This Caribou spin off project/organic electric act plays the Painted Lady tonight at 2am.
For more NXNE check out my 2013 Round Up.
music video of the day: "All Her Colours" by Pick A Piper ft. John Schmersal
Broken Social Scene at Field Trip Music Festival 2013
After a two year hiatus Broken Social Scene reunited to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of their label Arts&Crafts. Headlining Field Trip, the musical friendship collective played their 2002 album and fan favourite You Forgot It In People from front to back live for the first time. With anywhere from 11 to 18 people on stage at a time, the immense amounts of love and energy were palpable. This was only tripled by the fireball of fun that is Leslie Feist joining in on "Almost Crimes" and Torquil Campbell's purple trumpet playing. While the entire album play through was emotional, it was the soft heart beat of a track "Anthems for a Seventeen Year-Old Girl" that had us in tears. While Emily Haines was not in attendance, Amy Millan of Stars, Lisa Lobsinger, and AroarA’s Ariel Engle sang it stunningly. To say it gave us chills would be an understatement.
Once they wrapped up You Forgot It In People the night continued with the well loved hits "Superconnected", "7/4 (Shoreline)" and "Fire Eye'd Boy". All good tunes and good times that kept getting better and better. Just as Kevin Drew was introducing an unreleased song they were about to play next, titled "Jimmy and the Photocall", the song's subject AKA Metric's James Shaw showed up having flown in from Phoenix Arizona just in time in join in. Catch a fan video of this perfectly timed moment below...
The looming 11pm sound curfew approached but not before some Kevin Drew stage antics, of which we adore him for. We yelled at the top of our lungs as per his request. "I'M SORRY!" "I LOVE YOU!" "I'LL CALL YOU LATER!" He reminded us that Toronto is our city. "It's okay to have a support system," he encouraged as the crowed yelled "Kevin Drew for mayor!" The evening closed up with "Texico Bitches" and "Meet Me In The Basement" both off their last album 2010's Forgiveness Rock Record.
While there was no encore, we were left with two statements ringing in our head "We will always be your band" and the general Broken Social Scene / Arts&Crafts ethos to be kind. We'll miss you BSS but you will always be our band and Toronto will always be our city. All we can do is be kind. Be kind. Be kind.
music video of the day: "Mozart's Sister" by Mozart's Sister
All this week I'll be posting NXNE bands playing the fest.
Mozart's Sister from Montreal are upp tonight 11pm at the Rivoli.
Here's a sneak peak of their set during the NXNE opening party last night.
You should also checkout my NXNE round up post bellow. Just saying.
NXNE 2013 ROUND UP
NXNE is upon us and seeing as I'm live tweeting it up for the @NXNE account, I do know a thing or two about this year's lineup. As requested and promised, here's a list of my festival picks for this year. If you end up discovering something you like and/or end up checking one of these acts out give me a shout in the comments. Enjoy!
AKUA – Friday 8pm @ Hard Luck
Mini Bio: Montreal solo synth soul. Pronounced “A-koo-ah”. Inspired by Little
Dragon and CocoRosie. Has opened for Katy B.
Tunes: “Told You So” and “Gravity”
ALVVAYS – Friday 10pm @ Silver Dollar
Mini Bio: Toronto lo
fi. Camera Obsura-ish with a pinch of 90s vibes.
Tunes: “Archie Marry Me” and “The Agency Group”
After The Smoke - Wednesday
11:05pm @ Wrongbar
Mini Bio: Tallahasse
hip-hop duo. Smooth stuff. Finalist in the Billboard Battle of the Bands. Over
50,000 followers on Tumblr and Twitter.
Tunes: “Come & Leave” and “OIAM”
Ania Soul – Saturday 9pm @ MOD Club
Mini Bio: Toronto
soul signer. Inspired by Solange, Lauryn Hill, and Feist. Latest single “Over
You” produced by King Luck. Here’s a link to her YouTube
EPK.
Tunes: “Over
You” and “All In My Head”
Blank Cinema – Thursday 10pm @ (587 College St)
Mini Bio: Vancouver
indie synth rock act. Five piece who’ve been creating music since 2008.
Launched an Indiegogo campaign to help fund their new record Eras.
Tunes: “Destroy Together” and “What You
Have”
The BB Guns – Saturday 9pm @ Lee’s Palace
Mini Bio: Hazy
surf-pop fun from some Toronto ladies who are both a little punk and a little
girly. Recently released their EP, Baby I
Hate You.
Tunes: “Pennie Lane” and “Soho”
BRIADS – Thursday 11pm @ Comfort
Zone
Blue Hawaii – Thursday 1am @ Comfort Zone
Mini Bio: Partner
projects with Calgarian Raphaelle Standell-Preston as the connecting dot.
