LiveMusicTO chats with Myles Rogers from Niagara, ON band Sounds of the Crowd.

1) Where did the name "Sounds of the Crowd" come from?
It's actually a funny story! The name actually just came from an hour long conversation of throwing words together that made a unique sounding band name!
After a while we decided on "Sound of the Crowds" but accidentally made our myspace "Sounds of the Crowd", and it stuck!

2) How long have you been together as a band?
Our current line up has been held for almost two years, but a year of that was writing our newest tracks and finalizing our line up. So about a year of playing shows in our hometown.

3) What have been some of your biggest accomplishments so far?
Being able to write with David and Antoine in the Mission District taught us so much about writing proper pop songs! And the experiences we gained from hanging out in Montreal 
and absorbing everything is definitely our biggest accomplishment and favourite memory.

4) What is your favourite song to perform live, and why?
Speaking personally, I love playing any bit of new material we're working on! Right now we're practicing a song we wrote called "Never Let You Go", and it's really fun! 
But I suppose if songs we haven'y actually played live yet don't count, my favourite is definitely "Miracle". It's our positive pump up jam. 

5) How would you describe your fans?
The greatest people to ever roam the earth. Without the "Crowders" (as they seem to have named themselves), we wouldn't be playing in a couple days in Toronto! 
I hope nobody thinks any band takes their fans for granted, because we love 'em endlessly. <3

6) What are you most looking forward to this summer?
I look forward to looking forward to moving come December. We feel like we've outgrown St. Catherine's so we're moving up to Montreal to see how things go there. I'm super stoked! Just gotta work away my summer.

7) What is your favourite venue to play in Toronto?
Well, we haven't played there yet, but I'm looking forward to playing all over Toronto and picking up more friends along the way. We're excited for the Hard Luck bar for sure!

8) Where is your favourite spot in the city to hangout as a band?
We have some friends who live in the city in the heart of downtown. That's my favourite spot! There's no place like a good friend's home!

9) What has been the craziest fan moment to date?
We once took, like, fifty pictures with the same group of girls. That was pretty fun! 

10) For people seeing Sounds of the Crowd for the first time at LiveMusicTO's showcase on June 30th, what can they expect?
Expect some awesome Up Beat dance songs mixed with some guitars and Catchy melodies! Also expect four good looking men who dance awkwardly to it with instruments strapped on their backs!

Seattle, Washington indie pop-sensational band HE IS WE is coming to Toronto on the "All About You" tour presented by Purevolume.com!

We'd like to giveaway 2 pairs of tickets to this show, July 5th, 2011 at the legendary El Mocambo!

This contest is extremely simple, all you need is a Twitter account and 2 minutes of free time.

Step 1) Follow LiveMusicTO on Twitter HERE

Step 2) Tweet or Retweet (RT) the following message as shown:

"RT TO WIN tickets to see @HeIsWe live in Toronto July 5th http://bit.ly/j4vhVL via @LiveMusicTO #LMTOheiswe"

Full event details HERE. Winner will be announced and contacted via Twitter Direct Message on July 4th, 2011. Good luck everyone!

Does your band want to open "THE ALL STARS TOUR" @ SOUND ACADEMY on AUGUST 2ND?

Here's how you can win a coveted opening spot on the all day fest alongside huge artists like Emmure, Alesana, Iwrestledabearonce, Bless The Fall & many more!

Our friends at Union Events will be hosting an online Battle Of The Bands via Facebook. We will be selecting 8 bands in total to battle it out!

To submit your band, email contests@unionevents.com with the following info:

Band:
Website:
Hometown:
Contact Info (email & phone #):

If Union selects your band to be in the running you will be notified by June 29th. The online voting contest will begin July 4th. Good luck!

LiveMusicTO chats with Reid from Toronto, ON band Friday Night Trend.

1) Where did the name "Friday Night Trend" come from?
Friday Night Trend was one of those things that just fell into place. Wasn’t much thought put into the name, it just kind of happened.

