The Golden Dogs used to put on fun shows. It may have been the location, or perhaps they were a little rusty, but this performance—the third of a four-night residency at the Dakota—was more than a little depressing. Things started well, with "Birdsong" from their Everything In Three Parts disc (they start every show with that, or with "Dynamo"), but from that point forward, things went steadily downhill. At least half of the songs were new material and their quality was worrisome. Dave Azzolini has said there'll be significant tempo shifts on their new disc, and that was definitely evident in their stage show. The majority of the songs they played were excruciatingly plodding, and seemed at times to be moving in slow motion. They can do a whole lot better than this. Let's hope that the magic isn't gone for good. The only plus that emerged from the night, was opener Zeus. Their debut disc should be hotly anticipated.
(1.5/5)
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Bishop Allen
El Mocambo
January 17, 2009
Bishop Allen have done some serious growing up since Charm School.
The duo's 2003 debut was about as saccharine as a bubble gum pop album can get, but things started to change as they embarked on an EP-a-month project, three years later. Some of that adventure's more austere tunes made it onto their Broken String album in 2007, and it was like a completely different band had showed up to record.
March's release of their third full-length, Grrr... took that solemnity to new heights. It was this plaintive new Bishop Allen that showed up for their show at the El Mo—date one of a two-day tour that landed the band in Toronto, then Montreal.
Their new material is definitely more suited for the stage than for disc. On first spin, Grrr... comes off as a little boring, but its live translation—with full band backing—taps into the same kind of power that made The Broken String great.
They rattled off several tracks from each of their last two albums (Charm School was noticeably ignored) and closed the night with their epic "Flight 180." "The Monitor" was a definite highlight as well.
They weren't mind-blowing, but they definitely weren't disappointing.
(3/5)
The duo's 2003 debut was about as saccharine as a bubble gum pop album can get, but things started to change as they embarked on an EP-a-month project, three years later. Some of that adventure's more austere tunes made it onto their Broken String album in 2007, and it was like a completely different band had showed up to record.
March's release of their third full-length, Grrr... took that solemnity to new heights. It was this plaintive new Bishop Allen that showed up for their show at the El Mo—date one of a two-day tour that landed the band in Toronto, then Montreal.
Their new material is definitely more suited for the stage than for disc. On first spin, Grrr... comes off as a little boring, but its live translation—with full band backing—taps into the same kind of power that made The Broken String great.
They rattled off several tracks from each of their last two albums (Charm School was noticeably ignored) and closed the night with their epic "Flight 180." "The Monitor" was a definite highlight as well.
They weren't mind-blowing, but they definitely weren't disappointing.
(3/5)
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Mercury Rev
The Opera House
December 9, 2008
If you were there, you know why this was probably one of the best shows of the year. If you weren't there, do yourself a favour and pick up their 1998 disc Deserter's Songs, make sure you see them the next time they're in town, and then we'll talk.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Albums of the year?
It's a live review blog, but hey, why not?
1. ADAM & THE AMETHYSTS Amethyst Amulet
2. THE KILLS Midnight Boom
3. DR. DOG Fate
4. THE CONSTANTINES Kensington Heights
5. JENNY LEWIS Acid Tongue
6. DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE Narrow Stairs
7. DEERHUNTER Microcastle
8. OLD MAN LUEDECKE Proof Of Love
9. LONGWAVE Secrets Are Sinister
10. SEBASTIAN GRAINGER & THE MOUNTAINS Sebastian Grainger & The Mountains
Honorable Mention in a great year for EPs:
FALCON Falcon
THE NORTHWEST DIVISION ...of which I'm the master
1. ADAM & THE AMETHYSTS Amethyst Amulet
2. THE KILLS Midnight Boom
3. DR. DOG Fate
4. THE CONSTANTINES Kensington Heights
5. JENNY LEWIS Acid Tongue
6. DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE Narrow Stairs
7. DEERHUNTER Microcastle
8. OLD MAN LUEDECKE Proof Of Love
9. LONGWAVE Secrets Are Sinister
10. SEBASTIAN GRAINGER & THE MOUNTAINS Sebastian Grainger & The Mountains
Honorable Mention in a great year for EPs:
FALCON Falcon
THE NORTHWEST DIVISION ...of which I'm the master
Deerhunter
Lee's Palace
November 12, 2008
Sure, Deerhunter's Bradford Cox is a difficult bloke to look at, but he creates some spectacular jams. His band's latest disc, Microcastle, has been a runaway hit this last quarter, even though the full, finished album leaked to the Net back in May.
The live Deerhunter show is virtually everything you'd expect in a smooth transition from album to stage. The guitars switched easily between jangle and burn, the new, less-psychedelic (read: pop) material came across without a hitch, and it was LOUD (as it should have been).
The capacity crowd was enraptured for the majority of the night, but interest seemed to wane a bit near the end, as it got very late, beer fatigue set in, and Cox and crew kept their set screeching for longer and longer than anyone had expected. If "too much of a good thing" is the primary complaint against your band, though, you're doing just about everything right.
