Merry Christmas, Pt. II

Yeah, something tells me I'm not going to get around to finishing this list, as my lazy ass will be languishing on a beach this time tomorrow in the FLA with no international data plan.

So, I'm gonna go real fast and just blitz you with all the goodies.

Bing Crosby, White Christmas

The Pogues, Fairytale of New York

Belle and Sebastian, Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel

Kelly Clarkson, My Grown Up Christmas List

Alright that's all I can think of for now. See you suckers Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas Pt. I

Man I love Christmas. Seriously. Lights? Music? Cookies? Trees? People being unilaterally nice to each other? Cards? Stockings? Love it. I'm making the Gareth Bale heart symbol right now. I'm listening to O Holy Night by as many different singers as I can. It's great. Anyone who knows me can vouch to how true this is. Vouchers?

So here are my favourite Christmas Carols of all time in no order.

O Holy Night

In particular the Celine Dion version. There are a lot of things that I don't like about Celine, but man she does pomp and excess really well. But that's not what I love about her version.
The trick, the whole song hinges on that high note. But not just being able to hit (or, in Mariah's case, exceed) it: you have to believe in it. Your belief in that note is, in a way, the physical manifestation of your belief in ole JC himself (note: I'm not a hugely religious person-however I do understand the importance of faith in people's lives and I am NOT here to belittle that fact) and will or will not resonate with the listener depending. And in this instance, Celine was f*cking MOVED BY THE SPIRIT Y'ALL.

All I Want For Christmas Is You

The Mimi version *dodges rocks thrown by Darlene Love purists*
Make no mistake: I love Mariah Carey. Man I have had a huge crush on her since I was like 12. But she meets some very specific criteria for me for what constitutes a classic carol.
First, the song must have some inherent sadness to it, either in the lyrical content or the melody. This song has both (no credit to her.) Second, the song must also be uplifting in a way (note: I find this requires a subtle undertone of false hope: see also White Christmas, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, I'll Be Home For Christmas, etc.)-check. Third (and least crucial, though often the tipping point) it helps if the singer has a personal life that mirrors the tone of the song. Mimi's personal life was, well, kind of a clusterf*ck there for a while. When she sings this song, I don't get the impression that she's just going through the motions. I still get the feeling that her absolute mess of a marriage to Tommy Mottola still informs her reading of this one. I'm not saying her version is better, I'm just saying it's my favourite.

But it IS better.

And this version is just fun.

Big News

I have resigned my day job.
After almost 8 years, I have made a decision to spend more time with my family.
So, if anyone needs me to live blog the new Britney Spears album write about music for them, let me know. Also, I am available to soundtrack your art film with waves of industrial yet melodic, MBV style guitar noise. Reasonable rates.
Also, with all this new found time on my hands I plan on updating this a lot more frequently and I'm going to try and actually keep my twitter account updated as well. Who knows. Either way, $$$s are going to be tight, so I may be posting ads here soon (hopefully nothing too sordid, but hey, I'm broke, so penis enlargement may soon be on your horizon, readers.)

Wish me luck!

Lamp

Spring Breakers

Yeah what a great movie. But man what a bad casting choice in Gucci Mane. I can see what Korine was hoping for but man it didn't pan out.

The problem is that the movie is a dream; it's a reverie. It's this humid, druggy hallucination of salvation via tourism-Mane breaks the spell every time he opens his mouth. He makes me remember that I'm watching a movie and he drags the other actors down with him. It's especially disappointing to watch as Franco tries to prop up Mane's terrible delivery by toning down his performances in their scenes together. I mean, how is the guy in the "LOOK AT MY SHEIT" scene, who calls Britney Spears "an angel if there ever was one on earth" so boring anytime Mane is onscreen?

If it wasn't for Mane this movie would be almost perfect. As it is, it's a primer in style and a lesson in camera work and even the choice of Skrillex to co-sign the OST is a good one (dubstep being the default hypercolour desktop of the weirdo state.) I'm glad Korine has developed an aesthetic this unified and stunning to look at; I hope he chooses better bad guys next time.

