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

1 Comment

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

Comments Off

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

4 Comments

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

4 Comments

Decent week this week for shows in Toronto…and it all starts tonight…yes, a Sunday.
Xavier Rudd sings to the sold out crowd at the Danforth Music Hall tonight. Vampire Weekend play a hyped up ’show of the year’ at the Horseshoe Tavern.
The Kooks are at the Mod Club on Monday, The Bravery rock out the Opera House on Tuesday, Andrew W.K. will explode at the Sound Academy on Thursday and Thrice is at the Kool Haus on Friday.
The Kooks are at the Mod Club on Monday, The Bravery rock out the Opera House on Tuesday, on Thursday Andrew W.K. will …read more

Comments Off

I’m hoping there is some debate on this one, because I’ve heard tons of good and bad rants on this next venue.
Lee’s Palace is Lee’s Palace, it’s that simple.
Lee’s is a legendary concert venue in Toronto. The place is dark, it sometimes smells, the acoustics can be a bit high on the treble and the servers are a notch down from pleasant. But this is one of my favorite venues in the city. All of the above make up the character of Lee’s Palace. I thoroughly enjoy the sight lines, the acoustics, the intimacy and the …read more

2 Comments

I’ve always rolled my eyes at comparisons. Maybe I’ve never understood them.
When I read NOW Magazines cover story indicating that Toronto’s Zaki Ibrahim could the next Amy Winehouse, I cringed a bit. Why the comparison to a walking circus? Perhaps it would become clear…how’s that for foreshadowing?
The R&B/Soul/Singer/Songwriter paired her cover story with a gig at the MOD Club last night. It is always something special when a musician creates a fixation in concert not based on stage presence, light shows or gimmicks, but straight talent. Zaki Ibrahim is a compelling artist that reels …read more

Comments Off

Located on the fringe of downtown at 722 College Street West lies a great Toronto concert venue: The Mod Club.
The Mod Club Theatre is a popular rock club that hosts smaller, more intimate gigs. The venue has a capacity of about 600 – concert-goers can watch acts from the floor, the tables to the side of the theatre, and a second floor balcony.
The theatre is decorated with Mod themed artwork and images that give the theatre it’s British vibe. Two large video panels give everyone in the audience a good view of the performers on stage. The …read more

Comments Off

 (MGMT)
Eastern America’s MGMT (pronounced ‘Management’) will be performing with Yeasayer in Toronto on February 9th at the El Mocambo.
MGMT has been featured in virtually every publication, listing them as a band to watch.  Feb 9th at the El Mocambo will be your chance to see a cool band in a cool venue that could be an impact band in the future.  At the very least, it’ll be a trippy night.
Here’s the skinny on MGMT…
While studying music at Wesleyan University in Middleton, Connecticut, Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser formed the electronic-rock group MGMT and played at the college’s notorious “clothing optional” …read more

Comments Off

Starting next week, Toronto Unplugged is going to count down the Top Concert Venues in the city. We will look at venues of all sizes, shapes and historical importance. We will list the key points on each venue as well as the top performances each has hosted.
Venue rankings can be biased on many things: who you’ve seen there, what time you arrived (where you ended up in the venue), how drunk you got and maybe how drunk you didn’t get.
We’ve begun asking all of the folks that we know that hit gigs in the city at a furious …read more

Comments Off