The View - Sunday (Hype 043)

New wavish rock and roll from the View. Nice!

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVF18leYqgw

Bvdub - Instead I Left You (Hype 042)

Atmospheric anthem like mountain pop from Bvdub clocking in at 11 minutes of chill out time. Sit back. Relax. and forget the world.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRDNTC_I1jY

CSS feat Bobbie Gillespie of Primal Scream - Hits Me Like A Rock (Hype 041)

Indie hipsters CSS back with a new track featuring a guest appeance by Bobbie from Primal Scream. Nice!

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuYHn5_nOOU

Lloyd Cole Small Ensemble Mod Club Toronto June 27, 2011





















Wow. Lloyd Cole concert in my living room. At least thats what it felt like with 75 people tops taking in an intimate 2 set night at the Mod Club in downtown Toronto. Playing with two other gentlemen Lloyd went through a selection of 28 songs spanning his whole career and even including the latest album Broken Record. Here's alittle commentary on the show.

Set 1

1. No Blue Skies (Lloyd Cole)
2. Why I Love Country Music (Easy Pieces)
3. Perfect Skin (Rattlesnakes)
4. Like A Broken Record (Broken Record)

Lloyd comments about being alittle older and then comments that we (the crowd) aren't getting any younger ourselves

5. Don't Look Back (Lloyd Cole)
6. My Other Life (Music In A Foreign Language)
7. Margo's Waltz (Don't Get Weird On Me Babe)
8. Trigger Happy (Love Story)
9. So You'd Like To Save The World (Bad Vibes)

Lloyd appologizes for the time needed to tune guitars during breaks and that they would have liked to hire a young guy to run around and tune guitars and hand them to the three performers but they would have then had to have had dinner with him.

10. Writer's Retreat (Broken Record)

Lloyd comments that he hopes the individuals sitting in the front row are sexting rather than doing business.
Lloyd then comments you will likely here a song you like tonight and its likely will be from the new album Broken Record that is for sale behind you.

11. Why In The World (Broken Record)

Lloyd Comments that he is the opening act and the headliner because he is old.
Fan: How Old?
Lloyd: Very Old

12. I'm Gone (The Negatives)

13. Late Night, Early Town (Music In A Foreign Language)
Break

Set 2

1. Impossible Girl (The Negatives)

2. If I Were A Song (Broken Record)

3. Lady From Baltimore (Tim Hardin Cover)

4. My Alibi (Music In A Foreign Language)

Lloyd at this point identified that he wasn't trying to start a comeback
 
5. Woman In A Bar (Antidepressant)
 
6. Man Overboard (Broken Record)
 
7. 2CV (Rattlesnakes)
 
At this point some crazy lady decided it was time to dance. She got to the front of the seating area and in front of the stage tossed her hat off and then started to gyrate to Rattlesnakes. If there was any good timing this would be it. The dancing is weird and she tries to point to the sitting crowd and stare at them. I'm probably not describing this well but lets just say it was offside and akward. 
 
8. Rattlesnakes (Rattlesnakes)

Dancer picks up hat and snakes off
 
9. Old Enough To Know Better (Lost Songs, Tunes 1996 - 2000)

Dancer snakes up again to do her wierd stuff. Unfortunately its to this slower song No More Love Songs.

10 No More Love Songs (Negatives)

At the end of the song Lloyd identifies that this is his show and asks the woman not to dance. Honestly the woman looked like she was looking for attention but alas who knows.
 
11. Like Lovers Do (Love Story)
 
12. Forest Fire (Rattlesnakes)
 
Encore
 
1. Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken? (Rattlesnakes)
 
Dancer reappears for Undressed but the crowd is into the finale so Lloyd says nothing. Another interesting character rushes to the front and starts to bob his/her head at the side of the stage. Can you knock them. It may be the last time we ever see Lloyd. Hopefully not.
 
2. Undressed (Lloyd Cole)
 
3. Lost Weekend (Easy Pieces)
 
Wow. Could we ask for anymore. Actually yes!. The energy had gone up so high by the last three songs I think the crowd were all ready to get up and dance to maybe 10 more tracks. Lloyd You left us Heartbroken!
 
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rZznbo5Jlc


 
 

Pulseprogramming - First They Fire (Hype 040)

Epic chill out indie tune from Pulseprogramming from their forthcoming album Charade is Gold. Nice!

