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Concert Photos and Review: Editors , The Antlers @ Phoenix Concert Theatre - 02.16.2010

There has been much criticism for Editors for anything after the well received "The Back Room". There was another dismal review in pitchfork for "In This Light and on This Evening". Although "An End Has A Start" didn't quite do it for me "In This Light and On This Evening" has grown on me.

Concert Photos: Toronto Plays for Haiti - 02.02.2010

Toronto Plays For Haiti was held at the Sound Academy on Tuesday February 2nd, 2010. The artists involved were The Trews, Moneen, Die Mannequin, Maestro Fresh Wes, The Junction, Ill Scarlett, The Salads f. Choclair and Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker. Many athletes also attended the event which raised over forty thousand dollars which the government matched. As a result over eighty thousand dollars was raised for the people of Haiti. The Sound Acadmey was packed and all had a good time. As for the entertainment… I have to say this is one of the best events I have ever attended. The Trews started it off with a great acoustic set. Everyone else just blew the crowd away with amazing energetic performances. Many thanks to all involved, to the Sound Academy and to Darrin Pfeiffer of The Edge and James Cybulski of TSN who started the ball rolling with the event.
Check out the video Toronto Plays For Haiti on YouTube.

Various @ Toronto Plays for Haiti

It has been a long wait but Guns N' Roses have finally made it back to Ontario. The band who now has a cast of eight made their way through Hamilton; the sixth stop on their thirteen date Canadian Tour.

Time, good writing and great melodies have made all the difference for Tegan and Sara. The twins played the Kool Haus for their second sold out show in Toronto in as many nights. Twelve years and a much greater fan base than Tegan herself recalled explaining to the crowd that when they first played in Toronto it was at Holy Joe's to about eight people. The girls started off the night playing "Arrow","Don't Rush", and "The Ocean" from their latest release.

Tegan and Sarah @ Kool Haus

"Hello, Toronto! What the f**k happened man?" were the first words from Steve "Lips" Kudlow to the frenzied crowd at the Phoenix Concert Theatre where just a few minutes earlier he had jumped in and immersed himself the crowd to start off the show with "March Of The Crabs". A loud roar was the response from the fans who were chanting "Anvil,Anvil,Anvil" prior to the start of the show and a few times during.

Die Mannequin stopped through the Sound Academy to play the final show on their Canadian tour. I can only imagine its been a wild ride for the band releasing the eagerly anticipated album "Fino+Bleed" and playing opening dates for Marilyn Manson across the country. I had the chance to see Die Mannequin live once before as part of the FU Awards where unfortunately they were only up for a couple of songs. Being a fan of intimate shows I was glad to see them on the Sound Academy's small stage.

Die Mannequin @ Sound Academy

It would appear Phoenix has been trying to put the french back into freedom fries. The quartet out of Versailles consisting of Thomas Mars (vocals), Deck D'Arcy (bass),Laurent Brancowitz(guitar) and Christian Mazzalai have finally taken North America by storm with the help of their fourth album release "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix". The band has been busy making appearances on late night television performing on SNL, Letterman, Kimmel and having their songs appear on television shows and commercials.

When I first heard about the original Wolfmother split I was pretty disappointed. Being a fan of the trio's first album the self titled "Wolfmother" it seemed quite the bitter pill at the time. Still Andrew Stockdale vowed to keep Wolfmother going strong and this time bringing along guitarist Aidan Nemeth, Ian Peres bass/keys, and drummer Dave Atkins the new lineup stayed true to form.

Flogging Molly rolled into the Sound Academy for the second time this year bringing their energy and celtic punk all the way from Los Angeles, California to help warm up the beginning of our fall/winter season.

The Airborne Toxic Event @ Phoenix Concert Theatre

It wouldn't be a stretch to say that The Airborne Toxic Event have been having a pretty good run over the last couple of years. They've played all over the United States and England. Mikel Jollet took time to mention how crazy things get when you are on tour for so long. The Airborne Toxic Event were in Toronto for a show back in March at the Mod Club for which unfortunately I had to leave just as the encore started, or risk missing a flight so I was glad to be able to stick around this time.

Nothing beats going to a show where you know all the bands are going to deliver. Such was the case the other night at Sound Academy. It was a bill that brought together Aussie band An Horse, Kentucky band Cage The Elephant and Los Angeles headliners Silversun Pickups.

Silversun Pickups @ Sound Academy

Ok so I tend to follow Barrie area bands somewhat. What can I say I know the reality of having to make the trip up the 400 hiway daily and there is always a special place in my heart for those bands from the region. Having missed their cd release show at El Mocambo last month I was definitely looking forward to catching Fox Jaws @ Lee's Palace this time around. The last time I saw them play in Toronto was in October. Now I already liked Fox Jaws at the time but it was the first time I had chance to hear Carleigh Aikins voice in its raspy splendour at a venue with half decent sound.

