(Editors)

There is a heaping handful of great gigs in Toronto (GTA) that will round out January…

JAN 19 – THE SPOONS @ ROSE THEATRE (BRAMPTON)
JAN 21 – MARS VOLTA @ PHOENIX
JAN 22 – PETER, BJORN & JOHN @ PHOENIX
JAN 22 – THE EDITORS / HOT HOT HEAT KOOL @ HAUS (our pick)
JAN 25 – ALEXISONFIRE @ DOCKS
JAN 26 – TOKYO POLICE CLUB @ NATHAN PHILLIPS SQUARE (free)
JAN 27 -  THE TEENAGERS @ THE SOCIAL
JAN 29 -  DJ SHADOW & CUT CHEMIST @ PHOENIX
JAN 31 – WINTERSLEEP @ PHOENIX
JAN 31 – XAVIER RUDD @ DANFORTH MUSIC HALL (our pick)

(Xavier Rudd)

Post from: Toronto Unplugged

On a random night last night, a few of us from the brewery decided to stop into the Cameron House to check out some sets.  As part of the Toronto City Roots Series, we were lucky enough to catch John Wort Hannam.

John played the back room at the Cameron House for an intimate and captivated crowd.  Listening to John play songs such as Wrecking Ball, Infantryman, and Sweet Sweet Rose it is no wonder he is one of Canada’s most promising folk musicians.

John Hannam captures attention through his traditional and clean guitar playing, but he  holds your attention with well crafted musical stories communicated with the strength and emotion of experience.

Here is a little on John Wort Hannam…

From the Canadian prairies in southern Alberta, John Wort Hannam is known for his unique take on the simple day-to-day dramas of the common man through songs that map the landscapes of both the human heart and this vast country of ours.   He is a born story- teller with a keen eye for the quirky, a humble and engaging performer with lyrics that create stories behind the songs.   While it is true that John is a relatively new face on the folk/roots scene, John has achieved some fine accolades and seen his profile rise rapidly in a few short years.

Of late John Wort Hannam received two 2007 WCMA nominations, he was named a 2007 New Folk Winner at the Kerrville Texas New Folk Songwriting Competition as part of the prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival, (John joins the list of previous finalists such as John Gorka, Nanci Griffith, Eric Taylor, Lyle Lovett, and Steve Earle).   John won 1st Prize for Best song at the 2007 Calgary Folk Music Festival Songwriting Competition, an award John also one in 2004 as well as the “Best Performance Award” in 2006.

January 18-20th John will be playing Hugh’s Room as part of the 2008 Gordon Lightfoot Tribute.

Catch John Wort Hannam live or listen to his latest CD Two Bit Suit and you will understand why he is generating the accolades and kudos that he is.

Post from: Toronto Unplugged

Corin Raymond is taking the stage at the Cameron House tonight at 6pm..

Here’s a bit on Corin…

Corin Raymond is a young man writing old songs- not songs written deliberately in an old style, but songs that sound like they’ve been around a lot longer than Corin himself.

He didn’t grow up playing music or writing songs, but he grew up around words.

Edna St. Vincent Millay. Robert Frost.

Poetry. Words.

Corin’s songs are stories. They’re also bittersweet tunes sung with unadulterated joy. Equal parts heartache and hope. Tom Waits does that. John Prine does that. They don’t take themselves too seriously but they break your heart. The low in loneliness and the high in hi-dee-ho, all at once.

Corin’s songs want to be sung. Whenever people hear them they leave singing. His first cd isn’t out yet but people are already covering the songs on it.

Check out Corin on Myspace

Post from: Toronto Unplugged

Radiohead’s

The cross-country trek is expected to make stops in the Northeast, including New York, Philadelphia, and Boston; while Southeastern cities include Washington, DC, Atlanta, Charlotte, Miami, and Tampa. The Midwest portion of the trek will include Chicago, Cleveland, Indianapolis, and St. Louis. Two shows will be staged in Texas, in Dallas and Houston; with West Coast appearances anticipated in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, and Seattle.

In addition, three Canadian locations are part of the lineup — Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver.

The North American run will take part in two portions – one prior to and one after their UK and Europe summer trek.

Radiohead’s overseas dates begin in Ireland on June 6th.

So we know Radiohead is stopping in Toronto. Any bets on the venue? Leave a comment.

Post from: Toronto Unplugged

The Hives are coming back to Toronto.   The band will be joined by opening act The Donnas at the Kool Haus on March 3rd.

Tickets have just went on sale here at Ticket Master.

The Hives are a rock band from Fagersta, Sweden that first rose to prominence in the early 2000s as a leading group of the garage rock revival. Their breakthrough came with the release of the “best-of” compilation Your New Favourite Band, featuring their most commercially successful song “Hate to Say I Told You So“. The band produces punk-influenced garage rock songs and wear matching black and white suits.

Formed in 1993, The Donnas are an American all-female hard rock/punk rock band from Palo Alto, California.  They draw inspiration from The Ramones, AC/DC, and Kiss.

