The List
SECOND EDITION OF THE LIST Story by Laura Hermiston SSIONS “My Love Grows in the Dark” Hailing from Kansas City’s unexpected art-scene, SSION has reached the apex of synth-pop perfection with the album Bent, out August 7th on Dovecote. Animal Collective “Honeycomb/Gotham” Animal Collective are back with a new 7inch single titled Honeycomb / Gotham featuring two brand new songs. The ‘Honeycomb /...
JP Hoe Album Review
JP HOE RELEASES FIFTH ALBUM MANNEQUIN Story by Kate Davies Photo by Robert Huynh Although you may not know his name as of yet, JP Hoe has already cranked out four albums to date, releasing his fifth on May 15th. Evidently inspired by the likes of David Gray and Ryan Adams, Hoe nevertheless...
Press Play: Elk
ELK DAYDREAMS RELEASE PARTY THIS FRIDAY AT CINECYCLE Story by Laura Hermiston Video Production by Olenka Szymonksi Elk are celebrating the release for their new LPDaydreams on Indoor Shoes. With The Dirty Nil, The BB Guns and The Beverlys $5 or $12 with LP Cinecycle (401 Richmond St. W.) 9pm *Cheap PBR tall cans
Best Coast Album Review
NEW BEST COAST ALBUM AVAILABLE IN CANADA TODAY Story by Laura Cappe Photo by David Black Like every twenty-something, Bethany Cosentino is just trying to figure it all out. With Best Coast’s sunshine fuzzy debut album “Crazy For You”, Cosentino penned raw, quirky anthems about unrequited love, heartbreak and her cat Snacks that made you...
The List
FIRST EDITION OF THE LIST Story by Laura Cappe and Laura Hermiston We compile our favorite new singles, videos, and albums for our readers to hear and love. Dusted – “(Into The) Atmosphere” Holy Fuck’s Brian Borcherdt is back with a new name, a new sound and a new record. His latest project Dusted is...
Must See Show: Neon Indian
NEON INDIAN PLAY THE PHOENIX TUESDAY Story by Kate Davies Photo provided by Neon Indian What better way to kick off the start of four glorious months of warmth (hopefully!) than a live show whose vibe captures our longing for those sticky days and hazy nights of the summer? Thanks to their heady rhythms, addictive...
Must See Show: I Break Horses
END YOUR WEEKEND ON A HIGH NOTE Story by Kate Davies Photo provided by I Break Horses If you’re going to the sold out M83 concert at The Opera House this Sunday, make sure you arrive early to see this Swedish duo in action. Having been compared to the likes of Sigur Ros and Air,...
Frankie Rose Interview
PLAID TALKS TO FRANKIE ROSE ABOUT BEING IN THE SPOTLIGHT AND HER STYLE ICONS Story by Laura Hermiston Shot by Mark Cira Produced and Edited by Laura Hermiston Frankie Rose played a show at The Shop Under Parts & Labour in Toronto on May 2 2012. Plaid Magazine got the chance to talk to her...
Hot Kid Album Review
HOT KID ARE GROWING UP Story by Kate Davies Photo provided by Hot Kid Originally from Cambridge, Ontario, this two-piece indie rock group has been steadily churning out albums since 2005. Having already produced five releases, the band is now based in Toronto and set to issue a string of EP’s over the summer. The...
Teen Daze Toronto Show Preview
TEEN DAZE SET TO RELEASE ANTICIPATED DEBUT RECORD Story by Alexa Tomaszewski Photo provided by Teen Daze Canadian electronic rock artist Teen Daze is releasing the long awaited debut full-length LP called All Of Us Together, coming out June 5 on Lefse. Teen Daze will be playing a show with Foxes in Fiction, Megafortress, Southern Shores...
Press Play: Hussy
PRESS PLAY TALKS TO HUSSY ABOUT THE TORONTO PUNK SCENE Story by Laura Hermiston Video Production by Olenka Szymonksi Hussy are one of Toronto’s most popular punk bands. They are signed to Buzz Records, which has become the current epicentre for Toronto punk bands and shows. Press Play spoke with the band inside “The Garage”...
Mode Moderne “Nightly Youths” Music Video
VANCOUVER’S MODE MODERNE RELEASE NEW STOP ANIMATION MUSIC VIDEO Story by Laura Hermiston Photo courtesy of Mode Moderne Vancouver-based dance quintet, Mode Moderne, release their new album Strange Bruises May 15th on Light Organ Records. Strange Bruises has a palpable 80s jangly-pop nostalgic feel to it. Philip Intile’s voice is as charming and moody...
Actress Album Review
WE ARE LOVING: ACTRESS - R.I.P. Story by Adam Steel Photo courtesy of Actress Over the years, many tone-deaf critics have lumped London-based artist Darren Cunningham, aka Actress, into some pretty outrageous categories: grime, art house, dubstep, industrial, and IDM (that’s Intelligent Dance Music to you neophytes). While the artist himself has described his sound as...
Live in Bellwoods Concert Series
THE FUTURE OF LIVE IN BELLWOODS ACCORDING TO DOCUMENTARIST, MIKE JUNEAU Story by Adam Steel Every Torontonian knows Trinity-Bellwoods Park as the premiere summer destination for impromptu hangouts, wine-picnics and dog parades. Recently though, this choice spot for such hip and fashionable crowds has evolved into a prominent outdoor venue for the best...
