Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit Courtney Barnett has a way with words. Freewheeling and deadpan with a heavy Melbourne drawl, Barnett delivers some of the year’s best hooks to a backdrop of poppy, gently psyched-out rock. These eleven story songs focus on such everyday topics as insomnia […]
“We know you built your life around us…but we had to change some,” Colin Meloy admits freely on the mostly tongue-in-cheek opening track of his band’s seventh album. It has been nearly fifteen years since The Decemberists’ first release, and in order to survive this long as a quirky indie project, change was unavoidable. Whether […]
You know how your parents tell you to get a real job – meaning, something like a doctor or a lawyer and not as a musician or artist? Lily Lambert forestalled all parental criticism by going for both. After successfully obtaining that law degree, the Irish-Welsh singer/songwriter headed for New York City to pursue her […]
It’s been three years since we heard from Jenn Wasner & Andy Stack. 2011’s Civilian wasn’t necessarily a major commercial but it found success after The Walking Dead featured its titular track. However, in those three years, those two found something special in their sessions together leading up to Shriek and oh how grateful we should be. The project […]
Old Man Luedecke Feb 18, Hugh’s Room “Who feels like a little call-and-response?” calls Chris Luedecke, AKA Old Man Luedecke, of Halifax. There is a halfhearted smattering of applause. “That’s ok,” he deadpans, “if I was holding out for a majority I would have given-up a long time ago. Banjo! The most universally hated of […]
Before we announce the winners of the 2013 My Theatre Awards, we’re proud to present our annual Nominee Interview Series. One of the best weekends in Toronto’s cultural landscape is always the Global Cabaret Festival down at the Young Centre every October. It’s one of the city’s most diverse showcases for musical talent across many different genres. […]
NYC troubadour Natalie Gelman’s new EP dropped last week, forcing me to take an honestly dedicated look at the tracks that have been non-commitally blending in with the rest of my iTunes since I was first asked to review the singer/songwriter months ago. It’s not that I was entirely procrastinating- I’ve sat down more than […]
April 22, 2013- Drake Underground After failing to talk my way into the Drake Underground, I reluctantly bought a ticket from a young enterpriser for 100% markup—and couldn’t be happier that I did. The rafters rang last Monday as yours truly bore witness to the liberation of folk music from itself. Opening the bill is Twin […]