The Urban Hermit

PICKS FOR NXNE 2013

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 17:00:00 -0400

To be honest, I was rather exhausted by all the work I did planning my music picks and processing my photos from CMW. I wasn’t even planning on going full bore for NXNE until very recently. All of which is to say that I’m very late in posting my NXNE picks and because I wasn’t working on them in advance, I also haven’t been able to do a write-up for each band. However, wherever possible, I’ve posted links to check out their songs/videos and I’ve also posted photos if I’ve shot the bands in the past.

I’ve put asterisks next to the shows that you absolutely should not miss. At a minimum, it will be worth your time to explore those bands online.

WEDNESDAY – JUNE 12, 2013

*6:00 pm – Paper Beat Scissors @ Arts & Crafts Pop-up (1093 Queen Street West)

Video: Wren

Video: Flicker

Tim Crabtree @ The Rustic Owl – March 24, 2013

8:00 pm – Mouth @ Rancho Relaxo

Track: No Love No Lust

9:00 pm – Thought Beneath Film @ Rancho Relaxo

Track: If I Could Fix You You Know That I Would

10:00 pm – Coyote @ Rancho Relaxo

Track: Wood Islands

11:00 pm – Wind-up Radio Sessions @ C’est What

Track: Haystack

*12:00 am – Box Tiger @ Supermarket

Video: Taller than Trees Video

Video: Knives

The Box Tiger @ The Great Hall – March 20, 2013

1:00 am – The Damn Truth @ Horseshoe

Video: Too Late

2:00 am – Duck Duck Goose @ Rivoli

Tracks on Soundcloud

THURSDAY – JUNE 13, 2013

7:00 pm – The Balconies @ St. James Gazebo (St. James Park near King & Church)

Video: Kill Count

The Balconies @ Libra Cusp Co-Birthday – September 24, 2010

8:00 pm – Arizona Lily @ Rancho Relaxo

Track: Foolish Me

9:00 pm – Wordburglar @ Sneaky Dee’s

Video: Cream of Wheat

Wordburglar @ Global Backpackers - March 21, 2013

10:00 pm – Modern Rivals @ Rancho Relaxo

Track: Small Bell

*11:00 pm – Braids @ Comfort Zone

Video: Lemonade

*12:00 am – Sean Nicholas Savage @ Comfort Zone

Video: You Changed Me

Sean Nicholas Savage @ DoubleDoubleLand – April 9, 2012

*1:00 am – Blue Hawaii @ Comfort Zone

Track: Try to Be

2:00 am – Moka Only @ Sneaky Dee’s

Video: Come Along

3:00 am – Philly Moves @ Sneaky Dee’s

Video: I’m Tired

Philly Moves @ The Painted Lady – March 21, 2013

FRIDAY - JUNE 14, 2013

8:00 pm – Seraphic Lights @ Rancho Relaxo

Reverb Nation Site

9:00 pm – Blinker the Star @ Horseshoe

Track: We Draw Lines

10:00 pm – Still Corners @ Horseshoe

Video: Into the Trees

*11:00 pm – Buke & Gase @ Horseshoe

Homemade bass ukulele and a mixed bass/acoustic guitar, need I say more? Radiolab even did an episode on these guys. Seriously, do not miss this band.

Radiolab story

Video: Live show for NPR’s Tiny Desk

Video: Houdini Crush

12:00 am – Why? @ Horseshoe

Video: Strawberries

1:00 am – Gold & Youth @ Blk Box (below the Great Hall)

Video: Time to Kill

2:00 am – Radius & Helena @ Monarch Tavern (12 Clinton)

Track: Science Fiction

Radius & Helena @ Horseshoe – November 24, 2012

SATURDAY – JUNE 15, 2013

7:00 pm - Dusted @ St. James Gazebo

Video: There Somehow (fast forward to 1:20)

9:00 pm – BB Guns @ Lee’s Palace

Track: Mystery Girl

10:00 pm – Suzie Wilde @ Tranzac Southern Cross Lounge

Video: Flame

11:00 pm – Most People @ Creatures Creating (822 Dundas)

Track: Young & Wild

The Most People @ Cinecycle – December 2, 2012

12:00 – Del Bel @ Creatures Creating

Track: Oneric

1:00 am – Meanwood @ Dakota

Video: Sybil

Meanwood @ Rancho Relaxo – June 17, 2012

*2:00 am – KetchHarbour Wolves @ Dakota

Video: Breakdown

Ketch Harbour Wolves @ Neutral – March 10, 2010

SUNDAY – JUNE 16, 2013

8:00 pm – The Penske File @ Rancho Relaxo

Track: Billboard Happiness

9:00 pm – FlickerState @ Measure (296 Brunswick)

Track: Go About It

10:00 pm – Technical Kidman @ Measure

Track: Geometry

11:00 pm – Another City @ Rancho Relaxo

Soundcloud Site

12:00 am – North America @ Measure

Track: Blown Out

1:00 am – The D.G.B. @ Rancho Relaxo

Track: Canada Wide

F Mary Kill @ The Rockpile

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Favourites from Canadian Music Fest 2013

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 16:17:51 -0400

I feel like I’m being neglectful in even trying to put this list together because there are some terrific bands that I caught this year that are not on the list. My dilemma ultimately stems from the fact that I sampled 700+ bands when I made my selections for this year, so I had a very good idea of what I would be encountering prior to the sets. And, none of the bands fizzled out in their live performances (it didn’t hurt that when I was making my selections, I almost always watched a video of a live performance to make sure they could play live).

As such, every single band that I caught this year—no exaggeration—was terrific. So, I’ve been left in the position of having to weed out slightly less colourful roses from a garden that was in full bloom.

Ultimately, a big deciding factor was to ask myself which bands I’ve been incessantly listening to since, and using that consideration to narrow down the list. All of which is to say that I had an amazing week of music this year, and I felt incredibly privileged to catch every band that I checked out live. The fact that I saw a set or listed a band as an alternate pick means I was already massively impressed by their work.

Without further ado, here is my list of my favourite bands from CMF 2013:

1. Lucius (Brooklyn)

To a certain degree, my favourite picks were also influenced by the way a particular band managed to surprise me in their live performance. And, Lucius is at the top of the list for this reason.

Coming into their absolutely astonishing set at Rancho Relaxo on Friday night of CMF, I knew that Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig could belt out a tune with acoustic perfection. However, I was not altogether ready for the mind-blowing energy that they brought on stage.

I was expecting something slightly cheery and ephemeral based on their video of “Turn Around” which projects a post-modern take on a happy house-wife circa the 1960’s. What I got instead was a crazy high-energy sweaty show that thoroughly kicked my ass. The audience went absolutely crazy with their high-energy indie pop—a genre which would normally be a bit of a disappointment for me—but they pulled off their craft like absolute experts.

To get a sense of their sound I recommend the said video for “Turn Around”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7AI8Oxdkyo

But if you want to get a feel for a bunch of their songs and their live performance abilities, their NPR Little Desk set is particularly great:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Pk_2dVPjms

The only caveat on all this is that you’ll never get a sense of their terrific sweaty performance abilities from those two clips. Moreover, all of the live show videos that I’ve been able to track down online have a far more subdued and mellow performance than the high-octane set they delivered at Rancho Relaxo. But the clips are a start …

Lucius @ Rancho Relaxo – March – 22, 2013

2. Sandra Kolstad (Oslo)

I’ve previously described Sandra Kolstad as the wicked love child of a dirty threesome between David Bowie, Annie Lennox, & Laurie Anderson. I’ll stick with that descriptor.

I really can’t say enough about the awesomeness of this band, but unfortunately they are damn tough to describe in words. They just pump out some slightly weird, and awesomely energetic electronica with occasional drum & bass elements. The video for “The Well” will give you a sense of their mellower songs:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nh13mu98aCE

They unfortunately got a little screwed on the show I caught in so far as they were in the middle two bands that had nothing to do with their genre, and so they had to do all the work to pump up the crowd; a feat which was tough to pull off given that they were also given the 11:00 pm time slot on a Tuesday night at Clinton’s.

Accordingly, the audience energy wasn’t what it could have been, but Sandra Kolstad still managed to utterly DESTROY the set.

You’ll get the best sense of their upbeat songs and engaging physical performance from the video for “Fire Burn, Blood Flow” (and you’ve got to love the name of the song):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqefsFrt9qs

Sandra Kolstad @ Clinton’s – March 19, 2013

3. The Box Tiger (Toronto)

I’ve made no secret of the fact that Sonia Sturino’s vocal work absolutely wrecks me. Her vocals are sharp and confident, yet with a complete lack of arrogance. I’m not 100% sure that her vocals are for everyone, but I can’t get enough of that little tremble in her voice. To top things off, the band is just seriously tight. Acoustic or on full mode, The Box Tiger is the most exciting Toronto indie rock band that I’m currently monitoring.

If you want to check out Sturino at her acoustic best, check out the video for “Taller than Trees” below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmodGsKE8O0

But if you want to explore their full sound, check out the “Knives” single that has just been released post-CMF:

http://theboxtiger.bandcamp.com/

The Box Tiger @ The Great Hall – March 20, 2013

4. Adaline (Toronto)

I didn’t know quite what to expect when I showed up for the Adaline set at Tattoo because the material that she has posted online is quite varied. Ultimately, she delivered what can only be described as an incredibly intense and endearing set as she just nailed out some solid vocals, all the while hiding her face behind her hair.

The most accurate reflection of what we saw that night would have to be her video for “The Noise” from the Green Couch sessions, though she’s definitely not as shy on video:

http://vimeo.com/40177909

What I love about Adaline is her massive vocal range. She can sing whatever she wants with utter perfection, sometimes whispering out a tune, and at other times throwing it all out there with huge vocal resonance. And, ultimately you have to love the simplicity, it’s just her and an electronic mixing board that she definitely employs with gusto, but it’s really all about vox here.

I would recommend that you top off your viewing with the video for “Rebels of Love.” Again, it’s all about her tremendous vocal work, but the drum and bass elements really work well here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myxvlAN_tZQ&feature=player_embedded

Adaline @ Tattoo Rock Parlour – March 21, 2013

5. Paper Beat Scissors (Halifax)

Originally hailing from England, lead vocalist Tim Crabtree is now based out of Halifax. As I’ve noted earlier, I originally caught Paper Beat Scissors as a random opening band in a show that I caught at Clinton’s in 2009. Such was the impact of the performance, that I soundly remembered the band four years later as I was scanning the performer roster for CMF.

