Favourite Concerts of 2008

Here are my favourite of shows of the year in sequential order. For ease sake, I've chose to quote portions of my original reviews for each show. There were a few shows I hadn't originally wrote up reviews for (not at all an indication of the worthiness of the show but rather just a matter of writer' block/laziness), so I've provided some commentary for those shows. It seems my concert-going has gone down even compare to three years ago but I'm striving for quality over quantity and I'm trying not to wear myself too thin. Let's see what 2009 brings.

Lightspeed Champion @ Horseshoe Tavern (Mar 4, 2008) (original review)
"Nary a lap-steel in sight(as I'd heard on a song or two from his debut album "Falling Off The Lavender Bridge", Dev brought his songs to life(playing a set without a set list) with his solid but respectable guitar work, the complimentary violin arrangements of violinist Mike Siddell(played with the similar casual sonics of say Final Fantasy) and Dev's melodic vocals. Stripped down to the duo, the music was less pastoral/folk-rock from what I'd heard from the album and had a much more raw feel to it. The whole set musically was sublime."

My Morning Jacket @ Berkeley Church (Mar 31, 2008) (original review)
"With the stage drenched in hues of blue and green and probably many other colours, the band was most dynamic during their anthemic rock numbers, at one point vocalist Jim James covering his sweat-soaked head in what seemed to be a towel or t-shirt as he continued to sing to the audience with blissful passion. The band were also adept at performing quieter, desolate numbers and the ironic thing is that, given now that I was finally able to see the band, I almost felt like closing my eyes and soaking it all in."

Jens Lekman, Final Fantasy, Katie Stelmanis @ The Great Hall (Apr 8, 2008) (original review)
"Unfortunately the show didn't meet the blissful levels of his last show at The Music Gallery in 2005, but considering the almost 3-year gap between shows, I'll consider myself fortunate for seeing him at all."

British Sea Power @ Lee's Palace (May 16, 2008) (original review)
"Energy spent by the end of the more than hour long set and drenched in sweat, Hamilton and the band continued their tradition of no encores, and left the stage with the audience wanting more although thoroughly satisfied with what we'd already got. Overall, their set ranks as one of the most exhilirating I've seen this year."

R.E.M. @ Molson Ampitheatre (Jun 8, 2008) (original review)
"It may have been somewhat egoistic for R.E.M. to devote much of their set this past Saturday to tunes off their most recent album "Accelerate" and latter-era obscure album tracks. On the other hand such confidence did pay off as some (well actually a lot of) the newer material had its moments, resonating with a melodicism and energy that's on par with R.E.M.'s decent songs."

The Hidden Cameras @ Pride Toronto (Jun 28, 2008) (original blog post)
Ok, I didn't review this show but I'll just say that when The Hidden Cameras make a sort of homecoming during Pride Toronto you know the show's going to bristle with energy. Rather than their vocal choir decked out in prep school garb as I'd seen them in a past performance, this time the choir adorned themselves in golden sheets looking like ghosts. Yes, I believe Berlin has had an influence on the group.

Steve Earle, Allison Moorer @ Gage Park [Hamilton,ON] (Aug 08, 2008) (original review)
"Continuing the evening's lineup of great solo performances, a gruff, bearded Steve Earle took the stage to an enthusiastic response. I'm not really up on my Steve Earle but he seemed to play a mix of his country-rockers, love songs, experimental folk-beat tunes(including a DJ to provide the beats) and some political stuff. Steve had an arsenal of guitars, plus a banjo and mandolin which he continued to switch between throughout the evening. The crowd at this point had swelled to fill the festival grounds in front of the stage and with the family crowd onhand it didn't hold back Steve from throwing out a 'fuck' when he needed to..."

Silver Jews @ Lee's Palace (Sep 2, 2008) (original blog post)
This is another show I didn't get around to reviewing, but believe me it was one of the best shows I'd seen all year, which is saying something for a Silver Jews newbie such as myself. Silver Jews's David Berman is one of the most idiosyncratic artists I've seen live, with a stage persona that's a crosspoint between a lounge singer and a poet. He was quite beloved by his fans in the audience to a point that I deeply regretted not being more familiar with his music as they were, although my ignorance didn't prevent me from enjoying his tuneful, storytelling songs.

