Rock Paper Pixels

Jenn Grant - 2/12/09

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 21:12 -0500

Jenn Grant @ the Mod Club, Toronto - Jenn's CD release party for "Echoes" had the Mod Club really quite packed, and Ms. Grant really quite gracious and flabbergastered at the whole thing. A sweet, endearing set from an artist who's improving by leaps and bounds each time I see/hear her. (And I'd be remiss without significant props to opener Kevin Hearn & Thin Buckle for a wonderful cover of my favouritest bestest ever Beach Boys song "God Only Knows". *swoon*)

Here's Jenn with Great Lake Swimmer's Tony Dekker, who joined her for a few songs. The rest of the set are HERE, or view as a slideshow HERE.

Martin Tielli - 9/27/08

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 22:15 -0500

Martin Tielli @ Hugh's Room, Toronto - The self-described “tragically ambitious” 1 year / 4 record solo project that Martin Tielli began back in 2003 and stalled out (see: gobbled up its budget) after 2 releases has finally taken steps toward fruition. The recording is complete, the artwork sinister & foreboding - the eerie howl of "The Ghost of Danny Gross, Parts I & II" will seriously...really this time...no joke...creep from Martin’s crazy genius and into our ears before the end of 2008. I’ve seen & heard bits and peices, all wails & whispers, dark roads and skeleton trees; it’s for real. He’s even cautiously left his lair to venture onstage, just finishing 5 dates in & around Ontario. The new ensemble features Weakerthan Greg Smith on bass, classically-trained Monica Guenter on viola & keys, Ryan Granville Martin on drums and other percussive things, and Selina Martin on nearly everything else - guitar, keytar, saw, reed whip (I'm quite serious). The female backing harmonies compliment Martin’s fragile falsetto, and the group fits together like only old friends would.

At his Hugh’s Room show on Saturday, somewhat rusty songs resurrected from the somewhat dusty corners of Martin’s brain meant a few stumbles and the need for lyrical reminders, but there were more than enough moments of pure amazement. When Martin loses himself in a song (as he often does) or in the supernatural sounds he coaxes from his Steinberger ... it’s just a beautiful, bewildering thing. You could hear a pin drop after some, like in the seconds following the brilliant take on Saskatchewan. Not because the audience wasn’t inspired to applaud, but because we had to wrestle back from the dream of astonished disbelief at what we’d just heard.

The 2-part set included a scattering of new songs, some from side project Nick Buzz, and some of his solo + Rheostatic best. Here they are to the best of my absentminded memory, not in correct order and excluding the new songs that I don't yet know the names of. Email me if I’ve screwed up any (note - sorry, comments disabled due to spam):

The ‘Shake off that stage fright’ set:
· Dead is the Drunkest That You Can Get
· Love Streams
· She Said, We’re On Our Way Down (or, I love my neighborhood part 1)
· That’s How They Do It In Warsaw (or, I love my neighborhood part 2)
· That’s What You Get For Having Fun
· I’ll Never Tear You Apart
· Voices From The Wilderness
· Andy By The Lake

The "Heavy Rock Show / Keep It Up, Mike Reno" set:
· Beauty On
· Waterstriders
· My Sweet Relief
· Saskatchewan
· Merry Christmas, Sgt Kraulis
· Shaved Head into Ship of Fire (really & truly awesome, despite my vain attempt to get “Baby, I Love You” out of him).

EDIT to add: Thank you to the reader who reminded me of a few more: A Hymn to the Situation, Take me in your Hand and Sleek Red Canoe (which was wonderful done solo acoustic, shame on me for forgetting it).

Whispers have it that the CD release show(s?) will be in early December, but since things in Martin World tend to be tentative, just pencil off the rest of the year on your calendar. Not even kidding. He plays just once in a blue moon (what does that really even mean?), so cross my heart and slather me in kapusta - don’t miss the rare chance.

Full photo set from the show are HERE, or as a slideshow HERE.

Metric - 9/9/08

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:11 -0500

Metric @ the Social, Toronto - Thank you, Equator Music, for the invite to this nifty little TIFF party. It's pretty nice to see this band in such a teeny tiny venue, not gonna lie. Plus there were movie stars n' junk, so I got my stalkerazzi on.

