The Balconies @ Rivoli - Photo by Amanda Macchia

It wasn’t quite Christmas yet, but the good folks at Audioblood treated the city to a two-night show at the Rivoli earlier in the month, featuring six Audioblood bands and two surprise guests.

Charlotte Cornfield kicked things off on the first night, December 10, with her folk-infiltrated pop music.

Immediately after, Burlington’s Sandman Viper Command hit things off with “Oh Yeah, It’s Fusion” – a perfect example of their clean, 60s-inspired indie pop – starting off with that memorable guitar riff that swells into an intense jam session (think Sam Roberts Band’s “The Gate”). Other tracks like “The Best of Plans” and “The Metal I’ve Spent” kept the crowd attentive, especially to lead guitarist Daniel Reardon’s crisp blues solos.

Up next was Toronto’s own Make Your Exit and their almost indefinable sound (let’s go with experimental folk rock for now), also to the crowd’s satisfaction. The bright jangling chords and drummer Steve Dagg’s intricate earthy rhythms featured on tracks like “Kids” complimented frontman Jeff Buckley’s subtle vocal tones. Most memorable though was the chanting of “but I didn’t drink it” of “Leave This Town” – full of piano fills, hollow guitar solos, and spot-on harmonies that would all make The Band proud.

Wrapping the first night up was special guest number one, Ruby Coast. As usual, the band won everyone over with their fast-paced indie rock, fully-equipped with simple melodies via Justice McLellan (lead vox, guitar), but mixed with the texture of the band’s use of recurring guitar and synth riffs. Their set was consistently high-energy and was a satisfactory conclusion of the night.

Twenty-four hours later Toronto’s Teenage Kicks imploded the undetermined atmosphere of night two with their mix of downbeats and distortion, ripping up tracks like “Shook Our Bones” and “I Get What You Give” and demonstrating to their hometown that they’ve been improving right in front of our eyes since their 7” release show this past summer. Their material is a complimentary mix of classic rock elements and their own contemporary preferences, resulting in a new and interesting sound.

Next was the bittersweet performance of Clothes Make The Man. After eight years of CMTM, the band announced that December 11’s show at the Rivoli would be their last. Nonetheless, the band delivered what was probably their most passionate and heart-felt performance to end their story. Tracks like “Chile,” with its simple lyrics and noisy chord progressions, not only demonstrate why Ryan McLennan’s voice is perfectly suited for their type of rock, but also why audiences have relied on CMTM for fun-guaranteed shows throughout the years.

Third up was Ottawa’s The Balconies. Jacquie Neville never fails to lead in the delivery of her band’s ridiculously catchy indie pop. Tracks like “Battle Royale” show just how addictive a melody can be, and paired with the song’s underlying blues lines and Liam Jaeger’s solid drumming, makes for an outstanding performance. Also included in the set was the mystifying “The Slo,” taking “underlying blues lines” to another level and highlighting Jacquie’s falsetto. They closed their set with the always-entertaining “Serious Bedtime” its now-well-known line “if you do it in the dark.”

The show, and the entire event, wrapped with the second special guest Great Bloomers. Their strong work ethic showed onstage, pounding out song after song of their alternative indie rock seven bands later in order to cap off what was a solid two nights of local talent on Queen West. Hopefully, we’ll do it again next year.

Check out more photos of The Balconies by clicking HERE.

Great Bloomers (photo by David Waldman)

One thing I’ve noted from all Great Bloomers shows is that no matter how many times you’ve seen them live, they never fail to play consistently dynamic performances. To kick off their upcoming fall tour, the Toronto quintet put together a show at the El Mocambo this past Friday, Aug 20th with London, Ontario’s Olenka and the Autumn Lovers and Kalle Mattson from Sault Ste. Marie. Great Bloomers took the stage around midnight and opened with a trumpet-full track from their new 7-inch record, to be released next month.

A few technical problems arose during the set, but nothing too critical to set back the band, who continued with palpable sincerity and skill. After playing a handful of new songs, the band turned to play tracks such as “Young Ones Slept”, “Honey Blanket”, “Admit Defeat” from their well-received debut album Speak of Trouble, released last year.

It was also a delight to see Andrew Kekewich – the band’s former drummer who now plays for another Toronto outfit, The Wooden Sky – move to the front, leading much of the fist-pumping. Another thing that I love most about Great Bloomers shows, besides the teeming energy from the band, is the crowd’s complete adulation and submersion to the country-imparting rock music. Left and right, you could see everyone in the audience singing back to guitarist/vocalist Lowell Sostomi, both equally heartfelt.

