Melissa Auf Der Maur rocked Toronto's Tattoo

Melissa Auf Der Maur's rocking bass shook the core of all those in attendance last night at Tattoo Rock Parlour. The former Hole/Smashing Pumpkins bassist hit Toronto for the second date of the "Canadian" leg of her world tour (Canada is in quotes cause she's only doing Ontario and Quebec). She had a new band, which is inconsequential since everyone in attendance was there to see @XMadmX.

She played tracks form OOOM! and her debut self titled. She closed out the set with Black Sabbath's Paranoid. Some might remember Melissa's brief stint as the frontwoman for the Sabbath cover-band worshiping Hand of Doom.

I was rocking out pretty serious, which I'm sure annoyed the surrounding subdued hipsters, but Melissa said she appreciated the movement, so suck it up, Queen Street hipsters.

People take a lot of pictures of Melissa, she has some hardcore fans. I try to just get a few good ones and put the camera away. Some douche was holding up his camera trying to take a video (enjoy your blown out audio). I can however appreciate someone with a good camera taking interesting shots (as long as it's not for the whole show).

If you want to see some high res pics check out buying shots for bands, an local music blog that uses majestic plural pronouns so often its jarring.

Auf Der Maur to rock Tattoo in Toronto Next Week!

Next Thursday (November 4th) Canada's Goddess of bass will rock Tattoo Rock Parlour. I live just down the street and can't wait to feel that heavy rhythm. You can click here to get tickets(only 12$)!

Live Auf Der Maur in Canada next month!

How could anyone not be excited about Melissa Auf Der Maur's first live dates since the spring release of her sophomore album OOOM!? I just got an email with these upcoming shows, next month is going to rock for anyone with the common sense to get out of the house and watch a red haired Goddess wield a bass like a battle axe. I would love to see her at Call The Office, but Tattoo is conveniently down the street from my house.



CANADA
11/02/10 London, CA @ Call The Office
11/03/10 Hamilton, CA @ Casbah
11/04/10 Toronto, CA @ Tattoo
11/05/10 Ottawa, CA @ Mavericks
11/06/10 Montreal, CA @ Cabaret Juste pour rire

New album from Melissa Auf Der Maur, Out Of Our Minds! Out Now!!!

Support Canadian Bass Chicks-Buy OOOM!

It's taken a few years, but Melissa Auf Der Maur's second album is finally available, and it rocks!  The record/comic/short-film project brings the former Hole/Pumpkins bassist back to the art school roots she abandoned for a 90's alt-rock roller-coaster. She is also no longer a slave to a label (Capitol) and though she is using EMI's distribution arm to get the records in stores, this project is as indie as it gets. I recommend buying the cd/dvd, cause the short film really is excellent. If you can afford the whole package, go for it, but at the very least pick up the album, cheapskate.

BUY OUT OF OUR MINDS! CLICK HERE!!!

I managed to get on the list to the album release party through sheer vigilance and twitter.

It was being held just down Queen W. at the gallery beside the Great Hall.

I ran into Andrew and some other superfans and stuck with them most of the event. The conversation was quite heavy on talk of the Them Crooked Vultures show coming up. I'm a fan but didn't get tickets cause I can't afford em.

I tested the free beer theory by walking up to the bar, asking for a beer and getting one without having to pay. I walked back to my group and savored the taste of Steam Whistle for a moment before confirming to everyone it was gratis. That was nice cause I could now afford to buy the LP (and I did!). Melissa knows Andrew well and came to talk to our group. I had a feeling she wasn't going to play because she was dressed up so nice. She thanked us for our support, and autographed my LP. Melissa is the most accessible rock stars ever, she always has time for her fans.  

Melissa then gave a speech and then we watched the OOOM trailer and the music video. She did not play a set, but promised to return soon (she did just rock the Horseshoe last month).

Melissa Auf Der Maur's OOOM! New Video!

Watch the new video from Melissa Auf Der Maur Out Of Our Minds!

I cant't wait till this record comes out. If you want to pick up the ep or get me something awesome for my birthday go to her store HERE.

And leave comments below!

Sunny J's Albums of the Decade 2000-2009

The year is wrapping up and so is the decade. A decade marred by terrorism, economic collapse and auto-tune. How can so much music suck? Billbord declared Nickleback the band of the decade, gross.

Douchebags win TV singing contests and are considered legitimate acts, so it's no surprise music sucks enough Nickleback could be considered the "best".

