DENIM SKELETONS like it eerie, grimey and loud. The spacey four piece bring a different kind of energy to their music, with a creepy garage-rock vibe underneath a squeeky-clean sheen of beautiful songwriting and production. Leading up to the release of their first full-length album, “Into The Fright”, they’ve teased us with one last single to wrap our heads around. “Mall Doll” alternates between a slow trudge, sparce and spine-tingling, and a beautiful punk-waltz. It hits hard, blasting a wall of noise that is both pretty, and pretty frightening. Layers upon layers of meticulously etched out instruments, noises and vocals paint a picture worth screaming about. They’re hosting a big release show with a ton of other local talent, be at Clarke Memorial Hall in Mississauga, Nov 27th.
Last week we blogged about this 11.12 show at Shea Stadium, but for some strange reason we missed the fact that that very night another noisy local band called Parlor Walls will be celebrating the release of their new EP "CUT," released the day after on Famous Swords Records. Singer Alyse Lamb (of Eula‘s fame) says about her project: "The music swims between expression and restraint, nestling in the cracks of warmth and dissonance. We like to call it "trash jazz"…" Even though jazz elements (mostly in the shape of Kate Mohanty’s saxophone) indeed have a place in Parlor Wall’s music, don’t expect to find jazz fans at the release, because the band’s repertoire is predominantly a celebration of the drone (not of the flying kind). Preview single "Bloodsport" (streaming below) perfectly exemplifies that notion.
Last week, Hamilton’s indie favorites Young Rival dropped their latest album "Interior Light", and shared the title track. It’s their first release since 2012’s successful "Stay Young". The new album doesn’t stray too far from their signature sound, without sounding like more of the same; oldies melodies over indie rock riffs and soaked in reverb. Somewhat obscure-sounding opener "Carry The Weight" sets the table for a very interesting album. The rhythm is tight and groovy and singer/guitarist Aron D’Alesio has an uncomplicated and cool guitar style throughout. My personal favorites are "Where It’s All Going" and "Bent Out Of Shape". The trio are heading out very soon for a full on North American tour with Born Ruffians. They will be at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto, December 17th, and at the Casbah in Hamilton December 18th. Don’t miss them! – Kris
Fun Fact is what it is, and that is, in fact, some serious groove and lots of fun. Smashing together a super tight funk with some catchy pop melodies and blues-rock chops. Sprinkle some jazz over top, and this three piece really rips out some great high energy party tunage. With their collection of songs under the moniker “mmm…”, they turn up the bass on 5 tracks of jam and really have fun with it. Showing their prowess for time changes on Mayor Rob Ford, while the fuzzed out guitars all ring and chime in time with the bouncing bass and nearly out-of-control drumming. Morning High introduces some mellow saxophone, and really lays it out smooth, a beautiful song that would fit on anyone’s summertime playlist. More Than This, brings a raw guitar lick, and fills every nook and cranny with something to keep your attention; tight fills, slow builds or some smooth jazz chords. Mary Jane has a ska-vibe to it, with attitude to spare. Melodious Vibes drives the whole thing down, and ties it together with a nice little bow, and more technical musicians flexing, just to remind you these guys can really play. All in all, Fun Fact threw together a solid funk-rock record, with some real good musical talent. Check them out at Cameron House, 09/24. – Cody Wright
Riot Fest – The punk, rock, alternative, metal, and hip-hop crowd’s favourite festival of the Year is on this weekend. Besides Heavy Hitters taking the stages (Alexisonfire, WuTang Clan, Weezer, Motorhead, Rancid) we’ve got some suggestions for bands you might not be too familiar with, but are definitely worth taking the time to check out.
