Monthly Archives: July 2015

“Epic Nights” is a chance for Toronto’s Choir! Choir! Choir! to sing with some of their favourite musicians. Joel Plaskett joined the choir at The Drake Underground in Toronto for this version of “When I Close My Eyes” that was a wonder to witness.

When I Close My Eyes with Choir! Choir! Choir!

While Joel was in town, he also dropped by The Toronto Star for their Newsroom Concert Series hosted by Ben Rayner and performed an exclusive version of “Captains of Industry” off the new album, The Park Avenue Sobriety Test.

Captains Of Industry for the The Toronto Star Newsroom Concert Series

To commemorate their 20th anniversary, Montreal’s The Dears entered the studio with a collection of new songs. They emerged some months later with Times Infinity Volume One, the group’s first new studio album since 2011’s Degeneration Street – which saw them long listed for that year’s Polaris Music Prize. Times Infinity Volume One, set for release September 25th via Pheromone Recordings in Canada and Dangerbird in the U.S., marks the band’s sixth LP to date.

“I Used To Pray For The Heavens To Fall,” the first track available from the upcoming album, premieres via Noisey today. To listen click HERE.

The Dears frontman Murray Lightburn states, “When you start a band, you never think of the end. When we began work on this album, it was a process that consumed us completely, harkening back to our earliest days. In turn, the record became about sentimentality but in the face of great uncertainty; the concept of eternal love and all its fragility.”

Written over a two-year period, the work was finally committed to audio at the luxuriant Revolution Recording (Toronto) and thee mighty hotel2tango (Montreal) between the summer of 2014 and spring of 2015. The sound is described by the band as “both refined and sloppy. At times chill, always trill.” Lightburn continues, “Times Infinity is made of daydreams and spontaneous yet careful inspiration…. we want what comes out of your speakers to be true – ‘to you and for you.’ That is what always has been and always will be the sound of The Dears.”

Known for a commanding live show that established The Dears as a unique and powerful presence, the band will head out on tour this fall. Dates to be announced soon.

Fans can look forward to Volume Two in early 2016.

The Fratellis have announced the release of their brand new album ‘Eyes Wide, Tongue Tied,’ out August 21 via Cooking Vinyl and Pheromone Recordings.

Their new single ‘Baby Don’t You Lie To Me,’ is a foot-stomping anthem. Its fully charged nature is reminiscent of the energetic soul that paraded through their 2006 debut album smash ‘Costello Music’. But there’s a glorious new level to it, the sound of freedom, a force that runs throughout the album. After three full-length records (two top 5’s), a Brit Award, four sold-out nights at Brixton Academy and countless sell-out shows, exuding Zen-like calm, Jon Fratelli has embraced this newly found freedom, and boy does it show.

Listen To Their New Single ‘Baby Don’t You Lie To Me’ Here
Listen To The Track ‘Me And The Devil’ Here

Following the release of 2013’s ‘We Need Medicine’, the Glaswegian trio (formed in 2005), completed by Barry Fratelli (bass) and Mince Fratelli (drums), spent a year touring the world. At the tail end of 2014, they decamped to LA to work on album number four with Tony Hoffer (The Dears, M83, Depeche Mode and Belle & Sebastian), who also produced their first album. With Hoffer at the helm, the band could revel in playing for the fun of it again, a feeling that radiates throughout the entire record.

Beginning in July, the band will embark on a huge world tour with two stops in Canada, in Vancouver 9/30 and Toronto 9/16. Known for their energetic and engrossing live show The Courier (UK) exclaims – “I’ve never seen an audience dance as hard or jump as high. This is what it’s all about.” – and In Your Speakers raves “Once in a while you hit a show that you just know is going to stick with you. The Fratellis, is one of those.” Get ready folks, the show is just beginning!