Summerworks What: Summerworks Why: Celebrated long-running theatre festival that added a musical component four years ago. Who: In its short run, Summerworks already counts some of the cream of the current Canadian musical crop as its alumnus - this year's class seems certain to add to that list. For specifics, keep reading. When: There will be six nights of live music double-headers running over the course of the festival's week-and-a-bit duration, with the night-by-night breaking down as follows - there's [...]
Hey! Thought we forgot about this, eh? Nah... Next time I leave the country for a month, I will also leave access to the hard drive where all my files are located. So we're still aiming to re-post all of the Blogophilia volumes by summer's end. Today we have volumes 5 & 6, which feature promotional MP3s available during May and June of 2009. As always, these are gapless mixes with cover art. These are only up for a limited time, so get them now! - [...]
Toronto - I'm always perplexed by hot yoga. You go some place where it's ridiculously hot and basically stretch for an hour. That sounds boring to me. For fans of hot yoga, might I suggest doing something similar - such as Sneaky Dees when it is packed and filled with good bands? You have an equally hot venue but instead of closing your eyes and humming, you are singing, dancing and jumping up and down to good music. What sounds better? Following my three show stint at a sweaty Lees Palace, I made the ten minute [...]
Frank Yang Hands down, the best thing to happen to NXNE in recent years is the designation of Yonge-Dundas Square as the festival's main stage and making the shows staged there - usually featuring the lineup's biggest names - free for everyone. And what's better is that despite being located in pretty much the most central and public place in the city, there's been no signs that they festival has been concerned about diluting the quality of the performances to be a little more family-friendly; witness last year's near-carnage of Iggy & [...]
Toronto - It is now Friday, and NXNE is in full bloom. Are you exhausted yet? Well if you aren't, not sure if you are doing this festival correctly. Tonight's best bet for a one stop shop is the Toronto landmark Sneaky Dee 's. What can you say about Sneaky Dee's? It's an establishment. Every Toronto band has played there, and most of them have ate there, most likely drunk. Their Tuesday half price fajita menu is made of legends. Who hasn't gone there for greasy Mexican breakfast, or their massive nacho plates, some of [...]
It had been a long exhausting March 26th. Before going to this show, I went to a and photographed this conference run by Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Scienes. (Details on here in case some don't believe me) I went to Mavericks to see great acts play live. They were: Olenka and the Autumn Lovers Great Bloomers [...]
Some unknown band who won album of the year last night at the Grammys. Jeez . haha. just kidding. Congrats to Arcade Fire for winning album of the year last night for their record "The Suburbs". elsewhere: - Radiohead is putting out a new record this weekend called "The King Of Limbs" - Hands & Teeth perform on Southern Souls - Great Bloomers have a new video for "The Young Ones Slept" -and before I forget, Happy Valentines Day. [...]
After seeing Oceans and Krupke at Zaphods. I headed over to Mavericks to see the Great Bloomers play live. Haven't seen Great Bloomers live for awhile. The show was their vinyl release of Speak of Trouble plus an 73 release show. I wanted to show my support for them again. Noticed there is a change in the line up within the band. They have a female keyboardist this time. I think its cool [...]
The dichotomy between urban and rural, big and small, fast and slow is one often explored by song writers, especially those craving the simple freedoms forgotten when consumed by the chaos and pace of bigger cities with bigger scenes. For Toronto's Great Bloomers , the gap between both worlds appears to be an uncrossable chasm. The band's new 73 - available for the first time when the band warms the stage for The Hold Steady @ HPX - was born from that ever increasing [...]
Finally, my first post of the new decade. After my ski trip, I was backed up with work, and I've had a lot of photos to edit. And for the second year in a row, the task of making my lists sort of drained the free-form fun out of what I do here. I'm ready to start finding new music as well as posting about some older stuff that had a hand in me starting this blog in the first place. Truth be told, I wanted a little extra time to refine this list as it is quite [...]
It's twenty-ten! Last year, my own resolutions revolved mostly around getting this website off the ground and running. This year, given my lack of posts in November and December (a hiatus for a few weeks became habit-forming), I'm resolving to more consistently post the weekly update, and try and institute some subtle changes to the site, among them an integrated GTS Twitter account, a sidebar tweak (some third party ads should crop up, but I promise they won't be intrusive), a monthly music playlist, and an easier interface for posted MP3s. Before we get [...]
