Let's just get this out of the way right off the bat—Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin are a very very very good band. When we wrote about them last February on the heels of a way-too-short performance at Sneaky Dee's, we ran through the band's history with drummer Philip Dickey, and gushed that they "have a knack for hooks, likeable melodies, and a kind of rough, untidy rock and roll sound that is always bordering on pop." (It's true! They do!) One year later, we have two more reasons to gush: first, there's Pershing, the band's fantastic new album just released on Polyvinyl Records that's full of more sunny, hook-filled, and catchy maybe-it's-rock-or-maybe-it's-pop goodness; and second, the Springfield, Missouri band is finally back in Toronto again this Friday night, with a midnight headlining set at the El Mocambo.
Results tagged “elmocambo”
This Friday night, Allie Hughes has a concert at the El Mocambo. You might not have heard of this homegrown singer-songwriter yet, but maybe you will sometime soon. Hughes has a dynamite voice that she can effortlessly shift from a gentle coo to an operatic cry while she sits at her keyboard, presiding over her rockin' little band. Her songs bridge an adorable gap between sassy and poignant, and the general vibe is along the lines of a better-dressed and somewhat less crazy Sarah Slean. (Just kidding, Sleaners! Sarah has some good outfits.)
Photo by Arieh Singer from the Torontoist Flickr Pool.
Photo by Media Eater.
Musicologist's generous boast last week of a busier than usual month for music was definitely that: generous. While this week's listings seem a bit skeletal compared to the past few, there are definitely a few events worthy of precious holiday season time.
In celebration of 60 years and counting for the local, legendary Horseshoe Tavern, Joel Plaskett Emergency will be performing six consecutive shows this week beginning Monday, each day playing in chronological order an album in their discography of full-lengths. After seeing its days as a blacksmith shop, a strip club, and of course the host of some of the most legendary first time Toronto performances including Willie Nelson, The Talking Heads, and Neutral Milk Hotel,...
Photo of Smoosh by absolutwade.
Songs about zombies, drive-by shootings, Obi-Wan Kenobi, pirates, monsters, punching people in the face, pregnancy, "reeking and seeking," families, obesity, virginity—all of them catchy, all of them disconcertingly happy-sounding, and all of them sing-and-clap-along-able. That is what Austin's Oh No! Oh My! is made of, and their albums—their self-titled full-length; their new EP, Between The Devil and The Sea; and their Jolly Rogers demo that the songs from the new EP are culled from—are the best pieces of pop to come along in a very, very long time. No kidding.
Earlier this week, we told you how you can be a part of a Ryerson student's short film of a hundred couples making out. Today we bring you news of how you can contribute to another Ryerson student's short film, also concerning making out—as well as singing and dancing and going on a killing spree.
It seems pretty appropriate that we just had Groundhog Day, given that we're feeling a little bit like Bill Murray looking at the concert listings this week. Not only is there very little going on, but most of the bands who are playing seem to be here every week (Apostle of Hustle, The Tragically Hip, Hostage Life, Friendly Rich). Thus, we have nothing left to say about them! So if you've already seen these shows, it is advised that you take this time to rest up because the end of February and month of March are going to be insane for loads of high quality live music.
A few weeks ago Kensington Market's Neu+ral Lounge announced on Stillepost that they were looking for djs and party organizers to take over their Saturday night slot. Organizers of Eat Your Greens, a Britpop, Mod and Soul night, have decided to leave the venue for the El Mocambo, and will be doing so starting February 10.
We're a little late with this week's music listing--blame the election! Er, okay, maybe someone just got immersed in learning a bit of Flash and let it slip. It won't happen again.
Oh boy! Contests! This one comes courtesy of Vice Records, and is for two free tickets to Brooklyn band Favourite Sons's show at the El Mocambo on Friday Saturday night as well as a copy of the group's new record, Down Beside Your Beauty. The show also features openers The Drones and Devastations.
If you're not completely burnt out from Nuit Blanche, there are plenty of quality shows to check out this week, including Joanna Newsom, Massive Attack, and Myspace darling Lily Allen. Alternatively, you Hip fans can skip out on the live music this week and save up your change for all four (yes, FOUR) of the recently announced shows at the Phoenix a few weeks from now. Can Gord Downie and pals really justify the $60 admission fee these days? Could they ever? On a similar note, Guns N' Roses are coming to the ACC in November -- should they be asking fans to shell out up to $85 to see a bloated Axl Rose trying to slither around the stage, caterwauling 'Sweet Child O' Mine'? Wouldn't that just be painful to watch? Are we asking too many questions? Okay, we'll stop.
Tsk, tsk. Late two weeks in a row. Someone needs a good spanking. Next week we'll get our act together and put Torontoist before busy schedules and get this puppy out on time. Pinky swear.
Looking to check out some live music this week? Here's your listing of what's happening around the city between August 7-13.
From where the men are men and the women are wrapped in layers of clothing comes the five piece cinematic stylings of Huskey Rescue. Smooth, chilled out and laid back is their way, which should be a perfect reprise for those soaking up the heat from the Caribana parade. To enhance the evening's events, you'll also discover the delicate and devastating sounds of The Elanors and the always interesting mix ups from turntable fanatics InsideAMind. And to make everything even more interesting there will be live video mixing by project3media and Charles Officer. Goes down tonight at the El Mocambo - 464 Spadina.
Break out the earplugs and prepare to get very little sleep over the next few days, as the North by Northeast Music Festival and Conference begins tomorrow. Your wristband ($28.00) gets you into approximately 400 shows at 33 venues, all film screenings from the film festival portion, as well as the closing party Sunday night at the El Mocambo. Bargain!
Toronto synth-punk band Pony Da Look starts up this Thursday Music Roundup. PDL, which up until recently had been on a break, are back in force. They're doing two shows, one tonight with Kiss Me Deadly and Pyramid Culture at Sneaky Dee's ($8 bucks) and tommorow as part of Lederhosen Lucil's EP and Zine launch (pictured here).

Newsstand: November 19, 2009




