
Live music picks for WEDNESDAY December 14 through MONDAY December 19, 2011. WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 14 / ANDY KIM & FRIENDS / THE PHOENIX / 410 SHERBOURNE / $26 / ALL AGES If you're a fan of Christmas-themed variety shows (and really, who isn't?), you don't want to miss this one. This will be the seventh annual Christmas show put on by Canadian pop legend Andy Kim, and all of the proceeds go directly to Juliette's Place . The lineup includes Kim, members of Broken Social Scene [...]
The Birthday Massacre have always been one of those bands lying just beneath the surface. Despite having a decade of successful releases, they remain the "black sheep" of the Canadian rock scene. Last year, the six-piece dropped their fourth studio album, Pins and Needles , and this year's Imaginary Monsters EP is a collection of three leftover tracks, along with a few remixes. The new songs offer an expanded take on what the band does best: combine heavy rock and synthesizer melodies. The remixes don't work out as well. Out of the original numbers, [...]
I see that The Birthday Massacre is coming to San Diego's Brick By Brick on August 1st. Not many bands making this kind of sound anymore. I think they have a great sense of color and design. I hope this translates to a live performance. This has been blogged elsewhere, but I wanted to express my excitement over Casiokids getting a US release. Pretty cool. Listen: Topp Stemning Pa Lokal Bar (2 CD): Get it at Amazon or somewhere.

Continuing from last Friday's post, here's a Depeche Mode cover I missed in the first place. It's Diesel Christ 's awoseme take on the Basildon boys' Sister of Night . The rest of the today's bunch are 80s covers. Yes, again! So, the much hyped Bat For Lashes does an ethereal Annie Lennox on Sweet Dreams , while The Birthday Massacre add a new twist to Tiffany classic I Think We're Alone Now . Finally, electro sweeties Riviera F add some synths and blips [...]

Continuing from last Friday's post, here's a Depeche Mode cover I missed in the first place. It's Diesel Christ 's awoseme take on the Basildon boys' Sister of Night . The rest of the today's bunch are 80s covers. Yes, again! So, the much hyped Bat For Lashes does an ethereal Annie Lennox on Sweet Dreams , while The Birthday Massacre add a new twist to Tiffany classic I Think We're Alone Now . Finally, electro sweeties Riviera F add some synths and blips [...]

The Birthday Massacre is a synth rock band, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The band was officially formed in 1999, known at that time as Imagica. The band consists of Chibi (vocals), Rainbow (guitars and programming), Michael Falcore (guitars), Owen (keyboards), O.E. (previously drums, now bass), and Rhim (drums). Their sound is mostly a captivating hybrid of 80's electronica and aggressive guitars, curiously fused with a cinematic quality of melodic progressions. Elements of children's fiction and adult fantasy are combined with driving guitar hooks, intricate keyboard melodies, and Chibi's sinful vocals to create a unique and [...]

"Look at the way we gotta hide what were doin' / Cause what would they say if they ever knew, and..." Hey readers, in keeping up with the theme of last week's post (see: Part I ) I'm continuing my love for Tommy James & The Shondells and classic songs that stand the test of time. Plus, you know you're dealing with a classic song when The Chipettes put out a rendition , a pre- Black Eyed Peas ' Fergie does it , and it's spoofed by "Weird Al" Yankovic [...]

Another month, another batch of rad (and free) downloads with the extrawack! seal of approval...and a photo of a monkey with a pistol. Have at 'em. The Deadly Syndrome - "Eucalyptus" Here" mp3 Adrian Orange and Her Band - "You're My Home" mp3 Tiny Masters Of Today - "Hey Mr. DJ (CSS Remix)" mp3 Enon - "Mirror On You" mp3 Sunset [...]

Thanks to the lolcats at icanhascheezburger? Today is not our birthday(s), but it is the start a weekend climax of birthday celebrations. To start off, here's the ultimate rock and roll birthday song by the Beatles, updated by Australia's Sunnyboys. Sunnyboys : Birthday (Beatles cover) from Mushroom Evolution Concert (2005) I loved this from the first moment I heard it: Concrete Blonde : Happy Birthday from Free (1989) Here's a truly horrible [...]