The Tragically Hip attempt something novel, plan Canada Day shows
AmazonYesterday was a pretty busy one as far as festival announcements went – the first acts for this year’s Pitchfork Festival, happening July 13 to 15 in Chicago’s Union Park, were revealed; Sled...
View ArticleGreat Lake Swimmers at Sonic Boom in Toronto
Frank YangWhat’s better than hearing a new album on the day that it’s released? How about hearing it live? Okay, the former might have carried a little more weight a decade ago when records weren’t...
View ArticleBry Webb and Del Bel at 918 Bathurst in Toronto
Frank YangI’m sure that the timing was just coincidence, but if Friday night’s Wavelength show at the Buddhist temple at 918 Bathurst featuring Bry Webb and Del Bel was meant as a last-minute bit of...
View ArticleJapandroids and Cadence Weapon at Lee’s Palace in Toronto
Frank YangThere’s a point in the arc of the breakout band where long-time fans who’ve supported and encouraged the artist through those early days find themselves in the odd position of rubbing elbows...
View ArticleThe 2012 Polaris Music Prize shortlist looks a little like this. Or a lot.
Liam MaloneyAnd then there were ten. Yesterday, atop the roof of the Drake Hotel amidst record-breaking heat, the short 2012 Polaris Music Prize short list was announced, dashing the hopes of thirty...
View ArticleNo one tell Paper Bag Records that the traditional 10th anniversary gift...
FacebookCustom dictates that for tenth anniversaries, the traditional gift is something made from tin and the modern equivalent is aluminum. Or diamond. How on earth do you get from tin to diamond?...
View ArticleSnowblink keeps unwavering focus on Classic second album
Norman Wong/Jules SchillIt’s a real puzzle to me why Toronto’s Snowblink aren’t huge, and I mean huge in relative Canadian indie terms, not absolute household name terms, I’m not delusional. Their 2011...
View ArticleDiamond Rings at The Drake Underground in Toronto
Frank YangWe’ve certainly come a long way since late Summer, 2009 when Diamond Rings was that curious synth-pop side-project from the guy who fronted local garage-rock fixtures The D’Urbervilles (now...
View ArticleEvening Hymns stream last Toronto show, slate next Toronto show
FacebookThe last time that Evening Hymns graced a Toronto stage, it was back in August as part of the Summerworks festival and came a few days before the official release of their gorgeously heavy...
View ArticleThe Hives and object lessons in venue relativism
Tobias SutterThings that are true about live music rooms in Toronto: 1) Everyone hates the Sound Academy, for reasons that don’t really need to be expounded on; 2) a lot of people hate The Phoenix when...
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