Flying on her way back from successful performances in the Canadian arctic region, LIGHTS performed an acoustic rendition of her song "Suspension" from 30,000 ft. in the air.

Of the experience, LIGHTS says "...being able to play music, do my craft at 30,000 ft...highest altitude I've ever played at. It's crazy, its a great experience, good feeling being able to do it, flying over the arctic no less. This is a flight back from inuvik...what more could you ask for as a musician...bringing your craft to all ends of the world, its a good feeling."

Watch and listen below:

I knew back when I was a teenager, after being exposed to The Beatles and Led Zeppelin, that I wanted to eventually own their recordings in the medium that they were intended to be listened to. The first record I purchased was a copy of Ray Charles’ Modern Sounds of Country and Western Music (1962), an influential album where the RnB wizard covers popular Country music with lush string arrangements. I got it at a Goodwill for $5. I didn’t even own a turntable.

By the time I got a turntable for my 22nd birthday I already owned a few records. It was just a standard plug and play USB style player. It was a present from my parents, and I threw on John Lennon/Yoko Ono’s Double Fantasy (1980), starting with the classic Lennon solo song “Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)”, a song that was important to my mother when she was younger.

I was hooked. I started spending all my disposable income at my local record stores, to the point where my record collecting girlfriend and I now have over 120 albums in just over two years of collecting. We have everything from Howlin’ Wolf and  Elton John, to Wu-Tang Clan and Foster The People. Record Store Day is for people like us.

It was a last minute idea to go to this event, so on Friday night I went to the RSD official website where all the releases are listed. I made a list of about ten records I would love to pick up. My girlfriend and I got up early Saturday and headed down to Sonic Boom in the Annex, now attached to Honest Ed’s. We managed to get there ten minutes before the store opened at 10AM, where there was already close to 100 people in line.

Store employees came out to check out the line and reminded everyone there was a limit of only one copy of any given record per person. There has been a recent backlash of people buying up rarer (read: popular) pressings and flipping them on eBay for quadruple the retail value.

Even though the people at Sonic Boom with all the room they have could have spread out the records a bit more, it was fairly well organized. All the bulk 45’s were in crates and all the limited edition 45’s were placed on a shelf. The full LPs were in crates along the back wall in their newly reorganized space.

It was chaos with everyone bum-rushing the tables. Except the nice thing about the vinyl culture is that no one was overly aggressive. People would shout out “Anyone see the Cake 45?” and within seconds the record would be passed down the line/mass of people to the requester. Employees were only too kind to point out where specific albums were being stored.

I went in only wanting to spend a bit, but after grabbing everything that was left on my wish list I ended up scoring Mumford and Sons Live at Bull Moose (2013) 10”, The Roots’ Things Fall Apart (1999) LP, Phoenix’s Entertainment (2013) 7”, Biffy Clyro’s (the band who recently opened for Muse at the ACC) Modern Magic Formula (2013) 7” and The Joy Formidable’s A Minute’s Silence (2013) 12” 45 record.

In all, I ended up spending $75. Not bad for my first Record Store Day, where I grabbed everything that looked awesome. CP24 was there with a news truck to film the cash registers dinging with joy. I spent 30 minutes looking for my loot, then another 30 minutes in a line that wrapped around the store.

I spent the day in contact with another vinyl fiend of a friend who hit up several stores including an early start at Sunrise Records at Yonge and Dundas. I was texting aggressively to see if they had the two records I most wanted but wasn’t able to score. A re-issue of The White Stripes’ Elephant (2003). The first record was half dipped in red vinyl, the other half black, while the second record of the double LP set was all white. I had seen pictures and it looked gorgeous. The other record I really wanted was a 7” of the Black Keys and The Stooges both performing the same song “No Fun” on a orange and red sunburst coloured vinyl.

Even though the White Stripes album was only selling for $35, it was being flipped for over $60 by later in the day. Luckily I found the BK/Stooges 7” on sale from NoneSuch Records official site which I purchased.

I had hoped to spend more time at Sonic Boom where they were having live performances by local bands starting at 1PM and finishing up with a headlining performance by Young Mother at 8pm.

