New Years Eve plan!

Hello Music psychos in Toronto! Still enjoying some time off from work for the holiday season? I am here in Hiroshima spending a good time with my family. New Years in Japan is like Christmas in the North America. So I am ready to stay in and chill with them. But are you guys ready to party up? Here is a list of parties in Toronto on New Years Eve:

• Bloodshot Bill  @ Siver Dollar 19 + cover $12.00
• Elliott Brood    @ Lee's Palace 19 + cover $20.00
• Raunch N Roll @ Gladstone     19 + cover $40.00
• The Sadies 10th anniversary @ Horseshoe 19+ cover $25.00 
• Yes Yes Y'a All  @ wreckroom  19+ cover $15.00
• BBQ aka Mark Sultan @ Garrison  19 + cover $8.00

 There are also a number of venues which offer a dance party, including Dance Cave and the Wrongbar.

If I were in town, I would check out either Elliott Brood or the Sadies for sure. To give you a bit of a taste of both bands, here is a music clip:  `Flash` by the Sadies. 

 

This is a song by Elliot Brood, called ` Oh, Alberta`



Let me know if you end up going to any shows! I would LOVE to hear from you guys!! Miss you all!

Merry Xmas!

Merry Christmas Music Psychos. I hope all of you had a great time with you family and friends. I love good sprites around the holiday season. I am spending this Christmas all by myself, heading back to Japan all alone. Home sweet home indeed. But everyone has been very very generous. I actually had lots of help from the U.S custom people in the Toronto International Airport yesterday. They helped me all the way through the problem that I encountered and told me that it was a gift from them. It was very sweet of them. And of course, special thanks to you, who have been keeping me a good company, too. I am currently in the San Fransisco International Airport, waiting on my next flight to Osaka. Then I have to catch a train to Hiroshima. I still got a long way to go, don't I?

Surprising enough though, I already miss Toronto so much. I miss my friends and the city. I have been listening to Broken Social Scene endlessly because of the feeling. .So just wanted to share it with you all.

First song is Sweetest Kills. It is by far my favorite song from the new album, Forgiveness Rock Record.



And of course, I can't forget this song, Meet Me In The Basement. This song means Toronto to me.



I will be updating some posts while I am in Japan. Don't miss it!!

The Artful Vandelays are back!

It was not so long ago that the co-founder of the Artful Vandelays, Jon departed from the band to pursue a non-musical career. It shocked me to know that I wouldn’t be able to hear the intricate and delicate sound of Jon's guitar in the band. A truly heartbreaking moment...

After three months of near silence; the progressive rock quartet staged a strong return to the stage at Rancho Relaxo on December 14^th, along with their new guitarist, Bryen Shi. I am not saying it because he is my friend, or co-writer. Anybody who reads this blog should know how brutal I can be during show reviews.

The moment The “new” Artful Vandelays appeared on the stage, you could feel the fan’s excitement in the air building to the max. 

The new addition is very positive – the sound of the band has changed drastically: The live show was more edgy and powerful than their latest EP. Bryen is a guitarist who does not fear to be different. He was on the stage to simply enjoy the music he played with the band. He improvised riffs and made some changes, but it was a fun part of live show! 

I have to admit, I am so ashamed of myself that I had not noticed how amazing Kevin’s bass playing was until now. Kevin blew my mind when they played one of my favourite songs, “Sign Language”. In the last few shows that I attended of theirs in the summer I was overwhelmed by Anton's powerful vocals and Braedan's complex drumming.  I thought they were the strongest players of the band. Yet, I was all wrong. Kevin’s intricate rhythms and Bryen’s style of playing is a perfect match - The Artful Vandelays are now complete… I will now proudly claim that I am the biggest fan of this band. 

One thing though I have to mention... The last song, "Tenterhooks" was not strong enough to end the show with. I felt the energy of the show deescalated in that last song.

If you missed the December 14th show, don't be sad! I have great news for you! They will play again on December 23rd (right on time for Christmas!) at The Smiling Buddha Bar (961 College Street West) AND it’s only a $2.00 cover! Click here to check out the details of the show and you will see me there before I go home for Christmas!