The OBGM’s Ladies and gentlemen…the Oooh Baby Gimme Mores…OBGM’s for short. You may recognize them from a Budweiser commercial from about a year ago. These guys straight rip though. A four piece garage band from Toronto that’s hectic and fuzzy. Pure punk rock with some keyboards/synth spice sprinkled on top. Their debut full length record was released almost a year ago to the day. Fire it up from the top… "Beat Up Kidz" is a sweet tune. I’ve only heard good things about their live show. They must be doing something right as they cracked the Riot Fest lineup this year! See them at 1:45pm on Saturday at Downsview Park! – Kris Gies
Wildlife – Describing themselves as “weapon- rock” Wildlife is ready to hit the Riot fest stage with their Catchy tunes – letting you know what it’s like to be young and reckless. Let these Toronto Natives start out your day Sunday on the Riot stage @ 12:10
The Dirty Nil – Playing full fledged Energetic Rock ‘n’ Roll these dudes are sure to put on a good show for you, Get your dance on when these dudes hit the stage with their in your face, guitar driven, fast tunes! They’re playing Saturday on The Radicals Stage @8pm
Foxtrot– Travelling all the way from Montreal – – Although not quite a hometown act, Foxtrot will surprise you with heavy electric pop sounds, you just may need a break from all those, heavy rock bands, and there’s no better way than checking out FOXTROT, Sunday on The Radicals Stage @1:30pm
Rarity – Saturday Sept 19 on the Radicals Stage @2:45pm Another Local, surprising your ears, and the Riot Fest lineup with their fantastic burrito eating abilities, amoung their obvious talents of playing you singable rock songs. Fitting in to the line up like seasoned veterans. Make sure to catch them on The Radicals Stage @ 2:45pm on Saturday Sept 19
Laura Cole: Laura has a knack for always staying in the news. She drops a hit record, wins awards, saves children’s activities from banishment and most recently toured the East Coast. Oh yeah….and she just released a new single with Harvey Summers that was recorded in the United Kingdom. The sultry vibes ooze from this Laura Cole track as only she knows how to do. I dig the trumpet and of course the bass lines are the best. (The track features Laura Cole Band member Chris Charcios on the bass). Watch her video but more importantly go watch the Laura Cole Band at the TD Stage on Sunday at 3:15.
The Sadies: You probably know who the Sadies are already and if not…hopefully you like country, rock n roll, surf and garage rock perfectly blended. The Sadies manage to do it all. This Toronto band has been around for years, releasing a whole heap of albums and touring constantly. Maybe you’ve seen them rip it up at the Horseshoe on New Years Eve? Either way, they’re playing Supercrawl on Saturday Night! 9 bells at the Hamilton Airport Stage!
Terra Lightfoot: Terra is a Waterdown gal who’s playing music for years. She has had a successful solo career and is also a member of local favorites "The Dinner Belle’s". She’s known for her folk/country tunes and amazing voice but recently released a new record that shows that she is ready to rock! "Every time My Mind Runs Wild" has some straight rockin’ tracks like "No Hurry" and "Never Will", the latter has been getting steady play on mainstream radio. She still shows off her softer side as the album rolls on but it’s nice on the ears. Terra plays on Friday Night at the Hamilton Airport Stage at 9:15
The Vaudevillian: The Vaudevillian is one of the coolest acts around. They are straight outta the 20s. Pure rag time music that makes you feel you’re in that exact atmosphere. Brendan on guitar and whatever else he can play while sitting there, Willow on washboard. They may have some guests join them at any time on stage as well. Maybe not even on stage…these folks set up and play wherever they want. I highly recommend their album "Salty Dog" and they’ll be headlining the TD Stage at 10.
Pet Sun: Pet Sun isn’t one of my favorite local band right now…they are one of my favorite bands right now anywhere. There is a definite buzz about them right now and it’s mostly coming from their amps. They play loud and fuzzy and tight and headbangin’. They have released one single from their upcoming album. Its called "Never Quit" and it kicks ass. They’ve always had a doomier Stooges feel to me. Expect their debut full length album in October. Get to Supercrawl early and watch Pet Sun at 7 on the TD Stage. I hear the singer/guitarist Stephane likes to crowd surf….
