The Interpol show Wednesday night at Kool Haus was pretty incredible. It was the second time I have seen them (I saw their debut Toronto show just after Turn On The Bright Lights was released) and the band has really improved their live show. Not only do they sound great, but they also looked amazing, and had a wicked cool light show. The opening band Boom Bip weren't very good, they reminded me of a watered-down Mogwai, minus the rock chops. They played my favourite song off Antics, Take You On A Cruise, which translated well live. I took a couple pics with my cellphone but they turned out really shitty, so I won't post them.

On my weekend list: Tonight I think I may go see A History Of Violence. Saturday Antony and the Johnsons at St. Pauls, then Ladies And Gentlemen at the Rivoli.

Speaking of The Ladies And Gentlemen, they are the cover boys of this week's Now Magazine. Check out the article here.

Architecture In Helenski are also in town saturday night with Aqueduct (whose I Sold Gold I was crushing on hardcore at the beginning of the year, + they are O.C. approved AND on Death Cab's old label) opening at Rancho Relaxo. Both Eye Weekly and Now Magazine talked to the band about their music, the fact that they are constantly mistaken as a Canadian band, and their dying love for Degrassi Junior High.

Thanx to Diane for the lovely surprise that came in the mail yesterday. Let me know how AIH and Aqueduct are.

Last week on the O.C. (yup I love it, it''s like crack for me) a cover of Neutral Milk Hotel's "In The Aeroplane Over The Sea" by M.Ward (click on the song title to download the track). Mark always raves about this album (...Neutral Milk Hotel...) so I decided to throw it on my iPod. Then yesterday, the fork reviews the album on the eve of it's re-release in the UK. Coinsidence? Or is there some underlying indie-marketing going on?

I'm going to the Interpol show tonight at Kool Haus. I'll post a mini-review tomorrow. I'm not taking my camera due to the sheer size of the venue, and the fact that I most likely won't be able to get close to the stage. Plus I have a cold, and won't want to be pakd like a sardine at the front of the stage with the mini-hipsters-in-training (youngens).

I came across a great podcast site last night. If your in the Toronto area and listen to decent music, then your already probably aware of The Anti-List (use to run in Eye Weekly, now runs in The Toronto Star). Check it out here, John Sakamoto always has the new tracks AND great mash-ups. Check the Anti-List weekly here.

According to Frank at Chromewaves, LCD Soundsystem and The Juan McLean are playing The Carlu Friday November 18th. I missed their last stop with M.I.A at the Opera House as it conflicted with a show I was already attending. I think I may have to hit this one, and do some ass-shaking. Frank also has good news for Jens Lekman fans. It looks like the Music Gallery show is back on (November 5th).

I've been on a LOST binge for the last couple of days, I'm catching up on season one on DVD, and have been PVRing season two. I can't believe how amazing the writing on this show is. It's great to see a mainstream network produce a show that isn't full of plot cliches.

9.2!!!!!

I'm super surprised, since the fork gave their last Ep a pretty shitty review.

Check Central Village's review of their performace in NYC during the CMJ Marathon here.

More great shows hitting Toronto in the next couple months. Here they are:

Oct. 15th - The Organ - Revival - (on sale 09/24/05)
Nov. 1st - Spoon - Phoenix (on sale now!)
Nov. 6th - Ben Lee - The Rivoli - (on sale 09/24/05)
Nov. 7th - The Shout Out Louds w Essex Green - Mod Club - (on sale now!)
Nov. 11th - Bell Orchestre - 2 shows!!! 7pm and 10pm - The Music Gallery - (on sale now!)
Nov. 16th - Bauhaus - Kool Haus - (on 09/24/05)
Nov. 23th - Echo and the Bunnymen - The Carlu - (on sale now!)
Nov. 26th - Styrofoam - The Rivoli - (on sale now!)
Dec. 1st - The Magic Numbers - Lee's Palace - (on sale now!)
Dec. 1st - Depeche Mode w The Raveonettes - Air Canada Centre

I'm going to try to hit The Organ's show after the DCFC show. I'm not sure how late they'll go on, since Rivival has a decent club night (mod club) every saturday night.

Indie Kids: Make sure to pre-order a copy of Broken Social Scene's new album. They first printing ships with an exclusive EP titled "ep to be you and me". Get it hear, take part in the back to school "how indie am I" quiz and receive 25% off your entire order! I picked up Wolf Parade's debut also, and with the amazing exchange rate right now, it works out cheaper to order from the US.

