Austra: photo by Michael Ligon Kicking off a busier month of concert-going than usual for me these days was Toronto's Austra at the Phoenix Concert Theatre at the beginning of the month. The bigger ticket that night was Feist at Massey Hall but there seemed to be a full-house (if not a sold out one) for the homecoming show for Austra who'd been making waves and touring all year. Doing double-duty that night were twin sisters Sari and Romy Lightman aka Tasseomancy who to me were better known [...]
Tonight's show is a triumphant return to their home turf of Toronto for Elliott Brood and with local heroes $100 as support, they take take the hall by the scruff of the neck and race through old and new material with the same breathless, almost relentless energy that's become a trademark of their records. Driven by the hard played banjos of Mark Sasso, the thrashings of Casey Laforet, the vocals of both and the frantic drums of Steve Pitkin, the band takes us on a roller coaster of emotion – from memories of family homes and dead first world war [...]
There are many similarities between seeing a band and making love. The first time with someone new is always filled with anticipation, uncertainty and intrigue. If you're lucky it turns out pretty great. But with a repeat performance, the parallels become even more poignant. Sometimes you are more disappointed than you were the first time. Often as one matures, there is slow improvement as skills progress; and rarely, like Thursday night with the Rural Alberta Advantage , it's like seeing someone you're completely in love with after being apart for a while. You know that [...]
My review on Wednesday night's Ladytron 's concert will be done using quotes from some of their most popular songs. They only want you when you're seventeen / When you're twenty-one / You're no fun The last time I saw Ladytron, they were playing at the Opera House and it was not the greatest show. Helen Marnie and Mira Aroyo looked uncomfortable at front of the stage, barely moved and most of the Ladytron set was performed note for note..which is great, but lacked the spontaneity that makes a lot of live [...]
By Morad Moazami It is a fascinating experience to see venues fill up and empty out day by day. Each day new sounds are introduced, while on others, older tunes are relived and revisited. Only a few days ago, Peter Hook and the Light took to the stage at Toronto's Phoenix Concert Theatre and put on an unforgettable show recalling the memory of the legendary Joy Division - a band that collapsed over 30 years ago. The memory of...
I have to write a few disclaimers before I dive into this review, as I feel it may arouse some impassioned opinions. First, as conflicted as I feel about some band members embarking on tours without others, it's within all of the songwriters' rights to tour such material without other members (particularly when one of its key members is dead). Second, it's not up to me to decide whether a tour should or shouldn't happen. I can only report on what my thoughts were. Let me preface this with Panic Manual's love of Joy Division , albeit [...]
Yes, that's Death Cab For Cutie It's funny how long seven years can be. In the grand scheme of things, seven years isn't necessarily a long time. On the other hand, a lot can happen in seven years. I'm already nostalgic for 2004. Things were just a lot simpler back then (believe me it was). Musically, it was also somewhat of a renaisance period which for me culminated with my trip to Coachella that year where I latched onto bands (not necessarily new bands) that seemed to break out that year (or perhaps just [...]
Last night might just have been my favorite show. Ok, well maybe not the whole show was my favorite (as the opener to the opener was actually horrendous and because there was just so much empty time leading up to Jay) but Jay Electronica is definitely in the upper echelon of performers that I have seen. Starting off the night, there was this rap duo that took the stage... they weren't good... at all. I hate to be mean like that, but its the honest truth. I don't remember anything they did or said other than having a [...]
The Walkmen: photo by Michael Ligon The various spectrums of rock n' roll were on display this past Saturday night with a trio of acts that were bound to please everyone. It would only take one look at the MySpace URL of first opener Blood Feathers to guess what they specialized in. The Philly outfit were indeed a rock n' roll band of the highest degree, pumping out hard-rocking, r n' b, rockabilly-tinged numbers. Taking a reverse take on The Ramones whose members each took on Ramone as their last [...]
Joey Burns of Calexico: photo by Michael Ligon More often than not bands tour to promote a new release but sometimes they tour for touring's sake such as the case with Tucson's Calexico who stopped in Toronto for a show at the Phoenix Concert Theatre on July 22. Similarly, openers Toronto trio Elliott Brood aren't promoting a new release either but came out to open the show before working out their performance legs on their own tour jaunt. It's surprising it took me so long to [...]
The Hold Steady's Craig Finn: photo by Michael Ligon Review/photos to come. Photos: The Hold Steady @ Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto (July 16, 2010) MySpace: The Hold Steady
The xx: photo by Michael Ligon It being Easter last weekend I almost forgot about The xx show happening the night of Easter Sunday. It was at the Love Is All show at Horseshoe Tavern the previous night that Tom M. reminded me that The xx show was indeed happening the following day. Realistically, I probably would have forgotten. So after spending the afternoon into early evening of Easter Sunday with family, I headed down to the Phoenix for the night. I missed LA DJ Nosaj Thing , but [...]
Joanna Newsom: photo by Michael Ligon Review to come. Reviews of the show over at The National Post , Exclaim , chartattack , The Globe and Mail and Chromewaves . It was one of those shows you'd want to relive in your mind, but fortunately a few people filmed quite decent video footage at the show: Video: Joanna Newsom - "In California" (live, [...]
Zero 7 @ Phoenix Concert Theatre: photo by Michael Ligon Review to come. Photos: Zero 7, Body Language @ Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto (December 3, 2009) MySpace: Body Language MySpace: Zero 7
Review to come. Me, BlogTO , chartattack and Eye are all in agreement that the show was stupendous. mandrs has some photos from the show . Photos: Dan Auerbach, Justin Townes Earle, Jessica Lea Mayfield @ Phoenix Concert Theatre (November 7, 2009) Myspace: Jessica Lea Mayfield Myspace: Justin Townes Earle Myspace: Dan Auerbach
Review to come. Photos: The Airborne Toxic Event, The Henry Clay People @ Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto (October 20, 2009) Myspace: The Henry Clay People Myspace: The Airborne Toxic Event
review to come Photos: White Lies @ Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto (September 26, 2009) MySpace: Heaven MySpace: White Lies
review to come Photos: Phoenix @ Phoenix Concert Theatre (June 15, 2009) MySpace: Phoenix
Okkervil River @ Phoenix Concert Theatre (Oct 12, 2008) Review to come. Photos : Okkervil River @ Phoenix Concert Theatre (Oct 12, 2008) Myspace : Okkervil River : : Psst. My review of the Stereolab show at the Phoenix on October 8, 2008 is now up - see the previous blog post.
For the 'records'
The Line Of Best Fit
The Panic Manual
The Audio Perv
ThisBonusTrack.com
Raised on Indie
mp3: soko – i just want to make it new with you
Skrillex Uses Satanic and Homosexual Influence to Win Grammys
Music Alliance Pact – February 2012
A-Trak - "Round of Applause" / "Where My Money At" (MP3 Download)
Listen: Usher x Diplo – Climax