2) How long have you been together as a band?
With the addition of [our guitarist] Henry, it has been almost two years that we have been playing together. We had some lineup changes throughout those years but now that we have gone public, as of this May, and we are growing our fan base exponentially with no plans of stopping anytime soon.

3) What have been some of your biggest accomplishments so far?
We are extremely fortunate to have Derek Hoffman of Brighter Brightest (http://www.myspace.com/brighterbrightest) supporting us with the recording process of our debut EP, which should be released sometime this summer. We are just finishing a few last tracks. Sounds golden, we're really excited for everyone to hear it. Get pumped!!!

4) What is your favorite song to perform live, and why?
Our show with LiveMusicTO is our first show as a full band, so there's no real answer to that question. We really like rehearsing Settled, which will most likely be our first single off the EP once it's out. It's really fun and upbeat but has some slow, mellow parts that definitely create a catchy synergy.

5) How would you describe your fans?
We are fortunate to have so many great friends that have helped us get where we are now. It was so great to see almost 500 plays of our first released song "Two Papes" on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/FridayNightTrend) in less than a couple weeks, considering that was our first entry of any sort onto the internet. It really shows that we have amazing fans and we only hope to meet more and more people on the road.

6) As a band, what are you most looking forward to this summer?
Like I said before, this summer marks our entry into the Toronto music scene so we have huge plans. We have our first show with LiveMusicTO on June 30th at the Hard Luck Bar, EP release aimed for sometime in July, and hopefully more shows throughout the way! Lots of new music coming and more being recorded so keep an eye out!

7) What is your favorite venue to play in Toronto?
We really like the small, intimate feel of Hard Luck Bar from a past acoustic performance but we want to check out Tattoo Rock Parlor, The Mod Club, Sneaky Dee’s, and pretty much anything we can play in the coming months.

8) Where is your favorite spot in the city to hangout as a band?
It's always a blast just hanging out in our neighborhood. We love just kicking it back with our good friends having a few drinks, and playing great music.

9) What has been the craziest fan moment to date?
I was at [our guitarist] Henry's residence at his university staying for the weekend to party. We were drinking with all his friends, just hanging, and I dismissed myself to go to the washroom. As I'm doing my business at the urinal, I couldn't believe my ears when our song "Two Papes" started blasting from, what sounded like, the showers. We hadn't released music, started any promotional pages like myspace, or anything! I had absolutely no idea how this was happening. He came out and said "Check out this sick song!" and I was like "Dude...that's me singing on it! How do you even have this!? " It was crazy but then I realized he was a friend of Henry's who was really into our band so I gave him respect.

10) For people seeing Friday Night Trend for the first time at LiveMusicTO's showcase on June 30th, what can they expect?
Definitely expect a great show and a grand turnout; it's gonna be huge!! Friday Night Trend's first show as a full band and we are gonna blow out the bar with our tunes. Were all just really stoked about being on this show with so many other great artists. Come check us out and you won't be disappointed. Besides, we want to meet everyone!

I came out of this thing with more money and less hair. I met the love of my life and other alluring women.  I started playing jazz sax and ended up playing pop piano. I stopped smoking weed and started smoking cigarettes. I traveled as west as Hawaii and as east as the Mediterranean. I went from 195 lbs. to 167 lbs. I made friends from all walks of life and we celebrated our cultures through parties, language, food, and love. I made a bit of money and sold a bit of my soul. What did I do for the last two years - worked on a fucking cruise ship.

A lot of people ask me what it’s like to work on a boat. Plenty of musicians want to find out if a cruise gig is right for them. The following won’t answer every question, but it’ll offer a personal glimpse into the world of nautical insanity.

