Record Store Day 2011!

Saturday was Record Store Day and here in the Great White North, well, at least in Toronto, it was raining, windy and miserable. However, you couldn't tell from the inside of some of the cities well known record shops. Excited shoppers bustled around, on the hunt for limited edition vinyls and other gems to add to their collections.

I don't actually own a record player; the few records I own really belong to my mom and they're at my grandparents' house, trapped in a box somewhere in their garage. They own a record player though, so kudos to them! Anyway, I like Record Store Day simply because it embraces the idea of purchasing the music you listen to. Which I did. I snatched up albums from Diamond Rings, Peter Bjorn & John and Albert Hammond Jr. Plus I got a ton of free samplers which have been quite enjoyable so far.

After a full day of searching through record stores, my dear friend Val and I made our final stop at Sonic Boom, the music mega store on Bathurst and Bloor. We caught local indie rock foursome Zeus, who performed a highly energetic set for a large crowd of shoppers and fans. The boys played a slew of new songs, including “Love in a Game” which they mentioned would be released on their sophomore effort, due in October. Not only did they prove they're extremely talented, what with having three different vocalists who rotate instruments, but they also demonstrated that they're also pretty entertaining; Carlin Nicholson jumped on an amp mid-song and placed his head in between floor boards, and later on the boys jokingly sampled a Huey Lewis bit. Their setlist included “The Renegade,” “River By The Garden,” and “Marching Through Your Head” off their excellent debut, Say Us. They closed with the out of control “You Gotta Tell'er” and left everyone wishing there was more. Overall, it was an awesome way to end my Record Store Day 2011 experience.

Zeus - "Kindergarten"

Find anything extra special on Record Store Day? Please share!
& Photos courtesy of myself...

Tokyo Police Club Hit Up the Kool Haus

January 15, 2011 - Kool Haus - Toronto

What better way to spend a snowy Saturday night than at a gig supporting one of Canada's own. Toronto's Kool Haus was packed with teenagers and 20-somethings; everyone shuffling through coat-check lines, around the merch table and the most pivotal stop for those of age, the bar.

First up was PS. I Love You; a two-piece band from Kingston, Ontario. The truth is they could play their instruments extremely well. The band's only guitarist, Paul Saulnier, could shred his guitar like nobody's business, but his vocals sounded more like shrill yelps then the tone I'm sure was intended. They somewhat reminded me of a dancey Wolf Parade. With that said, they are definitely worth checking out. Do that here!

Next was Two Door Cinema Club, the indie-pop band from Northern Ireland. They nearly played a full set that it might as well have been a double bill. They were fantastic, dancey and in tune, not to mention incredibly friendly, praising the crowd with plenty of thanks. Stand out tracks included: "What You Know,” “I Can Talk,” “Eat That Up, It's Good For You” and the new infectious melody, “Handshake.”

Finally, the reason everyone had come; Tokyo Police Club took the stage, all smiles and ready to rock. A little shakier then I have seen in past performances, but the Newmarket, Ontario natives were as energetic and fun-loving as always, definitely pleasing a packed venue of screaming fans. Playing a good variety of their three works, they focused most on their third effort, Champ, but had fans chanting and jumping most to tracks off their debut, A Lesson In Crime. The young quartet asked willing fans to clap and sing along; the most complex of clapping patterns took place throughout Elephant Shell's “Tessellate.” During the performance of “Graves,” Dave Monks, TPC's moppy-haired lead singer, had the crowd repeat after him. Expecting to “ooooo” to the beat, fans were surprised by Monks' choice of words which included: “Toronto,” “disco balls” and “Daft Punk is Playing at My House” (a nod to LCD Soundsystem). The boys soon ended the night only to return for a quick encore that involved Two Door Cinema Club joining them on stage. The two clubs performed a cover of The Strokes popular hit, “Last Night, ” which had everyone joyfully singing and dancing along. “This song is 10 years old,” exclaimed Monks' in a shocked tone, “I can’t believe this song is 10 years old.” This was a great way to end the night and combined all the energy and excitement that built up to the moment the bassline was heard. Stand out tracks included the punky TPC classics “Nature of the Experiment,” and “Citizens of Tomorrow,” as well as newcomers “Hands Reversed,” “Breakneck Speed,” and “Bambi.”

It was a good time. I give this show a solid 3 ½ out of 5.
Below are some pictures I took myself, enjoy!