Blue Zoo - Cry Boy Cry (New/Old 006)

My first time hearing eighties alternative band Blue Zoo who had a minor top 40 hit in the UK with this track Cry Boy Cry reaching number 13 in the late part of 1982.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4CbdGGl19o

Drugs - The Source Of Light (Hype 0301)

Hypnotic atmospheric house. Nice track from this 22 year old madchester guy!!! Airy!!

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mv9bFVfbcY

The Octopus Project - Whitby (Hype 0300)

Here it is. Hype track number 300. Nice cut and paste indie cut from the Octopus Project called Whitby. Whitby is the first single off the forthcoming album on Peek-A-Boo Records. To 300 more.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlcaaQrJ7_k&hd=1

The Who at ACC November 23

On a brisk friday night, Tuco and companions journeyed to the ACC to catch The Who doing a special show featuring the entire Quadrophenia double album released 39 years ago.


Quadrophenia is described as a rock opera and it's certainly got a complex feel. The tracks are written from four different perspectives representing the personas of the band members. Throughout the tracks are recurring motivs (think Wagner) which tie together the entire concept. It's arguably the pinnacle of The Who's songwriting so it was quite a treat to get to hear the double album LIVE in its entirety.


So Who's left? Well that would be Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend joined ably by some excellent touring musicians including Pete's brother Simon on rhythm guitar and Zak Starkey on drums. (Starkey is the son of Ringo Starr). Keith Moon and John "Thunderfingers" Entwhistle would make appearances via video clips, the integration of which into the programme was very well done.


Unfortunately Tuco missed the opener, choosing to scarf down some premium ACC fare. Everything at the ACC is at a premium I guess. Got a change to gape the crowd. Alot of older folk, quite a number with their twentysomething children in tow for a family event. And there were a few who had yet to be told the 70s had come and gone rocking some jackets with The Who band patches from a while back. A surprising number of the latter had come out of the woodwork.


Set started shortly after 8:30, diving straight into I Am The Sea. ACC looked like it was sold out. I noticed one empty section of seats about 105 degrees to the stage that would later have people snatching closer looks at the stage. Another thing: The ACC staff gave ZERO f*cks the entire night with respect to seating, smoking, weed and wasted jackasses blocking people's views repeatedly despite several increasingly aggressive warnings. It's really hit or miss with the ACC staff. For the Red Hot Chilli Peppers concert, it was like the Stazi were on duty but friday's staff were a joke.



Fortunately, this did not impact our enjoyment of a great aural and visual treat. The stage setup had 6 screens which picked up stage details or beamed some classic video clips of Keith Moon and John Entwhistle soloing. They even snuck a Toronto Argos logo in one of the videos which got a mighty cheer. The highlight for me was a historic montage from the 60s up to present day played during Love, Reign o'er Me. The Who has seen some moments.



Daltrey's voice still retains some of its vigour and he was on pitch when it mattered most. And he's also still swinging around the microphone - overhead, around the back, although he didn't go into the crowd (too far outside the security perimeter). Townshend - what can I say. The guy's got a better windmill than Dominique Wilkins. He's also underrated as a singer. Townshend did most of the crowd interaction (PR) praising Toronto and making some funny cracks. As for his guitar playing - is there a more distinctive attack than Townshend's picking action? I love it - it's really amazing to watch. Well played. Thanks to The Who!
　
　
Here's the setlist:

　
Quadrophenia - Entire album
　
　
Who Are You?
Behind Blue Eyes
Pinball Wizard
Baba O'Riley
Won't Get Fooled Again
Tea & Theatre
　
　
The Who played well over 2 hours - really outstanding. If there was one more song that I would have loved to hear it would be this classic:

Line & Circle - Roman Ruins (Hype 0299)

Indierock track from Line and Circle out of the USA. Breezy pop. Nice Saturday afternoon tune.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZoE1PPQdO4

My Tiger My Timing - Let Me Go (Hype 0298)

IKDK favourites My Tiger My Timing are back with another great track indiepop track Let Me Go taken from the debut album Celeste. Nice!!

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TZpdhZolGE

Popular Computer - Pop Heart (Hype 0297)

Funky indietech club track from Popular Computer. Taken from the album Lite. Nice!!!

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmfKhLVj4e8

San Cisco - Awkward (Hype 0296)

Flavourable hipster indie music from San Cisco. The video is a year old and has millions of views but its a catchy little track..

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukNOaKeUEQY

Ash Lee's Palace Review November 17 2012 Toronto Setlist

 

This was a spur of the moment concert run with the Panic Manual crew to Lee's Palace to see legendary nineties britpop act Ash from Northern Ireland. Accordingly to the band this was their first show in Toronto in seven years. Not a bad crowd out to see a band that is about 20 years old and you would think might have lost alot of their following.

Ash, is currently touring as a 3 piece with all their original members. Charlotte Hatherley, who joined the band in 1997 and left in 2006 was absent. The band fired through a 90 minute set of songs spanning their whole career from Trailer to their A-Z compilations. Classic tracks such as Oh Yeah and Goldfinger reminded me of long forgotten sunday nights out at the Dance Cave for britpop night Lux. However, not enough to inspire me to go upstairs after the show when Ricky of Panic Manual fame suggested it.

