New Music & Concerts

Hey Rosetta! at Phoenix Concert Theatre

noreply@blogger.com (New Music & Concerts) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 03:02:00 +0000

So I realize that I'm posting this review just a little bit late seeing as the concert was just over a week ago, but I've been quite busy with all sorts of other things both related and unrelated to the wonderful world of music. Nonetheless, Hey Rosetta! has two more shows this weekend and two more in mid-December in their hometown St. John's, Newfoundland. To see more about the upcoming shows click here. Also, it's never too late to write a review for an absolutely amazing concert. The Phoenix is always a great venue for concerts with many accessible bars, many ways to get up to the front, a nice upstairs area (which I never seem to use) and all in all a great stage setup and great sound. This was my fourth time seeing Hey Rosetta! live (I think...) and it was also the best, it was the first night of their two day stay at the Phoenix.

I'll start off with just a quick note on the openers. Unfortunately I missed Ivan & Alyosha which is a four piece indie-folk-rock band from Seattle. They've grown in popularity quite a bit because of being recognized by National Public Radio due to their success at SXSW. They have a very beautiful folky sound with superb vocal harmonies, but considering I missed their set, I'll stop myself there. I caught most of The Jezabels who are a very dynamic four member group from Sydney, Australia. It's a bit difficult to define their music under one genre so I'll just say that they're indie which seems to work perfectly for all sorts of undefinable music that's out there today. The Jezabels are touring in support of their first full length album entitled Prisoner. They had a very full sound with lead singer Hayley Mary's unique, high-pitched vocals punching through and taking the lead. Being a drummer however, after a while I found myself fixated on Nik Kaloper whose skill on the drums was astounding. I really found it difficult to focus on any other member because of the extremely technical driving drum beats that were being played throughout their set. All in all, I definitely enjoyed what I saw, but now on to Hey Rosetta!

Hey Rosetta! took the stage and started off with Parson Brown off of their third album, Seeds. At first I thought that this was a weak song to begin a set with because of its slow beginning pace and lack of energy, but as the song went on I remembered how it transforms into a very energetic, hard hitting, driving force by the end which really sets the crowd up for what would be a show that can be described as the same. They went on to play Welcome, the lead single off of Seeds which perfectly maintained and even built upon the energy that was delivered by the end of Parson Brown. The song flows so naturally and takes full advantage of Tim Baker's infectious lyrics and vocals as well as the full layered instrumentation from the band. Yer Spring came next which was another perfect display from the whole band, with the strings adding beautiful layers on top of the driving bass lines and drum beats. There's a point in the middle of the song which seems to have a bit of a middle-eastern influence which always seems a bit out of place to me until the band explodes into the melodic second half of the song which contrasts all too well from the first half.

Overall, this set was dominated by songs from Seeds, which I won't complain about because it's a great album, but I would have liked to see some older tunes as well. Speaking of older tunes, the band played There's an Arc as their fourth song which was one of the highlights of the night for sure. The song has to be one of my favourites as it starts off slow and builds into a fully layered anthem style number. It's a perfect song for jumping up and down, singing along or clapping along, so really it's a perfect song for a concert in general and I hope that they don't stray away from this one for all of their future live shows. After playing New Sum, the band moved on to play Young Glass which I would say is my favourite song off of Seeds. The lyrics make you feel like you're exactly where the story is taking place. The bass line is very melodic and higher than most bass lines with the strings creating an orchestral feel over-top with perfectly placed runs. Ending with another great build-up which is just oh so easy to lose yourself in and start clapping along, this marks another unbelievable song to see at a live show. They played Red Song next off of their three song Red Song EP. This marked the low point of the concert for me and was the only song of the night that I would have replaced. It's just a little bit too downbeat for such an upbeat band and it definitely seemed a little bit out of place, but I guess in contrast it made the rest of the night that much better.

After playing a few more tunes off of Seeds, the end of their first set started drawing nearer as they began playing perhaps their most successful song to date, being Red Heart. Everyone in the audience was ecstatic as the solo drums kicked in and were then accompanied by the all too catchy, technical, yet melodic guitar line. Everyone was singing along and the energy just kept on building as the song advanced. With everyone singing along happily, this was perhaps the best song of the night. The only thing that could have made it any better was if the bass line had been just a little bit louder for everyone to hear the catchy solo-esque walking bass line near the end. New Goodbye came next which they often use to close a night so it had me a bit worried, but very pleased at the same time that another older song was being played. It's another great song that everyone was singing along to as it built perfectly to make way for the last song of their set being Seeds from the album of the same name. Overall, these three songs worked perfectly together to close off their main set.

