!

Happy listening!!

Musically,
Melody

  • Digg
  • Google Bookmarks
  • MySpace
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in News | No Comments »

News Update!

January 19th, 2009 | By: Melody Lau

The Lovely Feathers

The Lovely Feathers

Chart has finally revealed their fantastic line-up for their Canadian Music Week showcases and it’s as follows:

Thurs. March 12
8:30 p.m. Lovely Feathers
9:20 p.m. $100
10:10 p.m Women
11:10 p.m. Gentleman Reg
12:10 a.m. Chad VanGaalen
1:10 a.m. Quest For Fire
2:10 a.m. Delinquints

Fri. March 13
8:30 p.m. Dinosaur Bones
9:20 p.m. Daniel Wesley
10:10 p.m. The Bicycles
11:10 p.m. Human Highway
12:10 a.m. Handsome Furs
1:10 a.m. Hot Panda
2:10 a.m. The Schomberg Fair

Sat. March 14
8:30 p.m. The Hundreds And Thousands
9:20 p.m. Rebekah Higgs
10:10 p.m. Young Galaxy
11:10 p.m. Two Hours Traffic
12:10 a.m. The Golden Dogs
1:10 a.m. Hexes & Ohs
2:10 a.m. Vancougar

All shows will be at the Horseshoe as usual, and what a line-up! I missed out the last time The Lovely Feathers played the Horseshoe a couple of months ago, so I’m going to make sure I catch them this time; same with Young Galaxy. Watch out for new material from Young Galaxy (who are pretty close to finishing their follow up to 2007′s self-titled LP), The Golden Dogs (according to a post made by Chart editor-in-chief, Aaron Brophy) and the Handsome Furs (whose new album, Face Control will be out March 10th). I love you, Chart.

I’d like to remind everyone that this week, U of T is hosting a Varsity Rock show featuring Boys Who Say No(9:00 pm), Ruby Coast (10:00 pm), and Foxfire (11:00 pm). This show is only $5 and there are no advanced tickets. All proceeds also go to Journalists For Human Rights. Good cause, good show! This show will be at the Hart House, at U of T’s downtown campus.

With the release of her new album, Middle Cyclone on March 3rd, Neko Case will make two tour stops in Toronto at Trinity St. Pauls Church on Friday April 17th and Saturday April 18th. Tickets go on sale Friday January 23rd and will cost you $33.50 (or $35 at the door). This show is all-ages.

Speaking of spring/summer shows, Joel Plaskett Emergency (and guests TBA) will be playing a show on saturday May 23rd at Massey Hall (whoa!). Tickets will be $29.50-39.50 and will go on sale on January 24th on Ticketmaster and Massey Hall. This show is also all-ages!

Bell Orchestre will be at the Courthouse on April 24th, according to Chromewaves. Tickets will be $15.

Stereogum reports that Julie Doiron will be releasing a follow up to 2007′s Woke Myself Up, entitled I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day on March 10th. Click here for an mp3 of her newest song,“Consolation Prize”, from the new album and a tracklisting.

That’s it for now!

Happy listening!

Musically,
Melody

  • Digg
  • Google Bookmarks
  • MySpace
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in News | No Comments »

Singing Lamb Playlist (Vol.1)

January 13th, 2009 | By: Melody Lau

Little Boots

Little Boots

Here’s a quick summary of what I’ve been listening to recently!

1. Mothers Fathers
I accidentally stumbled upon this Montreal band’s site the other day when I was browsing MySpace profiles and I ended up spending hours listening to them. Mothers Fathers consists of Marika Shaw, Peter X, Marcus Paquin and Liam O’Neill, who also used to be a part of Montreal’s Young Galaxy and is currently a part ofZeroes (who are opening for Land of Talk this week at the Horseshoe). From what I’ve heard on their MySpace, this band seems to ooze of potential, through its lush instrumentation, pop-infused hooks and harmonic sing-along tunes. This is especially apparent on the track, “Ghosts” where lead singer repeatedly sings, “Oh no, I don’t believe in ghosts” while the music charmingly marches on behind. Definitely a band worth checking out, though there is no news as to whether material will be released or if touring is in their future. I’ll keep you posted!

2. The Bird and The Bee
Call me slow but I had honestly never listened to this Los Angeles duo before. Sure, I’ve heard of them on countless occasions through friends and I was aware of their popularity but I just never got around to actually searching them up. So a couple of weeks ago, in a search for new music to listen to, I dug up some old music instead and got The Bird and The Bee’s self-titled LP (2007, Blue Note). First off, I immediately recognized the opening track, “Again & Again” – but I don’t know where. It has one of those ubiquitous qualities that make it seem like I could’ve heard it anywhere. It’s an incredibly catchy song though. The rest of the album follows with a similar yet consistent sweetness projected through simplistic melodies and singer, Inara George’s beautifully hypnotic voice. Look for their new album entitled Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future to be out on January 27th! I’d suggest you to listen to them, but I’m going to assume you have already.

3. Little Boots
I’ve mentioned Little Boots before but I’ve found myself obsessed with “Stuck on Repeat” lately. In recent weeks, it seems like Little Boots has been exploding with popularity, from gracing the cover of Fader Magazine to being one of NME’s “Artists to Watch in ’09″, Little Boots (Victoria Hesketh) looks like she’ll be having a very Lykke Li-esque year ahead. She’s even been dubbed the “future of pop”, which is quite the title to be given so early on. With heavy synth hooks and undeniably danceable beats, Little Boots pulls off a Goldfrapp-meets-Kylie Minogue vibe. You should definitely keep an eye out for Little Boots on Pitchfork posts to come in upcoming months – after all, that’s where I had originally discovered her. Also according to P-fork, Hesketh is not nearly as good live as she is on record, which doesn’t scare me off (for when she eventually decides to tour Canada) as much as it makes me even more curious to see her live. Oh P-fork, you and your reverse psychology…I like it!

4. Boys Who Say No I missed Two Hours Traffic when they played at the Whippersnapper Gallery a couple of months ago – one of many regrets of 2008. But now that I’m listening to one of their opening acts that night,Boys Who Say No, I’m even more depressed. This local acoustic-indie-folk quartet is energetic, fun and definitely a band destined for great success in the New Year. With an EP release coming up on January 31st, I don’t feel nearly as bad for missing them the first time around, but that line up months ago still looks amazing.

Happy listening!

Musically,
Melody

  • Digg
  • Google Bookmarks
  • MySpace
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS

Tags: , , ,
Posted in News | No Comments »