Note: Anyone who feels a bit icky watching Cox perform (it's not his fault, we know, it's a disease) need not worry - you can spend the majority of the show ogling new touring guitarist Whitney Petty, who is a top notch player in her own right.
(4/5)
The live Deerhunter show is virtually everything you'd expect in a smooth transition from album to stage. The guitars switched easily between jangle and burn, the new, less-psychedelic (read: pop) material came across without a hitch, and it was LOUD (as it should have been).
The capacity crowd was enraptured for the majority of the night, but interest seemed to wane a bit near the end, as it got very late, beer fatigue set in, and Cox and crew kept their set screeching for longer and longer than anyone had expected. If "too much of a good thing" is the primary complaint against your band, though, you're doing just about everything right.
Note: Anyone who feels a bit icky watching Cox perform (it's not his fault, we know, it's a disease) need not worry - you can spend the majority of the show ogling new touring guitarist Whitney Petty, who is a top notch player in her own right.
(4/5)
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
The Notwist
Lee's Palace
October 10, 2008
Between 2002 and 2007, The Notwist's web page was a swirling mess of geometric shapes and numbers. Clicking on any of those would create a pop-up window filled, likewise, with a swirling mess of geometric shapes and numbers. To say these two Germans are secretive would be a serious understatement.
At the end of last year, that indecipherable site was replaced by a two-minute video of an orchestra being recorded in a school gymnasium for what would eventually become the long-awaited follow-up to their landmark Neon Golden. Admirers immediately swooned in anticipation.
As things stand a year later, fans have mixed feelings about the new disc, You, The Devil + Me, but the need to catch The Notwist live is not debatable; they've only been in Toronto twice this decade, and considering the pace at which they make albums, it's safe to assume they won't be back for many more years.
As if they could sense the wants of the collective fanboy unconscious, The Notwist chose to focus heavily on Neon Golden material. It was exactly the set that everyone in Lee's had been waiting for - at some times haunting, at others powerful - tracks often morphing into one another to create 20-minute jams. This was the kinda stuff that can get you high without the use of illegal narcotics.
One of the lads had some sort of device rigged whereby he was operating effects machines with Nintendo Wii remotes. Trippy stuff.
One of the best shows of the year.
(5/5)
At the end of last year, that indecipherable site was replaced by a two-minute video of an orchestra being recorded in a school gymnasium for what would eventually become the long-awaited follow-up to their landmark Neon Golden. Admirers immediately swooned in anticipation.
As things stand a year later, fans have mixed feelings about the new disc, You, The Devil + Me, but the need to catch The Notwist live is not debatable; they've only been in Toronto twice this decade, and considering the pace at which they make albums, it's safe to assume they won't be back for many more years.
As if they could sense the wants of the collective fanboy unconscious, The Notwist chose to focus heavily on Neon Golden material. It was exactly the set that everyone in Lee's had been waiting for - at some times haunting, at others powerful - tracks often morphing into one another to create 20-minute jams. This was the kinda stuff that can get you high without the use of illegal narcotics.
One of the lads had some sort of device rigged whereby he was operating effects machines with Nintendo Wii remotes. Trippy stuff.
One of the best shows of the year.
(5/5)
Monday, October 6, 2008
Pop Montreal: Rapid fire!
All over the cold, cold city
October 2-4, 2008
The Good, the Bad and the Cuddly
Prairie Cat: Only caught a few minutes of him, backed by The Bicycles, but he seemed like a decent songwriter. Catchy tunes.
The Bicycles: I'll lodge the same complaint I always do about them: I can't hear the vocals. The Bikes either need to turn up the mic volume or sing more powerfully, because their lyrics are completely lost in the ether. Energy level was great, though; the small bar suited them.
The Winks: Creepy pop in a Rasputina meets Woodpigeon kinda way. They were entertaining and definitely have potential.
The Buttless Chaps: They've been better. It was an adequate set, but I fear their latest material is sub-par in a way that's hurting their live show. Keyboardist Ida Nilsson was absent, which could partly account for the underwhelming performance.
The Pack A.D.: Definitely the set to beat all sets this weekend. Becky Black was scorching, as usual.
The Evaporators: Nardwuar is ridiculously insane; his shirt was off and he was surfing the crowd by the end of the third song. Entertaining, but a little over the top. They're lucky they have a niche market to sell to.
Spiral Beach: Still kids, but still playing better than a lot of adults I've seen (ahem, Broadcast Radio). They're getting better with every performance.
A Comedy of Errors
Immaculate Machine: Pulled a no-show.
A Sunny Day In Glasgow: Pulled a no-show and were replaced by a terrible band called Broadcast Radio.
Adam & The Amethysts (and others): Ruined by the venue, Casa del Popolo. This wee bar was so full of people, it must have been double the fire code limit. It was impossible to move and the heat was sweltering. There's also a ridiculous rule in place that requires patrons to order food before they're allowed to buy a drink. Didn't even bother sticking around for the show.
Mother Mother (and others): Ruined by uni students. They were lined up, down the street, to get into Petite Campus, simply because it was their regular Saturday night dance club.
Overall grade: (2.5/5). Stick to NXNE or CMW.
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