The crowd was going crazy waiting for Hey Rosetta! to walk back on stage for their encore shouting a hockey style chant of the band's name. The band most definitely indulged the crowd as they walked on quickly and began to play Bandages. The song translated into a live number much better than I ever would have imagined especially because Tim was able to give the audience a vocal part which is always a hit at a live show. The last song of the night was a bit of a surprise as they started playing Changes by David Bowie, it matched their style surprisingly well as they were able to make use of the band's full instrumentation and adapt it to the hit pop classic. The song then developed into a medley in which they also played their own song The Simplest Thing off of their first album as well as Hummingbird by Wilco and All The Young Dudes by David Bowie/Mott The Hoople. It was a great close to the night and showcased their talent and energy in a variety of different ways.

Hey Rosetta!'s concert at the Phoenix was unbelievable. They were able to make a 14 song set seem like it was a 20 song set. I suppose that's because they're able to jam out and create live versions of songs which on their own are incredible, but extended just a bit, they become a perfect sum of all their parts coming together to create unbelievable, energetic live tracks. They were able to engage the crowd and have them singing, dancing and clapping along like many other bands are unable to do. It would have been nice to see a few more older songs considering the only song they played off of their first album was part of the Changes medley. They also only played three songs from Into Your Lungs which is another amazing album of theirs, although now that I think of it, all three of their albums are amazing. This concert solidified my belief that Hey Rosetta! is one of the best Canadian bands around today. Their live performances are unbelievably energetic and their music has a fully layered sound, with perfect build-ups and anthem style songs which are incredibly catchy and infectious. I could fully see this band playing stadium performances in the future and I guarantee that I will be there singing and dancing along when that day comes.

Ronald Jenkees: A Youtube Star

noreply@blogger.com (New Music & Concerts) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 22:11:00 +0000

One thing that is great about new music is the fact that there are so many possibilities as to how it might finally reach your ears. Sometimes I discover music because it's used in a movie or a T.V. show. Sometimes I find new music because of opening bands playing at concerts I'm attending. Still, but to a lesser extent, friends will physically bring music over for me to hear. The most popular method though, is finding music on the oh so useful interweb. If there's a band or artist worth listening to, they have their music on Youtube as well as many other music sharing websites. Ronald Jenkees is a musician who made use of the Youtube medium like few other "unkown" music stars have. Ron Jenkees' Youtube keyboard performances have reached over 50 million views in total and as people keep talking about him, the buzz spreads and that number is just gonna keep climbing.

There's a reason why Jenkees' videos have so many views from all over the world, and that's because he really is an incredible musician and his music appeals to most people in one way or another. His music can be described as a blend between hip-hop, techno, and rock & roll, with each video giving a bit more emphasis one style or the other. He plays his music as if he's dj'ing, playing the drums, and playing the keyboard all at the same time. He started off in 2003 creating music under the name "Big Cheez" and started posting his Youtube videos under his own name in 2006. Social media aggregators like StumbleUpon have helped lead to his internet fame to a large degree. Ron Jenkees has a very goofy demeanor as he starts up each keyboard performance with the opening line "hello Youtubes!" he's also known to give opening talks about the piece he's about to play and even sometimes breaks halfway through a song to talk to fans or to display messages upon the screen.

The one thing that most musicians will love about Ronald Jenkees is his extreme love for music. You can see joyful expressions on his face in all of his videos as the music truly does inspire and move his soul. He also gives great advice to other musicians in terms of keeping music simple at times, let the beats move you, but most of all just love the music you're creating. Jenkees now has two full length albums, one is self titled and his second album is entitled, Disorganized Fun. They are available on his website at www.ronaldjenkees.com. So watch his keyboard videos on Youtube and discover why Ronald Jenkees has become such an internet phenomenon. Fall in love with the music like so many others already have and maybe you'll be persuaded to help support this amazing musician in all of his future endeavors.

Atlas Sound: Parallax Album Review

noreply@blogger.com (New Music & Concerts) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 22:04:00 +0000

Bradford Cox is at it again with his new solo album Parallax. If you're not familiar with his work, Bradford Cox has released five albums with his band, Deerhunter, and now Parallax is his third solo album released under the name Atlas Sound. His work with Atlas Sound tends to be a bit softer and less experimental in nature compared to some of his work with Deerhunter and this is definitely the case on Parallax. This album progresses smoothly like a dream sequence with great pop melodies built over top ambient sound and music.

