Hey Rosetta! and Stars - Danforth (Feb 12/15)

Hey Rosetta!

Disclaimer: As if Hey Rosetta weren't already one of my favourite Canadian bands they went and put out a disc to rival all others last year and this was my first time to experience it live.

The performance was brilliant, a perfect weight of new and old, soft and hard, build and break. It can take years and years for bands to reach this height and Hey Rosetta has been at it for quite awhile now and having started strong seem to only be improving. What a spectacular show through and through. Although it seemed like it was supposed to end earlier, technically being an opener, it just kept going as if it were a double bill. That really wasn't a problem especially considering when I first saw these two on the same bill (Feb 2010, Vancouver) Torq came out so impressed that he stated "well that's the last time those guys open for us" predicting that they were going places.

Tim is the focal point of the group but let's be honest - all seven musicians are extremely skilled in their own right. From the intro that led into Second Sight's cleverly titled opening track Soft Offering (For the Oft Suffering) with its percussion and keys into the next album cut, Gold Teeth it was on. Utilizing a second reverb mic Tim also used the acoustic for this. Breaking into the back catalog with a surging rendition of Yer Spring that had a badass bass line and extended outro they then dialed it in with an acoustic What Arrows, also changing up their instruments halfway through the tune. Seeds was the next effort before they came back with a Second Sight highlight in Neon Beyond that I assumed would be the closer due to its crashing ending. I was far off though as Cathedral Bells showed off both acoustic and electric guitar solos before the absolutely stunning Harriet - my personal new favourite even before this hair-raising rendition. They weren't done as the rollercoaster of Red Heart totally brought it down but no! there's more! Kintsukuroi truly was the set closer. And boy, oh boy, what a set!

Stars
Yet again Stars reminded me why I have practically lost count of their shows that I have attended. With confidence and charisma they charmed their way through a dazzling set, they have which experience to know the sweet spot between new tracks and old faves. I may not be over the moon about their latest release, No One is Lost, but it translated better coming direct from their fingertips and mouths. Actually Trap Door, the current radio single, hadn't really caught my attention until I stood in front of Torq laying it bare and with rapt attention realized its strength. When they pulled out perhaps their marquee Elevator Love Song from breakout Set Yourself on Fire, the he-sang, she-sang still hit all the emotional cues while the weird bass line made it just different enough to be extra interesting. Some of the strongest moments came from their Bedroom album which I recently revisited on vinyl and think despite liking it on initial release that I have been undervaluing it since. Take Me to the Riot is a fantastic call to arms while Up in our Bedroom was also endearing. Torq didn't spout off too much which is almost a disappointment for no matter what he says he is thoughtful and passionate and entertaining. (I was waiting for a 'Fuck Harper' that didn't arrive.) The set was brimming and bright and while the encore was compact it was still great and what Stars fan doesn't want to relive their breakups courtesy of Your Ex Lover is Dead?

Field Trip (Stars, BSS, Mangan, Hayden, Bloc Party+) - Fort York (June 8/13)

Gold & Youth

I was curious as to how Gold & Youth would be able to present the electronic-based indie rock of their highly enjoyable debut album, Beyond Wilderness, and the way that it was done was by integrating an electronic drum set right into the regular set. These pads were not visible to the audience but could definitely be heard and it allowed for the set to resemble an organic guitar show, without a bunch of backing tracks or knob twisting. The foursome recreated the sound quite well, with the lead male had a much deeper voice than his appearance would indicate, while the female vocalist hit her marks despite some maladjusted microphones. Wrapping up a short set with Time to Kill proved a pleasant way to start the festival.

Still Life Still

Sure were a bunch of dudes on stage for the first main stage set of the day. Alright there were only five of them including the hype man in leather manning the effects and keys. They rumbled out some rock music as the crowd assembled on their blankets all around. Not bad, but not much to jot down here.

The Darcys

Despite supposedly alternating sets on the main and second stage it seemed that every time I arrived to the Fort York stage things were already underway - although upon reflection that may have had to do with the one-lane commute between the stages. Therefore The Darcys were already cranking out their music to an appreciative audience. They incorporate the "Nighttime, anytime. It's alright" refrain by The Constantines (and also covered by Guelphite, Jim Guthrie). Incorporating some keys they were another respectable set that served as a suitable warm-up for a big day.