Goldfrapp @ Danforth Music Hall (Sep 14, 2008) (original review)
"Musically, I loved every song in the set, though perhaps too painstakingly did they reproduce the studio versions in this live setting. It didn't matter much with the audience who were rapturous(especially this one girl who took it upon herself to dance alone) with every song performed, especially so when 'Ooh La La' was performed, prompting the entire audience including myself to finally get out of our seats and dance."

My Bloody Valentine @ Kool Haus (Sep 25, 2008) (original review)
"As last remnants of the feedback subsided and the house lights came on, there was a jubilation in the faces over everyone around me, including myself. It felt like I'd gone to war, won, and was going home in one piece."

Neil Young @ Air Canada Centre (Dec 4, 2008) (original review)
"I'm reminded of a day back in my youth(man, do I feel old) when my family and I were at the Canadian National Exhibition and I could hear Bruce Springsteen playing live from within Exhibition Stadium, the enormity of the experience as The Boss' vocals echoed through the grounds, but on the other hand the music was deeply invigorating and personal. Really, that was exactly the same experience I had seeing(for the first time) Neil Young play live and one I won't soon forget."

Love Is All @ Horseshoe Tavern (Dec 11, 2008) (original review)
"As loose and carefree as they sound on record, there was an even more ramshackle quality to their live set as pixie-ish vocalist Josephine Olausson's child-like vocal exhuberance collided with shout-out backup vocals, elastic guitar arrangements, rubbery bass lines, urgent drumming, scintillating keyboards, and skronky saxophone. It was sometimes a bit too ramshackle at times, arrangements maybe even a little bit off beat, and I sometimes missed the precision of the guitar arrangements I'd heard on record, but overall I couldn't deny the thrillingness of their live performance."
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:
The Show I Wish I'd Been At In Person:

Portishead @ Coachella (April 26, 2008)
I remember watching their set live on-line and feeling so connected to the music even as I sat thousands of kilometres away. I even wrote a blog post about it. It was that good. As Adrian Utley mentioned to the BBC back in July, they had no more plans for touring in 2008 and were focusing their efforts on preparing for a new album. As to what the status of the new recordings remains to be seen, but I can only cross my fingers that they'll bring their next tour jaunt to Toronto.

Favourite Albums of 2008

I didn't actually purchase nor listen to many albums released in 2008 so making a 'best-of' list seemed a little silly. However, everyone's done it so I thought I'd throw my fave albums of the year list out there for everybody to gawk at. It seems that I was listening to more older music than current this year - I can't count the number of times that I'd listened(on my iPod or Zune) to Love Is All's "Nine Times That Same Song", Echo and The Bunnymen's "Ocean Rain", Morrissey's "Your Arsenal", Jesus and Mary Chain's "Psychocandy" and "Darklands". When I wasn't listening to this music, I was probably scooping up the recent New Order and Pavement reissues, or JAMC boxset. Though nostalgia's partially to blame for my lack of attention towards 2008-released albums, I'm also trying to hold myself back (as well as save a few dollars) from accumulating more music than I really know what to do with [I'm in the midst of a purge of CD's that for the moment have gone in to purgatory storage]. What follows are those albums released in 2008 which bore repeat listens for me:

Goldfrapp - Seventh Tree (Mute)

MySpace: Goldfrapp
Video: Goldfrapp - "Happiness" (music video)
Video: Goldfrapp - "A&E" (music video)




Grand Archives - Grand Archives (Sub Pop)

MySpace: Grand Archives
Video: Grand Archives - "Torn Blue Foam Couch" (live on Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson)




Sons and Daughters - This Gift (Domino)

MySpace: Sons and Daughters
Video: Sons and Daughters - "Gilt Complex" (music video)
Video: Sons and Daughters - "Darling" (music video)
Video: Sons and Daughters - "This Gift" (music video)