Made my way to Kitchener on the weekend to catch Keane @ Centre In The Square. This was one of their last shows on their Canadian Tour that saw them play in Vancouer, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnepeg, Montreal and even Thunder Bay. It was quite evident that there were a lot of people from outside the area who made the trip out to Kitchener to see the band. On the way in I could hear people talking about the Sound Academy show back in May. Having been at both I can say this show had a much more intimate feeling. The Venue itself was quite nice with great light and great acoustics. Maybe it was just that it was nice to see the band play in a venue where you weren't packed in like at most shows.

Juliette Lewis @ The Opera House
Originally uploaded by vasquezr

Juliette Lewis was in town on double duty this weekend promoting her upcoming film "Whip It!" and of course playing a gig at the Opera House with her band The New Romantiques. Juliette has been providing us with her musical contributions for years. Her earliest being on the soundtracks of her films "Natural Born Killers" and "Strange Days". To be honest I wasn't quite listening back then. However having heard some of her new album "Terra Incognita" I was compelled to see what Juliette could bring to a live audience.

Juliette Lewis @ The Opera House
Originally uploaded by vasquezr

Having watched her performance of "Fantasy Bar" on Craig Ferguson's Late Late show I had an idea that she might be fun to watch. There's no doubt that she brings everything she's got to a performance. Everything from the screeching vocals, to the feathered outfit, to the knee pads its obvious Juliette is there to rock. Though I was not blown away I found the performance to be very energetic and entertaining. Juliette Lewis seems to have surpassed the efforts of some of her fellow Hollywood actors/musicians winning over a loyal fan base who helped her sing along to one of my favourite tracks on the new album "Suicide Dive Bombers".

Juliette Lewis @ The Opera House
Originally uploaded by vasquezr

Band of Skulls

Band of Skulls @ The Opera House
Originally uploaded by vasquezr

Band of Skulls opened the show at the Opera House. I missed out on NXNE this year and Band of Skulls was one of the bands I was most looking forward to seeing. To say I was happy to see them back so soon is an understatement. This British trio was formed in 2008 and have put out a very impressive debut album "Baby Darling Doll Face Honey" with great tracks "I Know What I Am", "Impossible", "Fires", "Blood". Yeah I can go on and on I really like this album. I enjoyed their live performance just as much. The vocal combination of Russell Marsden and Emma Richardson works very well together. Their bluesy rock will be compared to Jack White and the White Stripes or Dead Weather but that can only be viewed as a compliment. There is much more to Band of Skulls. I'll be glad to see them again next time they make it to town.

The Trews, Inward Eye, Flash Lightnin' @ The Wasaga Dome - 09.05.2009

The Trews @ Wasaga Dome
Originally uploaded by vasquezr

I guess its a sign of the times, a symptom of the recession. It's been a dreadful summer for live music this year. From poor attendance at festivals like Wakestock and Virgin Festival to a slow night on the beach at Wasaga. I thought this place would be crazy busy. What would be better than a day at the beach a drink as the sun sets and then walk in to watch a few great bands rock on the Saturday night of your long weekend. When I heard The Trews were playing a show at Wasaga Dome it was enough to get me back to the beach after several years. When I found out Winnepeg's Inward Eye and Toronto's Flash Lightnin' were supporting acts it just made the idea all the more enticing.

The Trews @ Wasaga Dome
Originally uploaded by vasquezr

The Trews @ Wasaga Dome
Originally uploaded by vasquezr

The Trews are one of my favourite Canadian bands to see and shoot live. The Juno nominated band always come out to rock and are never short of classic guitar faces and poses which makes them really fun to shoot. Unfortunately the place was not as packed as I thought it would be, however that made no difference to either the bands performance or to the loyal fans that did make it out this night. The Trews have released three solid albums "House Of Ill Fame", "Den Of Thieves" and their latest "No Time For Later" from which the band played a good mix. By the time they played hits "Not Ready To Go", "Paranoid Freak", "I Can't Say", "Poor Ol' Broken Hearted Me", and "Tired Of Waiting" they came back for their encore which included "Man Of Two Minds" and a cover of The Who's "Baba O'Riley" for which they invited openers Inward Eye to share the stage. As always a solid performance.