At their full capacity, Paper Beat Scissors has some brass elements and strings, but ultimately the band boils down to Tim Crabtree’s unique vocal work. His voice is at times emotionally piercing, at others just serenely wispy—often both within a single song. The video for “Wren” is a good illustration of his vocal capabilities:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHWP3H_K50E

Trying to catch Paper Beat Scissors was a bit of a comedy of errors during CMF. Originally, they were only booked for a VIP set at the Rivoli on Saturday night, but Crabtree managed to get himself booked for a show at Tranzac earlier in the week. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make the Tranzac show due to prior commitments and my wristband didn’t get me into the show at the Rivoli. Fortunately, Crabtree managed to add a solo set at the Rustic Owl for Sunday night.

Initially, I saw him play around with the sound system the Rustic Owl, but he then opted for a more intimate set sans any amplification and it was a fantastic choice. As I’ve noted earlier, I’ve never seen a voice and guitar captivate a room like that since I heard Ora Cogan nail down an audience at Tranzac in 2007. So, do the math, it’s been six long years since I’ve seen someone kill a room like that with pure acoustic prowess. Ultimately, I find it difficult to put his sound into words so I suggest you check out the video for “Wren” above, and the following video for “Flicker”(as a stand-alone video it’s pretty neat too):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOwMhBEv9ck

Paper Beat Scissors @ The Rustic Owl – March 24, 2013

6. The Funeral Suits (Dublin)

I’ll admit it, I’m still a bit pissed at The Funeral Suits for eschewing the fine lighting system at the Drake to play their set entirely in the dark—and it didn’t help that I was already having a terrible night of shooting that Thursday night. However, it’s hard to deny that this is a seriously tight band.

The sound is squarely in the indie rock genre and they really do their craft well. The drumming is just right, not too much, not too little, and you’ve got to love the way that the band can build things up to a crescendo.

I’m also not readily a fan of male vocals, mostly because male vocalists typically can’t sing for shit, but in this particular case the vocal work is great. All in all, they have an amazing sound that you just have to check out.

I can’t stop listening to “Hands Down” from their 2012 Lily of the Valley release. The video itself is a masterpiece:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZoOkmEr0V0

On the happier side of things, you can check out the video for “Colour Fade,” it’s not quite as tight as “Hands Down” but it’s still pretty damn good:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4wKpPEjTrU

The Funeral Suits @ Drake Underground – March 21, 2013

7. Do Mar (Toronto)

I’ve made no secret of the fact that I love bands that manage to surprise me and mash up musical genres: Do Mar fits squarely into that fold. As I’ve noted previously, you initially think you’ll be listening to a hard-hitting alternative rock band, but some 30 seconds in, the heavy funk bass work kicks in and transforms their songs into a funk rock blend. “Bathe Me” is the best illustration of this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKtqfy8lzxc&feature=player_embedded#

But if you want a display of Marigold Kingrey’s terrific vocal feats, you have to check out the video for “Step Off the Edge.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ni5NAcpcL0c&feature=player_embedded#!

I was pleasantly surprised to see that they could pull off the subtlety of the vocal elements and tight instrumentation live, and I’ve got to say that I left the show with a tiny bit of a crush on Kingrey. She delivered a terrifically sexy and intense performance.

Do Mar @ Rancho Relaxo – March 19, 2013

8. Daisy Blue Groff (Vancouver)

I will be frank and say that I was expecting somewhat of a grimy live performance when I initially recommended Daisy Blue Groff—mostly because the recording sound quality in some of her live performance videos was not the greatest.

However, when I caught her at The Central she pleasantly surprised me with the tightness of her sound. You can tell that she loves what she does, and every single song that she belted out to the, albeit disappointing crowd (not much you can do with a 6:00 pm time slot on a Wednesday), had me swaying along. The stand-up bass was an unexpected addition and the two of them worked the room nicely. As I’ve noted before, if you like the garage rock elements of the likes of Army Girls, you’ll like Daisy Blue Groff.

You’ll get the best sense of the awesome set that I caught by checking out her video to “Forever Slowly”:

http://vimeo.com/39385635

Daisy Blue Groff @ The Central – March 20, 2013

9. Giant Hand (Toronto)

My last favourite for CMF was Toronto’s own Giant Hand. I only made it to the last three or so songs in his set, but I was so impressed by what I heard that I had to include this fellow in my list of favourites.

The music in the set at the Cameron House was simple, just Kirk Ramsay on his own, strumming on a guitar, and for one song, belting out a tune on a piano. But man, he nailed every song I caught.

Now, I am told that his voice may be a bit of an acquired taste. It’s a deliciously trembling voice, which I’ve been told annoys the shit out of some people, but I absolutely love it. And, his live performance was simple yet amazingly powerful. All in all, you have to check out Ramsay live if you have the chance.

My favourite song is “Books” from his 2011 EP, Starting as People:

http://gianthand.bandcamp.com/track/books

Giant Hand @ The Cameron House – March 23, 2013

CMF 2013 - Photos from Sunday March 24

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 17:39:44 -0400

Anyone who was following my CMF posts knows that my relationship with Paper Beat Scissors became a bit of a comedy of errors. As I noted before, I first/last caught Tim Crabtree back in 2009 at Clinton’s and he totally blew my mind. Accordingly, when I spotted him as one of the performers at CMF, I promoted his show, but unfortunately it was a VIP show only. But as luck would have it, Crabtree added two more shows once he was in town. One was at Tranzac, and the one I caught was at the Rustic Owl.

I arrived at the locked up venue shortly after 8:20 and set up. If you’ve never been to the Rustic Owl, it’s a charming little coffee shop in a minuscule Portuguese enclave of Bloor Street West. I initially saw Crabtree playing around with the various electronic accoutrements of his trade, but he ultimately settled for going doing a purely unamplified acoustic set which was a nice choice.

In the end there is not much I can put into words about the set beyond saying that with the exception of Ora Cogan’s performance at Tranzac many years back, I’ve never seen someone captivate an audience with pure vox and guitar better than Crabtree. And, to put things in perspective, that Ora Cogan set I’m talking about was in 2007.

Paper Beat Scissors was a brilliant end to my CMF experience. I apologize for not doing more on Sunday night, but as you can imagine, I was exhausted at that point.

Paper Beat Scissors @ Rustic Owl Cafe - March 24, 2013

Canadian Music 2013 - Saturday March 23

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 01:13:00 -0400

Click on the Slide Show:

Or Scroll Down For Selected Shots:

Giant Hand @ The Cameron House - March 23, 2013

The Black Atlantic @ The Cameron House - March 23, 2013

The Abramson Singers @ The Cameron House - March 23, 2013

Jordan Klassen @ Shanghai Cowgirl - March 23, 2013

Miesha & The Spanks @ Shanghai Cowgirl - March 23, 2013

Groenland @ El Mocambo Upstairs - March 23, 2013

Jesuslesfilles @ The Silver Dollar - March 23, 2013

CMF 2013 - Photos from Friday March 22

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 23:28:00 -0400

Friday night was notably one of the quietest nights of my CMF experience, second only to Sunday night. I had a prior commitment that knocked me out for most of the evening but I was still able to catch three fantastic acts later in the night.

As always, you can check out my full set of photos in a slide show below:

Or you can scroll down through selected shots:

Wilderness of Manitoba @ Revival Lounge - March 22, 2013

Lucius @ Rancho Relaxo - March 22, 2013

Pumas @ Rancho Relaxo - March 22, 2013

CMF 2013 – RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SATURDAY MARCH 23

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 15:53:00 -0400

I’ve been slacking off tremendously in terms of putting together my recommendations for tonight. I’ll keep things a little shorter than usual, but I’ll still endeavour to put out plenty of links so that you can check out the bands conveniently.

A second caveat is that I’m trying to take things easy tonight, so my picks are definitely on the quieter side of things.

7:00 – Giant Hand @ Cameron Backroom

Kirk Ramsay’s shaky voice is employed nicely in producing some solid folk indie tunes. There’s ultimately not much to the music, just a man and his guitar, but he produces a unique sound.

I’d recommend you check out “Books” from his 2011 EP Starting as People:

http://gianthand.bandcamp.com/track/books

7:45 - Paper Beat Scissors at the Rivoli (VIP Wristbands Only)

I’ve previously written about this band, and there is no sense reinventing the wheel here:

When I spotted Paper Beat Scissors on the list of bands for CMF I instantly got a UMPH in my chest. Given that I only caught them once as a random opening band at Clinton’s in 2009 that should certainly tell you something about their talents. I fondly remember leaving that night with a 3 track EP which I listened to incessantly over the next two months.

I would put Paper Beat Scissors squarely in the indie folk genre, but that alone doesn’t do them justice. Tim Crabtree’s vocals are too intense to contain them in the genre and the brass complements also push it out of that framework. If you like the Wilderness of Manitoba, you’ll definitely love this band.

The following video is worth a view:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-hedGuojfg

Paper Beat Scissors @ Clintons – March 9, 2009

8:00 pm – Black Atlantic @ Cameron Backroom

Obviously recognizing that not everyone has a VIP pass, here’s an alternate pick for 8:00 pm. Black Atlantic is a Dutch group that I’d describe as falling squarely into the indie acoustic pop genre. They remind me of the Wilderness of Manitoba but with less instrumentation and more emphasis on the vocal work.

I can recommend the video for “Fragile Meadow”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjlFd29bL2s

9:00 – Abramson Singers @ Cameron Backroom

Staying on the mellower side of things, I can recommend Abramson Singers for the next set. Things get a little bit on the heavier side here, and a lot more feminine. I’d describe their sound as old school indie folk.

On the mellower side of their range, I’ll recommend the song “Fool’s Gold”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPrMrag8IBw

10:30 – Miesha & The Spanks @ Shanghai Cowgirl (Acoustic Set)

I already checked out her set at the Painted Lady earlier this week. I’ve described them earlier as reminding me of the great Sleater Kinney. I’m very curious to see what their acoustic set will be like.

Miesha & The Spanks @ The Painted Lady – March 20, 2013

11:00 pm – Sidney York @ International Lounge (VIP Wristbands Only)

Here’s what I’ve written about Sidney York before:

Sidney York is a Calgary based band that plays some unique upbeat indie pop and always puts on a great live performance. But don’t be fooled, the music may be upbeat pop but it’s no simplistic fare. The instrumentation is always tightly orchestrated and the vocal work ventures into some notable syncopation which is annoyingly absent from most indie bands.