GOLFWANG

Am I a total sucker for wanting their tee? I'm really vibing on Earl Sweatshirt right now. (Note: picture is blurry, you are not on drugs. Unless you are on drugs.)

NXNE 2013 Pt. III

...In which we find our resident asshole hero taking to the stage himself.

The Penske File
California Deathrays
CHAMPION LOVER (that's me!)
Another City
1992 Toronto Blue Jays
The Dan Greer Band

@ Rancho Relaxo

So by this point in the festival you can imagine we were feeling a little burnt out. So, what better time to have to play a set right?
FULL DISCLOSURE-if you're looking for an un-biased review then fuck off. All reviews are biased in one form or another but yes, I do happen to be friends with people in these bands. For the record you should know that a big part of our ethos here is that if you don't like our music, don't come see us. Friend or otherwise. Save your time and money and go support something you enjoy. If you're really a friend we can still hang. We apply the same philosophy to bands we see. If I'm not feeling the music, there's a good chance you won't catch me at your show. Don't take it personal. (Note: it could also mean I'm fucking busy. Still don't get all worked up over it, Boo.)

So TPF were quite good. I didn't get to hear all of their set because we had some gear things to worry about (we'd set up a projection show for our set during load-in and it took like 45 minutes just to mount the projector due to you know some whatever-ness). Punky, good melodies, lots of stage presence. Wish I'd seen more.

California Deathrays (whom I'd never seen before) were FUCKING AWESOME. Why? They did something that I love which is incredibly hard to pull off without seeming contrived or gimmicky. They have created their own sort of mythology: check their individual FB accounts and you'll see that they're last names are all Deathray (so Daryl Deathray, Buford Deathray and Nikki Deathray or, depending on where FB puts the middle name, Ray Death, which is better?) the band's description is:

Below radioactive knolls, downwind from the glowing toxins of melted nuclear reactors and spent rocket engines... the death rays of California.

Additionally they have a stomper of a song that goes "...We are the Deathrays...of CALIFOOOOOOORNIAAAAAAAAAA". I love that. It doesn't seem like much (it isn't) but not becoming a total punchline of a band with something like this is very tricky. The band seem to really know who they are and what they want to sound like which is rarer than you'd think. Also they fucking shredded live. Heavy kinda desert rock with major guitar-face and sick drumming. Like a rawer QOTSA. Tell your friends. Cali D-rays for life.

CHAMPION LOVER-not much to say here. I'm on stage so I have no idea what it looks/sounds like from the crowd. I can tell you how hot it was on stage (drummer Rico said he thought at one point he was going to puke.) And how because of the projector we'd turned out the house lights which meant I was totally blind. Folks seems to be into the light show though. My man Romar (the absolute best) hooked it up and it certainly felt like it added a new dimension. Glad I remembered to wear earplugs too. After seeing D Unit though I want to always run a second amp-my drummer doesn't though because it's a fuckaround hauling that much gear in his little car. Also sound guy Cam did a great job. Ask Dan Wolovick for his info.

But yeah we pretty much killed it.

Another City. I have to say I haven't seen them more than once and not for a couple years-but, uh, YEAH. Rad, solid punk/pop with a slice of country and shredding solos. That looks less impressive on paper-really check them out online and go see them if you even remotely like their music. On stage they are a fucking riot. I was hoping for more broken stuff, or Rob Ford jokes, but whatever. Bunch of barefoot hippies. I would say more but I don't want to ruin it for you. Just go. FUCKING TRUST ME. (Note: due to aforementioned heat, part of the beauty of their set was watching the sweat on singer Ben's shirt shoulders slowly meet up with the sweat around his shirt neck. I recommend gambling on it. Priceless. Also they did a shit-hot cover of The Shins' Simple Song. Legit.)