Jason Collett

A recognizable man in the Toronto scene he was less recognizable having cleaned himself up with a snazzy hair cut that gave an overall clean cut feel. He began with different backers including do-it-all Taylor Knox (bass, drums, vocals) for songs like Rob a Bank. But soon afterward he invited his former bandmates, Zeus, to reprise their roles for a couple tunes including Love is a Dirty Word and the tinny guitared Charlyn, The Angel of Kensington. (One of the first blatant outbreaks of local politics of the day, as he made reference to blocking the proposed WalMart to that neighbourhood.) It was a bit of a revolving door as Ms. Amy Millan joined him for a Hangover Days duet as he broke out the acoustic. To top it all off fellow BSSer, Brendan Canning, toted his guitar on stage for the obligatory I'll Bring the Sun which saw the return of Amy as well as her Stars bandmate, Torquil Campbell to sing along. Unfortunately the clouds remained for the duration of the tune but spirits were buoyed regardless.

Cold Specks

Admittedly most of what I heard from Al Spx was while salivating over my snack options in the food field next door but it seemed like a very full, loud sound, in contrast to her mostly quiet and subdued (but absolutely excellent) record, I Predict a Graceful Expulsion. There was a sax that added some deep bass to the sound and delightfully accompanied her impressive voice which would not be easily overpowered.

Zeus

This band is beloved, fittingly like a god, for their throwback sound and varied live show. It seems as if every member can play every instrument and throughout a half hour set they appeared to have hit on every possible configuration. It's just fun - like the call and response on Anything You Want Dear. They shredded through a bunch of their hits making for a jaunty, quick show.

Trust

One of the few bands of the day that I hadn't yet seen live (Still Life Still, Gold & Youth) again it was a mystery as to how they were going to come across in a live show. And let me tell you - it was a spectacle! The set-up was simple enough; drummer, female keys, and strictly singer. All three members of the band were dressed only in black, with the male lead singer wearing sleeveless top and black skirt, but to offset this lack of colour a very colourful character joined them. As this masked, sequined, jean-vested, short-shorted dancer worked it the band played on. The music is pretty electro catchy and this gave us some entertainment in addition to the otherwise straightforward musical presentation.

Hayden

Mr. Desser was in fine form as he started slowly, seated at his piano bench to open the set with a couple of tunes. The man of many talents, Taylor Knox, began on the guitar before swapping with the third member to take over the drums. He played a relatively perky set considering his catalogue, drawing heavily from the recently released album lit up in a neon Us Alone sign behind him. This included Rainy Saturday plus a cameo from Lou Cannon on Blurry Nights which was quite sweet. However I find it is Hayden's has a knack for putting real feeling into his songs that sets him apart, as on Almost Everything which drips with emotion with each ivory key and harmonica hum. For this reason alone I was left dreaming of a long, late-night set in a dingy back room bar where he could really get into it with a captive audience. That being said, there was much to be enjoyed from this festival set as well.

Ra Ra Riot

An American band that tours Toronto surprisingly often, likely due to their Arts & Crafts representation. For this reason I've seen them a couple of times in the past without getting too worked up about them - but their latest album had caught my ear again so I was willing to give them another go. And it was a worthwhile endeavour too as they impressed with the translation of their hooky songs to the live stage. I hadn't realized there were so many of them - six - but they were tight as the lead male burst out with his higher range vocals, nicely matched by the violin and countered with the deeps of the bodyless standup bass. They lead the crowd with energy and it was fed right back to them appropriately. One notable flair was when a member hugged his guitarist from behind, slipping his arms  between the guitar and the guitarist's arms to start a clap. That was a silly sight but otherwise an entertaining little set.