You also don’t see too many pop bands featuring both an obo and bassoon, and they use the instruments to good effect. “Dick & Jane” will give you a decent impression of their musical offerings:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPfO6RwZjzM

Sidney York @ The Supermarket – March 22, 2012

12:00 am – Groenland @ El Mocambo Upstairs

There isn’t too much posted online for Groenland, but what I’ve seen/heard has impressed me. Sabrina Halde has an amazingly expressive jazzy voice which she employs to produce some upbeat indie folk. She reminds me a little of Joanna Newsome.

I’d recommend that you check out the video for “Daydreaming”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7NbIRyRrpI

1:00 am – Jesuslesfilles @ Silver Dollar

I’m finishing up the night with something completely different. Jesuslesfilles is a Montreal garage rock band. Certainly a lot heavier than anything else I’ll be listening to tonight, but I find their energy difficult to resist:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ0YM8oAR-8

CMF 2013 - Photos from Thursday March 21

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 17:03:00 -0400

I’ll admit that I did not have the greatest night as a photographer (I’ve got zero complaints about the music however). I’ll never understand why Tattoo Rock Parlour has 4/5 of their lights trained on the audience. Leaving aside the fact that I was taking pictures, it’s not generally pleasant to be repeatedly blinded during a concert. I then moved on to the Silver Dollar where the lighting was amazingly worse. They insisted on going from a blinding blue light to a blinding red light. My camera wasn’t even able to focus in that light half the time.

Philly Moves at the Painted Lady was my saving grace. The lighting, although worse this year than before, is always quite pretty and it was good to hear Philly Moves in such an intimate venue.

However, things then took a turn for the worse again at the Drake Underground. Now, they initially had terrible lighting down there when they first opened, but that situation has been thoroughly remedied. But for some inexplicable reason the Funeral Suits decided to play in the dark. No exaggeration it was pretty much dark at the stage.

Thankfully the last two acts of the night had terrific lighting and they were fun to shoot.

All of which to say, this is certainly not my best work, but I tried my best. There is a slide show below:

Or you can scroll down and check out some photos I’ve selected:

Adeline @ Tattoo - March 21, 2013

Chloe Charles @ Tattoo - March 21, 2013

Alba Lua @ Silver Dollar - March 21, 2013

Philly Moves @ Painted Lady - March 21, 2013

Delorentos @ Drake Underground - March 21, 2013

Funeral Suits @ Drake Underground - March 21, 2013

Midnight Romeo @ Annex Wreckroom - March 21, 2013

July Talk @ Lee’s Palace - March 21, 2013

CMF 2013 - Wednesday March 20

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 16:37:00 -0400

I’ve been told to keep things simple and post more photos. Click on the slide show below or scroll down for selected shots.

Daisy Blue Groff @ The Central - March 20, 2013

John Pippus @ The Central - March 20, 2013

Pirates Canoe @ Clinton’s - March 20, 2013

Thus:Owls @ Neutral - March 20, 2013

The Box Tiger @ The Great Hall - March 20, 2013

Miesha & The Spanks @ The Painted Lady - March 20, 2013

Amy’s Arms @ Velvet Underground - March 20, 2013

Wordburglar @ Global Village Backpackers - March 20, 2013

CMF 2013 – Tuesday March 19, 2013

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:30:00 -0400

This is the second year that I’m taking a week off from work to catch CMF. To make to the most of it, I’ve made an effort to discover bands that are new to me. Sounds easy enough, but in practice I spent at least six hours a night checking out videos and listening to random songs on band sites.

In terms of sorting out my schedule for Tuesday night of CMF, I literally listened to every single one of the 90 bands playing that night and whittled the list down to a dozen bands that merit a close listen. Unfortunately, due to time and distance constraints, I wasn’t able to catch all of the bands on Tuesday night, but I posted all my recommendations in hopes that these talented and original bands will get some solid support.

I’ve now processed and sorted all of my photos from the night.

Schedule for Tuesday March 19, 2013

8:00 pm – Suzana D’Amour @ Courthouse (57 Adelaide St. E)

Ordinarily, the cabaret-pop genre that Suzana D’Amour slots herself into would be of little interest to me. But Suzana Barbosa’s vocals are so brilliantly executed and her stage presence is so dynamic that she managed to draw me to her set.

The bilingual vocals in her theatrical songs have a breathy yet intense thrust punctuated by the occasional tinges of subtle vibrato and a few ghoulish trills. The harmonies are simple, yet expertly executed by her suave and crisply attired accompanying band. For a good illustration of the vocal talents at play, check out the link to “Proof of Love” below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg_nFhxINW0

Suzana D’Amour @ Court House - March 19, 2013

9:00 pm – Do Mar @ Rancho Relaxo

Formed in 2011, this unique local band has already played some pretty impressive venues for a new band. I would have to say that “Bathe Me” is probably the best illustration of their sound. At the start, you’ll think that you’ll be listening to some pretty conventional hard-hitting alternative rock, until about twenty seconds in when the guitar work shifts into some funk riffs and the vocal work follows suit. But they never completely abandon the rock edge, which is what makes this band particularly alluring:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKtqfy8lzxc&feature=player_embedded#

I’d also recommend that you check out “Step off the Edge.” You have to love the way that they tease out a melodic climax. The song is also a nice illustration of Marigold Kingrey’s vocal range; she can belt out some solid funk tunes while also having the capacity to step back and deliver a soulful ballad:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ni5NAcpcL0c&feature=player_embedded#!

If you like what you’ve heard so far, I’d recommend one final listen. Check out “I Want to Die” from their EP, There’s Something on Your Face:

http://domar.bandcamp.com/track/i-want-to-die

Do Mar @ Rancho Relaxo - March 19, 2013

9:30 pm - The Seedy Seeds @ El Mocambo Upstairs

This terrific band hails from Cincinnati and they most definitely sport a unique sound. Their songs always feature cheerful melodies with solid indie pop elements and a slight country twang.

I’ve previously recommended that you check out the energy in “Drive Me to the Center”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQmEyV_U9wA

I’ll post a link to another video for a great song. Here is “Verb Noun”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WD1i9cdiNR0

As always, they killed it in their live performance. The only glitch was that the sound person screwed them over a bit in the beginning by having the vocals way too low. When audience members have to bring that to your attention, that’s a bit of a problem. But once that problem was corrected, they played on like pros.

The Seedy Seeds @ El Mocambo Upstairs

10:00 pm – Jung People @ Rancho Relaxo

For high-energy instrumental rock in the vein of Godspeed You Black Emperor! and Explosions in the Sky you’ll want to check out this band.

If you like instrumental rock—as I do—this is a tough band to beat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs_muekDAQA

The Jung People @ Rancho Relaxo - March 19, 2013

11:00 pm – Sandra Kolstad @ Clinton’s

For something completely different, I’ll turn next to Norway’s Sandra Kolstad. I’ve previously described her sound as a mix between Annie Lennox and David Bowie with a tinge of Laurie Anderson. As you can imagine from that descriptor, her sound is heavily electronic, high-energy and slightly whimsical with a solid late 1990’s vibe.

I’d recommend two songs. “We Will Change it All” is a little bit more conventional in terms of her repertoire, but it still gives you a good sense of her vocal talents:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nh13mu98aCE&feature=player_embedded#!

But my definite favourite has to be “Fire Burn, Blood Flow.” There’s something incredibly remarkable about the way she just throws herself out there and produces this weird little song without any hint of self-indulgence. The influence of Laurie Anderson is definitely evident here, and it’s one hell of a danceable song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqefsFrt9qs

Sanda Kolstad really brought a tremendous amount of energy to her set. You could see them just getting sweatier and sweatier as their set progressed. Although the audience was fairly small she really had everyone completely animated and engrossed. I very much hope that she visits our fair city again.

Sandra Kolstad @ Clinton’s - March 19, 2013

12:00 am – Gyles @ Clinton’s

The Sandra Kolstad set ended a little bit later than anticipated and my next show was nearby so I just stayed at Clinton’s and caught the Gyles set. I was not disappointed by the choice. Her vocals are layered and complex, and she dazzled me with her wonderfully expressive face and with her ability to create a really deep groove in a song. I would highly recommend seeing her in the future if you have the opportunity.

Gyles @ Clinton’s - March 19, 2013

1:00 am – The Benefit of the Free Man @ Annex Live

This 5-piece band describes their sound as “dark chamber-folk” music which is an apt descriptor I can’t beat. I would only add that they are far more energetic than the descriptor would suggest.

Aside from Sandra Kolstad, this is probably the most original band that I caught on Tuesday night. Picture tight chamber music punctuated by energetic folksy guitar work and harmonized vocals, and you’ll get a sense of their sound. Or better yet, just click below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSv5BpB7024

The Benefit of the Free Man @ The Annex Live - March 19, 2013

Alternate Picks for Tuesday March 19, 2013

I wish I could catch all of the interesting bands that I scoped out but the locales and times just didn’t work out. The following are some great bands to check out in the future.

7:30 pm – Trent Severn @ The Dakota

This is country music as it should be. Solid toe-tapping melodies churned out with soulful and well harmonized vocal work. More importantly, there is a complete absence of the cheesy electric guitar work that has pretty much ruined Country music for my generation.

I’d recommend that you check out the video for “Freedom” (you can fast forward to 00:32):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu4736ukbR8&feature=player_embedded

8:00 pm – The Medicine Hat @ Rancho Relaxo

This is a pretty amazing band in terms of their musical range. They can perfectly execute a high-energy rock song in one performance, and in another, their songs can be positively jazzy with the talented sultry vocals of Nabi Loney silencing a room.

On the rock side of things, check out “Little Cigarettes” from their self-titled 2011 album:

http://themedicinehat.com/track/little-cigarettes

And for something completely different but also brilliantly executed, check out “Digging for Diamonds” from the Living Room Sessions Vol. 1. It’s hard to believe that the same band was able to brilliantly perform these two songs:

http://themedicinehat.com/track/digging-for-diamonds-2

8:30 pm – Unbuttoned @ El Mocambo Upstairs

I’m recommending this band mostly because I recognize that they have tremendous potential. Their musical range is astonishing in so far as they can pull off R & B songs, solid electronica, and some serious indie rock—sometimes all in a single song. What really distinguishes this band is the brilliantly soulful vocal work of Kamilah Apong. However, for my musical tastes, the male vocals just don’t work.

