Basia Bulat @ Soundscapes, Toronto (February 16, 2010)

  Basia Bulat: photo by Michael Ligon

Having treated fans to an apparently well-enjoyed show at the venerable Trinity St. Paul Church in Toronto back in mid-January, one probably wouldn't have expected London, Ontario singer-songwriter Basia Bulat to be back in these parts so soon. However, with a recently released new album "Heart Of My Own"[it's album cover, one of the loveliest things I've seen in a long time] to promote, I guess it wouldn't hurt to give fans another opportunity to see her live. Last Tuesday she played a well-attended instore at Soundscapes in Toronto. Most everyone sat on the ground which I'm grateful happened since I now had an unobstructed view and on a humourous note Basia said it reminded her of childhood storytime. Her stories of current though are of love and relationships, and Basia alternating from song to song between acoustic guitar, Autoharp, and a third stringed instrument played on her lap, used her expressive vibrato to communicate those tales. I haven't listened to her new album yet unfortunately but was quite excited to hear her perform "In The Night" from her debut album. She performed the whole set unamplified which made the set especially intimate. Ending the set with an accapella rendition of an old gospel spiritual(with the humourous occurence of her foot-stomping causing a few CD's on the shelves nearby to fall before she restarted the song by clapping and stomping her foot softer), I'd forgotten how wonderful musically as well as charming she is.

It's Not The Band I Hate, It's Their Fans has a rundown of the set as well as some photos from closer up. Another fan perspective of the instore from James Hong Conjecture who says her next show in Toronto will be in June.

Photos: Basia Bulat @ Soundscapes, Toronto (February 16, 2010)
MySpace: Basia Bulat
Video: Basia Bulat live @ Soundscapes, Toronto, February 16 2010 (highlights)

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ps. My review of the Mumford & Sons show at Lee's Palace on February 15, 2010 is now up. I'm now all caught up with all my show reviews from the past few weeks. Hopefully, I'll stay on track and post more timely. Hope is the key word.

Record Store Day

On a glorious sunny day yesterday, I 'celebrated' Record Store Day down at Soundscapes who were offering 10 % off most of their inventory. Going a little old school & new school, after a little deliberation I picked up The Modern Lovers' self-titled 1976 released album and British Sea Power's most recent disc "Do You Like Rock Music?".

British Sea Power will make their way back to Toronto for a show at Lee's Palace on May 16 while The Modern Lovers' Jonathan Richman only has a handful of US/Canadian dates on his itinerary(including a date at the Sled Island Festival in Calgary at the end of June) but unfortunately none in Toronto. The last time he played in Toronto he played three nights at Lula Lounge in 2004, one of the nights which I went to, so it's not like he's adverse to playing here I guess. C'mon Jojo, put Toronto on the sched.

Youtube: The Modern Lovers - "Roadrunner"
Youtube: British Sea Power - "Waving Flags" (music video)
Youtube: British Sea Power - "No Lucifer" (music video)

ps. Speaking of Soundscapes, Toronto's Born Ruffians will be performing for an instore on Sunday April 27 at 4 pm.

Happiness

In case you hadn't already caught the info over at Chromewaves, and since I was going to post it anyway, Criminal Records isn't about to let Soundscapes have all the in-store fun this week. Criminal Records will be hosting some instores of their own including The Burning Hell and Jenny Omnichord on March 6, Plants and Animals and Winter Gloves on March 7 and then March 8 which will feature Calm Down It's Monday (feat Julie Doiron & Fred Squire), Julie Doiron (solo), The Superfantastics and Dog Day. Check out the set times for all three days over at Stille Post.

And just when you thought Soundscapes didn't have any more instore left in them they announce that Bon Iver will be there for an intimate performance on March 5 at 4 pm.

If gawking is your thing several CMW attendees will be dropping into the Edge 102.1 FM studios(228 Yonge St.) - Sloan drop in March 4 at 4:20 pm, Danko Jones are there March 6 at 3:20 pm, and Jason Collett drops by March 6 at 6:15 pm. Sloan headline the Murderecords re-launch showcase at Supermarket on March 6 at 12:20 am(good luck in getting in to this one; I wouldn't hold my breath). Jason Collett is at Lee's Palace on March 6 at 11 pm. Danko Jones are at the Horseshoe Tavern on March 7 at 12:10 am.

The first mp3 from the upcoming Tokyo Police Club debut full length, "Elephant Shell"(out on Saddle Creek on April 22nd) is out there now. The band are at the Fairmont Royal York on March 8 as part of Canadian Music Week's The Indies awards show:

MP3: Tokyo Police Club - "In A Cave"

Stereogum has the new Immaculate Machine music video for their song "Dear Confessor". Immaculate Machine open the Chart CMW showcase at the Horseshoe Tavern on March 6 at 8:30 pm.

Apostle of Hustle aren't at this year's CMW, but they do have a new remix of one of their songs. Jim Eno of Spoon remixed "Chances Are" which you can download here.

Shelby Lynne brings her Dusty Springfield tribute to The Mod Club on March 31, tickets $20.00. Her Dustry Springfield tribute album "Just A Little Lovin'" is in stores now, some of which you can hear over at her MySpace.

Buck 65, Cadence Weapon, and Skratch Bastid are at Danforth Music Hall on April 25. Cadence Weapon's new album "Afterparty Babies" is out on ANTI- right now.

Texans' Eisley at at Lee's Palace on April 29 promoting their newest disc "Combinations".

According to Bookie, look out for Rilo Kiley to return to Toronto in late May.

Danish singer-songwriter and sometime Zero 7 vocalist Tina Dico will be back in Toronto at The Courthouse on May 12 promoting her most recent album "Count To Ten". Joining her will be UK singer songwriter Teitur his newest album "The Singer" which was released in Scandinavia last month and hits the rest of the world in March/April(well that's what the artist's website says).

I'm still waiting for Goldfrapp's return to these shores but in the meantime I recommend picking up their latest CD "Seventh Tree" out on Mute. The deluxe edition is one the most beautiful packages I've seen in a while and I'm enjoying it a lot these days. It has elements of the lush pop-tronica of "Felt Mountain" but it's not necessarily a return to that sound. In many ways it's a lot more direct and pop-oriented. Not to say it's simplistic, but the album's combination of acoustic and electronic elements feels a lot more organic and it has some of the prettiest melodies. "A&E", the album's lead off single is the most radio-friendly of their's I've heard so far and it's bound to annoy some Goldfrapp fans but I'm not one of them. Goldfrapp performed "Happiness"(my favourite song off the new album!) for BBC's Jonathan Ross over the weekend(via The Music Slut):

Video: Goldfrapp - "Happiness" (live on BBC Jonathan Ross program - March 2008)

Nicole Atkins performed three songs live("Maybe Tonight," "The Way It Is," and "Together We're Alone") for MPR The Current on February 26, 2008.

BlogTo readers voted for their favourite Toronto live music venues. Definitely can't complain with #'s 1(Horsehoe) and 2(Lee's Palace), although if it were me it should be the other way around.