1992 Toronto Blue Jays. Ditto for them the rehearsal space. HOLY...SHIT. Like 70s biker rock? ME TOO. While they're still feeling shit out (1st show as 3some and only their like 3rd or 4th show EVAR) man they are coming along nicely. What's that they say about getting to Carnegie Hall? Anyway, go see them too. Hug Blake before the show, mind you. Sweaty bastard too, him. (Note: one of the lesser appreciated things about these guys is that, awesome as their name is, it's a bit of a mouthful and as such a host of short forms have appeared-my favourite being The '92 BJs. So much lols. Also, an awesome "LET'S GO BLUE JAYS" chant got started up in the crowd at the beginning of their set, and drummer Blake led in with the first couplet from OK Blue Jays. FOR REAL.)

The DGB. What more can you say about Dan Greer? He's becoming a legend. He wears the shades on stage, he's got the Flaming Lips light show at his feet, he dresses like a school teacher (as mentioned on the See You Next Wednesday podcaset, ep. 69) he LIKES TO PARTY... and his music is pretty fucking rad too. It's party rock. That sounds like a back-handed compliment. Don't get it twisted bruv it isn't meant as one. Dan is about letting the good times roll, and he does. With aplomb. And, I'm assuming, controlled substances lots of sugar.

So that's it. Another year another NXNE. Fuck. Now what?

Tardy

Sorry y'all been meaning to get NXNE pt. III up just haven't had time. And writing it on my iPhone sounds a lot like work.
Also I started watching the Killing on Netflix as well as trying to finish Arrested Development as well.

What I'm trying to say is I'm lazy.

But don't worry I'll get it up soon as I can.
In the meantime go listen to one of the more awesomer bands of Toronto's indie scene: Rulers Of The Moon. Full disclosure though-I have a bias: I'm friends with them. That aside they kick ass. Like Stooges meets Motörhead sorta. Go buy their ep on iTunes and watch for the LP on August 10 at Handlebar (my band CHAMPION LOVER is in support). Show up, buy us drinks and pay to see awesome live music live. Those are the rules.

HL

NXNE 2013 Pt. II

Nicholas Doubleyou and The B Squad @ The Silver Dollar

I love this band. I feel about them the way I think people felt about Bruce Springsteen in the 70s (I don't know I wasn't there.) They just make good rock. And they fucking feel it live. D who was rolling with us for their set at The Boat totally wasn't into it. That's cool.
But then the sax kicks in, they wear face paint, they all spazz out...I don't know. They just give me the feelings, ok?

GODS @ Parts and Labour

It's too bad their set was such a gong show because what I could hear of them actually sounded good (also, all professionalism aside, I feel like the sound guy might have been a little out of his element.) They had numerous amp problems, broke the kick pedal on the bass drum (twice) and had to re-start no fewer than 3 songs. But they kept it light, and they're SUPER young and they were very friendly. And the singer dude was like "You know, Toronto, we've been through a lot together tonight, and I think at first you were all 'I don't know' but now, I think you're starting to feel it so lets all chug our beers!" (chugs beer)
Plus we ran into their drummer Adam(?) the next night at the 'Shoe for White Lung and he gave us free beer.

Nu Sensae @ Parts and Labour

How I love Nu Sensae. They make me want to be in a shittier mood, but I can't because I love them so much.
You know, one of the cooler things about how tiny the Shop at Part and Labour is is that when the singer goes "How does it sound?" and you go "MORE VOCALS" you don't actually have to yell because you're standing right next to the sound guy. One of the shittier things about that though is their wedding reception sound system prevents the more-ing of the vocals. Honestly, for how much dosh Now Magazine tells me the owners spent on this place you'd think they'd get a better system. It doesn't have to be the Grateful Dead, it just needs to be louder.
And yes, I love Nu Sensae. They are my spirit animal. Loud, fast, and just so fucking angry. Seriously. What do these guys do, just hang out all day at the Ministry of Transportation to get amped up for a set? Fuck I'm gonna try that for my next show (CHAMPION LOVER, July 11th, Handlebar in Kensington!)
Actually, the implosion of GODS' set kinda sucked the wind out of the room a little (seeing this, I joked with Nu Sensae's drummer "Good luck up there" as he was heading on stage. He laughed. Win.) Plus they had played a 2am secret show at the Garrison the night before (fuck me) and maybe were tired. That, with the no vocals sound system left the show a little flat. Not for the lack of trying though, they rocked it out, but the crowd also kinda sucked.


