Toronto Unplugged

Toronto Unplugged needs your help….
We’ve been charged with creating a list of bands/musicians/artists to watch in 2008 – those who we think will break the scene.
We have our personal favorites, but we want to hear from you.  Who are you following as of late?  Who have you seen lately that blew you away?   Is there a release that you can’t stop playing?
There will be a good number of Toronto/Canadian bands that will rise through this year and (with your help) we will list them here.
The list will be posted in roughly two weeks – with links to each artist/band …read more

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Couple solid gigs in town tonight….here is a little variety.
For some acoustic, feel good Canadian rock, check out Hayden at the Danforth Music Hall ($25)….this is a great venue to hear some of Hayden’s new tracks like More Than Alive.
New York City up and coming pop star Ingrid Michealson (you know her from her song The Way I Am) at the El Mocambo ($13.50)

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CBC Radio 3 is always on top on what is breaking in Canadian Music.  This week’s NMC features local Toronto band Five Star Trailer Park.
Five Star Trailer Park are an emerging band from Toronto’s vibrant independent music scene.  Drawing comparison’s to bands as varied as the Foo Fighters and Ryan Adams, this sextet is reputed for songs crafted with beauty and tension.
The band is taking up residency at legendary brew pub C’est What on Tuesday nights for the month of March.
Standout Track:  On the Drive Home

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Holiday Monday…Family Day.
Here are some clips of tracks that had our ear this past week.
The Kooks performed at the MOD Club this past Monday. Straight from (my favorite music site on the web) La Blogotheque’s Take Away Shows is a great clip of The Kooks playing on the street in Paris.

Listening to Plants and Animals this week before the launch of their album this week.

Luke Doucet put on an excellent show at the Starlight in Waterloo this past week. Here is an old clip of an acoustic performance…

Happy Family Day.

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Plants and Animals are breaking out.  The Montreal trio are less than a week away from launching their highly anticipated release Parc Avenue.   The band has been at it a while – they have been playing as a band since 2000 and have been in the process of this albumfor over two years.
“It’s like an aged whisky or something,” laughs Spicer. “It’s been percolating and developing for a long time to get to the point where now it’s just simple and delicious,”
says band member Warren C Spicer to Ben Rayner of the Toronto Star.
The band has been getting hype for …read more

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Sure Waterloo is a 50 minute drive from Toronto, but Jane Bond really is a gem.
If you want to feel as though an artist is playing live in your living room, except your living room is packed with strangers who have come to see the same artist…than go see a show at Jane Bond.
“I think you just have to go once or twice and know why you like Jane Bond”

The place is a 70’s throwback – orange (and overall vibrant) interior, funky lamps and lighting, glitzy tables, and the house selection of music is always worth the trip …read more

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A long weekend in February.  New, but somehow familiar.  It was practically an unwritten rule that you called in sick at least one Monday in February, so the legitimizes it.  February long weekends…then marijuana.  Things are looking up.
This is a good time to reflect on the gigs ahead.
Looking immediately ahead, skate down to the Horseshoe on Monday (go with family) to check out Luke Sneyd.  Standout track:  The Prisoner.
More ahead…
These are tickets to get your hands on…at all costs.  March 8th will feature a terrific lineup with Performances part of the Indie Awards at the Fairmont Royal York (for …read more

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The Starlight in Waterloo is a great little venue. The acoustics are good, especially on the nights when the crowds are up – it soaks in the vastness of the space. As of late, their lineups have included: Jason Collett, Joel Plaskett, The Dears not too long ago and last night Luke Doucet and The White Falcon. Doucet was playing his second last show last night before he heads to SXSW. His only show between now and Austin is with Blue Rodeo at Massey Hall. Not bad.
From the opening track Long Haul Driver …read more

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N.Q. Arbuckle is the unassuming band nudging its way to the bar of great Canadian music.
NQ ARBUCKLE plays THE DAKOTA TAVERN, SATURDAY FEBRUARY 23. w/ special guests. Doors @ 9 pm. Tix $10. Available at the door only.
After a busy fall touring Europe, NQ Arbuckle revs up for his bon-voyage to Austin by warming up some hometown haunts.
As one-third of Six Shooter’s Triple Barrel Tour, rounded off with labelmates Luke Doucet and Justin Rutledge, Arbuckle strummed up a storm in Italy and the Netherlands, where the troup yielded some great reviews.
NQ Arbuckle makes his debut performance at this year’s SXSW, …read more

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Trying to explain Australian Xavier Rudd to people can be a tough task. He plays a bunch of instruments (including a selections of didgeridoos), he has a soft acoustic vibe, his shows offer incredible and unique lengthy jams and he never wears shoes – a full-time barefooter, claiming not to own or wear footwear.
Xavier Rudd was rounding out his last of three shows at the Danforth Music Hall – a great venue for a gig of this nature. The old theatre has padded seats, good acoustics and lends itself well to sing-a-longs.
Rudd flowed through his set …read more

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