Portishead - Third (Mercury)

MySpace: Portishead
Video: Portishead - "Machine Gun" (music video)
Video: Portishead - "The Rip" (live on Later with Jools Holland - April 18, 2008)




Crystal Stilts - Alight of Night (Slumberland)

MySpace: Crystal Stilts
Video: Crystal Stilts - "Prismatic Room" (music video)




Vivian Girls - Vivian Girls (In The Red)

MySpace: Vivian Girls
Video: Vivian Girls - "Tell The World" (music video)




Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes (Sub Pop)

MySpace: Fleet Foxes
Video: Fleet Foxes - "White Winter Hymnal" (music video)
Video: Fleet Foxes - "White Winter Hymnal" (live on Later with Jools Holland)
Video: Fleet Foxes - "English House" (live on Late Night With Conan O'Brien)




The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age Of The Understatement (Domino)

MySpace: The Last Shadow Puppets
Video: The Last Shadow Puppets - "Standing Next To Me" (music video)
Video: The Last Shadow Puppets - "The Age Of The Understatement" (music video)
Video: The Last Shadow Puppets - "My Mistakes Were Made For You" (music video)
Video: The Last Shadow Puppets - "Meeting Place" (live acoustic @ Avatar Studios, New York City - March 4, 2008)




The Coast - Expatriate (Aporia)

MySpace: The Coast
Video: The Coast - "Killing Off Our Friends" (live on MTV Live)
Video: The Coast - "No Secret Why" (live on MTV Live)




Cadence Weapon - Afterparty Babies (ANTI-)

MySpace: Cadence Weapon
Video: Cadence Weapon - "Real Estate" (music video)




Lightspeed Champion - Falling Off The Lavender Bridge (Domino)

MySpace: Lightspeed Champion
Video: Lightspeed Champion - "Midnight Surprise" (music video)
Video: Lightspeed Champion - "Everyone I Know Is Listening To Crunk (music video)




Love Is All - A Hundred Things Keep Me Up At Night (What's Your Rupture?)

MySpace: Love Is All
Video: Love Is All - "Wishing Well" (music video)
Video: Love Is All - "Wishing Well" (live on HandHeld Shows, Majorstua Subwaystation, Oslo 2008)



Albums I wish I spent more time with:

Bloc Party - "Intimacy"
British Sea Power - "Do You Like Rock Music?"
Jenny Lewis - "Acid Tongue"
Stereolab - "Chemical Chords"
Beck - "Modern Guilt" (ok, I just bought this on Boxing Day)

Albums I bought (and haven't even opened):

Sigur Ros - "Meo Suo I Eyrum Vio Spilum End"
The Hold Steady - "Stay Positive"
Wolf Parade - "At Mount Zoomer"

And So This Is Christmas

Looking for some last minute presents for that indie music fan? Here's some great deals that you should be able to find at your local HMV, Futureshop and or Sunrise Records stores. I guess this only applies to Canadians and or Southern Ontarians (sorry to the rest of you). I'd be more giddy if I didn't already have most of these:

Pavement - "Brighten The Corners" deluxe reissue - $18.99 @ HMV


New Order - "Movement", "Power, Corruption and Lies", "Brotherhood", "Low Life", "Technique" deluxe reissues - $19.99 each @ HMV


New Order - "Live In Glasgow" DVD - $16.99 @ Futureshop [might only be able to find quantities at some locations]


Belle and Sebastian - "BBC Sessions" (2-disc edition) - $19.99 @ HMV


Belle and Sebastian - "Dear Catastrophe Waitress", "Tigermilk", "Fold Your Hands Child You Walk Like A Peasant", "The Life Pursuit", "If Youre Feeling Sinister, Push Barman To Open Old Wounds : 2cd" - 2 for $25 @ HMV


Fleet Foxes - "Fleet Foxes" - $10 @ HMV


Bloc Party - "Intimacy" - $10 @ HMV


Jenny Lewis - "Acid Tongue" - $10 @ HMV


The Dears - "Missiles" - $10 @ HMV


Feist - "The Reminder" (2 disc edition) - $14.99 @ Sunrise Records



I'm off from work starting today until January 2 but I'll probably be posting sparingly - a best-of 2008, some other randomness perhaps, mayeb turn this into a photo blog for the next week and a half - but otherwise everyone please have a safe and happy holiday. Merry Christmas!

