"Do you trust your friends? Would you let them redecorate your apartment, or do your homework for you? Would you let them buy your groceries? Would you leave them in charge of your kids? And if you did, what would they change?" So reads the beginning of the liner notes from Do You Trust Your Friends?, the album of remixes and reimaginings of songs from Stars' Set Yourself On Fire, now out on Arts &......

All those in favour of Born Ruffians becoming the next medium-sized Toronto buzz band say, "Most Serene Republic"! Good, now that we're all in agreement, we can decide on who signs these Ruffians to a record deal. Rumour has Paper Bag arranging some sort of US/Europe deal and another rumour has an unnamed multinational signing them to a developmental contract. And unfortunately that's all gossip fit for print today. Unfounded rumours aside, they play tonight......

Watching The Most Serene Republic this summer was like watching a wino eat grapes - it might make sense in time, but not quite yet (thank-you to Mitch Hedberg). That is to say, Most Annoying Republic was the Arts&Crafts buzz band that never really buzzed outside Toronto, or even in Toronto depending on who you read. From a broader perspective, they were A&C's first real disappointment, and first real reason to be disappointed in the......

Opting for two $5.50 cans of Labatt Blue at Pride Parade over the $48.50 price tag of the Olympic Island throwdown, Torontoist missed a good show for the second year in a row (rhyme alert). Luckily for us, though, Mr Mason Wright of Propeller was able to get us the scoop. Above is a picture of the Most Serene Republic, and below is his review: Few things, I find, get fans at rock shows......

This weekend you've got two big to-do's vying for your attention - on the mainland, Pride Toronto wraps up a week of festivities with party after party and loads of live music. The full list of performers is too expansive to get into, but it includes David Usher, Carole Pope and Rough Trade, Lesbians On Ecstasy and Gentleman Reg. More detailed schedules of performances and locations available here. If you're more hoodies than cut-offs, there's......