Bloc Party
It has been some time since I fell hard for Silent Alarm but the album still passes muster when I return to it some eight years later - and not quite that the same length of time since I saw them perform last, but awhile, no doubt. And wasn't I pleasantly surprised with this performance! Granted the music since that magnificent debut has evolved but they retain their catchy senses. So of course I enjoyed So Here We Are, Banquet and Helicopter but also Waiting for the 718 and Song for Clay from 2007's A Weekend in the City too. In fact, they played an unreleased track about Montreal which sounded excellent despite being a slower number - great response. The band still retains a certain swagger that carried them through the elongated set length. In finale they did not disappoint my twenty year old heart either as they performed a rousing rendition of This Modern Love that brought everything back around. Beautiful.

Stars
The last Stars show renewed my reasoning for having seen this band a dozen times - that Danforth show was stellar (pun not originally intended). Here they had a massive black and white backdrop poster of their North album cover which I could make out from my vantage point by the sound tent (as the festival had packed out by this point). The duo were energetic as usual though they were aware of the time limitations and burned through the hits rather than spending too much time waxing poetic. Torq did get a word out to enjoy ourselves even "under this shitty highway" as he motioned to the Gardiner nearby. There appeared to be another new guitarist, even since the Danforth show, though I couldn't be 100% sure - he did seem awfully happy to be there however, as he smiled away. Amy and Evan were amped up as each was seen jumping up and down at various points throughout the set that many in the crowd remarked was one of their favourites of the day (whereas I was slightly distracted by my burrito and being at the back). Perhaps ranked somewhere lower in the long list of Stars shows based on personal enjoyment, primarily due to circumstances, but that still makes it a better set than most concerts going.

Theory of Relativity
Lights Changing Colour
A Song is a Weapon
The North
We Don't Want Your Body
Elevator Love Song
Soft Revolution
Backlines
Midnight Coward
Take Me to the Riot
Hold On When You Get Love and Let Go When You Give It

Dan Mangan
A surprising highlight of the day. Not because I doubt Dan - I have professed my love for him many times before and stand by it - but because they hadn't played in such a long time following their last tour (including the recent birth of Dan's first child). While a tonne of people staked out their spot for Feist there was still a horde of Manganians hanging on each of his lyrics. Despite the absence the entire band seemed sharp, still building it up to knock it down. I've said it before but that Post War Blues just wallops you live! It is so darn good and received my virtual vote for best single song of the festival. (I had hopes for Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old Girl but..) Of note was the quickened version of Sold which still worked, while If I Am Dead worked slowed. The Leaves, Trees, Forest lyric caught my ear for some reason this time around too - "That's the thing about everything; everything always does that."
For better or worse the tune that is still Dan's signature remains Robots, so it was interesting to hear them change up the opening to the song as a disguise, but when the chorus rolled around and Dan had us all singing along there was no doubt remaining. As a bonus that song did not close out the set but instead we were treated to Rows of Houses which is a fantastic tune recorded and live, and was always destined to be a hit.

Feist
Coming upon the set late I was disappointed to see guests Aroara being thanked as they departed the stage (worth it for Dan though). From here Feist played an intriguing, if somewhat muddled and disappointing set. Sure, she could have played a more generic typical standard set of her hits as she has hundreds of times over (like Centre in the Square, Kitchener some years ago) but that is the music that made her famous. Primarily backed by only a DJ she ran through a series of reinterpretations of her own catalogue. Unfortunately the singing hardly sounded like singing as few words were heard between a series of sounds and notes emitting from her mouth. Often it is interesting for a live set to differ from its recorded counterpart but as with Dylan when the original is barely recognizable a great deal is lost. This seemed indulgent. I can't be certain that she ever got to "4" to start that thumb war as the loops continued without really going anywhere. When the hooded (caped?) lady finally exited the stage it was to a mixed ovation. I am still a Feist fan but would have reservations about making reservations to see her next show, unsure which one I was going to get.

