It’s amazing what passes for music news these days. During their September 29th set in New York’s Central Park, Dave Grohl announced that this would be the last Foo Fighters show for awhile. Rock fans worldwide freaked out to the point that Grohl had to take to the FOOs’ Facebook page to explain himself. If anyone deserves a break to rest on their laurels, it’s him, but I doubt that’s what he does. He likes to keep busy with other projects, the latest being this Sound City Studios documentary I can’t wait to see. And if [...]
Welcome to a double-shot covers edition of the Music Emissions Minute. The ROCKthusiast isn’t one to try to make videos go viral, but if anything deserves to be up there with funny cat moments, it’s this indie rock interpretation of Justin Bieber’s “Baby”. Yeah, you read or heard that right. Two Canadian bands that should be on your radar, the power pop-ish Balconies, as well as harmonious experimentalists Hands and Teeth, teamed up this summer for a live studio recording of their fellow countryman’s syrupy bubblegum ballad. The result may surprise even the most bitter hater; I think my wife [...]
I wanted to take this opportunity to wish one of Canada’s leading indie labels, Paper Bag Records , a very happy tenth anniversary. Even if you don’t have party tickets to their 3-night concert series at Toronto’s Great Hall, you can still join the festivities by downloading their latest compilation album . How cool is this – They got their artists to replicate the classic David Bowie album Ziggy Stardust , cut for cut, which just happens to be turning 40 this year. OK, there are some differences, like The Luyas doing “Lady Stardust” in French. It [...]
After more than four months of intense debate, the 2012 Polaris Music Prize will finally be awarded on Monday, September 24th. One of ten albums will be determined as Canada’s best, based on artistic merit, regardless of genre, sales, or record label. While The Grand Jury’s decision will be final, we want to hear the voice of the people. Let us know at Facebook.com/MusicEmissions who you think will walk away with the $30,000 cash prize. I don’t know what kind of odds you’d get in Vegas, but for what it’s worth, my money is on Japandroids’ [...]
Well this was a little surprising. Death from Above 1979 , the noisy Canadian duo who infamously broke up after only one full-length album, only to reunite last year for the festival circuit, are apparently working on new material. In a blog post on their site simply entitled “ Ok. ,” drummer Sebastien Grainger said the band’s new songs are lacking in spirit and life within the confines of the studio, so they’re going on an 11-date tour of Eastern Canada to improve them by playing them for people. “Song CPR,” as Grainger put it. Tickets go on sale [...]
Movie theatres are the new music venues, or at least that‘s what it seems like this fall. The big screen will be rocking starting on September 20th with Hungarian Rhapsody – That’s a Queen concert from Soviet-occupied Budapest in 1986, remastered in HD as well as 5.1 surround sound. The Vancouver International Film Festival will then host the premiere of Bobcaygeon , chronicling a 2011 festival headlined by veteran Canadian rockers The Tragically Hip in the small Ontario town they [...]
OK, the City of Toronto wasn’t built on indie rock, but it has an incredibly rich history of nurturing it through a lengthy list of local bands. And now, Canada’s largest metropolis finally has a true indie radio station to call its own. 88.1 Indie Toronto are committing themselves to a playlist of 40 percent Canadian content, of which 60 percent will be from emerging artists. “Indie artists are the industry starts of tomorrow,” says Dave Carr, Operations Manager. “And Indie 88.1 will simply help tomorrow come sooner.” No launch date has been set, but the [...]
The Toronto International Film Festival is back for its 37th edition of red carpet celebrity gawking, highbrow movie watching, and…rockstar documentaries? That’s right, TIFF has a most impressive history of screening music-related, non-fictional features, including recent ones from U2, Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, and The White Stripes. 2012 doesn’t look to be any different, with the heaviest hitter appearing to be Bad 25 , a Spike Lee joint commemorating the silver anniversary of the iconic Michael Jackson album. Besides looking at the making of Bad , there are interviews with current artists who have been immeasurably influenced by Jackson’s work [...]
I’m still trying to figure out if the recently-announced compilation album from The Rolling Stones is a joke or not. GRRR! ? More like WTF to me! What kind of title is that for a band celebrating its much-ballyhooed 50th anniversary? Maybe it’s an acronym for something like “Greatest Rock and Roll…uh, Rebels?” And don’t even get me started about the gorilla with the trademark tongue-and-lips. What will hopefully be no laughing matter are the contents of the Stones’ latest cash grab – Fifty of their supposed best songs over three CDs, including two that were just [...]
Toronto; I hope you’re ready for punk, punk, and more punk on Sunday, September 9th. Riot Fest , the Chicago-founded music carnival, will be pitching its tent at Garrison Common on the grounds of historic Fort York. In its eight-year history, Riot Fest has built up quite the reputation for delivering consistently diverse lineups, and now they’re taking their show on the road. Descendents, NOFX, Hot Water Music, Less Than Jake and Andrew W.K. will be among the ten bands sharing one stage that day, along with a certain Polaris Prize-nominated hardcore outfit. OK, I’ll just [...]
This Sunday, September 2nd has the makings of a momentous day for hip hop. One of the most influential groups of all time, Run-D.M.C. , the legendary Kings of Rock, have reunited for Philadelphia’s new Made in America festival, curated by Jay-Z. It has been ten years since Joseph “Run” Simmons and Darryl “D.M.C.” McDaniels last performed together, not to mention since their DJ Jam Master Jay was tragically murdered. It’s bound to be both emotional and exciting when those Adidas shoes step on stage, and no matter where you are, you can witness history by tuning into [...]
Well, well, well…look who’s crawling out of the Las Vegas desert for a pair of hastily announced North American shows - It’s The Killers , who will be at Paradise Theater in the Bronx on September 18th, the day their new album Battle Born comes out, as well as Toronto’s Sound Academy on September 22nd. Considering the production talent that was involved in Battle Born like Steve Lillywhite and Brendan O’Brien, and the fact that The Killers outgrew these venues years ago, these seem to be precursors of something huge to come. Try to catch [...]
Editorial Emissions
HAERTS – All The Days
PREVIEW: Hyperbits – Karekare (Original Mix)
The Cosmonauts :: Shaker
iTunes Leaks Kanye West’s Yeezus tracklisting??
Stream: Disclosure – When A Fire Starts To Burn