Odonis Odonis @ The Garrison

Caught 'em in support of Metz at Lee's a couple months back. Was really into their sound and their nice-ass projection show. Loved them again. Sort of punky/no-wave but kind of harsh and metallic sounding with drum triggers. Rad.
Although it should be noted (L7 alert) that my enjoyment of the show was diminished very slightly by the slowly encroaching moshing drunk guys who instead of moshing forward towards the stage were actually drifting backwards in their moshing (until some big dudes started really throwing down near the front, and then the drunk guys went thataways.) And the girl in front of me who wore her giant-ass backpack the whole time. SRSLY??? What is in that fucking hump that is SOOOO important that you can't take it off? And if it's that important (I don't know, gold bars?) then WHY OH WHY DID YOU FUCKING BRING IT TO A SHOW?!?
Odonis Odonis. Buy their record. See them live. Don't wear your backpack or I'll set it on fire.

Nicholas Doubleyou and The B Squad @ The Boat

Yeah I saw them twice. Fuck you. They were just as good this time, but the sound was better at the Dollar.

Saturday

White Lung @ The Legendary Horsehoe Tavern (really? Every time?)

There is simply no WAY that this show wasn't over-capacity. But then when you stick White Lung, Iceage and Fucked Up on the same night at the (trumpet fanfare) LEGENDARY HORSEHOE TAVERN thats what you get. Whatevs.
Anyway, the way I feel about White Lung is the way I feel about Nu Sensae in that they give me the feelings and make me want to break all the furniture in my house at the same time.
That being said their sound was shit.
Mish's vocals were buried in the mix (no mean feat if you're familiar with their work) and so was Kenneth's EPIC GUITAR. The two elements of this band which MUST be heard and they were virtually non-existent. I don't want to get on a rager about sound guys (some are good, some are bad, just like everything else) but it really ate shit not being able to hear the vocals and guitars. I'm actually not totally over it yet. Note to White Lung: on your next trip through Toronto please stay away from the Horseshoe. Sniff.

Iceage @ (God, really?) The Legendary Horsehoe Tavern

Dear Iceage,

Your music is so, SO rad and you're all cool and detached and shit. But you look kind of miserable up there. I don't think you actually ARE since you're totally vibing to the music and all but your facial expressions don't exactly scream "Stoked to be playing live music for a living."

Love,

Me

Fucked Up @ The Legendary Horsehoe Tavern

I did not stay to see Fucked Up. I booked it to go see Lower.

Lower @ Cherry Cola's

Dear Lower,

Your music is so, SO rad and you're all cool and hey, maybe you guys should tour with Iceage and some of your stage presence and charisma and general joyful approach might rub off on them a little. You are? Oh. Well either way, you guys were mind blowingly good. Like how I imagine Black Flag was.

Love,

Me

ps. Tell Iceage they were really great too. Especially "Morals." Maybe that will cheer them up?

pps. Please put out more music, like, now. SERIOUSLY.

Roll on Sunday, wherein I apply my bias to all of the bands that I played with.

NXNE 2013 Pt. I

K.
First off, I'm fucking around with the site a bit. Sorry. I'll get it figured out when I get more time.
Second, times and dates for sets I saw are kind of iffy. Whatever.

Alright.
Here goes.

Meanwood @ The Dakota

Not technically a NXNE set (it was Tuesday) but part of Meanwood's month long residency at The Dakota. But I heard that at the 1st Tuesday their second set was all country covers of punk songs and I got all Clay Davis like "Sheeeeeeeeeeeeiiiiiiiiittttt."
Meanwood are great. If you like the brand of country they play at The Dakota then you'll like Meanwood. Victoria (the singer) has got one of those sing-the-phonebook voices. She can sing. Really sing. You can't. Trust me. All their guitarists are shit-hot and the drummer is their rock. He is their island.
The place was rammy-jammy too which never hurts, and I ran into my buddy J from The Ooh Baby Gimme Mores (best. video. ever.) and MT from RR. Epic hangsies or some shit.