Here's Ms. Darlene Love performing her classic holiday track on Late Show With David Letterman yesterday night:

Video: Darlene Love - "Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)" (live on Letterman, 23-12-2008)

The NewMusic

With Christmas shopping, snow-mageddon and other various things on my mind, I totally missed the news that the long-running television program The NewMusic got cancelled recently. An article in the recent issue of Eye Weekly discusses the evolution of our "Nation's Music Station" Muchmusic, whose direction seems to be a shift from actual music to pop cultural programming, and in it's wake it seems The NewMusic got the axe. I hardly remember The NewMusic prior to '96 (although I know I watched it), but from 96' and onward I watched it fairly regulary except over the last few years as life got busier. As I expressed over at Stillepost, from '96 and onward with hosts Avi Lewis, Byron Wong, George Stroumboulopoulos, Hannah Sung and Hannah Simone, it was of consistently good quality in my opinion. Yes over the last few years they may have interviewed an inordinate amount of Emo bands but hey, who am I to be a music snob. As someone who doesn't choose to watch MuchMusic very much nowadays, it was cool to have The NewMusic as one of the last bastions of the old days of MuchMusic and something that was informative and entertaining to watch within the sea of dreck that MuchMusic is nowadays (although kiddies, I'm sure you'll grow up and realize the err of your youth musical tastes). Sorry to see The NewMusic go. Let's hope The Wedge and Going Coastal stick around.

I'm surprised I haven't read anyone mention this but, the Canadian Music Week website has a list of the artists so far confirmed for the festival taking place March 12-14/09.

I've decided to round up some of the recent concert announcments just for the record (though Chromewaves has mentioned many of these during the past week or so if you've been keeping up with him):

Don't call them The Jayhawks, just call them by their first names, Gary Louris and Mark Olson who'll be coming to The Mod Club for a show on February 4/09. The duo will be releasing an album "Ready For The Flood" in January 2009 according to their MySpace.

Jenn Grant (who was here recently supporting Danny Michel for some local dates) returns with new album "Echoes" in the new year and has also recently announced a string of CD release shows, included a date in Toronto at The Mod club on February 12. Apparently it's an early show. Via Six Shooter Records

Ben Folds will come to town for a show at Kool Haus on February 17/09 and has also announced recently on his MySpace that they're giving away a 2-disc set entitled "Way To Normal: Stems and Seeds" to all current members of his fanclub and anyone who joins the fan club before Feb 15th. Check out the MySpace link above for more details.

Sub Pop's country-folk rockers Blitzen Trapper return to Toronto for a show at Horseshoe Tavern on February 21/09 with openers Alela Diane. Via Sub Pop

Detroit garage rock outfit The Von Bondies will come to town for a show at the Horseshoe on February 20. Their new record "Love, Hate, and Then There's You" is out February 3/09.

Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit and Deer Tick will be at Horseshoe Tavern on March 4/09. Jason's new album is out February 17/09.

New Pornographer frontman A.C. Newman takes his solo project on the road with a stop at Lee's Palace on March 11/09. His 2nd solo album, "Get Guilty" hits the street on January 20/09.

There are return trips to Toronto for Bloc Party who'll play Kool Haus on March 14/09 while Eagles of Death Metal (who were just here recently for a show at The Mod Club) will play the larger Phoenix Concert Theatre on February 20.

I don't remember if/when UK's Primal Scream played Toronto so perhaps that should be enough motivation to check them out when they come to town for a show at the Phoenix on March 24/09.

