Toronto Unplugged

Secret Broadcast have won the Road to V contest.  As the top vote getters in the contest, the band will play Virgin Festival on Sunday September 7th and an exclusive after party.  Gibson will hook the band up with a tour bus for touring around Toronto and a whack of Gibson gear.
Secret Broadcast formed in early 2006 after Matt Lightstone moved from Toronto to Calgary and met Bryan Craig and John de Jesus. Together they started writing songs that combined elements of rock, funk, pop and old-school punk which garnered them an eclectic mix of comparisons such as The Rapture, …read more

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The bearded wonder – Neil Halstead – took the stage second promoting his album ‘”Oh Mighty Engine”
Halstead’s four-piece band carry a Beach Boys, Cat Stevens type vibe with some killer mandolin – reminiscent of a slower paced Kinks hook.
Amidst some technical issues Neil Halstead and his band delivered the crowd with another very talented and fitting performance.
He dedicated a song to the beard…manly beards.
Check out Neil Halstead if you haven’t already.

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Mason Jennings was the first to take the stage for the sun drenched and mellow, yet eager eco-fans.
He looks like a cross between Eddie Vedder (of the TEN era) and David Arquette.  His sound is a southern warm and soothing acoustic and harmonic twang.  Thoughtful lyrics, soft passion and some nicely timed harmonica made Mason Jennings a fantastic opener.  I can assure you he won some new fans.
Mason’s track listing included ‘Your New Man’ and a very cool ‘Be Here Now’.  Check them out at Mason Jennings Myspace.
It was a great set that ended with Jennings heartfelt thanks and a …read more

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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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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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The first band to kick off Rogers Picnic on Sunday will be GTA’s own The Carps.
Here is a little about the funky, rockin’, R&B duo…
Scarborough-based The Carps thrive on ingenuity with an attractive blend of rock, funk, electronic and hip-hop. Wielding a disheveled bass, a wonky synthesizer, and hard-hitting drums, the duo steer raw emotion into a palatable and progressive direction while never leaving their mindless self-indulgent Punk Rock days far behind. The Carps recently released their sophomore EP titled “Waves and Shambles”.
Have a listen…

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