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Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/greatbloomers
Website: http://greatbloomers.com/

The Wooden Sky

A walk through Jean-Talon Market is always worth the three metro line changes. The warmth of Il Motore is also a pretty good argument to go out into the cold winter night and take the dreaded blue metro line.

Ottawa native and Montreal resident Laurent Bourque bravely faced the crowded room and brought What We Talk About, his first LP, to the stage. The guitars are perfect, the voice is flawless but there’s something missing. It’s almost too perfect to be real, which to me is always suspicious. Bourque sang about his love life and tormented times, pausing occasionally to say a few words to the crowd. After the first four songs, hunger got the best of us and we sneaked out of the venue to get some salty food. Food should never be chosen over live music, but in that case I was under the impression that I wouldn’t miss much. I could always listen to the CD back at home.

We came back to a dancing crowd and far more enjoyable set by Great Bloomers. The Toronto rock/folk/country/fun times band put a smile on everyone’s face with songs from their latest release Speak of Trouble. Their irresistible musical wit and stage presence only enhanced the already incredible set. They performed as if they were the main act and put so much energy into it that I was already content with how the show turned out.

The evening wasn’t over however. Soon after, The Wooden Sky, fronted by plaid jacket wearing, beer sipping Gavin Gardiner, claimed the stage and brought folk music to a whole new level. What happened at Il Motore that night was pure musical magic. I’d never seen nor heard music performed with such fervour or conveying so many emotions at once before on Saturday night. If I Don’t Come Home You’ll Know I’m Gone is an amazing album, but multiply the energy emanating from it by a thousand and your heart might explode. I’m still not sure if mine started beating again. They played When Lost At Sea favourites but unfortunately the heartbreaking Oslo, off their latest release, was left out. Bassist Andrew Wyatt plays with a contagious energy, claiming melodica and bass playing at the same time on ‘’Angels’’. Gardiner’s voice is powerful, full of passion and never falters. The crowd was jumping, dancing and singing along. It was beautiful to watch, really.

The night made my heart and ears feel all warm and fuzzy and thanks to the great sound people at Il Motore, it wasn’t because my eardrums were hurt.

The Wooden Sky and Great Bloomers are going on tour together next month. So west coast people, get your tickets and enjoy the most beautiful night of music of your life.

No Shame promoter Lauren Schreiber shares her favourite songs of 2009!

Think About Life – Johanna

This song was on repeat the entire 6 hour drive back from Pop Montreal. The addition of Caila to the band was brilliant – that girl has pipes like whoa and gives 100% every time. TAL has gone from my favourite live band to my favourite much music video dance party; I’m regressing, and I love it.

Thunderheist – Jerk It

What can i say? Isis is young, sexy and the song is catchy as shit. It’s like peaches, only I feel really hot listening to it, instead of just dirty.

Green Go – Put Your Specs On Boy

GG are old hat to me – I feel like this album has been out for about twelve years. But the fact that I’ve heard their songs for ages shouldn’t touch the fact that they are great… really really great songs from a really really great album. Get a drink in me and put this on, and I still squeal THEY’RE PLAYING MY SONG! Every time.

Everything All The Time – Lazy Days

Britney and Beyonce move over. Catchy as fuck quality pop has a new face, and it’s EATT. Welcome to the only indie pop band I know who has a real singer. Plus I love each and everyone of them… just delightful people.

Sports The Band – Castlots

Between the harmonies and the basslines and the interband drama, I always forget just how good Sports are. Until I walk into a room where they’re onstage and all I can do is beam.

Dirty Projectors – Remade Horizon

I had to move to the front of the sold out room to understand exactly what the hell was happening. Is it a keyboard? A guitar? No… its vocals. Wait, what?! Motown in a meatgrinder – groundbreaking.

Gentleman Reg – You Can’t Get It Back

Either you like his voice or you don’t, but there’s no denying guy can write a song. It’s like I couldn’t pick between my favourite frontman, and my favourite front woman, so I got both. Reg is sassy like a pop diva, he’s the best of all worlds.

Pick A Piper – Rooms

You’re a summer festival, you’re a boy with slight B.O., you’re a joint rolled in cinnamon rolling paper. I love you, let’s stare at the stars.

