Hotmouth

I'd been tempted to go to The Diableros show this past weeked at the El Mocambo in Toronto after being impressed with these locals when they opened for other local Torontonians Mark E. Smith-obsessees The Two Koreas at The Boat in June. I was also quite intrigued by what I heard on the 'net from the other bands playing with The Diableros this past weekend: Edmonton post-punk new wave band The Floor and Calgary's synth pop wonders Falconhawk. Unfortunately, I didn't make it to the El Mocambo on the weekend. Fortunately, though Falconhawk did play a set yesterday at the Horseshoe Tavern as part of the Dave Bookman’S 102.1 The Edge Nu Music Nite. With no cover charge and Falconhawk scheduled as the first band of the night, I decided yesterday to shoot down and catch their set. The trio consists of Kara Keith on vocals and keyboards, Dave Alcock on drums and Steve Elaschuk on bass guitar. They've sort of being pegged as a synth-pop band, and although they can sound quite Rentals-ish or 80's synth-pop sounding, the keyboard skills of Ms. Keith are a cut above your average synth-pop keyboardist's skills. Although Kara was playing a keyboard, most of the songs featured a conventional 'piano' sound which convinced me that if they stripped away all the goofy, new-wave aesthetics, what remains are just really good pop songs. Actually, I do hope they maintain a certain level of the goofy, new-wave aesthetics as it was fun to watch Kara in her goofy hat, rocking out on her keyboard. The band has a couple of releases so far: Hotmouth", their debut full-length which was released last year and their newest EP[I'm assuming it's an EP, since it only has 8 songs] "Here's Your Ghost". I purchased both yesterday after chatting with the very friendly Kara after their set; she described the music on "Hotmouth" as "cheeky" and more dancey at times, while expressing that "Here's Your Ghost" was darker, yet poppy, and more cohesive as a whole. You can download some mp3's from both releases over at the band's website. I've sampled both releases since yesterday and I'm definitely liking "Here's Your Ghost" ALOT more, especially the lead off song "Try A Little Longer" which so far is one of my FAVOURITE songs of 2005. I know it's sort of short notice, but they are playing in Hamilton ON tonight at The Casbah. Check out their official website[under 'Particulars] for the rest of their tour dates this month. [Photo credit - Nicola Waugh]

Related links:

They have a MySpace site.

The band's record label is Saved By Radio.

Soulshine wrote about the band's current tour.

Out here listening has a very thorough review of "Hotmouth".

SEE Magazine wrote back in April of this year about the departure that the darker "Here's Your Ghost" took from the debut "Hotmouth"'s "nervous breakdown-wrapped-in-a-dance party".

A reviewer over at Music Emissions didn't like "Here's Your Ghost". He didn't like it after three listens, and concluded his review with the statement "I don't see much in Falconhawk that will appeal to many people." Ahhh, what does he know.
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Oh, yeah Coldplay played at Air Canada Centre in Toronto yesterday. Just Keep Bloggin' and the tear that hangs inside your soul forever were both there. Rock Snob still likes 'em even though she didn't go. I didn't go but I like 'em too.

Vancouver's The Organ are interviewed by UK online mag The Beat Surrender.

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