Music Reviews

ISIS from Thunderheist fulfills our cravings: Cravefest 2008

haleyc — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 10:14:49 -0700

by Haley Cullingham
Given the term 'indie' has evolved from a way to describe those artists who escape description; who operate under the radar to create new, exciting art free of the mainstream music business, into a catch-all phrase for a skinny-pant-wearing bescarfed musical genre (a physical description which now applies as much to the Jonas Brothers as any underground rock band), Cravefest is not only an awesome party, it's a good reminder of what Indie is supposed to mean. Hip hop, electro, and rock artists from all over the world submit videos on the internet at cravefest.com, and a board of judges, including Alan Cross from 102.1 The Edge, pick the winners. It's the people taking back the music, showcasing how the internet has changed the face of the music industry, and put the power back where it belongs. SheDoesTheCity sat down with the fantastico Isis, MC of Toronto electro-rock duo Thunderheist and presenter for the evening, to talk about the independent revolution.

Divine Brown - Interview

haleyc — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:35:54 -0700

by Haley Cullingham
Everyone who missed that Old Skool Love, don't despair. Canadian R & B singer Divine Brown is back, with a new album that sounds just as refreshing as her first single. Divine Brown's new cd is like maple syrup drizzled over farm-fresh vanilla ice cream-cool, creamy, smooth and sweet. Her five-octave vocal range is showcased on a combination of soft, crooning slow jams and upbeat, sixties inspired dance numbers. With influences ranging from Chaka Khan to Joni Mitchell, Divine definitely lives up to the strong, soulful spirit of her heroes, writing beautiful songs and producing much of this album herself. Retro and romantic, The Love Chronicles is, like Divine herself, delicious in every sense of the word. She Does The City talked to the lady herself about Red Carpets, Capoeira, and lazy Saturdays.

LOLLA ‘08

haleyc — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:10:58 -0700

By Haley Cullingham

When your hair goes grey and your bones get creaky, don’t give up! Retire from the road and make a home for yourself in the windy city, on a stretch of green at the lakefront framed by skyscrapers. Pitch some tents, tap some kegs of Bud, draw up some psychedelic Alice-In-Musicland graphics, plug your amps in, and start a party. SDTC writer Sam and I got on a Greyhound bound for Chi-City to join in. A tribute to Lollapalooza’s 4th year staying put: Farrell-fest 2008.

Biagini’s Beats Rock The Horseshoe

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:43:08 -0700

by Stephanie Silliker
When most kids are tucked into bed, Samantha Biagini is stealing the show at one of Toronto’s hottest music hubs.

The 12-year-old drummer from east-end Toronto rocked The Edge 102.1’s Nu Music Nite at the legendary Horseshoe Tavern on Tuesday July 22. Decked in pink sneakers and cut-off jean shorts, Biagini gave a powerful performance on The Shoe’s celebrated stage. She was accompanied by Chris Biagini (her dad) on guitar and vocals, and Mark Zarich on bass, in a band called Chasing Sam.

WADING THROUGH THE ROGER’S PICNIC

haleyc — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:33:01 -0700

by Haley Cullingham
For some reason, concerts this summer seemed doomed to drown in precipitation. In May and June, it was sweat. This weekend, it was rain. Epic, Noah’s Ark-style biblical-flood-type apocalypse rain. The kind of rain that soaks through your raincoat, pools in the bottom of your bag, drowns your cell phone, and turned Fort York, sight of The Roger’s Picnic, into a giant muddy slip ‘n’ slide. People were literally constructing forts out of blankets, ponchos, and garbage bags.

everything all the time

haleyc — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:48:23 -0700

by Haley Cullingham
I miss The OC. I miss the tans, I miss the fights, I miss the thinly disguised commercialization of niche culture. I miss Mischa Barton's wounded-face, and getting excited about seeing Olivia Wilde in boardshorts at Coachella. I miss the Chanel bags, and the pool-side tanning chairs. These are moments of my youth I will never get back. There was a fresh, exciting energy in the air in those days, and Everything All The Time is a Toronto band that is bringing that feeling back.

TIME FLIES WHEN YOU'RE DRINKING FORTIES WITH A BAND FROM THE FUTURE

haleyc — Wed, 9 Jul 2008 12:50:25 -0700

by Haley Cullingham

Foxfire come out of orbit to talk about art, music, and themselves.

Walking in to Foxfire's basement rehearsal space on Richmond is like walking into the coolest debauchery-garage in the space-time continuum. Prince posters are peeling from the walls, empty forties are rolling on the floor. The letters on the Marshall stacks are rearranged to spell people's names. Cigarette smoke, lazy guitar riffs and keyboard notes fill the air, barely making a dent in the debates going on around me. Urban sprawl, Fellini movies, Toronto's cultural probability: the seven members of Foxfire are like the New York Times of drunk indie bands: All the News That's Fit to argue about in between sprawling sets of unexpected music. But they're also incredibly cohesive: in conversation, as in their music, they operate as a singular many-headed unit, ebbing and flowing, building off one another. Sometimes they back off to let each other shine, other times they all crash together in a cacophany that works with it's own chaos.

LANGUAGE ARTS – SHOW TO CHECK OUT

haleyc — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 11:45:39 -0700

by Haley Cullingham
Anyone feeling a void in their heart for deliciously complicated folk music will be happy come July 5th. East Vancouver's Language Arts brings their Canadian tour to Toronto to dazzle the city with their beautiful, summery sound. Language Arts songs jump from airy, delicate melodies with hippie lyrics, to darker efforts with Aesop Rock-type vocals, and at their best they combine both.

5 WEIRD AND WONDERFUL MUSIC VIDEOS

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:45:53 -0700

By Jen Houston

Okay, so I don’t really watch music television anymore. I admit that even at 24, I feel too old for the idle VJ chatter, shiny hair extensions, and tackily trendy outfits. But watching online, I can bypass the cultural assault and find my own gems. These particular videos I found quite weird and wonderful… you may want to skip all but the Moby one if you’re epileptic though! They’re all full of flashing colours!

Black Hat Brigade

haleyc — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:41:12 -0700

by Haley Cullingham
If Black Hat Brigade had their way, they would re-form with their heroes, David Bowie, Neil Young, and Gord Downey, as the greatest glam-rock country band Canada has ever seen. Over beers at Free Times Cafe, guitarist Bryan turns to bandmate Rob. "Would you play keyboards for Neil Young?"

"If he would let me, yes." Rob replies. "It would be more like grand piano."

Bryan turns to Justin, their bassist. "Who would you want to play with?"

Without pause, Justin responds. "Wu Tang Clan."

"And Adam," Bryan finishes, gesturing to the corner, where their lead guitarist is destroying a basket of hot wings, "Adam would want to play with Cyndi Lauper." Laughter all around.