Between chilling pool-side with Ty Segall and trolling the streets of Memphis for Gonerfest, you might describe local photographer Ivy Lovell as “embedded” in garage rock. She’s right in that scene like HST was with the Hells, and no doubt has a story to tell. (more)
You might notice our third annual Bands to Watch list has taken a stylistic turn from previous years. While Toronto’s rock and punk scenes mature, the electronic music and hip hop coming out of our cultural patchwork is impossible to ignore (see: the 2011 success of Austra, Azari & III, The Weeknd and Drake). A slew of local albums were on critics’ 2011 year-end lists, yet no one’s talking about a “Toronto sound” (like Montreal circa 2003 or San Francisco circa now). That’s because we don’t have one. But interestingy, we harbour fertile pockets across multilple genres, so we tried to capture a cross-section of that on this list. – Marsha Casselman, Richard Trapunski and Chris Wright (more)
The last time we heard from Soft Copy, it was with their 2010 full-length Vicious Modernism. The record was a good one, with plenty of anthemic lyrics about life, love and the slow decay of our economic and political systems. Heavy shit, and Soft Copy wrapped these tough-love messages in a swirling mix of pop-hooks, crunchy bass and heavy riffage that made Vicious Modernism one of 2010’s most interesting local releases. (more)
“Our culture uses music as entertainment, primarily. And that’s a perversity.”
Darren Austin Hall, a singer, crystal bowl player and one of a few “sound healing” practitioners in Toronto, believes American music should move away from being a spectator sport and return to its ancient roots as a communal experience. (more)
With electro, dubstep and neo new wave taking up a large portion of the current indie landscape, it’s not hard to see that the 80’s resurgence is still where it’s at. But amidst all that synth and electronic drums, it’s refreshing to hear a band reviving pieces of the past so important to rock music. (more)
Over the past ten years, Ottawa’s Fuck the Facts have assumed the role of Canada’s grindcore flag bearers without even trying. They grew beyond the crusty adolescence of 2001’s Mullet Fever into the Pitchfork-approved fusion-core of 2008’s Disgorge Mexico, and ears outside this most violent of genres finally perked up. (more)
Big changes are in the works for Toronto musician Josh McIntyre’s blog-buzzed project Little Girls. In the past year, he’s released his debut LP Concepts, left Paper Bag Records for Hand Drawn Dracula, made Little Girls into a four-piece band and toured cross-Canada with new labelmates Mausoleum. To cap off a career-changing summer, Sept. 6 sees the release of Little Girls EP Cults, which McIntyre says is a departure from their previous hazy, guitar-driven aesthetics. (more)
Ears will be penetrated and souls will be crushed as the Skull Fucking Metal label’s third annual festival kicks off on September 3rd at the Blue Moon – the perfect dingy dive known for its locals. (more)
Despite the sucess of their Polaris-nominated debut LP, Album, Toronto indie pop darlings Hooded Fang have been quick to u-turn their glockenspiel-y sweetheart sound. They’re sporting a SoCal surf rock vibe on Tosta Mista (out today, handled by new label Daps Records, which includes Doldrums and Odonis Odonis). (more)
While we didn’t see as many obscure bands as we’d hoped for (too busy trying to get paid to write), we did stumble upon some noteworthy NXNE events, including near-nakedness, a hipster choir, and garage rock in the basement of a boat. - Marsha Casselman, Richard Trapunski (more)
When I interviewed 90’s hip hop vets The Pharcyde for today’s 24 hours Toronto piece, I expected a tight-lipped convo judging from this tense 2008 reunion interview. After all, there are legalities making their re-assembly somewhat of a miracle. (more)
Today marks the release of Austra’s Feel It Break (Paper Bag), one of the most anticipated electro-band albums to come out of Toronto since Crystal Castles’ debut. The album’s dark, operettic, trance-inducing pop can be heard in full at NPR. (more)
Montreal’s Bloodshot Bill has been traveling as a one-man swagger-heavy rockabilly band for over ten years and just released Thunder and Lightning, an LP of songs about relationships (many of which are stormy, judging from the title). Prized by renowned Toronto booker Dan Burke, Bloodshot plays the Silver Dollar for his album release party tomorrow, Friday May 13. He took the time to answer a few quickies about Montreal girls and being banned from the USA. (more)
