Dull To Pause

Enthusiastic gypsy-punk troupe Gogol Bordello stop by town for an October 4th date at the Burt. Presale starts tomorrow, and if I successfully procure the code, I'll post it under comments.

The Vic Chesnutt Band play the West End on November 20th.

Alex Cuba will be at the Park Theatre on November 19th.

Local favs Quinzy rock the same joint on August 27th.

For those heading up to Gimli this weekend for my ethnic kin's event, the spelling-bee-final worthy Islendingadagurinn, here's who are playing:

Saturday @ The Harbour Stage: Library Voices and Crosstown Rivals. Show starts at 8.

Sunday @ The Alternative Folk Festival: vitaminsforyou; The Details; John K Samson; Royal Wood. Shows start at 6:30. I'll likely make the trip North for this.

Infinite Playlist: Junior Boys - Begone Dull Care

Read more...

Shake Harder Boy!

There's a doin's a transpiring!

09 Folk Fest alumni The Deep Dark Woods drop by the Park Theatre on October 8th (thanks to Will for the heads up).

11 Questions alumni Haunter rock The Albert on August 14th and The Lo Pub on August 28th.

Still Life Still have landed the opening slot for the Hold Steady's September 24th sold-out show at the West End. Hope you managed to score tickets cuz it's gonna be great.

Cuff The Duke stop in at the Albert on September 17th w/ Zeus.

These Arms Are Snakes are there on September 18th.

And finally, to whom it may concern: mum tickets go on sale Thursday at 10 a.m. sharp via our ol' pals at Ticketmaster.

Infinite Playlist: The National - Boxer

Read more...

Blessed Brambles

My nightly prayers to the Winnipeg Music Gods have finally been answered! Those benevolent deities are bringing one of my favourite bands ever, Icelandic melody-makers múm, to New Iceland for a gig at the Pyramid on October 30th.

I'm still in a state of dippy shock.

Infinite Playlist: Mum - Go Go Smear The Poison Ivy

Read more...

Loretta Broke My Heart With A Letter

First, a show announcement that filled me right to the brim with happiness: Chad VanGaalen is hitting the Park Theatre on October 9th. Yay!

Second, a show that is likely too scary for me: Shock-rocker Marilyn Manson is at the MTS Centre on September 13th.

Third, those just craving some delectable Norweigian electro-pop should catch Datarock at The Zoo on September 8th. I'll likely hit this, too (thanks to Rieds for the tip).

Fourth, for a cost-effective, intimate gig, catch Great Bloomers at Music Trader (for free) on August 4th @ 8; if you like what you hear, the band will rematerialize at the Lo Pub on August 13th (thanks to Carly for the heads up).

And finally, congrats to Michael on winning the Eagles of Death Metal tickets.

Infinite Playlist: Chad VanGaalen - Soft Skeleton

Read more...

11 Questions With...The Job

Giveaways ahoy! The giving gang over at The MuseBox Canada are offering readers of this blog a “The Job”-related prize pack consisting of the following:

• A copy of The Job’s CD
• A The Job T-Shirt
• A guest list spot for their show at the Lo (+1)

So who are The Job, you ask? Well, The Job are a Toronto-based garage rocking quartet known for their devastatingly raucous live shows, something Winnipeggers will get to experience first hand this Monday the 27th at the Lo Pub (for free if you win the contest). If you’re interested, flip me a quick email by Friday at noon with “The Job Giveaway” in the subject line, be sure to include your full name and just for fun, answer the following question: What’s one of your essential summertime records? (While still a newbie record, Cut Copy’s In Ghost Colours is and should continue to be one of my fav summer albums). One entry per person please. And remember you need to be 18 to get into the Lo.

Also, Vocalist/guitarist Nyles Miszczyk of The Job took part in the now-patented 11 questions segment and gave me some pretty decent (although succinct) responses. We apparently share a love of Xenon.

1. Where are you right now?

MOOG Audio on Queen St. (at work)

2. Who is the best Toronto-based band (other than your own, of course)?

Bang Bangs - their lead singer Sian will take you into a back alley, sing the shit out of you and leave you for dead. Brilliant.

3. What are your top three, all-time favourite records?

Beatles - Revolver, Television - Marquee Moon, Beulah - When Your Heartstrings Break

4. Of the albums you own, which has the best cover art?

Louvin Brothers - Satan Is Real

5. What is one song you love, but dismiss as “a guilty pleasure”?

"Peg" by Steely Dan

6. What was the last great concert you saw?

King Khan & The Shrines. They'll make you believe.

7. Would you rather have invisibility or flight?

Invisibility, because airplanes take care of all my flying needs.

8. What is your favourite periodic element?

Xenon - I like my gasses noble.

9. Stephen Colbert or Jon Stewart?

Jon Stewart. His hair in Death To Smoochy is a constant inspiration to me and the rest of the band.

10. What book(s) are you currently reading?

The Collected Short Works of Roald Dahl... probably the 5th time I read it.

11. And finally…who’s your favourite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, or Raphael?

Michelangelo. Easy. Did you know that Splinter and Elmo are played by the same guy? I shit you not.

Infinite Playlist: Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours

Read more...

In An Interstellar Burst

So the benevolent folks over at Maple Music are giving away, exclusively to readers of this here blog, a guest list spot (+1) for Eagles of Death Metal’s July 26th show at the Garrick. EODM, if you’re unfamiliar, is Josh Homme from QOTSA’s bumping other project. Toronto garage-rockers Flash Lightnin' open.

