Monday, November 21st, 2011
M83 and Active Child at Lee’s Palace in Toronto
Frank YangA few songs into M83’s performance at Lee’s Palace on Friday night, frontman and mastermind Anthony Gonzalez stepped to the mic and said something to the effect of, “thanks, this is our first time here”. Which was perplexing as it was far from their Toronto debut – it was their fourth time here, the last time being not THAT long ago in November 2008. It wasn’t even their first time playing the venue, as it was where they made their actual first local appearance back in 2005. Maybe he meant his band, though keyboardist/vocalist Morgan Kibby was along the last time out as well so maybe he was talking about his bassist/second guitarist Jordan Lawlor who was most definitely new this time out (he’d have been all of 17 years old during their last tour – did he win the audition?). But probably not. But while it was an odd thing to say on any quantitative level, in a broader, macro sense it felt kind of true.
When they first started getting attention with their 2003 second album Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts, much of it came from old-school shoegaze and dreampop fans who found something familiar and exciting in the walls of sound that Gonzalez and then-collaborater Nicolas Fromageau were crafting, albeit with synthesizers rather than guitars. M83 become Gonzalez solo as of 2005’s Before The Dawn Heals Us and took their sound in a more melodic, vocal-oriented and over-the-top direction, in the process expanding their fanbase beyond those with threadbare Slowdive t-shirts in their closets. Both trends continued with 2008’s technicolour Saturdays=Youth and now, with their double-disc opus of excess Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming, getting bigger has turned into blowing up – this show was sold out for months, scalpers demanding triple digits for ducats and the median age of the audience, by my guesstimate, was about a decade younger than it was in 2005. So not their first visit, technically, but the atmosphere certainly made it feel like a new start.
Support came from Los Angeles’ Active Child, who I’d seen last Fall opening for School Of Seven Bells (who, incidentally, opened up for M83 their last time through). This time out, they had both a proper album out in You Are All I See and a drummer in the fold and either or both of these factors made for a more compelling show. It was still largely stolen by Pat Grossi’s angelic vocals and harp stylings, but their electro-tribal choirboy soul had a lot more cohesiveness this time out, having coalesced from a bunch of interesting ideas into an actual sound.
The M83 narrative may have reached a new plateau with this record and tour, but the show itself remained pretty familiar to those who’d seen them before. Okay, the amount of stage lighting all over the stage was new – it looked like they’d raided a factory outlet for lasers, spots, LED pillars and a starfield backdrop – as was the costumed alien who came out to open the show by way of raised arms. But the rest of it – Gonzalez’s big guitar moves and unrestrained vocals (the man seems to have become perfect hybrid of rock star and celeb DJ), Kibby’s angelic voice as a foil for his (though she’s still billed as a “guest”, it’s hard to imagine M83 live or on record without her presence), the unabashedly grandiose live renderings of songs already filled to the bursting point with grandeur (all without even acknowledging the very concept of irony let alone indulging in it) – were already established hallmarks of the M83 live experience and done as well on this night as any I’ve seen.
What set this show apart from the previous – and I apologize if I’m repeating myself – was the audience. They were tossing Toronto’s reputation for being stolid right out the window, dancing and waving their arms about with abandon through the whole set, creating a miniature festival vibe of the sort you don’t often see in these parts, at least not at a club show. It’s not a response that Gonzalez would have gotten from his old shoegazing demographic, I’ll tell you that. But he works from a place of memories of his youth, of optimism, of endless possibility – it makes sense that that would resonate most with the young. Or maybe the kids just dug the big beats and cosmic, mind-bendy sounds – watching them get down to the show-closing “Coleurs”, which was more rave than encore, that could have been it.
Photos: M83, Active Child @ Lee’s Palace – November 18, 2011
MP3: Active Child – “You Are All I See”
MP3: Active Child – “Wilderness”
MP3: Active Child – “Body Heat (So Far Away)”
Video: M83 – “Midnight City”
Video: M83 – “We Own The Sky”
Video: M83 – “Graveyard Girl”
Video: M83 – “Kim And Jessie”
Video: M83 – “Teen Angst”
Video: M83 – “Don’t Save Us From The Flames”
Video: M83 – “Run Into Flowers”
Video: M83 – “America”
Video: Active Child – “I’m In Your Church At Night”
QRO and Interview talk to various members of Los Campesinos!.
Neil Halstead has premiered a video for a new song over at Paste, his contribution to the seasonal This Warm December, A Brushfire Holiday Vol. 2 compilation being put out by his label. Not that this necessarily points to anything new from him solo or Mojave 3, but it’s nice to hear his voice again.