Akron/Family – Everyone is Guilty

I drove to Hamilton to see these guys because I’m didn’t grab tickets to their sold out 2 night stand at Sneaky Dees with Born Ruffians. Worth It.

Animal Collective – Brother Sport

Every time Fez from Green Go spins this at a party, I get all ‘This is great! Who IS this?’ And it’s always Animal Collective. I actually bought this album in a store. This is significant.

Patrick Watson – Beijing

When his first album came out, I described my heart school heartthrob as creating music that sounds like Montreal. Cinematic, decadent, urgent and idiosyncratic. And endlessly romantic. Somewhere between the pots and pan percussion and the lush string arrangements is my hometown.

Portico – The Battle of Duck Lake

My favourite songs of the 90s are reborn in this CBC radio 3 hit.

The Darcys – The CN Tower Belongs To The Dead

Sure it’s a cover, but what a cover! This is how you do covers, people, pay attention. Just listen to that guitar solo! This is a cover enough to build an entire tour around… which is exactly what they did. I expect big things from The Darcys in 2010.

Great Bloomers – Speak of Trouble

Full disclosure; I manage these guys. But there’s a reason – they are The Band as arranged by Queen, epic twangy roots rock with charm and soul for miles. The album is a slow burn – I like it more with each listen, and young frontman Lowell Sostomi will be writing songs for the rest of his life. I can’t wait to see where he goes from here.

Evening Hymns – Dead Deer

I had to wait a year from the first time I heard these songs until the album was released. They almost didn’t make the 2009 cut off… Jonas! Way to build suspense. As expected, you were worth the wait.

Peter Wolf Crier – Down Down Down

A last minute discovery and one I’m still digesting. But the Minneapolis duo’s superlative Inter-Be may be my favourite album of the year.

Wooden Sky – Oh My God (It Still Means A Lot To Me)

For petty personal reasons, I REALLY didn’t want to love this album. But I do, and how. My opinion of Gavin Gardiner remains the same as the first time I heard him open his mouth… it’s a crime he’s not famous worldwide yet – every teenage girl should be mooning around her bedroom to this.

Wilderness of Manitoba – Evening

I wasn’t expecting to find one of my favourite albums in a backyard shed on Delaware street north of Bloor, but I did. And even though the music was coming from people I already knew and loved, I never could have predicted the delicate beauty of this album. Wilderness of Manitoba give me hope.

Timber Timbre – Demon Host

His Halifax pop showcase was legitimately frightening. Taylor’s talent is otherworldly…

NOTES

I would have included the Rural Alberta Advantage, Olenka and The Autumn Lovers, Tune Yards and Parlovr, but though they really saw acclaim this past year, their albums were originally released in 2008. And I would’ve included Bruce Peninsula, but I doan’t think the recording of Mountain is a Mouth , lovely as it is, reflects how magnificent they really are.

Grizzly Bear's Veckatimest

Are you familiar with the concept of dualism? Me neither. Completely irrelevant to the philosophical concept, though, 2009 definitely presented quite the interesting polarity when it came to album releases. There were plenty of great ones and an unfortunate amount of things never meant for the ears. But focusing on just the positive side of 2009′s musical spectrum, the following are some of the records I’ve fallen in love with this year.

Personally, ranking stuff in accordance to best and least just make me uneasy. Hence, I’m listing my top ’09 records in alphabetical order (with supplementary zany visual aids for your short attention spans)!

Beacons – Ohbijou

Check: New Years – Ohbijou

Bitte Orca – Dirty Projectors

Check: Stillness is the Move

Far – Regina Spektor

Check: Laughing With – Regina Spektor

If I Don’t Come Home You’ll Know I’m Gone – The Wooden Sky

Check: Oh My God (It Still Means a Lot to Me) – The Wooden Sky

It’s Blitz! – Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Check: Heads will Roll – Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Merriweather Post Pavillion – Animal Collective

Check: Summertime Clothes – Animal Collective

Speak of Trouble – Great Bloomers

Check: This Ain’t You – Great Bloomers

Technicolor Health – Harlem Shakes

Check: Strictly Game – Harlem Shakes

Tight Knit – Vetiver

Check: Everyday – Vetiver

Veckatimest – Grizzly Bear

Check: Two Weeks – Grizzly Bear

Has fall hit you yet? The autumn leaves, the array of pumpkin-assorted foods (pumpkin beer, I will cherish these days) and of course fall music. An example of fall music, you’d ask? Well this new video by Toronto’s Great Bloomers screams fall with it’s laid-back countryside rockin’ good times. This is the band’s first video and there’s no better time to watch it then now, with a cup of pumpkin latte (see, more pumpkins!) – enjoy!

