The Head and The Heart @ The Horseshoe Tavern

The Head and The Heart @ The Horseshoe Tavern

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Opening groups: The Treasures, The Wilderness of Manitoba

___Beginning with Toronto's band The Treasures, the night was off to a good start. Totally what I needed to hear to ease my excitement for The Head and The Heart. I think I actually liked them a lot more than The Wilderness of Manitoba... reason being that they were a lot more of a good time, whereas The Wilderness of Manitoba was kinda a "I'm really tired and I think it's time to sleep" time. I mean I really liked Melissa's (lead female vocals) voice, but the music was just too boring for me... All and all, the talent was there for both bands, but when I got home I only Myspaced one of them.

The Treasure Myspace, click here

The Wilderness of Manitoba's Myspace, click here.

___Seattle's The Head and The Heart hit the stage around 11PM after visible standing amongst the crowd. Playing with no visible set list, I must say it was too good to be true. My favourites included "Lost in my Mind", "Down in the Valley" and "Ghosts". It was mind blowing to me how good these guys were. They were totally in sync with each other... they were dancing, sharing mics, and really just enjoying themselves. Speaking with Kenny (pianist) after the show, he told me that it felt magical to be playing there, especially because it was the last of an eight consecutive show run. It was the kind of good that messes with your facial/breathing control... I found myself in a situation where I had to breath in deeply to really enjoy what exactly was happening. I had no words after the show. After their "last song" Jonathon (guitarist/vocals) came back onto the stage to play a solo piece that literally made you weak in the knees. They played as a whole, which was the most beautiful part of everything. Some chick even approached the band afterward asking them to play at her wedding, incredible. WHAT A SHOW!

The Head and The Heart - Lost in my Mind


Download Lost in my Mind by The Head and The Heart, click here.

For more photos from the night, click here! :)

5 of 50 with The Head and The Heart.

#13- If your house caught fire, what item would you run out with?

Jonathon: It's going to sound so obvious, but I'd go with my guitar.
Tyler: Well, if my girlfriend was in the house, I'd get my girlfriend out.
Charity: Well whenever I thought about this as a kid, I'd always say my blanky, my pink little baby blanky (laughter).
Josiah: I have a couple of books that I've written in with my thoughts and books that were given to me by important people.

#7- If you could take credit for writing any song of any genre, what would it be?

Jonathon: I'd go Moonlight Sonata, Beethoven.
Tyler: Times are Changing - Bob Dylan
Charity: Emmylou Harris - Michelangelo
Josiah: That our house is a very very very fine house... perfect, perfect pop song! Our House by Crosby Stills, Nash

#30- What do you like that you are most embarrassed of?

Jonathon: Mines easy, Tim McGraw!
Tyler: I'm embarrassed of a lot of stuff that I used to listen to in the past... high school sediments.
Charity: My guilty please is that I really like the Olsen Twins.
Josiah: I have no shame, anything I like I don't apologize for liking... but uhh I guess the thing that I like that I'm not supposed to like is ... I love Gossip Girl.

#48- Most regretted purchase?

Jonathon: I don't know?
Tyler: I begged and begged my parents to buy me an Orange Country Drum set... and finally relented when I was 15 and it took 6 months for it to arrive... it was horrendously expensive... and when it actually came it kinda sucked... so that was my most regretted purchase slash begging...Tyler Williams.
Charity: My most recent regrettable purchase was buying a pedal tuner because I bought one and it's like a $100 and the next day we generously received a pedal tuner that was better than the one i bought... and it was too late to return the other one. So I have this extra pedal tuner I will probably never use...no big deal.
Josiah: I was in college and I grew up in southern California and so I would always see my friends surfing and I kind of wanted to take it up...and I convinced my parents after like a year... same thing (looks at Tyler), same thing it was like you really want something and you go after it for so long and then by the time you get it a year later... and so I got it for Christmas and two months later I got into a car accident and dislocated my hip and I wasn't able to go surfing for another year as my hip was healing... and at that point I was no longer interested in surfing at all... so it sat like this giant monstrosity in my parent house for years and years and years... never used it.
Tyler: A surf board is actually my second most regretted purchase.
Jonathon: I honestly can't think of anything!