But not everything about this decade sucked, some really good albums came out. Notice most of these came out toward the beginning of the decade, maybe they have had longer to settle in my brain as great. I haven't heard anything lately that has had that instant classic album feeling, so here is my list, the best of the decade, in no way complete, in no way difinitive:   

Big Dumb Face, Duke Lion Fights the Terror!!

Wes Borland of Limp Bizkit's first solo record is sheer brilliance, epic in scope and concept, hilarious and yet to many people, unlistenable. Drugs help but are not necessary. I love this record, but it's not for everyone. I'm putting it at the top of my list because the next record is at the top of everyones list, and is starting to get smug.

Radiohead, Kid A

This album poster has been on my wall for almost ten years now, but I still remember the day Colin showed up at O'Gorman just as school ended with Kid A in hand, a day before it's release. I remember the impromptu listening party at Jay Byck's house, and finding the secret liner notes. Everyone was expecting something different from Radiohead and they delivered. Kid A changed the game.

Weezer

Colin and I listened to all 28 minutes of Weezer's highly anticipated follow up to Pinkerton on the edge of our seats. It was the soundtrack to our summer, it was playing at every house, and in every car. You could not escape it. I let a teacher borrow it and he ended up having to buy it for his son.

Queens Of The Stone Age Songs for the Deaf,

I knew this would be huge, it wasn't. It did put QOTSA on the radar of everyone who missed Rated R. Dave Grohl on drums, fucking incredible.

Peaches, The Teaches of Peaches


I saw Peaches live at the El-mo after seeing her in a one page spread in Spin. I read about her music and knew I wanted to listen to it. That first show blew me away and I bought the LP. I love to introduce people to her hyper-danceable raunch.

A Perfect Circle,Mer De Noms

Incredible production and songwriting as well as the vocal powerhouse that is Maynard James Kennan. The follow up Thirteenth Step could not hold a candle to Mer De Noms. I'm glad I never got that APC tattoo.

Auf Der Maur

Her debut, solid. She just rocks. If you don't know it your a shitty Canadian. Can't wait for new music next year!

Tenacious D

One of the best comedy albums ever, funny lyrics with well crafted songs and Dave Grohl on drums, So overplayed in the Sam the Record Man basement, it would elicit cringes from some staff.

OOOM MADM getting close

Mellisa Auf Der Maur's long awaited second album is approaching the light of day. You can now download the first track Out Of Our Minds for free at her website here. It's cool. She has some shows coming up with STP, but nothing in Toronto. I love this woman, she is brilliant and beautiful and rocks.
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Auf Der Maur @ NFB and ELMocombo for NXNE

I went to NFB to see the short film component of Melissa Auf Der Maur's multimedia project. I met Andrew outside and we chatted about shows till Melissa showed up. Before Melissa's project we watched a Sigur Ros film called "With a Buzz in Our Ears We Play Endlessly", which was really cool. Melissa's OOOM was excellent, it looked fucking sick, it really has to be enjoyed on a bigger screen with some sound. Afterward she stuck around to answer questions, she seemed bitter with her former label Capitol Records, and them not knowing what to do with her multimedia juggernaut.

Melissa rocked a packed house at the ElMo. I got up nice and close and rocked right the fuck out once again. My feet are in serious pain. Andrew recorded the show and gave me a copy of his boot of last years MADM show in Montreal.
I couldn't bare to stick around for unusually late last call, my feets be killing and I'm wrecked from walking around all day and last night's late-night phone catch up with D.
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Melissa Auf Der Maur @ Yonge & Dundas Square Toronto

Melissa Auf Der Maur has been absent from the live scene since March at SXSW in Austin TX, it's fitting that her first show since then is at NXNE here in Toronto. A free show at Yonge & Dundas Square, excellent!

She played two new songs off the sometime to be released OutOfOurMinds along with some rockers from her debut self titled LP. I rocked out in my typical fashion, right up front. Melissa rocks my socks.

North by Northeast is a great time for music in the city of Toronto, Queen Street bars packed full of music fans drinking through extended hours(YEAH!). I haven't gotten a wristband since I worked at Sam's (we would get them free, and this year they run 50$). I picked up a one day wristband for tomorrow so I can catch Melissa's short film at NFB and her show at the ElMocombo. I haven't been to the Elmo since it reopened, years ago.

Melissa is so fucking sexy!

I took this video but the audio is pretty blown out in parts. Andrew was there and got the whole show so a good version does exist, its just not mine.