An All American Thanksgiving.

Complete with sideburns, water beds, and a killer Man-Turkey hybrid.

Top 5 Live shows of 2008

Here is my list of the top 5 live shows I attended for 2008 (as well as those that were oh so close)




1. M83 @ The Opera House
2. Stars of the Lid @ The Music Gallery
3. Swervedriver @ Lee's Palace
4. Neil Halstead @ The Drake Underground
5. Oneida @ The Horseshoe Tavern

Honorable mention: Atlas Sound, The Notwist, Stars like Fleas, Shearwater/Clinic

Hot Pockets!

This is quite possibly the best stand up bit I have ever seen.

Concert Review - M83

A night at the Opera House.

Went to see one of my favorite bands the other night. Synth-gaze extraordinaire Anthony Gonzalez AKA M83 w/ School of Seven Bells.


After a cold 35 minute wait to get into the Opera House, a friend and I b-lined it for the best balcony seats in the venue to prepare for a night of soundscapes and dream like synths. The opener School of Seven Bells was just about as good a fit for M83 as there could be. Fronted by two beautiful twin sisters and male guitar counterpart, this trio blistered into a frenzy of fuzzed out bliss that was at times part Cocteau Twins, part Jesus and Mary Chain. Although there was a lack of merch for the band I will be seeking out their CD's for my collection.

Now, on to M83:

The set list was a great mix of old and new with a excellent stage dynamic that fit the transition. Two hulking keyboards occupied the front of the stage where Gonzalez bounced between guitars and standing at his electronic home base. The only critique I can make is some of the track list was a little low energy then I would have liked. Stand out tracks like "Don't save us from the flames" and "Teen angst" were met with roaring applause and sounded almost as if they were recordings.

M83 was a great way to end my 2008 live concert outings as Toronto doesn't have any worthwhile shows until the new year.

I guess I will have to find something else to write about.

Update on Leslieville getting better

So here is an update - I returned for a second visit to the new Leslieville bar Curzon. After record/CD shopping with a good friend I decided to bring him to my new found neighbourhood gem. After preparing him for what I believed was our new spot to have a pint, we walked in to what only could be described as the equivalent of stepping into a dream hangout for a 15 year old girl circa 1996.

Let me explain.

The place was just opening for the night and they were getting all the bar keeps register (makeshift one on the counter) drink accompaniments (lemon, lime, and the other usual suspects) in order and wiping down the final tables. We found a small table to go over our spoils from the record store and the place is dead quiet. After ordering a pint, the waitress came to our table and placed a bowl of doritos (sp) on our table. Good so far, no complaints. She stated that there will be music coming up as soon as one of the staff got their iPod together for the tracklist.

First track - SClub 7.
I nearly had a stroke. My friend looked at me with a glare similar to a parent who is disappointed with their child's bad math grades. I had nothing to say in defense against this onslaught on our ear canals. I thought the guy was just trying to take a stab at being funny (there is nothing funny about having SClub 7 on your iPod) so I laughed it off. He wasn't kidding. Within minutes my friend and I were already deciding where else to go and needless to say, I was declaring this bar a total fraud.

After the SClub 7 he proceeded to play a Tribe Called Quest greatest hits album. Now my hip hop days are behind me, but this was at least something I can appreciate to an extent, and more importantly live with. The problem here is, the guy had this Tribe album on continuous loop. I think we heard the whole thing 2 1/2 times before we packed it in and left.

I will not be going back any time soon.

....aaaand scene.

Leslieville getting better?

I think Christmas may have come early for me this year. I discovered that a bar that has been slated to open for months in my neighbourhood actually opened its doors this week. I went in last night and found it to be everything I was hoping for in a neighbourhood watering hole. Leslieville is filled with its share of restaurants, bakery's and low end crappy bars. It is about time I have something within walking distance that has good music, good environment, and good people.

The place is darkly lit, boasts a great decor, and cold 50's for $5.00. It's located at Queen & Curzon and is named, well....."Curzon." While listening to some Johnny Cash and having said 50 I met a couple sitting on the far end of the bar from me. After some brief small talk they informed me that a new Burrito place called "Chino Locos" opened up at Queen & Greenwood. This was excellent news as my old favorite local place (Ghali Kitchen) closed down which just so happens to be the same location as where this new place is. So I am off to see if what they told me is accurate. I believe he said "could be the best burrito he has ever had."

Christmas came early for me by the looks of it.
All we need now is for Rotate this or Soundscapes to move down here and I am one happy man.

Concert Review - Neil Halstead

First entry of hopefully many to come. The flip side is it could end up like the numerous other public channels I have created out on the interweb that I eventually leave dormant. Time will tell.

Hopefully I break this trend.

So, I had the luck to catch a great show last weekend at the Drake Underground by Neil Halstead (former Slowdive, former Mojove3 etc...) and in short - it was simply amazing. As the night sped by I was able to find myself a comfortable nook, a great haze of a beer buzz and braced for the end of his set. True to form and at the crowds generous applause he unloaded some great Mojave3 favorites. It was nothing short of brilliant with the stand out track being "Who do you love."

If you are fortunate enough to be on this current tours city list I highly recommend checking it out. You won't be disappointed.