#29- What's the easiest way to past time?

Collective answers from the band: The internet, Smart phones, Facebook, the typical ones?
Charity: Sitting in the van...

Last words to your fans:
Charity: We really like Canada!
Josiah: Yeah Canada's great and we look forward to playing the Horseshoe, kind of a legendary place!

Check out their Myspace, click here!

Biffy Clyro @ The Garrison

Biffy Clyro @ The Garrison
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 Opening group: Moving Mountains

___If you've never been to the Garrison for a show, then you should probably know that it's really small and great for intimate experiences. Knowing this, it's hard to believe a band that has been known to fill stadiums with thousands of people decided to go with this spot. No complaints on my end, that's for sure! It was cool.

___The opening band definitely fit the profile for whom I had expected to open for Biffy. Honestly, I don't know how to critique them because it just wasn't my kind of music. I think it was too hard for me... I mean, if I had seen them in my punk days (cough, high school) then I would have been all about it... but at the show, I just found myself feeling really out of place and just not feeling it. The guitarist had some crazy dance moves though! Might have to tone it down in a few years, but work it while you can! But as per the Moving Mountains, I can't say if it was good or bad... but I can say that I would have probably not regretted showing up 5 minutes before Biffy. Check out their Myspace, click here.

___After Moving Mountains finished their set, the excitement amongst the hardcore Biffy fans started to grow. Simon, James and Ben showed up on stage facing the uproar of excitement that acquainted them. Shirtless and tattooed... whoohoo! They opened with The Captain, possible the best intro to any song I've heard in a while. Another song I really enjoyed from them was Bubbles... definitely had a good time with that one. The fans were crazy, I especially enjoyed crazy drunk girl with hardcore boyfriend. Can't leave home without them! The only complaint I had with the night, was the fact that the vocals were buried by the instrumentals. Not their fault, but thanks a lot venue! All and all, my $5 beer and I had a good time!

Conclusion: This will probably be my last punk scene appearance for 2011, I'm too into folk to play chameleon for now. I mean they were cool people, but It just wasn't my scene.

Biffy Clyro playing Bubbles / Footage taken from Cestima's Youtube Account


Also, I checked out their free show at Much Music and that was a lot of fun! Here are pictures from that show.

THE SCOOP: Making of Angles - The Strokes

27 Days until "Angles" by The Strokes is released!
(March 22, 2011)



& If for some odd reason you haven't heard their newest singles "Under Cover of Darkness", here it is!



___Also, a lot of people have asked me what I thought about this single. Well, I like it. It's a lot more pop-ier than I had thought it would be, but no less catchy. I haven't been playing it continuously, but it did up my anticipation for Angles. The thing is, although the single is very Strokes-esque, I think the single currently stands alone. It's not "Room on Fire", "First Impressions of Earth", or "Is this it?" It's new. A lot of people have big expectations for "Angles" and for good reasons... Everything else up until now has been good music... Let's see how this new album will compare. Either way, I consider myself to be a huge Strokes fan and will most likely be content with whatever they put on the record... At least I hope so...

MARCH 22, 2011!

The Head and the Heart

The Head And The Heart

Myspace / Website / Twitter

[Left to Right: Chris Zasche (Bassist), Josiah Johnson (Vocalist, Guitarist), Charity Theilen (Violinist), Kenny Hensley (Pianist), Tyler Williams (Drummer), Jonathon Russell (Vocalist, Guitarist)]

-formed in Seattle, Washington.

-opened for Vampire Weekend, and Dr. Dog

-Playing Bonnaroo 2011, SXSW 2011, & Sasquatch 2011

-Fans of Fleet Foxes

-Signed to Sub Pop

-They try to have the members of the band that write specific lines and verses, sing their part to keep it true to the artist.

-"The Head and the Heart is an album that begs to be heard as whole; the songs belong to each other. It's a diverse album - each track feels markedly different from the last - but it moves effortlessly... There's an artfulness to this album... As a debut LP, The Head and the Heart... should be celebrated." - Paige Richmond, Seattle Weekly

-Recieve free MP3s by signing up for their newsletter @ http://www.myspace.com/theheadandtheheart

Songs to listen to: Rivers and Roads(Below) ,Down in the Valley, Ghosts

(fast forward to 4:40, it's too good!)