In my final year at York U, I was scouring the internet for jobs, while panicking about my quarter-life crisis (what have I accomplished? where do I go now? barf, barf, barf). I responded to a Craigslist ad for a ship gig, and a few days later a cruise agent (and my future band mate on the boat) came over to my place. We played a few jazz standards, sang a few tunes, drank some beers, and he offered me the job. I accepted on the condition that I could bring along Zach, my blood-brother and musical collaborator. I saw it as an opportunity for us to write music and hustle our band on international waters. The next thing I knew we were on a plane to Vancouver to embark on the boat.

We thought we’d signed up for a jazz gig, but it was actually a ballroom dance gig. I knew musical phrases like “half-time feel” and “four-on-the-floor”, but I had no idea what the hell a “foxtrot” and “triple-step” was. So for two months we practiced for two hours in the afternoon, played four sets until midnight, then had full band rehearsals afterward for an hour or two. It was the most playing I’d ever done. Over time, we went from having 12 songs in our rep to just over 300. We played more cha-chas and rhumbas than I care to admit, but we developed a unique style as a band, by arranging pop and rock tunes for jazz instrumentation.

We learned a lot on this gig, but above all else, it humbled us. On any given night, you’d be showered with compliments, given free booze, and propositioned by women who offered you their…time. Other nights were like being trapped in god’s waiting room - we’d play for three people who didn’t clap and who looked comatose – and most likely, they were. The boat was very much a retirement community, rife with bingo, teatime, and constant complaining. Gluttonous guests felt it was their right to whine about every imperfection in their orbit. After all, they PAID to be there. Some classic complaints were “The buffet isn’t open long enough” (it’s open all day), “There’s nothing to do right now” (Sorry that you’re too unimaginative to entertain yourself for 45 minutes between shows…pick up a goddamn magazine!) and the most nauseating of all, “The boat rocks too much” (to which I don’t even dignify a response).

The people I met weren’t all bad. I made life-long friends on the boat who were genuine, intelligent, creative, and cool. Befriending people from all walks of life opened my eyes to the abundance of diversity on the boat. Also, each port-of-call was made infinitely better by these people. We went on wild adventures and had an absurd amount of fun. We roamed Rome, jumped cliffs in Croatia, skydived in Maine, rode camels in Tunisia, motor-biked in Maui, hiked in Alaska, you get the idea. We also ate and drank like kings in the various places we stopped. Most notably, we ate pizza in Naples, mussels in Dubrovnik, tagine in Morocco, paella in Barcelona, gnocchi in Rome, sangria in Valencia, and wine by the litre in Venice. I shared so much with the people I met on the boat, and I’m proud to say that I have a place to crash on every continent.

I also met some truly fascinating characters, whom I now realize are the archetypes of the cruise industry: the energetic cruise director who could out-schmooze any politician; the aging guest entertainer melting under the stage lights; the pig-headed bridge officer who buys his love and oafishly stakes claim over his new possession(s); the embittered production manager who wishes they were on stage; the hot dancer who’s only real problem is their own deep-routed insecurity; the unbreakable line-cook who works 15 hour days with no complaints; the food and beverage manager who lurks around the buffet and makes sure the employees can’t eat the special stuff, like sushi.

I’m sickened to report that the hierarchy on the boat could be seen as ethnically divided. FOR THE MOST PART, I noticed that the officers were Greek, the security was Israeli, most entertainers were British or North American, and most behind-the-scenes employees were South Asian. Of course there were smatterings of other nationalities, but this is what I mostly saw.  Besides an ethnic divide, there was also an apparent abuse of power. I saw several females become enticed by the ship officers who’d offer them things like fine dining, free booze, a porthole, a bigger bed, and immunity to rules and regulations. I guess money talks.

For me, the money wasn’t too bad. It changes from contract to contract, and depends on what your agent can get from the company. No matter what the musical position may be, I wouldn’t accept a gig for less than $750 a week – KNOW YOUR WORTH! A lot of people say “You’re just playing music, it’s not that hard”. An agent will also tell you “This is how much the position usually makes, so don’t expect anymore”. But remember that producing creative, inventive, and fresh music every day for four hours a day is enduring. Admittedly, I’d go on auto-pilot if I wasn’t feeling inspired. But to be on auto-pilot for a more than a few days is a problem; your listeners will notice and you’ll be unhappy.