The album starts off with the song entitled The Shakes which is a straight forward pop tune with simplistic drums using catchy fills. It builds slowly and is short and sweet, but it opens up the album very well setting the tone for a more dreamy style pop that seems both upbeat and downbeat at the same time. The second song, Amplifiers sounds a bit more irregular in nature with definite softer and dreamier sounds than the preceding track. The bass goes back and forth and is quite repetitive, but in a good way as it's used over top the ambient synth-pop sounds. The drums are still simplistic, but they have great use of discrete hi-hat and cymbal work. The song ends with a pleasing falsetto and synthesized effects slowing to a halt. Te Amo is one of my favourites off of Parallax with a looped piano line switching from left to right creating that feeling of a dream sequence all too perfectly. Between the ambient sounds, vocals, soft drums and piano, this song almost has a Caribbean feeling to it. The title track, Parallax comes next which has heavy use of effects creating the ambient synth-based pop that is so prevalent on this album.

te amo by atlas sound

Modern Aquatic Nightsongs really describes itself as I can imagine myself being on a beach at night in the Caribbean with this song softly playing in the background. The drums and percussion support the feel with layered guitars and effects supporting Cox's soft voice throughout. Mona Lisa is one of the most straight-forward pop songs on the album with drums similar to The Shakes and an acoustic guitar sound with background harmonica driving the song forward. For someone who hasn't heard Bradford Cox's work with either Deerhunter or Atlas Sound, Mona Lisa would be a great intro track. In Praying Man, Cox's voice is a bit more distorted and experimental on top of acoustic guitar layered behind catchy electric progressions and late in the song, an ambient harmonica line. Doldrums is next which is possibly the softest song on the album. It's a perfect song for falling asleep to or for entering a state of deep relaxation. It seems like a modern synth-pop lullaby in many ways.

My Angel Is Broken is another semi-upbeat pop song with straight-forward acoustic guitar, bass and drums giving reference to an old style of pop that one could find in the 60s. Terra Incognita reverts back to a softer ballad style progression with minimal use of drums or percussion. Another perfect song for deep relaxation and imagining yourself by the water on a beautiful summer night. Flagstaff is the second last song on the album and starts off softly with guitar and vocals as Bradford Cox exploits the best parts of his vocal range. The entire second half of the song is a combination of layered effects and synth as the track slowly comes to a close. The final song on the album, Lightsworks, definitely ends on a high-upbeat note. It starts off with a progression of stand-alone drums before the oldschool pop style guitars and bass comes in with Cox singing in a bit of a lower register. This song has great use of backup vocals adding to the overall ambient feel which we experience in this album. With more use of harmonica and guitar effects, this song embodies the more upbeat qualities that Parallax has offered throughout. The effects that close the song off almost feel similar to how you would expect Cox to finish off a concert.

Overall I would give this album an 8.5 out of 10. I would consider this my favourite Atlas Sound album to date as it progresses smoothly and is extremely easy to listen to. As Bradford Cox continues to develop his skills as a musician, singer, songwriter and editor, it will be interesting to see which direction his music will take as his solo effort in Atlas Sound, as well as with his band, Deerhunter. Parallax isn't the kind of album you would play at a party, and it's not the type of album you would use to quickly raise your energy, but if you have the time alone to relax and reflect, this is the perfect album to listen to. Parallax perfectly embodies the surreal with both the lyrics and instrumentation. It truly does feel like a smooth dream sequence appealing to all of the senses with every song fitting perfectly and flowing together to create a masterpiece.

Members from BSS and The Stills Form Eight and a Half

noreply@blogger.com (New Music & Concerts) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 01:54:00 +0000

I've been a huge fan of the record label, Arts & Crafts for a while now, so when I hear about new bands under this label, I start to get excited instantly. I'm also a huge fan of Broken Social Scene, so when I hear that a new Arts & Crafts band features BSS drummer Justin Peroff, well then I can hardly contain the excitement. This all comes at a great time seeing as Broken Social Scene is on an indefinite hiatus and I am always itching for music related to them in one way or another. This new band is called Eight and a Half and it is made up of Justin Peroff, mentioned above, and former members of The Stills, Liam O'Neil and Dave Hamelin.

