Toronto Unplugged

Produced by Martin Terefe, who also produced 2005’s Retriever and 2002’s Cobblestone Runway, Exit Strategy of the Soul was recorded in varied locations including studios in London, England and Havana, Cuba. Its ambitious arrangements, backed by a punctuating and swelling horn section on nearly every song, complete an album that is one of Sexsmith’s most wide-ranging in breadth of sound and feel.
With Ron Sexsmith’s disarmingly warm, inviting voice and his brilliant lyrical melancholy, the album’s 14 tracks contain observations on spirituality, love and the ever present hope that the beauty of life can overcome the world’s harshness. Also included here …read more

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There is a group of us in this Music Channel who decided to track the songs we listened to on a random day and present it as our ‘Soundtrack of the Day‘.
My day was yesterday. Other than watching Toronto FC pull out a big win in Los Angeles over the Galaxy yesterday, I was in the car letting my iPod dictate all communication.
Here are a selction of standout tracks that anchored my driving Sunday soundtrack.
Joel Plaskett’s Ashtray Rock might be my favorite release of 2007. I don’t know if a day will come when at least one track …read more

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It took a blogger in Austin Texas during SXSW to introduce me to The Cliks.  Finding out I was from Toronto, the lead blogger for Austin Sound Check indicated that one of her favorite bands was from our humble abode – a band called The Cliks who ’sound a bit like early Pretenders.’
The Cliks are known for their blazing, uncompromising live performances.  Their brand of rock is a throwback to what is fresh again.   In this same breath,The Cliks will be opening  for The Cult at The Sound academy tonight (April 12).
Late ticket pickups can be sought after here.
The Cliks …read more

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Toronto’s Sunparlour Players are playing a big show at the Horseshoe tavern on Thursday night. Whistles, organs, clarinets, Canadian folk rock n roll and spring in th air…this will be a great show. That is a prediction I am ready to stand by.
The band has won over fans all across the Country and quickly became a favorite of CBC Radio 3, while creeping up the R3 30. From CBC Radio 3,
Sunparlour Players..No question…a MUST SEE! These guys are so intense while playing kick drums, dobros, banjos, etc. And they sell preserves …read more

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The first Sunday of the year. Well, the first Sunday where the sun is out and for the first time in a long time I’m actually looking forward to going outside and doing something.
And for this special occasion, I feel I need to add a touch of spring to my iPod.
Here is what’s on deck…
First heard Hello Blue Roses climbing the chart on the CBC’s R3 30. Their MySpace page seems to be at a standstill because they only have one track added on there and it is very different from their chart friendly standout: Shadow Falls
Vancouver’s …read more

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Rock Plaza Central quickly emerged from a local Indie favorite to a major Indie draw.
The band is playing a few Ontario gigs – including Toronto @ Sneaky Dee’s on April 10th – before heading to Montreal and then Vermont.
Their 2007 album Are We Not Horses received impressive reviews from major credentials like Rolling Stone “Stars in Waiting”, Pitchfork “Truly something to be joyful about”, and Exclaim “A masterpiece”.
The Gig: Rock Plaza Central will be at Sneaky Dee’s on April 10th with Jetplanes of Abraham
Have a listen to one of our favorite Rock Plaza Central ballads: Anthem for the already …read more

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Liam Finn seems to be one of those people who genuinely wants to meet you. He wants to entertains you with his music and he is using music to propel his journey to all of the nooks and crannies of the gigging world.
Liam just sent an update of where he’s at on tour. Here is is…
I am in Seattle at the moment… preparing for what looks like it’s going to be a pretty spesh couple of weeks. My shows supporting Eddie Vedder begins on this coming tuesday in Vancouver, and we make out way down the …read more

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After a short hiatus, The Assistants are back performing live again with new drummer Evan Bender. The band has a show booked for Friday April 18th @ Rancho Relaxo. The show comes by way of the ongoing ‘Two way monologues’ music series.
The show starts at 9pm and the cost at the door is $7
The lineup is as follows…
Opopo (Toronto)
Les Handclaps (Montreal)
The Primordials (Toronto)
The Assistants (Toronto)
Give us your thoughts on the lineup.

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(www.emilyhaines.com)
Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton will be headlining the Mobile Jam Fest benefit concert tomorrow (Sunday, March 30th) at The …read more

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I’ve always been a big fan of NOW Magazine. For the most part their music coverage of what’s going on in the city and beyond is solid. However, it’s their interviews that I especially enjoy. Interviewers don’t ask questions that are of interest to me, but the folks employed at NOW often pry answers to questions I would ask the artist myself. This is likey because the interviews are a few beers or other in.
For example, here is a great snippet from a great interview with Luke Doucet.
What club do you like to go to after …read more

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