Numerous local bands took over the second floor of Sneaky Dee’s last Friday night in an effort to determine the undeterminable: when it comes down to the greatest, is it The Beatles or The Rolling Stones?
Turns out no one really cared which legend people considered more legendary. Instead, everyone who attended the event (Emily Haines was absent) probably just went to see oodles of talented musicians take on the challenging rolls of The Beatles and Stones and hear them cover about three packed hours worth of classics from the two bands’ remarkable songbooks. And to get drunk.
The Balconies and Sandman Viper Command, the show’s headliners, kicked things off with songs like “19th Nervous Breakdown” and “Taxman,” alternating Beatles and Stones songs and eventually bringing in members of Dinosaur Bones, Olympic Island, Fox Jaws and then some. Highlights include the covers of “Oh! Darling,” featuring the undoubtedly passionate Carleigh Aikins of Fox Jaws on lead vocals and “Gimmie Shelter” performed by the aforementioned Aikins and Rob Janson of Sandman Viper Command on lead vocals.
Alternating band members carried out song after song until the show eventually wrapped with everyone onstage and performing an epic rendition of “Hey Jude,” the excited crowd giving the apparently unstable floorboards a run for their money. In terms of competition, there was no conclusion as to which band is the greater, but it can be said that all of our local talent covering The Beatles and The Stones is the next best thing to the real thing.
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!
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:
The Balconies @ Horseshoe (Photo Credit: Jerry Vo)
Singing Lamb favourite The Balconies are about to embark on a west-coast tour and to help raise money – musicians are not millionaires y’know…unless you’re Lady Gaga and/or Beyonce – the pop-rock trio are holding a covers night fundraiser tomorrow night at Sneaky Dee’s!
Cover is only $5.00 and doors are at 10PM.
The band has also enlisted a whack of their friends (literally, a whack) from various bands to help cover your favourite 60s and 70s hits! Fun!
Here’s a list of some of the musicians that will join the Balconies on stage:
Members of The Golden Dogs, Fox Jaws, Make Your Exit, Oh No Forest Fires, Modernboys Moderngirls, The Archives, Arietta, Brett Caswell, Corduroy, Whale Tooth, Sleeping Pilot, Janes Party, District of Columbia and tunes by DJ SnuggleBots and more!
Good cause, good music – what more do you want! See you there!
The Wooden Sky @ Horseshoe (Photo Credit: Jerry Vo)
Joel Plaskett @ Mod Club
As part of the Canadian Music Week festivities this year, Sirius Satellite Radio put on a showcase billed as “Sirius Songwriters Cafe” at the Mod Club, which was recorded in its entirety for a future broadcast. The lineup was certainly a diverse one, including The Tea Party’s former frontman Jeff Martin performing solo, and late-Nineties Canadian rock radio favourites Default and The Trews. For myself, and countless others I expect braving the miserable, miserable weather and lengthy lineup at the Mod Club, there was only one act that mattered – a performance from The Nova Scotian Bard himself, Joel Plaskett.
I’m not sure whose decision it was to put Plaskett on first, but if it bothered the congenial singer-songwriter, than he certainly wasn’t showing it. Dressed casually in a t-shirt, vest and jeans, and grinning from ear to ear, he greeted the audience with a cheerful, “Hey Mod Club, how are you all doing?”. Accompanied by Peter Elkas on guitar, Plaskett played an abridged five-song set that included the Polaris Prize-nominated Three sing-along ”Through & Through & Through”, and fan favourite ”Nowhere With You”.
The least enviable job of the night had to belong to the female host from Sirius, who came onstage afterwards to say that due to a tight schedule we weren’t getting anymore songs from Joel, which promptly resulted in some enthusiastic booing from the filled-to-capacity Mod Club crowd. Nonetheless, even with a short set, Plaskett managed to prove why he cleaned up at the East Coast Music Awards several weeks ago (six awards!) and why he’s considered one of the best singer-songwriters in Canada today. Yet despite all his success, Plaskett has managed to remain incredibly humble – must be an East Coast thing.
Oh, and for fans wanting more Plaskett? He’ll be in Toronto next weekend for two shows at Lee’s Palace with his old band Thrush Hermit. Tickets for the Saturday show are sold out, but if you look around, you should still be able to get tickets for Sunday’s performance.
