Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Passion Pit

On repeat in my head.

Friday, April 10, 2009

Brett Dennen


So there's this singer and I'm totally a fan.
Since I've moved to Toronto just about two years ago, I have had the chance to see him 3 times live in concert - twice at the MOD club, once opening for John Mayer.


The latest show at the MOD club, touring with his latest album "Hope For the Hopeless" was the concert that stuck out for him in my mind. He opened his set, surrounded by the smoke of burning incense and kicked off the mood right. When Brett takes the stage you instantly want to run up and give him a hug - that feeling only amplifies when he starts the infamous knee dance (if you've seen him, you know what I'm talking about)


Emotional music is definitely my guilty pleasure, and Brett, you play with my heartstrings. The man is a poet. Brett's lyrics are something I can relate to, and get me thinking, which is refreshing to have in this world.
"With slavery stitched to the fabric of my clothes, chaos and commotion wherever I go, but love I try to follow, love will come set me free..."

"people walking around pushing around their debts, wearing pay cheques like necklaces and bracelets"

"I wondered how so many cou
ld be in so much pain, while others don't seem
to feel a thing? Then I cursed my whiteness and I get so damned depressed. In a world of suffering why should I be so blessed?"


Oh Brett, you have my heart.


Myspace: www.myspace.com/brettdennen
www.brettdennen.net

Depeche Mode

Seriously Wrong. Seriously so right.









Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Glasvegas.


The wonder that happens when Glasgow meets Vegas is something to be reckoned with. Glasvegas hit the MOD club last Friday and was a concert I'll be remembering when they are selling out the ACC.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

The Scots had won over the crowd even before bursting on stage with "Geraldine". They continued the love fest when lead singer James Allen took off his leather coat and sported a sleeveless-t (with really deep arm holes) continueing to rock with "S.A.D. Light", "Flowers and Football Tops" and "Go Square Go". The mix of his thick Scot-accent, the awed crowd and dramatic lighting only added to the atmosphere. My fav was when they started rocking out to "My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry" which references Oasis' 'what's the story morning glory'. Hmm..I wonder if its a common phrase in that part of the world or if they are tipping their hats to the Gallaghers? [which is clearly well deserved]

After the lights went down, James and guitarist Rab Allen re-took the stage for the encore with "Please Come Back Home", then were joined with their bassist, Paul Donoghue and drummer, Caroline McKay to cap the night off with "Daddy's Gone", leaving the crowd feeling more than satisfied.

James took his time leaving the stage, high fiving the guys and kissing the girls on their hands [clearly, I was up front for a little smooch]
Phew. What a concert.


Myspace: www.myspace.com/glasvegas

Fun facts about Glasvegas:

  • Drummer Caroline McKay allegedly gets so nervous before sets, she's normally found face planted into the toilet.
  • Geraldine, the infamous social worker that lead singer James Allen sings so passionately about apparently has quit her job to follow Glasvegas on tour.
  • Alan McGee claimed they were "the best Scottish band he's seen in 20 years" and the "next biggest band in the world" after watching their show at King Tut's two years ago, the same venue where he signed Oasis.
  • In January, Donoghue was quoted saying "[In Britian] the name's out there, and people are getting it. Now we need to go to America and really put a lot of work and a lot of effort into that." I think we've caught on.

White Lies and Friendly Fires

Last week [April 1] I headed out to Lee's Palace for the sold out Soft Pak/ Friendly Fires/White Lies concert. I arrived just as Soft Pak was finishing their set and of what I saw of them I enjoyed, but I didn't catch enough of it to make a real opinion.

Next up: Friendly Fires who proved to be the best surprise of the night. Hailing from England, they are a band I often turn to on the treadmill - their performance was something I didn't expect and truly blew me away. I couldn't help but dance and have a wicked time because the energy that lead singer, Ed MacFarlane, was giving off was certainly contagious. These guys were shaking their thing Mic Jagger style, jumping on speakers, running into the crowd and were rocking out like true stars. Skeleton Boy, Jump In the Pool and Paris really hit the sweet spot with the crowd. Oh yeah, the other thing they got bang on is that you can never have enough cow bell. Myspace: www.myspace.com/friendlyfires

The main event, the White Lies, took the stage for their second time in Toronto and were a starch contrast from the upbeat, energetic Friendly Fires. Dressed in all black, the White Lies hit a more serious chord with lead singer Harry McVeigh leading them through a great set, sore throat and all. Kicking it all off with "Fairwell to the Fairground", they jammed through every songs on their debut album "To Lose My Life". Harry's haunting vocals had the crowd in awe with lyrics like "There's a part of me thats still believes; my soul will soar above the trees; but a desperate fear flows through my blood; that a dead love's buried beneath the mud; let's grow old together and die at the same time..." If you haven't picked up on the magic that is White Lies and you like the Editors, Arcade Fire, Joy Division, The Killers, then whatcha waiting for? Myspace: www.myspace.com/whitelies



Did I mention Harry's wicked awesome Nike hightops said "White Lies" along the heel?