For those who aren’t familiar with Maximo Park’s offering, it’s danceable indie pop with sing-along moments. Indeed, the audience was not afraid to open their mouths throughout, with everyone trying to mimic lead singer Paul Smith’s distinctive Geordie (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) accent.

This tour was to promote their 2017 album, Risk to Exist, but they also played music from across their discography. From the moment he danced onto the stage, I was immediately reminded that Paul Smith is an enigmatic performer who is undeniably watchable and entertaining.

The Mod Club is a fantastic venue, both in terms of the general feel of the place, and also in its size – you can get really up close and personal with the performers, whilst also fitting enough people into there for a really great atmosphere.

One negative on the evening was the mix, from where I was standing at least. The guitars were a little overpowering at times, and it was hard to make out some of the lyrics. Not that that should take away from the breaks of lead guitarist Duncan Lloyd, because he was definitely on form delivering an indie punch!

Paul Smith comes across as a very well mannered professional, and in between tracks he spoke on the level with the audience, which was a nice touch. It made the show feel inclusive, and there was some classic banter with someone shouting “Acrobat” (a spoken word track from their debut album) and someone else telling them not to wait another decade before returning! Maximo Park may not have ever reached the heights of the likes of Franz Ferdinand or The Killers, but there’s definitely still a place in my heart for them.

The band completed the nostalgia trip by ending the show applying some pressure, and losing some pressure, applying some pressure, and losing some pressure, applying some pressure… well, they played ‘Apply Some Pressure’.

The gig was presented by Fource Entertainment. Maximo Park continue their tour in the USA until December 1st.

The post Maximo Park’s Indie Nostalgia Trip at the Mod Club appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Featuring the great Tony Visconti, a long-time American producer who worked closely with Bowie on records from The Man Who Sold the World right up until Black Star, it is clear that the tour had been put together with real passion. Planned far in advance of the sad news that broke hearts across the world only a few days earlier, Tony and Woody Woodmansey, drummer and final living member of the Spiders from Mars lineup, took the stage early to explain how Bowie himself had seen their rehearsals and approved of the tour.

So how was it?

With emotions running high, the band opened by playing The Man Who Sold the World in its entirety and in order. Woody rallied through the set in true rock style, flying around the kit with apparent ease. I guess the big question on everyone’s lips is who took up the microphone? Step up a flamboyantly dressed Glenn Gregory, the founding member and lead singer of 80s band, Heaven 17.

Without achieving the impossible and actually being Bowie, his performance can best be described by borrowing an English term – “bloody good!” Vocally Glenn is strong, but more importantly he had put hard work into bringing Bowie’s vocal style and subtle performance nuances to the stage. Close your eyes and well, you can definitely pretend it’s Bowie’s heyday – that’s why we’re all here right?

The roar of the audience was deafening at times, above anything that I have ever heard for a cover band. After delivering those nine album tracks, Holy Holy then took the crowd on a musical journey through some of Bowie’s hits from “Ch, Ch, Ch, Ch, Changes” to Ziggy Stardust and the like.

Whilst it was an emotional night for everyone, including the band who professed late on that they had considered cancelling the tour altogether, it was a great job that they didn’t. After that and the recent release of Black Star, an album of incredible beauty and complexity right up there with Bowie’s creative best, I am now comfortable in saying that it was a fitting end for someone who will never truly leave us – not as long as Earth and Mars exist anyway.

The post Holy Holy’s David Bowie Tribute Lights Up Toronto appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Bio Edited by David Creelman.

Born in the Maritimes, in the early sixties, Jan Creelman grew up on the East Coast, had lived abroad and traveled all over the world. After acquiring a B.A. in music (piano) and a Master’s in Library and Information Science, she “fell into batik” while observing a friend compose a market scene with wax and dyes. Where ever it is applied, wax prevents dyes from penetrating the fabric; when dye spills outside the waxed area, the fabric comes to life. For Jan, it’s enchanting to work in the negative and have images appear as if from nowhere. That first evening of story-telling through batik shaped her core approach. She avoided straightforward textbook techniques and has developed a vigorous, organic style that is stimulated by the extremes of any experience or event that compels her to step outside her comfort zone. It is the unexpected and the promise of a new adventure that drives her on a daily basis. Her determination to experiment with wax, dye, bleach, and fabric has allowed her to fuse expressionism and abstract modernism, to develop a personal vocabulary that remains essentially dramatic. She is persistent, dedicated and a passionate teacher, explorer, artist and Canadian.

