Peaches spins Lee's Right Round

Peaches treats the Lee's Palace audience to some champagne

I have added another notch to my Peaches belt.

Last week my Google cellphone suggested that I might be interested in the fact that Peaches was playing at Lee's Palace. Some might say that it's creepy for my phone to know me so well, but I'm willing to have a robot scour my search queries and perhaps this very blog to learn about my love of Peaches and warn me of an upcoming show.

Peaches is the kinda that you wanna

What a show! I have seen her almost a dozen times and her performance has constantly evolved. In the beginning she sang to music played off her minidisc recorder. Now she is a full-fledged DJ and raps to her own tracks mixed in with other bumping filler. If she has a signature DJ move, it's adjusting knobs with her ass to the audience like this picture below.

It was a short set, but she hit most of her career points, the crowed responded the loudest to Kick-It (probably recognizing it from that Sumo Subaru commercial) For the encore Peaches climbed into a giant penis costume and proceeded to pull a white-semen scarf from the tip like a naughty magician.

Peaches in her Vest of Many Titties

Smashing Pumpkins can take all of my money

It's late and I don't know how much sense I will make but if I don't get this down now I never will and what a shame. I had a great night with some good friends watching my favourite band in the fucking world, The Smashing Pumpkins. I've got a bad habit of buying two tickets for everything without a plan of who to go with. My friend Chris Regimbal was supposed to come to Radiohead earlier this summer but the show was cancelled due to a tragic accident. I asked him to come and rock out with me at the Pumpkins and he obliged.

I have seen the Pumpkins live about a dozen times but this was the first time without Jimmy Chamberlain on drums. The current band consists of Billy Corgan (of course), Nicole Fiorentino(bass), Jeff Schroeder, and Mike Byrne on drums. This drummer is just a kid, but he rocks.

They played the new album Oceania start to finish. I really enjoy this record, but I was apprehensive about how the crowd would respond to not hearing the hits. The new stuff went over great, some of the arrangements were really interesting live. After they played through Oceania and rocked my socks half-way off they finished the job with a solid set of classics, highlights being MCIS era tracks X.Y.U., Muzzle, tonite reprise, Bullet With Butterfly Wings (the jungle version from '98). Concert tickets are expensive, but this show was worth every penny.

I took this video of Pinwheels, a standout track from the album. If you like what you hear you can Click here to buy Oceania.

Super pooched out now. In a few hours I hop in a car with my Dad and head to my place of birth, Timmins, to celebrate my Peppere's 80th birthday.

A good day turns tragic

It's a busy day in Toronto. Tons of huge events going on in the city, from the baseball game, 2 huge concerts along with NXNE, the World Naked Bike Ride, even a historic battle reenactment at Fort York from the War of 1812. I will go to the ball game and Radiohead since I only go to war reenactments where my side wins (we won the war, but lost this particular battle) and don't ride bikes naked (for comfort and not modesty purposes).

I woke up early for a Saturday. I put the new Radiohead album (The King Of Limbs) on the turntable and got pumped up for the show that night.



I met Regimbal at the Steam Whistle Brewery for a pre game pilsner. I'm so happy to see my good friend. 

Me & Regimbal at Steamwhistle

We realize that we probably havent seen each other since last summer on Canada Day (which ended in a epic shit-show). I asked Regim to join me for Radiohead that night. I bought the extra ticket thinking I would easily find a friend to go with, but it being such a busy weekend everyone seemed to have plans.

The Jays were awesome. Rallying to tie the game and then win it in extra innings with a walk-off homer. It was a sunny day, which forced me to retreat into the shady caverns of Skydome for brief moments between Jays at-bats. I still got too much sun. Not burnt but a little red.


We went back to my place to prepare for the big show at Downsview Park. Regimbal gave up his ticket to see the band almost ten years ago and always regretted it. I realize I have lost count of how many times I have seen Radiohead live in concert, either 4 or 5 times, making this 5 or 6.  

My aunt is a cop and was working at the show, she passes on the news that the show has been canceled due to a terrible accident. The stage has collapsed and 1 person is dead (We now know it was Radiohead's Drum Tech Scott Johnson).


Terrible news. My thoughts are with the man's family and the band.


I'm not upset about the show being cancelled, I will see them next time. No one should die because of a rock concert.

We have dinner at Epicure on the rooftop patio. It's good, as always.

The Flaming Lips balloons
over Yonge & Dundas

Regimbal and I decide to check out the free Flaming Lips show at Yonge & Dundas Square. We get there before the crowd turned away at the Radiohead gates got a chance to get back downtown.

The band takes a while to get going, starting 35 minuts late, but once they did it was wild. Tons of streamers and confetti and of course the lead singer in a hamster ball hurled into the audience. I rocked out to the Absolute 90's classic cut Vaseline and then headed towards the exit, I had to close the night at my friend Ian's going away party.

As I walked away from the by now massive crowd I heard them play a cover of Radiohead's Knives Out.

Wayne Coyne in a Hamster ball

Ian's party was great. A buch of his work friends wishing him well on his adventure to Hollywood while not-so-secretly wishing it was them.

Roger Waters The Wall, Live in Seattle

This was the most incredible concert production I have ever seen.

The performance was incredible, Roger played with a genuine passion that was astounding considering the decades he's been with the material.

I've made fun of Mike for purchasing VIP tickets for concerts in the past. While I rock with the proletariat he eats veal side-stage. I will no longer mock such extravagance, having now experienced the luxury for myself.