A new album (as yet untitled, and no official release date confirmed) from Depeche Mode will come this spring, while NME reports that U2 will do the same when they release their new album 'No Line On The Horizon' on March 2/09.

Fleet Foxes performed on Late Night With Conan O'Brien a few days ago. Check it out.

Make Out Fall Out Make Up

concert review: Love Is All, Crystal Stilts, Tropics @ Horseshoe Tavern (Toronto, Ontario) - December 11, 2008

Josephine Olausson of Love Is All @ Horseshoe Tavern: photo by Michael Ligon


One of the better indie bills this year took over the Horseshoe Tavern last Thursday night, and while it was chillly outside, by the time Swedish headliners Love Is All hit the stage, the nearly packed crowded were heating things up inside. About 20 minutes off their 9 pm set time, Toronto guitar/drums duo took the stage and quickly dove into their off-kilter punkabilly, concoctions. Vocalist Slim Twig's sing-speak took a backseat for the most part to the instrumentation which felt almost like a battle between who could create the most intensity - Simone TB with her thoroughly propulsive and succinct drumming or Slim Twig with his incendiary electric guitar riffing and arrangements. They're in general a lot less accessible than other guitar/drums duos such as The White Stripes, a little more art punk, but overall were interesting to me in doses.

Brooklyn's Crystal Stilts have been getting some rotation in my CD player and as their debut album "Alight The Night" evokes the strong spirit of The Velvet Underground, their live set only did more to further that comparison. Lone female member Frankie Thomas took on the role of VU drummer Moe Tucker manning the bare bones drumkit which was but two drums, with no cymbals although I believe a tambourine was attached to one drum. Like VU, Crystal Stilts minimal stage presence (coupled with lead vocalists almost comatose vocals) could either be perceived as an exudation of cool or just disappointed boring. My perception is somewhat in the middle but only because the invigorating reverb-drenched melodies were enough IMO to keep the songs from sinking and enough of a distraction to keep me focused on the music rather than the band on stage.

As I'd expressed a few months ago, Love Is All's debut album "Nine Times That Same Song" which I picked up this past summer became my most listened to if not my favourite album this year and a little regret does eat at me that I hadn't known about the band and the album back in 2006 when the album came out and during that year when the band had passed through town at least a couple of times. 2008 brought the Swedes back to Toronto on the heels of their sophomore album "A Hundred Things Keep Me Up At Night". I hadn't listened to the new album save for a song or two prior to the show last Thursday, but it seems as if the band have continued their stream of spastic, skronky pop music. As loose and carefree as they sound on record, there was an even more ramshackle quality to their live set as pixie-ish vocalist Josephine Olausson's child-like vocal exhuberance collided with shout-out backup vocals, elastic guitar arrangements, rubbery bass lines, urgent drumming, scintillating keyboards, and skronky saxophone. It was sometimes a bit too ramshackle at times, arrangements maybe even a little bit off beat, and I sometimes missed the precision of the guitar arrangements I'd heard on record, but overall I couldn't deny the thrillingness of their live performance.

The set list was a mix of songs between the first and second albums with a cover of Flock of Seagulls' "I Ran" thrown in for good measure. They best hit the mark(for me at least) on first album rave-ups like "Talk, Talk, Talk", "Busy Doing Nothing" and perhaps the best moment of the night on "Make Out Fall Out Make Up" as the coda of the song had vocalist Josephine and the audience (or at least some of them) chanting the title phrase with glee. But really there was nothing better to look at than petite vocalist Josephine Olausson breaking all expectations as what one might have perceived as a modest demeanour in Josephine suddenly chang as Josephine shifted into her frontperson role with purpose, grasping her mic, walking around the stage, assaulting her keyboards and playing the meanest cowbell you ever did have the pleasure of witnessing. Please come back soon.