The band will be playing a show this Friday, with the Coast and Bloodshot Bill, at the Steam Whistle Brewery as part of the Steam Whistle Unsigned Series. Tickets are only $5 at the door and proceeds go to the Artists Health Center Foundation!

Great Bloomers

A stamp of approval from Pitchfork is cool and all but that’s so 2004. How often do you hear a Gordon Lightfoot stamp of approval?!

The iconic folk-rock singer-songwriter recently went on record saying this about Toronto’s very own Great Bloomers:

“SPEAK OF TROUBLE highlights the abilities of Lowell Sostomi as singer/songwriter and brings together a talented band of musicians with amazing dexterity, loads of energy, and very original arrangements. I’m impressed.”

Take that, P-Fork.

Now, The Singing Lamb isn’t just recommending Great Bloomers because Mr. Lightfoot is on board now (FYI we’ve always been on the Bloomers wagon!), but in light of this we just thought we’d give you a friendly reminder that if you were wondering what all the fuss was about, you can check them out live! The band will be going on tour soon, so make sure to catch them in Toronto this Sunday at Sneaky Dee’s (as part of Wavelength) with Jon Rae Fletcher and Flotilla! If not, the band will return on August 15th as part of this year’s Summerworks Festival Music Series with Germans! Here are all the tour dates:

23 Jul Black Sheep Inn – Wakefield, Quebec
25 Jul The Mansion – Kingston, Ontario
26 Jul Sneaky Dees – Toronto, Ontario
28 Jul The Black Shire – London, Ontario
29 Jul The Casbah – Hamilton, Ontario
30 Jul Trinity Lounge – Sarnia, Ontario
31 Jul Albion Hotel – Guelph, Ontario
1 Aug Loplops – Sault Ste Marie, Ontario
4 Aug Music Trader – Winnipeg, Manitoba
5 Aug All Citizens – Bruno, Saskatchewan
6 Aug Palomino – Calgary, Alberta
8 Aug The Ottoman – Medicine Hat, Alberta
10 Aug Blue Gator – Kelowna, British Columbia
11 Aug Hydeaway – Edmonton, Alberta
12 Aug TBA w. Rah Rah – Regina, Saskatchewan
13 Aug Lo Pub – Winnipeg, Manitoba
15 Aug Great Hall – Toronto, Ontario

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

Ra Ra Riot

Ra Ra Riot will return to Toronto this fall! The band will play at Lee’s on September 11th; tickets are $13.50 and will go on sale this Thursday. This is a 19+ show.

Pink Mountaintops will be playing an in-store at Sonic Boom this Sunday, June 14th! The in-store will take place at 3:00 pm and is completely free! But if you miss out, make sure to catch his set later that night at the Horseshoe, with openers Great Aunt Ida and Megan Hamilton. Tickets are still on sale right now for $11.50.

Gaslight Anthem, Murder By Death, Jesse Malin, and Broadway Calls will be at the Kool Haus on October 3rd Tickets are $21.50 and this will be an all ages show.

A new Yo La Tengo song is out now! “Periodically Double or Triple” (from their upcoming album Popular Songsout September 9) can be streamed and downloaded here.

Great Bloomers will be playing a free show this Saturday at the Audio Recording Academy, as part of AUX TV’s Secret Sessions at Tara! For more information on this event, and many more upcoming shows, click here.

The Entrance Band will open for Sonic Youth at Massey Hall on June 30th.

Amanda Mabro will be at the Rivoli this Wednesday, along with special guest Darrelle London! Tickets are available at the door for $10.00; make sure you check it out!

You Ain’t No Picasso interviews Angel Deradoorian of the Dirty Projectors. Read more here! The band will be in town on June 24th for a show at Lee’s with Skeletons; tickets are still on sale now but hurry, they’re almost sold out!

Tegan and Sara have recently relaunched their website. Check it out here! You can’t actually hear any of their new tunes yet, but you can watch a video of Tegan Quin and album producer Chris Walla (Death Cab For Cutie) listening to it! Their upcoming album will be released in October.

The Rural Alberta Advantage needs your help! The newest Saddle Creek members are looking for donations for an upcoming seven inch record, featuring reworked material from their record, Hometowns (which will be re-released on July 7th via Saddle Creek). Click here to watch a video from the band and donate now!