I can’t wait for next year's edition to see what is released and what I can score! Part of the fun of record collecting is the unknown. You never know what you are going to get once you start digging.

- by Dakota Arsenault (via livemusicTO's Open Submissions)

Fan favorites, Sleeping With Sirens, announce a new album titled Feel and release “Low” as the first single. 

Feel is due for a June 4th release via Rise Records and was produced by Cameron Mizell and Dan Kornef, and mastered by Ted Jensen. 

Tracklisting:
01. Feel
02. Here We Go
03. Free Now
04. Alone (featuring MGK)
05. I'll Take You There (featuring Shayley Bourget)
06. The Best There Ever Was
07. Low
08. Congratulations (featuring Matty Mullins)
09. Deja Vu
10. These Things I've Done
11. Sorry
12. Satellites

Sticking to what has been working for them as a band, they put focus on working elements; such as Kellin Quinn’s singing and morphing in screams that heavier fans have been demanding. For any fan of the band, the new single is definitely worth a listen. If your new to the group, this single is as perfect as any other to draw you in and capture the sound that Sleeping With Sirens is, and always has been. 

Listen to the new single here: 

- via the Rolling Stone

Now in its sixth year, Record Store Day continues to celebrate independent record stores by offering up a wide assortment of incredible releases for one day only. The latest, set for April 20th, is jam-packed with goodies: artists from Mumford & Sons to David Bowie and MGMT are offering up limited-edition treats. Check out some of our favorites below. 

Astralwerks, Music in 20/20 box set
Since first releasing Amorphous Androgynous' Tales of Ephidrina in 1993, New York indie label Astralwerks has championed some of the electronic scene's most influential albums. To celebrate 20 years in the game, they're dropping a box set full of goodies, including rare cuts on flexi-vinyl from artists including Kraftwerk, Hot Chip, Air and the Kooks. 

David Bowie, "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)/"Where Are We Now?" seven-inch (copies available: 5000)
Thought the Thin White Duke was done offering up new audible treats? Think again: Bowie is releasing a double-sided seven-inch featuring "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)" and "Where Are We Now?," both from his stunning new album, The Next Day. And that's not all: he's also releasing his 1965! EP on vinyl, as well as a "Drive-In Saturday" picture disc.

Elliott Smith, Either/Or Alternate Cuts seven-inch (copies available: 3500)
Shortly before his heavy drinking and drug use began to draw concern from his close friends, the late Elliott Smith released his brilliant third album, Either/Or. The 1997 LP is now revisited on a limited-edition vinyl containing four alternate versions of select tracks.

Grateful Dead, Rare Cuts & Oddities 1966 12-inch double vinyl (copies available: 5000)
Originally recorded in 1966, first released in 2005 and now finding their way onto vinyl, these early studio recordings and live covers find the Dead raw and unencumbered by fame. Check out early takes on eventual live staples including "Good Lovin'," "Not Fade Away" and "Big Railroad Blues."

MGMT, "Alien Days" cassette single (copies available: 2000)
"Alien Days", a bouncy new cut rumored to be included on MGMT's forthcoming new album, has been popping up recently in the synth-pop duo's live sets. Record Store Day will be fans’ first opportunity to hear the song in its recorded form. In typically oddball fashion, the new track arrives on the practically obsolete cassette format, but includes a coupon to download a digital version.

Mumford & Sons, Live at Bull Moose EP, CD and 10-inch vinyl (copies available: CD – 6000, vinyl – 4000)
Those clamoring for more from the Mumfords following their Grammy-winning second effort are in luck: the U.K. folksters are dropping a new four-track EP featuring rowdy live takes on tracks including "I Will Wait" and "Awake My Soul," recorded earlier this year in Maine.

Notorious B.I.G., Ready to Die 12-inch double vinyl (copies available: 2850)
Record Store Day was made for releases like this: Notorious B.I.G.'s legendary debut album has been pressed onto white vinyl, and the double LP includes the "Big Poppa" B-side "Who Shot Ya?" and rarely before-seen cover art of the late emcee.

Pulp, "After You" 12-inch (copies available: 1600)
Last December, Pulp shared a re-recorded version of a previously unreleased 2000-era demo, "After You," later revealing it was produced by LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy. Now a Soulwax remix and dub version of the disco-flavored cut appear on 12-inch vinyl.