Photos: Love Is All, Crystal Stilts, Tropics @ Horseshoe Tavern (Toronto, Ontario) - December 11, 2008

MySpace: Tropics
MySpace: Crystal Stilts
MySpace: Love Is All

Shattered Shine

Crystal Stilts (photo credit: Lauren Bilanko)
It's obviously Sweden's Love Is All's night at the Horseshoe Tavern tonight but I do strongly encourage attendees to get there for Brooklyn's Crystal Stilts' set. With the release of their debut full-length "Alight of Night" freshly released through Slumberland Records (though some of the songs have been kicking around for a bit, having been released independently earlier this year on their self-titled EP), the band delivers a hazey, reverb-drenched album of both major and minor chord pop songs. My first impressions garner comparisons to obvious influences like The Velvet Underground with a hint of The Jesus and Mary Chain, while lead vocalist sounds like a more woozy take on The Magnetic Fields' Stephen Merritt's debonair baritone at times with a little deadpannedness of Joy Division 's Ian Curtis, siphoned through a haze of reverb. The minimalist rock n' roll instrumentation of The Velvet Underground is a large part of the sound, and depending on one's appreciation for such aesthetics(which I do), that'd probably determine whether you'd like Crystal Stilts. Yes, they do at times have strong melodies, but other times they're less obvious and buried beneath the din or more simplistic to the point I wondered whether the band could pull off some of these songs acoustically. The answer to that question I would say would be 'no', the biggest culprit perhaps being "Verdant Gaze" that seems to plod a long with without any discernible melody. At their best, as on "Shattered Shine" they most obviously adhere to my comparisons to Stephen Merritt and The Velvet Underground though with an added touch of the most gloriously melodic ringing guitar arrangement guiding the song along. The overall strength of the album lays in the band's ability to maintain a consistent sound but apply variations in instrumentation and music genres to keep things interesting. There's the minor-key garage stomp of "Bright Night", the JAMC surf stomp of "Crystal Stilts", the poppy, organ-ified "Prismatic Room", the noir-country twang of "Graveyard Orbit", the cinematic 60's-ish pop sounding "Spiral Thought"(a garage-y take on The Last Shadow Puppets IMO) and the sun-kissed Beach Boys pop of album closer "The City In The Sea". Thoroughly entertaining.

Myspace: Crystal Stilts
Video: Crystal Stilts - "Prismatic Room" (music video)

Bell Orchestre have joined the Arts & Crafts roster who will release their sophomore full-length in early 2009, with touring to follow.

Soulstress Bettye Lavette will be at The Diesel Playhouse on June 3, 2009. Update: Commenter Kate C. informs that The Diesel Playhouse is closing so it appears Ms. Lavette will have to look for a new venue.

The Soundscapes staff have posted their best-of lists of 2008.

Herohill posts his fave Canadian EP's of 2008, and I realize I have some catching up to do.

Sara Bareilles will be at Church of the Redeemer on February 28, 2009 according to Pollstar.

Andrew Bird has confirmed a bunch more North American tour dates including a return to Toronto for a show at Queen Elizabeth Theatre on April 3.

As Chartattack and Chromewaves pointed out, The Weakerthans and The Constantines join forces again for their Rolling Tundra Revue cross-Canada tour, with a stop at the Phoenix confirmed for March 31. It seems bets are that it'll probably be moved to a larger venue(or possibly multiple dates at the Phoenix), but if you really want to go I'd suggest buying your tickets right away.

Ragged Glory

concert review: Neil Young, Wilco, Everest @ Air Canada Centre (Toronto, Ontario), December 4, 2008

Neil Young @ Air Canada Centre (December 4, 2008)


The large arena/stadium concert is something I haven't experienced very often in my years of going to shows. I can only two large arena shows I've gone to - The Cult at Skydome in the late 80's(my 1st concert ever), and U2 at Exhibition Stadium during their Zoo TV tour in the early 90's. (I guess you can also count Sloan at Varsity Arena in the mid-90's in promotion of "One Chord To Another" but that was a smaller arena from what I recall.) I guess I was only waiting for the right artist to come along before I'd venture back to hockey arena or stadium for a concert and that artist was Neil Young. Who better else.