And finally, congrats to Lisa T. for winning our Yellow Bird Project T-Shirt contest! Our lovely winner walked away with a shirt designed by the National!

Happy listening!

Musically,
Melody

Great Bloomers

The Singing Lamb: How was Record Store Day for you guys?

Andrew Kekewich: It was lots of fun; just cool to actually sell some CDs of the full length for the first time. The Criminal Records people were really nice and it was a good show!

I heard you sold out of CDs that day! Congrats!

Lowell Sostomi: Yeah! We only brought 15 or something but it’s nice to sell all of them!

Did you actually celebrate Record Store Day in any way?

Andrew: Yeah I bought a bunch of stuff; I guess that’s how you celebrate it, yeah?

I guess!

Lowell: We played a show, so that counts as celebrating in some way.

What did you buy?

Andrew: I got the new Bill Callahan; it’s amazing.

Lowell: I didn’t buy anything. I got a free poster though!

Free stuff is always good!

Lowell: Yeah!

Are you excited for your CD release (at the Horseshoe)?

Andrew: Yes, we are! It’s exciting because we’ve sat on the record for a couple of months now so it’ll be nice to celebrate with family and friends and get in the spirit of the record again. It’ll be a great and fun night!

How would you describe your new album, Speak of Trouble?

Andrew: Our first EP, well our only EP, was recorded when we weren’t fully a band, at that point. We were just writing and recording those songs simultaneously and all the members weren’t in the band yet. With this record it’s really showcasing a unit and we recorded the songs together as a unit. We’ve been playing live together for so long too so it’s really more of a band record. (turns to Lowell) Do you want talk about the songs themselves?

Lowell: Not so much. All the songs, lyrically, are really personal; really kind of relevant in my life, still. Most of them are from the past few or so years so yeah, most of them are just about stories like that.

Tell me about your upcoming tour.

Andrew: This record has sort of given us the motivation to go out and go on the road to support it. We’ve been mostly playing in and out of Toronto for the past two years or so and now we’re going to go out east and out west and make a go for it around Canada which is going to be nice.

Do you have a favourite place to play in Toronto?

Lowell: I find it’s not so much the place. You can always find a place that has nice sound and everything but it’s the crowd that makes it.

Andrew: The Boat is a good one though.

Lowell: Yeah, the Boat has become like a second home to us. They throw a dance party there, monthly and we’re really good friends with the guy who organizes and promotes the Boat. So when we play the Boat, all of our friends come out. So I feel like if we have to pick a venue, the Boat is the most fun because of the people that come.

Is this going to be your first time around Canada?

Andrew: Yeah, it’s going to be our first time!

Oh, that’ll be really nice! I’ve haven’t been outside Ontario and Quebec.

Andrew: Same! I’ve only been to Winnipeg once, when I was ten or something; I don’t really remember it though.

Lowell: Yeah it’s exciting since Andrew and I just literally finished university; we both did four years at Ryerson.

Awesome, Ryerson student right here!

Lowell: Really? What are you taking?

Journalism!

Andrew: We’re in RTA (Radio and Television Arts).

Oh, we’re not supposed to get along!

Andrew: Oh, okay then – bye! (Stands up and pretends to walk away) Yeah, we’re done.

How was it?

Andrew: It was good…

Lowell: University was just not for me.

Andrew: I was ready to leave at this point. So we’re done now and we’re ready to go.

Lowell: Nothing is holding us back!

What have you learned or taken from your experience in university?

Lowell: I met Andrew from the program and I met Gavin who recorded our album and is a great friend of ours. Those are probably the most noteworthy things that happened to me.

Andrew: Those things are all about the people you meet and the connections you make while there. More than what you can learn from classes.

I agree. Final question – if you were a singing animal, what would you be?

Lowell: I’ve been told I look like an otter. That might be the logical choice. I feel like I want to resemble the animal of my choice.

Andrew: What do I look like?

Lowell: You kind of look like a small bear…

A little!

Andrew: Okay, that’s works! A small bear!

For more Great Bloomers, check out
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/greatbloomers

Also, make sure to check out Great Bloomers at the Horseshoe this Saturday at the Horseshoe for their CD release, along with Sports: The Band, Modernboys Moderngirls, Gavin Gardiner. Tickets are still available for $8.00; this show is 19+.

Photos By Kathy Grant