Canadian Music Week - Saturday

Eye of Morning @ The Mod Club 7:30 pm

I showed up to the Mod Club halfway through EO*M’s set. But what I saw was high energy, good sound, and straightforward rock. All coming from a band that acted like they’d played large shows before. The audience that was filling up at a good rate while they were onstage seemed to appreciate them too and the singer consistently grabbed their attention. By the end it would’ve been better if he hadn’t started thanking what seemed like everyone he’d ever met, although it’s hard to hold the excitement against them. It should be interesting to keep an eye on this band and see what happens with them.
- Alyssa Caplin

The Exit @ The Mod Club 8:15 pm

I really enjoy The Exit’s EP and their blend of reggae, rock and a bunch of other styles of music. The set started off strong and songs like “Don’t Push” definitely put everyone in a dance-y kind of mood. I don’t know if the set was too long or there were nerves, but halfway through the set, it started dragging and started seeming a little self-indulgent. If you’re going to play to a large audience, you should probably cater to them a little more. Anyways, in a different setting they would be good for another show and the music did hold up live.
- Alyssa Caplin

4 Barrel @ The Speakeasy 8:45 pm

When you think High 4 Records showcase, you think Darrin Pfeiffer. And when you think Darrin Pfeiffer, you do not think of the type of mainstream alternative that 4 Barrel delivers. This Newmarket foursome somehow seemed out of place when you knew what was coming up, but I suppose they were a good, loud introduction to the night.

When I say loud, I mean LOUD! So loud that I finally brought out the earplugs sitting in the bottom of my purse. And perhaps it was karma, but during the second song the power on stage slowly died, leaving 4 Barrel stranded. All was recovered quickly and the boys came back to play a half decent set.

I have nothing really bad to say. I mean, they can all play well and the singer didn’t hurt my ears. They weren’t going to scare anyone off, but they also weren’t going to blow anyone’s mind either. They did nothing that any other rock band does onstage. If you are into the type of mainstream that Default and Theory Of A Deadman made popular then by all means they were good, but compared to some of the other things being showcased they just couldn’t meet the standards.
- Stephanie Joudrey

Mikoto @ The Kathedral 9pm

Hailing from Orange County, California and fronted by Ray Hawkins of Abacus Records, Mikoto started the evening out on a rather auspicious note. I was already weary of the abundance of eyeliner in the crowd and their screamo/metalcore set did little to ease my concerns. While energetic and enthusiastic, Mikoto did little to distinguish themselves from the thousands of bands in their genre. Their call and answer vocals and onstage persona seemed to come out of a metalcore by numbers kit, while Hawkins, a seasoned pro, cracked jokes with the audience, and made sure to plug the new merch “made especially for Canada” between songs. Not an actively bad set, but not particularly memorable to say the least. 
- Jeremy Shum

People In Planes @ The Mod Club 9:05 pm

It seemed this band was the perfect ending for my CMW. The Welsh band that recently put out a video directed by Joaquin Phoenix, definitely knew how to hold the capacity crowd’s attention. They have by far one of the best singers in an up and coming band right now. Not to mention a guitarist whose moves are just so interesting you have to watch. The crowd loved their old Radiohead sound and this is definitely a band to watch out for.  Check out our interview with PIP or our review of their debut album.
- Alyssa Caplin

Youthinasia @ The Speakeasy  9:20

I’ve seen these guys before, and must admit that I was never all that impressed in the past. Maybe it was the fact that they were playing with a new member or maybe it was the new material, but for some reason Youthinasia suddenly stood out.

They bounced around the stage showing off new material from their latest release, Premature Erockulation. They energy was infectious as guitarist Trevor tried to get the crowd riled up. Unfortunately they were saving their energy for another time because the crowd seemed to be stuck in their spots. You can’t help but feel for a pop punk band in a situation like that.

I think that if The Speakeasy’s crowd had of loosened up a bit, Youthinasia’s set would have went from not too bad to great. They had all of the makings of a fantastic set with their charisma, charm and wit, just not enough crowd support to back it up. 
- Stephanie Joudrey

Johnny Truant @ The Kathedral 10pm

I was originally supposed to cover Latefallen at the Bovine, but as the building was filling up at a rapid pace, could not be guaranteed re-entry, so at the urging of the kind staff at Distort/Dine Alone/Listen Harder, I decided to stay. I cannot thank them enough.

