Month: October 2012

Toronto Music Scene October 7, 2012

Bugs in the Dark is a bit of an anomalie. Dark influences weave through grunge and punk, whispy vocals laced with acid and intent. Think some wild cross between Courtney Love and PJ Harvey. Vocalist Karen Rockower is often compared to the Sonic Youth and for good reason. She’s powerful and effective. Though it’s quick to liken her on sheer talent alone, rest assured Rockower is very much her own performer. The band made a little video documenting their last trip to Toronto during NXNE, which featured a stop at border control, a love of Steamwhistle and some really fucking solid performance clips. This is seriously a band I am stoked to see. As if I needed another reason to love the music that pours out of Brooklyn, but here we are. One band deeper. One more valentine. One more reason to not sleep during Indie Week.

{http://soundcloud.com/bugsinthedark/miles-of-stone}

Indie Week takes place in Toronto from October 10-14. Check out IndieWeek.com for more detailed information, ticket purchases and performance date announcements. Follow @IndieWeek on Twitter for updates.

Watch Bugs in the Dark’s video for “Serpents and Wine” below.

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Sheena Lyonnais writes the Band of the Day. Follow her on Twitter @SheenaLyonnais.

Don’t forget to ‘Like’ Toronto Music Scene on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @TorontoMusic.

Toronto Music Scene October 6, 2012
 
TJ Hollywood is Toronto’s newest, possibly only, dance punk offering. Combining David Bowie, LCD Soundsystem and Franz Ferdinand influences, TJ Hollywood is a fun-fueled band that doesn’t shy away from its roots in sex, drugs and rock’n’roll. Their sets are 40 minutes of nonstop energy that typically involve crowds chanting for popular track “Cocaine Jane,” crowdsurfing by enigmatic frontman TJ Hollywood and rapid solos by his counterpart Luke Vegas on guitar. It’s wild and frantic, it’s sweaty and messy, it’s everything your mother wouldn’t approve of. Essentially, it’s awesome. For bonus points, they do a mean cover of Corey Hart’s “Sunglasses at Night.” TJ Hollywood performs on Friday October 12 at Nocturne.

{http://soundcloud.com/tj-hollywood/cocaine-jane}

Indie Week takes place in Toronto from October 10-14. Check out IndieWeek.com for more detailed information, ticket purchases and performance date announcements. Follow @IndieWeek on Twitter for updates.

Watch TJ Hollywood’s video for “Olde Fashioned Dance Off” below.

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Sheena Lyonnais writes the Band of the Day. Follow her on Twitter @SheenaLyonnais.

Don’t forget to ‘Like’ Toronto Music Scene on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @TorontoMusic.

Toronto Music Scene October 5, 2012

Last time we saw 20 Amp Soundchild, they literally brought a busload of fans to the venue with them, tore through sound originals and covers that included ZZ Top, and packed Toronto’s Cherry Cola’s to the point you couldn’t move. Their new EP Outside the Marketplace is a grown up affair. An entirely crowd-funded campaign, the band not only recorded their best offering yet, but it was produced by Mike Langford (Sloan, Tupelo Honey, Hawksley Workman). Over the years, we’ve watched this band become a force of their own, transforming into incredibly active and solid performers. They’re a band that works hard and plays hard, managing to find quite the following in the frat rock crowd. Their name is beginning to pop up everywhere and hopefully Indie Week will continue to fuel the fire.

{http://soundcloud.com/heylangford-1/20-amp-soundchild-stucco}

Indie Week takes place in Toronto from October 10-14. Check out IndieWeek.com for more detailed information, ticket purchases and performance date announcements. Follow @IndieWeek on Twitter for updates.

Watch 20 Amp’s video for “Lights Go Out” below.

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Sheena Lyonnais writes the Band of the Day. Follow her on Twitter @SheenaLyonnais.

Don’t forget to ‘Like’ Toronto Music Scene on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @TorontoMusic.

Toronto Music Scene October 4, 2012

Dear Winnipeg, why is it that you must taunt our great nation with your endless abounds of artistic talent? This edition of prairie flair features hip hop group Abstract Artform. MC Shea Malcolmson is a proud Canadian white rapper (his words) who leads the group through smooth summer influenced rhythms that, as per their latest album As The Crow Flies, only seem to be getting chunkier and more compound. The album features cameos and collaborations from the likes of D-Sisive and blues/roots artist Rambling Dan Frechett, but even without it stands on its own. It’s more lyrical, embracing a light-hearted maturity and the style of story-telling that makes hip hop so glorious. It sounds put together and at the same time, is super fun. Definitely putting our TMS stamp of approval on this one.