I played a maximum of four sets a night, never starting before 5:15pm, and never ending past midnight. The first two sets were usually ballroom, and the third (and sometimes fourth), was often populated with a listening crowd wanting to hear jazz and pop. We picked our own tunes and took requests (you should expect to learn tunes every few days, if your rep is lacking). We weren’t allowed to accept tips, but we never denied them. We didn’t sell an album, but we were asked more than a few times a week, and we figure we lost out on a lot of money. If you plan on hustling your album, be prepared to give the company a ridiculous cut, around 30%, sometimes more. 

The only non-music jobs required were safety drills, which every employee had to do. My job was to stand at a post and direct guests to their muster stations; it was tedious, but I tried having fun with it by quietly teasing the guests with my station partner, Oleg, a 45-year-old drummer from Moscow, who loved Coca-Cola, and hated vodka.

Drinks were 50% off in guest areas, and dirt-cheap in crew areas. I’m talking about $1 beers and $2.50 highballs. A pack of smokes was $1.50 and a carton was $17. Partying occurred almost every night. There was the staff bar, which was a place to unwind, have a drink, and play pool. The crew bar was the unofficial meat market, filled with gussied-up hussies and lingering predators. It was also filled with friendly drunkards who just wanted to dance and rock out. There were always great after-parties in the cabins after the bars closed. We’d order room service, have sing-a-longs, and sometimes find temporary bunkmates. 

When it came to sex, there were sticky issues. Keep in mind most of us shared a bunk-bed in a room smaller than an Alcatraz jail cell (this was confirmed at our stop in San Francisco). Some roommates had their own agreements. My roomate and I had a few - “If the door’s locked, don’t come in”, “I’m going back to the room, give me an hour”, “Knock first, then wait 30 seconds so we can get our clothes on”, and a few other ones. If you remember one thing from this article, let it be this – WEAR A FUCKING CONDOM! Everyone sleeps with everyone and someone’s bound to be carrying something that you don’t want. Luckily, I came out itchless and unscathed, but I’d be lying if I said there weren’t some close calls.

The aforementioned text merely touches on the wildly absurd life I led on the boat. In a soon-to-be-published article I'll be focusing on a few issues that I previously mentioned: ethnic, environmental, hierarchical, and sexual injustices in the cruise ship industry. These subjects require more analysis and attention than just a fleeting paragraph. The rest can be summed up with nostalgic and nauseating sighs, with hilarious regrets, and with fond reflections of a carefree lifestyle and zero responsibilities.

by Michael Tobin.

From August 26th-28th, 2011, festival-goers will immerse themselves in a multi-day music and camping experience that will see a lakefront property in Bala, Muskoka transformed into an interactive camping festival, as the 2011 SummerAid Music and Camping Festival continues to evolve the traditional concert event.

Combining BYOB camping with party rock, DJs, beach, wakeboard demos and inflatable game fun zones, SummerAid is an experience that reaches far beyond a traditional concert.

The Lineup includes: illScarlett, KO, Marcus Visionary, Echo Movement, Street Pharmacy, The Organ Thieves, Najjah Calibur, Tall Guy Short Guy, StereoKid, Treble Warriors, Cardinal Chase, Billionaire, Grizzy, Stuck On Planet Earth, The Balance and CHASING AMEE. 

Here's how  to WIN 2 Full Weekend Camping and Festival Passes:

Step 1) Post the “I’m partying” poster (which you can download here) as your Facebook profile display photo.

Step 2) Include the following in the caption:
> A link to the Facebook Event Page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=202050819838846
> Why you will be partying harder than anyone else at SummerAid!

