blogTO | Posts by Joe

blogTO | Posts by Joe http://www.blogto.com/ Toronto blog Copyright 2012 Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:02:25 EST http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Mother Mother Adjust to Life on a Label Mother Mother are a fairly new band, but since they released their first record in 2005 -- and then a reissue release in 2007 -- I've heard them on the radio, seen them in the papers, and watched them on TV.

Now, with 2008's O My Heart granting them great reviews and an opening slot with Matthew Good, I had absolutely no choice but to talk to them in person.

More...

]]> http://www.blogto.com/music/2009/12/mother_mother_adjust_to_life_on_a_label http://www.blogto.com/music/2009/12/mother_mother_adjust_to_life_on_a_label Music Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:26:04 EST Music Joe Zabukovec 2009-12-16T16:26:04 Raised By Swans on Dreams and Nightmares London, Ontario's Raised By Swans are poised to release their second full-length, No Ghostless Place, and frontman Eric Howden has been ready for over a decade. Since he left The Gandharvas in 1997, he's been determined to make his own music in his own way. So after forming Raised By Swans, he's feeling pretty good.

Raised By Swans is having their CD release party at the Horseshoe Tavern on Friday, December 11th and so I arranged a quick phoner to chat with him about it.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/music/2009/12/raised_by_swans_on_dreams_and_nightmares http://www.blogto.com/music/2009/12/raised_by_swans_on_dreams_and_nightmares Music Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:57:26 EST Music Joe Zabukovec 2009-12-10T18:57:26 Clothes Make the Man Aim for National Exposure
I first saw Clothes Make The Man (CMTM) perform at this year's Edgefest. At the time, there was nothing doing on the big stage so I wandered over to the smaller stage and was lucky enough to catch these guys.

They play good, honest rock music. They're not into eight minute songs, or placing a pretentious symphony in the middle of an album that no one really understands. What they offer is just bare-boned, balls-to-the-wall, rock'n'roll, which I like.

CMTM are playing at the Horseshoe Tavern on Saturday, December 12, as part of Audio Blood Media's showcase. With the show coming up and an album freshly recorded -- but not yet released -- I decided to meet up with a couple members at Sneaky Dee's. It was, after all, a cheap beer Wednesday.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/music/2009/12/clothes_make_the_man_aim_for_national_exposure http://www.blogto.com/music/2009/12/clothes_make_the_man_aim_for_national_exposure Music Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:20:39 EST Music Joe Zabukovec 2009-12-10T17:20:39 Chokeules Goes Solo, But Toolshed Remains Intact Chokeules is probably best known for his role in the London (Ontario) rap trio, Toolshed, but now he's ready to make a name for himself as a solo-artist. After working and performing in the Canadian underground hip-hop scene for over a decade, he's found a new home base in Toronto and is about to unveil his solo debut -- Hypergraphia.

With his official CD release party scheduled for Friday, December 4th at College Street's Rancho Relaxo I checked in with Chokeules to discuss all of the above and what the future holds for Toolshed.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/music/2009/12/chokeules_goes_solo_but_toolshed_remains_intact http://www.blogto.com/music/2009/12/chokeules_goes_solo_but_toolshed_remains_intact Music Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:36:08 EST Music Joe Zabukovec 2009-12-02T17:36:08 Michael Bernard Fitzgerald Lands in Toronto and Lands Supermarket Residency Besides being a mouthful of a name, Michael Bernard Fitzgerald (MBF) has been steadily growing as a Canadian commodity in the west for the past few years.

The Calgarian has become a staple in his hometown, playing the last two Virgin Festivals in his hometown, and selling out a 1800-person capacity hall for the release of the Love LP back in June.

But he's left Calgary, and as of two weeks ago he now lives in Toronto. I figured there were at least two good reasons to give him a call.
1) He is playing a one month residency at Supermarket starting November 18th.
2) With no long distance fees to deal with, it's a totally affordable call.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/music/2009/11/michael_bernard_fitzgerald_lands_in_toronto_and_lands_supermarket_residency http://www.blogto.com/music/2009/11/michael_bernard_fitzgerald_lands_in_toronto_and_lands_supermarket_residency Music Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:59:22 EST Music Joe Zabukovec 2009-11-15T14:59:22 Elias Gets a Much Needed Pat on the Back Elias, Vancouver's up-an-coming act, is coming to Toronto to play two shows on tour with Pilot Speed (formerly Pilate). The indie-rock band released its second full-length, Lasting Distraction, in mid-October and are currently working the tour van hard to promote it.