SHOUT out to Diane from limelimelimelimelimelimelime, hopefully I'll see u at the Rivoli for the Ladies and Gents show...as long as Antony doesn't go too late. Ps. EVERYONE must check out Lime's new iPod peels. The camo one has my name on it!! AND they already have gear for nano's!!!

Lates.

How did I miss this band? Why hasn't the indie music blogging world fallen head over heals for the sweet sweet sounds of The Ladies And Gentlemen???? They're like the Postal Service, but way cuter and Canadian. According to their bio on Boompa records site, like Aquaduct, one gent by the name of Thomas D'Arcy wrote, produced and played all instruments on the album. TLAG are a side-project the the Toronto-based band The Carnations. Electronic elements dominate his/their debut album, titled Small Sins. The video for their first single Stay has hit Much Music, and was played on last night's (09/16) episode of The Wedge. D'Arcy has put together a band to transform Small Sins in live settings. He has brought on guitarist/keyboardists Andreas Tompros and Steve Kreklo, drummer Shayne Cox, and keyboardist /handclapper Kevin Hilliard to help him out. The boys are just about to start a small tour across Canada, here are the dates:
September
30 fr Montreal, PQ, Les Minots -Pop Montreal Boompa Showcase

october
01 sat, Toronto, ON, The Rivoli -w. Catlow
15 sat, Toronto, ON, The Phoenix -w. Matthew Good
17 mon, Ottawa, ON, Capital -w. Matthew Good
18 tue, Montreal, PQ, Club Soda -w. Matthew Good
21 fri, Kingston, ON, Stages -w. Matthew Good
24 mon, Thundar Bay, ON, Community Auditorium -w. Matthew Good
25 tue, Winnipeg, MB, Cowboys -w. Matthew Good
29 sat, Edmonton, AB, Starlite -w. Matthew Good
november
01 tue, Calgary, AB, MacEwan Hall-w. Matthew Good
02 wed, Vernon, AB, Performing Arts Centre -w. Matthew Good
04 fri, Vancouver, BC, Commodore Ballroom -w. Matthew Good
05 sat, Vancouver, BC, Commodore Ballroom -w. Matthew Good

It's too bad their opening to Matt Good, since he's pure shit and the most pretensious modern rock Canadian of all time (...umm maybe tied with Raine from OLP). I'm going to try to take in the show at the Rivoli. I'm seeing Antony and the Johnsons the same night, but hopefully the TLAG show will start late enought that I can hit both!

Lates.

As reported by pretty much every music blog on the net, the new Franz Ferdinand album leaked last weekend, and things are not looking too good. The album is mediocre at best, with the best song being their lead single "Do You Want To". A fellow blogger had the balls to post the entire album for download.

I Am A Bird Now, by the lovely Antony And The Johnsons, won the Mercury Music Prize in England last week, and I couldn't be more happy.

I really need to get better at posting more often. It's hard sometimes, when I'm sharing a computer with Mark (...well not sharing, using is a better term). I've gotta try to post at least once every other day.

Tons O'shit has happened since my last post. In the news, Katrina massacred the southern US. New Orleans is a disaster and the US Government is not doing anything about it. I guess they would rather been seen as humanitarians on the global platform when sending supplies/support/food to other parts of the world (a la Tsumani) than help the poor working class in their own country. It's disgusting that there are literally thousands of low income families stuck with no food or water. Christ, this shit happened six days ago, and they are still rescuing people that are stuck in or on top of their homes. The president has really screwed up this time, and lets hope that this disaster stays in peoples minds when the go back to the voting polls. I was watching Today this morning and one reporter that is in New Orleans was actually speaking negatively about the lack of relief that has been sent into the state. She went on the say that the government's reasons for not sending aid (they said that they physically couldn't navigate trucks into the state) is false. It's nice to hear the US press finally speaking up against Bush's tainted poliks.

Check out this link to see Kanye West's rank last night on the Relief Telethon (courtesy of Scott Stereogum).

Now for some lighter news:

DCFC's Plans hit stores last week and since then, they have been getting press everywhere. They boys are on the cover of SPIN magazine this month. JAM! talks to the them, as does the
the New York Times, The Houston Chronicle, The Seattle Times, Reuters and Under The Radar. I'm pretty excited for the upcoming Toronto show, but alas, Stars still have not been added to the bill.

