Posts Tagged ‘parlovr’
Canadian Music Week Round-Up: Thursday
March 19th, 2010 | By: admin
Dan Mangan @ The Great Hall (Photo Credit: Michael Fil)
Sally Seltmann @ The Great Hall
Australian songstress Sally Seltmann’s first show back in Toronto since recording her newest, upcoming album Heart That’s Pounding was not entirely the warm reception that I think she was hoping for. A chatty crowd cut into Seltmann’s sugary sweet set of sunshine pop and piano heavy love songs. Even Seltmann, at one point, warned the audience that she was about to play a ‘quiet song’ and that ‘everyone should shush to listen’. Bad manners aside though, Seltmann – formerly known as New Buffalo – played a pleasant and charming show and from those who were kind enough to pay attention, we quite enjoyed it (when I wasn’t trying to chuck my cellphone at people’s heads).
MySpace (Sally Seltmann): http://www.myspace.com/sallyseltmann
- ML
Dan Mangan @ The Great Hall
Dan Mangan is simply amazing and amazingly simple. Mangan’s singer-songwriter persona is often overlooked and written off by many as ‘just another one of those guys’ but what those people are missing out on is a truly special voice, a beautiful writer and a genuinely charming man. Mangan’s set at the Arts & Crafts showcase at the Great Hall embodied everything that was great about his music – easygoing melodies, classic song arrangements laced with lush orchestral elements from time to time. All of this is fronted by one of music’s sexiest (yes, I said it) and most compelling voices out there today. At one point, during the crowd-pleasing epic “Robots” Mangan leaps off-stage to sing amongst the audience and even continues after his guitar accidentally unplugged itself. That conviction to jump into the crowd and sing and clap directly into people’s faces – that’s also what makes Dan Mangan loveable. Talented, amazing and loveable – this man has it all.
MySpace (Dan Mangan): http://www.myspace.com/danmangan
Everything All The Time @ Sneaky Dee’s
Everything All the Time, performing fourth on the bill at the Musebox showcase at Sneaky Dee’s, provided the growing crowd with their danceable synth-/soul-pop signature. Playing their full EP and a few additional tracks, the band managed to turn the upstairs-half of Sneaky Dee’s into a boisterous dance club, which is quite a feat for a Thursday night. Frontwoman Alanna Stuart graced the stage with style, swagger and outstanding vocals. Everything All the Time is one fun band you should never miss. Songs like “Lazy Days” and “I Get So Hot” are reminiscent of 80’s/90’s girl pop – delicious and sweet, always leave you feeling good and yearning for the good times.
MySpace (Everything All The Time): http://www.myspace.com/everythingallthetimeband
- CG
Parlovr @ Sneaky Dee’s
Newly signed (to Dine Alone Records) Montreal indie pop rockers Parlovr literally throws energy at the audience. From the ominous build up to their opening song “Pen To The Paper” to the various shrieks and screams between sets to the last intense strum of a guitar, fist pound on the keys or struck of the drums, Parlovr grabs your attention by the throat and doesn’t let go till the end – and sometimes even way after their set, as your walking home and humming their tunes and replaying their set in your mind. The band’s set on Thursday night at Sneaky Dee’s was just as consistently fun and energetic as the last time I had seen them and regardless of how much energy is thrown back at them – thankfully there were some that did so at Sneaky’s – they will continue to thrive and build up more throughout their set. Part Malajube, part Lovely Feathers, this band is one that’ll make you smile, dance, sing and occasionally scream, stomp and sweat; what’s not to love? Your new favourite band if they already aren’t.
MySpace (Parlovr): http://www.myspace.com/parlourmontreal
- ML
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ML – Melody Lau, CG – Carmel Garvez
Nightwood, At the Break of Don, Modernboys Moderngirls @ Divan Orange, Montréal – Jan. 21, 2010
January 23rd, 2010 | By: Guest Contributor
Nightwood
We got to the Divan Orange right in the middle of At the Break of Don’s set, because of a little thing called university. We successfully sneaked out of discussions about repression and first wave feminism and dashed to Saint-Laurent Boulevard for an evening of liberating pop music where women drank beer from the bottle and played guitar furiously. A strange turn of events, noted my friend.