Video: Neil Halstead – “Home For The Season”
Elbow are presently streaming the video of their recent performance at Manchester Cathedral over at their website. You can also watch a studio performance of “The River” for CBC’s Q below.
Video: Elbow – “The River” (live on Q.
The Independent talks to Hayden Thorpe of Wild Beasts.
The Daily Record and MTV have interviews with Noel Gallagher.
NPR has a brief piece on Peggy Sue, whose Toronto show was canceled last week on account of border issues with the other band on the bill. Hopefully another date will be scheduled soon.
The Independent and The Washington Post talk to Kate Bush.
Another new Florence & The Machine video from Ceremonials – I think the third? It’s like they want to get the whole album promo cycle over and done with before the end of the year.
Video: Florence & The Machine – “No Light, No Light”
Vice has a video feature on Veronica Falls.
A Heart Is A Spade has a quick Q&A with Ellie Goulding.
Sunday, November 20th, 2011
Janelle Monae covers Prince & The Revolution
Frank YangNot that he’s looking to abdicate the title of one of the most multi-talented – if, er, a bit eccentric – artists of our time, but if you were to nominate heirs apparent for Prince, then Janelle Monáe would have to be right at the top of the list. I don’t know how her guitar chops are, but as far as being a singer/songwriter/visionary who effortlessly blends soul, funk and rock and outrageous showmanship at a ridiculously young age – she’s just 25 – Monáe has got the goods.
Said goods were fully on display at the 2010 BET Awards, which featured a tribute to the Purple One and had Monáe tapped to perform “Let’s Go Crazy”, from 1984’s Purple Rain, and in performing it she does just that. The audio is a rip of the video, which is unsurprisingly hard to find online given Prince’s negative feelings about -in no particular order – the internet, images of himself online and covers of his songs. But vids still remain online and it’s worth watching as much as seeing both for Monáe’s performance as the audience of footage of Prince himself at first watching impassively, then getting into it and finally applauding Monáe’s rendition. That’s some high praise, right there.
Prince will be on the receiving end of the applause this weekend when his Welcome 2 Canada tour kicks off at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on Friday and Saturday nights. His last release was last year’s 20Ten, but who’s kidding who – we want to hear the old stuff. And from past Welcome 2 America set lists, he’s in an obliging mood. As for Monáe, she’s getting to work on her follow-up to last year’s debut The ArchAndroid and also turns 26 next week on December 1.
MP3: Janelle Monáe – “Let’s Go Crazy” (live at BET Awards)
Video: Janelle Monáe – “Let’s Go Crazy” (live at BET Awards)
Video: Prince – “Let’s Go Crazy”
Saturday, November 19th, 2011
Frank YangWho: Austra
What: Latest and greatest electro-infused, divinely-named incarnation of Toronto scene fixture Katie Stelmanis.
Why: The Polaris-shortlisted Feel It Break has won fans internationally and kept her on the road for most of the year, without a hometown performance since the record release show back in May. This fixes that.
When: Thursday, December 1, 2011
Where: The Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto (19+)
Who else: Austra labelmates Young Galaxy and Austra bandmates Tasseomancy fill out the bill.
How: Tickets for the show are $18 in advance but courtesy of Embrace, I’ve got two pairs of passes to give away for the show. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to see Austra” in the subject line and your full name in the body. Contest closes at midnight, November 27.
What else: The Vancouver Sun, The Star Phoenix and Planet S have profiles of Austra.
MP3: Austra – “Lose It”
MP3: Austra – “Beat & The Pulse”
Video: Austra – “Lose It”
Video: Austra – “Beat & The Pulse”
Saturday, November 19th, 2011
Frank YangWho: Hey Rosetta!
What: Orchestral and open-hearted Polaris perennials from St. John’s, Newfoundland
Why: They’ve already been through town a number of times for their latest album Seeds, but clearly it hasn’t been enough – hence the two-night stand
When: Thursday, November 24, 2011 (that’s the second night)
Where: The Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto (19+)
Who else: The bill features a strong, internationally-flavoured undercard of Seattle’s Ivan & Alyosha and Australia’s Jezabels.
How: Tickets for the show are $20 in advance but courtesy of Collective Concerts, I’ve got two pairs of passes to give away for the show. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to see Hey Rosetta!” in the subject line and your full name in the body, and have that in to me before midnight, November 22.
MP3: Hey Rosetta! – “Yer Spring”
Video: Hey Rosetta! – “Yer Fall”
Friday, November 18th, 2011
Fucked Up feeling festive, give the gift of David
Daniel BoudIf the ubiquity of decorations, lights and carols wasn’t enough of a hint, let me be the one to break it to you – like it or not, the Christmas season is upon us. And with the holiday season comes Christmas concerts and performances, but if Handel’s Messiah or The Nutcracker Suite aren’t your speed, local hardcore heroes Fucked Up would like to offer you an alternative – a complete album recital of David Comes To Life.
