Toronto Music Scene

By: Sheena Lyonnais
August 18, 2010

TTTT (out of 5)

The Runaways is another classic biopic of a rock’n’roll story gone wrong - the tale of an ambitious, trail-blazing individual that is eventually ruined by a world of addiction and loss.  Featuring the organically gifted Dakota Fanning as blonde bombshell Cherie Currie and the vampire lover-turned-rocker Kristen Stewart as the innovative Joan Jett, the Runaways tells the story the first all girl rock band to really stir up the world.  Signed at only 15, the girls were seemingly forced into a world of drugs and alcohol, prompting the highly addicted Currie to ultimately quit the band. 

By: Tanya Bailey
August 15, 2010

A soul rebel in this music industry, Bobby Dreadfull has been making a name for himself in the city for quite some time and he is now ready to take on the world. Toronto Music Scene recently had the chance to chat with him about everything from his band the Breastfed Superheroes to his upcoming single with half-brother Kardinal Offishall.

Tell me about yourself?

I was born in Toronto to  a Jamaican father [and a] Canadian (Anglo-Saxon mother). Grew up mostly in the city, spent my high school years in Richmond Hill [then] moved back to the city when I was going to York University studying Education/Anthropology.  [I] started playing the violin at age six, guitar at age 13, trumpet at age 10 [and] percussion in my early 20's.

By: Sheena Lyonnais and TJ Liebgott
August 14, 2010

After being kicked out of Wasaga and flirting with Toronto, Wakestock found a new home in Collingwood, Ontario last weekend.  TMS took highway 400 straight into a lineup that included predominately local acts and one major jaunt through hip hop nostalgia.  While Sunday was plagued by the annual Wakestock rain curse, Saturday was a perfect reminder of the Wakestocks of years passed.  The beer tent was packed, the wakeboarding was awesome and the soundtrack was great.  Here are our thoughts on everything from Fox Jaws to Flavor Flav.

By: Sheena Lyonnais
July 8, 2010

I’m not afraid to admit Jason Collett is in the top three of my favourite Broken Social Scene members, not just because I have a feeling we were born in the same hospital and thus possibly are of similar mindsets.  His songs reflect an unabashed ability to sing about real things, not necessarily coated with pretty words, but always with heart, soul and conviction.  His latest release Rat A Tat Tat falls nicely into his collection of solo work without straying too far stylistically from previous releases and is possibly his best to date.

By: Sheena Lyonnais
July 8, 2010

Vancouver’s Said The Whale have returned with a full-length album that is prepared to swallow you whole.  Islands Disappear shines in lyrics and instrumentation, spread across a sea of reflection, growing up on the West Coast where girls sometimes flee to Ontario and we leave our homes sooner than we ever imagined we would.

By: Sheena Lyonnais
July 7, 2010

Hannah Georgas, you write the kind of songs that coexist with summer days, reading books under trees, oversized sunglasses and cute hats with floral prints on bicycles.  Her debut full-length This Is Good prevails at living up to the buzz generated by her EP the Beat Stuff, surpassing the hype to create an album that is equally grounded, but already showing an enhanced sense of maturity in its approach to song writing.

By: Jen White
July 7, 2010
 
Belgravia Hotel, the debut full-length album from Toronto’s Birds of Wales , is simplistic in its songwriting, but its layers offer a lush, radio-friendly sound. Opening track “My Lady in July” sets the sappy, light rock tone of the album, and lead single “Uninteresting” is a ballad that would fit perfectly on adult contemporary/pop-rock radio stations.

The Best of the Festival's Hits & Misses
By: Sheena Lyonnais and TJ Liebgott
June 22, 2010

NXNE is like Christmas to Toronto Music Scene.  We look forward to it every year.  Sometimes we peek, knowing in advance what presents we're getting.  Other times we like to be surprised, so we refrain from checking beneath the beds of our parents so we can be moved in unexpected ways.  This year we're bragging to our friends about performances by Mudhoney, the Warped 45's and Moneen, while simultaneously wondering why our Aunt Lisa bought us an unglamorous copy of Wavves and the wrong version of the Reason.  Click to read our full list of festival highlights and lowlights, like a sexy, well-dyed blonde. 

By: Sheena Lyonnais
June 16, 2010

If you haven’t seen a White Cowbell Oklahoma performance, you haven’t lived.  Nothing is off limits for this crazy, country rock’n’roll band – strippers, Santas, you name if, they’ve done it.  The antics alongside their impeccable ability to lay down some superbly talented gritty chops makes them a must see.  Clem C. Clemsen tells us more.

