Yes, it's kind of cool to hate on Alexisonfire once you've reached puberty. And no, Crisis, their last record, wasn't filled with delightfully twee indie pop, but pretty much every person who reviewed it dug it like whoa. And the fact remains that as played out as "screamo" gets, these guys have been doing it since long before downtuning and shouting put you on the fast track to rock 'n' roll success. They've bucked... [continue]

The last time Torontoist made mention of local punks The Little Millionaires, it was a few days after a rousing night of rocking and rolling at Sneaky Dee's. This time out, however, it seemed like a good idea to give some advance warning of the band's next Toronto show. So get your black t-shirts ready! This Thursday, February 7, the band will be opening for recent Juno nominees The Saint Alvia Cartel (another Torontoist... [continue]

It wasn't long ago that Torontoist was rapping about Five Blank Pages' CD release; Last Blush, their first full-length, was just unleashed onto the white-belt world last October, but this weekend marks a significant change in the band's line-up. Since growing from Noyan Hilmi's solo project to a full-fledged band, the group has consisted of Hilmi, sister Chelen Hilmi, and wife Pinar Ozyetis. The band added bassist Rajiv Thavanathan later on, and has been... [continue]

Sure, Protest the Hero are technically from Whitby. And Troy Sexton, the Stomp cast member featured in this video, is really from Etobicoke. But that's nitpicking. Check out Troy trying to teach some sweet dance moves to Protest's rhythmically-challenged vocalist, Rody Walker. It's funny, but could you do better at noon on a Sunday with a hangover? Protest, who have been blowing people's minds with really stupidly complex punk-cum-metal, just released their latest full-length,... [continue]

Hot on the heels of a sweet little in-store at Sonic Boom, Brooklyn's Nada Surf have further endeared themselves to Torontoist (and allowed us to make yet another obvious "Popular" joke) by so obviously featuring our wonderful city in their new video for "I Like What You Say" (via Chromewaves) from their upcoming full-length, Lucky. How weird would it be if the band actually played a show at Filmore's? Only a sad animated cardboard... [continue]

Sure, they penned the obviously raddest one-hit-wonder of 1996, but since that fateful year, full of cheerleaders and homoerotic football players, Nada Surf have continued to rage against the dying of that hit-single light. They may have fallen off MTV's radar, but so have most things north of Christina Aguilera's baby-bump. Since leaving Elektra in 1998, the band have built a quiet following of appreciative indie rockers around the world, unconcerned with attaining the... [continue]

Torontoist is ending the year by naming our Heroes and Villains of 2007––the people, places, and things that we've either fallen head over heels in love with or developed uncontrollable rage towards over the past twelve months. Get your dose, starting Boxing Day and running into the new year, three times a day––sunrise, noon, and sunset. That’s right. We said it. Hate is a villain. Torontonians spend a whole lot of time complaining. It’s only... [continue]

Torontoist is ending the year by naming our Heroes and Villains of 2007––the people, places, and things that we've either fallen head over heels in love with or developed uncontrollable rage towards over the past twelve months. Get your dose, starting Boxing Day and running into the new year, three times a day––sunrise, noon, and sunset. Toronto is a city full of great venues and great people helping to put on great shows. Sure, we're... [continue]

After ten years of making wonderfully chaotic post-hardcore, Denver's Planes Mistaken For Stars called it a day in July of this year. They promised one final tour, and made good at the end of November, making their way across the U.S. and Canada before planning to jump across the pond to Europe. A family emergency early this month forced the band to cancel all of their overseas dates and several U.S. ones; in Toronto... [continue]

As the unofficial fansite of Roncesvalles' favourite success story (and one of the oldest operating movie theatres in this country), Torontoist is pleased to tell you about another exciting event being staged by the good folks at the Revue Film Society. This time, money will be going towards brand-new educational initiatives the theatre aims to have up and running in early 2008, including a film school for neighborhood kids. This particular event, starting at...... [continue]