The Rural Alberta Advantage @ The Royal York Hotel
The Independent Music Awards, or “Indies” for short, is quite possibly the most bizarre annual Canadian music awards night ever. What other “awards show” can you name where you can see drunk music industry-types, 14-year-old Marianas Trench fan girls, and performances from actual talented bands, all in the giant ballroom of a swanky hotel? That’s what I thought. Last year, I caught Crystal Castles at the Indies after rushing over from the Bloc Party show at Kool Haus, and this year I caught another massively underrated (though in a completely different way) band, The Rural Alberta Advantage.
Taking the stage behind a giant video screen to perhaps one of the strangest crowds they’ve ever performed in front of, the Toronto indie rock three-piece of Paul Banwatt, Amy Cole and Nils Edenloff played about three quarters of their 2008 debut album, Hometowns, which was re-released on Saddle Creek just last year. The band drew their namesake and lyrical inspiration from Edenloff’s experiences growing up in Alberta, and write songs about small town malaise, heartbreak, the Rockies, and working in the oil fields. Live, the band transitioned effortlessly between uproariously frenetic barn-burners (“The Deathbridge In Lethbridge”) and slower, plaintive songs (“In the Summertime”).
Banwatt’s (who appeared earlier to present an award with Woodhands bandmate Dan Werb) powerful drumming, Edenloff’s rough, almost folksy-sounding vocals, and Cole’s (whose black Brigitte Bardot-esque dress nicely balanced out her male bandmates’ t-shirts and jeans) sweet backing melodies – they all mesh together to create songs that might not always be pretty, but damn if they aren’t catchy as hell. The RAA, who were featured earlier this week in a pre-SXSW article in the Toronto Star, are just one of those bands that you wish nothing but the best for. I can’t wait to see what these three have in store for 2010.
Bucketfuls of rain poured all across Toronto, and I’m not sure if it was because of this that the Horseshoe wreaked of smelly wet feet or what. Nevertheless, it was definitely the place to be for CMW. The bill couldn’t look any better. First on the line-up is Yukon Blonde from British Columbia. Aesthetically, they look like the rugged guys you see hanging around Queen and Bathurst – with greasy, unwashed hair, donned in clothes torn in the wrong places. But musically, man, do these guys know their stuff. They opened with a song called “Rather Be” followed by “Brides” from their self-titled album released early last month. But what really got everyone hooked is their song “Wind Blows”. Even today, it continues to play in my head like a welcomed music worm. The clever wordplay in the chorus, “Wind blows/ Can you hear the wind blow?/ Listen to the raindrop/ Outside of my window,” certainly sticks without fail. Yukon Blonde sure knows how to make a pleasant lasting impression.
I must say, The Balconies is one good-looking band. Singer-guitarist Jacquie Neville is the master of mesmerizing the crowd with her intense rock’n’roll stage presence. Performing songs from their self-titled album, released last September, and a couple of new tunes, The Balconies had the crowd spell-bound. They ended with “Serious Bedtime” which resulted in everyone mouthing along the song’s words of mystery, “If you do it in the dark, in the dark, no one sees it/ If you do it in the dark, in the dark, it comes easy“. Energy is one thing the band never ceases to lack and whether you’re a fan or not you can’t help but be impressed by this up-and-coming force of (pop-rock) nature.
Coming back from their tour around Canada and the United States, The Wooden Sky played a much louder, turbulently-active set than I’ve ever seen. Amidst the guitar-flailing and emotion-filled singing, they played songs mostly from their album If I Don’t Come You’ll Know I’m Gone released last summer. Obviously glad to be back home again, The Wooden Sky performed incredibly in front of the people who love them best – their Toronto fans. Frontman Gavin Gardiner didn’t hold anything back that night, not even his shirt by the end of it. After seeing them four times in the past year alone, I think it’s suffice to say that The Wooden Sky never ever ever disappoints.
The Balconies were one of two surprise guests Tuesday night at Sandman Viper Command’s February residency – the other half being Hollerado – here’s a video taken from the show!
I had the pleasure of partaking in Resonancity’s “Bands To Chase 2010″ list recently where we got to pick bands we think are going to be big in the new year. Here are links to all the lists:
The Balconies – If the end of 2009 was any indication of things for the Balconies, 2010 should be the year they take over the music scene. This Ottawa power-pop trio (recently relocated to Toronto) comprised of brother-sister duo Jacquie and Stephen Neville and drummer Liam Jaeger released their self-titled album late last year to much praise and admiration from local bloggers and music fans. Bursting with catchy melodies, dynamic vocals and a maturity that some bands on their third or fourth album strive to achieve, things can only go up for these guys in the new year.