Unfortunately I never fully explored The Stills and now that they've broken up I feel like I'm missing out. I regret that I won't have the chance to see them live, but Eight and a Half serves as a bit of relief considering they have some of the same members. Broken Social Scene on the other hand has been one of my favourite bands for a while now and I've had the chance to see them live more than ten times. In fact, BSS is one of my top five bands and they're in my top five for good reason. If you don't already know Broken Social Scene, then start exploring. Their live performances are incredible with up to 16 people jamming on stage at once. Their music is diverse with singers and musicians alike from Metric, Stars, Feist, Apostle of Hustle and others.

I've only been able to find one song from Eight and a Half, entitled Scissors. I truly hope this is a glimpse into the main style of the band because I've fallen in love with this song already. It can be described as synth-based indie pop, and it is very ambient and has many layered textures. Peroff's drums are simple, but add to the song and create a foundation which is easy to build upon with the deep effect layered bass and guitar. Hamelin's lyrics and vocals are melancholy and introspective, but the bottom line is that they are truly beautiful. This has been labeled as a legitimate band and not just a side project for these talented musicians which makes me happy and worried at the same time considering I believe Broken Social Scene will be back together sometime in 2012. Either way I look forward to seeing where this band goes and I can't wait to hear more songs from Eight and a Half. Eight and a Half is set to release their self titled debut album on February 7th, 2011.

Scissors by Eight and a Half

Florence and the Machine: Ceremonials Album Review

noreply@blogger.com (New Music & Concerts) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 02:12:00 +0000

Florence and the Machine really hit the indie scene hard and fast with their debut album Lungs and now Ceremonials does not disappoint as a follow up album whatsoever. They started right where they left off with unique and beautiful indie pop vocals on top of strong simplistic piano parts and driving tribal drum beats. They have further developed their anthem style songs which so many indie fans love so much. Overall, the musical aspects of Ceremonials are a bit darker in nature than Lungs, but the complexity has increased and the musicianship and instrumentation is to die for. If this band's first two albums are any indication as to where this band is heading, then Florence and the Machine is going to be successful for a very long time.

Ceremonials starts off with the song Only If For A Night which starts off slowly with piano and harp and immediately showcases Florence Welch's unique vocal style before erupting into the upbeat driving song which works perfectly as an opening to the album. The off-beat drums drive the song forward while giving it a tribal feel which has given Florence and the Machine an original identity. The string parts, piano parts and backing vocals give it an orchestral feel as well which really sets the pace for an album with a very full sound. The next song, Shake It Out, is the first official single from Ceremonials and it starts off in a similar way to the first track which makes the album start to flow smoothly. In the chorus you immediately hear the epic anthem style lyrics backed by sustained bass and catchy tribal style drums driving the song forward. What The Water Gave Me comes next which has an overall haunting feel to it while sounding beautiful at the same time. There are a few breaks in the songs making way for perfectly placed builds into epic portions of the song. All in all these first three songs serve as a perfect opening.

Never Let Me Go starts off softly with piano and vocals and when the main part of the song kicks in it gives the listener an inspired and hopeful feeling. This song is not as upbeat as the previous three and really gives some contrast to the album and beautifully adds to the smooth flow. The backup vocals really add to an anthem style feel later in the song and I feel like this song would translate perfectly live. Breaking Down comes next starting off with a very happy xylophone/bells part which reminds me slightly of a Christmas jingle. The constant beat and string parts give the song a very upbeat catchy indie style. Lover To Lover sounds like a gospel tune which gives more contrast to the album without seeming out of place because of Florence's unique but consistent vocal style. No Light, No Light has another slow build to start the song off with ambient organ backing up the vocals until a sweeping harp part precedes the explosion into the body of the song. The body reverts back to Florence and the Machine's main style which is evident from the off-beat tribal style drums and anthem style vocals. The harp makes some unique appearances later on as the song softly comes to a close.

Seven Devils is probably the most haunting song on what can be described as a haunting album. The minor piano parts, string parts and powerful bass drum hits back up Florence Welch's vocals perfectly and help create one of the most powerful yet frightening songs I've ever heard from this band. Heartlines then gives some relief and contrast with perhaps one of the most catchy choruses on the entire album. The drums are incredibly powerful as they are in many of the other songs on Ceremonials and by the end they add to the driving anthem style which never seems to get old with this band. Spectrum is the next song with yet another slow build into an explosion of upbeat drums and epic vocals. This song showcases some unique instrumentation and musicianship with perfect placement of the harp as well as synthesizer and a very soft and slow close to the song.

