Featured on SAM Artist MGMT
Shipwrck’d was featured last week on SAM Artist’s Management blog for my writeup on Dirty Radio! SAM also reps Canadian pop acts like Fake Shark Real Zombie, Mariana’s Trench, and… CARLY RAE JEPSEN! When I’m famous, I’ll call you … maybe.
Dirty Radio @ Supermarket
I was introduced to Vancouver’s Dirty Radio last night thanks to the good people at DMD/Strongsongs. They’re on an Ontario tour with Dragonette right now but they did this one off gig since there was time in between shows.
The video above, “Found You” was directed and produced by Michael Columbu, of The Weeknd’s “The Knowing” video, fame. Apparently he was supposed to meet the Dirty Radio guys but was held up at the BC/Washington border since customs suspected his biz might not just be pleasure related after skimming through his laptop, so they rushed to meet him for 3 hours while Columbu snapped some green screen shots to use for the vid.
I see a lot of potential going for them with high calibre music video support, incredibly tight musicianship and a solid blend of pop and future r&b stylings. They’ve recently released an actual mixe cassette (released on iTunes & an actual hard copy tape) with support from Sherry St. Germain, Ryan Dahle (Limblifter, The Age of Electric), and Marlow Holder (Kinnie Star) which I can’t wait to hear to satisfy my 90s Edgefest loving inner child. The “Cinema” cover came outta nowhere, so I couldn’t resist taking a vid. I’ve had a guilty pleasure/soft spot for the song thanks to prepping for my Benny Benassi interview last October (on Spinner), and the remixes featured on the Forza: Horizon soundtrack.
Lee’s Palace and Horseshoe say g’bye to Ticketmaster – BlogTO
With Collective Concerts inking a deal with Ticketfly the newly arrived American online ticketing giant, two key Toronto venues, Lee’s Palace and The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern, both run by Collective Concerts, will be saying g’bye to the dated Ticketmaster sales system.
What’s Ticketfly you might ask? Well, it’s basically an online ticket sales platform that empowers event promoters with social media services, sales outlets, analytics, microsites and a bunch of other handy features.
Apparently Jeff Cohen of Collective Concerts has been eager to move since he met the Ticketfly crew at SXSW almost two years ago.
“Jeff learned that a bunch of his contemporaries in the US were using the platform,” CEO Andrew Dreskin told me from their annual FlyCon in San Francisco “and it was seen as the most progressive and forward thinking one. He fell in love with the technology and said to us, ‘You know what? You’re not in Canada yet, but I don’t care, I like you. We’re going to make a deal.’ And that’s literally how it went down.”
Since the boom in EDM (yes, I hate the term as much as the rest of you, so don’t get me started) festivals, Ticketfly has seen some very interesting stats in neon-slathered show goers. Apparently they tyically buy single tickets, rather than in pairs, and they are three times more likely to buy via Facebook mobile than other genres. No surprise there as fits perfectly with the “digital” nature of the beats. With all the social media bells and whistles in Ticketfly, Facebook will let you know what shows all the “cool kids” in your friends list are going to.
Also on board are Inertia Entertainment, Ontario’s largest heavy metal promoters and Union Events, (who in recent years have acquired Toronto’s REMG) and rank #48 worldwide as event promoters according to Pollstar.
Dreskin is no stranger to the live concert experiences. Along with creating Ticketweb, one of the very first online ticket sales services back in 1995, he’s also responsible for bringing VirginFest to North America which is still going strong, unlike the dearly departed Toronto edition.
Along with a high level of social media and digital integration, Ticketfly claims to have lower service charge fees, making enjoying shows easier on our wallets too. But listen up, Ticketfly is expanding, so if you’re a show promoter or booker, you might want to take a click and see what all the buzz is about.
For more on Ticketfly’s arrival in Canada, check out this video.
SPEAK Easy & Dana Coppafeel – One Of These Kids
The only things that I know about Milwaukee are what Alice Cooper and Wayne Campbell taught me in Wayne’s World and that my writer friend Kelli Korducki is apparently from there. This one’s for you, Kel! Congrats on your Canajianship ;)
“Milwaukee emcees SPEAK Easy and Dana Coopafeel drop the video for the single “One of These Kids”, featuring Prophetic of UMG and produced by Da Ricanstrukta –off the 2013 EP “Uni.Fi Records Presents…Dana Coppafeel and SPEAK Easy.” SPEAK Easy, known for his soulful, conscious lyrics and Dana Coppafeel, a wise cracking emcee, are an unlikely pair, but that’s what make the project so compelling.
