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Cars 2

I think when Pixar announced they would be making a sequel to Cars, everyone over the age of 10 was unhappy. While Pixar consistently makes some of the best films, Cars was one of the few failures. Financially, Cars was a huge success, but cinematically it wasn’t a very good film. Since Cars 2 came out, I’d been wanting to see it, just because it’s Pixar, but never really having the desire. I finally watched it, and I have to confess, it’s a good film. It’s not as good as most Pixar films, but it’s certainly better than its predecessor. Cars 2 is a spy film. Like the Bond films, the audience is immediately… Read More »Cars 2

In Review

Going through my old blog posts to see how it looks with the new theme. It all seems to be working well, but I came across a lot of posts that are a month in review. I had set up a goal for how much media I’d consume in that year and tracked it. I liked that. I’m going to start doing that for the rest of the year. So here are my goals from July 9-December 31… Books I’ll read (5): Films I’ll see (20): Albums I’ll buy (20): Concerts I’ll attend (15): Plays I’ll attend (3):

TURF Video

I shot a lot of video during Toronto Urban Roots Festival… here you go, internets.

The Sadies

TURF Day 4

The Sadies One could write a thousand words about The Sadies, and none would come close to describing what this video shows. Was that good for you, too? The Sadies, as you can see are a country band, with a lot of surf and punk in their hearts. Dallas Good, Travis Good, Mike Belitsky, and Sean Dean always put on an incredible show. Dallas and Travis Good have this schtick where they get close to one another and swap fretboards. Kurt Vile, who joined The Sadies on stage for a song, was watching from the side of the stage, at this point, he pointed at the two Good brothers and… Read More »TURF Day 4

Hannah Georgas

TURF Day 3

Larry And His Flask It’s a good thing Larry was playing at Fort York, and Fort York was licensed for this event, if he was playing in Trinity-Bellwoods, he’d sure to be arrested. Larry And His Flask are all out, rocking country! They seem to be America’s answer to the Sadies. A bit messier, and bit more rock and roll than The Sadies, who are very polished in their mayhem. Their bass player was incredible. Dragging his upright bass across the stage as he danced around like a shirtless maniac. Hannah Georgas Never really knew her music. I’ve known of her for a long time. Singer/songwriter from Vancouver. She has a really… Read More »TURF Day 3

TURF Day 2

JD McPherson McPherson surprised me. When I entered the Fort York grounds I was greeted to some groovy rock and roll. A fabulous throw back to the 1950s. This was the perfect way to start the day. The songs were lively and no one seemed to mind the rain. Justin Townes Earle FUCK. I remember someone writing about him for Being There. I think it was Zayne or Russell, one of those awesome folks really liked Justin Townes Earle. I remember listening and really digging it, but never really searching, and I’m kicking myself for that now. His songs are great. His stage banter is hilarious. He really puts on… Read More »TURF Day 2

The Barr Brothers

TURF Day 1

The Barr Brothers: Your name confuses me. Remember The Barmitzvah Brothers? I do! I thought you were them. You are not. You were okay though. I enjoyed your set. It was a nice lazy set to open the festival with. You were enjoyable… bravo. Camera Obscura: You want to be Belle & Sebastian. All these years later, you still want to be Belle & Sebastian. You’re not Belle & Sebastian… BUT BELLE & SEBASTIAN WILL BE AT TURF LATER IN THE WEEK! OMG! OMG! OMG! You’re pleasant. You write nice songs. They’re not great, but they’re fun. Your bass player has a TARDIS sticker on his bass. I approve of… Read More »TURF Day 1

Gabriel Minnikin

NXNE Part 7: Gabriel Minnikin

I was surprised by a friend when she handed me two North By Northeast wristbands. I promptly started scouring the NXNE schedule, these are the stories. Gabriel Minnikin 14 JUNE 2013, 12AM Tranzac Gabriel Minnikin doesn’t seem to play in Toronto too often. I’ve been a fan of his former band The Guthries for quite some time and his sister Ruth’s for just as long. I think that his living in the UK and not performing in Toronto was what led me to never check out his solo records. I bought two records of his a couple years back at the Zunior Boxing Day sale. While I liked the record,… Read More »NXNE Part 7: Gabriel Minnikin

Cœur de pirate

NXNE Part 6: Cœur de pirate

I was surprised by a friend when she handed me two North By Northeast wristbands. I promptly started scouring the NXNE schedule, these are the stories. Cœur de pirate 13 JUNE 2013, 11PM The Great Hall Apparently Béatrice Martin, aka Cœur de pirate, was recovering from a illness, but the audience was none the wiser until she pointed it out before her last song. He voice is beautiful and he songs are pretty. I generally don’t understand what she’s singing about, but it was a nice and strange sight to see a room full of Torontonians singing along to songs in French. Maybe Canada’s French/English divide isn’t as strong as many believe.

Michael Rault

NXNE Part 5: Michael Rault

I was surprised by a friend when she handed me two North By Northeast wristbands. I promptly started scouring the NXNE schedule, these are the stories. Michael Rault 13 JUNE 2013, 10PM The Great Hall I got to The Great Hall early as there was much buzz about Cœur de pirate’s show at 11. With only a wristband, I didn’t want to be closed out on the rainy Toronto streets. He played his bluesy songs solo, with the occasional help from his Rockabilly-styled guitarist.