All This And Heaven Too gives another very happy, inspiring and hopeful feeling, but adds contrast within the song with short changes to a slightly minor feel. The chorus then eliminates this minor feel immediately and really is one of the most happy sounding parts of the album. This is yet another song with perfect instrumentation with the strings, drums, bass and piano serving as an incredible foundation to Florence's awe inspiring vocals and lyrics. Leave My Body is the final track on Ceremonials and it serves as a great close to the album. It really showcases all of the unique capabilities of this band and driving anthem vocals which makes their music have such lasting appeal. There is great use of call and response lyrics within the choruses which points towards this song translating perfectly as a live number and possibly a show closer. The song slowly comes to a close with vocals transformed by effects giving a haunting, suspenseful feeling which makes the listener keep wanting more. The best solution is to listen to the album again which I have definitely found myself doing.

Florence and the Machine has a very unique sound due to Florence Welch's vocal style, but they develop this further with the use of great instrumentation and driving drum beats. Overall, I would rate the album as an 8.7 out of 10. If anyone was concerned that this band was going to be a one hit wonder, well first of all they should have listened to all of Lungs instead of listening solely to the single, Dog Days Are Over, but this second album further disproves that concern and shows that Florence and the Machine really does belong as a staple in the indie music scene. With epic anthem style songs that never seem to get old and a natural flow to their albums as well as in each individual song, this band should be around for a long time. This is a band that keeps the listener wanting more and the lasting appeal of their albums is quite refreshing for the period between albums. I for one cannot wait until I have the opportunity to see this band live, but I am not concerned because I know that I will have many opportunities in the future. With two incredible albums under their belt, Florence and the Machine have nowhere to go but forward.

Coldplay: Mylo Xyloto Album Review

noreply@blogger.com (New Music & Concerts) — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 22:37:00 +0000

If I had to sum up Mylo Xyloto, the fifth studio album from British alternative rock band Coldplay in one sentence, I would say that it is an eclectic mix of old and new styles that this group has developed over the years. Coldplay has slowly transformed from an acoustic guitar and piano driven rock group to an electronic driving alternative rock/pop group. This transformation was seen at first on their album X&Y with the piano disappearing a bit to make way for more electric guitar and further developed with Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends. Now Mylo Xyloto reminds Coldplay fans of the past while letting them discover what may be the future of this talented group.

The album starts with the title track which is a 43 second orchestral style opening which builds and leads into Hurts Like Heaven as if it were part of the song. Hurts Like Heaven is very catchy and upbeat and even has an indie style sound to it. You can hear the electronic styles in the background while the driving beat and Chris Martin's infectious voice and anthem style lyric-less vocals at times take the lead. The next track Paradise develops fully into contemporary pop mode which reminds me of the anomalous Chris Cornell album, Scream which was produced by Timbaland. The next track Charlie Brown reverts back to the distinct anthem style with an oriental undertone which was present on Viva La Vida. The fourth song Us Against The World develops as an acoustic rock ballad which is reminiscent of their early work in Parachutes.

M.M.I.X. serves as a 50 second slowly building electronic interlude leading into the first single, Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall which also has a style which they developed in their previous work, Viva La Vida. The electric guitar parts in this song are extremely catchy and this track eventually develops into a very up-beat anthem style tune. Major Minus has a style that reminds me of Radiohead's music and Coldplay's A Rush of Blood to the Head. It's driving and has ambient drums and bass which then develop into a driving force with catchy guitar parts and even a solo which is somewhat rare for Coldplay. U.F.O is the second ballad to come with great use of strings behind the acoustic guitar giving it an orchestra feeling. Princess of China is in my opinion Coldplay's most anomalous song to date, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. It features Rihanna and fully embraces the new direction they have been taking. Without Chris Martin's voice Princess of China would never be recognized as a Coldplay song.

Up In Flames serves as another slow building ballad but with electronic undertones. It has repeating lyrics and eventually contains a very catchy electric guitar part which makes me happy every time I hear it. A Hopeful Transmission serves as the second musical interlude leading into the last two songs. Don't Let It Break Your Heart is definitely their classic style with a dose of electric feel containing all aspects of their development. It's very upbeat and has lyrics which bring hope and electric guitar parts underlining the anthem style music. Up With The Birds is the final song which is another ballad with an orchestral theme. It slowly builds and leaves a nostalgic, reflective feeling with the final portion of the song delivered with their classic piano style.