{http://soundcloud.com/abstractartform/party-on-fifth-avenue-mac}

Indie Week takes place in Toronto from October 10-14. Check out IndieWeek.com for more detailed information, ticket purchases and performance date announcements. Follow @IndieWeek on Twitter for updates.

Watch Abstract Artform’s video for “I Am Canadian” below.

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Sheena Lyonnais writes the Band of the Day. Follow her on Twitter @SheenaLyonnais.

Don’t forget to ‘Like’ Toronto Music Scene on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @TorontoMusic.

Toronto Music Scene October 3, 2012
 
If you’re in the mood for something wild and out there, something that will leave you wondering what the heck you just experienced, then Super Geek League is your band. The first time I saw them perform, the self-proclaimed soul metal band was wearing all white vinyl suits, tight, tight suits that somehow failed to hinder the band from delivering one of the most lively, energetic performances I had seen in a while. Known for their outlandish, often matching outfits and intense chemistry, this is a band you won’t soon forget. Trust me, I saw them during one of the festivals, at like 3am, when I typically don’t remember much at all, but I do remember them. Super Geek League is a band you need to see for yourself.

{http://soundcloud.com/super-geek-league/calling-all-ghouls}

Indie Week takes place in Toronto from October 10-14. Check out IndieWeek.com for more detailed information, ticket purchases and performance date announcements. Follow @IndieWeek on Twitter for updates.

Watch SGL’s video for “What You Know About That?” below.

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Sheena Lyonnais writes the Band of the Day. Follow her on Twitter @SheenaLyonnais.

Don’t forget to ‘Like’ Toronto Music Scene on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @TorontoMusic.

Toronto Music Scene October 2, 2012
 
Calgary-turned-Toronto’s Secret Broadcast throwback to 80’s influenced 90’s indie rock with such swagger and authenticity it’s impossible to tune away. Sprinkled with Brit-rock influences, Secret Broadcast possess an innate ability to spew brilliance through fuzzy guitars and catchy lyrics. They’re the kind of band that should make other Indie Week bands a little nervous. Not only are they solid on record, but they tear it up on stage and always manage to engage their audience, turning them into sweaty, dance-infected beasts. The band released their Hungry Ghost EP earlier this year. It was produced by Jon Drew, famous for his work with bands such as Tokyo Police Club, the Arkells and Dinosaur Bones, all of whom Secret Broadcast would be right at home with. Definitely a band to keep on your radar, Secret Broadcast is best suited for fans of Von Bondies and good times.

{http://soundcloud.com/thatericalper/los-angeles}

Indie Week takes place in Toronto from October 10-14. Check out IndieWeek.com for more detailed information, ticket purchases and performance date announcements. Follow @IndieWeek on Twitter for updates.

Watch Secret Broadcast’s video for “Raygun” below.

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Sheena Lyonnais writes the Band of the Day. Follow her on Twitter @SheenaLyonnais.

Don’t forget to ‘Like’ Toronto Music Scene on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @TorontoMusic.

Toronto Music Scene October 1, 2012

Burning The Day is one of Toronto’s premium metal bands. We at TMS have seen them several times, watched them tear up the stage with a visceral assault of rapid guitar riffs matched only by the adhering melodics found in well balanced metal. The band took 2012 to reground and refocus. They expanded their reach and even released a free Burning The Day app available through the Apple store. Burning the Day is a loud, aggressive band not for the faint of heart, but if you let yourself get lost in the poetic franticness of it all, even the faint may find themselves tapping along. Burning the Day plays the Rivoli on October 11.

Indie Week takes place in Toronto from October 10-14. Check out IndieWeek.com for more detailed information, ticket purchases and performance date announcements. Follow @IndieWeek on Twitter for updates.

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Sheena Lyonnais writes the Band of the Day. Follow her on Twitter @SheenaLyonnais.

Don’t forget to ‘Like’ Toronto Music Scene on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @TorontoMusic.