Toronto Unplugged

Homegrown band Blue Rodeo is on stage at Massey Hall during its Small Miracles tour. Blue Rodeo recently released its 11th full length album of the same name.
The performance is expected to include songs from the new album as well as some of the band’s classic repertoire.
Blue Rodeo is a Canadian country rock band formed in 1984 in Toronto. They have been signed with Warner Music Canada since their debut album Outskirts in March 1987. Blue Rodeo is one of the most successful and well known contemporary Canadian bands, having released 11 studio albums, one live album, …read more

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I found this link through my man Zach from Take More Photos. The shot to the right is from the site Shark vs. Bear: Event Photography.
 
Check out this gallery of some shots from the February 21st Crystal Castles gig at Wrong Bar. Great photography and a great site to get out top quality creative pics from the city’s profile events.
Crystal Castles is a Toronto based band, described by Loud & Quiet as “the most exciting and original band in the world right now” consisting of multi-instrumentalist Ethan Kath and vocalist Alice Glass. The group’s music has …read more

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It’s no mystery that when musicians and bands find themselves gigging in Toronto on the same day or weekend, they often find time to share a few cocktails or crash an impromptu party.
This might be one of the most random line ups in Toronto…especially for a Monday. How’s this for a mix of artists in the city? Put the following folk in the same room…sit back and observe.
Crystal Castles, Pilot Priest, Mikey Apples @ Wrongbar
George Clinton & Parliament – Funkadelic @ Phoenix, $42.50
Spice Girls @ Air Canada Centre $69.50-$119.50
James Blunt, Sara Bereilles @ Sony (Hummingbird) Centre, $32.15-$50.15
Jane …read more

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Massey Hall will host an incredible gig tonight. The Cowboy Junkies will entertain a packed house tonight with friend and recent touring partner Ryan Adams.
In 2007 the Cowboy Junkies released Trinity Revisited, a re-recording of their most famous album featuring guest artists Ryan Adams, Vic Chesnutt, Natalie Merchant and Jeff Bird.
The show tonight at Massey Hall should be a unique, full entertainment experience. In my opinion this musical lineup will be one of the best musical pairings in the city for a while.
Ryan Adams released Follow the Lights in October 2007 as an EP featuring three new …read more

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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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