 By: Sheena Lyonnais
March 10, 2008
Three main indications you’re rapidly becoming successful include bringing a venue to maximum capacity, hitting the number one spot on the Myspace music charts and having your songs featured in a North American commercial campaign. Toronto singer Lights has a huge list of accomplishments to put under her tiny belt…or perhaps tuck under her headband.
|
|
Read more...
|
 By: Sheena Lyonnais
March 10, 2008
Toronto’s the Creepshow make everyday feel like the Rocky Horror Picture Show on Halloween. Complete with a standup bass, their performances are theatrical and their music is addicting, catchy and equally crazy. Their neurotic blend of psychobilly and punk is enough to make anyone want to dance and mosh, which is exactly what people did during their energetic set at the Horseshoe during Canadian Music Week.
|
|
Read more...
|
 By: Croydon DeMello
March 10, 2008
In the tradition of our musical ancestors in the realm of Rock, there are four missionaries who have sought to attain the responsibility of keeping the legacy of heavy music alive and in doing so have also innovated and brought about new standards. Their music features a barrage of heavy and melodic sonic frequencies that capture and enthrall the very essence of your spirit. It will leave you in a mystic abstraction, imploring for more of this mesmeric serenity.
|
|
Read more...
|
 By: Sheena Lyonnais
March 10, 2008
Remember when bands used to get really trashed, smash hotel rooms and throw shit out windows? Well, Toronto’s Latefallen still do that. In fact, they do a lot of things bands these days are too scared to do: including admitting they actually WANT to be played on the radio.
The rock quartet consists of vocalist Stephan Lacasse, guitarist Vanya Drakul, bassist Gregg Wolfe and drummer Bob Onyskiw. They have a no nonsense policy that couldn’t care less if you think they lack indie cred. They’re all about being real and dreaming big.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
By: Sheena Lyonnais
March 3, 2008
A Primitive Evolution is very different theoretically from its predecessor Lye, a band known equally for it’s highly addictive, energetic rock shows as it was for the members’ tendencies to drink way too many Jagermeister shots on stage.
|
|
Read more...
|
 By: TJ Liebgott
March 5, 2008
Toronto band Burning The Day has only been around for a short time, but they are already garnishing attention from such metal heavyweights as Metalblade Records and aging thrashers Anthrax. Toronto Music Scene recently caught up with singer Chris Gillespie and guitarist Braden Hoey after their unofficial CD release at The Reverb to discuss how a "Do it yourself" metal band can gain such momentum without labels, management, lawyers or any other kind of support.
|
|
Read more...
|
 By: Sheena Lyonnais
March 3, 2008
Everything about Tin Bangs is tight. Their music is tight, their performances are tight, hell even their pants are tight! They have obvious band camaraderie, hilarious stories and a ton of insight about the music industry. It’s an old school approach to rock and roll, and one that is definitely going to help them excel into perpetual stardom.
|
|
Read more...
|
 By: Sheena Lyonnais
February 26, 2008
There were several things that set Space Is For Stars apart from the other bands at the Reverb on February 24. The most obvious being that every other bands were metal, and I mean hard, fast, heavy I’m-going-to-kick-your-ass metal, where as Space is for Stars are a nice melodic fusion of indie rock and dance with a dash of pop.
The second would be the fact there are twins in the band! Guitarist Brian Ellis and drummer Gary Ellis are identical twins. Thirdly, Bassist Brayden was the happiest person I have ever seen once his bass started working after two songs of technical difficulties.
|
|
Read more...
|
 By Jason Daniel Baker
February 22, 2008
As we mourn the recent loss of local landmarks on Queen Street West, scorched by a suspicious fire, it perhaps offers us fresh perspective on appreciating those great historical buildings in our city that still stand, including our very venerable rock clubs.