CROSSS @ The Boat

Really good. Super heavy, sludgy, and monolithically slow. All like reverb'ed out vocals. Great. I should mention that I made the comment later to J that if one were not the kind of person who stayed abreast of contemporary music then listening to a band like CROSSS might make one go "OK, fuck you, modern music." Lucky for me. Also, any online recordings I can find tend to leave you a little unprepared for how heavy they actually are. Their recorded output tends to reveal much more of their psyche leanings. If you see them live, bring earplugs. They're pretty loud.
Would've liked to see some more something from the singer, but hey, whatever. The drummer and bassist were really animated and into it. I think the future looks pretty good for these guys.
Also, The Boat had much better sound than I remember.
If you like heavy (I do) and kind of weird (yep) then check them out. If not, you should probably stop reading here.

Destruction Unit & Milk Music @ The Garrison

OK first we're going to talk about Milk Music in a roundabout way before we talk about DU.

Milk Music are good. I like their LP Cruise Your Illusion a LOT. It's nice and loud, but melodic, and reminds me a lot of Dino Jr., which I'm sure they are SICK TO DEATH of hearing. They were loud, but had a good mix. In fact, all in all, they are a good band and you should buy their records and see them live when they come to your town.
In fact the only problem I had with MM's set was that they went on after Destruction Unit who were OH MY GOD THEY'RE SO FUCKING GOOD HOLY FUCK HOLY FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK.
It can't be easy to follow a band who goes up and absolutely annihilates the stage, the audience, the soundboard, the urinals, the floor, the sidewalk outside, and the surrounding 3 city blocks. I felt bad for MM especially because I think their tour is kind of criss-crossing with DU and they've played as support for each other occasionally. It must really suck to go on after a band who has just destroyed (get it?) any chance you might have had of being the best band of the night. I think I'll still try and catch MM the next time they're here and see them on a night when they get a longer set and don't have to follow DU.

Destruction Unit were...just...ahhhhhhhhhhh fffffffaaaaaaacccckkkkk...

K so first off they were loud. Really loud. Probably the loudest band I've seen in a while. Super loud. Every-guitarist-had-2-amps loud. Bring earplugs. The vocals were (natch) a little buried in the mix.

Secondly because of how loud they were every song began and ended with a wall of feedback and therefore no banter or break for applause. Rarely have I seen a band turn that into a total selling point.

Thirdly the music itself was just punishingly heavy and sooooooo fucking awesome that I was like "AHHHHH WHERE'S THE MERCH TABLE" only to find that the extent of their merch was the tour poster. Bummer. Oh well. (Note: they have a lot of records out, which I didn't know at the time. You should go buy them all.)

Fourth(ly?) one of their guitarists has got huge mega fucking Sideshow Bob hair and this totally weird floppy/bouncy side to side head banging style which took me a song or two but then I got totally into it and was like "OK, I get it, I see what you're doing, I'm feeling it".

Fifthly (fuck it I'm going with it) they ended their banter-free set by dropping their guitars (MOAR FEEDBACK) and the singer (having just climbed back down from on top of the piano/lighting rig) unplugged his guitar, stuck the patch cord in his mouth, and began talking through his amps. I was unaware you could do this. It was very, VERY cool. Fuck. So rad.

They were probably the best band I saw this year, and one of the better bands I've ever seen. They were so keyed in to each other, and weird but good, with great physical chemistry. Very un-self conscious, very tight, very loose, very loud. In fact I think I caught the guitarist from MM at the merch (note spellcheck wants to write "mercy" lolz) table watching DU's set and then I understood why he had looked so bummed out all evening. The sads.

Whew. Roll on Friday.

[Edit] I forgot we saw Nicholas Doubleyou and The B Squad at the Silver Dollar. Next post.

And so on and so forth.

Alright err body.

I'm gonna start actually writing. About stuff. Mostly music, but you know, whatever. It'll be mostly about records and shit but the occasional live show (and all my NXNE shows) will be on here shortly.

k let's go.