The early ’90s have often been called the glory days of indie music in Toronto. Sure, one could argue the point, but there is no disputing that it was a unique period, when local indie rock (Lowest of the Low, Rheostatics, Barenaked Ladies) and live music in general flourished. And, one factor in the mix was plucky radio station CFNY 102.1.
Yes, the Eaton Centre’s Christmas tree is more glitzy than traditional this year and, yes, it was annoying when stores started playing Christmas music in November — bah humbug! But in this season of shopping-till-dropping and stuffing our faces, there is refuge from the commercially driven nature of the season; one that encourages everyone to become more communal and more loving towards each other. I’m referring to Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, of course.
Every Monday, we round up the most exciting music news happening in Toronto. In this edition: Arcade Fire is teaming up with LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy, Hayden debuts the lead track from his new upcoming album and Evening Hymns will wrap up their tour at The Music Gallery.
The owners of Parkdale’s The Pinball Cafe have decided to shut down their business in response to city bylaws.
Friday night was the fifth time I had seen Dave Matthews Band live. This makes me little more than a novice next to many DMB diehards, but it did allow me to look past the 15-minute songs, a dynamic lights display and Dave’s mumbling in order to examine some of the smaller details that have made the band so successful in its 20-plus years of touring.
It is a meeting of the minds. Deranged, crass and criminal minds; minds that belong to a group of felons who are convening to discuss a heist that turned sour six years ago. Cultured and respectable as they are — or at least hope to be — they gather for an evening of nyotaimori, the practice of eating sushi off the body of a naked woman.
Since 1998 The Vinyl Cafe Christmas Tour has become pretty much a tradition across Canada. Written and hosted by Stuart McLean, The Vinyl Cafe is a CBC variety radio show featuring funny stories about a second-hand record store owner, Dave, and his family and friends. The tour (and the requisite jukebox) stops in Toronto this weekend, so we chatted with its host about the show’s enduring quality.
For three Saturday evenings beginning this weekend, you can celebrate Christmas like a pioneer at Black Creek Pioneer Village’s Christmas by Lamplight. Wander through the decorated Victorian village along with carolers and Santa himself. You can also indulge in a traditional Christmas dinner as well.
We tag along with Ross Petty as he gears up for his holiday panto
Copywriting student Diana Bailey is fairly new to Toronto’s comedy scene, but she has already appeared on numerous Toronto comedy stages (Yuk Yuk’s, Comedy Bar) and was a finalist at this year’s Toronto Comedy Brawl. We chatted with the young comic about Sailor Moon, sweating and her crazy mom.
The cardinal sin of a reviewer of any kind is to allow your critique to be coloured by pre-conceived notions and pre-established biases of past performances. It was a sin of which I was nearly guilty as I embarked upon my review of Leonard Cohen’s first of two near-sold out ACC shows on Tuesday night.
The legitimacy of Santa Claus has always been in question. Say what you will about the man in the red suit, but there is something special about believing in the intangible, and no other film provides a better platform for being pro-Santa Claus than Miracle on 34th Street. The classic Christmas film plays this weekend at Yonge-Dundas Cineplex Theatres.