Toronto's legendary El Mocambo has, over its long and storied existence, been a favourite of the world famous Rolling Stones and countless other noted musical acts for good reason. The environs within are truthful to what is most appealing in any good bands' sound.
|
|
Read more...
|
 By: Sheena Lyonnais
Feb 20, 2008
Every since seeing Downsview rock the Horseshoe Tavern on February 18, their five track EP has been playing my iPod on repeat. They have won me over with a combination of catchy lyrics, solid instrumentation, excellent stage presence and a good old combination of punk riffs and rock attitudes.
|
|
Read more...
|
 By: Sheena Lyonnais
February 25, 2008
Luke Sneyd doesn’t mess around. The singer/songwriter just released his debut album All of Us Cities last year, and already his songs have reached number one spots on Internet radio charts. He recorded with the help of just a few friends, including his producer Marc Koecherr who he met in film school, but for the live show Sneyd had to recruit even more help. Now with a steady lineup, he is beginning to make a name for himself in Toronto and across the nation. Toronto Music Scene had a chance to catch up with him after his gig at the Horseshoe Tavern on February 18.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
By: TJ Liebgott
February 16, 2008
Either I'm going deaf or The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern learned that volume knobs have settings other than 11. Arguably once the loudest club in the city, The Horseshoe is showing its age (it turned 60 last year) by turning the volume down to match every other club in Toronto. This wasn’t enough to stop Suckerfactory, Luke Sneyd and Downsview from rocking a small Family Day crowd.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
By: Jason Daniel Baker
February 16 2008
Toronto band Witch Ever brought it’s A-game to Kensington Station on February 16 and it was a real jaw-dropper of a show for those of us able to have found our way there despite the labyrinth of high snow banks. Absolutely nothing went wrong and they simply rocked in the most exquisite set I have ever heard them play.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
By: Sheena Lyonnais
February 17, 2008
The ladies of Hunter Valentine obviously have some strong opinions on the politics of love and war. They sing about it in a bitter, burdened way, yet they love to make a spectacle of the infamous four-letter word by playing a huge show on Valentine’s Day every year.
“It seems like a gimmicky thing but that’s kind of what we’re about, we’re about this heartbreaker, heartbroken romance thing,” said bassist Adrienne Lloyd. “I love playing the shows because I feel like it’s a great mix of singles and couples and that’s been the highlight of my Valentine’s Days.”
|
|
Read more...
|
|
 By: Croydon DeMello
February 6, 2008
"Explosive, energetic and raw" are the sounds of The Stereo Hoax, an upcoming band ruminating from Canada's very own Toronto city. When hearing them live, one is to experience a wall of sound that takes on a lifeform of its own and seduces you into a state of dance rhapsody. All this, from four individuals that started from very different musical backgrounds that now unite to form a style that is congruent with post-punk/rock/reggae features which fuses to form the basis for new music today.
|
|
Read more...
|
 By: TJ Liebgott February 7 2008
After a long wait, the schedule for the 2008 Canadian Music Week festival has been announced. This year features over 500 bands from Canada and abroad, playing over 40 Toronto venues for what will be 4 days of auditory bliss starting thursday March 6th. |
|
Read more...
|
|
 By: Sheena Lyonnais
February 3, 2007
Dodger’s show at the Sound Academy last night proved not only that their latest album Musth is a huge hit amongst their head-banging, skank induced following, but also that opening bands can totally own a crowd. You never would have known there was anyone else on the bill (especially not Goldfinger!) based on their energetic, overwhelming performance, but what else can you expect from a band who named their album after aggressive, horny elephants.
|
|
Read more...
|
 By: TJ Liebgott
Saturday Punk Rock legends Goldfinger returned to Toronto to make amends to fans who felt short changed after the debacle that resulted at Wakestock. Their last visit to our city left them bitter and angry with a shortened set, (See Video) but this time around they were able to make it past the song "Mable" and play an explosive set that lasted just over an hour. The band spared no expense, belting out song after song that spanned their 15 year musical career. Highlights included fan favorite "Mable", "Counting The Days" and the song that put this band into the limelight "Here In Your Bedroom".
|
|
Read more...
|
|
By: Jason Daniel Baker
Any who want to know what kind of guitar playing once moved certain anonymous individuals to spray-paint the words 'Clapton is God' on the walls of London subways in the 1960s should hear the unsurpassable Teresa Hart, guitarist for the multi-honored Toronto-based punk group Fidget play. That is the otherworldly feel you can get from seeing such adeptness in action.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
By Jason Daniel Baker
Your typical punk performers do not usually consider themselves to be guardians or curators of a proud tradition. Yet the good ones often very much are and do not see that as being contradictory to the non-conformist tradition of punk. The musical form that the Black Rainbows embrace is paid a certain unique kind of reverence by them for the simple reason that they like it enough where they don't want to play a different form and want to do right by the form they have chosen. It is a matter of respect and emulation of the visionary performers that pioneered the genre whom they idolize.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
Toronto, Ontario, Canada>