What neighbourhood do you live in?

Rockcliffe-Smythe (Jane and St. Clair)

What do you do and where?

Batik on cotton with wax and dyes. I’m quite strict that every image produced must be the result of resistance through shapes or wax.

What are you working on?

Currently reflecting on the violence in Syria. Meanwhile, preparing for 2 shows: a group show at Tantra Lounge – Bar & Grill, January 8th through February (1157 St Clair Ave W.) and the RAW Futures Showcase at the Mod Club, 722 College St, January 15th.

Where can we find your work?

You can find my work on the web at: www.jancreelman.com

The post Featured Toronto Artist Jan Creelman appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Metz
May 1 & 2 at Lee’s Palace at 11pm

Broncho
May 7 at Horseshoe Tavern at 11pm

Scott Weiland and the Wildabouts
May 7 at The Mod Club at 11pm

LYON
May 8 at The Mod Club at 10pm

Stu Larsen
May 2 at The Rivoli at 10pm

King Tuff
May 7 Lee’s Palace at 12am & May 8 at Hard Luck bar at 10:45pm

Death Cab for Cutie
May 7 at The Sony Centre for the Performing Arts at 9pm

CMW website.

The post Canadian Music Week 2015 – Must See Shows appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Bring those dancing shoes and your lover and get ready to get down with a night of soul and Motown hits. This night is a sure fire hit and will not disappoint.

We had a chance to chat with the founder of this amazing night Christopher Sandes who told us about the magic that is The Big Sound and all of the things that he loves about Toronto.

How long has the Big Sound been around? What inspired you to come up with the concept?

Big Sound has been around for 2-3 years and my inspiration was obviously the music itself first but, also the fact that although many DJ nights were representing Classic Soul ( Shindig & Motown Party, Hot Buttered Soul) I had never heard it being done the way it was recorded in a live setting. Plenty of nickel & dime bands or cheesy wedding outfits but nothing stellar.

No one I know got to see the Motown Revue live or the Stax Revue for that matter & I wanted that. I wanted to hear that, here and now, I wanted people to see that. I also wanted to play the hits but, also the deep cuts, not just the stuff everyone knows.

Tamla/Motown, Stax, Atlantic & to a lesser extent Hi-Records, Chess, Okeh, Phillies, Ric-Tic, Golden World Records etc. simply didn’t and couldn’t tour much and did what little they did in the 60’s & early 70’s. I can now understand why they didn’t tour. The bands would have had to have been big enough to represent the sound and it’s extremely cost prohibitive to have 20-30 people playing on one stage as well as finding venues big enough, with adequate sound systems, dealing with promotion, the logistics alone are kaleidoscopic…….politically it can blow up at any moment…… I mean people are hell & beyond being people, musicians raise hell on the reg. Luckily for us it has worked thus far and it is still something we are all doing out of love. Toronto has been very supportive and I can’t believe we are going on year 3! Thanks Toronto!!!

Is Motown your personal favourite genre? Why not another genre?

Music is a hell of a thing. There is no one genre that I can call my favourite. Things come and go, certain things stay with you forever but, all art owes itself in a sense to occasion. I felt that Toronto was asking for Classic Soul, the occasion was there, and I have loved it since I was a kid. My dad emigrated from Ireland with a bunch of Stax records, he then continued to build on that with other great soul records and I was very lucky to inherit that. To find Otis Redding beside the Pogues made for a really good foundation. I still remember getting kicked out of school for wearing my Pogues shirt with the lipstick on the butt cheek and getting rolled by skinheads for my parka and Stax t-shirt. But, there is no denying the way Classic Soul makes you feel. There is no other music that is danceable, nostalgic, and sentimental and feel good all at the same time. Motown, Stax… that’s what you put on when you wanna dance in the kitchen and drink some wine with your lady or man. I guess I wanted fill the occasion, Toronto has a long tradition of amazing parties Blow Up & Vaseline to name a few, I wanted to create something in that tradition with live music and invite a few hundred people to join me.

Is the backing band a fairly consistent group of people? How about the singers? How did you all meet?

