Courtesy of Rob Fournier

What better way to judge local rock bands than by sending out the hardest rocker of them all? Ross Gower of The Poisonous Glass trotted around Canadian Music Week checking out shows from The Darcy’s, Teenage Kicks, Hope Atlantic, and Modernboys Moderngirls all for Mushy Pony. If you think that’s a little much for one writer – you clearly don’t know who you’re dealing with.

THURSDAY:

Braving the torrential rain, I set out to see The Darcy’s play at the Silver Dollar. They immediately garnered my approval for several reasons. The first being that the drums were heavy and the intricate beats were solid in both attack and timing. To me this makes or brakes a band. Secondly, their sound was melodic, often with attention grabbing chord changes. I must admit, their music was the most interesting I heard from the shows I saw during CMW. Throughout the middle of their set, the mood was definitely darker than I expected, but nevertheless, both heartfelt and technically stimulating. To my particular enjoyment, they ended their set with the same uplifting mood they started with, and I left quite satisfied – despite still being wet from the rain. I certainly recommend going to see them play, and if you can’t, buy their album, because it’s one you’ll actually listen to.
4.5/5

Courtesy of Rob Fournier

After the show at the Silver Dollar I headed over to Sneaky Dee’s to check out Teenage Kicks. Their music was, for the most part, pretty catchy. They performed well and had good stage presence. Their sound was entertaining, a sort of throwback to typical rock bands of the late 90′s and early 2000′s. I would check these guys out again, especially if they were playing at a different venue. My main criticism is that they weren’t able to keep my undivided attention. As fun as it was to experience several fleeting moments of nostalgia, I wasn’t able to be completely engaged.
3.5/5

FRIDAY:

On Friday, I made my way to The Garrison to see Hope Atlantic as a part of the Manitoba Music Showcase, which I was looking forward to since I’ve heard good things about the music scene there. I was drunk for this show, as opposed to being merely in the midst of drinking during the others, which may have had a positive effect. I was also, however, alone, and despite this I had a great time. The band had great stage presence, the sound was good and they were super tight. Their chord progressions were well composed with a fine use of contrasting majors and minors, which complemented their charming melodies. No matter what style of music a band plays, if its songs master these elements, it’s difficult not to enjoy them. I thus left with a smile on my face – for reasons beyond the obvious.
4/5

SUNDAY:

Modernboys Moderngirls. This was it, the last night. It wasn’t easy to muster up the strength to make the journey to The Hard Luck Bar after the night I had beforehand, but I’m glad I did. 1 a.m. on the last night is a tough time slot to play, especially after many people have been bingeing for the better part of the week. But somehow these guys found the energy and managed to put on a great show. Their music reminded me of what The Rolling Stones might have sounded like growing up in the current musical environment. For a three-piece band, they had a nice, full sound, which definitely was the result of good musicianship, hard playing, and good vocal harmonies. The drumming was fantastic and the bass player’s tone was distorted to perfection. Their music had a touch of the hard and raunchy while at the same time being fun and uplifting. It wasn’t able to be condsidered anything other than rock n’ roll, and I liked it. Pure and simple.
4/5

Courtesy of Rob Fournier

Courtesy of Rob Fournier

– Ross Gower.

Courtesy of Low Level Flight

Like Tom Cruise’s fly-by in Top Gun, Canadian Music Week opened in Toronto with a Low Level Flight of its own at the Gibson Warehouse. With the rain pouring and the Steam Whistle beer flowing, Ryan Malcolm and his band of rockers took to the stage for a kick-ass private show independent of CMW. Starting off with their energetic “Cast Diversion”, Malcolm and Co. got the lucky fans and industry big-wigs amped with a preview of their new album, Through These Walls.

Malcolm’s pipes cleanly meshed with the energetic sounds of guitarists Carter and Rooke, while Merenick (drums) and Emeny (bass) held down the indie band’s solid rhythm section. Chatting with Ryan after the show, I learned more about their dynamic as a band and why they chose to stay clear of Music Week.

Ryan: CMW is a great foot in the door for a lot of international and local acts. Our main reason for not taking part this year is because we wanted to do something on our own, something more precise, and more directed so that we could focus specifically on the people we wanted to hear our music.

Bobby: After all the hoop-la and industry interviews, what does Low Level Flight have planned in the next few months?

Ryan: We are currently gearing up to release our new single “Cash Machine” to Rock Radio. The album will be dropping May 3rd, two days before our trip to the UK for our tour.

Bobby: You opened for Interpol at the Sound Academy two weeks ago, how else do you plan on reaching a more international audience?

Ryan: We feel that our music IS international. We have had recent success in Asia with our first album, Urgency. And we feel even more confident that this new project will be well received all over the world and not just in North America. For example, when we were in India we had a great tour. The people really embraced the band and the music…and vice versa. We love you India!

Bobby: What’s the funniest thing that’s happened to you guys while on tour?