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kt4vZ5c6sGA

Bell - Junior (Hype 039)

Spaced out downtempo indiepop

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS4N7vxEBlc

Dominique Young Unique - War Talk (Hype 038)

Rewind on an earlier track by Dominique. Hip Hop blowing up.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2y7SCw0VTw

Joy Formidable - A Heavy Abacus (Hype 037)

Swirling indie guitar pop from the band who's first album The Big Roar won't go away. A new single and new video for IKDK favourites Joy Formidable.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsGg_07VrX0

My Tiger My Timing - Endless Summer (Hype 036)

Nice jangily Summer pop track from My Tiger My Timing. This is the band's 3rd single and a full length album is supposedly on the way.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttfIcU6OnTo

Jeffrey Lewis - The East River

Video: http://youtu.be/DbVDXX5Z9WU

Probably my favourite track by antifolk singer/songwriter Jeffrey Lewis. It could be described as an antilove song.

Letting Up Despite Great Faults - Teenage Tide (Hype 035)

Nice buzzy lo-fi indie cut from Letting Up Despite Great Faults taken from the Paper Crush EP. Nice!

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QwYIQzTVfw

Digable Planets Dundas Square Toronto June 19, 2011 NXNE

As always, last night of NXNE and hip hop is on the agenda with Digable Planets and Pharcyde at Dundas Square. The square is jammed packed with nodding heads and pharcyde record jackets being waved in the air??(Is this a new trend?). Over the next hour Digable Planets with full band wandered through cuts from their 1993 and 1994 classics Reachin and Blowout Comb. Definately the Jazz. Here is what Toronto had to say (alot of hating on the new lineup for the band):

@panicmanual: i really WANT to go see digable planets/pharcyde, but i really also want to not move

@panicmanual: ive decided to go to digable planets, primarily because people older than me are there and mocking my current tired status. #nxne (IKDK: Yes. We were!)

@IKvsDK: Digable will be rockin real drums. #nxne #planets

@camillitary: Thanks Digable Planets, you prove there is a need for a whole band in the world of hip hop #nxne

@camillitary: It's rent-a-guitarist day at #nxne: the guitarist for Tenika Charles is playing for Digable Planets

@Kehindilla: I'd go to the Digable Planets show but lets keep it real, I remember like one song. (IKDK: We remember more)

@djnumeric: Confirmed: Digable Planets without Ladybug or Butterfly. #Wack #NXNE (IKDK: Royalty Disagreements)

@miscELENEous: Watching my friend play on stage with Digable Planets. Dreams happen.

@CanBallReport: Digable Planets on the stage is so nice! Brings me back to cassette tapes, walkmans and high school.

@Xtiin_Jones: #Throwback Bass is BOOMn! Digable Planets: Sh*t sounds phat with a DJ and live band.

@swankyswagger: People are enjoyin themselves here at NXNE lightin up their blunts while Digable Planets kill it. I'll take in the second hand reefer.

@jminter: Good crowd packing into #YDSquare for Digable Planets

@FreshEyesCEO: I didn't realise that Digable Planets aren't really Digable Planets anymore. #NXNE

@MadKilla: I can't lie, I'm not that fond of Digable Planets. #WeWantPharcyde

@djnumeric: This is pretty bad. It's like a Digable Planets cover band. #NXNE

@Repo_Mandy: This Digable Planets show is sub-par, & only 1 original member is here. @peterchapmanesq & I are unimpressed. Also bad sound! Bummer times.

@PeterChapmanEsq: I think im watching the best digable planets cover band ever.

@parkdale: How u be Digable Planets w/out Butterfly?? No one sayin anything. But wack. #NXNE

@GhostfaceKnitta: Watching Digable Planets. Kid behind me wearing a Ninja Turtles shirt. It's 1991.

@piriyankaa: i don't get how Digable Planets and Fried Kool-Aid are trending in Toronto but Selena Gomez and the MMVAs aren't. (IKDK: We get it)

@therealdishto: Digable Planets at Dundas Square #NXNE SO good!

