Press Play x B-17
OUR LAST EDITION OF PRESS PLAY FEATURING ONE OF TORONTO’S MOST EXCITING BANDS RIGHT NOW Story by Laura Hermiston Video by Olenka Szymonski If you like bands such as Jesus Mary Chain, Suicide, or Spacemen 3, check out B 17 from Toronto psych/pop label Optical Sounds. Their debut record release party for Wishing Won’t Make It So is...
Press Play x The Holiday Crowd
TORONTO BAND GETTING BUZZ IN THE UK Story by Laura Hermiston Video by Olenka Szymonski Check out Plaid’s photoshoot with The Holiday Crowd earlier this year. The Holiday Crowd play The Comfort Zone Thursday Nov. 8 in support of Dignan Porch (Captured Tracks) from London, UK.
Press Play: Odonis Odonis
YOU NEED TO CHECK OUT OUR NEW FAVE BAND THIS FRIDAY Story by Laura Hermiston Video Production & Editing by Olenka Szymonksi Plaid Magazine’s Laura and Ola from Press Play teleported to the 90s (well we thought we did) to a cafe to talk to Dean Tzenos about his band, Odonis Odonis, and what to expect at...
Cat Power
CAT POWER TAKES A WALK ON THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET FOR ALBUM NUMBER NINE Story by Adam Steel A stark drawing of the newly-coiffed Chan Marshall graces the cover of her ninth studio album, emblazoned with a streak of rainbow stretching from top right to bottom left. Metaphorically speaking, it is a perfect...
The Fresh & Onlys
LONG SLOW DANCE OUT TODAY Story by Kate Davies Considered one of the primary contributors to San Francisco’s “new garage rock” scene, The Fresh & Onlys have been praised as a group whose sound encompasses both a catchy and original quality. Formed in 2008 by Tim Cohen of Black Fiction and bassist Shayde Sartin, they...
Band of Horses
LETTING MISTAKES LIVE THROUGH THE MUSIC Story by Kate Davies I think there must be something in the water in Seattle. The Emerald City has a royalty-worthy musical pedigree which has seen the development of such jazz legends as Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, and Ernestine Anderson. It is also noteworthy as the birthplace of Jimi...
Cate Le Bon
NEW ALBUM CYRK II OUT NOW Story by Adam Steel Densely populated with only a handful of stark compositions, CYRK II—technically an EP, and fitting supplement (not sequel) to CYRK, released earlier this year—is a fine mixture of confessional musings and wistful folk-pop songs that billow their way from the smoky throat of Welsh-native Cate...
The List
TENTH EDITION Story by Ashley Lewis Brews Willis “Ride the Island Baby” This first video from Brews Willis makes you want to get outside, make bad decisions and party all day long. Aside from the song being catchy as hell, the video is aesthetically pleasing. With the Toronto skyline and CN Tower periodically shining in...
ALL CAPS! Island Festival
OUR STAFF PICKS Story by Kate Davies True to its digitally-inspired namesake, this weekend’s ALL CAPS! Island Festival promises to deliver some of the best in locally-harvested indie talent. Organised and programmed by a team of seven musicians and writers collectively named Wavelength, this non-profit organisation has helped launch the careers of such artists as...
M83
OSHEAGA 2012 SHOW REVIEW Story by Laura Cappe The sun had set; the air was thick, but cool – a result of the constant showers that had cleared only minutes before. A crowd of wet and sticky fans began to form at the Green Stage, with mud stained legs and smiles as big as the...
Osheaga 2012
MONTREAL MUSIC FESTIVAL AT A GLANCE Story by Laura Hermiston I took off for Montreal before the break of dawn last Friday and had no idea I was about to have one of the best weekends/festival experiences to date. First off, I have to mention that on my first night in Montreal I saw a...
The List
NINTH EDITION Story by Laura Cappe The Raveonettes “She Owns The Streets” “She Owns The Streets” is the first video off of The Raveonettes new album Observator. The video captures the energy of New York and the people that bring it alive – namely the infamous NYC street dancer Loan Tran (the focus of this...
Scion Sessions Top Picks
CAR COMPANY PUTS ON WEEK LONG FESTIVAL Story by Ashley Lewis Scion Sessions, the event dedicated to progressing Canadian music, takes place this coming week in Toronto, July 27 to August 4. Despite this being a big marketing blitz for a corporation, what festival isn’t a marketing blitz for a company? These are some must-see...