Eight and a Half Private Show Photos and Interview
INTIMATE SHOW AT 109 OZ WITH EIGHT AND A HALF Story by Andrew Weir Photos by Andrew Weir Plaid told you earlier this week that Eight and a Half were playing at a private show at 109 OZ brought to you by Reserve Properties. Hundreds of people RSVP’d to check out the new condo development...
Press Play: Planet Creature
ALL DAY ALL NIGHT GARAGE SHOW THIS SATURDAY Story by Laura Hermiston Video production by Olenka Szymonksi Check out Plaid’s Press Play, a weekly video interview with bands playing upcoming shows in Toronto. This week, find out more about Planet Creature, and their sophomore release “You’re On Planet Creature” who play Saturday, April 28h at The Garage...
Frankie Rose to Play The Shop at Parts and Labour on May 2nd
FRANKIE ROSE TOURS HER SOPHOMORE ALBUM “INTERSTELLAR” Story by Laura Cappe Frankie Rose – you may have heard her banging away on the drums in such bands as Dum Dum Girls, Vivian Girls and Crystal Stilts, but this time around the Brooklyn based new wave rocker has stepped up to the mic and crafted a...
Craft Spells (Captured Tracks) Album Preview
CRAFT SPELLS PLAY THE PHOENIX FRIDAY APRIL 27 WITH THE DRUMS Story by Kate Davies Lead by the blissfully monochromatic vocals of Justin Vallesteros, Craft Spells are a California-based four piece who epitomize the current wave of nostalgic synthpop. Their debut EP, Idle Labor, was released in 2011 to high praise from Pitchfork, garnering a...
Eight and a Half Plays Private Show at 109 OZ
RESERVE PROPERTIES LAUNCHES THEIR NEWEST PROJECT Story by Laura Hermiston At 109 OZ this Thursday, April 26th Reserve Properties hosts a private concert featuring one of Canada’s hottest new bands –Eight and a Half, which brings together Broken Social Scene’s drummer, Justin Peroff with Dave Hamelin & Liam O’Neil of The Stills. Free/19+ Show: 9pm sharp 109...
Best Coast release sophomore album
“THE ONLY PLACE” COMES OUT MAY 15 Story by Adam Steel Photo by David Black When Bethany Cosentino first emerged as a lovelorn pot-enthusiast who sang catchy songs about boyfriends, beaches and – again, weed, a collective audience of hip boys and girls sought to join in on the non-stop summer party known as...
Press Play: Pow Wows
GARAGE ROCK BLOWOUT THIS FRIDAY Story by Laura Hermiston Video production by Olenka Szymonksi Check out Plaid’s second edition of Press Play, a weekly video interview with bands playing upcoming shows in Toronto. This week, find out more about Pow Wows, who play Friday, April 20th at The Garrison (1197 Dundas Street West).
Record Store Day
TORONTO RECORD STORE STAFF TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF RECORD STORE DAY Story by Laura Cappe Remember the days before digital streaming and downloading? When you would cut school early to pick up the latest copy of (insert favourite band here). Whether it would be hard-pressed vinyl, a cassette tape, or a CD – the...
The Jezabels
CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED AUSTRALIAN BAND PLAYS MOD CLUB WEDNESDAY NIGHT Story by Kate Davies Forming in 2007 after meeting at the University of Sydney, this 20-something four piece has gained much notoriety Down Under, already having toured extensively throughout their homeland. Releasing three EP’s between 2009-2010, they were nominated for Best Breakthrough Artist and Best...
Simian Mobile Disco’s “Seraphim”
NEW SINGLE SIGNALS A DIFFERENT SOUND FOR SMD Story by Adam Steel Back with sonic vengeance, Simian Mobile Disco recently premiered a bizarre, yet beautiful new video for their current single “Seraphim,” lead track off of the upcoming album Unpatterns (due out May 15th, 2012). The playfully experimental track is a left-field departure...
Press Play: Foxfire and Rattail
THEY ROCK OUT TONIGHT AT THE SILVER DOLLAR ROOM Story by Laura Hermiston Video production by Olenka Szymonksi Check out Plaid’s first edition of Press Play, a weekly video interview with bands playing upcoming shows in Toronto. This week, find out more about Foxfire and Rattail, who play Thursday, April 12th at The...
The Deep Dark Woods
BEAUTY UNCOVERED AT THEIR SHOW LAST FRIDAY Story by Kate Davies The Deep Dark Woods’ Ryan Boldt has always appreciated the growing base of young fans his group has garnered over their seven years of existence, but he claims that “when somebody who’s actually lived a little likes you, then you know you’re...
Yukon Blonde
A GREAT TRIPLE-BILL PLAYS LEE’S PALACE TOMORROW NIGHT Story by Kate Davies In the last few years, British Columbia has produced some of Canada’s hottest indie bands, from Dan Mangan to Mother Mother to Said the Whale. One of the most talented among them is Kelowna-based 3-piece Yukon Blonde, who have released 2...