We were greeted by annoyingly happy piano playing and dirty lyrics by Montreal band At the Break of Don. The voices didn’t quite match the musical skills but they were an enjoyable bunch to sip beer to. Modernboys Moderngirls claimed – and I mean they really went for it – the stage shortly after, waking up the tiny crowd and throwing insanely entertaining melodies at it. Despite the fact that most of the attendees were sitting at their table stoically watching the stage, the Toronto trio jumped around, screamed and seemed to be having a blast. The five people in front of the stage with us also. Modernboys Moderngirls are fun, say “baby” a lot and play very catchy songs. They reminded me of a mix between the Smith Westerns and a hot summer day (it might be the DARING cleavage worn by the lead singer?). Maybe it’s all the girl talk and boy band allure. I could still hear the choruses on top of the incessant buzzing of my eardrums when I went to sleep. They deserved a more receptive crowd willing to dance like crazy and sing along with them.
I already praised Nightwood in my review of Carta Marina, their first LP. Well, the band successfully took the record to the next level on that stage Thursday night. Sporting an amazing silver guitar that strangely suited her despite the obvious Metal Head feel of it, Erin Ross seemed to be at home in front of a crowd. Singer/guitarist Amber Goodwyn’s voice shocked and left me with my mouth gaping, as if I couldn’t believe such a powerful, angry and raw voice could come out of such a tiny ribcage. They began their set effectively with the first song on Carta Marina, “Heavy Magic Is Coming”. The steady guitar riff set the tone for the evening, all mysterious and heavy. The voice harmonies kicked in and I was left to wonder “where are the fog machines!” (yes, Glee reference, thank you very much). “Play the Dishes/Wash the Guitar” got the audience going with its sing along feeling and the beautiful “Bright Girls of Summer” sent us into a trance. They played all ten songs from their new LP and the show seemed too short. At the end of “Gretta At A Window” we were all ready for more, waiting, hoping. The whole vibe of the LP was multiplied live, so mix that with funny banter and stage presence and you got a pretty perfect show. They use the simple two guitars/drums combination wisely and effectively. It’s never redundant and Nightwood are a great novelty in the Montréal music scene. Why wasn’t this show sold out again?
Buy the LP, see them live; I’m very serious.
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For more Nightwood,
MySpace: myspace.com/nightwoodband
Review: Nightwood – Carta Marina
January 13th, 2010 | By: Guest Contributor
With a team made of some of the greatest artists on the Montreal local scene (Parlovr, Martin Horn, Double Negative) Nightwood’s first LP was bound to be a nearly perfect album. Carta Marina is a collection of carefully arranged rock songs complimented by beautiful, powerful voices. The album is a 12” vinyl and digital release only and can be purchased at shows and on the interwebs at the band’s website. Carta Marina flows freely and swiftly allows the listener to adopt each and every song. The album fits an early morning jogging as well as an afternoon nap, like that snuggly hoodie you won’t let go of. After the very first listen you’ll feel the irresistible urge to sing along and shake your hips to the catchy guitar riffs and steady drums. “Play the Dishes/Wash the Guitar” is a clear invitation to committing the oh so pleasurable felony of public sing-along so listeners, be warned! Despite the heavy, gloomy atmosphere emanating from the music, one can’t help but feel drawn towards it, like a fly caught in a lantern all smiley faced and “Oh! What’s this! Pretty!”. The vocals set the mood, similar to what Patti Smith did with Horses and her powerful lyrics. It grabs your guts in the same torturing way and twists something inside your heart. On Johnny (a wink at Patti’s Land, maybe?) the Patti Smith influence is fully displayed with the near whisper of the first few words and the firm guitars. Nightwood make me want to listen to Patti Smith, not in lieu of their own music, but because it compliments it rather nicely. To top off this stunning album, the cover art for the vinyl was made by Montreal’s own Rick Leong, painter extraordinaire and current Parisian Laundry favourite.
Nightwood are currently on the road with their “Recession Tour” co-headlining with Modernboys Moderngirls (they vowed to settle the Montréal-Toronto rivalry by out performing each other every night; promising!) . Nightwood will be on their own at the Horseshoe in Toronto on January 19th for a FREE show. I said free. I suggest you go. On the 21st the band will be back in their hometown of Montréal with Modernboys Moderngirls and At The Break Of Don at the cozy Divan Orange.
Listen: myspace.com/nightwoodband
For tour information, to buy the album and more: nightwoodband.com
The Singing Lamb Recommends…
December 3rd, 2009 | By: Melody Lau
Parlovr
You know when you’re writing your year-end lists and you look back on particular albums and are confused as to what year it came out but then it hits you that you had missed the bandwagon just by a few months as that record was actually from the previous year? There’s always one of those, if not two or three. For many people I’ve talked to, Parlovr was that band of this year.
