If you remember the heart-wrenching indie blockbuster that was 2007’s Once, then you probably remember being totally enamored with leading man and Irish singer/songwriter Glen Hansard. Continue reading “Glen Hansard – Drive All Night”
Teenage Kicks – Spoils of Youth
Brothers Peter and Jeff van Helvoort, the only constant members in Toronto’s Teenage Kicks, have taken up arms on the good-guy side of one of the few important wars worth fighting: the one against the death of honest rock ‘n’ roll. Continue reading “Teenage Kicks – Spoils of Youth”
Dex Romweber Duo – Images 13
I’ve always been really confused about why every rockabilly revival act seems to sing songs about being zombies. Continue reading “Dex Romweber Duo – Images 13”
Tales of the Bouncer :: The Pyramid
Righteous Reviews of your Favourite Music Venues
by Jody Hunter
Venue: The Pyramid Cabaret
Location: 176 Fort St. Continue reading “Tales of the Bouncer :: The Pyramid”
Slow Dancers :: Day After Rain finally sees the light
by Shanell Dupras
For Slow Dancers, things have gotten off to a bit of a slow start. Guitarist and songwriter Jesse Hill, bass player Marie-France Hollier, and drummer Cole Woods set up in the studio and recorded their debut full length album, Day After Rain, two years ago, but the album was never officially released. Continue reading “Slow Dancers :: Day After Rain finally sees the light”
Nudie – Remember This
Veteran Canadian country picker and songwriter Nudie returns with a sophomore solo release, Remember This. Nudie is contemporary country music written, recorded and performed as an homage to classic country — think Daniel Romano or Jonny Fritz — and he accomplishes the task admirably. His songwriting is strong throughout the album, the arrangements tasteful and the performances tight. “Sex Kisses” would get the dust up off most honky tonk dance floors. “Pawn Shop” is a clever down and outer, while the title track has all the makings for a tear-in-your-beer ballad. What Remember This lacks, though, is the flash of a spark to ignite the whole package, to burn it into the listener’s memory. Nudie comes dang close with this one, but then again this ain’t horseshoes we’re playing, here. (Independent, nudiemusic.com) Sheldon Birnie Continue reading “Nudie – Remember This”
The Zags :: Just when you think you know who we are…
words & photo by Kaitlyn Emslie Farrell
There’s zigging and zagging and, unfortunately, some people are swagging. When it comes to Taylor Benjamin Burgess, David Skene and Steph “what the fuck” Kolbuck and their band, The Zags, there’s no confusion. Forming in December of 2012, The Zags have been hiding away and only popping up to tease the city every once in awhile. Stylus met up with Taylor and David at a local Tutti Frutti and they told us some stuff. Continue reading “The Zags :: Just when you think you know who we are…”
Hillbilly Highway – Jonathan Byrd, real dang deal
by Sheldon Birnie
“The snow’s like a ghost of cocaine on the highway, it shifts and plays tricks on your mind. The wind is like razors. In only two days, you’ve done 200,000 white lines.” Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Jonathan Byrd, real dang deal”
Kevin Drew – Darlings
The newest solo offering from Broken Social Scene’s de facto ringleader does nothing to dispel the notion that he’s still indie-rock’s biggest heart-on-your-sleeve (and, self-admittedly, failed) romantic. Continue reading “Kevin Drew – Darlings”
Secret Colours – Positive Distractions Parts I & II
Originating from the Windy City of Chicago, Secret Colours are set to release the newest version of their psych-pop sound in the form of a double-EP, Positive Distractions Parts I & II, their third and fourth efforts after 2010’s eponymous debut and 2013’s Peach. Having slimmed down to a four-piece from the sextet that graced the previous two releases, the band looks to put together a “leaner, meaner” sound.
Continue reading “Secret Colours – Positive Distractions Parts I & II”