The two artists are both on Uni.Fi Records, a Milwaukee label that was founded in 2004. Next year, the two will release head-nodding seven-track ride that is as much about musicality and instrumentation as it is about lyricism and style.
The unusual partnership has been a boundary-pusher for both rappers; and the especially-collaborative process, that engaged national and local artists, musicians and producers, has added a new dimension to their sound as well.”
Underworld – Rez (Bassnectar Remix)
Lorin Bassnectar’s become a phenomenon in the North American dubstep scene but with mass appeal comes some degree of placating the masses and uninitiated with generic sounds. I’m glad he’s come to this Rez remix though. It’s a return to his sounds that first captivated me. I wouldn’t be surprised if the tune’s made it into some of his earlier sets under the radar, so I’m glad he’s come to some kind of agreement with the EDM underworld, ha ha ha……
Chris Harper’s PHARMACY – BlogTO
Owner and sole staff member, Chris Harper, is a bit of a legend in Toronto’s west-end bar scene, having worked the taps for over a decade starting as the Communist Daughter’s very first hire, to general manager at Sweaty Betty’s, Red Light and plenty others. And oh yeah, he also co-owned and even named a little place you might have heard of called Wrongbar. After a few years wandering in the metaphoric wilderness, Chris is back — taken in by the unlikely neighborhood’s charms.
“I went for a walk one day down Cowan, saw this vacant pharmacy store front for rent, and thought it was cool,” he tells me. After sitting on it for six months he figured, “Oh fuck it, I’ll just do it. There was a mad scramble to secure the spot and the Ukrainian landlord thinks I’m crazy but he still likes me.”
Approaching the bar, my taste buds leapt as I saw the new Mill St. Vanilla Porter ($6) on tap, which I’d been told tastes like Toblerone chocolate, but sadly, they had just ran out, so I settled on a mellow and hoppy Junction Conductor’s Ale ($7). Pharmacy aims to bring a cornucopia of craft beers (ranging $6-$13) with bottles of Crabbie’s Ginger Beer, seasonal Beau’s like their Vassar Heirloom Ale, and another Jamaican favourite, Dragon Stout. Wine drinkers can also cheers as one of Harper’s pet peeves is the lousy house wine selection at bars of Pharmacy’s ilk. Instead, he’s keeping well informed on LCBO trends and will not settle for anything less than above average. Currently on shelves, I spied a bottle of Bodegas Castaño.
Along with a well stocked spirits, bourbon and scotch list list, Harper hopes to bring in a home made vodka from Prince Edward County (real hooch?) and a menu of rustic bar foods. If you’ve got a hankering for pickled beets, herring, apples, cabbage, or celery, there’s a good chance he’ll have it. He’s also had some mini pies and tourtieres from his friends at Woodlot.
But at the end of the day, it’s really just a bar. “I don’t have any DJs, TVs or video games. You can come and sit down; it’s not too loud. I love this neighborhood and the people coming in. People are more appreciative than I expected. I was worried about Nicky’s Pizza Bar next door, which serves a purpose [as an actual dive bar] but it’s working out OK.” He’s even managed to make peace with local street dealers.
For the time being, it’s a neighborhood spot for catching up with friends surrounded by funky furniture. And with a maximum occupancy of 30, it will be hard to be anything more than that (though a patio might eventually be possible). While Dundas and Ossington’s Communist Daughter was once considered the world’s end, Pharmacy could soon take its place, as the student has now surpassed the master!
Additional Details
- BEERS ON TAP:
- Mill St. Cobblestone Stout, Mill St. Stock Ale, Mill St. Vanilla Porter, Beaus Lugtread, Junction Craft Brewery Conductor’s Ale
- SIGNATURE DRINK:
- none yet
- BAR SNACKS:
- pickled veggies, tourtieres from Woodlot
- PATIO:
- No
- MUSIC/GENRE:
- Indie music from someone’s iPod
- LIVE MUSIC:
- No
- WHO GOES THERE:
- Locals looking for something more than a dive, creative industry folk
- HOURS:
- 8pm – close, seven days a week
Get Yog – for WeAreMomAndPop.com
GET YOG
Peter Pelberg and the guys behind running app Yog wanted a more social fitness experience. So they built one.
“Veronica and I are trying this new fad, I believe it’s jogging or yogging. It might be a soft ‘J’. I’m not sure but apparently you just run for an extended period of time. It’s supposed to be wild!” –Ron Burgundy, Anchorman (2004)
Launching an app on your own is a bit like running a marathon. Just ask Peter Pelberg and Will Locke, creators of the social running app Yog. (Yes, the name is based off of that classic “Anchorman” quote.)