By: TJ Liebgott
June 16, 2010

Toronto band Styrofoam Ones are an orgy of musical styles entangled into one cohesive sound described simply as pop noir.  However, pigeonholing them into any genre is an impossibility.  Bringing the raw energy of punk, combining it with pop and throwing in some Richmond st. Club sounds for good measure, Styrofoam Ones are one of the more unique bands playing this year's festival.  To tell us more is keyboardist/vocalist Andrew The.

By: TJ Liebgott
June 15, 2010

The first time we saw Spirits live we were instantly blown away.  Since then, we have seen them on numerous occasions and not once have they disappointed.  This threesome from Kitchener pack their shows full of synth pop hooks,  addictive melodies and more swagger than you can shake a stick at.  To tell us more is drummer Nick Skalkos.

By: TJ Liebgott
June 15, 2010

Alt-Country has been such a staple of Toronto indie, but Warped 45's definitely stand out of the Horseshoe scene by being more country inspired, instead of drawing from the indie rock.  Warped 45's have been making such waves in the scene that they have a steady flow of gigs leading them across Canada until November 27th.  Be sure to check out these up and comers before they become the next Blue Rodeo.

By: Sheena Lyonnais
June 11, 2010

I’ve seen bands cover songs from Super Mario Brothers, but never before have I seen a band whose entire catalogue of music is inspired by Nintendo and video games.  New York’s Anamanaguchi boasts intense techno-punk Yoshi beats.  They just completed the soundtrack for the Scott Pilgrim video game and are now bringing their fury of power ups and mushrooms to NXNE. Nerds, rejoice. Guitarist/NES-master Peter Berkman tells us more.

By: Sheena Lyonnais
June 11, 2010

My loyalty to Toronto’s music scene is rivaled primarily by Brooklyn, New York thanks to bands like Gold Lake.  For a band that lists “the smell of our nitrocellulose lacquered guitars” and “poisons and their antidotes” as influences, they sure transpire into a breezy, beautiful collection of songs with sharp lyrics, romantic melodies and moody guitars.  Vocalist Lua Rios tells us what we can expect from their much-anticipated return to NXNE.

By: Sheena Lyonnais

June 9, 2010

It amazes me the level of sheer talent coming out of Ireland right now and Autumn Owls are no exception.  A dreamy, solemn band, Autumn Owls is currently working on releasing their debut full-length album.  After two successful EPs, the band is bringing their haunting, enigmatic music to multiple showcases throughout Toronto’s NXNE.  I’ve fallen in love, guitarist/keyboardist Paul Bermingham tells us why you should too.

By: Sheena Lyonnais
June 8, 2010

Regina’s Rah Rah released their sophomore album Breaking Hearts earlier this month.  It’s full of whimsical indie beats, with lovely co-ed vocals and catchy, rampant choruses.  It’s the exact music that has stapled their image to Canadian streets.  Returning to NXNE for two performances, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Erin Passmore tells us what to expect.

By: Sheena Lyonnais
June 8, 2010

I had never given much thought to volcanoes in Canada until the international level of natural disasters occurring as of late. Canada is home to almost every kind of volcano, primarily situated on the west coast. Luckily, Canada’s volcanoes have remained relatively dormant.  Not so dormant, however, are Saskatchewan rockers Volcanoless in Canada who have been touring the country en route to NXNE.  Guitarist Levi Soulodre tells us more.

By: Sheena Lyonnais
June 7, 2010

Local art rock heroes DD/MM/YYYY (pronounced day/month/year) are playing three shows at this year’s festival.  Known for their experimentation with time signatures, their energetic live shows and their love of the abstract, the band is currently working on re-releasing their debut album on vinyl.  In a few words, new member analog synth player Stuart Jones tells us more.

By: TJ Liebgott
June 7, 2010

For most people, grunge died with Kurt Cobain in the early 90's.  Ottawa band Doll, however, has not given up on the genre.  Staying true to their roots, Doll plays real grunge in the vain of bands like L7, not the water downed corporate version heard in Cameron Crowe's 1992 movie "Singles." Vocalist/guitarist Christina Kasper tells us more.

By: TJ Liebgott
June 7, 2010

A combination of honky-tonk meets indie rock with British pop sensibilities, Great Bloomers have a sound that is familiar of the music going on in Canada, but with their own unique spin.  Comprised of an almost entirely different line-up than last year's NXNE showcase, singer/guitarist Lowell Sostomi tells us what to expect this time around.