Diamond Rings – John O’Regan (The D’Urbervilles) a.k.a. Diamond Rings was the toast of the local music scene, international artists (opening for La Roux) and even Pitchfork last year with his breakout YouTube hit “All Yr Songs”. But the video and the song are only a little sneak peek into the spectacle that’s to come. In the midst of finishing up his debut album, Diamond Rings will finally release his much-anticipated album this year and if his live material is a sign of anything, it will be incredible.
Novels – This super-band made up of Will Currie, Graham Wright (Tokyo Police Club), Luke Lalonde (Born Ruffians), Dean Marino (Ex-po) and Jason Sadlowski (Jay Sad) is basically destined for success. Though the band won’t be selling their debut EP in stores (the band has opted to just let people download it for free online), their music will undoubtedly reach a wide audience and gain lots of press, as it has already in the blogosphere.
The Elwins- This Newmarket duo of Travis Stokl and Matthew Sweeney are certainly an up-and-coming act to watch for this year. With a full-length on its way, the Elwins’ brand of sugary sweet pop-rock is comparable to The Strokes or friends, Tokyo Police Club and The Bicycles. It’s definitely cheerful and a ray sunshine into your ears.
Sheezer – This all-girl Weezer cover band debuted on New Years Eve at the Tranzac and literally blew everyone away, even if you weren’t a Weezer fan. The band’s made up of Dana Snell (The Bicycles), Laura Barrett (The Hidden Cameras), Magali Meagher (The Phonemes), Robin Hatch (ex-Sports The Band) and Alysha Haugen and even though they don’t take any particularly unique approaches to covering hits like “Buddy Holly” or “My Name is Jonas” they do a hell of a job rockin’ them out. Fingers crossed for more shows soon! If they wanted to, I think Sheezer can take over the world; one Weezer fan at a time.
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Check out Resonancity – fantastic new blog and deserving of many, many visits and reads! Blog love!
Happy New Year y’all! Here are some shows/events that might tickle your fancy for the month of January and beyond.
Ottawa up-and-comers The Balconies will be playing one of my favourite new places to see a show, The Supermarket in Kensington Market, this Wednesday. This show is pay-what-you-can and their set time is 10:30.
Burlington’s Sandman Viper Command will be playing the Casbah in Hamilton this Thursday. Details here.
Depending on your feelings for tribute acts (one of my very first concerts was an Eagles tribute band at the South Shore Exhibition – it was magical), then you might be interested in checking out the Tattoo Rock Parlour’s David Bowie Birthday Celebration, with Thin White Duke impersonator Clifton David Broadbridge. This Friday, celebrate the man who singlehandedly inspired legions of eyeliner-wearing male singers today and for decades to come.
I’ve taken a lot of chirping recently from people who weren’t aware that Little Girls is, in fact, THE NAME OF A BAND (I swear, if I hear one more joke about being a pedophile…). But I know better to listen to them, because the Toronto noise-mongers are awesome, and the band will be playing Sneaky Dee’s on January 15th with special guests. Facebook event details here.
The author of the new book, Treat Me Like Dirt: An Oral History Of Punk In Toronto And Beyond (1977-1981), Liz Worth, will be talking to Fucked Up’s Damian Abraham about the history of Toronto punk at the Gladstone Hotel on Jan. 18th. Doors open at 7p.m., admission is free with the purchase of the book ($5 otherwise), and there will be live DJing from Mark Pesci.
Love Music Volume 1 is a one-night-only event set to take place Jan. 23rd at the Sound Academy. This year’s lineup features Switch, The Martinez Brothers, Pat Mahoney (LCD Soundsystem), Hercules & Love Affair & more! This show is 19+ and tickets will set you back $29.50. More details here.
Toronto-based independent music label Out of this Spark will be celebrating their third anniversary at the Garrison on Jan. 22nd. Music will be provided by The D’Urbervilles, Forest City Lovers, Evening Hymns, and others. Tickets are $8 in advance from the usual suspects, or $10 at the door.