What I like about Unbuttoned is that they straddle a number of different musical genres, but the male vocals anchor the songs down in the R & B realm. If you like R & B, this band will definitely be right up your alley, but if you want something truly original, the songs emphasizing Apong’s vocals will be the ones that pull you in. Check out the video for “This Feeling” for an illustration of her vocal charms:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IkzVvSA0kc

12:00 am - Bonwit Teller @ Rancho Relaxo

This 4-piece band puts out songs that fit squarely in the rock alternative genre. Ordinarily, I’d be turned off by a band that doesn’t push the boundaries of their given genre, but in this case, the sound is so well executed that it’s hard not to be impressed.

“Warhol Was Right” in particular reminds me of Placebo at its best. Ultimately, there’s something to be said for a band that picks a particular sound and then focuses on delivering that sound with energy and coordinated precision:

http://www.reverbnation.com/bonwitteller/song/15689100-warhol-was-right

12:00 am – Meghan Morrison @ Central (603 Markham Street)

Slowing things down a bit, I’ll turn next to Meghan Morrison. Her vocal musings are highly reminiscent of early Tori Amos, but with a pronounced Celtic twinge. “Weather Girl” is unfortunately one of the few songs for which she has a video sporting decent sound quality, but it should give you a good feel for her sound:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnHG97iiJ3w

You can also try her Myspace space where she’s posted some of her work that’s a little bit more experimental but definitely worth a listen:

http://www.myspace.com/meghanmorrisonmusic

CMF 2013 – RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FRIDAY MARCH 22, 2013

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:56:18 -0400

The recommendations for Friday night are going to be a little bit sparse when compared to my previous posts, due mainly to the fact that a prior commitment is pulling me from CMF for a three hour block in the middle of the evening. Nevertheless, there are number of great bands worth checking out that night, in particular the line-up at Rancho Relaxo is terrific.

12:30 pm & 8:00 pm – Folly & The Hunter @ Church of the Holy Trinity & Supermarket

I’ve been enormously impressed by Folly & The Hunter since I first explored their work a few days ago. Their album has been on repeat on my MP3 player for the last two days, which is saying something given my general dislike of male vocalists. But, here as in other greats like Wilderness of Manitoba, the vocals are truly sublime.

However, what I really like about this band is the way that they start you off with low-key folk vocal work and slowly build up the song into a pleasurable cacophony of piano and drums that get you moving along to the music until you find yourself rocking along to a song as powerful as the best work that Grizzly Bear can produce. A prime example of this which really highlights Nick Vallee’s vocal work is the video to “Moth in the Porchlight” below where the unadorned banjo really kicks it to the next level:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOLYUYlTdY0

For something a tad on the mellower and more subtle side of things, you’ll want to check out the video to “Tragic Care.” It starts with simple vocals and synthesized organ work, and mostly retains its simplicity even when the additional vocals and unadorned drums kick in:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23SU6IlS0uA

6:00 pm – Jenn Fiorentino @ Central

I had the occasion to catch Jenn Fiorentino at CMF last year. It’s quite difficult to get a sense of her musical talents based on the various videos posted online, mostly because they are largely of the webcam recorded sort.

Ultimately, Fiorentino has quick hands which she uses to great effect to produce some fast-paced indie rock fare. She does have quite a bit of material posted online, but a lot of it involves cover songs and it just doesn’t give you a great feel for her abilities. As such, if you’re in the area of The Central on Friday night, it’s definitely worthwhile to stop by and catch her set for the live experience.

Jenn Fiorentino @ The Central - March 25, 2012

10:00 pm – Persian Rugs @ Rancho Relaxo

I’ve had the privilege of catching the Persian Rugs once before, and I’m looking forward to repeating the experience. As I’ve noted earlier, they are definitely at their best when led by the vocal talents of Kaye Hamilton who can really rock out a tune with awesome singing reminiscent of the best of late 80’s synth pop. And, at the end of the day they are worth checking out for their tremendous stage presence alone.

The Persian Rugs @ Rancho Relaxo - January 18, 2013

11:00 pm – The Wilderness of Manitoba @ Revival

The Wilderness of Manitoba is definitely one of my favourite bands in the city. Everyone can sing brilliantly and the instrumental work comes together like a thing of beauty. I’ve caught these guys at venues large and small for the last six years and I’ve never been disappointed. Depending on their musical arrangement, I suspect they could make the reading of a phone book musically engaging. And, as I’ve noted earlier they are nice folk at the end of the day, so definitely an additional reason to support them in their endeavours:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHUBZ0jI3Zo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fFMg0yhNYw

The Wilderness of Manitoba @ The Garrison - January 21, 2010

12:00 am – Lucius @ Rancho Relaxo

It’s hard to express one’s love for Lucius without feeling a little bit cheeky. Their sound is silly at times but completely devoid of self-indulgence which always results in songs which are serious musical endeavours despite the outward appearance. But you only get the brilliance of the band when you realize that the admittedly saccharine elements of a particular performance have been crafted together into a brilliant musical narrative comparable to the most distinguished prose. I’d recommend that you check out the video to “Turn it Around” the song has them at their cheeriest, and the video is pretty damn well done on its own:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7AI8Oxdkyo

However, if you want to get a great sense of their musical range, my favourite is “Go Home.” The video itself is a masterpiece of stop-action animation, but on the musical side of things the vocals alone are so beautifully intense that they carry you along nicely:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwoqKaXF7GI

Query though, is this one of those bands that are a ton of fun in their recorded work but sound awful when working things out live? Nope:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwp&v=xEdpjAOggu0&NR=1

1:00 am – Pumas @ Rancho Relaxo

I was fortunate to catch the Pumas last year during NXNE and they impressed me with their brand of high energy indie rock. Rose Blais’ vocals carry the band in a unique direction. Her vocal range is enormous—one moment she’ll take her voice down into a mousy whisper, the next moment she’ll be squealing like a (very musical) banshee. The electric guitars and upbeat bass lines match Blais’ voice at every turn and end up churning out some very danceable electro rock. Expect a high energy set with an enormously engaged audience.

Oh, and they’re able to rock out in French. A prime example being their great little video for “Le Buzz”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=h5HDs-lcB2Q

Enjoy Your Pumas @ El Mocambo Upstairs – June 13, 2012

2:00 am – The BB Guns @ The Silver Dollar

I would describe The BB Guns as high octane feminine garage rock with strong influences from 1960’s pop rock. The gruffness in the guitar work balances out the extremely feminine vocals to nice effect. They remind me of a much happier and upbeat version of Sleater Kinney. But ultimately they’re a little hard to describe and I get the impression that their live sets are a LOT louder than their recorded songs would suggest. I’d recommend that you check out “Creep” from their small 2010 EP Mystery Girl:

http://www.myspace.com/thebbguns

2:30 am – The Damn Truth @ The Horseshoe

I’ve previously recommended The Damn Truth as part of my alternate picks for Wednesday night. There’s no sense in redesigning the wheel here:

Montreal has delivered one hell of an unapologetic hard rock sound in The Damn Truth. The band is clearly influenced by the rock classics of the late 1960’s, in particular by Jefferson Airplane. Lee-La Baum’s vocal work is a little darker and moodier than the vocals of Grace Slick, but you can hear echoes of Slick when Baum masterfully employs her vocal quivers during the crescendos. If you want to get a sense of their sound, I’d recommend the video for “Too Late” (query, is the big white rabbit rocking out on the bass a not-so-subtle nod to Jefferson Airplane?):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4uKK3n6qQc

I should also say this: it has been my experience that some of the heavier rock acts end up sounding like absolute shit when they play live. This is absolutely NOT a criticism that can ever be levelled against this band. In fact, their guitar work actually improves in their live sets. Check out the video for “I Want Truth” below (I post this despite the fact that uncut guitar string slack drives me absolutely insane as a photographer):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTLhs6v4FXU

CMF 2013 – RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THURSDAY MARCH 21, 2013

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 23:40:04 -0400

Thursday night is not quite as strong as the two nights prior, but there are still quite a few bands that I’m very excited to catch. The selections for Thursday night are definitely on the softer side of things, but there is still quite a bit of variety in terms of the musical offerings. My selections include jazzy trip hop, high energy folk, shinny indie pop, hip hop, and some heavy electronica. All in all, it should be a night of varied talents.

One cautionary note before I begin. I’ve already noticed quite a few changes in the CMF schedule since I started posting (we unfortunately lost Carnival Moon on Wednesday night for example) as such, you’ll want to double-check the official schedule every night before hitting the town.

SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAY MARCH 21

6:30 pm – Ester Rada @ Lounge Bar (Inside Mariott Hotel)

Ester Rada hails from Israel so I don’t imagine we’ll have many opportunities to catch her live in Toronto again. She describes her sound in part as Ethio-jazz/groove, and this is most evident in the signature track from her Life Happens EP. Rada’s songs are always anchored by her talented soulful vocals, but “Life Happens” has a truly innovative edge in terms of the accompanying music. It’s a little hard to describe frankly, so I would just suggest that you take a listen:

http://esterrada.bandcamp.com/track/life-happens

While the above track is brilliant, you only really get a real sense of her vocal powers when you check out her live performance of “Bad Guy.” Sharon Jones would be proud:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xJK5WavmWY

7:00 pm – Adaline @ Tattoo

I would have to place Adaline in the realm of indie electronica, but she certainly pushes the edges of the genre. At times, she can create a moody ballad centred on her deep sultry vocals which is infused with heavy electronic elements. “That’s What you Do Best” is an example of this; she reminds me of a pissed off version of Lykee Li with a deeper groove:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AIGqX6vaZQ

In other tracks she can keep things relatively simple and still very much focused around her unique vocals. Check out the way the drum track on “Rebels of Love” almost pushes the song into the trip hop realm, like an upbeat version of Portishead. This is definitely one of the most original acts that I plan to catch during CMF:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myxvlAN_tZQ

However, to get a real sense of her amazing range, you have to check out her video for “The Noise.” The song is remarkably simple and repetitive in terms of the background rhythm and instrumentation but her voice is so emotionally explosive that notwithstanding its simplicity, the song remains immensely engaging. I’ll be keeping track of Adaline’s future endeavours, and fortunately she’s a local:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HLoiSmNPEI

8:00 pm – Chloe Charles @ Tattoo

If you’re going to pay attention to one recommendation for Thursday night, this is the act to catch. I frankly can’t get enough of Chloe Charles since I first stumbled onto her site last night. I’ve watched her video for “Business” no less than a dozen times in the last 24 hours, and I’ll probably watch it another dozen times by the end of the night.