“I had just moved to New York City,” remembers Pelberg, 23. “I had no one to exercise with, but I didn’t want to join a gym. So I figured running was the best way to keep in shape.” After looking into a number of running apps like Nike+ and RunKeeper, he found that, as phenomenal as they were at keeping track of empirical data like output, distance, and calories burned, the apps did nothing for socializing the experience.
“The sociability of those apps are very post-mortem, like ‘I just did X, Y, and Z,’” says Pelberg. “I never felt any closer to the people I had been running with back in college in Atlanta. We wanted to change that model and create a new running experience rather than just a tool.”
Yog lets you schedule runs with your friends and other Yog contacts. That way, if you make a commitment to run with someone, you are more likely to stick to it. The app also keeps you in touch with runners via audio notifications that tell you when you are being surpassed and an avatar-based timeline that shows you how your progress compares to friends.
The app has been in development for the past eight months, with a small crew of four working late into the night (the Yog team members all hold day jobs). The first-time experience of building an app has left Pelberg feeling encouraged about the support system in the tech community.
“From my experience, people building things on the Internet are all crazy — crazy in the best way possible,” says Pelberg. “They recognize how much time and energy you are spending, so, when you reach out to them, they are willing to open up and help you succeed.”
“It’s a bit like that old Apple campaign,” he adds, “where the people that are crazy enough to think that they can bite off these big projects are ultimately the people will succeed. It’s an amazing energy that I love being around.”
Aria Entertainment Complex – BlogTO
Posted by Jesse Ship / JANUARY 8, 2013
The Aria Entertainment Complex had been spamming me to death with Facebook ads for their new club, and having viewed their over-the-top promotional video which resembles a high-end diamond or perfume ad (or more appropriately The Simpson’s Barney Gumble’s epic shortPukahontas), I couldn’t resist checking them out for their opening night. Before I knew it, I was on my way to discovering the club where “the influencers play”, according to their promotional messaging.
I scan my bathroom sink for cologne samples I’ve accumulated over the years and hesitate for a second. Is this an Axe or Armani night? With a $20 cover, and drinks priced between $6 and 7$ you might think the latter, but once the club started filling up, Axe might have been more appropriate. This isn’t exactly Toronto’s best-dressed crowd, but it takes a lot of bodies to fill up a space this big.
Aria is four main rooms each with their own specific Las Vegas inspired theme. There’s the “Vanity” room with its laminate bowling alley meets card room vibe accented by decorative bushes and wicker balls hanging from the ceiling. It feels like the interior designer (if there even was one) stumbled upon a Bed, Bath And Beyond warehouse sale.
The main “Aria” room is pretty run of the mill for the Club District with elevated VIP quarters in each corner, bar stations and scantily clad go-go dancers. An interesting touch were bowls of candy at the bar and an unattended drum kit by the DJ booth.
Following an unmarked stairway leads to the “Haze” room, whose logo seems like a cross between the classy purple of Alizé and the exotic orient of Mandarin restaurant. The décor is a bit more interesting here, with framed pictures of porn stars in the buff and a Lucite cage / grotto lounge for bottle service tables.
The top floor is the rooftop Pure lounge, possibly Aria’s one redeeming quality, with a mechanical SkyDome styled roof that opens in the summer. I really did feel like I was in a laid back Costa Rican bar, and despite dinky non-smoking signs, the ladies were puffing away. I guess when you’re a hot “influencer”, you can do whatever you please.
The layout is a bit of a nightmare with a series of drafty unfinished connecting corridors and dodgy industrial staircases that would clearly be a hazard to anyone wearing the pointy shoes that the district is so known for. If this were an underground warehouse rave then it would be perfectly acceptable, but I don’t think that’s the crowd the owners are targeting. It’s like the architect was a child with a lego model of the interior, smushing pieces together to force them to fit. It’s hard to believe Toronto’s building safety people even passed this place.
And then there’s the institutional row of unisex washrooms I encountered on the rooftop Pure patio which may seem “progressive” and “modern” for Toronto but with the crowd they are bringing in seems like more of an invitation for some rough prison sex more than anything.
With its cheap vinyl couches, potentially disastrous bottle necking in the sprawling stairways and off-kilter layouts Aria seems more like a death trap waiting to happen than a forward thinking entertainment complex. But if you’re looking for a laid back night out people watching in the district where you won’t have to worry much about being underdressed (required clown shoes aside) then this could be the place you’ve been waiting for.
