Shanies: Concert of the Year

Another day, another award... today going out to the greatest live performance of the year. Almost without question, we knew this award was going to go to someone who played the Bovine, it's just always a question of who rocked that dirty little hole the hardest.

While I saw a LOT of shows at the Bovine this year, there was one band that stood ahead of the pack (ok, with Public Animal nipping at their heels). That band would be Moncton's disciples of rock, The Motorleague. I'm actually ashamed to say that for a band I've been following for almost 4 years, this was my first chance to see them live.

It was a Monday, and while the place wasn't dead... it was still a Monday. That said, for the ~25 people the braved the school night to worship our sonic overlords, The Motorleague played a show as though they were playing a sold out crowd at the ACC. It was in that set that I realized what makes a truly amazing live band: those who play for themselves first, regardless of who or how many are watching. It was 4 friends singing to each other and having fun on stage... everyone else was just allowed to watch if they please. They ripped through a perfect and aggressive set of tracks from both their debut, Black Noise, as well as their 2013 release, Acknowledge, Acknowledge.

But perhaps most noteworthy was how genuine and down to earth these Atlantic rockers were. After meeting a couple of the boys from the 'ol TO punk band Careers in Science, I was introduced to and spent the better part of an hour in hilarious banter with Motorleague frontman Don Levandier. To him, this was just another night on the road to meet new faces, smile at them, and then melt them with some of the best rock n roll Canada has to offer.

In short, next time these boys are in town, don't miss it.



-Use these waking hours to suck the life out of this world and swallow it whole.

April Shananigans: Losing Meaning

Everything you're breathing for gonna let you down and leave you sore.



-Trying hard not to try so hard

Shanies: Concert of the Year

Always a tricky award as so many factors can go into making the perfect night, the concert of the year is typically awarded to the show from the past 12 months that absolutely blew my mind. Some years, I have highlighted the epic glory of an entire night and others I have locked in on one specific set that left me grinning ear to ear.

While the entire night was a blast when I stepped into Adelaide Hall for the first time back in November, this year, it's one band alone who's making off with the prize. Few things are better in my world that stumbling upon an amazing new band and to do so in a live setting is the cherry on top. Thus, when I was introduced to the opening line from Alert the Medic, I knew I had stumbled across something special.

In the unfamiliar (but fucking awesome) surroundings of Adelaide Hall, I watched as the quartet of Nova Scotians ripped through high-energy song after song. Polished, harmonic, playful and emotive, one could see the markings of a band who had spent some time in front of the monitors. A reluctant crowd who, like me, probably didn't know much of this band began as arm-crossed skeptics, however was won over by AtM's infectiously catchy, upbeat and fun tracks. By the end of their set, the whole place couldn't help but bounce and sway at least a bit to some of the more well-written live tunes I've ever heard.

Add these boys to my list of must-sees.



-Calm your head to the wind of tomorrow

Pimping Live

I've been to an embarrassing number of shows this year... I'll chalk it up to being exceptionally busy with work and on the road more than 50% of the time. That said, I always have to thank my close friends for smacking me around a bit and dragging me out to shows, since I know I'll always love them (even if the morning after mild ear-ringing and hangover combination makes work a bit of a bitch).

So thank you Steve, for taking me to see an old haunt, The Deer Hunter, at Mod Club last night. Possibly one of the hardest working prog brains in the biz, Casey Crescenzo (yes, that is his real name) has produced an ungodly amount of music since forming DH in 2005. Granted, it all averages out to about a full length per year (which is already impressive) but add to that the complexity and intricacy with which their songs are crafted and scored and you can imagine that this band does little else than eat, sleep and write.

That said, their live set didn't suffer, so they must spend any leftover moments touring. The band played for roughly two and a half hours and wove a set through a massive variety of rockers, ballads, trippy ambience and everything in between. What I respected the most is that even amidst a drunk, dumbass TO crowd calling out song names, the band stuck to their guns and stated that this was the set "they crafted for and wanted to play for us."

And I liked the set they played for me, not only because they played my favourite DH song.

-I ain't gonna stop till the feeling is wrong, got me sewn up tight and afraid no more

Shanies: Concert of the Year

2012 was an absolute wrecking ball of a year in terms of live shows. I dropped a ridiculous amount of money on tickets and saw even more shows for free through playing a ton with the Rogues before we split. This was the year that solidified Toronto as one of the best music scenes I've ever experienced. We still need to work on surgically removing the pole from most audience member's asses, however, in terms of the line ups and the venues in this city, she can't be beat.

NXNE is always a fun time, partially for the ability to putz around downtown TO, peeking into random bars and stumbling across interesting new bands.  However, this past year, I went against tradition on a Saturday night and parked myself at the Bovine for what I can now definitively state was one of the best shows of my life, surpassing a 2007 Pop Montreal line-up that I thought would never be toppled. This show also helped push the Bovine past the Hideout as my favourite TO venue (the upgraded sound system & new layout this year made all the difference).

The line-up was unquestionably a huge element of the incredible night, piecing together some of my favourite local bands (Romeo Liquor Store, Organ Thieves, The Mercy Now, Little Foot Long Foot & Flash Lightnin'). Add in a dash of some of my favourite friends in the world, a healthy dose of beer and a Toronto crowd that was stacked with people wanting to let loose and have some fun... and we've got a party. The night would be the first time I saw Romeo (a band I'd been tracking for 3 or 4 years) live, the last time I would see LFLF play with Caitlin, my introduction to the Organ Thieves, and an always-fun opportunity to see Darren from Flash Lightnin peel paint off the walls as he strutted across the bar.

It was one of those perfect nights, and just like after the 2007 Pop Montreal BSL show, I don't know if I'll ever see anything like it again.

Honourable mention goes to Refused @ Sound Academy - after waiting a decade, it was worth every second of the wait.


-You don't have to love me, but you've got to love this lullaby.

April Shananigans: Tonight!

Rock will be rolled... and that makes me happy. See you at the Velvet Underground, 10pm sharp!

-I'm just a slave to the riff, when it cracks the whip I feel divine.