Toronto Music Scene

By: TJ Liebgott
March 08, 2010

If you've ever thought to yourself, "I wonder what it would sound like if T-Payne started a pop-punk boy band?" Look no further.  Stereos plays a set at CMW before heading off on a cross canada tour with Hedley and Boys Like Girls.  Guitarist Robby Chalifoux tells us more.

By: TJ Liebgott
March 08, 2010

Toronto solo musician jsin brings his live band to CMW with a show at Revival.  Combining heavy guitar riffs, electronica and even some world music influences, jsin tells us more of what to expect at this year’s showcase.

B y: Sheena Lyonnais


March 08, 2010

CMW 2008 is where Frankie Whyte and I fell in love.  There was a chemistry amongst their rock’n’roll attitudes, their unapologetic love of Motley Crue covers and the aggressively raw-yet-sweet shredding and singing that is Whyte herself that hooked me from the get go.  This is a band that is unforgiving onstage, so much so they spent last summer opening for KISS.  Whyte tells us why their magnetism hit KISS radar and why it will capture us.   

By: Sheena Lyonnais
March 08, 2010

Digits debut Hold It Close was released in October of 2009, but it unfortunately didn’t make it on to my radar until earlier this year.  It has since served as a soundtrack to some gorgeously hazy evenings and it’s no secret his infectious electro indie pop may soon bleed into yours.

The man known as Alt Altman also plays trumpet and guitar for the Ghost is Dancing and sings and plays bass and synths for Europe In Colour, so it’s no surprise his solo project is a danceable, moveable concoction with a not-so-subtle influence of the Cure.  Altman tells us why we should start this Thursday off by catching his set at the Drake.   

By: Sheena Lyonnais
March 07, 2010

Victoria, British Columbia’s Jon and Roy will be performing three shows at this year’s CMW.  The band has recently become a four-piece and have been performing what they claim to be the best shows of their lives ever since.  They combine folk, roots and reggae into a dreamy, soothing ambience perfect for the cottage.  Vocalist/guitarist Jon Middleton and drummer/percussionist Roy Vizer tell us why we should join them in celebrating their love of good folk rock and bagels and perhaps why we should incorporate them into our summer playlists. 

By: Sheena Lyonnais
March 07, 2010

Yaletown, British Columbia’s TV Heart Attack are rolling into Toronto for a gig at CMW as part of their Canadian Tour.  The new wave rock band has garnered some impressive success, having performed on TV shows such as Whistler and Kaya, not to mention bassist Ryan McDonell’s recurring role on Smallville.  Vocalist Jason Corbett weighs in on their latest album Lost In The Sway and what can expect from their CMW performance.

By: Sheena Lyonnais
March 07, 2010

Toronto’s Manafest brings something different to the scene, and if that’s not enough to sell you then maybe this is.  The Juno nominated rock/rap musician has sold over 100,000 records and his 2006 hit “Impossible” featured Trevor McNevan of Thousand Foot Krutch. 

Manafest’s fourth studio album the Chase drops March 30 and is produced by Adam Messinger (Chris Brown, Justin Bieber, The Cab).  Manafest, real name Chris Greenwood, took a minute to tell us why we should fit a little Manafest in our CMW schedule before he heads out on a semi-world tour.

By: Sheena Lyonnais
March 07, 2010

If there’s a band I can’t go a day without hearing about, it’s the enigmatic fortress that is Toronto’s the D’Urbervilles.  Their magical brand of synth induced post indie punk has captured the attention of the nation, allowing them to land gigs with artists such as You Say Party! We Say Die!, Handsome Furs, Land of Talk and Malajube.  They are currently working on their follow-up to 2008’s critically acclaimed debut We Are the Hunters.  Bassist Kyle Donnelly tells us why we should check them out at CMW.  

By: Sheena Lyonnais
March 06, 2010

If you’re looking for something to fall in love to this weekend, Calgary, Alberta’s Michael Bernard Fitzgerald might be your man.  His acoustic rock music is painted with soft vocals, soothing temperance and a slightly sexy undercoat.  He keeps it romantic with his cotton vocals, intriguing with his spontaneous brass moments and catchy with his swift soul-infused swagger.  Hitting Toronto for a break from hometown shows, Michael Bernard Fitzgerald tells us in a few words why we should check him out.