R.E.M., Live in Greensboro EP, CD (copies available: 5000)
R.E.M. will reissue its major-label debut Green in a deluxe 25th anniversary two-CD set this May, along with the full live set from the band’s monumental 1989 North Carolina gig on their Green World Tour.  Now you can preview the live set on a five-song EP released exclusively for Record Store Day.

The xx, Jamie xx Edits 12-inch single (copies available: 1600)
Production guru Jamie xx, the sonic mastermind of U.K. minimalists the xx, offers up a double-sided 12-inch remix disc, including alternate takes on the band's Coexist cut "Sunset" and bonus track "Reconsider."

Soundgarden, King Animal Demos, 10-inch (copies available: ?)
Appearing for the first time together, six demos from Soundgarden’s recent comeback album, King Animal, will be pressed onto 10-inch pink vinyl. The grunge gods' limited-edition release also comes with a free digital download card.

Tegan and Sara, Closer Remixed 12-inch (copies available: 3600) 
Indie-pop sister duo Tegan and Sara called upon a slew of DJs, including Sultan and Ned Shepard, to remix the standout single "Closer" from their recently released album Heartthrob.  Ten remixes of the track all appear on this 12-inch Record Store Day release.

The festival rolls through Toronto July 10th at the Molson Canadian Amphitheater.
The full line-up has yet to be announced, but you can head on over to the festivals website to view those who have.

Here is the current tour route:

"Up in the Air" is rock trio Thirty Seconds To Mars first single of off new album Love Lust Faith + Dreams, and it debuted today exclusively at the International Space Station. The single will be made available for us earthlings tomorrow, March 19th. The band watched from Cape Canaveral, Florida as a CD copy of the song was launched into space on a Falcon 9 rocket.
"It was amazing to feel it take off," frontman Jared Leto said in a recent interview via theassociatedpress.com. "The noise and the brightness was overwhelming, and you're still a mile away."

Launching a CD into space seems to be no small feet but it was nothing in comparison to the $30 million lawsuit the band was facing back in 2008 for a breach of contract with EMI. The lawsuit, thank god, was resolved, and the band continues to work with EMI.
"That $30 million lawsuit in that battle was very real. It wasn't a headline. It was something we thought about every single moment of the day that was there, weighing on us. And not just the fact that we would lose and owe a corporation $30 million, but we would have our creative lives stamped out," Leto said.

Upwards and onwards is a phrase quite fitting for the latest album, due to the out-of-this-world exposure, and I'm curious to see how this beginning is reflected in their work.
"The last album was about closure. There was a battle and a war that we fought. This one is a new beginning," the 41-year-old singer-actor said. "The good news is that there's an entirely new group that's running things. It's essentially a new record company."

About 70 songs were written and recorded for the latest album, and dwindling down to 12 choices seems to be no easy task.
"My songs must feel like discarded lovers because I'm continuously abandoning time," Leto joked. "But that feels better than being sued."

The band, which also includes Shannon Leto and Tomo Milicivic, will begin a world tour in June to support Love Lust Faith + Dreams which is due to be released May 21, 2013.

In more good news, Leto will make a grand re-entrance onto the big screen after five years, playing a transsexual and starring opposite Matthew McConaughey in the AIDS drama, "Dallas Buyers Club."

Head on over to either the bands website, or NASA's to listen to a conversation between astronaut Tom Marshburn from the International Space Station and singer Jared Leto.

I had to pinch myself as I walked up the steps of The Annex Wreckroom and into what appeared to be a post-pubescent males wet dream.

Monday, March 4th marked the start of UK post-hardcore band Enter Shikari's North American tour with Architects, and they sure started it off hot and heavy. All across the club there was certainly no shortage of snap backs, band tee’s, ‘wife beats’ and ink covered arms amongst both males and females, signaling that I must be in the right place.

After pushing my way through broken dreams and body odor, I came to air at the back of the venue, finding a good central viewpoint of the crowd and stage.  With only ten minutes before Shikari were to take the stage an automated loop counted down the minutes, playing circus inspired intro music with a quirky ringmaster keeping the Shikari lions at bay. 