I had purchased their self-titled LP a couple of months ago, gotten really excited and jazzed about it and was almost prepared to give it top mentions on my ‘Best of ‘09’ list when it hit me – this was a 2008 release. Fuck.
Timing aside, Montreal’s Parlovr was probably one of my most exciting discoveries of the year. The immediate draw of “Pen to the Paper” on the band’s debut album would be able to suck any listener in and keep them hooked. The trio’s power pop-rock anthems and quirky sing-along choruses are reminiscent of fellow Montreal bands The Lovely Feathers and Malajube. Lead singer Louis Jackson sings with a conviction that’s both intimidating and inviting at the same time. But if anything comes out of the band’s music most, it would be they’re sense of passion and fun.
Funny enough, I had just missed their performance at Pop Montreal by mere hours but I was luckily able to catch their set at the Garrison last Sunday as part of Wavelength. Why they weren’t put on the same bill as the band that followed, the aforementioned Lovely Feathers, God knows. But regardless, Parlovr delivered that exact same energy on record in their live performance, but maybe doubled the force. One cannot help but to be hit by a wave of loud, dancey pop tunes and begin to dance – and if you don’t dance watching them live, you’re rhythmically challenged.
Parlovr is definitely a band to watch in the new year as I can see this band continue to be discovered and noticed in the upcoming months, and before you know it, they’ll be that band you look back on a realized that you were two years behind. Oh year-end lists, how you make me feel slow.
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For more Parlovr,
M for Montréal is here!
November 18th, 2009 | By: Guest Contributor
M for Montreal
M for Montreal’s fourth edition showcases some of Montréal’s finest acts and still mix brilliantly the anglo and franco music scenes from all around Canada. That’s the beauty of this event, it brings everyone together! The other good thing about M is that you can actually attend all the shows. It’s made for you to see all these bands (unlike Pop Montreal, for instance). Even if on some nights the showcases are at different places, there’s enough time to bike or walk from the Cabaret Juste Pour Rire on Saint-Laurent down to the Metropolis on Sainte-Catherine or the Café Campus. You even have time to grab some Schwartz on the way or enjoy the greatest vegetarian food at Paradis Végétarien on Saint-Denis and Mont-Royal (or, you know, get some poutine at la banquise on Rachel). So I planned your weekend for you:
Tomorrow November 19th catch Final Flash, The Luyas, Miracle Fortress, The Rural Alberta Advantage, You Say Party! We Say Die! and Think About Life at Cabaret Juste Pour Rire, tickets are 17,75$ at the door. It all starts at 8 :30 and you can dance through the night with the Think About Life DJ set and « surprise guests » after the show. I can’t hide how freakin excited I am for this show. If you can only attend one showcase during M for Montréal, that’s the one.
On Friday November 20th, start the day right (if you have the three day pass, that is) with the M pour Martini cocktail with Mark Berube and The Few and Elisapie Isaac. The cocktail doubles as The Dears’ Valérie Jodoin Keaton’s Backstage book launch. Then head to the Cabaret for Two Hours Traffic, Silly Kissers, DD/MM/YYYY, Parlovr, Silver Starling and Le Matos. The M for Mystery afterparty will be a DJ set by Cadence Weapon and « very very special guests ».
On Saturday November 21st, it’s time to put these high school french classes to good use. The sélection franco showcase starts at 3 with Caracol followed by Québec’s Feist, Marie-Pierre Arthur. You can also catch Automelodi, latest hyped band and telus ad singers La Patère Rose, Géraldine (Don’t miss her! You won’t regret it. She’s the next Duchess Says of stage chaos, I swear) and pop duo Orange Orange. Later that night catch the M pour Metropolis show at the Metropolis (duh…) with Malajube, Melissa Auf der Maur, Champion and this year’s Polaris Music Prize winners Fucked Up. If you’re not tired from dancing around yet, there’s the M for Midnight afterparty at the SAT (don’t forget to RSVP to nightlife magazine beforehand).
The three day pass is insanely cheap (60$) and it gives you access to all the showcases, the M pour Martini cocktail, the panels, the afterparties AND M pour Metropolis. Careful though, there are only 150 available. Train and cheap bus tickets are still available for you Toronto people! I checked that for you because The Lamb always has your back. More information about ticket prices and schedules at http://mpourmontreal.com/EN/index.php.
Have a good weekend now!
Zut Alors,
Christine
