Under Cold Blue Stars

The success of last year's Nuit Blanche (hosted by Scotiabank) in Toronto has now turned it into an annual event. This year between September 29 and 30th, the city will host contemporary art and performances in three zones both outdoors and in participating galleries, museums and unusual spaces from about 7pm to 7am in the morning. It's free and while I missed it last year, I will certainly try not to miss it this time!

The Smashing Pumpkins - We Only Come Out at Night (mp3)
The Strokes - Fear of Sleep (mp3)
The Stars - the Night Starts Here (mp3)

This Isn't Love, It's Just a Point of Reference

Two Hours Traffic. This should be familiar to you. Perhaps you remember the phrase from the prologue to Romeo and Juliet, or perhaps you've heard of the band being mentioned twice on this blog already, despite Impressionable Youth only being a few posts old. Well, I mention them again this time because they're offering one lucky person an iPod Touch. Le Gasp! You have to understand that I've never actually owned any form of iPod. It's kinda sad... I have to borrow my dad's... And I can't put it on shuffle or else I'll end up listening to a bunch of Chinese songs. I wanna know what it feels like to have one of my very own! All I need you to do, is click here:



Isn't that a beauty? The more clicks I get, the better my chances are of winning. Simple, free and it spares only a second more of your time.

Go Stream Their Latest Album Now!

Moving on now.

There are two reasons that I am posting onwards. My sister, Edie, has become very excited with this whole "blogging" business. I think even more excited than I. I can't let her become more dominant than myself by possessing so many more posts than me. Secondly, since it seems that I am constantly talking about the same bands, I figured I should introduce a new one to the stage.



Five Blank Pages. They are a group of four people, Noyan Hilmi, his sister Chelen Hilmi, and his girlfriend Pinar Ozyetis. Rajiv Thavanathan joined later on. I have no idea how to correctly pronounce any of their names, if that's what you were about to ask. They're an Ontario based band that travels the province playing various shows. Let's see; multi-culturally diverse band, Canadian, more than decent music. Looks like we're on to something? It would be nice to go see their upcoming October 19th show at the Horseshoe Tavern, but alas, I'm not of age for the show. I should have known. Anywho, the title of this post is a rather memorable lyric from the first song below. Enjoy!

Five Blank Pages - Point of Reference (MP3)
Five Blank Pages - Richie T (MP3)
Go Buy Their CD

[Edit]

Ooh, I almost forgot to mention this. Impressionable Youth has its first official reader/supporter! Yay! Go visit her at Nanette's Dog Blog or learn of, read about and buy some delicious, nutritious treats for your beloved canine at Temple Treats.

Cheers to you, Nanette!

Lust, lust, lust

The Raveonettes upcoming album entitled "lust, lust, lust" is out October the 9th and to coincide, there is a North American tour. I've waited a couple of albums to see them play, but why, oh why, oh Raveonettes, why must you come to play in my hometown (well, the GTA) at Lee's Palace when I'm out of the country? I hope the next album tides me over until the next time. Please come back to play again in the spring, oh Raveonettes!

The Raveonettes - Remember

The Raveonettes - Great Love Sound

Swollen Summer

Even though I'm not in school anymore, the coming of September still brings a both a thrill and shudder to mind. Those years from Kindergarten to OAC really makes you believe that September should be the start of a new year and not January. I've got a couple of projects lined up in the fall that I'm very excited but I wish that summer will never end. The last few months have been so much fun! Oh the sights that we saw, the places we went, the people whom were there, the randomness that ensued! And of course, the free shows. These are just a couple I remember.

Hawksley Workman and the Stills-Harbourfront Centre June 4
It was a night down by the waterfront with the promise of summer and while lot of people were there to see the Stills, it was Hawksley who blew the roof off the building. He is such a charismatic frontman and when he performed "rain" from his last album, Treeful of Starling, I couldn't stop smiling.