Whether there was any sort of egoistic element in picking the openers remains to be proven, but it's hard to deny Neil Young's influence in the music of Californian Americana outfit Everest nor his sonic influence that runs through at least some of the music of Wilco. In the end, both bands were deeply happy to be playing with one of their musical heroes. Although Everest were completely unknown to me except for the fact that their debut album "Ghost Notes" was released earlier this year through Mr. Young's boutique label "Vapor Records, that managed to convince me of their talent wit their lovely, robust folk rock melodies, jammy at times, but completely enjoyable. It's a shame they only played to only a 1/3 full arena. In the excitement of the anticipation of getting to see Neil Young for the first time, it was easy to forget that one of my faves Wilco were also on the bill. My previous times see Wilco were at the much more intimate(and hence better) venue Massey Hall and it was a discombulating experience to see Wilco play an arena with me sitting in the nosebleed section. Of coure there was a little bit of a disconnect, added to the fact that Wilco weren't playing a full set. However with Wilco's setlist leaning towards some of their most soothing songs("Via Chicago", "Jesus, Etc", "California Stars", "Impossible Germany"), in some respect, sitting in the 300 section was an ideal way to experience some of Wilco's loveliest melodies as they wafted through the arena. I don't mean to give you the impression they were slick as say The Eagles(no we don't want that)....guitarist Nels Cline tore up the guitar solos with fiery skill and the sudden noisy collapse of instruments that occured during points in "Via Chicago" (like Neil's excursions into feedback) showed that Wilco have an edgier side to them.

I've had an on and off relationship with Neil Young's music over the last 20 years, my earliest introduction probably being a cover of Neil Young song by another artist but through the years, as a music fan, it was almost impossible to ignore his influence on popular culture nor let his songs seep into my musical concsciousness. Whether as a forebearer of grunge and alternative music (going so far as to tour with the likes of Sonic Youth and Pearl Jam in the 1990's), or bringing his acoustic folk to a new generation with his appearance on MTV's Unplugged, or bridging the gap between music fans(particularly youth) and noteworthy social or political issues with his songwriting and involvement with causes like The Bridge School and Farm Aid, his influence is far-reaching. But now seems like the time where Neil has nothing else to prove and he feels comfortable looking back his career as his two shows at the Air Canada Centre last week (the first of which I attended) in Toronto showed him to be.

With his wife peggy and his Electric Band, the Mr. Young played a setlist stacked with many of his most well known songs, coming off like a rough and tumble aging rocker who hasn't lost an ounce of grit since his younger days. Though all my previous times at the Air Canda Centre have been for Raptors games, and in better seats, it wasn't until I ventured to my seat in the 300 section, row 16 (practically near the ceiling), that I realized how large Air Canada Centre is. Looking down upon the mass of people that had filled the venue for Neil, when Neil and company finally filed onto the stage, it was a jubilant response that greeted them, not only as a sign of respect but also of appreciation for his contribution to popular music over the years. Granted there was almost no possibility of the 300 section feeling the electricity that the crowd on the floor must have been feeling during Neil's set, but a few rounds of handclapping and pockets of people standing at times kept the spirits up in the nosebleed sections. Taking the 'greatest hits'(with a few detours) approach he touched on various aspects of his career playing electric ("Powderfinger', "Hey Hey My My", "Cortez The Killer")), acoustic ("The Needle And The Damage Done") and almost bordering on accappella(if not for the sombre pipe organ accompaniement) with a serene reading of "Mother Earth"(off of "Ragged Glory"). I'm reminded of a day back in my youth(man, do I feel old) when my family and I were at the Canadian National Exhibition and I could hear Bruce Springsteen playing live from within Exhibition Stadium, the enormity of the experience as The Boss' vocals echoed through the grounds, but on the other hand the music was deeply invigorating and personal. Really, that was exactly the same experience I had seeing(for the first time) Neil Young play live and one I won't soon forget.