Broken Social Scene

Yes it was a reunion for BSS after their hiatus announcement a couple years ago, after all isn't it "time that we grow old and do some shit"? The reason was the ten year anniversary of the label which essentially was established for the Broken Social Scene and definitely prospered due to their success, as well as the success of their cohorts and offshoots who also made music for Arts and Crafts. Plenty members had already taken to the stage earlier in the day including Andrew Whiteman (and his wife Ariel) with AroarA, Kevin Drew with anyone who invited him up, as well as the Stars crew. Here they were all (~13) together presenting their seminal album You Forgot It In People in its entirety and sticking much to the recorded versions as should be done in instances such as this. Mind you the standout track (of the album and perhaps their entire discography) Anthems for a Seventeen Year-Old Girl sorely missed Emily Haines' presence as despite the obvious enthusiasm from the female contingency, Amy, Ariel, and Lisa, they couldn't match it even together. However Metric, and hence Emily, was unavailable due to conflicting tour commitments. Yet a tender moment came following the conclusion of People as straight from the airplane James Shaw arrived to surprise everyone, especially Kevin Drew who blubbered his delight. Yes, they did carry on with a good number of further tunes beyond the album reproduction, tossing in a few from the last release including the strongest song from it, All to All, but primarily adding in the greatest hits and a previously unreleased song as well. Unfortunately the closing tune selection wasn't quite as joyous and ecstatic as could be but the show was excellent regardless.  As he's wont to do, often enough that Feist hilariously impersonated him during her set, Kevin politicized the affair by calling us together to stand up for Toronto - barely veiling his condemnation of the current mayor. It was true that it was a beautiful culmination of art and people at historic Fort York as we all came to celebrate A&C and by extension the Toronto scene as a whole. 

Stars, Yukon Blonde - Danforth (Mar 20/13)

Yukon Blonde

Unfortunately for those who hadn't yet arrived to fill the spacious Danforth Music Hall, Yukon Blonde came bursting out of the gate with three strong tunes. In front of a mosaic of a tiger's face they ripped My Girl, Radio and Six Dead Tigers on their guitars. They've certainly got the rock'n'roll look down with the shock of hair on all heads and most faces, the gaunt guitar-arms (minus the avocado tats) and the tight, is-it-ironic?-retro Wallflowers tee and the sound to go with it. Brides Song ended with some sweet guitar  and Loyal Man featured shaker percussion off the top which fit the laid back crowd who didn't really give much of a response until Stairway dropped. Could have been a set closer but instead they went with a longer, slow jam to ease off the stage and make room for the main even.

Stars

A night of sex with Stars. It was the first of two darn-near sold out nights in what they were lovingly referring to as their hometown all of the evening (where they grew up, despite starting the band in Montreal) and they were dressed for it. Glasses abounded as Torq went for a hip professor look, and Chris Seligman (keys), Evan Cranley (bass/keys) and Pat McGee (drums) all glammed out in sunglasses, while the relatively recent guitarist was the most subdued of all. Amy attracted attention in her black dress to complement her sultry voice. That voice that was eventually uncovered once they worked out vocal sound issues on opener Theory of Relativity (though as is becoming apparent, the Danforth is never perfect when it comes to sound). With their massive back catalogue it was interesting to note the song choices to fit the theme, though 2012's The North was still well-represented as this is their first solo tour following its release (having opened for Metric's stadium tour late last year). Fixed followed and then string wizard Nick Zubeck unostentatiously joined them for A Song is A Weapon.

To this point the few songs had all come from the previous two releases but the next was to please many more in the now-filled room as Amy played guitar and wonderfully sang Ageless Beauty from their breakout release from way back in 2004. Following a very minor rant from Torq, one of surprisingly few, about the winter weather they sang The North as a duet while 'snow' fluttered down upon us but it ceased for the still-should-have-been-a-hit We Don't Want Your Body. The song oozes with sensuality and the enduring chemistry between these stars allows it to be continually believable live. Amy's enthusiasm was notable for Backlines and then the mood changed.

Everything stops when they sing this song as it is so emotional and utterly devastating in its simple delivery. That is why it is understandable that I've only seen it performed once before, immediately following its release, but given the right circumstances it is a punch to the stomach. The crowd went silent and sucked in the beautiful, heartbreaking Personal.