Step 3) Post your Facebook profile link (or direct link to your display photo) on the LiveMusicTO Facebook Page to qualify: http://www.facebook.com/LiveMusicTO

The Fan with the most wildly awesome party comments on their Facebook photo will win this contest! Winners will be contacted via Facebook message August 9th at 11PM. For more info on SummerAid visit: www.SummerAid.com

Subscribe to our YouTube page HERE.

LiveMusicTO chats with Wilson of Toronto, ON band Dancing with Paris.

1) For those who want to get to know DWP a little more, tell us where did the name come from?
Basically, in a nut shell, it originated from our drummer. What happened was, he went to a strip club and fell in love with this girl named Paris. Unfortunately, she was busy for the night and when he went to go back, she was gone.. FOREVER!  

2) How did you meet and long have you been performing in the current line up?
 Piers and I (Wilson) have been friends for a long time now and we both have played in bands together since we were young. We both went to school with James which was really good friends with Terrence. Our line-up has been the same now for over a year but we have gone through a lot of people!  

3) What have been some of your biggest accomplishments so far?
Our top 3 biggest accomplishments so far would have to be getting FACTOR funding for the new album, being able to tour a lot of Canada so far, and of course, the constant gain of new fans. 
 
4) What is your favourite song to perform live and why?
Personally, I like to play a song off the new record called "The Last Man".  

5) How would you describe your fans?
Our fans are very loyal and they are a lot of fun to hang out with. They are also some of the funniest people I have ever met in my life.  

6) What are you most looking forward to in the last half of 2011?
I'm looking forward to the release of this album and really just getting back out on the road.  
 
7) If there was one band in the world you could share the stage with tomorrow, who would you choose and why?
I would LOVE to share the stage with Deftones. They have been the most influence to me. I have loved them since I was in elementary school! 

8) Where is your favourite spot in the city to hangout?
I love to hang out in the beaches! Only in the summer though! 

9) What has been the craziest fan moment to date?
I would have to say the fans that like to be in the middle of our ATOM BOMB would probably be the craziest. If you want to see what we are talking about search Dancing With Paris - Atom Bomb on Youtube.

10) When might people be able to see you in the GTA next?
 The next show in the GTA will be our home coming show at the Hard Luck Bar in Toronto June 23rd, 2011.

LiveMusicTO catches up with Edmonton, AB band The Maddigans.

1) For those who want to get to know The Maddigans a bit more, where did the name come from and how would you describe your music?
Our band name was actually our friends last name in high school. We joked about having it as our band name but it eventually caught on and we decided we liked it. We describe ourselves as Female Fronted Pop Punk.

2) How did you all meet and how long have you been performing?
Trisha and I met in Junior High and played in a few bands before forming The Maddigans. We met Thad through a mutual friend and actually came across Seb through Youtube.

3) What have been some of your biggest accomplishments so far?
Independently booking and going on 7 Canadian tours and 1 US tour. We're also really proud our newest EP Way To Start This, as well as the new material we've written since then.

4) What is your favourite song to perform live, and why?
'Diamond Rings and Pretty Things' has an awesome intro and is fun to start our set with. However our song 'Way To Start This' has an awesome tempo and is great to rock out to live.

5) How would you describe your fans?
Very good looking.

6) What are you most looking forward to in 2011?
Well for starters, finishing this tour until the end of May. Then we are also working on our first music video and there will be another big tour in the fall. Past that we can't say yet!

7) What is your favourite venue to play in Toronto?
So far it's definitely The Hard Rock. Such a cool venue and it has an awesome view overlooking Dundas Square.

8) Where is your favourite spot in the city to hangout?
To be honest we haven't really explored the city too much. Downtown is pretty awesome though.

9) What has been the craziest fan moment to date?
Well on this tour we actually had a girl from England who came to visit her friend here and both of them ended up going to 5 of our Ontario dates including Ottawa which is about 5 hours away from where they live. Other than that we just have some awesome dedicated fans all over that we are always happy to play for!

10) When can people look forward to seeing you play Toronto next?
Late September/early October during our fall tour. We're looking forward to it!