@MissAngeOnAir: Digable Planets need to get rid of this chick. She can rap, but doesn't have the Digable jazz energy. (IKDK: Missing a Ladybug I think)

@WaynieTDot: Digable planets are jus Cool Like Dat

@joyoushealth: #nxne Digable Planets at Yonge and Dundas Sq. Awesome!

@tdotsomebody: Digable Planets shouted out to Palestine on stage in Toronto!!!! #freepalestine #hiphopsavedme #nxne

@MsNikkino: Dundas square is a mess. Digable planets only had one original member. Waiting for pharycyde

@dorianlogan: Have to admit, was initially excited for digable planets, but, within 1.5 songs, pharcyde has proven that they are tonights headliners #nxne

@mj_chandler: Thank you Digable Planets for taking me back to a time when I could listen to hip hop without making sarcastic remarks. #nxne

@PeterChapmanEsq: Man... I can't stop thinking about that woman that replaced Lady Bug. She was an OK rapper, but way too "Angry Mom" for the Digable Planets

@caseyyugo: #notgonnalie - digable planets was more entertaining than the pharcyde (saw the latter at TO rock the bells). maybe it was the band? #nxne

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTov9ZW4gY4

Lectrolips - Voyeur (Hype 034)

Dreamy electro new wave pop from UK outfit Lectrolips. Nice!

The Pharcyde Dundas Square June 19, 2011 NXNE

Sunday, caught The Pharcyde at Yonge-and-Dundas square. The square was oversaturated with some thirsty alt hip hop fans. Long wait from the end of the Digable Planets set (40+ mins). IKvsDK got a decent spot and around half-nine the action started with a brief introduction from J-Swift.

The set kicked off with Otha Fish and Ya Mama and the crowd got into it in their own way. The sightlines where mediocre but I could make out Imani, Bootie Brown and Slim Kid Tre and the highlight of the show - a live drummer rocking a black shirt and tie and holding down the rhythm like a badass.

I'll confess my ignorance of this capable outfit. My feel for alt hip hop, particularly west coast, is weak. But The Pharcyde has some big figures pulling for them including Kanye who cites Bizarre Ride II as one of his biggest influences.

Crowd response was decent but could have been stronger and it wasn't for lack of effort by The Pharcyde. These guys were great at coverage, playing off each other and the fans (and young ladies) down in front. Also exhibited some dance moves, which was how they started out, way back in the early-90s "In Living Colour" days.

Next few tracks cranked out but still there was something missing. Couldn't put my finger on it until later. Fortunately the sound was good and the audience were treated to some great jazzy beats backing on a subdued summertime laid-back west coast flow. Got to say nothing out of New York ever sounds so laid-back. The bud was in the air with a few in the crowd exhaling clouds of grey-green smoke. The perfect context for Pack the Pipe.

Another few tracks with the inimitable Ad Rock sample for Drop.

Then it hit around the 40 minute mark. The jazzy feathery beats got replaced by a heavier tremor that vibrated up through the ground. The BASS had arrived. Dayum that's what been missing! Here it comes!

This change of pace was a pleasant surprise. The Pharcyde lauched into a heavier number and the chiggers in front of us broke out some of their club moves. I scoped the crowd for the reaction and discovered a dude with a white furry kangol barking the words back to Pharcyde - real hip hop fan.

The ladies got into it next as some were invited on stage to dance for Passing Me By - sort of a re-creation of their video. IKvsDK thought (hoped?) he recognized the blonde. None of them could dance very well so kind of a wasted opportunity.

More interaction with the crowd with the call-response for Oh Shit. I balked at "Toronto ... Shit" and waited in vain for "TFC .... Shit" or "Leafs .... Shit".

Some goof climbed the aluminum scaffolding, stealing the limelight for a few minutes. Last call and the NxNE festival headliners had completed their set. The drummer takes a well deserved bow - Man of the Match imho.

So with last year's De La Soul and this year's The Pharcyde, what's next year? Someone say "A Tribe called Quest"?

Teams vs. Star Slinger - Close To Me / The Yes Strut (Hype 033A and B)

Double Hype today for Teams Vs. Star Slinger with two great indie cut and paste rnb cuts tracks from the 12 Inch off Mexican Summer out of the USA. Very good videos also.


A) Teams vs. Star Slinger - Close To Me
Video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS_WabpOf0Q



B) Teams vs. Star Slinger - The Yes Strut
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNzVbeITiQE