Results tagged “newbuffalo”

If you are saddened by your procrastination that cost you Richard Hawley and Jose Gonzalez tickets this week, you can direct your attention to the eclectic choice of shows as a mild substitute. It does, however, appear as if local label Arts and Crafts have successfully cornered the market on this week's moderately sized shows (read: tickets that cost no more than $35). Tuesday you can catch Jason Collett with a surprise guest at the...

This week Musicologist will be checking out Regina Spektor at the Kool Haus, thanks to the insistence of a friend who pretty much exclusively listens to hip hop. The fact the he loves Spektor means she's gotta be good. It's sold out, but Musicologist never shies away from listing sold out shows—we all know there's always an (expensive) last-ditch way to get in if you're desperate. (Why does that sound dirty? We mean scalpers, of course.)

After dozing during the Collett affair, we awoke very confused, briefly thinking perhaps we had somehow time-travelled to a mid-90's Wallflowers show. (Yes dudes - "the same black line that was drawn on you, was drawn on me, Sixth Avenue heartache.") What we are trying to say is that Mr Collett has never had the unconventionalness to keep our attention. Feist, however, is now a local superhero, showing up in her all-white suit and saving the night with her voice. She was on-point as usual, but we found it extra tiresome when she asked us to sing, clap or snap to every song. But how can we complain when SuperFeist and her side-kick in the shiny red suit (New Buff) play the same bill? During a "Major Label Debut" encore, she even protected one little indie dude from security ("Hey, security guy, let him come up to the front!"). Despite the off-and-on show, Feist earned her applause. And Danforth Music Hall is safe...for now.

The other night, walking home after the Wavelength New Buffalo show no less, a confused group of dudes stopped Torontoist and the lady-friend with a question.

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 A&C. Rushing out that band and subsequent album showed poor artist and repertoire judgment on behalf of the label; just because the Most Serene Republic guy sang songs in his U of T dorm room didn't necessarily mean he was ready to release an album. That band, along with the Arts&Crafts merch department (who fold up/crease posters by sending them in envelopes rather than using poster tubes), seemed enough reason to seriously doubt or even avoid New Buffalo, the latest A&C signee from Australia. But then it occurred to us that ignoring new talent for those reasons was irrational and slightly vindictive. As an artist that has been allowed to develop on her own, through EP releases and a reasonable amount of touring, New Buffalo has a much better chance at success than her Serene A&C predecessors. And, not coincidently, she does succeed.

Sadly, Torontoist has learnt through comments on this here blog, stille post and a not working website that the Ear to the Ground Fest won't be happening.