Ryan: We have had so much shit go wrong. From being held in security at Amsterdam’s Schipol airport to being stranded on the side of the road in Regina sleeping in a farmers field; we have dealt with a lot of shit all in good stride…and we love it. But the funniest thing I would have to say, would be the time we were in Mumbai, on Juhu beach, playing our guitars and all of the sudden 500 people crowded around to induce an impromptu concert. It was great.

Bobby: What are you listening to these days on your iPod?

Ryan: I recently received a mix-tape from Toronto Producer Bobby Racket. It was refreshing to hear a new, local sound that combines pop and hip-hop. I see big things for this guy…I may even record a single or two with him.

Bobby: Thanks…

For more info on the release of “Through These Walls” on May 3rd, check out the bands Myspace here.

– Bobby Racket for Mushy Pony.

Courtesy of From Far and Wide

Making it in the music industry is a long and arduous road to say the least. With so much competition out there and not enough cash for agents, a lot of talent gets overlooked. That’s where From Far and Wide comes in, a show that rounds up talent from across Canada and gives them the publicity they deserve. Talking with the show’s Director and Producer, Renee Rodenkirchen and Jeremy Panda, we learned about how your band can finally make it, too.

Pony: What made you come up with the idea for From Far and Wide?

Jeremy: From Far and Wide grew from a radio concept Jeremy had been actively working on for 2 years. In those 2 years he saw over 200 Independent artists/bands come through a radio format Idol show and saw it evolve with sponsorship from a local Toronto recording studio into a live to air video format show. The “want” to have more of a visual presence and broader audience and appeal brought the two of us together in our respective skill sets to create Far and Wide and our ongoing efforts to bring it to a larger audience in Canada.

Pony: What separates Far and Wide from other music contest shows like Canadian Idol?

Jeremy: Canadian Idol is a karaoke contest at it’s worst and a display of formidable technicians singing covers at it’s best. Our show is about independent, original artists. The dynamic of a solo artist, to the dynamic of a band where audiences can relate to the different roles of a group of musicians and songwriters. It’s much more complex, character driven and real than any other Idol show.

Pony: Where can we watch this show?

Jeremy: We are currently lining up meetings with networks and investors – major and independent,  to delve into this sometime this summer and fall. We want this to live online and we want to find ourselves traveling to every province and following through with our goals but it’s all about funding and sustaining this idea responsibly so we don’t get washed away by our dreams trying to make it work.

Courtesy of Far and Wide

Pony: How does a particular band or singer apply to be a contestant?

Renee: We accept submissions via fromfarandwide@gmail.com where our team will send any interested songwriter/artist or industry peep a submission package with release forms protecting the artists and formats for the submissions. It’s very simple. The majority of our submissions will come as live unedited video representations of original works book-ended by a personalized “in support of From Far and Wide” to cozy into our community, our content and the context of what we’re trying to do in efforts  of bringing everyone together.

Pony: What are some surprises you’ve come across while filming?

Renee: Everyone thinks they will be the “mean judge” but when you get into the setting and are placed in front of the songwriters themselves, you can’t help but be real and appreciate the energy they promote. People soften up in real life, which is good, and it reminds us all that we can all still feel in the over excess and over access of our generation.

Pony: Which musicians have totally blown you away talent wise?

Jeremy: Alistair Blaik Bundale won the contest 3 years ago and blew everyone away. He now fronts the band Donalyn and is featured almost secretly in our trailer as a conversation piece. He won a Toronto Independent Music Award and is one of the most talented songwriters I’ve had the privilege of meeting.

*For information or to apply your band into the competition, head to FromFarandWide.com or email the address listed above!*

– Emma Farquharson

Courtesy of Joyful Sinners Facebook

At their CD release a couple of weeks back, Adam Beer-Colacino and the Joyful Sinners were greeted by an audience all asking “who are these guys?” like a broken record inside the bar. The Cowgirls, at first, were no exception. But seeing as we’re obligated to draw to your attention to any resoundingly awesome overlooked talent, we’d like to highlight the degree of brilliance your life will become upon going to see ‘these guys’ on Friday January 8th at Mitzi’s Sister.

Clad in bow ties and dress shirts, the Joyful Sinners class things up with a unique sound comprised of roots music, blues, soul and gospel. Their eight person band obscures whatever little is left of the stage after their instruments and flailing bodies take complete hold of the audiences attention.

Upbeat and hearty, their music demands your attention and you can’t help but shimmy-shake a little while sippin’ on your rye and ginger. They’re smooth, they’re soulful, they’re even as the name suggests: joyful.

“Our goal is to make music that everyone can enjoy”, states Adam Beer-Colacino. “We try our best not to pigeon hole ourselves into “scenes”, but if you were to give us a genre it would be Soul Fried Rock and Roll. Theres not much of this music in Toronto and we hope to turn this city on to some feel-good sounds.”

They come prepped with a Facebook and Myspace page for all your live music cravings, but perhaps you’re better off checking out ‘these guys’ for yourself!

Courtesy of The Joyful Sinners Facebook

– C. Roberts.