Hawksley Workman - Rain

Final Fantasy-Harbourfront Centre July 1
I love the harbourfront, one of these days I will own property there. This was a Canada Day show with fireworks at the end. The atmospherics and the wide range of instruments in these two acts makes it an interesting choice for a Canada Day celebration since normally, more mainstream acts would be chosen for such an event. But then again, why not?

Final Fantasy - Peach Plum Pear

Two Hours Traffic-Horseshoe Tavern July 24
What can I say? These guys make music that'll turn your frown upside down (my quote, not theirs). I know it sounds cheesy, but it's true. These guys have a sound that'll rival the big names of east coast pop-rock.

Two Hours Traffic - Stuck for the Summer

Sloan and the Golden Dogs-CNE August 29
It was my first introduction to the Golden Dogs, whom my friend had been telling about for years, and probably my 3rd time seeing Sloan. We got to see what we came to see: Chris Murphy doing a scissor kick! We all bobbed our heads and sang along to the songs. They are such a consistently good band.

Sloan - Ill Placed Trust

Summer's End

Yeah, so I asked my sister to fill in for me for the last post. We got on the topic of what we would do if either of us had won a crap-load of money because I entered a contest to win a quarter of a million dollars while at The Canadian National Exhibition a couple weeks prior. Obviously, I didn't win. Nonetheless, I had a great day at the CNE. It's just one of those things that you have to go to every year if you live in the vicinity. You keep telling yourself that there's nothing new THIS year, and it's not ACTUALLY that much fun, but still wind up ambling through the front gate.

Looking back on it now, I had a very kick-ass last week of summer! Went to the CNE and the Chinese Lantern Festival. The morning after, I woke up early to set myself at the Edge 102,1 store front studio for a short performance and interview by Bedouin Soundclash. They played a two song set, starting with the single Walls Fall Down and ending with 12:59 Lullaby, which can be found by a quick YouTube search. I'm not sure why I'm so surprised... but those guys are nice. So nice. I had a short conversation with Pat and Eon, during which they promised to play some more all ages shows (I'm holding you to that, boys) and they used my cell phone. Bedouin Soundclash used my cell phone! That's my current greatest claim to fame.




I also saw the Joel Plaskett show down at Yonge and Dundas Square for Ryerson. That man is still as sharp as ever, I tell you. He and the Emergency (plus Peter Elkas) dished out a load of crowd teasers like Extraordinary and Nowhere with you. Ashtray Rock, the song, was a bit unexpected though. The audience enjoyed themselves so much, that all of the front row pushed the barricade forward for the second song of the encore. I don't think the band could have been more pleased.


I think that was a great way to follow up my first two posts. Funny, I didn't even know about these two shows when I was writing those entires. It must be fate. But that's all come and gone.

Evil Dead: The Musical is also ending tomorrow, as I was told. I saw it way back before the summer even began. That was a good show, indeed. It was based off the first two Evil Dead movies, long before Sam Raimi started directing web-slinging blockbuster hits. Deliciously cheesy like its ancestor, and 100% more ear-pleasing to a music lover. I was kind of upset that I didn't get splattered with fake blood as was promised in their advertisements, despite sitting in the first row. I guess it was a hit and miss sort of thing. Well, here's what I believe to be the greatest summary of the campy musical:

Original Off Broadway Cast of Evil Dead: The Musical - What the Fuck was that? (MP3)
(Go Buy the Soundtrack)

Cheers to a great run, cast and crew of the Toronto Evil Dead Production!

Anyway, school has started for me once again. I've got a terrible morning and a very La De Daa afternoon. Data Management, followed by Physics and Visual art. I take a break for lunch and then head off for Drama before the school day is finished.

The Flashing Lights - Highschool (MP3)
Foo Fighters - My Poor Brain (MP3)

For those of you who might not personally know me, I'm in my last year of high school and I've finally realized that it isn't as great as television and movies make it out to be. I feel pretty much the same as I did in grade 9, only with a larger sense of urgency. I don't like it!