BRAIDS are more indie rock based & tad softer while Blue Hawaii are more
electronic and beat based. Both are putting out releases with Arbutus Records,
and both are killing it.
Tunes: “The Other Day” by Blue Hawaii and “In Kind”
by BRAIDS
Decades – Friday 11pm @ Silver Dollar
Mini Bio: Toronto new
wave revival. Just released their self-titled debut with White Girl Records.
Tunes: “Tonight Again” and “In Sequins”
Joey Bada$$ - Saturday 1am @ Wrongbar & Sunday 8pm @ YDS
Mini Bio: 18 year-old
Brooklyn kid with mad talent. His fifth mixtape is new out June 12th.
Currently with Cinematic Music Group.
Tunes: “Word Is Bond” and “World Domination”
Majical Cloudz – Saturday 12am @ BLK BOX
Mini Bio: Down tempo duo from Grimes’ & Doldrums’
Montreal scene. Haunting live. Debut
record just dropped with Matador and Arbuturs.
Tunes: “Turns Turns Turns” and “Bugs Don’t Buzz”
Mozart’s Sister – Wednesday 11pm @ Rivoli
Mini Bio: Solo
project of Montreal's Caila Thompson-Hannant, who describes her sound as dirt
pop. Past projects include Shapes and Sizes, Miracle Fortress and Think About
Life. Grimes credits her as a huge influence. Merok Records put out her EP.
Tons of internet hype and rumor has it an album is to be expected this summer.
Tunes: “Mozart’s Sister” which has been making the blog rounds
Prince Innocence – Saturday 11pm Comfort Zone
Mini Bio: Minimal
synth duo from Toronto and Montreal. Babe-tastic. Part of the Pretty Pretty
Records crew.
Tunes: The oh so
hip “Golden
Hour” and “To My Right”
Rich Kidd – Saturday 11pm @ Wrongbag
Mini Bio: Mississauga
producer and rapper who has worked with Raekwon, Drake and Talib Kweli.
Recently released his latest mixtape In
My Opinion earlier this year.
Tunes: “SYKE”
and “Can I Get A (Bom Bom)”
Ryan Hemsworth – Saturday 1am BLK BOX
Mini Bio: The hippest
thing to come out of Halifax since Ellen Page. Producer/DJ dude of the
collective known as Wedidit. Recently released his sixth EP Still Awake.
Tunes: “Perfectly” and “Summertime Sadness” Lana Del Rey remix
White Lung – Saturday 11pm @ Horseshoe Tavern
Mini Bio: Vancouver
punk act made up of three ladies and one lucky guy. Last year Deranged put out
their second LP Sorry.
Tunes: “Bag”
and “Glue”
Bloc Party at Field Trip Music Festival 2013
As soon as Bloc Party opened their Field Trip set with the Silent Alarm subtle classic “So Here We Are” we knew we were in for a treat. The London based band who’s been in our hearts since 2003 brought out the debut album classics including “Helicopter” and “Banquet” with a couple of tunes each from 2007′s A Weekend In The City and last year’sFour sprinkled in.
Kele Okereke was a tad cocky, acting like an old pro as he chewed gum throughout the set whilst also belting out long notes like it’s nothing. “Started from the bottom…” he pondered between tracks, looking up at the Drake billboard which overlooked Fort York. “I didn’t think that was real… but I guess it is.” This was followed by Okereke shouting out to all the ladies before kicking into a cover of Rihanna’s “We Found Love” which acted as an into for the dancey “Flux”.
In the end though, it was the up tempo version of “This Modern Love” which had us melting into pieces as Bloc Party closed up the set. “If you remember it singalong” Kele suggested. Needless to say we remembered every word.
music video of the day: "We Do Parties" by Deerhoof
Because it's the opening party for NXNE tonight. And we do parties.
TRUST at Field Trip Music Festival 2013
While Saturday’s Field Trip was packed with indie rock acts, TRUST brought some sinister synth pop to the stage, a welcomed change of pace. Robert Alfonse (who was mysteriously cute as usual) hypnotized us with his haunting bellowing voice, playing songs off 2012′s TRST as well as some brand mew tracks. He was also joined on stage by a panda headed bootyshorts wearing backup dancer. Despite the early afternoon set time, the dark wave act still delivered a debaucherous grimy dance party.