If you’re interested, flip me a quick email by Monday @ 4 p.m. with the subject line “Eagles of Death Metal Guest List + 1 Giveaway” and include your full name in the body of the email. I'll draw the winner randomly and shortly thereafter someone from Maple will email you and provide you with all the information you’ll need. As per usual, one entry per person, etc.

Some recently announced shows-of-note:

Indie-poppers The Most Serene Republic swing by the Pyramid on October 3rd with Grand Archives.

Local funk demi-gods Moses Mayes play there on September 12th.

Grand Analog returns to the Pyramid on August 15th with Lioness.

Hugh Cornwell (of Stranglers fame) is there on September 23rd.

XPLICIT rock the same joint on September 25th.

And finally, A Wilhelm Scream will be there on October 1st with The Artists Life and The Riot Before.

Infinite Playlist: Radiohead - OK Computer

Read more...

11 Questions With...Little Foot Long Foot

Bluesy, boozy, and pulsing with life. This pretty much sums up the dynamite sound of co-ed garage-rockers Little Foot Long Foot.

Hailing from Toronto, the twosome of singer/guitarist Joan Smith and drummer Isaac Keith are bringing their rockin’ good-time-of-a-show to the Pyramid this Friday, part of an extensive tour in support of their incendiary head-turner Harsh Words. The band's fiery frontwoman answered 11 Qs for me and by doing so revealed her crush on '09 Polaris-nominee Joel Plaskett, her dislike of the Beatles, and her favourite word (monkey!).

1. Where are you right now?

We're in Toronto. We're recouping to the best of our abilities after the eastern leg of this tour and trying our damndest to detox (the Maritimers like their drink) before hitting the road again next Tuesday.

2. Who is the best Toronto-based band (other than your own, of course)?

We're partial to a band called The Mercy Now http://www.myspace.com/themercynow. Only seen them once, but they completely destroyed the band they were opening for and we've been listening to their song 'Mercy' for the past 10 months almost non-stop. One of the best pump up songs we've ever heard.

3. Right now, would you rather listen to The Beatles or Radiohead?

I am sort of infamously (within my circle of friends) against the Beatles, so I would pick Radiohead. It's pretty much impossible to get away from the Beatles no matter where you go or what you read...Radiohead is at least more of a CHOICE...plus they are, you know, not too shabby.

4. What are your top three, all-time favourite records?

T Rex - Electric Warrior
so simple. so repetitive. so GOOD. And, of course, the best album cover ever.

Joel Plaskett - Down at the Khyber
I used to be head over heels in love with this man...mostly due to how amazing this album is (plus he was really cute when he had shaggy hair).

Tori Amos - Boys for Pele
I am aware that this one does not make me look all that cool, but it is basically the soundtrack to my early teens and I will assert that if she was young and brand new right now and released this album she would blow most indie songstresses/songsters out of the water. I realize now that a lot of her stuff is corny and over-dramatic (perfect for a pre-teen), but this album is so varied/angry/delicate that it has never gotten old for me.

5. What is one song you love, but dismiss as “a guilty pleasure”?

Right now it would DEFINITELY be 'Poker Face' by Lady Gaga. She at least (allegedly) writes her own songs so I don't have to feel QUITE as guilty about it...I think? 'Bluffin with my muffin'. I love it. This song is a necessity when I hit the gym.

6. What was the last great concert you saw?

We're musicians, so we are usually broke and generally can't afford to go to big fancy concerts. Seen lots of great little acts wherever we play. The last big one that really blew me away though was Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings at the Phoenix in Toronto...more than a year and a half ago. She controls a crowd like almost no other, and the band is obviously tighter than shit...cuz shit is pretty tight.

7. Would you rather have invisibility or flight?

Definitely flight, cuz there's a lot of the world that I have yet to see and I imagine that would be a big help. Also, being invisible would probably mean hearing people talk shit about you cuz they think you're not there, and I don't really have any desire to hear such things.

8. What is your favourite word?

'Monkey'! Followed closely by 'puppy'! I cannot say either word without smiling. I obviously DETEST animals.

9. PC or Mac?

This is being typed on a Mac...but it's not mine. It's pretty, though. I've heard the actor who plays the PC in the Mac commercials speak, though, and he is really quite endearing...plus I am pretty suspicious of the Mac people saying how these things are virus and spy-ware proof cuz there are 'so few of them'. Go into any coffee shop in Toronto and it's just a sea of MacBooks. There's gotta be some yuppie hating virus maker somewhere trying to bring these things down from the inside. So I'll pick PC due to its transparency, and it was my first.

10. What book(s) are you currently reading?

I'm re-reading 'I'm With the Band' by Pamela Des Barres. Although I don't think I would've exactly enjoyed being a groupie in the 60s/70s, that book gives me a perfect blend of escapism and a keen feeling of jealousy.

11. And finally…who’s your favourite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, or Raphael?

Although I think I watched that show a lot as a kid...was there really a difference between them? They all liked pizza, right? Whoever had the nunchucks, I guess.

***

Stars' co-leader Amy Millan returns to the West End on October 18th.

Lee Harvey Osmond play there on October 21st.

Mark Berube & The Patriotic Few stop by the WECC on October 14th.

The Fugitives drop in three days later.

Infinite Playlist: Wilco - Wilco (The Album)

Read more...