The Trews @ Wasaga Dome
Originally uploaded by vasquezr

Inward Eye:

Inward Eye @ Wasaga Dome
Originally uploaded by vasquezr

Energy, Fun, Punk... Just looking for words to describe Winnipeg's Inward Eye. These guys are just a lot of fun. I haven't had the opportunity to listen to their debut cd "Throwing Bricks Instead of Knives" but I'm totally loving their self titled EP which is available as a free download from their website. I can't get over how much I like these three brothers. Their music is so full of energy and their live show if possible goes beyond that. The only somewhat static member is Anders and the only reason for that is because he's behind the drums. Dave and Kyle are pretty much all over the stage and half the time a few feet above it. If you haven't yet seen these guys make a point to do so. They have a busy September full of dates with other Canadian bands Thornley, Mariana's Trench, Bedouin Sound Clash, OLP, some more dates with the Trews before their tour with Flogging Molly.

Inward Eye @ Wasaga Dome
Originally uploaded by vasquezr

Flash Lightnin':

Flash Lightnin' @ Wasaga Dome
Originally uploaded by vasquezr
Toronto's blues based southern rock band Flash Lightnin' opened the evening at the Wasaga Dome. Unfortunately due to an error in scheduling/promotion they played to a group of about ten people me included. The first time I saw them was at the 2008 Virgin Festival. Since then they've released an EP called "Destello" and their myspace page says they are working on an album with the likes of Ron Sexmith, Serena Ryder, Kevin Drew, and Jimmy Shaw. Interesting No ? Looking forward to seeing and hearing more.

Flash Lightnin' @ Wasaga Dome
Originally uploaded by vasquezr

Hot Hot Heat, The Stills @ Chill On The Hill -- 08.22.2009

Hot Hot Heat at Chill On The Hill
Originally uploaded by vasquezr

A few years ago I spent some time in California. Now one of the nice things about Cali is that you can ski and in my case sail in a t-shirt all in the same day. Well maybe it wasn't a beautiful sunset at the Santa Monica Pier but the good people of Nestea brought a little bit of winter fun in August to Milton. Chill on the Hill promised to bring some summer and winter sports together with a couple of bands playing a free show. Closing at the Glen Eden ski club the show were British Columbia's Hot Hot Heat. The quartet composed of Steve Bays (vocals and keyboards), Paul Hawley (drums), Parker Bossley (bass) and Luke Paquin (guitar) put on a very energetic and entertaining set that was unfortunately cut short by the threat of an incoming storm.

Hot Hot Heat at Chill On The Hill
Originally uploaded by vasquezr

The band played favourites "Talk to me Dance with me","Goodnight, Goodnight", "My Best Friend", and a short version of their big hit "Bandages". At one point Steve Bays gave a shout out to his grandmother who happened to be at the event and remarked how when he is ninety two he hopes to be at a rock concert. My sentiments exactly!

Update:
I wasn't quite sure what happened at the end of the show but it seems guitarist Luke Paquin was shocked by his microphone at the end of the performance. I have read he is recovering and wish him well.

Hot Hot Heat at Chill On The Hill
Originally uploaded by vasquezr

The Stills:

The Stills at Chill On The Hill
Originally uploaded by vasquezr

The Stills opened up the musical festivities. The Juno award winning band from Montreal entertained the crowd mainly with songs from their latest release "Oceans Will Rise". The band seemed to get off to a bit of a slow start but the set picked up some steam towards the end and they ended off with a bang playing their big single "Being Here".

The Stills at Chill On The Hill
Originally uploaded by vasquezr

Snowboarder at Chill On The Hill at Chill On The Hill

Snowboarder at Chill On The Hill
Originally uploaded by vasquezr

Concert Photos and Review: Editors , The Antlers @ Phoenix Concert Theatre - 02.16.2010

Concert Photos: Toronto Plays for Haiti - 02.02.2010

Concert Photos and Review: Guns N' Roses @ Copps Coliseum - 01.24.2010

Concert Photos and Review: Tegan and Sara @ Kool Haus - 01.20.2010

Concert Photos and Review: Anvil @ Phoenix Concert Theatre - 01.08.2010

Concert Photos and Review: Die Mannequin @ Sound Academy - 12.12.2009

Concert Photos and Review: Phoenix, Holy Fuck @ Sound Academy - 12.05.2009

Concert Photos and Review : Wolfmother @ Kool Haus - 11.11.2009

Concert Photos and Review: Flogging Molly, Inward Eye @ Sound Academy - 10.21.2009

Concert Photos and Review: The Airborne Toxic Event @ Phoenix Concert Theatre - 10.19.2009

Concert Photos and Review: Silversun Pickups, Cage The Elephant @ Sound Academy - 10.15.2009

Concert Photos and Review: Fox Jaws @ Lee's Palace - 09.25.2009

Concert Photos and Review: Keane, Lights @ Centre In The Square

Juliette Lewis , Band of Skulls @ The Opera House - 09.11.2009

The Trews, Inward Eye, Flash Lightnin' @ The Wasaga Dome - 09.05.2009

Hot Hot Heat, The Stills @ Chill On The Hill -- 08.22.2009

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