“Two minutes till showtime,” the ringmaster warned as fans began to rush the tiny dance floor.  Finally the countdown ended, the band took the stage, and the crowd went wild.

Now, stop for a minute and picture a pack of wild monkeys that haven’t been fed for a week. Then throw a bushel of bananas in the middle.

This mosh pit resembled that image.

The energy in the air was magnetic and instantly contagious as frontman Roughton "Rou" Reynolds began belting out System/Meltdown, and not a soul seemed to be tight-lipped.

The intensity held steady through until the breakdown in Sssnakepit where it literally seemed like insanity was unleashed from the depths of metal hell.

Taking a quick breather to gather themselves and thank Canada, Rou shouted out, “We’ve been using and abusing music since 2003,” as the band began bashing out Ghandi Mate, Ghandi.

As the set continued through Sorry, You’re Not A Winner, the energy in the room never flat lined, witnessing fans coming back for a water, beer, or bathroom break and then bolting straight back into the pit.

More impressively, the band raged just as hard on stage as the fans below, hanging from the rafters (remarking about the dust, saying the ‘asbestos’ would kill us all), and stage diving like it was their day job.

Rou then gave the crowd a bit of unusual entertainment as he headed straight through the pit, standing on a ledge at the back as he sang the night’s biggest hit Destabilize.

Shikari powered through more of their massive hits such as Warm Smiles, Juggernauts, and Arguing with Thermometers with impressive stamina, only taking short breaks to banter with the crowd.

Again another automated program came through the speakers, playing along with the band as they introduced Mothership.

“Try to make your way back to the Mothership,” it repeated as the band thrashed into their last song.

After Shikari had exited, the music never stopped, with the crowd chanting for one more song and then in unison – as if planned – began to sing the lyrics of a song back to the stage.  Shikari didn’t let their loyal fans get too rusty as they stormed back on, quickly kicking into Return to Energiser followed up with another night favourite Zzzonked. Proving that Enter Shikari is the best friend you always wanted, the band members opened up the pit for Zzzonked and actually brought the moshers onto the stage with them.

Enter Shikari continue to bring a new abstract feel to the metalcore/alternative metal scene with an infusion of electronica, dubstep, trance, and drum & bass. Sounding as if their instruments were on drugs, Shikari played a short hour-long high-energized (high-alcoholized for the crowd), interactive, and entertaining show to a mass of adoring fans.

If you wee a fan of any heavy-type genre of music, this was definitely a show you did not want to miss.

- by Katlyn Fledderus


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Released on April 24, 2012 by White's own label, Third Man Records in conjunction with Columbia, Blunderbuss was awarded the gold certification by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) after it sold over 500,000 copies in the US.

The album also debuted at #1 on the US charts, a first for Jack, as well as hitting #1 in the UK, Canada, and Switzerland. Along side CD sales, Blunderbuss was the highest charted solo debut and best selling vinyl of 2012, knocking The Beatles 'Abbey Road" off the top spot.

On top of all that, Jack White's Blunderbuss received GRAMMY nominations for Best Rock Album, Best Rock Song "Freedom at 21", as well as the nights top honour, Album of the Year.

Congrats Jack!

In the two part interview, the boys chat about how their 'hiatus' was skewed in the public's eyes, their re-entry into the scene, and the new musical influences that have followed. Watch both parts below!

The 27-year-old singer announced her withdrawal from the July show via Twitter stating, "As an artist who believes in equality for all people, I will not be participating in the Boy Scouts of America Jamboree this summer..."

Jepsen's cancellation is not the first for this concert, following suit was Train who said that they would only play the July concert if the Boy Scouts of America changed the policy. Backing up their protest, both artists acknowledged the petition on Change.org that encourages artists to drop out of concerts whose companies are anti-gay. The petition, started by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, has supporters that number in the tens of thousands.

This also isn't the first act of this kind we've seen come from the music world, tons of musicians are stepping out and against venues, promoters, and companies who hold anti-gay policies, or beliefs.

A shame that this has become such a thorn is the business - we should of all listened to Lennon - "All You Need Is Love."