Lead singer Tim Wheeler was right when he identified that they had lots of songs to choose from for their encore. The band has over 50 singles. Great show. Timewarp back to the mid nineties. Now unfortunately back in 2012.

NB. Unfortunately due to scheduling conflicts I missed opening band Kestrels.

Here is the setlist:

1.Lose Control (1977-1996)
2.Orpheus (Meltdown-2004)
3.A Life Less Ordinary (A Life Less Ordinary EP-1997)
4.Goldfinger (1977-1996)
5.Clones (Meltdown-2004)
6.Walking Barefoot (Free All Angels-2001)
7.Binary (A-Z Vol. 2-2010)
8.Evil Eye (Meltdown-2004)
9.Kung Fu (1977-1996)
10.Shining Light (Free All Angels-2001)
11.Oh Yeah  (1977-1996)
12.Jack Names The Planets (Trailer-1994)
13.Arcadia (A-Z Vol.1-2010)
14.Girl From Mars (1977-1996)
15.Return of White Rabbit (A-Z Vol.1-2010)

Encore:

16.Angel Interceptor (1977-1996)
17.Uncle Pat (Trailer-1994)
18.Joy Kicks Darkness (A-Z Vol.1-2010)
19.Burn Baby Burn (Free All Angels-2001)

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35hDrzcHnIA

Dylan Mondegreen - The Heart Is A Muscle (Hype 0295)

Nice emotive pop track from Dylan Mondegreen taken from his self-titled release on the Shelflife label. Ian Catt, super producer (Saint Etienne) is responsible for production on this album. Nice!

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsqnpkJ-rJU

The 7A3 - Coolin´ in Cali (New/Old 005)

1988 old skool hip hop....this is awesome....first time for me ever to hear this one. DJ Muggs of this outfit went on to big things with Cypress Hill. The samples in this are base heavy....Nice!!! Going back to Cali......

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmBIW-XRs7c

Staygold - Wallpaper (Hype 0294)

Nice uptempo shimmering cut from Staygold taken from their forthcoming debut album Rain On Our Parade on Magnetron Music.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsjmvXuCqKk

SHARON REDD - NEVER GIVE YOU UP (New/Old 004)

Classic old skool club track from 1982 which I had heard but never knew what it was. Very disco/clubby

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_g__PaW0ibQ

Men Without Hats Lee's Palace Toronto Nov 7, 2012 Setlist

While the world cocooned, a very select few were out doing the safety dance last night like it was 1982. It seems like Men Without Hats are coming to Toronto every few months which isn't a bad thing. The band is currently out on tour to promote their new album Love In The Age Of War.

At about 10:15 Lead man Ivan took to the stage with his 4 piece entourage to send us back to the eighties. Dressed in burgundy pants, studded belt, and a black Rush concert T-Shirt Ivan took us through a 75 minute set featuring a mix of classics and new tracks off the new album. Here was the setlist which was very heavily derived from their first album Rhythm Of Youth.

This War (Love In The Age Of War)
Antartica (Rhythm Of Youth)
I Got The Message (Rhythm Of Youth)
Ideas For Walls (Rhythm Of Youth)
I Like (Rhythm Of Youth)
Head Above Water (Love In The Age Of War)
Pop Goes The World (Pop Goes The World)
The Girl With The Sillicon Eyes (Love In The Age Of War)
Devil Come Around (Love In The Age Of War)
Living In China (Rhythm Of Youth)
Where Do The Boys Go (Folk Of The 80's (PartIII))
Safety Dance (Rhythm Of Youth)
Encore
On Tuesday (Pop Goes The World)
Sos (In The 21st Century - Abba Cover)

The setlist completely ignored their album Sideways and No Hats Beyond This Point. And what is that...No Moonbeam? Blasphemy!!!!!

The crowd chanted, clapped and yelled for a second encore even as pre-recorded music began to play. For 10 minutes this went on until the lights came on and drove the crowd to the streets. We were denied. However, I went home happy having heard my fave MWH's track Ideas For Walls.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbHJ5mjQPzY

Dexy's Midnight Runners - Jackie Wilson Said (Retro 034)

Thirty years ago the runner's followed up their massive hit in the UK with this great cover of the Van Morrison track Jackie Wilson Said. It went to number 5. Ironically Come On Eilleen had still yet to hit the charts over here in North America. Blame it on the record companies and radio.  The band just released their first album in 27 years called One Day I'm Going To Soar. Better late then never.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DXS4_y6fU0

Skye - Featherlight (Hype 0293)

Nice chilled out club track from Skye taken from her third solo album Back To Now. Skye is the lead vocalist of band Morcheeba. Nice!!!

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4U38MejMmI

Gypsy and The Cat - Sorry (Hype 0292)

Funky indie affair by Gypsy And The Cat taken from their second album The Late Blue on alsatianmusic.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt9rXLF_uSI

Bye Bye Bicycle - Believe Me/Leave Me (Hype 0291)

Oh, it was 1995 and Britpop was exploding. Those were the days. This totally takes me back. Taken from the album Nature on Selective Notes out of Sweden. Nice!

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELB-WpxUDhE