Describing her sound is difficult. She’s a blend of R & B and indie folk with a notable jazz presence. Her voice is downright operatic at times, but she doesn’t show off by incorporating cheesy trills; she just uses her voice honestly and brilliantly to power through a song. As you would imagine, I would highly recommend that you check out the video to “Business” and if you want to REALLY hear what she can do with her voice, it’s also worthwhile to listen the acoustic version of “Business” that follows:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=aaMRTNdK6dc#!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ylOcNrbZlwY#!

9:00 pm – Alba Lua @ Silver Dollar

This Parisian band produces some solid rock pop tunes, and what is most curious about the group is how the vocal work is just bursting with raw femininity—which is all the more remarkable considering it’s an all male band. If you want a song that really hooks you in, check out “When I’m Roaming Free” below:

http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/14437-when-im-roaming-free/

On the mellower side of things (well in the beginning of the song at least), I’d recommend checking out the video to “Valley of Abra.” Here, the vocals are muted and the overall effect is a whispered song that manages to produce a remarkably upbeat melody given the quiet vocal work. The gradual instrumental build up is particularly brilliant, pulling the song into solid indie rock territory at the end:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xknx48_alba-lua-valley-of-abra-official-video_music#.UUUcxBfUl5Z

10:00 pm – Philly Moves @ Painted Lady

I had the pleasure of catching Philly Moves during last year’s CMF. If you’re into the likes of Def3 and Wordburglar you’ll definitely enjoy the old school rapping of Philly Moves. Rockwell’s back-up tunes result in a sound that’s a little bit more elaborate than the aforementioned rappers, but the instrumentation doesn’t act as any sort of crutch for the vocal work—Tragic can spit out lines like the best of the Toronto talent. I would recommend three songs that showcase the hip hop talents of the duo.

http://phillymoves.bandcamp.com/track/last-night-ft-mista-d-of-the-salads

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K65WLBJR-K0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smRCjGUYvDw

Philly Moves @ Comfort Lounge – March 21, 2012

11:00 pm – Funeral Suits @ Drake Underground

As I’ve said many times before, I have little taste for bands with male vocals, mostly because guys in bands generally can’t sing. This is not a criticism that could ever be levelled at the Funeral Suits. These guys can sing like bloody choir boys, and what is nice about this Irish band is that they don’t restrict their music to the folksy realm given their vocal talents. The singing is always good, but they’re not afraid to pound that vocal work into some serious indie rock.

And then there’s something to be said about their music videos. Quite frankly, they stand alone as works of art, and as music videos they are sublime. Check out the video for “Hands Down,” admittedly it’s akin to a disturbing pagan version of Lord of the Flies, but it’s impossible to deny that the video is brilliantly executed (pun intended):

http://vimeo.com/50246574#

To balance things out a bit, you’ll want to check out the video for “Florida” which is also brilliant but a little lighter on content:

http://vimeo.com/26982483

12:00 am – Midnight Romeo @ Annex Wreck Room

I would describe the sound of Midnight Romeo as high-energy electro rock. And based on their performance at last year’s CMF, I’m safe to guarantee that they’ll have a wicked stage presence on Thursday night. To get a feel for their energy, I’d take a look at their video for “Lonely Dancer” below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Nv-nYIAa04

Midnight Romeo @ Comfort Lounge – March 22, 2012

1:00 am – July Talk @ Lee’s Palace

Have I mentioned that I like original bands with a wide musical range? July Talk solidly fits that bill. Some songs like “Paper Girl” feature gruffy vocals reminiscent of a rock version of Tom Waits with a tremendously energetic musical execution:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jFwB5ayV0vQ

Then you can turn to a song like “Let her Know” where those rusty vocals get balanced out by Leah Fay’s sweet voice and some heavy synth work resulting in a nicely layered song:

http://julytalk.bandcamp.com/track/let-her-know

All in all, an original end to the night.

ALTERNATE PICKS

7:00 pm – Fire/Works @ Cameron Backroom

This Montreal duo has only been at it for a little under three years but they’re taking the music world on by storm. They remind me a little of Bon Iver, but with a much bigger sound. I would recommend that you check out the video to “Gran Voyageur.” The instrumental work is fairly simple, mostly some quiet guitar work, but the harmonized vocals still manage to produce a powerful melody:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8jUKue80G7Y

8:30 pm – Intergalactic Lovers @ Tranzac Backroom

This band produces a lively pop sound that is fun, slightly jazzy, but never too sweet. The light and moody vocals of Laura Chedraoui are the most prominent element in all the songs. There’s something strangely familiar about her voice, but I just can’t place it—it’s as if she’s managed to combine the elements of my favourite female vocalists into one awesome velvety package. For something upbeat, I recommend you check out the video to “Fade Away.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxDkq6rubqo

But if you just want to get a flavour for her vocal capacities in the most unadorned fashion, check out the acoustic video for “Bruises.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xcfzl3i_Uvw

9:00 pm – Suzie Wilde @ Central

Suzie Wilde would have to fall into the indie pop realm, with a bit of an emphasis on the pop side of things. Her vocal work reminds me of early Feist, and is no less talented, which given the prowess of Feist is quite the compliment. I rarely listen to music in this vein, but there’s something ridiculously charming about Wilde that has kept pulling me in, and it’s hard to deny that “Flame” is one hell of a catchy song. The sound mixing and the tiny electronic elements that are gradually worked into the piece also manage to keep things interesting at every turn:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=RRYcXFD_Goc

10:00 pm - The Zolas @ Rivoli

The Zolas are a truly original band from Vancouver. There is such a deep groove and soulful element to their indie pop song, “Escape Artist” that it’s hard to believe that two white dudes are pounding out the tune:

http://vimeo.com/59021215

On the livelier side of things I’d recommend checking out “Strange Girl.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE9nafJjU-g

CMF 2013 – RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WEDNESDAY MARCH 20, 2013

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 22:49:00 -0400

I took things down a notch in my review of bands for Wednesday, but I still managed to check out 60+ bands in my quest to find some unique musical offerings. And, by the look of things, Wednesday night will showcase an amazing line-up of original bands from across the country and beyond. The 8:00 pm time slot in particular will have a lot of great acts throughout the city.

Accordingly, it has been very hard to narrow down the bands into a cogent schedule—some hard choices needed to be made. At the end of the day, I have a list that includes grungy west coast rock pop, Japanese bluegrass, some heavy synth-pop and, as always, a smidgen of hip hop to end the night. I am tremendously excited to check out every single band on my schedule, and I only hope that I have the opportunity to catch the bands on my list of alternate picks sometime in the future.

If you have the time and inclination, I recommend that you take a few minutes to check out the various songs/videos I have picked out. There is some truly remarkable talent in town on Wednesday night.

Schedule for Wednesday March 20, 2013

6:00 pm – Daisy Blue Groff @ Central (603 Markham Street)

You may know Vancouver’s Daisy Blue Groff from her work in Painting Daisies. In her solo venture (albeit often accompanied by a number of guest musicians), she shifts away from the multi-layered harmonized sound of her earlier band. I would characterize her solo work as grungy rock pop that is just a tad smooth around the edges.

To be clear, there is not an ounce of sentimentality in her guitar chords as she belts out a tune. I’ve placed the “pop” part of the descriptor at the end of the line because there is only a slight suggestion of popiness in her songs, most notably in the slight sweetness of her vocal delivery. But the saccharine touch is balanced out nicely by some minor vocal muting which complements the high-energy guitar thrashing nicely. An apt comparison would be to Toronto’s Army Girls though the vocal delivery is quite different.

I am not altogether sure what her live act will hold, but the impression I gather from her online material is that her stage presence will have a pronounced minimalist element—one woman, one electric guitar, not much more.

To get a taste of her musical offerings, I’d suggest that you check out the video to “Forever Slowly.” Her guitar thrashing in particular stitches together one hell of a catchy melody:

http://vimeo.com/39385635

7:00 pm– John Pippus @ Central

John Pippus also hails from the rainy city, but his musical offerings fall into the acoustic blues side of things. His songs sport a wonderfully throaty voice often punctuated with passages of Dilanesque harmonica work. The best example of this would be in “Why Did I Ever Believe” which also features the ethereal back-up vocals of Aynsley Leonard in apt minimalist proportions:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLFcDRtlje8

But what I really love about John Pippus—aside from the flawless execution of his chosen genre—is the fact that he has an impressive musical range. Contrast the above song, with “Airplane Woman” which almost crosses over into the rockabilly realm:

http://download.johnpippus.com/track/airplane-woman-2

My absolute favourite however, has to be “One World” from his 2011 album Wrapped up in the Blues. Pippus employs his throaty vocals to produce a little toe-tapping tune that should keep you completely engaged:

http://download.johnpippus.com/track/one-world

8:00 pm – Pirates Canoe @ Clinton’s

As noted in my introduction, the bands playing the 8:00 pm time slot are particularly amazing on Wednesday night. I was absolutely torn between four different choices, but ultimately settled on Pirates Canoe.

Pirates Canoe is a six-piece folk bluegrass band playing Japan Nite at Clinton’s on Wednesday. There are many things that impress about this band, the least of which is the fact that six musicians north of the Mason-Dixie line could produce anything approximating the absolutely flawless performances of this band. Even if they hailed from the deepest backwoods of Tennessee, it would be difficult not to be impressed by the way the complicated instrumental work and the angelic vocals come together into perfect bluegrass melodies.

I’ll start you off with “Goodbye Jacqueline” to get a taste of their offerings. There’s a good reason why SXSE is heavily promoting this band for their shows in Austin this spring:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPumj9OXdow

“Goodbye Jacqueline” isn’t exactly a slow song, but they can definitely speed things up significantly without losing any of their coordinated precision. “Guitar Blue” offers a little bit more of an opportunity to show off their instrumental prowess and it definitely impresses. But, in all honesty, I also have to admit that there’s something quite amusing about watching such a classic Southern sound in a video that is very obviously shot in Japan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZ1tYOapRis

9:00 pm – Thus:Owls @ Neutral

I first heard of Thus:Owls when I was a listening to the archived New Year’s Eve podcast of The Signal on the CBC 3 website. The moodiness and the classical instrumentation hit me pretty hard so I ventured to find out more about this band.

