tUnE-yArDs (aka Merrill Garbus) has released a video for Real Live Flesh, and has confirmed a joint Spring tour with Xiu Xiu. No Toronto date. Boo to that. Check the dates here.
Just a few quick things:
Wolf Parade have confirmed a slew of dates for this spring including a short Canadian tour. Montreal’s We Are Wolves support. Dates as follows:
04/01: Quebec City - Imperial De Quebec
04/3: Halifax - Paragon Theatre
04/04: Fredricton - The Market
04/06: Kingston - The Ale House
04/07: Toronto - Phoenix Concert Theatre
Tickets for the Toronto show go on sale Friday January 29th at Rotate This, Soundscapes and Ticketmaster and will set you back $20.
Washed Out and Small Black are confirmed to play Wrongbar on April 7th. Ticket details to come.
Teen Dream (the new Beach House album) reviewed by Pitchfork this morning and is added to their Best New Music. I 100% agree with the review, one of my favourite albums of the year thus far.
The Tallest Man on Earth has signed to US label Dead Oceans. Dead Oceans will release his new album The Wild Hunt on April 13th, with North American dates to occur in the spring. Lets hope for an NYC date while were in there. You can head over to Dead Oceans websit to stream his new song King of Spain.
Beach House have released another video for a song taken from their new, incredible album Teen Dream. This time its for Silver Soul. The band have made videos for each of their songs on the new album, a DVD of the videos is included with the CD. Beach House play the Opera House in Toronto on March 30th. Tickets available here.
The XX have released a video for their latest single VCR. They have two upcoming Toronto shows on the horizon, April 4th at the Phoenix with jj, then a couple weeks later on April 20th with Hot Chip at Kool Haus. Tickets are still available here and here for the shows, but act fast, I’m sure both will sell out.
The Very Best have released a video for Warm Heart of Africa, which features vocals by Ezra Koenig from Vampire Weekend. Speaking of VW, their new album Contra debuted at #1 on Billboard and sold roughly 121,000 copies in its first week.
Today has been a great day for music-lovers in Toronto. Tons of great shows have been confirmed. Here are the highlights:
The XX and jj’s double bill has finally been confirmed for Toronto. The two bands will play Phoenix on Sunday April 4th, Tickets , $20, on sale this Thursday at 10am via ticketmaster, soundscapes and rotate this.
Kings of Convenience play the Phoenix on February 18th, tickets on sale Saturday January 16th for $21.50.
Spoon play Sound Academy with Deerhunter and the Strange Boys on March 29th. Tickets $24.50 general admission, and $33.50 VIP balcony on sale Thursday January 14th.
In support of the gorgeous Teen Dream, Beach House play The Opera House on March 30th. Tickets will be available starting Friday January 15th for $14.
Previously announced by still noteworthy:
Yeasayer are at Lee’s Palace on Saturday May 1st. Tickets are available here for $18.
Patrick Wolf has released a new video for Damaris, the final single released from his album The Bachelor.
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Live-tweeting at shows has and will continue to occur.
xxx/daniel
1. Fever Ray - Kool Haus - 10/02/2009
“The set that followed was probably the most intense (in a good way!) concert I have ever witnessed, dark, a bit chilling but overtly enjoyable. Karin stayed in “character” the entire set, did not speak or take part in any stage banter, which added to the performance. I guess you could say that it really wasn’t just a concert, but a performance art piece, every sense what stimulated, the music could be felt in your bones, the visuals (lazers, lighting, costumes) and I will always remember the dense smell of dry ice that was forever being pumped into the venue.”
2. tUnE-yArDs/Think About Life - Polish Combatants Hall - 05/22/2009
“Last but not least Think About Life took the stage at 11:30pm, and launched into Havin’ My Baby, the second track on their new album. Perfect song to start their set. High energy, fun, and totally danceable. Their set was super upbeat and got the room going. They played pretty much all ofFamily including Johanna, Sweet Sixteen, Young Hearts, The Wizzard and Set You On Fire. The material is even better live than recorded. They finished with Paul Cries (from their debut), which saw a good chunk of the audience take to the stage for a full dance party invasion. In convinced that their set last night will be one of my favourite shows of the year. It was near perfect.”
3. The XX - Phoenix - 12/02/2009 - The most hyped band of 2009 delivers a set so strong that anyone doubting the British threesome’s sheer talent were automatically converted. Stark, simple and using a drum machine instead of a drum kit, the band worked their way through their debut starting with the gorgeous Intro climaxing with the dead-sexy Shelter, everything was perfect. Except for all the frat boys there to see Friendly Fires.
4. Patrick Wolf - Mod Club - 06/17/2009 - Nylon Magazine’s Summer Tour brought Patrick back to Toronto in support of The Bachelor and with a slew of “up and coming” indie bands. Painfully terrible sets by Jaguar Love and Living Things were endured by the pay off was magical. Wolf has transformed himself into an indie gay icon, a camped-up diva who threw more than one fit during his set due to the poor sound system in the venue. But when he was on, it was near perfect. Playing songs from his entire back catalogue, he ran through a set that brought out his many different personas, the tortured artist, the sad indie boy, the campy sexed-up pop star. The show finished with Patrick clad only in a leather g-string, dancing on the floor of the venue in the heart of the crowd. This was one show that shouldn’t have been missed.
5. Antony and the Johnsons - Queen Elizabeth Theatre - 02/17/09 - Antony is one of our generations greatest artists. Period. On the heels of the release of the brilliant The Crying Light, Antony brought his Johnsons to the Queen’s Elizabeth Theatre for a magical evening of music and laughter. Antony is a great performer and tells really funny stories about each song, little antidotes about their origins. The set features songs from all three albums including Epilepsy Is Dancing, Aeon, Kiss My Name and crowd favourite Cripple and the Starfish.
Honourable Mentions:
Vampire Weekend at the Horseshoe
Bat For Lashes at Mod Club
Yeah Yeah Yeahs at Kool Haus
I can’t believe that Vampire Weekend’s new album Contra comes out in two weeks. It feels like only yesterday it was announced. In anticipation of the release, they have taped an episode of Juan’s Basement for Pitchfork. Watch it below.
They have also confirmed a Toronto date at Sound Academy on March 30th. Ticket details to come.