 

By: Sheena Lyonnais
March 06, 2010

I first met Corduroy when I worked at a somewhat-shady bar on Bloor St.  We spent a glorious summer together as I served them cheap beers on the patio and they told me stories about their band that was then called Whatever Happened to Corduroy.

By: Sheena Lyonnais
March 06, 2010

If there’s one thing I know about Diemonds, it’s that they don’t mess around.  They’re a balls-to-the-wall classic rock influenced band lead by the pint-sized prowess that is Priya Panda. The local poster band for ripped jeans, rock star dreams and gritty, cigarette scented rock’n’roll, Diemonds will be the Juliet to your whiskey-filled weekend.  I’ll let Priya Panda tell you why.

By: TJ Liebgott

March 06, 2010

 

The Waterloo collective known as Pick A Piper makes a quick stop in Toronto for CMW before heading off on an East Coast tour.  To tell us more about the psychedelic four piece and why you should see their CMW showcase is drummer Brad Weber (also of Caribou).

By: TJ Liebgott

March 06, 2010

 

Montreal electro pop band Les Handclaps will be bringing their infectiously danceable songs back to Toronto for this year's CMW.  Perhaps one of the funnest bands we saw last year, Les Handclaps singer Lorraine Muller explains why you shouldn't miss their performance this time around.

By: Sheena Lyonnais
March 06, 2010

Toronto’s Faithdown have been working extremely hard to prepare for their CMW performance.  They’ve postponed all of their other responsibilities from writing songs to planning their tour in order to focus all of their attention on what they guarantee will be an awesome experience.

By: Tanya Bailey
March 04, 2010
 
Hey lady DJ, won't you play that song...

DJ the Queen of Spades knows how to rock the club scene like the back of her hand. Can you think of any other way to move the crowd? I had the chance to talk with the Queen of Spades as she shares her skills as a DJ, producer and engineer of many diversified musical projects.

Tell me a bit about yourself?
 
In a nutshell, I’m an open, fun loving, honest person. I love music and that's pretty much my life. I'm straight up, so if you’re going to ask me something, be ready for the bitter truth!

By: Sheena Lyonnais
February 15, 2010

Toronto’s Dinosaur Bones have been making waves in the scene ever since they appeared seemingly out of nowhere two years ago.   Since then, the indie rock band famous for their haunting melodies and energetic live shows, have been working towards their highly anticipated debut album.  While fans will have to wait a while yet, the band is celebrating the release of their 7-inch vinyl. 

By: Rose Cora Perry
February 13, 2010


 

“You’re right, a lot of it is shit, but those who do something special get recognized – they get a following.”

This was how my interview with Sebastian Pigott, actor-cum-rocker-cum-writer, most acclaimed thus far for his role as Kai Booker on CBC’s Being Erica, actually began. In spite of my best efforts to propel towards the questionnaire that I had spent days researching and devising, I couldn’t help it –I’m a sucker for a good music debate. Luckily for me, it would seem that Pigott’s interest was equally peaked by this proposition, as it didn’t take long for him to merit a rebuttal after I made the following cynical assertion:

By: Tanya Bailey
January 11, 2010
 
A Canadian songstress on a mission of love and hope for all, “Latin chanteuse” Lady Amanda Martinez is a on a roll and the world is loving her presence. I had a chance to speak with her over the holidays.

Tell me a bit about yourself?
 
I am a new mom and feel grateful to be pursuing a career that I love.  I just finished my first fall tour since the new album Amor came out and performed for the first time at NYC’s [renowned jazz club] Blue Note.

By: TJ Liebgott
December 14, 2009

Toronto's Mod Club Theatre played host to an evening of hardcore with bands Thursday, Dillinger Escape Plan, Fake Problems and Endless Hallway.

By: Acey Rowe
December 10, 2009

November was an interesting month for Hollerado. Hopping from Brazil to Argentina to China, pausing in Canada just long enough to play a heart-stopping show at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto and rake in the $250,000 jackpot at the Live 88.5 Big Money Shot in Ottawa.   The guys haven’t exactly had a relaxing couple of weeks. 

Still, it’s nothing the “hardest working band in Canada” (Ben Fox, Dinosaur Bones) isn’t used to. From their news making Residency Tour (seven venues in seven cities, repeated every night of the week for the whole of February), to their hand drawn website, it’s pretty clear that this is a band that never sleeps. It’s a work ethic and determination that is reflected in their powerful live show.