As touring commitments for David kept them from offering as much hometown love as they usually do – this was the first year without a Hallowe’en show in some time, was it not? – the band are making up for it in spades with a pair of charity benefit shows to take place at The Great Hall on December 20 and 21. Some details are still to come, but the salient points are these: On the 20th, PS I Love You will open things up and then Fucked Up will perform their rock opera David Comes To Life in its entirety, as they did in New York last week. The 21st won’t feature an encore performance, but it will feature a stacked bill of Sloan, Ohbijou and Bonjay with more to be announced for both nights. Maybe Sloan can be persuaded to play Twice Removed start to finish as they did at Halifax Pop Explosion last year?
Details like ticket pricing and availability is still to come, but keep in mind that the Great Hall only holds about 500 – and that’s with the balcony open – so whenever they go on sale, they’ll be gone fast. Proceeds from the first evening will go to support Barriere Lake Solidarity and the second to COUNTERfit; both worthy causes.
The band have posted everything that’s available to know about the shows at their blog and Rolling Stone talked to the band right before the NYC recital of David. The Georgia Straight has an interview with Ohbijou as their cross-Canada tour swings out west and Daytrotter has posted a session with PS I Love You to download and keep for your very own.
MP3: Fucked Up – “Queen Of Hearts”
MP3: Sloan – “The Answer Was You”
MP3: Ohbijou – “Niagara”
MP3: PS I Love You (featuring Diamond Rings) – “Leftovers”
In other concert announcement news, Thee Silver Mt. Zion are kicking off a North American tour at Lee’s Palace on January 27, ticket $12 in advance.
MP3: Thee Silver Mt. Zion – “Kollapz Tradixional (Thee Dirty Olde Flag)”
Kathleen Edwards will team up with Hannah Georgas for a North American tour that wraps up at The Phoenix on February 11. The Independent talks briefly to Edwards about her new record Voyageur, out on January 17; Georgas has just begun work on album number two.
MP3: Kathleen Edwards – “Asking For Flowers”
MP3: Hannah Georgas – “Chit Chat”
Montreal avant-pop artist Grimes will be at The Horseshoe on March 19; tickets $8 in advance.
MP3: Grimes – “Vanessa”
MP3: Grimes – “Oblivion”
Filed under more immediate concerns than shows happening next year – how do you know that tonight’s Darcys record release show at The Horseshoe will be a big deal? Feature pieces in all of The Grid, The National Post, Queen’s Journal, The Vancouver Sun, Plaid, The AV Club, and NOW are pretty good signs. As is the fact that advance tickets are just about sold out, meaning if you don’t have one then your best recourse is to get there early and get one at the door.
The Vancouver Sun talks to Kathryn Calder. She’s at The Horseshoe on November 26 for a free show.
Timber Timbre have released a new video from Creep On, Creepin’ On. See them at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on November 26.
Video: Timber Timbre – “Swamp Magic”
JAM talks to Katie Stelmanis of Austra, who’ve begun posting a series of stripped-down performance videos. They’re at The Phoenix on December 1.
Video: Austra – “Lose It” (Paper Bag Sessions)
The Irish Times and Georgia Straight profile Feist. She’s at Massey Hall on December 1 and has released the first official video from Metals.
Video: Feist – “How Come You Never Go There”
The A-side of the new Chains Of Love 7″ “In Between”/”Breaking My Heart” has been made available for download courtesy of Yours Truly; the b-side went up a few weeks ago at Pitchfork.
MP3: Chains Of Love – “In Between”
MP3: Chains Of Love – “Breaking My Heart”
Also with a new 7″ are Suuns, who’ve made a video for the b-side of their “Bambi” single.
Video: Suuns – “Red Song”
CBC Radio 3, The Canmore Leader and The Argus Q&A Snowblink.
The Vinyl District interviews The Wilderness Of Manitoba
aux.tv talks to Radio Free Canuckistan’s Michael Barclay about the Have Not Been The Same ’90s Can-rock tribute compilation.
And finally, while it doesn’t fit with the rest of this post’s Canadiana theme, this bit is timely – Laura Marling will be in town for two shows at Camera on December 7, one early at 7PM and one late at 9PM. Tickets for either show are $20 and go on sale today at 10AM at TicketWeb. It’s funny how when I wrote up her visit in September, I held out hope that the next time she came to town, she’d play a room appropriately sized to her not-inconsiderable fanbase. Instead, she’s playing a room that holds maybe 100 people – even smaller than the Rivoli where she made her local debut in October 2008. We get it; you like it cozy.
Video: Laura Marling – “Sophia”
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