Johnny Truant rules the world!

Playing their first North American show, Johnny Truant were a lot more metal than the pink knapsacks and emo haircuts in the crowd would indicate. Britain’s Johnny Truant combine the technical wizardry of Converge with memorable riffs and boundless energy. Johnny Truant simply blew me away. Incorporating more of a groove than most bands of the genre, one can’t help but bang your head, and while riffs flowed like Jager, they rarely veered into the self-indulgent noodling that plagues so many metal bands. Crushingly heavy, but utterly listenable, their heavy sound brings together all the elements that make metal great, and they know it. Singer Olly Mitchell would often encourage the already excited crowd to make more noise, “We’re not at a fuckin’ Hawthorne Heights show…or a Silverstein show!” No sir, we were not, and it was at that very moment where they seized the crowd completely and would not let go for the rest of the night, and the buzz about their set lasted throughout the night, conversations between sets with questioning, “Did you just see that?” disbelieving their own experiences, and wanting to relive it with others.

Though already on their way back to the U.K. to tour with I implore you to seek out their stunning album, In The Library Of Horrific Events (out on Undergroove records in the U.K.) produced by Killswitch Engage’s guitarist/producer extraordinaire Adam Dutkiewicz or check out their website at www.johnnytruant.co.uk DO IT NOW!
- Jeremy Shum

Mugshot Saturday March 3, The Speakeasy

Not having heard much Mugshot and this being the first time I’d seen them after years of hearing their name I wasn’t sure what to expect. The crowd at the Speakeasy seemed to have a lack of energy, as did I after the previous three nights, but I seemed to be one of the few people in the crowd pumped to see them.

These guys have gone through numerous line up changes and have just signed to a new record deal with a new label, so I think they used this showcase to show off who they were now. They admittedly played mainly new songs that weren’t out yet, so those who were there to see them couldn’t even sing along. I love lead singer Nick’s voice. For some reason it stood out to me as different than all of those other pop punk bands, but that was about the only thing. Most of the songs felt almost exactly the same and the crowd seemed to lose interest.
You could tell that recorded this would be an amazing album, but they need to work on how they are going to perform it
- Stephanie Joudrey

Dear Jane I @ The Reverb 11pm

Before I start my review I feel a need for some disclosure: I used to be the roadie/street team captain/#1 fan of singer Jeremy Dove & bassist Heather DeJong’s old band Bad Blood (as far as we know I have the only Bad Blood tattoo in existence); when the band broke up there was some friction and we hadn’t spoken (meaningfully) for almost five years, so seeing them play in the room where the band broke up was weird to say the least.

Recently signed to Verona Records (owned and operated by Silverstein’s lead singer Shane Told), Dear Jane I… play a spirited brand of emo/pop-punk that has caught the attention and playlists of internet-radio and specialty cable music stations alike. Combing the best parts of Taking Back Sunday with a lyrical depth beyond most bands of the genre, dealing more with individual growth than teenage romances, surprisingly intricate drumming and grooving bass-lines. Though it was weird to see a man once nicknamed “Heavy Mayo” dressed similar to that goof in My Chemical Romance, Dear Jane I…looked and sounded the part of emo rock gods. That night, they had the crowd eating out of the palms of their hands, singing along to every word of every song and taking pictures with their camera phones. The band seemed to exude a boundless joy from the audience response, unable to hide their happiness. The emotional set closed with lead singer Jeremy Dove “leaving” (the stage) “with all his stuff” (a bag) emblematic of the theme of many of tonight’s lyrics, in a poignant exclamation point on an incredible set.