Overall I would rate this album as an 8 out of 10 with a great collection of old and new styles. Although the mix seems a little irregular at times with Coldplay switching between old and new styles, I've enjoyed listening to every song on the album multiple times. This band will continue to develop in ways that may seem unpredictable to the common fan, but with Chris Martin's voice dominating the classic anthem style music that they always seem to deliver, Coldplay will continue to be a group worthy of the widespread attention that they have gained. It will be interesting to see how this collection of songs translates into a live concert and it will be even more interesting to see which direction this iconic British alternative rock band will continue to develop in.

The Jilted Lovers Club at Lee's Palace

noreply@blogger.com (New Music & Concerts) — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 22:20:00 +0000

Last night marked yet another great concert at Lee's Palace. The more shows I see at Lee's, the more I believe that it might be my favourite venue in Toronto. The location is perfect, the size is perfect, all of the staff members are really nice and I can't say I've ever seen a bad show there. Last night was obviously no exception as The Jilted Lovers Club took the stage at 12:30. I had the pleasure of playing with JLC at The Velvet Underground in support of Meghan Morrison's CD release in late September. After seeing their set that night I got instantly hooked, chatted with the band and found out about the show last night. It was already apparent that I wouldn't be missing it.

My brother and I got to the venue with perfect timing as JLC was walking on stage right as we entered. We ordered a couple drinks as the band took the stage over one member at a time. I always appreciate when bands open their shows that way, giving each member a bit of a showcase introduction before the vocals kick in. They opened with Gravity (Detail of the Stars) which I believe I recognized from The Velvet Underground show. It built up perfectly to set the pace for what would be a very energetic evening. A few songs in, lead vocalist, Nikki engaged the crowd about the recent downfall of Pusateri's to lead into Grocery Song. My brother and I personally enjoyed this because we've grown up living about five minutes from the store and we've always hated the store and its snobby management.

About halfway through the show Nikki addressed the crowd asking for a glass of water and Alex Leger took the opportunity to jokingly ask for some tequila. To my brother, this was no joke. He payed for four shots of tequila and brought them up to the stage partway through a song. After the number was done, Alex, Jeremy and Simeon gave cheers and drank them down.

The band introduced a new song entitled All The Rage which I instantly fell in love with. I mentioned to my brother before the vocals came in, "I already love this song, it's got the bass, it's got the guitar, and it's got the drums." He found this hilarious and had to write it down, but it's true, the instrumental foundation of the song was powerful and driving and Nikki's vocals just made it that much better. Other highlights included Sick Tomorrow, Army of Daughters and Will It Be Fine partially because they're the songs I own and I was able to recognize them instantly and even sing along. The crowd was much better at this show in my opinion which showed itself when JLC played Will It Be Fine. Everyone in the crowd was belting, "No it won't be fine," and "It won't be OK," in the chorus as per instructed by the band. I had a lot of fun shouting along too.

Overall this is a band which definitely has the potential to be huge and only time will tell. I rank them high among all of the indie bands I've seen at Lee's Palace even if they don't have the same recognition yet. Their music is amazing and Nikki's stage presence is more explosive and engaging than most artists out there today. I can't wait until they release more material and play more shows. Next time I see them, I'm hoping the crowd will be twice the size and I hope this band starts getting the recognition that they most definitely deserve.

The Jilted Lovers Club - WIRED: Episode 98 from THE iNDiE MACHiNE on Vimeo.

Portugal. The Man at The Opera House

noreply@blogger.com (New Music & Concerts) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 22:39:00 +0000

There's something completely intoxicating about a band which can effortlessly deliver a perfect three part harmony. Portugal. The Man is absolutely one of those bands. Then of course you have the unbelievable musicianship of every single member of the band. The transitions between songs were seamless and incredible. Lead singer John Gourley stands out of course with his incredible talent on the guitar and a voice which matches any instant in their music whether it's with his spot on falsetto or his soothing regular register. As I mentioned already the backup vocals delivered by Zachary on bass and Ryan on keys completes a three part harmony which just blows your mind when you see it live. The drums from Jason were amazing, guitar parts from Noah were amazing, the percussion delivered by up to three members at once was amazing, what can I say? Everything was amazing.