If you live in Halifax – or Nova Scotia for that matter – and you consider yourself a fan of good live music, than chances are you already know about the Paragon Theatre. This is for those of you that haven’t, or are planning to making a trip to Halifax in the near future. Reopened this year under the new name, in the building which used to host the iconic Marquee Club, the Paragon has quickly grown a reputation for drawing some of the biggest local, national, and international acts from indie rock to electro and every genre in between. But this January, it’s all about the hip-hop. Just some of the names set to appear this month: rap pioneer Afrika Bambaataa, Scratch from The Roots, East Coast DJ Skratch Bastid, and Wu-Tang’s GZA. Get all the details on these shows and more on the Paragon’s Facebook page, Twitter, or website.
This show announcement might be a little premature, but I was excited to recently learn that one of my favourite new bands of last year (that feels weird to type) are coming to Toronto. West Palm Beach’s Surfer Blood will be playing with Nashville’s Turbo Fruits (containing former members from Be Your Own Pet) at Sneaky Dee’s on March 6th.
This year’s Canadian Music Week will be taking place March 10th to 14th, and is set to see over 700 artists play 45 venues in Toronto. Among the initial acts announced to play the festival are Our Lady Peace, The Trews, Joel Plaskett, Constantines, K-Os, The Rural Alberta Advantage and many, many more! Two acts that I’ve already put in my “must-see” column are The Mountains & The Trees, aka Newfoundland folk singer-songwriter Jon Janes, and American triple-threat (DJ/producer/musician) RJD2, whose work you may have heard recently on a little-known TV show.
Like I’ve mentioned before, music in 2009 kind of kicked 2008’s ass. Personally, it was really difficult to narrow lists down, so much so that I’ve created separate categories at the bottom, just because I didn’t find it fair to categorize some with the other. For example, putting the Dark Was the Night or Friends In Bellwoods compilations in my list just wouldn’t be fair because it’ll kick everyone else’s ass. But regardless, what I’m trying to get at was 2009 was a good year and kind of shines a light of optimism as we head into 2010. Good job, everyone! Here’s my best of 2009 (in no particular order or rank):
The Balconies – The Balconies
If you didn’t guess this one by now, you clearly don’t read this blog enough. I don’t think I’ve shut up about The Balconies’ debut album since August, when I picked it up at one of their shows. This Ottawa trio’s self-titled debut album is packed with pop-rock punch from beginning to end, arguably one of the catchiest records of the year. Definitely the most exciting new band of 2009; I can only imagine the good things that are ahead for the Balconies in 2010.
May I Suggest: “300 Pages”, “Battle Royale”, “Ghost Fever”
Dan Mangan – Nice, Nice, Very Nice
Dan Mangan, I find, has been a hit or miss this year – either you love him or you find him utterly boring. But what some has perceived as dull and unexciting, I see as simplistic and quite amazing. Sure, Mangan isn’t breaking ground on anything new; his acoustic singer-songwriter card is quite common among the sea of music we drown in today but there’s a reason this particular album has risen above the rest, even winning him Artist of the Year at this year’s XM Verge Music Awards. The combination of that distinctive voice (seriously, how do you not love that voice) and phenomenal songwriting is really a combo to be reckoned with; Mangan produces some of the most heart-warming, cheerful and comforting tunes of the year. If this album was a person, it would be like an old friend that you’d want to cuddle up on a couch with a cup of cocoa with and just talk for hours with.
May I Suggest: “Robots”, “Sold”, “Tina’s Glorious Comeback”
The Dirty Projectors – Bitte Orca
Like I mentioned on my “Best Shows of ‘09” list, I wasn’t able to fully appreciate Bitte Orca on record till I saw them live in July, and again in November. But man, when I finally got into this album, I really got into it. The meticulous instrumentation, including the use of female vocalists Angel Deradoorian, Amber Coffman and Haley Dekle as the band’s secret weapon instruments, creates musical masterpieces within every song. There is something innately original about the Dirty Projectors and that’s why I love them; only this band can pull off what they pull off – a unique brand of Mariah Carey-esque vocals backed by rhythmic perfection, sharp riffs and exceptional song structures.
May I Suggest: “Remade Horizon”, “Stillness In The Move”, “Two Doves”
Green Go – Borders
Out of all the albums on this list, this was the one I probably listened to the most throughout the whole year. Ever since January, I developed a school-girl crush on Green Go and their music. Refreshingly energetic, Green Go’s music was definitely some of the most fun times I’ve had this year. Borders is chock-full of synths, beats, hooks and some of the best lyrics to scream along to, whether you’re in a car, a bar, or just your own bedroom (there are others out there who do this, right?). As I already mentioned, Green Go, hands-down, hottest band of the year and there will always be a place in my heart for these guys; words can’t even explain how happy they make me. If this album was a perfect ice-cream sundae, it would be topped with a disco ball instead of a cherry.