Although the vocal stylings of the two bands are very different, their music is easily comparable to Pilot Speed, so the two bands should complement each other quite nicely and it'll definitely be beneficial for Elias to be on the bill.

I got on the horn with Rob Tornroos (lead guitar), who was just taking his lunch break to get serious about what's doin' in his life.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/music/2009/11/elias_gets_a_much_needed_pat_on_the_back http://www.blogto.com/music/2009/11/elias_gets_a_much_needed_pat_on_the_back Music Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:40:09 EST Music Joe Zabukovec 2009-11-08T16:40:09 Gregory Pepper and His Problems with Woodworking and Hearts and Toronto Gregory Pepper and His Problems is an unusual, musical fella. I don't know him personally, but I was sent this picture of him and his cat, and his song topics range from being a john, to a fairly descriptive - and possibly accurate - song about building a boat. It's tough to pigeonhole his style of music, so I won't bother.

With two upcoming Toronto shows -- November 5th at Kensington's Teranga and November 7th at the Mod Club -- with the Islands, I decided to give Gregory (which is not his real name) a inquisitive phone call...

]]> http://www.blogto.com/music/2009/11/gregory_pepper_and_his_problems_with_woodworking_and_hearts_and_toronto http://www.blogto.com/music/2009/11/gregory_pepper_and_his_problems_with_woodworking_and_hearts_and_toronto Music Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:03:09 EST Music Joe Zabukovec 2009-11-03T19:03:09 The Vanishers Talk Rockabilly The Vanishers perform rockabilly - a genre I used to consider somewhat strange.

Four years ago, I would have sworn that the fusion of country, punk, and rock could never work on any level, but exactly four years ago something changed for me. While I was checking out a punk band at the Kathedral one evening, I ended up staying to check out the following act and it changed the way I will view rockabilly forever.

I met up with Paul Pengelly (vocals) and Paul McGrath (guitar) at Sneaky Dee's for a beer and to chat about how they ended up here, their new album, and the scene in Hamilton.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/music/2009/10/the_vanishers_talk_rockabilly http://www.blogto.com/music/2009/10/the_vanishers_talk_rockabilly Music Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:38:03 EDT Music Joe Zabukovec 2009-10-31T18:38:03 Slow Down, Molasses and the Comfort of Flux At times, Slow Down, Molasses are hard to categorize. They're a grassroots ensemble from Saskatoon, but pegging just who "they" are is difficult... because they are not always composed of the same members. That may make it seem as though people are constantly being kicked out and are thus always disgruntled, but the process is actually surprisingly harmonious.

They're just finishing up a national tour and will be stopping at the fairly new Toronto venue, The Garrison on October 29th to play a final gig before returning out West.

I had to get the skinny on this band, so I arranged a phone interview with founding member, Tyson McShane. This is his story.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/music/2009/10/slow_down_molasses_and_the_comfort_of_flux http://www.blogto.com/music/2009/10/slow_down_molasses_and_the_comfort_of_flux Music Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:36:48 EDT Music Joe Zabukovec 2009-10-28T18:36:48 Amy Millan on Elephants and Tears Amy Millan, of Stars fame, is moving forward as a solo act. Though it's not her first album, Masters Of The Burial, is arguably her best work yet. It's a calming composition of her own tracks peppered with a few covers and is what I describe as morning music. Millan is a poignant proof of the amount of talent often contained in the many-membered bands sprouting up across Canada.

She's currently in the middle of an ambitious North American tour with Bahamas accompanying her as the opening act. They both play the Mod Club on Wednesday, October 14th.