When thrashy experimental punks Quebexico called it a day earlier this year, angry, drunken, often-bearded fans across the country had a good reason to get more angry, more drunk, and grow larger beards. Thankfully, the band's offspring is hitting the same musical highs in the same aggressively DIY manner. TEENANGER, comprised of the 3/4ths of Quebexico that lived in Toronto (Ottawa-based guitarist Davey now plays in the also-awesome Million Dollar Marxists), is a little... [continue]

When New York punks Leftover Crack were denied entry into the country last week (something to do with criminal records), East Vancouver's The Rebel Spell opted not to give up and salvaged the tour, making their way across this fine land in true DIY punk fashion. This weekend finds the band in Toronto, trading a show at all ages mega-complex The Reverb for the way punker Siesta Neveaux. Located at 15 Lower Sherbourne, there... [continue]

In celebration of Attack in Black’s upcoming show at the Horseshoe this Friday, November 16, Torontoist is pleased to offer you a video about Canadian geography, starring the band (along with Moneen, Matt Good, Raine Maida and more!), shot at the CASBYs a few weeks ago. Yes, 102.1 The Edge is playing them to death. But that doesn’t change the fact that Attack in Black are a pretty fantastic band, and that Marriage, their full-length...... [continue]

They’ve got Hank’s seal of approval, so you know they’re at least half-way decent. Since receiving some "big-ups" on Henry Rollins’ show on L.A.’s Indie 103.1, The Harold Wartooth’s grunge-y star has been rising, with support coming in from the likes of CBC’s seminal Definitely Not the Opera and UK-based Catacomb Records. With a solitary self-titled EP under their belts, the band have demonstrated a propensity for writing Fun House-era Stooges-style riffs and burying them... [continue]

Recalling an exciting time in Canadian indie rock when bands sounded less like accordion-totting balladeers and more like Dischord Records discography-totting caustic rockers, Republic of Safety are easily one of the most exciting bands currently making music in this city. Fronted by the charismatic (and Torontoist interviewed!) Maggie MacDonald, the band boasts the creative, angular guitar work of scene veteran Jonny Dovercourt, along with bassist Marlena Kaesler, saxophonist Martin Eckart, and former Quebexico drummer Steve... [continue]

Toronto’s Five Blank Pages have been making delightful, rough-edged indie rock for the last four years, and with the release of Last Blush this Friday, the band enters an exciting new stage in their sonic development. Their first full-length record since morphing from frontman Noyan Hilmi’s solo project noyz in 2003, Last Blush promises to deliver the same fragile-voiced power of their 2004 EP, Spaces to Occupy and Abandon, a well-received slice of Brampton-bred... [continue]

You may have heard The Saint Alvia Cartel’s "Don’t Wanna Wait Forever" on 102.1 The Edge this summer. Like, two blagillion times. If you happen to like the song, you should probably go check the band out this Thursday, October 4, at the Reverb, as part of the Union Label Group’s annual Union Tour. If you don’t like the song, you should probably still give the band a shot; “Don’t Wanna” is easily the... [continue]

While they may not technically be Toronto residents, The Sourkeys still hold a special place in the heart of this city. And really, Waterloo’s just not that far away. Which is why the band’s final Toronto show, this Thursday, September 27, will be an important one to catch. Producing weird, aggressive, yelp-y music since 2001, the band’s track record of one amazing full-length, an awesome split 7" with the (sorely missed) Vermicious Knid, and... [continue]

There are a few good reasons to check out C’mon’s CD Release Party this Friday, September 21, at the Horseshoe Tavern. The most important, however, is to watch bassist Katie Lynn Campbell do that insane thing where it appears like her body is about to snap in half she’s leaning so effing far back. That is how rock ‘n’ roll C’mon are; severed spines be damned! Among the other reasons to be kickin’ it at... [continue]

The last time Torontoist saw local rockers The Guest Bedroom, it was in a tiny dive bar in Mississauga. Warm summer weather had driven most of the patrons to a large outdoor patio, and it was there that the band launched into a passionate set for the lucky few who stuck it out in the dank bowels of the bar. The Guest Bedroom is not an immediately likable band, and this is huge part... [continue]