Conclusion: WOW, couldn't have found them at a better time! Best part of it is they're playing a show in Toronto in a couple of days (February 24 at the Horseshoe Tavern). Anyhow, The Head and The Heart are a great band that will perfectly fit in amongst my Dawes and Fleet Foxes obsessive playlist. Their music is uplifting and makes the heart feel good. Clapping and rejoicing the lyrics are a must when listening, especially when everyone in the house is asleep. It's happy folk music that will leave an impression on what the Seattle folk scene has in it's back pocket. Happy listening!

Ellie Goulding

Ellie Goulding
Twitter/Website/ Myspace

-Hereford, England
-Making music since she was 14
-Describes her music as electro-folk but kinda pop-ie
-Bjork is her biggest influence
-Toured with John Mayer, & Little Boots
-She is playing SXSW & Coachella this year!
- Winner of Brit's Critics Choice Award in 2010 / Up against The XX and Mumford & Sons
-Friends with Marina & the Diamonds, Kristen Stewart and Lissie
-Fan of The Heathers (Check out their Myspace, here)
-Signed to Cherrytree Records w/ Fiest + Keane + La Roux
-Featured in Rolling Stone's Hot List last week! (Feb 8, 2011) Look here!

Songs to listen to: Guns and Horses, Starry Eyed, I'll Hold my Breath, Making Pies (Patty Griffon Cover) feat. Lissie



Free MP3 of Ellie Goulding and Lissie's Cover of Making Pies, click here.

NOTE T.O. : Ellie Goulding is playing a show Sunday, March 27, 2011. Tickets are $17.50 @ The Great Hall. She is playing with a band called The Knocks from NY. BUY TICKETS HERE!

Conclusion: Ellie is probably the first artist I've listened to, to positively resemble Bjork's beautiful voice. Last person to win the Brit's Critic award was Florence & the Machine and we know how much good that did for her... I expect relatively the same amount of footway... Bjork dipped in UK greatness, what more can you ask for? See her live while her tickets are affordable! :)

Cut Copy - Zonoscope

Cut Copy - Zonoscope
Released: Tuesday, February 8, 2011

___Since releasing their third album in 2008 "In Ghost Colours", Cut Copy's "Zonoscope" came short of expectations. I mean the sound is familiar, but I've had it in my iTunes for the past 2 weeks and I think it's time to say goodbye. It sounds like a forgotten mix tape recorded casually in the 80's... forgotten for a reason because quite frankly... what's special about it? I mean some of the songs do have catchy bits of lyrics, but nothing I'll remember next month. It's just not the "Hearts on Fire" or "Feel the Love" I fell in love with in the summer of 08, instead it's ... it's what it is...

Don't get me wrong, Cut Copy is cool! But this album? Not so much.

Cut Copy - Take me Over


I give it 3 "MEH"s out of 4 .

Radio Dept. @ Lee's Palace

Radio Dept. @ Lee's Palace

Monday, February 7, 2011

Opening Group: Young Prisms
(Photo Taken by Frank Yang @ Chromewaves)

___This was my first time going to Lee's Palace and wow, super cool! If you are not familiar with the venue, know that big acts like Nirvana, The Verve and Smashing Pumpkins had played there and surely annihilated crowd expectations with glory. Basically, I was excited!

___I went early with high hopes of catching them before entering the venue, but I was out of luck! They were (like expected first timers in Toronto) exploring the lands of my home. I spoke with their fellow tour-ies in the van, and they told me they were out and about... so I called it quites and grabbed a Poutine (drool). I took it to go and as I was walking down the street, I saw three guys of similar heights to Radio Dept.

-Height, check!

I started heavily eaves-dropping...

-Different language, check!

Take a look at their clothing and well-being... Urban foreign chic... CHECK!

"HEY, ARE YOU GUYS RADIO DEPT?" (haha)

___So, without going into immense detail of irrelevant conversation, I got a chance to interview them! See the bottom of the entry for 5 Questions with LTT. They were so nice! Humble at best! But anyways!