I got into The Opera House a little bit late which is unfortunate because I missed most of the opener, Alberta Cross' set. I've been really into this band for about a week and I'm just happy that I got to see their songs Rise From The Shadows and ATX live. They lived up to every expectation I had and were just as good live, if not better than their great recordings. The one thing that really stood out for me was the way Alberta Cross was able to jam out and add a huge element of hard rock to their indie/blues style. You can already hear it on their album, but it's just so much more powerful when you see it live. This is a band I will definitely be looking out for in the future.

Portugal. The Man hit the stage soon after, delivering So American, the first track from their newest album, In The Mountain, In The Cloud. It was a perfect way to start the concert and got the energy going right away. After a perfect transition they jumped right into Work All Day from their most successful album to date, The Satanic Satanist. Throughout the night they played seven songs from In The Mountain, In The Cloud and eight tunes from The Satanic Satanist which worked perfectly and was met by the crowd with constant applause and singing along. They also delivered a great cover of The Beatles' Helter Skelter mixed with their own song, The Devil. The second great cover they delivered of the night was Bowie's All The Young Dudes. They played some of their older material which I didn't recognize, but filled the gaps between the songs I knew perfectly. Overall, they delivered 22 songs which instilled in me pure awe, excitement and joy.

As you can see above the stage was filled with glowing orbs changing colours throughout the night. The setup was almost as artistic and creative as their music is. Highlights of the night would have to include their three song opening of So American, Work All Day and The Devil/Helter Skelter. When they started playing 1989/Our Way, it was the first time I had heard it, but it instantly hit a personal chord in me with the lyrics "I was born in 1989," because well, to put it simply I was actually born in 1989.

From the main set other highlights were: The Woods, Floating (Time Isn't Working My Side), All Your Light (Times Like These), Everyone Is Golden, Got It All (This Can't Be Living Now), The Sun, and Sleep Forever. Well obviously there were a hell of a lot of highlights. They started their three song encore off with what was possibly the most exciting song if the night which was People Say. Almost every person in the crowd I could see was singing along with the clever and addictive lyrics. The last two songs of the night were Guns And Dogs and Chicago which ended on such a powerful, positive note that I was just left wanting more and more.

I left the concert with a copy of Alberta Cross' The Rolling Thunder EP and a copy of Censored Colors by Portugal. The Man. To say the least I'll be listening to both of these great CDs for many years to come. The thing I left with which I'll treasure the most is the amazing memory of such an incredible concert. Portugal. The Man really knows how to jam out and bring a perfect element of rock to what many can consider indie music. They harmonize perfectly with each other, they transition seamlessly from song to song and they deliver musicianship that most people can only dream of ever attaining. If you haven't heard them yet, check them out now and most definitely catch them at a live show if they're ever playing in your neck of the woods.

MIV at Hard Luck

noreply@blogger.com (New Music & Concerts) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 01:01:00 +0000

It's always exciting to see a show at a venue you've never been to before. Add the fact that it's Indie Week and last call is at 4am and the excitement builds a little more. Add the fact that you're going to see your longtime friends and former band mates on the stage and well you've got all the ingredients for an amazing night. I can't say I've ever been to a Missing in Venice show that wasn't amazing and this show was no different.

The band is currently finishing up their second album which they're going to release some time in December if I'm not mistaken. With that album in mind, it's what the band gave the biggest focus on delivering six new songs and only two from their first album titled This Side Up. I walked in just a tad late missing only the setup, opening remarks(if there were any) and about half the first song.

Apart from a couple technical difficulties and a crowd too small for such a great group, the show went very well. In regards to the small crowd it was nice being able to interact with the guys on stage and I felt special being the only one singing the crowd's part in Poor Choice, Good Sir. As always the vocal performance from Gabriel was great. Luke was solid with his vocals too and his bass playing continues to speak wonders about Humber's music program and of course his own dedication to the art. James and Jordan inspired awe with their diverse skills in both melodic and driving guitar parts and Mike seems to impress me more and more with his drum playing every time I see these guys.

They played a pretty similar setlist to what I've seen before, but that's in no way a complaint. It would be nice however to see Six from This Side Up played again soon, James' solo in that song will always be a highlight any time they play it. They also stuck with their trademark mixes of Ghost transfused with The Police's Roxeanne and they closed with their usual This Side Up mixed with Our Lady Peace's Somewhere Out There. As the whole band was headbanging in unison and the final notes from This Side Up were played, the best group of the night as my opinion goes, humbly walked off stage and mingled with the crowd full of their long time friends and fans.