With ten people in our gang it made sense to take a limo to the show. Once we entered the venue (free from being searched) we were given tote bags with a souvenir poster, t-shirt, program ect....

There was a buffet with some delicious wings. San's Dad bought me a Wild Turkey at the bar.

We had the most amazing seats, thanks to San. We sat in the 6th row. I know we were close cause even as a blind man I could make out Roger;s face on stage.


We blazed constantly. When Roger/Pink points into the crowd and yells "that ones smoking a joint" he pointed right at us.


I can't describe how amazing the whole show was. I tried to take some cool photos of the most memorable moments.

The Schoolteacher from The Wall

Hey Teacher, Leave us kids alone

Fallen Soldiers are bricks in the wall

Roger Waters in Seattle

Mother Puppet from The Wall

Holy Shit they built that fast

One more brick

The Wall

Julie Dorion Live at The Garrison Toronto

I took some video with my flip camera at last nights Julie Dorion show at The Garrison.

The Stormalongs personalize rock

The Stormalongs played The Garrison last night for some close friends. The small crowed that was assembled before the show disappeared during the first song, driven away no doubt by the horrible feedback courtesy of a missing sound tech. The band delivered despite never having faced such a poor crowd to band-member ratio. 

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

No White Night

Ok, I didn't do Nuit Blanche, but I have a slew of excuses.

Paul came over and we shotgunned some beers. We went to Mod Club to see Kid Koala's band The Slew ("Six turntables meets the ex-Wolfmother rhythm section"). It was really cool. Kid Koala is a fantastic scratch master, I've seen him open for Radiohead a few times.

Paul was pooched (too much pre-birthday partying) and I didn't want to go out alone, so I didn't.

I don't think any of the art would have seriously impressed me after what I've seen at the Burn. I've had fun walking around the city before, but usually with a friend.

TOOL Rocks Molson Amphitheatre! 8/5/2009

My buddy Hollywood rules! We got blazed in the parking lot, then found the end of the huge line into the Amp.

I ran into Jagger and his fiance Ashlie, we discussed legal briefs and TOOL setlists. Jagger decided not to look at the internet to see what songs the band will play. In the past he would predict the set and be pretty accurate (but I think his mind was once blown at ACC with a Salival version of Pushit)

TOOL was good but I've seen them a few times, and it's tough when you compare it to other shows. The set was close to the last time I saw them on the 10,000 Days Tour, not surprising since they don't have a new album to support. Maynard was the most talkitive I've ever seen him, "Holy shit that's a lot of Canadians!" and he kept saying something about French Fries. He introduced a guest guitarist for 46&2 as Stephen Hawking, and later Christopher Robin joined Danny on drums for Lateralus. We had a good enough view of the stage from section 304 (considering I'm fucking blind, I could at least see people on it). They definatly blew my mind out the back of my skull with trippy visuals on the screens and crazy lazers. The best part of the visual aspect was when the lazers did a whole ASTEROIDS game thing and shot the place up. I hope they go back into studio soon to make a new record. Laturalus came out the same day as Weezer's Green, and causes simillar summer 2001 flashbacks. I love TOOL but I crave something new. Unfortunatley they only seem to put out 1 album every 5-6 years.

Jambi
Stinkfist
46&2
Schism
Lost Keys
Rosetta Stoned
Flood
Aenema
Lateralus
Vicarious

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.
save

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.

Peaches Rocks the Pheonix

I went to see Peaches, and she was fantastic! It was probably the best Peaches show I have seen since I first fell in love with her at the El Mocombo. I only wish I had been a bit closer, but it would have been so hot n' sweaty maybe I'm better off.

I went with Deidra, and it was a lot of fun. We had some Steamwhistles. I haven't seen her or really talked to her in a while, so it was good to catch up. I miss her so much, but, like she said, its totally different now.

Stormalongs Silver Dollar Rock

Stormalongs rocked the Silver Dollar Room for a modest 5$ cover. The band was great, and the crowed responded in kind.
Regimbal was cool enough to turn up with his girlfriend and another buddy. We had some drinks and watched the rock show.

Went to my old roomate Gim's party afterwards, crazy Japanese hip hop dancing. Palo and Dija were there. Good to see everyone.

...And You will know us by the trail of dead

I worked out really hard at the gym, rage is such a good motivator.

So pooched at the Japanese anime lecture at Ryerson, went with Paul and Dawn. Almost fell asleep. Matt called and invited me to see Trail of Dead, wasn't going to go, but felt like a YES MAN so I changed my mind and went to meet Matt.

I had to stop at Tim Hortons for a sugar infusion. The baker was loading the trays with fresh doughnuts, and the girl was going to stuff my Chocolate Cherry Bloom into a bag when the baker stopped her and told her not to put it in the bag and just lay it on top. It was overloaded with cherry filling and still warm, I have had this doughnut twice before, and those could not compare to this master stroke of doughnut artistry. The best doughnut I have ever had.

I saw ...And you will know us by the trail of dead open for queens of the stone age a few years ago, like 7 years ago at Kool Haus then known as The Warehouse. They were too loud and I didn't realy enjoy myself. Although I didn't enjoy queens that show either(no Nick, no way!).

I met up with Matt and we had some beers with his two friends
that came to the show with us. We got into Lee's Palace and saw the last few songs of the opening act. Matt and I went out to do a j, and got back just as the show started. They fucking rocked, the sound was really good and they worked the crowd so well.

I had a great time, thanks to Matt for the ticket and the beers and the j, I owe him for sure.