The backing band has by and large been the same, some people rotate in and out but the rhythm section has been keeping it real for the duration….everyone knows what mercenaries Horn players are….they are the Boba Fetts of the music world, very shady…I kid…i kid…. I am very lucky to have some of Toronto’s finest brass players in the band. What I wanted and what I hope I have achieved is to have brought together a lot of talented people who all have amazing solo projects, albums gets released people go on tour, new people rotate in, people are free to come and go, it’s a home with solid foundation at this point. We all met through the scene. Toronto has one of the best music scenes anywhere in the world. We are a Big family and although never perfect we have plenty of character.

Does the Big Sound ever perform outside of Toronto?

No, we haven’t. I can’t imagine what would happen to the last shreds of my sanity if this were to get on the road. It was conceived as a Toronto party more so than a band. That said, no invitations are being turned down!

What age group does the crowd generally fall under?

It’s pretty amazing to see people anywhere from 18 – 65 having a blast but, I would say the majority would be 25-35

What is the oddest request you have had from the audience during a show?

I was once asked by what I assume was a lost club kid if we had anything above 160 BPM’s that we could play. Ravers…..what can I say.

What is your favourite song to perform? What songs usually get the best crowd reaction?

Come on! Too hard. My favourites are legion but one of my very very favourites is “What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted” by Jimmy Ruffin or “Tracks of My Tears” by Smokey Robinson. On both those tracks you have the full grandeur of Motown production. Strings,Horns,Backups…the whole deal, mini orchestras.

Artists sometimes sell cover songs on iTunes etc. Do you guys plan to record a cover album or sell any covers online?

No, as I said this is a Toronto party. We are all in other bands & have solo projects to focus on. It’s a grind. I don’t think we have anything to add to a musical legacy that is already perfect. But, that doesn’t mean that individuals in BS aren’t. Tanika Charles, Maylee Todd, Maya Killtron, Gary Beals, Wade O. Brown, Allie, Dr. Ew to name a few are making their own contributions to great music. It also doesn’t mean we can’t help each either, later this month the Big Sound horns are gonna put some mustard on a Tanika Charles song.

If you had to collaborate with one Toronto band, who would it be and why?

No one artist comes to mind, it would be cool to back up songwriters and interpret their music though. We had the good fortune, dream come true of working with the legendary Dolores La La Brooks through Dan Burke-which was one of the highlights of my entire life. Dolores did say she would love to do an album with us as her band. That iron is still in the fire and it’s an ongoing collaboration with Dan-who is the hardest working man in showbiz as far as I am concerned. He and I are talking about backing up Ronnie Spector at the moment; does it get any better than that?

Top 3 artists that have inspired you in your life? Nina Simone, Marvin Gaye, Prince

Favourite place to eat in Toronto? I can only speak for myself, but, on the reg I would say Pho Hung & when fortunes exist, Bar Isabel.

Favourite thing about the city? Culture.

Favourite hang out in TO? Kensington Market

Random Rapid fire:

Sneaky Dees Nachos or Hey Meatball Spaghetti? Banh Mi Boys

Queen or College St? Dundas

Trinity Bellwoods or Highpark? I grew up near High Park so that’s an easy one.

Early bird or night owls? Again I can only speak for myself; I am a Nightbird-Earlyowl. That is to say an insomniac who can neither sleep nor sleep-in. In short; doomed.

We look forward to hearing the songs at your show on next week at the Mod Club. What can fans of the Big Sound expect?

25-30 songs performed by 25-30 people, DJ Wes Allen playing some impeccable tunes to say the least but, I am really looking forward to hearing Tanika Charles sing “ Don’t Play That Song for Me” by Aretha. Another one of my favourite tunes.

What is one thing people don’t know about each band member that they wouldn’t expect?

Maylee Todd is apparently an Aerobics instructor in Space but, maybe everyone knew that! I don’t dish.,,,,what’s the old saying….I’ll tell you all my secrets but, lie about my past?…I can say I didn’t expect us all to get along!! Moreover though it would be how diverse our backgrounds all are. Something too long to put into words here.

What’s next for The Big Sound?

Just playing, putting on our shows, to continue adding tunes to our repertoire, keeping it fresh. We now have around 150 songs that we play. We add new songs each show. It’s getting to the point where certain songs we don’t touch for up to a year!

The Big performs tonight at The Mod Club for a special Valentine’s Edition.

Doors at 9:00pm / $15.00

The post The Big Sound Soul Band appeared first on Toronto Guardian.