Down below is the band's video of Ghost. (note. This video still features their first drummer Owen and not Mike who I mentioned above)

Newly Discovered Gem: Alberta Cross

noreply@blogger.com (New Music & Concerts) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 03:06:00 +0000

So I'm going to see Portugal The Man on Tuesday, if you haven't heard any of their stuff check them out they're awesome. On a slightly related note though, I decided to check out the opening band, Alberta Cross. Upon seeing the name I started to get excited about another potentially awesome Canadian indie band. I watched the first video I could find on YouTube and immediately got hooked. Diving a little bit deeper I discovered the band was situated in New York but actually had roots before that in Sweden and the U.K. So why the name Alberta Cross? I couldn't tell you, but I'm happy it caught my attention.

When I discover new music that I fall in love with, I always explore several different things, like the information I wrote above, but also how many albums do they have, how long have they been together and sometimes, why the hell aren't they famous yet? So I looked into it and the answers to those questions are four EPs/albums, four years and most importantly, I have absolutely no idea.

It turns out this band has been on tour with many big name bands like Oasis, The Shins, Bat For Lashes, Dave Matthews Band, Ben Harper, Them Crooked Vultures and Mumford & Sons. So I really don't understand why I hadn't heard this amazing band until now. You would think that at least some people would go to the shows early enough to catch the opener and that some of those people would have adequate musical taste to spread around this amazing band like crazy. That ladies and gentlemen is why a four year old band is getting a post in a new music and concert blog, because people are crazy.

I bought their full length album, Broken Side Of Time, and I regret the fact that I couldn't find the other three EPs, but I'll definitely be buying them at the show on Tuesday. So upon listening to the one full album I could find, I would describe this band as an amazing mix between Band Of Horses, Neil Young and Radiohead. Broken Side Of Time has a perfect mix between blues inspired driving rock tunes, ballads and epic building anthem style songs. What can I say, it's just the perfect mix between blues, rock, indie and alternative. It's driving music with a perfectly soothing voice overtop which is like a mix between Neil Young and Thom Yorke.

Some highlights from the album are ATX, Old Man Chicago, Broken Side Of Time and The Thief & The Heartbreaker. Every other song on the album is amazing too, I can't say I even came close to disliking a single one. Obviously I'm extremely excited for the show on Tuesday, not only do I get to see this amazing newly discovered gem, I also get to see Portugal The Man for the second time and the first time did not disappoint whatsoever. Down below is Lucy Rider, the first song I ever heard from this amazing band, and definitely not the last.

Ra Ra Riot at Lee's Palace

noreply@blogger.com (New Music & Concerts) — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 00:48:00 +0000

So last night was definitely one to remember. Ra Ra Riot came to town and rocked the house at Lee's Palace. I also have to give kudos to Dinosaur Bones, a local band which I've had the pleasure of knowing for a couple of years now. Some of the members of Dinosaur Bones went to high school with my brother and it's just awesome to see them touring with a band I love as much as Ra Ra Riot.

After a bone chilling rendition of Ice Hotels and the always energetic NYE, Dinosaur Bones left the stage to make way for my third and favourite Ra Ra Riot show. They decided to walk onto that stage like they were being shot out of a cannon with lots of energy delivering the driving Too Too Too Fast first. They proceeded to play 15 songs from their two albums as well as one great cover Saccharin and the War by Sparks. The 16 songs seemed to pass all too quickly making me just want more, but I'm not worried because I know they'll be back soon enough.

Kenny Bernard, RRR's new drummer definitely impressed me and seemed like he had been their drummer all along. Of course the lovely ladies Alexandra and Rebecca made the cello and violin seem as beautiful as they were. The vocals were flawless and the bass was solid as always. They finished the set with Boy and I gotta say I wish the guitar riff near the end of the song lasted twice as long, it's that kind of riff that makes you addicted and leaves you wanting more. After their three song encore of Massachusetts, Ghosts Under Rocks and Dying Is Fine the show was over, but the night definitely was not.

I hung around for a while talking to the always friendly members of Dinosaur Bones then I got to meet some of the members from Ra Ra Riot and have them sign a setlist that Kenny gave me which you can see up above. It was very refreshing to see that the members of the band were as nice as their music is. To say the least I'll be supporting this band for all the years to come and can't wait until they come back again. They're playing their next shows of the tour tonight in Ottawa and tomorrow in Montreal before starting the U.S. leg of their tour.