I went for a brisk bike ride down to the Arts & Crafts headquarters for a quiet discussion with Millan in the boardroom. Topics contained in the day's docket included, but were not limited to, the new album, people, and elephants.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/music/2009/10/amy_millan_on_elephants_and_tears http://www.blogto.com/music/2009/10/amy_millan_on_elephants_and_tears Music Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:29:35 EDT Music Joe Zabukovec 2009-10-12T15:29:35 We Are The City, on Enjoying Many Firsts We Are The City are exactly the type of band that I look for. Fresh, new music, coming from a group of guys young enough to be experiencing the grueling industry for the first time. I think that they might even like it.

They recently notched their first full-length, first national tour, first music video, and experienced their first time seeing the country we live in through the window of a Toyota 1988 Land Cruiser. This will also be their first time playing a Toronto venue outside of a music festival.

When I first got Cayne McKenzie (lead vocals, piano) on the line, he didn't even know where he was...

]]> http://www.blogto.com/music/2009/09/we_are_the_city_on_enjoying_many_firsts http://www.blogto.com/music/2009/09/we_are_the_city_on_enjoying_many_firsts Music Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:14:24 EDT Music Joe Zabukovec 2009-09-28T19:14:24 Drinks with Sheepdogs at The Dakota Tavern As Saskatoon's The Sheepdogs descended down the steps of the Dakota Tavern and sauntered their way over to my bar stool, it was obvious that I was about to speak to a band mid-tour.

I shook hands with the members, who were all dressed in 70's folk-rock attire, and I moved to the back of the bar to chat with Ewan Currie (lead vocals, guitar) and Ryan Gullen (bass, backing vocals), while the rest of the band did a sound check.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/music/2009/09/drinks_with_sheepdogs_at_the_dakota_tavern http://www.blogto.com/music/2009/09/drinks_with_sheepdogs_at_the_dakota_tavern Music Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:26:42 EDT Music Joe Zabukovec 2009-09-28T17:26:42 If Make Your Exit Are Monks, Then Music Is Their Faith The five members of Make Your Exit were excitedly handling and examining their new EP, Remind Me The Reason I Came when I arrived at the Red Room. I think only two of the five looked up as I joined their table and it reminded me of children opening Christmas presents. They were excited and it was cool to watch.

On top of that, while I had mentioned that I only needed one or two members to be there they had insisted on all coming to meet me. While it makes it harder for me to transcribe (there are seriously three Mikes in the band), it shows a group solidarity that really shines on stage when all members of an ensemble are so committed and eager.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/music/2009/09/if_make_your_exit_are_monks_then_music_is_their_faith http://www.blogto.com/music/2009/09/if_make_your_exit_are_monks_then_music_is_their_faith Music Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:24:54 EDT Music Joe Zabukovec 2009-09-21T17:24:54 Patrick Brealey Makes Me Want to Go to Church Whenever I meet someone who's thirty or under, actively creating folk music (or some variant of the genre), I'm always somewhat puzzled. I am generally interested to know their motives, and I wonder how they got into it. I guess it's like finding out that someone plays the harp. So, I have at least one question to ask Patrick Brealey.

With the release of his second album, Mercury in Songbirds, and an upcoming show at an interesting venue that I've never been to, I now had at least three good reasons to sit down with Brealey in the corner of an Ossington favourite, the Communist's Daughter.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/music/2009/09/patrick_brealey_makes_me_want_to_go_to_church http://www.blogto.com/music/2009/09/patrick_brealey_makes_me_want_to_go_to_church Music Sun, 13 Sep 2009 16:21:04 EDT Music Joe Zabukovec 2009-09-13T16:21:04 Secret Broadcast Has Even Richard Branson Dancing Secret Broadcast are quickly becoming something. In two years, this Calgary-based rock band has accomplished a more than a few memorable feats, and experienced enough encouragement from industry big-wigs (Richard Branson of the Virgin empire) to keep them working hard at their craft.

They had already embarked on their tour to promote their first full-length, 'Exploding Spiders,' so I was happy to settle with a phone call from Toronto-native, Matt Lightstone (guitars, vocals) instead of the usual sit down interview. He told me about how sometimes just picking up the morning paper can land you in a band.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/music/2009/09/secret_broadcast_has_even_richard_branson_dancing http://www.blogto.com/music/2009/09/secret_broadcast_has_even_richard_branson_dancing Music Sun, 06 Sep 2009 16:34:58 EDT Music Joe Zabukovec 2009-09-06T16:34:58