___Opening for Radio Dept. was San Francisco's Young Prisms. They were just OK. I got to see them play a free show at the nearby music store called Sonic Boom. I think they have a long way to go before becoming anything of considerably value for my tastes. Truthfully, I think the girl (lead vocals) could of had more stage presence... I felt like she needed a nap. The band was cool, but again home girl needed a teaspoon of life.

___ ___

___Up next was Radio Dept. The stage began filling with blue lights, and Toronto's finest hipsters were ready to indulge in Sweden's definition of ambiance and melodramatic vocals. Johan, Martin, and Daniel got on stage and started the night with "Freddy and the Trojan Horse" which signaled for a good night! Slightly intoxicated, I felt completely at ease with every single note at the show. Radio Dept.'s set was definitely a soundtrack for a night with a boy of interest. Johan (lead singer) had the charm of Chris Martin (of Coldplay) with the chill factor that comes along with being Swedish and quiet frankly foreign. If I could escape to Sweden and watch them live on their turf, I know the experience would be just as magical, if not more. Favourite songs included "Heaven's on Fire" and "Never Follow Suit". They killed it. In fact not only did they kill it, they took it home with them and put it on their coffee table! Fabulous show, and I really hope they come back soon because withdrawals will be painful.

Footage taken from MediaPartyVideo on YouTube

Conclusion: Toronto: If you weren't there, what the heck were you up to!

5 of 50 with Radio Dept.
(I wrote out 50 Questions and had the band pick 5 numbers, here are their answers!)

#13- If your house caught fire, what item would you run out with?

Johan: I think I'd try to carry my big computer outside because that's where the whole Radio Dept. catalog is... A lot of songs we've started recording which are not yet finished or released.

#4- Your favourite way to spend money on intangibles. IE. Going to the Circus.

Johan: I really used to like going to concerts, but now since we've been touring a lot I don't do that too much..That's usually one of those things I like to spend money on.. I recently saw Teenage Fanclub in Stolkholm.. great great show
LTT: What have been you favourite shows in the last couple of years?
Johan: Ariel Pink was really good..[Martin: Ah, I missed that one]... Nana April Jun (A past support group)
LTT: Are you into Music Festivals?
Johan: Really I prefer club gigs to festivals because festivals are sometimes dirty

#50- Favourite 1 Hit Wonder/Favorite 1 song that sticks out from 1 artist?

Martin's Choice - Midi, Maxi & Efti - Bad Bad Boys


Daniel's Choice - Words don't come easy - F R David


Johan's Choice - Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares to you


#31- Most hated topic of conversation.

Daniel: Right now?
Johan: Maybe just talking about The Radio Dept. We've done quite a lot of interviews and we're starting to run out of things to say.

#33- Your greatest underrated find on tour?

Johan: Kim Ki O a turkish duo... they play kinda dark post punk .. it's two girls .. they're really good
LTT: What song would you recommend of theirs?
Johan: Kapali, Kapali, Kapali



Last words from the band: Don't trust anybody over the age of 30!

The Strokes - Under Cover of Darkness RELEASED FOR FREE DL TOMORROW!

Dear Strokes fans,

Finally the time has come for the Strokes to relieve us of a long awaited period of silence... "Under Cover of Darkness", the rumored first single of their upcoming album "Angles" will be released for free download tomorrow on www.TheStrokes.com for 48 hours! The single will also be available to purchase on iTunes February 15, but get it free! February 9, 2011 will be the first day since the release of "First Impressions of Earth" in 2006 that people will be able to add a new Strokes song to their iPods... or at least I know it's the first thing I'm doing! I've been waiting for this day ever since 2010 Lollapalooza... FINALLY! I'm also really excited because according to Rolling Stone Magazine, "The Strokes give us that same old song one more time, primed and polished for a new age." This new single will definitely make the wait until the release of their full length album "Angles" March 21(UK)/March 22(North America) bearable. So, let the countdown begin!

Raise your glasses and start preparing for the world tour ladies and gentlemen! WHOOHOO!

PS. Check out my twitter @LouderThanThat for full links to the Download! :D