Mini Review: Kate Boy Live at Wrongbar
The night of Sunday June 9th I rushed over to Wrongbar after a weird day of work to catch my lastest Stockholm sound obsession, Kate Boy. With nothing but a couple of singles to her name, the venue was only half full but the energy and enthusiasm of the few in attendance filled the space. "WHEN IS THE ALBUM OUT?" the crowd would shout. When Kate responded with the fact that they're still working on it the crowd quickly yelled back "WORK FASTER WE WANT IT NOW!" So yeah. People are pretty stoked on this new artist. I myself dropped my bag as soon as I got in and danced for the entire short yet oh so electro-pop synthy sweet 40 min set. Once it came to a close the audience cheered and cheered for more but alas I don't think they had any more songs. Guess we'll just have to wait.
She's got two super slick monochromatic videos that have both been past music videos of the day: "In Your Eyes" and "The Way We Are". You should watch them both if you haven't already.
music video of the day: "I'm Waiting Here" by David Lynch & Lykki Li
On repeat as I prep for the insane week that is NXNE. So calming. A road-trip lullabye.
David Lynch's new albumThe Big Dream is due out July 16th.
music video of the day: "The Way We Are" by Kate Boy
This Stockholm stunner brings her act to Wrongbar tonight.
ps. You should also check out her video for "In Your Eyes" which is just as monochromatic and striking.
music video of the day: "Cause = Time" by Broken Social Scene
Because it's the first song I learnt on guitar. Because this album is a part of me. Because this band is a part of me. Because this is the soundtrack I grew up to. Because they're reuniting tonight in for Field Trip. Because today is about Toronto love. Because Cause = Time.
music video of the day: "Latch" by Disclosure ft. Sam Smith
Because I can't stop listening to their debut album Settle. It's too good.
Happy Friday!
in Friday
It's Friday! It's Friday! It's Friday! It's Friday!
music video of the day: "Diane Young" by Vampire Weekend
I think I really like Vampire Weekend again? Not that I ever hated them. We just had a bit of a break like Ross and Rachel. Now I'm starting to fall back in love. Now I'm seeing what I missed. Now I understand why everyone's been telling me to get into Modern Vampires Of The City. I get it! It's catchy! Now moving on to this video...
A hipster last supper? SO MANY CAMEOS YO! Here's a little list: Santigold, Sky Ferreira (who couldn't look more annoyed), both members of Chromeo, Dirty Projector Dave Longstreth, Walkmen frontman Hamilton Leithauser and Despot. Did I miss anyone? So many people. So much saxophone smoke. Very dope. Welcome back Vampire Weekend. Welcome back.
music video of the day: "Before I Move Off" by Mount Kimbie
Tonight the English post-dubstep duo are bringing their ambient grooves to the Hoxton. If anyone is looking for a +1 let it be known that I'll happily fill up that spot. Just sayin... holler.
Their second album Cold Spring Fault Less Youth just dropped about a week ago. It's a lovely little thing to float away to. Stream it now to see what I mean.
If you're wonder where Mount Kimbie is, I'll leave you with this gem from a Fader interview...
Where is Mount Kimbie? I couldn’t find it on Googlemaps.
It’s a place inside all of us where buses arrive on time.
new tune: "Defriended" by Beck
in new tune
Oh man. I was already pretty stoked to finnaaallllyyy be seeing Beck live this summer at Osheaga but this new tune is blowing my mind. "Defriended" has me shaking in many new weird ways. It's a bit Animal Collective-y but it also still has that classic Beck sound, so all in all I'm more than pleased. Great name for a track as well. Oh the process of unfriending someone... It's a bizarre modern choice we sometimes have to make.
According to Rolling Stone there's two new Beck albums on the way. One acoustic and one Modern Guilt follow-up. Neat neat. I can't wait.
music video of the day: "She Burns" by Joe Goddard ft. Mara Carlyle
Cadaver creepy with a beat.
Watch out for Joe Goddard's new solo EP Taking Over due out later this year.
You may know Joe Goddard from his band Hot Chip. They're five albums deep and they just realsed a new single titled "Dark & Stormy" which you can check out below. Just like the drink, it's a little darker but tasty as heck. Give it a listen...
music video of the day: "Every Little Thing" by Para One ft. Cam'ron, Teki Latex & Irfane
500 days of hipster summer.
music video of the day: "Carolina" by TEEN
I miss New York already. Do you think I could get a visa handing out flowers and freakout dancing like the babe above? I hope so. I'd be so down. TEEN are a lovely Brooklyn based act. They have a new EP (also named Carolina) which you can stream now.
music video of the day: "Hush" by LIZ
A week ago I posted about Mad Decent's newest lil candy coated export LIZ and her track "Horoscope". Well now we have a video and if she isn't just a huge babe. Also can we talk about this jacket? I want a Mad Decent jacket! Diplo do you here me? Whatever. I love this. Y2K pop I can get behind.