The band’s front woman and principal songwriter grew up on a small island in Sweden and the band is currently based out of Stockholm and Montreal. And, there is definitely a Scandinavian jazz element to their percussion and subtle instrumentation.

I’ve previously compared this band to a mellower version of Silver Mount Zion based on the larger-than-life instrumental work that slowly builds up steam in their songs. But quite frankly, this band is so terrifically unique that any comparisons do it a disservice. Their sound is at times slightly jazzy, always subtle, and the instrumentation is highly complex and balanced.

However, the true anchoring force and consistent unifying element in all the songs has to come down to Erika Angell’s emotional vocals. At times she has the capacity to lord out her voice with the unapologetic force of an opera singer, but she can also shift her singing into a whispering shrill at the turn of a dime. All in all, I would have to say that Thus:Owls is quite definitely the one band at CMF that I am most excited to catch this year.

I took quite a long time to sort out the videos that highlight the musical diversity of the band. In my opinion, the three songs listed below illustrate the sheer brilliance of this band best:

http://vimeo.com/47105024#

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bYVi2kFksM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Hi-DKXuHzYM#

9:30 pm – Def3 @ Global Village Backpackers (460 King Street West)

It’s definitely going to be a little bit tight, but it’s worth the effort to make it to the Def3 set. If you like hip hop before it went all R & B and nauseatingly superficial, you’ll be into the vocal wizardry of Danny Fernandez. He can spit out some solid lines and the musical choices are always inspired. My personal favourite is “Stutter Step” below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkUGlJi1Tyw

Def3 @ Comfort Lounge – March 21, 2012

10:00 pm – The Box Tiger @ The Great Hall

I was drawn to this band by Sonia Sturino’s phenomenal vocals—there’s just something completely original and beautifully emotive in the way she sings, almost howling away into the night. I could listen to her sing all day, and I will admit that I’ve played the acoustic version of “Taller than Trees” no less than a dozen times over the last 24 hours.

However, their talents aren’t limited to Sturino’s vocal work—the acoustic song is also an impressive demonstration of the band’s ability to meld together into a tightly coordinated musical behemoth. That all of this is the brainchild of the youthful Sturino, blows my mind. I’d encourage you to check out the video to “Taller Trees” though it will definitely be a challenge not to put it on repeat (a special shout out has to go out to Southern Souls for creating yet another brilliant video):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmodGsKE8O0

And, if you’re thinking that the very awesome “Taller than Trees” is a one-time acoustic fluke, “Set Fire to Your Friends” is a perfect illustration of how The Box Tiger can also hit it out of the park in full throttle mode (and for the record, the normal version of “Taller than Trees” is also pretty terrific):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9Cd__4fGGI

11:00 pm – Miesha & The Spanks @ The Painted Lady

I’ve previously described this two-member Calgary band as being reminiscent of P.J. Harvey from the early 1990’s in its garage rock rawness, and akin to Sleater Kinney in terms of the vocal delivery.

The music video for “Leather Jacket” is a nice illustration of their sound:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzI1I1IKh6M&feature=player_embedded#

For something completely different, I would recommend that you check out their acoustic set at Shanghai Cowgirl later on in the week (March 23 @ 10:00 pm). I’ve never heard any of their acoustic work, but I’m anticipating that Miesha Louie’s emotive vocals will pull off the feat nicely.

12:00 am– Amy’s Arms @ Velvet Underground

Anyone who knows me is well aware of the fact that I enjoy a more-than-occasional night out at solid Goth joint. Unfortunately, Goth clubs appear to be an endangered species in the city, but Toronto can at least still produce some solid Goth-friendly music.

Amy’s Arms has been an established player in the Toronto Goth scene for years, though they remain obscure in mainstream music circles. The obvious comparison in terms of their sound is Siouxie and the Banshees, but in a darker moodier vein and with a much slower tempo to their songs—I would in fact characterize most of their songs as Gothrock ballads. “Pity” is a pretty good illustration of their work:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRfcMVW_IEs

For a newer song that is a tad more developed and on the faster side of their repertoire, you can try out “Vanity”:

http://amys-arms.bandcamp.com/track/vanity

I do realize that Gothrock isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but more often than not the straight-lace friends I’ve dragged out to Goth bars have had a fantastic night, and there’s something to be said for the energy of a live Goth show. The sound quality in the following video isn’t great, but it gives you a sense of their stage presence in a live show (and it certainly doesn’t hurt that’s the song is a pretty great Portishead cover):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9adDyDU90VI

1:00 am – Word Burglar @ Global Village Backpackers

If you’re into the local hip hop scene, you should camp yourself out at Global Village Backpackers on Wednesday night. Word Burglar is closing out what will already be a pretty great evening, and I can’t think of a better way to finish up the night.

Word Burglar is a fixture of the local hip hop scene. It seems like every second hip hop night I attend in the city either features Burglar’s Sean Volpe as a performer or organizer. Or both.

There’s something distinctly Canadian about Word Burglar, and I mean that in a good way. It seems like many contemporary American performers rap exclusively about money, jewellery, women (their body parts to be precise), fame and combinations thereof. In sharp contrast, Word Burglar playfully spits out lines in topics as diverse as comic books, adventures from his childhood jobs and breakfast foods—and Volpe does so in a light-hearted and playful vein. You instantly get the sense that he just revels in executing his craft.

I’ve done a little digging and I’ve found a few more interesting videos featuring Word Burglar since my last write-up:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eo5SudpANHg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXP6Xe50aow

Word Burglar @ 3030 Dundas – October 20, 2012

Alternate Picks for Wednesday March 20, 2013

The batch of alternate picks is particularly strong for Wednesday night. I was very much conflicted for a number of time slots—and often, the venue’s relative proximity to other shows was the deciding factor. As such, I would highly recommend that you give all of the bands that follow a few minutes of your time when you are making your selections:

8:00 pm – Wind Up Radio Sessions @ El Mocambo Downstairs

This indie rock band from Montreal features songs that start up nice and simple, with just a few instruments and modest vocals. Slowly more instrumentation kicks in, together with an additional smattering of harmonized vocals. “Legally Dead” in particular, builds up to a glorious climax that will have your swaying along as you listen. I would seriously question whether a listener still has a pulse if they can sit by unmoved by the awesome ruckus of instruments as this song reaches its magnificent peak:

http://thewindupradiosessions.bandcamp.com/track/legally-dead

8:00 pm – Highs @ The Gladstone

I would have to say that Highs is definitely the most original of the bands I won’t be catching on Wednesday night. They have limited tracks posted online but what little they are displaying is certainly promising.

It takes a little bit of attention to notice (and I in fact did not fully recognize the influences until I read their bio), but they have very strong African musical influences in their background instrumental work. It’s tough to realise at first because their sound is otherwise squarely rooted in the electro indie pop genre. As luck would have it however, I’m actually quite the fan African electric guitar work in the vein of the African Guitar Summit and I am also a huge fan of the complexity and simultaneous breeziness of the kora in the hands of a good musician. And once, you listen for it, the quick six-note, light, and almost percussive note progressions bear the unmistakable mark of the African continent.

I would highly recommend that you download their tiny EP, but if you are only inclined to listen to one song, I would recommend that you check out “Nomads.” The song opens with a dreamy electronic sequence which is thereafter punctuated by some very light African-inspired percussion and electric guitar work. But what really makes this song unique—aside from the pleasing, almost staccato progression of male-female vocals—is that brief little sequence where Karrie Douglas breaks out almost a capella-style near the end of the song. And yes, I do realize it’s a contradiction in terms to refer to musically accompanied vocals as a capella but what I mean is that the vocals almost stand alone from the instrumental work, which is remarkable because the latter is so unique and engaging:

http://highsmusic.bandcamp.com/track/nomads

9:00 pm – The Black Fever @ Brooklyn (1186 Queen Street West)

I had the occasion to catch The Black Fever during last year’s NXNE at the Painted Lady. Despite the limited stage space of the venue, they still managed to rock out quite the high energy set.

Their sound fits squarely in the indie rock side of things, but they also have the moodiness of late 80’s synth-pop in their vocal work. And, once we’re on the topic of vocals, I normally hate male vocalists in rock bands because they’re usually pretty horrible singers. That’s definitely not a criticism that would ever be levelled at the vocal work at play in this band. There’s almost an element of Thom York here, as if contemporary Radiohead were playing upbeat rock songs again. Quite definitely worth a listen:

http://theblackfever.bandcamp.com/track/seen-a-ghost

The Black Fever @ The Painted Lady – June 15, 2012

9:30 pm – Rend @ Tranzac Backroom

I usually listen to bands that have a touch more of that indie kick, but Rand totally won me out when I caught the acoustic version of “Battlecry” on their site—Carol-Lynne Quinn has some SOLID pipes and holds absolutely nothing back when she belts out a tune:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FO9LtLyCsFo

Ultimately, my initial skepticism about the band is actually rooted in a compliment of sorts. Simply put, they are one hell of a tight band, and most bands only get to that level either through major dedication, or as is more often the case, through heavy studio production and editing. The result is a sound that is impossible to replicate in a live performance. But at the end of the day, the sound is so tight in Rend because they are just all incredibly talented musicians.

For an illustration of their tight musical work check out their video for “Hide”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo3LCNMY7lE&feature=player_embedded

10:00 pm – Blessed Feathers @ The Drake Underground

I had a tortured time deciding between catching the Blessed Feathers and The Box Tiger for the 10:00 pm slot. This is folk music at its best. By which I mean that their songs feature simple melodies that are executed with absolute perfection and are entirely devoid of empty sentimentality.

“Hey All You Floridians” is my favourite example of their work (but the entire album is definitely worth a purchase).

The song mostly features the vocals of Donivan Berube and some simple guitar work. However, what really pushes the song into greatness is the brief but poignant vocal punctuation of the talented Jacquelyn Beaupre together with the smattering of her discrete banjo. Berube’s vocals are strong on their own, but the sweet and perfectly timed vocal bursts from Beaupre really complement his voice nicely. Their coordinated singing sounds like the vocal equivalent of an old couple finishing each other’s sentences:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y8TAN4O7Gg

They’re from West Bend, Wisconsin, so I don’t imagine we’ll see them up here often. Let’s show them some solid Canadian hospitality in the hopes of convincing them to come back again soon.

