Bits and Bobs: Sleigh Bells, The Selmanaires, Robyn, Sound Table, Carrie Underwood

– It was a pretty rock ‘n’ roll weekend, with The EARL’s 11th anniversary and Ringo Starr on music fans’ to-rock lists, but Saturday night found us at the CW Midtown Music Complex, where Rooney played upstairs and a pretty darn loud Sleigh Bells played to a sold-out crowd down in Vinyl. There was definitely […]

Live Review & Picture Book: Hole at The Tabernacle, June 30

By Ellen Eldridge A look of expected yet hopeless acceptance appeared on the faces of fans who enjoyed an entertaining and prompt show by opening act Foxy Shazam only to wait nearly two hours for Hole to take the stage. Voices in the audience discussed the anticipated act, “I heard this was gonna be a […]

Picture Book: Passion Pit, Tokyo Police Club at Criminal Records, June 9

By Matthew Smith (www.shadowboxerphoto.com)

Live Review: Plants and Animals at The EARL, June 5

By  David Courtright Plants and Animals showed a great deal of promise with their 2008 album, Parc Avenue. Montreal has no shortage of innovative and successful music acts, and many of those influences and collaborations shine through in the versatility of that album. It weaves through power chord rock, nimble folk interludes, country rhythms, and […]

Live Review & Picture Book: Blitzen Trapper and The Moondoggies at Variety Playhouse, June 9

By Jhoni Jackson; photos by Jason Travis Compared to the abundant media coverage of garage rock, chillwave and other lo-fi of-the-moment indie niches, folk music appears a bit neglected. But the full crowd at The Moondoggies and Blitzen Trapper at Variety Playhouse proved that, despite temporarily existing in the shadow of catchy punk derivatives and […]

Live Review: Blue Rodeo at Smith’s Olde Bar, June 8

By Scott Roberts; photos by Sue Volkert Like an unexpected visit from a reliable, old friend who you only get to see once every few years, a Blue Rodeo performance is like a warm embrace that fills your heart with happiness and makes you feel as if all is right, at least temporarily, with the […]

Live Review: The Church @ Center Stage, May 1

By Scott Roberts; photos by Sue Volkert When a band has been together 30 years – a milestone few bands ever even hope to achieve – it has earned the right to look back it at its past accomplishments and bask in the accolades and respect that feat deserves. In the case of Australia’s The […]