After seeing Dear Jane I… perform that night, I have never been prouder of any man in my life, not only has Jer lost over 200 lbs since “back in the day,” but also he’s grown exponentially as a singer and songwriter, along Heather’s bass playing, which has grown by leaps and bounds.
- Jeremy Shum

Cancer Bats @ The Kathedral 12am

OK, so this marks the third time I’ve the Cancer Bats in less than a month and the thirtieth overall, you’d think you’d seen it all by now…

However, they were fuckin’ ON tonight! Perhaps it’s the relentless touring, perhaps it’s because they’re gearing up to go into the studio, perhaps it’s driving around with Johnny Truant all week, or maybe it was just the right mix of Jagermeister, weed, and beer, but this might have been the best Cancer Bats set of all-time (and I wasn’t the only person there to say that). The music was tight, yet the mood was loose, just like a good…nevermind…and (lead singer) Liam had the girls swooning all night! The Bats always put on a good show regardless, but you could tell that they were having the time of their lives, just killing the crowd with their relentless onslaught of party-hardcore. Never have the lyrics “this right here…is my whole life” rang so true, as you could tell they were basking in every moment whilst they were wailing away onstage, ragin’ hard, just shredding the club with their southern rawk inspired riffery. Hell yeah, Cancer Bats! Hell Yeah!  Check out TS's interview with The Bats.
- Jeremy Shum

Cursed @ The Reverb 1am

You’d think the building would be torn to shreds by this time, but as the Big Bop was still standing, we kept on rocking. For the uninitiated, Cursed are THE LOUDEST BAND IN THE WORLD (other than Motorhead, and maybe AC/DC), so the foundation and some of the façade was in for a workout.

A considerably different crowd than was there for Dear Jane I…just over an hour before, the crowd was a decidedly more metal/hardcore and just aching for Cursed to take the stage so they can start the ritualistic destruction that they call their set. There is no way to describe their sound other than HEAVY, at times fast, but not always, slow and gloomy, yet cathartic and invigorating. Singer Chris Colohan owned the crowd without even trying, at one point deriding the entire “hardcore” community for constantly trying to “recreate this legendary ‘hardcore’ entity that didn’t even exist,” much to the delight of countless kids in obscure hardcore revivalists shirts. In one of the least/most metal moments I’ve ever seen, Colohan ventured into the crowd to set up a chair and microphone, with stand, mid-song, continuing without missing a beat except to let an overzealous fan join in. Yet another surreal moment in a series of them which defines the live Cursed experience. The records are great (especially the aptly titled II), but to truly “get” this band you must see them live. Your ears will ring for days and may even bleed, but I guarantee your mind will be blown.
- Jeremy Shum

Maximum RNR @ The Reverb 2am

Is there a better way to end a music festival or a party, than a set by Maximum RNR? I think not. The greatest party band for music aficionados, Maximum RNR bring the party to the stage, complete with classic moves like the behind the head guitar solos and play with an energy, that quite frankly, was the only thing that kept the crowd composed in large part of weary festival delegates going. Keeping it short and sweet on record, their new EP Horns Up clocks in at less than nine minutes and their total recorded output falls well short of the half hour mark, they went to extended jam mode when rhythm guitarist Keith Maurik experienced technical difficulties, as well as when vocalist Louie Durand decided he needed a break, pulled up a chair and sat down, exclaiming “What? We’re old, give us a break!” You could see the crowd smile in agreement as they launched into “I Hate the Cold,” one of only two songs on the new record over two minutes long. I don’t quite know how their set managed to get over the 45 minute mark, but the enthusiasm they showed for the music made it pass far too quickly. Maximum RNR are the perfect soundtrack to end a festival or start a party (or in this case both), a band for the music snobs and the masses. Maximum RNR are a band the loves playing music, there was not a second on stage where they were not beaming with smiles, head-banging, running around, or jumping, laughing all the way through, one can’t help but to be drawn in by the enthusiasm they have their music. It is not an act with these guys, there is nothing they’d rather be doing, and there’s nowhere they’d rather be, and one can’t help but get enthralled by that. To think, at a festival blatantly about the business of music, here was a band that would probably pay you to play, kudos to Maximum RNR for showing us the way, and reminding everyone why exactly music is great, and why we do what we do. Read Jeremy's latest column featuring Maximum RNR here.
 - Jeremy Shum

Cancer Bats @ The Rivoli Downstairs (Distort After Party) 3:30AM

31…So for the second time tonight…fuck it, I’ve run out of ways to say they were amazing, WHY ARE YOU EVEN READING THIS, GO SEE THEM NOW!!!!!!
- Jeremy Shum

<<<<<<Back to CMW Main

© 2006, All Rights Reserved