Additional Details
- BEERS ON TAP:
- none
- SIGNATURE DRINK:
- none
- BAR SNACKS:
- Candy bowls in the Aria room
- PATIO:
- Yes
- MUSIC/GENRE:
- Top 40, Hip Hop, House, Mash Up, Electro, Latin, Rock/Alternative
- LIVE MUSIC:
- No
- WHO GOES THERE:
- 19-25 year old suburban “influencers”
- HOURS:
- 10pm to 3am Friday and Saturday
Synth pop and garlic mingle at Feast in the East 21 – Blog TO
Posted by Jesse Ship / JANUARY 7, 2013
As the name implies, Feast In The East is a monthly event that brings together a mix of indie bands and pairs them with a full meal (or snack, depending on your appetite). Every month features new foods, bands, and curated installations. With that in mind, I entered the mixed-use office building that contains PolyHaus in Dundas and Carlaw warehouse land, and was greeted with the gusting scent of of herbs, garlic and spices.
As chef Dan Bedard (former production and flavour wizard at Greg’s Ice Cream who is currently in culinary school) explained, he wanted to find a middle ground that would accomodate dietary restrictions, so a French-inspired vegan platter of vichyssoise (that’s leek and potato soup to ceux qui ne parlent pas français), red bean dip, a family olive tapenade recipe, and a Moroccan carrot salad were on the menu.
The medley successfully highlighted a hearty range of striking colours, flavours and textures for a frosty winter night. A mix of 20-something OCAD girls and older, slightly nerdy audiophile dudes sat around under streamers made from cut-up flags (created by Adrian Dilena) eating off their plates, fetched from a soup kitchen-style window.
The sounds of the night were as varied and textured as the menu, but still within a consistent theme of lo-fi synth pop, enabled by a sound system made up of a garage sale’s worth of ’70s bass amp cabinets that wheezed under the pressure of modern electro outfits. Miss Elizabeth, a two-man, keyboard-based synth pop band (named after a celebrity WWF wrestling manager) squared off on stage facing each other like dueling battle ships while fans swayed to harmonizing church beats. One even sketched their performance on her pad.
Dap’s Records Beta Frontiers, also a two man group, left the crowd awe-inspired and mouthing, “what the hell are they doing up there?” as they cranked out spectral synth loops and airy vocals off a laptop and Ableton, accompanied by their own live visual remixes. The dj/vj duo is rare in Toronto, but has been all the rage in Asia for a while now.
The main draw of the night for me was to check out Toronto/Berlin one man show Digits, aka Alt Altmann (formerly of The Ghost Is Dancing), who has been soaking up blog hype for his “Love Is Only Affection” music video shot by Toronto’s
waterfront (and strictly speaking, NSFW).
You wouldn’t expect such a low, dusky force to emit from his mad scientist exterior. Lanky, and dressed in a classic ’80s striped polo, wire-rimmed glasses and sporting a slightly asymmetrical bowl cut, he owned the stage like an ostracized math geek who’s taken control of his high school prom. While Toronto may be losing Diamond Rings to LA, we (and Berlin) still have Digits. For now, at least.
Closing down the night were another soon-to-be-buzz band, Yacht Club, lead by Fucked Up‘s Ben Cook. A four-piece band bringing feel good sing-along anthems that might as well have been written in the ’80s. Think Cyndi Lauper meets Genesis guitar licks and melodies.
Heavy on crowd interaction, Ben tossed glow stick bracelets into the crowd, borrowed fedoras, and plunged the mike deep into the mouth of a waiting sax for the song “His Eyes.” No ’80s band would be complete without at least one sax-based song. And I guess being so entrenched in the industry has given the band insight and certain liberties, as they currently have two singles out on two separate labels; “Flash” on Pretty Pretty Records, and “Tropicana” on Burger Records.
All the bands that played certainly have their own sort of hype going for them. It’s great to see that this kind of community exists in Toronto, where dinner and a show take a completely different kind of meaning.
Photos by Kat Rizza
Liam Howlett’s Unreleased 1990 Demo Tape (SIDE A)
Back when I was teaching English in Taiwan in 2008, I wound up partying with The Prodigy’s sound engineer and their sessionist who also played with Gary Numan. Through an inside tip,we found them at a shitty but ‘much hyped’ top 40s club (called Water I think?) and stole them away to a way cooler after hours. Apparently we had just missed Maxim Reality. I can’t say I met the full band, but I guess I got pretty close. I love how this has just surfaced now. With the lo-fi 90s sound thats happening in house and techno, this tape is more relevant than ever. Who’s got the B-side?
Tracklist:
1. What Evil Lurks
2. We’re Gonna Rock
3. Manic
4. Drop The Bass
5. Android II
6. Your Love (EP)
7. Pandemonia
8. Charlie I
9. Charlie II