Photos: Neil Young, Wilco, Everest @ Air Canada Centre (December 4, 2008)

MySpace: Everest
MySpace: Wilco
MySpace: Neil Young

Heavy Hands

As The Diableros mentioned over at their MySpace the other day, they've recorded a few demos 'motown-style' (ie. live-off-the-floor, 1 mic for the drums, 1 mic for all the other instruments, with the vocals added later) which they've made available for listening on their MySpace - the songs are entitled 'When The Water Rises' and 'Heavy Hands', the latter of which is available for download currently at their official website. The band play a show at The Boat on December 19. Both are great tracks btw, full of ringing guitars and invigorating melodies - and is that a baritone sax during 'Heavy Hands' I hear? [photo by Holly Thomas]

Merry Christmas from Vice Records and The Raveonettes with a reverb drenched bit of holiday melancholy(and if you're thinking of including the song on your next Christmas mix playlist, you may want to clip the Vice advert at the end of the song):

MP3: The Raveonettes - "Come On Santa"

Muchmusic MuchOnDemand's Tim Deegan interviewed Franz Ferdinand (well two of 'em anyway) while they were in town, the guys speaking about the record 'Tonight' and having wanted to make a dance record, but in a different way.

NME brings news that Two-Tone Ska revivalists The Specials will reunite in 2009 to celebrate their 30th anniversary, though for the moment with gigs scheduled only for the UK.

Muchmusic Blog reports that Quebec outfit Malajube will release their new album "Labyrinthes", on February 10, 2009.

The new Neko Case album entitled "Middle Cyclone" is out March 3, 2009 through ANTI-. ANTI- has the tracklisting up and Pitchfork has the kick-ass cover art.

Ohbijou's Casey Mecija posts over at the band's MySpace about the air getting colder, the band's road weary travels over the last few months with The Acorn, and planning over the next couple of months on rehearsing, writing and recording their new album entitled "Beacons" which they plan on releasing in April 2009.

The January/09 schedule for Wavelength at Sneaky Dee's is now up at Stille Post.

Brooklyn's Bishop Allen will bring their chirpy indie pop to the El Mocambo on January 17, tickets $10.

Sugar Mountain

On the heels of their recently released "Another World" EP, and leading up to the new album "The Crying Light in 2009", Antony and The Johnsons are touring and will make a stop in Toronto for an all-ages show at The Queen Elizabeth Theatre on February 17 of '09. Tickets onsale Dec 4th at 10 a.m. for $35.00. There's a Facebook page you can join to keep updated about the show. [via Stille Post & rootmeansquare]

Via Emerge comes new that the December 15 show at The Opera House with CSS and Ssion has been cancelled. Tickets can be refunded at point of purchase.

January 23 of the new year will bring to the Horseshoe a bill with Fembots and Harbourcoats ( a new project apparently by Bry Webb of The Constantines), tickets $8.00.

Franz Ferdinand will be playing a special all-ages show at The Masonic Temple on Friday, December 5 at 3:30 PM and the only way to get tickets is through 102.1 The Edge, so break your no-Edge listening habits just this one time. And if you by chance do win tickets, think of an excuse to get out of work. More details about the show here.

I caught the opening of the Cavalcade of Lights [photos] down at Nathan Phillips Square over the weekend and as Mayor David Miller expressed, each Saturday in December (up til the 20th) Nathan Phillips Square will feature free fireworks, a Skating Party with DJ, and concerts with a few of the highlights (well for some of you) being Dragonette on December 13 and Serena Ryder on December 20. Concerts start around 7 pm each night. Info here.

Gawk at Pitchfork's 2008 Reader's Poll. I tried yesterday, but it wasn't loading for me. I'll try again today - I'm sure it'll be entertaining. Perhaps, I shouldn't have assumed that Pitchfork's Readers' Poll was actually up....no they're just requesting readers take part in the poll. So go make yourself feel important and participate. I'd have hope for sarcastic commentary from readers but alas, at least according to the first question in the survey, a commentary dialog box isn't provided.

Out today, the CD/DVD release of Neil Young's "Sugar Mountain - Live at Canterbury House 1968". Yay!