I've been ingesting tons of Broken Social Scene as of late (since S/T was leaked to hungry hipsters), and I can honestly say that this album is brilliant. In my opnion, I really think it's better than you forgot it in people. It more cohesive as an album, but not in a boring, it all sounds the same way. The band has announced an extensive North American tour, but no Toronto date his been confirmed. The dates are:

09-18 Buffalo, NY - Mohawk Place *
09-19 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church *
09-20 Pittsburgh, PA - Mr. Small's *
09-21 Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop (w/ Metric)
09-22 Bloomington, IN - Vertigo *
09-23 Detroit, MI - Magic Stick *
09-26 Montreal, Quebec - Pop Montreal Festival
09-29 Indianapolis, IN - The Patio *
09-30 St. Louis, MO - Gargoyle *
10-01 Memphis, TN - Young Ave Deli *
10-03 Nashville, TN - 12th and Porter *
10-04 Athens, GA - 40 Watt *
10-05 Louisville, KY - Uncle Pleasants *
10-06 Chicago, IL - The Abbey *
10-09 London, England - ICA
10-10 Peterborough, England - Met Lounge
10-12 Stoke, England - Sugarmill
10-13 Leicester, England - Princess Charlotte
10-04 York, England - Fibbers
10-15 Cardiff, England - Barfly
10-17 Wolverhampton, England - Little Civic
10-18 Glasgow, Scotland - Barfly
10-19 Manchester, England - Night & Day Cafe
10-22 Paris, France - Boule Noir
10-24 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom (CMJ Music Marathon)
10-25 Ithaca, NY - Cornell University
11-01 Halifax, Nova Scotia - Halifax Pop Explosion
11-09 Edmonton, Alberta - TBA #
11-10 Calgary, Alberta - Liberty Lounge #
11-12 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richards #
11-13 Seattle, WA - Graceland #
11-14 Seattle, WA - Graceland #
11-15 Portland, OR - TBA #
11-16 Eugene, OR - Wow Hall #
11-19 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall #
11-20 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall #
11-21 Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda #
11-22 San Diego, CA - TBA #

* with Metric, Jason Collett
# with Stars, Jason Collett

Here's my show itenary for the next few months. Toronto is Sept/Oct has exploded with amazing shows. I would love to go to more, but the wallet is thin and work tends to get in the way:

09-03 - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah w The Fembots and From Fiction - Horseshoe Tavern
*****I have an extra ticket. Email me if you want it
09-28 - Interpol - Kool Haus
10-01 - Antony and the Johnsons w CocoRosie - St. Pauls
10-15 - DCFC w Youth Group

I'm taking the digital tonightm and hope to get close to the stage. I'll post my review and pics tomorrow (for CYHSY).

The Stills are playing the Trash in Peterborough on the 15th with Jason Collett. I really want to go to this show as the Trash is tiny, but its a thrusday night and I have to work the next morning.

Wolf Parade have been named Canada's best new band by GQ magazine, even though their debut album Apologies To The Queen Mary hasb't even been released yet. The band has also added a second guitarist, who just happens to be Dante, formerly of Hot Hot Heat (no link because they kind of suck now). They have announced some dates:

09-13 Denver, CO - The Hi Dive
09-17 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom (Sub Pop CMJ Showcase)
09-18 San Francisco, CA - The Warfield *
09-20 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom *
09-21 Seattle, WA - Paramount Theater *
09-22 Seattle, WA - Crocodile Café #
09-23 Victoria, British Columbia - Lucky Bar
09-28 Chicago, IL - Riviera Theatre *09-29 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue *
09-30 Winnipeg, Manitoba - Burton Cummings Theater *
10-02 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - Odeon Event Center *
10-04 Edmonton, Alberta - Red's *
10-05 Calgary, Alberta - MacEwan Hall *
10-12 Fargo, ND - Great Northern Brewery
10-13 Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry
10-14 Chicago, IL - Schubas Tavern $
10-15 Grand Rapids, MI - The Intersection
10-16 Detroit, MI - The Magic Stick
10-17 Toronto, Ontario - Horseshoe Tavern
10-20 Cambridge, MA - TT The Bear's
10-21 Annandale-on-Hudson, NY - Smog Room at Bard College
10-22 New Haven, CT – Café Nine
10-23 Philadelphia, PA - Khyber
10-24 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom

* with Arcade Fire, Belle Orchestre
# with The Vells

Finally, staying with the Canadian indie theme, last night on the Wedge, Much Music debuted the new Metric video. Ms. Haines and co. have never sounded and looked sooo amazing (this coming from someone who didn't like Metric at first...Combat Baby was not the greatest way to introduce this band).


Out.