Buckle up. I know the last thing you need is yet another list from herohill, but this is the list full of big hitters. Twenty records that blew me away in '09 and a few special treats for all you loyal hill-ians. 20 Band:: The Great Bloomers Album:: Speak of Trouble Review:: http://www.herohill.com/2009/0 4/reviews-great-bloomers-speak -of-trouble.htm 1) What was your best musical moment of '09? My best musical moment [...]
Here is #21-#30 of my picks of the Canadian albums of 2009 . Get Guilty - A.C. Newman Its like listening to a New Pornographers album but with no Neko and others. Just simply Mr.Newman. Best tracks are The Heartbreak Rides, Like a Hitman, Like a Dancer and All of My Days and All of My Days Off Spirit Guides - Evening Hymns A superb [...]
Here it is folks! Expanded for 2009, my Top 20 Albums of the Year - Part I. 20. Wye Oak - The Knot Merge, 7.21.2009 It's a loud, alt-rock album kept country with a heavy dose of steel guitar. Wye Oak is Jenn Wasner (guitar, vocals) and Andy Stack (drums, vocals). [...]
November 12th was a indie folk rock night at Zaphod Beeblebrox. Playing at the packed show were: The Rural Alberta Advantage Great Bloomers Winchester Warm This was my second time seeing The Rural Alberta Advantage and Great Bloomers. It has been a great year for The RAA. Finally that a show at Zaphods [...]
Filed under: Video , Exclusive , Canada Great Bloomers may be not great at grammar, but the Ontario country-tinged indie rockers sure know how to shoot a video. Coming off their Canadiana-infused debut album, 'Speak of Trouble,' this upbeat song is paired with a perfect small-town setting, including a seasonally appropriate pumpkin patch. "The video for 'This Ain't You' was an intentionally simple premise," explains singer Lowell Sostomi, noting it was filmed by in a single day in director Bob Lyte's hometown of Midhurst, Ontario, on his friend's [...]
October 15th was a indie pop rock folky night at Zaphods. Playing there were: Kalle Mattson Listen to a short interview I did with Kalle Mattson Great Bloomers Listen to a short interview with Lowell of Great Bloomers , certain parts might be hard to hear because Kalle Mattson were doing their soundcheck. [...]
Frank Yang In my review of Yo La Tengo's latest Popular Songs , I lauded the New Jersey trio for their unbelievable ability to deliver excellent album after excellent album over their 25-year career, and having seen them five times before Saturday night's show at the Opera House, I felt comfortable thinking that same sense of consistency could be applied to their live shows. There'd be a handful of new songs, a brace of old standards and at least a couple unexpected surprises from deep in their catalog. [...]
I'm going on holiday tomorrow and will be gone for a week. To make up for the complete lack of posts over the next weeks, I'm giving you a few songs that I've been into recently. I'll probably do more in-depth posts on the band when I return but for now, just listen. Great Bloomers - Catching Up Favours For Sailors - Erode My Empire Calexico - Man Made Lake Filthy Dukes - Nonsense In The Dark [...]
Here are three more artists to get you through this weekend:The Great BloomersFor those who like: Fleet FoxesToronto's own blend indie, folk, and rock for a nice little mix.Great Bloomers' MyspaceThe WatermarksFor those who like: BRMC, Boxing LessonTexas seems to be breeding solid neo-shoegazer acts like this by the bushel.The Watermarks' MyspaceDarlingsFor those who like: The StrokesNothing like
Chromewaves
The Dadada
The Panic Manual
PhotogMusic.com
Indie Music Filter
Herohill
This Mornin' I Am Born Again
Gracing the Stage
Spinner.com
Foreign Thoughts
Snob's Music
Music Alliance Pact – February 2012
Skrillex Uses Satanic and Homosexual Influence to Win Grammys
Listen: Usher x Diplo – Climax
A-Trak - "Round of Applause" / "Where My Money At" (MP3 Download)
Lightships: Electric Cables
