Toronto Unplugged

Finally some good news on the Toronto FC/Needing a Striker/Brian McBride Sweepstakes front…
No we did not get McBride…we were never really in the running – even though we had first dibs on his rights.  McBride made it clear from day one that if he were to return the MLS, it would be to his hometown team – the Chicago Fire.
After what seemed like months of negotiating (TFC wanting to much/Chicago wanting to give up too little) there is finally a deal.
Toronto has given Chicago the rights to sign McBride and in return, Toronto will get 23 year old striker Chad …read more

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It’s a random week in gigs next week in Toronto. There is hard alternative rock, followed by a nostalgic punk legend, next is a little Southern (by way of Detroit) rock, rounding it out with California acoustic pop.
Plan your week…it’s random, but there are some good shows to check out right after the long weekend.
Tuesday August 5th
NINE INCH NAILS, Deerhunter: Air Canada Centre, $59.50-$69.50
Wednesday August 6th
Iggy Pop & The Stooges: Massey Hall, $59.50-$99.50
Kid Rock & Lynyrd Skynyrd: Molson Amphitheatre, $25.50-$75
Matt Costa: Phoenix, all ages, $20

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Among the many emerging acts at Hillside in Guelph this weekend, The Burning Hell brings their indie folk rock to the stage on Sunday.
Taking its name from a religious tract, The Burning Hell has been slithering around in the muck in one form or another since the dawn of the millennium. Fronted by the moderately agoraphobic songwriter and occasional history teacher Mathias Kom on electric ukulele, The Burning Hell currently features between one and twelve people, depending on the night.
If you don’t catch The Burning Hell at Hillside, they are riding out an intense touring schedule – The Burning Hell …read more

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The Beaches International Jazz Festival wraps up tonight. One of Toronto’s most popular festivals, the Jazz Fest offers variety and diversity of music within (and outside) the realm of jazz.
StreetFest is a Beaches International Jazz Festival original event showcasing the finest in Big Band, Swing, Dixieland, Smooth, Post-Bop, Afro-Cuban, Fusion, Funk, R&B and Soul sounds that Canada has to offer. Upwards of 50 bands entertain you along a closed 2 km stretch of Queen Street East! It’s an annual 3-afternoon into evening pilgrimage for close to a million folks who come out to groove to the music and soak …read more

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Saturday nights at the Shoe…I’ve had many a perfect Saturday nights taking in a show at the Horseshoe Tavern.
The Mahones – a pre-show street meat, 10 pints of Guinness, and a post-show street meat…brutal Sunday.
The Coast album launch party – great homecoming shoe…plenty of pints
The Droops – the best live Jimi cover of Fire I’ve ever heard
Tonight will be a great night at the Shoe – whether you are a Salingers fan, a curious newcomer to the group, or someone who just wants to hear solid live music, this show is an important one to see.
The Salingers will lead a …read more

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Toronto’s Crystal Castles have already proven they can sell albums. Now they’re proving that they can sell albums…on vinyl.
In addition to this week’s CIMS album chart, there was a TOP 50 Vinyl chart – week ending July 20, 2008
Crystal Castles self titled album came in at a very impressive 34 – trailing the likes of Radiohead In Rainbows, My Morning Jacket Evil Urges, Wolf Parade At Mount Zoomer and Coldplay Vida La Vida.
Here is the top 20…
TW LW Title Artist
1 D METALLICA MASTER OF PUPPETS
2 22 …read more

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A band forms.
They play in a basement.
They play a few bars.
Word spreads that they’re pretty good.
They play some bigger bars.
They go on tour hitting a few cities in the province.
Word spreads that they’re better than good.
They play a few bigger shows.
They play the States.
They try their hand at a tour overseas.
“There’s a reason why Toronto’s the Coast are leaving in October to do an extensive tour of the UK which will be followed by another tour of the States and Canada and that is because they have the ability to combine sadness and longing with a solid music backdrop and …read more

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Drawing on diverse backgrounds, Vampire Weekend experiments and explores the intersections of the things they love: African guitar music, the Western classical canon, hazy memories of summers in Cape Cod, winters in Upper Manhattan, reggaeton and everything else that would become part of Vampire Weekend.
Vampire Weekend returns to Toronto – their last visit being a much hyped packed house at the Horseshoe Tavern. As part of the Rogers Picnic, Vampire Weekend will take the stage at 4pm – after Dizzee Rascal and just before Animal Collective.
Already featured on many lists of who to watch for in 2008, Vampire …read more

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Newmarket Ontario’s Tokyo Police Club will hit the stage tomorrow at Rogers Picnic right before Cat Power and right after Vampire Weekend. It’s a solid line up.
About Tokyo Police Club…
Tokyo Police Club have taken all the good bits from Indie Rock in the past decade and put their own unique spin on things to create a sound that has catapulted them into the international spotlight. Since their formation in 2005, the band has played numerous festivals including key performances at Lollapalooza, Coachella, Glastonbury, and Reading and have recently been featured on the Tonight Show with David Letterman. …read more

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Everyone has a handful of websites that they check out on a regular basis.
Within the Toronto scene, I have three clear cut favorites, but when a solid act rolls through town I always stop by Concertaholics to see if there is a review.   Concertaholics reviews are always in depth, more often than not the reviews include pictures and the full AV gamut and they (Jeff and Todd) do a great job communicating the overall vibe of the shows.  They are both Concertaholics and they bring you insights into the city’s top shows.
Their Black Crowes review was awesome and their …read more

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