Filed under: News , Exclusive , Awards Matt Barnes The XM Verge Music Awards celebrated the best in Canadian music on March 1 with eclectic performances by the Acorn, Tokyo Police Club and Tragically Hip singer Gord Downie, all of whom were eclipsed by Michou's shocking upset as Artist of the Year over the likes of Arcade Fire and Tegan and Sara . The four-piece from Windsor [...]
(photo: Matt Barnes) In yesterday's post about the S.C.E.N.E. Music Festival I mentioned that a lot of the artists on the bill wouldn't normally make their way onto my everyday playlist, but that's not to say that there wasn't anything there for an indie-geek like me to enjoy. Case in point: Windsor, Ontario's Michou . Their sparse Wikipedia entry calls them "a folk rock band" but I beg to differ. Acoustic instruments, yes; pleasant melodies, sure; but if this is folk rock, then Woody Guthrie is Owl City. Lead vocalist Mike [...]

ARTIST: Michou Looks To The Best To Make Something Incredible with free mp3 download for 'Growing Younger' from Cardona by Michou DATE: 04-23-10 WRITER: Bill Adams Whether it's an interest in music, visual art, writing, philosophy, science, mathematics or any other endeavor that may require a young mind to think outside the proverbial box, there will come a point when, after being frustrated by failure after failure, he or she begins to wonder if all the good ideas have indeed already been thought [view [...]

ARTIST: The SWAG Report 004 with freebie downloads courtesy of Band Of Horses, Evelyn Evelyn, Goldfrapp, Hexes and Ohs, Horse Feathers, Nickelback, Solex/Jon Spencer & Cristina Martinez, The Flatliners, The Inevitable Backlash and more. DATE: 04-05-10 WRITER: Don Loder Another surprise visit from Don Loder. This instalment of your regularly-issued SWAG Report is a bit different – not all of the songs I'm totin' are brand spankin' new. "Why Don?" You're askin', "Why are you unloading a couple of older tunes on us? We might have [...]
Another Canadian band...Check out the video for "Growing Younger" by Michou. This song is from their sophomore release album Cardona. This video features some great bicycle choreography. I was hoping they would all fall off their bikes at the end. Too bad. Go to myspace.com/itsnicetomichou to download this song for free, and get Cardona on now! Related Posts: The Sounds Release New Video For "Beatbox" Dan Young Of This Providence Goes Acoustic On "Sand In Your Shoes A Moment's Worth Voted Band of the Week on Rock [...]
Welcome to my weekly roundup of inexpensive indie(ish) musical happenings in downtown Toronto, all for $10 or less. If I'm missing something you think I should list, or you have any comments, let me know. I star (*) shows that most interest me. Like this list? Join my Facebook group or subscribe to this blog. Subscribe to my podcast (or download the episodes) here , or through iTunes . The latest ones are here . Make sure to [...]

It's one of those times that is bordering on an embarrassment of riches when it comes to shows in Halifax. I mean, we don't have people like Death Cab streaming into the Ocean Playground ( wait.. scratch that ), but we have some terrific National touring acts making an appearance in our fair city. First and foremost: Elliott f&cking Brood . These cow-punking, deathbillies will blow the roof of of the new Paragon on April 24th – that I guarantee. Their new album – Mountain Meadows ( review [...]