11:00 pm – The Damn Truth @ Supermarket

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4uKK3n6qQc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTLhs6v4FXU

Suggestions for the remainder of CMF will follow shortly.

CMF 2013 – Some Bands Just Don’t Need Any Help

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 23:04:00 -0500

I’m deviating a little bit from my usual focus here. There are some bands that have a solid fan base and don’t need any promotional help, but they’re still a hell of a lot of fun to catch. The following are a group of bands that I’ve caught multiple times in the past that reliably put on a damn good show. I would unequivocally recommend catching any/all of these bands during CMF.

The Balconies

This Ottawa band has been making the rounds in Toronto for at least a half-decade. As far as I can tell, I first caught them in 2009 and have seen them live on a number of occasions since. Each time I was impressed by their unbelievably energetic stage presence as they belted out their unique brand of high-energy rock.

However, Jacquie Neville’s vocals are what really set this band apart. Liam Jaeger and Steven Neville play the straight men balancing out Jacquie’s dynamic vocal work to great effect. The first video I’ve selected showcases Jacquie Neville’s impressive vocal talents (and as a bonus it’s a fun video to watch):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvT6taoj83Q

The second video is the closest thing I could find that can give you a sense of their hugely energetic stage presence (they’re seriously not playing it up for the camera):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mfc0C80WSXQ

Playing on Thursday March 21, 2013 at 10:00 pm @ Lee’s Palace

The Balconies – February 8, 2009 @ Whale Tooth EP Release Party

Amos The Transparent

No one has ever accused Ottawa of having a weak music scene. And, here’s yet another band from our nation’s capital.

I’ve been catching Amos the Transparent since at least 2008, and they were in fact one of the first bands I ever photographed at small venues like Rancho Relaxo. They have a solid and very loyal fan base in Toronto (I’ve known people who NEVER missed a show when they were in town) and for good reason: they always put on a rambunctious sweaty show. And, even though they’re big enough now to play some big venues, they’re still down-to-earth enough to keep playing the venues where they got their start. You’ve got to respect that.

I would describe their sound as classic indie rock—by which I mean melody-centric songs with tight guitar work, solid drumming and no extraneous production fluff. It’s hard to get a sense of the raw energy that they emit during a show, but their video for “Says the Spark” should give you a pretty decent idea:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgDrPtRDkd4

Playing on Thursday March 21, 2013 at 1:00 am @ The Dakota Tavern

Amos The Transparent – January 3, 2009 @ Rancho Relaxo

Paradise Animals

This Toronto band is actually relatively new, but they’ve impressed the shit out of me early which is why included them in this posting. And, I’m not alone, they can definitely pull their own already in terms of drawing in a solid crowd.

I’m usually not a fan of male vocals, but there’s something special about the way that the notably sombre vocals interact with the upbeat melodies that are infused with electronic elements. I will admit that their music reminds me of late 1980’s synth pop and I do love myself a solid Goth club. But even if you don’t, I would seriously dare you to listen to “Coastal Line” without swaying along to that solid solid rhythm (OK I cheated a little here, Allie Hughes does throw in some female vocals into the mix for this one song and she’s always terrific as well):

http://paradiseanimals.bandcamp.com/track/coastal-line-featuring-allie-hughes

Playing Saturday March 23, 2013 at 11:00 pm @ Wrongbar

Paradise Animals – June 15, 2012 @ El Mocambo

Sidney York

You also don’t see too many pop bands featuring both an obo and bassoon, and they use the instruments to good effect. “Dick & Jane” will give you a decent impression of their musical offerings:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPfO6RwZjzM

Playing Thursday March 21, 2013 at 9:00 pm @ Annex Wreck Room & Friday March 22, 2013 at 11:00 pm @ The Gladstone & Saturday March 23, 2013 at 11:00 pm @ The International Lounge

Sidney York – June 13, 2012 @ The Painted Lady

The Wilderness of Manitoba

The Wilderness of Manitoba is an amazing Toronto band which is without a doubt one of my absolute favourites in the city. And given the impressive local music scene, that’s no small feat.

I’ve caught them at least a dozen times, in venues large and small, and they always impress. This indie folk band puts together what can only be characterized as a terrifically tight sound blending together mellow piano chords, acoustic guitars and some banjo work into a seamless finished product. But what really sets them apart from most bands of a similar vein are the talented vocals which they manage to harmonize without effort. EVERYONE in this band can sing. Think Fleet Foxes, but with more of a bluegrass tinge and well … better. Yeah, I said it, better than Fleet Foxes.

It also doesn’t hurt that they are all terrifically nice people. I can’t tell you how many bands I’ve photographed a half-dozen times who couldn’t pick me out of a line-up to save their lives (and admittedly I do keep a low profile on purpose). But the fellows from Wilderness of Manitoba not only recognized me from day one, but go out of their way to say hello whenever I run into them. All of which to say, it’s rare to find people who are as amazingly talented as these guys who are also stand-up people. So go out and show some support.

Here are some video suggestions to give you a bit of a feel for their music:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHIdKpR3Jto

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Sk5ETbGpLM

Playing on Friday March 22, 2013 at 11:00 pm @ Revival

The Wilderness of Manitoba – June 25, 2010 @ The Music Gallery

CMF 2013 - Lesser Knowns … But Highly Interesting Original Bands

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 03:10:00 -0500

As I was looking through the list of bands playing at CMF, I took note of some smaller bands that have unique features. I then went back and explored a bit, crossing out those with generic sounds, and leaving only those bands offering something truly original.

Now, I have caught two of these bands in the past, but I was a little bit rushed and could not stay for their full sets. As such, for the most part, these bands will be new to me but I’m certainly getting a good vibe.

As always (in case my past postings haven’t made this abundantly clear by now), I’m focusing on smaller bands playing in smaller venues—and, surprise, I’m covering a wide range of music styles so hopefully there’s something here for everyone.

Brave Little Toaster

Brave Little Toaster was only recently established, but they’ve already done some solid shows at the Horseshoe and Silver Dollar. Amazingly, this is already going to be their second show at CMF. And it was during CMF that I caught the band briefly before I had to leave the show to fix my camera (this was the last night I was able to use my trusty camera of seven years before it conked out).

Notwithstanding the fact that I only caught three or four songs before leaving, Brave Little Toaster was certainly memorable. They pulsed out some disciplined solid rock with a slight southern twang. Don’t get me wrong, no one would ever confuse them for a country band, but there is something unmistakably old-rock and soulful about their work. They’re also unique in that they’ll have the crowd pulsating to a high-energy song and then they’ll take the audience down instantaneously for a soulful ballad. All in all, they have one hell of a stage presence.

Playing Tuesday March 19, 2013 at 10:00 pm @ The Silver Dollar

Brave Little Toaster – March 23, 2012 @ The Comfort Lounge

Miesha & The Spanks

This two-piece band from Calgary projects such high-energy raucous garage-rock that you’d not be surprised if you were told that there were another three guitarists playing from behind the curtain.

Their general sound is reminiscent of early P.J. Harvey in her Dry or 4-Track Demos incarnation from the early 1990’s. However, the undulating vocal stylings of Miesha Louie had me thinking back to Sleater Kinney—and given my love of that band, I am throwing down a huge and well-deserved compliment with the comparison.

What I find most interesting about the prospect of checking out Miesha & The Spanks is that they will be playing three acoustic sets while they are in town. It will be like checking out two entirely different bands, and I suspect that much like Nirvana’s acoustic album, Louie’s hard-crooning vocals are going to hit it out the park.

For an illustration of the vocal talents at play, take a gander at the video below (if she wears her coonskin hat during the shows I’ll be sold by that alone):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzI1I1IKh6M&feature=player_embedded#

Playing on Wednesday March 20, 2013 at 11:00 pm @ The Painted Lady & Thursday March 21 at 10:00 pm @ The Dakota & an acoustic set on Saturday March 23 at 10:30 pm @ Shanghai Cowgirl (see their website for an additional three shows in Toronto outside of CMF: http://mandthespanks.com/)

Rend

I was a tiny bit skeptical when I initially encountered this band, certainly not for a lack of talent, more of a personal musical preference issue. I usually listen to bands that have a touch more of that indie kick, but Rand totally won me out when I caught the acoustic version of Battlecry on their site—simply put Carol-Lynne Quinn has some SOLID pipes and holds absolutely nothing back when she belts out a tune:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FO9LtLyCsFo

In terms of their non-acoustic sound, what to expect? Once I got to appreciate Quinn’s talented vocals through the acoustic piece, it anchored my appreciation for the finished product. I would describe their sound as high-energy pop-rock with very tight guitar work. Usually this sort of thing turns me off because it tends to be fairly generic, hence the initial aversion. But on a closer listen, I would have to say that Rend certainly produces a unique sound. And, I am confident that they will have some crazy stage-presence (unfortunately a show at Clinton’s may not offer the best opportunity for them to rile up a crowd). In any event, this band is based out of Edmonton, so you may not have too many opportunities to check them out in the future.

For an illustration of their full-throttle side, click on the video link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo3LCNMY7lE&feature=player_embedded

Playing on Wednesday March 20, 2013 at 9:30 pm @ Tranzac Back Room & Friday March 22, 2013 at 8:00 pm @ Clinton’s

Megan Bonnell

Taking a turn to the mellower side of things, I’ll venture next to Toronto’s own Megan Bonnell. I would describe her music as acoustic indie, and there’s a nice clean simplicity to her work—she mainly just plays the piano and sings. There’s some light percussion and some string accents, but her talent really comes down to the interesting harmonies she puts together on the piano to complement her silky vocal melodies.

I would suggest that you check out the video to South Korea by clicking on the link below. It’s hard not to get drawn in by the initial waltzy-jazzy piano work reminiscent of early Fionna Apple, and by the sultry vocals. But the tune also evolves nicely, speeding up and slowing down, but always maintaining that waltzy beat as a unifying element:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJTWfaREvvQ&feature=player_embedded

Listening to some of her singing outside of what she has written, it’s clear that her vocal range is far greater than she lets on. I would encourage you to listen to her acoustic cover of Your Rocky Spine (Great Lake Swimmers). She’s got a great bluegrass voice itching to get out and I would urge her to occasionally give it a day-pass:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60HHdE28xq8

Now, I occasionally throw in an extra plug for a band when they are super nice. This isn’t one of those times. She’s already a little bit too big for her britches but talented nonetheless.

