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Greg Keelor

I’ve been to a lot of shows in my life. In my top five is a show that Greg Keelor played at Lee’s Palace around the time of the release of his second solo record called Seven Songs for Jim. The band consisted of Keelor on guitar, Bryden Baird on flugelhorn, and Travis Good on guitar and fiddle. He broke the set into two. The first was the funeral, in which they played the seven songs from the record (plus a Tom Waits cover) which were written while his father was in the hospital dying. The second set was the wake, and the band played a lot of great folk… Read More »Greg Keelor

Governor General James T. Kirk

Friday morning’s Toronto Star had William Shatner on the cover, the former star of Star Trek, who has a fan movement on Facebook vying for him to be Governor General of Canada. For those unfamiliar, the Governor General is the nation’s de facto head of state. While the monarch (currently Elizabeth II) is the actual head of state, she cannot perform those duties, as she is also the head of state for numerous other countries, and resides in the United Kingdom. Governors General provide a mostly symbolic role, they represent the nation on an international level, are a spokesperson for the country, sign bills into law (once they’ve passed through… Read More »Governor General James T. Kirk

Young People Fucking

Young People Fucking, written and directed by Martin Gero is according to the IMDB one of the top grossing Anglo-Canadian films. For those who don’t know, Gero is a staff writer for Stargate Universe (previously Stargate Atlantis) and Bored To Death. Shows I’m quite fond of. When I had heard he made a film, I was excited to see it. Unlike most Canadian films, I was able to find it playing in a rather large cinema, and went. Now years later, I decided it was time to rewatch the film. The film follows five hetero-normative1 couples, the friends, the couple, the exes, the first date, and the roommates; and the… Read More »Young People Fucking

Music Monday

Young Rival perform “Authentic” on Chatroulette The Ride Theory’s “My Girl June” “Your Island,” again, same band.

Sleeper

Last weekend, I went out to the Bloor Cinema to see Sleeper, the Woody Allen film about a man who is defrosted from cryogenic sleep after two hundred years. He immediately gets involved in a political battle, and is running for his life. It is bloody horrible. Woody Allen is not a physical comedian, and he tries hard. As I watched Allen’s slapstick routine as he was awoken from his slumber, all I could think is, “this would probably be funny if Peter Sellers was performing it.” Sadly Peter Sellers was nowhere to be seen, and Allen failed miserably in his attempts to mimic the likes of such great physical… Read More »Sleeper

Sloan

Dear Mr. Pentland, Mr. Ferguson, Mr. Scott & Mr. Murphy, I hereby submit my resignation as a Sloan fan. The last time I saw your band was in 2008. The only reason I went to see you perform then was because I was in Halifax, and how can one turn down seeing Sloan at a hometown show? Also, how can one turn down seeing Sloan with slmader? It was a mediocre show, but much better than this one. This show, you opted to promote your new B-Sides release, a noble cause, and this even prompted you to perform two of your best songs, “At The Edge Of The Scene” and… Read More »Sloan

Sonic Boom!

Apparently I’m always a critic. I found a peanut butter cookie to be disappointing, and this led to others criticizing my criticizing. However, that just means I need to be a critic. On Saturday was Record Store Day, a celebration of all things wonderful1. I met with my friend Allegra, and we realized we didn’t have time for sushi before Valery Gore’s set at Sonic Boom, so instead we went to the record store, made our way to the basement, where a soundcheck was going on. It wasn’t Ms. Gore, but instead Lullabye Arkestra. It was interesting, and I might have enjoyed them if I stayed, but I was more… Read More »Sonic Boom!

They’re inexpensive

At the El Mocambo in beautiful Toronto, Ontario, Canada, a local band played a show to celebrate the release of their debut EP called The Cheap Speakers. Opening the night was Big Crimes, who bored me immediately. I ran away to the back of the bar, where I found refuge with Allegra, Al, Alicia, Daniel, James and Nick. Much better. The second band arrived, and they called themselves Lordy Lordy. Why? I have no idea. Their first song I enjoyed. It inspired me to visit the front and ponder if they might be good. They sounded like Shotgun & Jaybird. Then the second song began, and I found myself at the… Read More »They’re inexpensive

Music Monday

I was just going through Music Monday posts which I have scheduled. Got to May 17, and discovered in there was You Say Party! We Say Die! You might have heard that yesterday1, Devon Clifford, drummer for YSP,WSD passed away at the age of 30. I guess it’s only appropriate to use this space today to let the music do the talking. Well, today for me, as I’m writing this on Sunday April 18, 2010. [↩]

Romano, Squire & Doiron

Went to Daniel, Fred & Julie at the Horseshoe Tavern tonight. First up was Jerry Leger who was whiney, and kind of annoying. He seemed to play FOREVER, and I got there mid-way through his set. Next up was Baby Eagle who just bored me. Their frontman is apparently in The Constantines, and I’m one of the three people in Canada who are not fans of The Constantines. Have you heard their side of the split 12″ they did with the Unintended? LAME. Finally, we had Daniel Romano1, Fred Squire2 and Julie Doiron3. Stunning. They were absolutely, unequivocally stunning. This folk trio were able to harmonize and along with acoustic… Read More »Romano, Squire & Doiron