This is probably not my favourite photo of Emily, but I had to include it because it takes mad balls to pull off (or even attempt) a shiney metallic skintight onesie. There are a lot better ones HERE, or as a slideshow HERE, promise.

Japanther - 9/6/08

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:06 -0500

Japanther @ Sneaky Dee's, Toronto - I recall whining about the last Japanther show (at the Mod Club) because the venue inhibited the band's interaction with the crowd. Well, no problem there this time around. Their crazy sweaty Dee's set ended up as a massive onstage dance party, completely obliterating the line between band and fans. The photo set is all arms, legs and body parts flailing and flying. AS IT SHOULD BE.

Rest of the set are HERE, or view as a slideshow HERE.

The Sadies - 8/17/08

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:57 -0500

The Sadies @ Dog Day Farm Party, somewhere near Guelph, Ontario - Ahhh, and so the great farm party tradition continues. Same great folks (including the "Farmers Feed Cities" fella dancing in a kilt, more great bands, our handsome horse friend, all topped off with the Sadies. And pleased to say that no late arrivals disrupted the performance, and they DID close out with their totally transcendant version of Astronome Domine this year. Amazzzinnng.

I realized I have a ton of Travis fiddle shots on here, but very little Dallas. And he's such a handsome gent, so here's one that does him some justice. The rest of the set are HERE, or view as a slideshow HERE.

Six Shooter Records BBQ - 6/14/08

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:31 -0500

Six Shooter NXNE Party @ Six Shooter Backyard, Toronto - Just like last year, Six Shooter served up a generous helping of their delicious roster at NXNE, at their not-to-be-missed BBQ. This year's batch included the likes of Elliott Brood, Jason Plumb, Hey Rosetta, Hawksley Workman, Melissa McClelland, Justin Rutledge, Luke Doucet, Oh Susanna, Royal Wood and more. No Ford Pier as host this year, but that cute fella Neville "NQ" Quinlan handled the job with beer-soaked hillbilly panache.

Here's a nice one of Mr. Luke and Mr. Hawksley. The rest of the set are HERE, or view as a super sweet slideshow HERE.

Sloan - 6/10/08

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:23 -0500

Sloan @ Tattoo Rock Parlour, Toronto - CD release party for their new one, Parallel Play. Nothing too exceptional about this photo I guess, but I did like Andrew's purple backlit hair and constipated expression. Plus it was one of the few photos that didn't scream "MAZDA" behind them.

Rest of the set are HERE, or view as a slideshow HERE.

United Steelworkers of Montreal - 5/10/08

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:36 -0500

United Steelworkers of Montreal @ the Dakota Tavern, Toronto - Just can't get enough of them Steelworkers. And finally here they are playing at the Dakota... the Toronto bar absolutely made for them. So a tip of the old Stetson to Phil at weewerk for choosing just the right spot to showcase his label's fine fine bands.

Rest of the set are HERE, or view as a larger-than-life slideshow HERE.

Sloan - 3/6/08

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 21:29 -0500

Sloan @ the Supermarket, Toronto (CMW) - Murderecords hosted a little (read: super-packed & sweaty) gig at Kensington Market's equally little Supermarket (read: really truly little). It was mostly an excuse to preview (read: glorified practice session) a few of the new songs from their upcoming LP Parallel Play, but was also a sneaky vehicle to stick new label queens/the girlfriend's band Pony Da Look back in the limelight after a lengthy (read: baby-makin') hiatus, not to mention jam with 3/4 of the foxy Meligroves, AND introduce the most pleasant surprise of the evening - squeaky clean lemony fresh new kids on the block Will Currie & the Country French.

Rest of the set & shots of the other bands are HERE, or view as a super-cutetastic slideshow HERE.

United Steelworkers of Montreal - 3/7/08

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 22:03 -0500

United Steelworkers of Montreal @ the Silver Dollar, Toronto (CMW) - my favourite show of CMW 2008 has also fast become (one of) my favourite bands of 2008 period. Love 'em. Their shows make me all warm & fuzzy.. like one big Tom Waits hillbilly blues brawl.

Rest of the set are HERE, or view as a slideshow HERE.