Aggressive-Indie Rock; never heard of such a thing? Then you are missing out! This genre of music is best portrayed by The Sole Pursuit, and if you haven’t already heard this band’s sound, you’d better check them out. With a soft outer skin but a stern soul, their sound is far from mediocre. Their song “All Aside” is a perfect representation of what I’m talking about. With strong guitar leads and killer vocals, this band is going to go far! Wanna see for yourself? Their new debut album "Infinite Regress" is available this Friday, September 11th, 2015. You can bask in the awesomeness of their new album at their release party, Sept 10th @ Junction City Music Hall. -Nick M
There’s always something about a messy garage environment that punctuates the rawness of a punk band’s sound. For Audio Visceral, the spirit of The Ramones is alive and well in their new track “Teen Ranch”. Driving guitars and in your face vocals are essential for any typical old school punk rock band, and these guys aren’t ones to leave it out of their sound. Nevermind the lyrical content of the song, that the title encompasses so clearly, all about the ridiculous things you do as a Teen. Take a listen, how many of these things have you done? While digging for the goods on these Vankleek Hill garage punkers, the first thing I happened across is that lead man Steve Beauchesne owns and operates his own craft brewery – which includes a milk stout- how cool! Anyway, I’m no life coach, but when you’re brewing beer by day and playing in a punk band at night, I’d say you’ve got it all figured out. We’ve all heard the old remark “Don’t quit your day job” when a band wishes to go from amateur status to the big leagues. But for these guys, it’s a win-win situation. Catch Audio Visceral tonight at Jimmy Jazz Guelph! – Chris PJ D
Taking the boom of indie rock and using the oft-underused technique of raw, layered vocals, Century Thief is certainly doing good work in a great way. The six-piece from Toronto are ramping up to their Sept 10 release of their first debut album, “Reverie”, and the first samples from it will certainly put you into a daydream. The backbone of both “Pillar” and “City Banks” are the beautiful vocal harmonies. In Pillar, they hit soaring highs, carried along by the pulsing drums, with horns, strings and woodwinds gently carrying, tastefully layered along with the backup vocals, never losing a single moment of this well-orchestrated (literally) piece. Parts flutter and fade to and from the forefront, creating a beautiful swell that really hits all at once, not making any one single musician the star, but rather the music itself. City Banks waltzes along, with trumpets, violins and flutes all creating a great counterpoint melody. The song builds and builds, while the rock inclinations of the band come to the forefront, crashing and stomping through, creating a great contradiction that pieces together perfectly. The lead vocals portray a raw soul, with the layers upon layers supporting underneath to drive the point straight home, effective in its brief length, not wasting so much as a second of the listeners time. If you love the beauty of ambient-rock, and dig orchestral instruments even more, that these guys are a definite buy. You can catch them on their CD Launch Tour, Sept 10th at The Piston, with a handful of dates following. – Cody Wright
There’s no denying that Toronto and Hamilton have their share of hot spots to hit up when the sun goes down. Even if it isn’t about a specific location, the new video by Hamilton jam-rockers Flamingo Bay shows that sometimes it’s cool to just walk around the city at night and pretend you’re in a music video. The 5-minute film captures guitarist Dillon Henningson through Go Pro footage walking (and cabbing) around, sampling the good stuff from Toronto and Hamilton’s nightlife. A couple of landmarks from each city make an appearance (Honest Ed’s, The Baltimore house) as well as everyone’s favourite default beer of choice (“Old Style” Pilsner). It’s about as straight forward of a video as you can get, but it coincides perfectly with the mid-tempo jam about heart broken dudes and people changing. Check it out below! – Chris PJ D
Lounge-rock, or, a haunting, roomy version of pop, with plenty of groove and emotion is what Veins is pumping out. With the Moon Garden LP, this offshoot from blues rock is a dreamy romp through some beautiful melodies and heartbreaking lyrics. Lead singer Hannah has soul to spare, and the whole band ebbs and flows with the emotion from the songs encased within. The garage-pop of Diggin’ In My Grave turns into a stripped down 50’s ballad, complete with falsetto back ups and a tambourine. The first band-included song, Runaway Girl, brings a late night dancer with some real mean lead lines and a heavy groove. Chops aplenty from every band member. The disc is chock-full of great songs, including Nightmare Gone To Waste, one of the heavier tunes included in the mix, with a great brooding, ambient melody guitar, and an even spookier sounding lead guitar plucking and scraping away at the notes. The album winds down to close with a sparse, solo piano performance, with an orchestrated string accompaniment, sounding like it was torn right from a Lynch-ish or Tarantino-esque climax. All in all, the dream-pop of Veins Moon Garden is a great piece of art, keep up-to-date with their facebook for shows in your area. – Cody Wright
Influenced by the roots of the country without getting tangled in them, Pat Maloney blends and bashes his influences into something new, bringing us the freshness of his newest album Repotting. From his spanish-shuffle, to his anti-corporate acoustic groove, Pat brings an honest approach and some real talent on every facet of the music. From the rhythm up to the melody, the auxiliary to the forefront, every part of his songs are essential; no excess, no fat, just lean and mean. Gracing us with just the slightest hint of gravel in his voice, adds a real sincerity to his music, lyrics and overall completeness of the album. The future’s looking bright for this man! Go and check him out Aug 28 in Mahtay Cafe in St Catherines, and at Relish in Toronto Aug 30th.- Cody Wright