The List
EIGHTH EDITION Story by Adam Steel The xx “Angels” With a Mercury Music Prize under their belts, the pressure is on for London’s The xx to replicate that all-too familiar indie pop sound that was virtually inescapable in 2009. With the recent Facebook-debut of “Angels,” a stark and compelling composition with trademark minimalist vocals, the...
Alexi Murdoch
REFRESHING TAKE ON AN OVERLY DEFINED WORLD Story by Kate Davies It is an undeniable fact that the world is getting smaller every day. Through the Internet, a rise in the use of social media outlets, expanding immigration, and general globalization, our planet is quickly becoming one large community. However, as the world gets “physically”...
The List
SEVENTH EDITION Story by Laura Hermiston Kontravoid “Cut to Cleanse” Kontravoid is the solo project of Cam FIndlay- writer/producer of Parallels, as well as the tour drummer for Crystal Castles, and now currently the tour drummer for Trust. Findlay has left the kit behind and entered into the spotlight as a solo artist. His self-titled...
Bravestation
DEBUT ALBUM REVIEW Story by Laura Cappe Giants and Dreamers – the first full-length release from Toronto boys Bravestation (dropped today) is the perfect summer soundtrack. The mix of ambient rhythms, tropical beats, New Wave styled guitar rifts, and vibrant harmonies is like a sonic long island iced tea – an enjoyable combination of musical ingredients...
The List
Sixth Edition Story by Kate Davies Oppossom “Fly” Best known as a member of the Unknown Mortal Orchestra, New Zealand’s Opossom is due to release a new album in August. First single “Fly” is a 60s-inspired ditty, which features a male-female harmony throughout. The music video is stylized much in tune with the song itself,...
Canadian National Canthem
VIDEO PICK OF THE WEEK IN HONOUR OF CANADA Story by Kate Davies “I’m not a lumberjack, or a fur trader. I don’t live in an igloo, eat blubber, or own a dogsled,
and I don’t know Jimmy, Sally, or Susie from Canada, although I’m certain they’re really really nice.” Surely we all remember those infamous...
Ty Segall
SLAUGHTERHOUSE IS OUR ALBUM PICK OF THE WEEK The ambitious Ty Segall, who earlier this year promised three separate LPs for 2012, has so far made good on his word. His second effort, Slaughterhouse, follows in the footsteps of last month’s Hair with White Fence, and features—you guessed it, his touring band, for eleven tracks...
The List
BACK WITH OUR FIFTH EDITION Story by Laura Cappe Beirut “The Rip Tide” The video for the title track from Beirut’s latest critically acclaimed album takes you on a magical journey through the open waters, where colours explode in the sky and meld together to create the most magnificent landscape; truly a work of art. SSION “Earthquake”...
NXNE 2012 Wrap Up
NO PAIN NO GAIN Story by Laura Hermiston Video by Olenka Szysmonski My NXNE 2012 experience consisted of in total sixteen hours of sleep, eleven bands, three DJ sets, and two bruised knees. The week long festival features both local and international band showcases at venues in downtown Toronto. With my NXNE badge I was able...
NXNE Weekend Review
OUR WEEKEND WARRIORS NXNE WRAP UP Story by Adam Steel After a much needed spell of recuperation, Day 4 was all about the excess. Upon receiving word that Queens rapper Action Bronson was to take the stage at Drake Underground for a jam-packed midnight set, I made a sharp beeline to the west side hotspot...
NXNE Day One Show Reviews
ETERNAL SUMMERS AT THE DRAKE UNDERGROUND Review by Laura Cappe Photos by Evan Cappe At first glance Eternal Summers is a bit of a mystery. The Virginia trio – consisting of two grungy male garage rockers (sporting wolf print t-shirts and long dark hair) and their female lead in a prim skirt and blouse –...
NXNE Day Party Picks
ENDLESS NXNE FUN IN THE SUN Story by Laura Hermiston There is more to NXNE than the concerts at night (see our top picks). However, if you are feeling overwhelmed by the sheer amount of events popping up on your Facebook list then take a look at our top choices for events to go to...
Top NXNE Picks
TAKE A GANDER AT OUR NXNE 2012 SCHEDULE Story by Laura Hermiston, Laura Cappe, Kate Davies, and Adam Steel. Plaid’s online music writers sat down with the entire NxNE schedule and picked their top choices out of the hundreds of bands playing this year. It includes both big names and small up and comers who...