Post from: Toronto Unplugged

Elite company here…Radiohead and Anne Murray???

Here are the top 10 albums sales in Toronto for the week ending January 10th:

1. Radiohead – In Rainbows
2. Alicia Keys – As I Am
3. Feist – Reminder
4. Rihanna – Good Girl Gone Bad
5. Amy Winehouse – Back to Black
6. Anne Murray – Duets, Friends & Legends

I can’t help but think back to that segment on Sesame Street called, “One of these things does not belong here…”

That’s right Rihanna, you’re out of your element.

Anne Murray…you’ll be top 5 if I have anything to do with it.

Question…what was the last album you bought…the good ol’ fashioned way?

Post from: Toronto Unplugged

From Now…

“For almost five years in the early 80s, Handsome Ned was the King of Queen West. The smooth-voiced scenester used his hillbilly hokiness to hide an ambitious energy that was supposed to take his amazing talent to the top. A subtle but effective self-promoter and the man all local musicians wanted to impress, Ned had a plan – only he wasn’t supposed to die before it all worked out.”

Handsome Ned died of a drug overdose 21 years ago yesterday.  His death rocked a community, spawned numerous bands of influence and to a degree, helped shape his genre of music.  Handsome Ned Masyk will alwaysbe remembered as the Godfather of Toronto’s rockabilly, honkeytonk, cow-punk.

Handsome Ned has a catalog that will go very well with your day today.  Find some of his music and get it on your listening device for your daily adventure today.  It will undoubtedly provide connections to many of the accompanying local bands on your IPOD.  This will also get you ready for the Handsome Ned and Sons gig tonight at the Cameron House.  Tonight will be a celebration not to miss…and who know who you will run into. 

Here are the details for the show tonight at the Cameron House…
Sue & Dwight 3:30 pm; The Sons Of Handsome Ned w/ Slim Twig, Nick Masyk and the Ferraros 6-9 pm (Queen Western); Skin Davey w/ High Fi Low Heels and Strangest Angels eve.

Post from: Toronto Unplugged

(Xavier Rudd)

Australian Xavier Rudd is practically an adopted Canadian – factoring in his extended Canadian tours, further extended stays recording new music and albums and lastly, his unexplained success. Rudd seems to like Canada. And as of yesterday, Toronto has been rewarded with a third show at The Danforth Music Hall.

Rudd’s first scheduled performance on Thursday January 31st sold out instantly. His second show on Friday February 1st just sold out. Just announced on Rudd’s website is a third show on Sunday February 10th. Tickets go on sale on January 11th here.

There might be no better place to see Xavier Rudd in the city than at the Music Hall. The sound quality, comfort and intimacy makes the Danforth a top tier venue in Toronto…and perhaps the best.

Quick intro to Xavier Rudd…

Xavier Rudd is a genuine singer, great folksy songwriter and talented multi-instrumentalist. Rudd’s fourth studio album titled White Moth was released on June 2, 2007.

2008 will hear international sounds and vibes coming further to the forefront of popular music. When this happens, Rudd will be praised as a modern pioneer. In this way, Rudd resembles Paul Simon in the experiment and influence he incorporated into his songwriting and recording.

On White Moth,

“The singer/songwriter utilizes guitar, harmonica, percussion instruments and, most famously, three didgeridoos (of different keys) to create a world of sounds in concert. When he wasn’t displaying his amazing circular-breathing ability… he showed a warm and soothing vocal style that strongly recalled David Gray, Jack Johnson and, most often, Paul Simon.” – LiveDaily.com – November 2007

Post from: Toronto Unplugged

Everyone has a track by a local band that has resonated with them. Spread the word. Tell people. That is the heart of the music business. Now, you can send it to Radio 3 and hope to get a national and global voice…on a podcast anyway.

The podcast segment entails one of the hosts to pick a tune from New Music Canada and tells you why you should listen to the song. It is a short, personal, passionate story that pulls the listener’s ear into the song. Submit your own.

Starting February 5th, all you have to do is call into the toll free line 1-877-955-6565 ext.2 say that you are calling about Audience Tuesday, leave your name, where you’re calling from, and your throw to the song (approx. 1 min). The most passionate entry gets the spot and the adoration of hundreds of thousands… well tens of thousands anyway.

Give some love to your favorite bands from the city and call in.

Post from: Toronto Unplugged

Recco: If not heading to the Phoenix grab a date and check out the Reservoir.

Phoenix: Die Mannequin and the Dresden Dolls – $19.50

Cameron House: An Evening Out CD release

Lee’s Palace: Rock For Humanity benefit w/ I Hate Sally (rock/punk)

The Horseshoe: 63 Monroe, Saigon Hookers, Alpha Project and Storm Alongs (rock/indie/glam)

Reservoir Lounge: The Jake Rude Swing Sextet (jazz) – the Reservoir is always a good bet

The Opera House: Ra:tio (indie)

Post from: Toronto Unplugged