Following Personal is surely a challenge and they went with a rare song that I didn't recognize, introduced by Amy saying it was about losing your virginity in a park - which Torq claimed he didn't know until that point. It was an upbeat number sang by Amy. They brought it back with a familiar number following this - Soft Revolution - but then reached way back for another treat for long-time fans. In fact Torq thanked those in the audience who'd come back to see them "two, three, four.." and proceeded to count to "15 times. Thank you!" [This was only my eleventh] and then played a song from the very early Stars days that had fallen out of rotation (if it had ever even been in it). Krush was the song, the opening number from The Comeback EP released in 2001, and it still played very well twelve years later (as Amy softly sings "Fuck you Hollywood, I'm the glory.") From a throwback they merged directly into last year's Loose Ends Will Make Knows seamlessly.

Sure they'd had to build up steam but it seemed around here that the momentum took hold and they bustled along with the audience fully on board. Burning through the acoustic guitar featuring Life Effect, Midnight Coward, and The First Five Times they had us by the heartstrings. Torq was also feeling the moment and demanded the house and stage lights dim - and I paraphrase "Screw the movie, we can't sing a song about fucking someone until death with the lights on" and then played that exact song - One More Night. This also allowed the swooping lights to be cast on the walls for North highlight Hold On When You Get Love.. which saw Torq embracing his tech with a beaming smile while the tech frantically tried to fix some gear.

Now Take Me to the Riot had the crescendo of a showstopper; it really soared and crashed and had hearts and heads and voices high but it would not close the show. No, they went with Walls - a gorgeous new song  that allowed the members to leave the stage, drifting away in the falling snow as if in the dream they sing of.

If they thought they'd leave after a set like that, they were mistaken. (I'm sure they didn't think that at all). Amy returned with the touring electric guitarist (no slouch either) and she sang My Favourite Book - a lovely rendition of the song that finally allowed the song to win me over. She even had us sing the echo which was a nice touch. That served as a vocal warm-up for us as we couldn't help but take over Your Ex-Lover Is Dead in a union of voices and good cheer. To close the night out right the band meandered around the stage and eventually found themselves all sitting on the front edge of the raised drum platform, enjoying each other and the crowd as they used The 400 to send us off right. It was a noteworthy moment to cap a night that reminded me just why I have seen them as many times as I have, and why I will be happy to see them again.

Stars (Edge Studios - Sept 12/12)

As Amy stepped out of the Jetta driven by Evan she joked that there had been a problem with the limo. Torq must have already been inside as they assembled on the studio stage with an unfamiliar acoustic guitarist. "Rather than stand here looking at each other for 7 minutes why don't we play them a song?" Torq mused once the door opened between musicians and fans, to the lovely, windy Toronto evening. This treat was a double acoustic version of their beautiful Your Ex Lover Is Dead. This song typifies the heart-wrenching lyrics and male-female interplay between Amy and Torq's fantastic voices that Stars have built themselves upon.

Following this song, with only two minutes until on-air, Torq threw out some suggestions for Amy and the new guitarist to riff on and Amy settled on Time After Time, which everyone - even Bookie - joined in on for the chorus after she sang the one verse anyone knew. Following Torq's playful version of the Sleep Country Canada jingle it was show time. Amy took the spotlight first, leading vocals on new song Backlines. Torq joined in and it was quite nice before he got to be the showcase on The North's title track. It was over all too soon but ever the performers they made those few minutes special.

Stars (Yonge-Dundas Square, NXNE, June 17, 2011)

From what I can recall this was my ninth time seeing Stars so there wasn't a heckuva lot that surprised me. Of note ...

The Five Ghosts banner hung behind them and that angel/ghost also appeared on Evan's bass.

Amy was in fine form after just giving birth a month or two ago (to Cranley's kid).

Still decking the set out with live flowers, though not nearly as much as the Bedroom tour.

Their exceptional backing guitarist was missing and in his place was an older professional who held it down to Torq's delight, apparently after only two rehearsals.

Songs:
Calendar Girl is always a treat. As is Ageless Beauty and Elevator Love Letter.

Wasted Daylight was a solid performance from the Five Ghosts release.

Your Ex Lover is Dead still hits the mark, and Reunion and One More Night remind how amazing Set Yourself on Fire was.

Take Me to the Riot sounded great too.