Toronto plays witness to a bundle of good music fests, some cater to the commercial “think big” approach while others scurry to find the perfect low key venue to host a much-needed band. Indie Week in Toronto is more than just a bunch of artists, industry names, and guests coming together to listen, it’s also about building a community that year after year simply gets bigger.
LiveMusicTO can appreciate that. Chances are if you have been to one of Darryl Hurs and company's events before, you know that The Hideout is the main melting pod and surrounding bars/venues seemingly are worked into the mix. Venues such as The Rivoli, Bovine, The Drake and the El Mo have become go-to landmarks for good tunes. This year was no different.
Although the scope of artists is vast, and the oodles of brew (oops we mean Jack) is a nice addition, one of the main attractions for bands continues to be the battle.
Simply put: the battle for the chance to play in Ireland is the prized beauty. One band gets selected and These Electric Lives were the takers this year.
Housed at the essence of glam rock—Tattoo Rock Parlour, the finals featured indie hopefuls like A Primitive Evolution alongside youthful up-and-comers Courage My Love—with lots and lots of Jack in between. It was a true music environment, easy on the glitz big on the quench.
Having seen These Electric Lives at The Piston a couple of months back—it was good to see the similar workings on stage, but also some freshly new peaks for the ‘newbee’ attendees. TEL haves that Euro-pop rock sensibility mixed with a North American refined sound that is quite easy on the ears; definitely marketable in a global sense.
Judged by industry peeps such as Shawn Frank (The Envy), Adam Fujiki (Manager, A&R Sony) and Barbara Sedun (Sr. VP EMI Publishing)—the chance to play Indie Week in another country can really help expand a band’s stock and these guys know that. Sometimes it’s good to play places where “everybody doesn’t know your name.”
Other notable mentions extend to personal favourites—The Ascot Royals. After catching front man Jimmy Chauveau and the boys tear up one of Toronto’s best performance venues, Bread & Circus on Thursday to then see them move to round 2 for the semi’s; we were obviously a bit disappointed when their brit-rock soul beats were defeated.
There is something quite alluring about the look of these lads. Whether it is the choir boy meets UK rock-chic—or their raw and tear-sucked lyrics—The Ascot Royals have a tortured bliss about them that makes them genuinely likeable. It’s actually hard to pinpoint a band reference that has a similar makeup. Perhaps The Subways in a small sense with a bit of a Pete Doherty front work meshed with a new-wave pop template? Perhaps. Check them out for yourselves, live at The Bovine on November 13th.
Other must-watch bands include Ten Kens, The Murder Plans, and the ‘Panic at the Disco’ sounding act—The Little Black Dress.
All in all Indie Week was bunch of messy stumbles with some definite buzz-worthy bands wrapped together in a warp of good times.
For a complete list of the band scorecards go here.
Article by: Kathryn Kyte.
Photo courtesy of: Indie Week.
LiveMusicTO can appreciate that. Chances are if you have been to one of Darryl Hurs and company's events before, you know that The Hideout is the main melting pod and surrounding bars/venues seemingly are worked into the mix. Venues such as The Rivoli, Bovine, The Drake and the El Mo have become go-to landmarks for good tunes. This year was no different.
Although the scope of artists is vast, and the oodles of brew (oops we mean Jack) is a nice addition, one of the main attractions for bands continues to be the battle.
Simply put: the battle for the chance to play in Ireland is the prized beauty. One band gets selected and These Electric Lives were the takers this year.
Housed at the essence of glam rock—Tattoo Rock Parlour, the finals featured indie hopefuls like A Primitive Evolution alongside youthful up-and-comers Courage My Love—with lots and lots of Jack in between. It was a true music environment, easy on the glitz big on the quench.
Having seen These Electric Lives at The Piston a couple of months back—it was good to see the similar workings on stage, but also some freshly new peaks for the ‘newbee’ attendees. TEL haves that Euro-pop rock sensibility mixed with a North American refined sound that is quite easy on the ears; definitely marketable in a global sense.
Judged by industry peeps such as Shawn Frank (The Envy), Adam Fujiki (Manager, A&R Sony) and Barbara Sedun (Sr. VP EMI Publishing)—the chance to play Indie Week in another country can really help expand a band’s stock and these guys know that. Sometimes it’s good to play places where “everybody doesn’t know your name.”
Other notable mentions extend to personal favourites—The Ascot Royals. After catching front man Jimmy Chauveau and the boys tear up one of Toronto’s best performance venues, Bread & Circus on Thursday to then see them move to round 2 for the semi’s; we were obviously a bit disappointed when their brit-rock soul beats were defeated.
There is something quite alluring about the look of these lads. Whether it is the choir boy meets UK rock-chic—or their raw and tear-sucked lyrics—The Ascot Royals have a tortured bliss about them that makes them genuinely likeable. It’s actually hard to pinpoint a band reference that has a similar makeup. Perhaps The Subways in a small sense with a bit of a Pete Doherty front work meshed with a new-wave pop template? Perhaps. Check them out for yourselves, live at The Bovine on November 13th.
Other must-watch bands include Ten Kens, The Murder Plans, and the ‘Panic at the Disco’ sounding act—The Little Black Dress.
All in all Indie Week was bunch of messy stumbles with some definite buzz-worthy bands wrapped together in a warp of good times.
For a complete list of the band scorecards go here.
Article by: Kathryn Kyte.
Photo courtesy of: Indie Week.
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