Playing on Wednesday March 20, 2013 at 7:30 pm @ Lounge Bar & Thursday March 21, 2013 at 10:00 pm @ Cameron House Back Room

Sandra Kolstad

To be frank, it’s hard to predict exactly what Sandra Kolstad will sound like (or do) when she plays her shows in Toronto. Generally speaking, I would characterize her work as high energy electronica with eccentric vocals sounding like the love-child of a wicked threesome between David Bowie, Annie Lennox and Laurie Anderson.

Sandra Kolstad hails from Norway and she has a reputation for high-energy shows with kaleidoscopic visuals. I have watched every music video and live performance video I could find online and while it all fits in the electro pop genre, it’s difficult to tell what she will do on any given day. Her video for Fire Burn, Blood Flow shows her more developed high-energy self, and the song certainly hits a brilliant stride:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqefsFrt9qs

Her live performance of The Young Woman and the Sea is a little bit more subdued, but with Sandra Kolstad, that’s definitely a relative term. For any other performer that would be one hell of a lively show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvqvMEgAIhM

Playing on Tuesday March 19, 2013 at 11:00 pm @ Clinton’s & Friday March 22, 2013 at 11:00 pm @ Hard Luck

This Sound Will Save You

This band has such moments of utter brilliance that it’s one of the bands I am most excited to catch this year. Hailing from Halifax, This Sound Will Save You has an incredible musical range, led by the similarly multifaceted vocals of Chloe Kirston-Jones (originally from England) which are brilliantly nurtured by the music engineering wizardry of Matthew Fudge.

Some songs feature mad danceable electro-pop tunes with vocals reminiscent of 1990’s John Hughes cheese (minus the shittiness). But you can then check out songs like Sacrifice where Kirston-Jones has transformed her voice into a slightly higher-pitched blend of Lou Rhodes from early Lamb, and Shirley Bassey:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thaTpb7-87k

However, in my opinion, the high-point of This Sound Will Save You comes with Nowhere To Hide. Kirston-Jones again transforms her voice, now into a younger version of Beth Gibbons from Portishead.

Have I mentioned that Lamb and Portishead are two of my all time favourite bands? I acknowledge that I may be a little biased accordingly, but I’m still confident that if you check out Nowhere to Hide, that song alone will be enough to convince you to check out this band live:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvIQoHQdY_M

Playing on Friday March 22, 2013 at 10:00 pm @ Revival

Raleigh Moncrief

1. Do not go to his website unless you fancy an epileptic fit.

2. It’s tough to really say much about this fellow aside from solidly placing him in the pure electronica realm. Vocals are few and far between, but the final product is definitely interesting. You’ll like him if you’re into pure electronica bands like I Am Robot and Proud.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kg3kPZKqpZM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usHvxEDVS1s

Playing on Thursday March 21, 2013 at 12:00 am @ Parts & Labour

Thus:Owls

I first heard of this band by randomly listening to an old podcast from CBC’s The Signal as I was working on selecting some shots for my initial CMF 2013 posting. The song thoroughly kicked my ass and had me looking for another beating. I then checked the listings to see if by some stroke of luck this Swedish/Canadian band is playing CMF, and sure enough, they are.

I’ll say it once, in it’s own bolded little paragraph for added emphasis: this is the one band I am MOST looking forward to catching during CMF, so if you are going to take me up on a single musical recommendation, this is the one to jump on.

It’s frankly difficult to slot Thus:Owls into a musical genre. The best I can say is that their work is some highly harmonized-dramatic-mostly-acoustic-indie … something.

Erika Angell’s vocals are potent yet simultaneously airy and dreamy. She’s like a female Thom Yorke with more umph. Their songs are sometimes big instrumental masterpieces like something out of Silver Mount Zion with female vocals and a more subtle touch. At other times, there is a fantastic large band emphasis with a sweet choral finish. All in all, to even get a smidgen of an impression of the greatness of this band, you really have to check out no less than the three videos linked below:

http://vimeo.com/47105024#

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bYVi2kFksM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Hi-DKXuHzYM#

Playing on Wednesday March 20, 2013 at 9:00 pm @ Neutral

Wordburglar

Now for something completely different … I turn to Wordburglar. In the local hip-hop scene he is definitely a Godfather of sorts. I’ve caught him live twice now, but unfortunately I was not in a position to pay much attention to his sets. But what I saw I liked, and his recent videos don’t really do his live skills justice. I’ve picked the best two clips that come close to reflecting his live sound. Gotta love the CanCon in the lyrics:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCd1dIAvpXI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFOYywSTbLk

Playing on Wednesday March 20, 2013 at 1:00 am @ Global Village Backpackers

Wordburglar – February 1, 2013 @ Rancho Relaxo for $5 Rap Show Three Year Anniversary

Been There, Done That … Some Low-Key Recommendations For Canadian Music Fest 2013

Sat, 23 Feb 2013 19:22:00 -0500

This will be my fifth year covering CMF and I thought it would be a good idea to highlight some great bands I’ve caught in the past. As always, my emphasis is on smaller bands playing in more intimate venues. That is, shows that would generally be easy to miss.

I’ve also made an effort to put in a little something for everyone by listing bands from a variety of different genres.

Def3 & Factor

In the hip hop realm, I was lucky to catch the tail end of the Def3 set at The Comfort Lounge during last year’s CMF and they definitely won out my night. Danny Fernandez spits out some solid lines with a refreshing absence of thuggishness. For a good illustration of his talents, I’d check out “Stutter Step” below. Def3 is a native of Regina, currently living in Vancouver so there aren’t a lot of chances to catch him in Toronto. Definitely not one to miss.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkUGlJi1Tyw

Playing on Wednesday March 20, 2013, 9:30 pm @ Global Village Backpackers

Def3 @ The Comfort Lounge - March 21, 2012

Midnight Romeo

This band from Quebec City produces some high energy, very danceable electro pop. They definitely deliver a dynamic stage performance which is surely destined to keep the audience engaged.

Playing on Thursday March 21, 2013, 12:00 am @ Annex Wreck Room & Friday March 22, 2013, 12:00 am @ Clinton’s

Midnight Romeo @ The Comfort Zone - March 22, 2012

Persian Rugs

I had the occasion to catch the Persian Rugs a few weeks back at Rancho Relaxo and they certainly impressed. The band is definitely at their strongest when their vocals are led by the talented Kaye Hamilton. Under her steady hand, they belt out some intense yet slightly subdued indie rock with pronounced electronic elements.

Playing on Friday March 22, 2013, 10:00 pm @ Rancho Relaxo

Persian Rugs @ Rancho Relaxo - January 18, 2013

The Seedy Seeds

I’ve had the privilege of catching The Seedy Seeds twice now and I was thoroughly impressed both times, not just by their unique sound, but also by the way they developed over the two years in between.

They’re definitely a tough band to describe, though they apparently find it easy to do so: “We are a brainy band from Cincinnati, Ohio. 2/3 of us are vegetarians.” Yup, that’s their entire bio as posted on the CMF site.

I would describe their sound as energetic indie pop with strong beats and a slight country twang due to the fairly prominent banjo work. Check out “Drive Me to the Centre” by clicking below, and hopefully that will be sufficient persuasion to get you to attend one of their two shows (the chorus alone will surely kick your ass). Also, the fact that they have shown themselves to be RIDICULOUSLY nice in my past dealings with them is a good reason to show some support. They’re from Cincinnati so they don’t come to Toronto often.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQmEyV_U9wA

Playing on Tuesday March 19, 2013, 9:30 pm @ El Mocambo Upstairs & Wednesday March 20, 2013, 10:00 pm @ Annex Live

The Seedy Seeds @ The Painted Lady - June 14, 2012

Paper Beat Scissors

As you can imagine, I cannot say enough to recommend this band, sadly their one show for CMF is open only to VIP wristbands. Seriously sucks because these guys are from Halifax and don’t come often. However, outside of CMF, Paper Beat Scissors are playing at Tranzac on Wednesday night. If you can’t make it to either set, the following video is worth a view nonetheless:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-hedGuojfg

Playing on Wednesday March 20, 2013, 10:15 pm @ Tranzac & Saturday March 23, 2013, 7:45 pm @ The Rivoli

Paper Beat Scissors @ Clinton’s - March 9, 2009

Carnival Moon

By far my favourite harpist in the city—okay, admittedly that doesn’t really say much. In terms of describing her sound, I would again put her in the general indie folk genre and I would say that Elaine Kelly is a more loquacious and comprehensible version of Joanna Newsom. Again, notwithstanding the fact that’s she’s local, Carnival Moon doesn’t play too often so it’s definitely a good idea to check her out during CMF. I’m sure that it’s hard to picture her music style so click below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEBCf_uBOOE

UPDATE: Carnival Moon is no longer playing during CMF

Carnival Moon @ Czehoski - June 17, 2012

Elise Legrow

I’ve been familiar with Elise Legrow’s vocal talents since 2009 in her capacity as the frontwoman for Whale Tooth. I’ve never had the privilege of catching her solo act live, but I can attest to her vocal prowess and physical energy during a show based on the half dozen times I’ve seen her perform with Whale Tooth.

I’ve also been a fan of all of her solo project musical web postings. In particular, take a glance at her video for “Weed & Wine.” Aside from the fact that she’s terrifically sexy in the video, it’s hard to deny the fact that the tune has a capacity to really seep into your bones:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Csw0GCNmjEI

Playing on Wednesday March 20, 2013 @ Kool Haus

Elise Legrow in Whale Tooth @ Sneaky Dee’s - February 8, 2009

Love Kills & Persian Rugs @ Rancho Relaxo - January 18, 2013

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0500

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Persian Rugs @ Rancho Relaxo

Love Kills @ Rancho Relaxo

Most People Record Release w/ THOMAS & Triple Gangers @ Cinecycle

Sat, 01 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0500

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THOMAS @ Cinecycle

Triple Gangers @ Cinecylce

The Most People @ Cinecycle

Radius & Helena, Still Life Still, & Malajube @ The Horseshoe

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0500

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Radius & Helena @ The Horseshoe

Still Life Still @ The Horseshoe

Malajube @ The Horseshoe

Babe & Digits @ Steam Whistle Unsigned

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0500

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Babe @ Steam Whistle Unsigned

Digits @ Steam Whistle Unsigned