May I Suggest: “Put On Your Specs Boy”, “You Know You Want It”, “Ghosts Of The Future”
Jenn Grant – Echoes
Am I the only one who feels that this album is completely underrated? Jenn Grant’s second album Echoes is a beautiful collection of songs of heartbreak, captured in the moment. Not only are these songs relatable, but they literally reach over the headphones and Grant’s voice weaves a thread between herself and the listener, making it an intimate affair when you hear a song like opener “Heartbreaker”. Musically, Grant’s instrumental arrangements are impeccable, offering many layers that need multiple listens to truly appreciate and understand. Honestly, Echoes is an album that I’m shocked didn’t more lists this year. You guys are missing out.
May I Suggest: “Sailing By Silverships”, “Blue Mountains”, “Heartbreaker”
Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
This is the album that mainstream media and I agree on. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is just pop at its best and you can’t deny it. Regardless of your knowledge or opinion of the band prior to this album, once you’ve listen to this album, you’re immediately a converted-fan, and if not, you’d at least leave humming a melody or two. I mean, how do you not fall in love with hit singles like “Lisztomania” and “1901”? If “1901” is car commercial-worthy, its catchy shit. But don’t get me wrong, the rest of this album is just as addictive. Bon travail, Phoenix.
May I Suggest: “Lisztomania”, “1901″, “Lasso”
St. Vincent – Actor
Imagine smashing a guitar over a fairytale-esque Disney movie – the result you’d get is St. Vincent’s second album Actor. A brilliant collection of part whimsical, part intensely dark songs that only Annie Clark can master, Actor’s aesthetic reflects Clark’s signature style of heavy guitars paired with an angelic voice. Taking off from where her last album Marry Me left off, Actor is the perfect soundtrack to a twisted Disney classic of some sort and each song is hypnotic, compelling and as addictive as a poisonous apple that Snow White can’t put down.
May I Suggest: “Actor Out Of Work”, “Marrow”, “The Strangers”
Timber Timbre – Timber Timbre
Hauntingly captivating and the record of the year that got me through those dark, rainy days, Timber Timbre’s self-titled album is seriously an exquisite piece of work. Fantastically sombre, every track on this record is chillingly personal and intimate. As our guest contributor Lauren Schreiber put it, “Taylor’s talent is otherwordly…”
May I Suggest: “Demon Host”, “Magic Arrow”, “Lay Down In The Tall Grass”
Think About Life – Family
Albeit, Think About Life will always be a live-over-record band for me, Family was still a phenomenal album and definitely worthy of being one of the best albums of 2009. Bursting with oomph and energy, Think About Life’s second album is made for dancing, singing along to and yes, is occasionally mosh-pit-inducing. The main point of Think About Life’s music is to just enjoy life, live in the moment and party like a rock star and that is all you can do when you listen to Family. Combining clever samples and original melodies and instrumentation, this band pulls off some of the most entertaining tracks of the year that I never thought could be pulled off.
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Honourable Mentions:
The Wooden Sky – If I Don’t Come Home You’ll Know I’m Gone
The Wilderness of Manitoba – Hymns of Love and Spirits
Evening Hymns – Spirit Guides
Bruce Peninsula – A Mountain Is A Mouth
Great Bloomers – Speak of Trouble
Tegan and Sara – Sainthood
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz!
Young Galaxy – Invisible Republic
Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees – Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees
Patrick Watson – Wooden Arms
* Note: I didn’t include The Rural Alberta Advantage’s Hometowns and TuneYards’ BirdBrains because I consider them 2008 releases. Also, The RAA was on my “Best of ‘08” list.
Best EP of the Year: (tie) Sports The Band and Everything All The Time Best Soundtrack of the Year: Where the Wild Things Are (by Karen O & the Kids) Best Compilation of the Year: (tie) Dark Was the Night and Friends In Bellwoods II Best Video of the Year: “All Yr Songs” – Diamond Rings Best Triple Album of the Year: Joel Plaskett – Three Best Instrumental Album of the Year: Bell Orchestre – As Seen Through Windows
