On September 10th, by sheer chance I was very fortunate to stumble upon a particular band at Korova Milkbar on College. I was instantly blown away to hear such a fresh sound, on top of the phenomenal live performance to top it all off. Since then I’ve been eagerly awaiting to get my hands on some recorded material. They go by the name of 5th Projekt and no different than their live show, they continue to impress with their debut full-length album, Circadian.

Before even diving into the music itself, it’s hard not to notice the exceptional detail that the band has put into their packaging of their product. Confined within a circular tin case branded with only the words Circadian in palindrome fashion. Mirrored perfectly, it can be read on two different plains. Once opened, the CD lays inside with a nicely produced circular booklet of lyrics that ties it all together – a very nice touch.

With everything good that can be said about the packaging itself, it only gets better right from the first track of the album. “In A Coma” begins with an interesting mix of electronic ambience that sets the mood, bursting into a rock symphony that is a treat for the ears. Some very nice acoustic moments in “tTOdQ,” as well as some epic climaxes like in “3IGHT WORD5″ are also worthy favourites. Hauntingly ethereal vocals by Tara Rice take a spotlight with a heavy instrumental union of guitars, bass and drums through its 13 tracks. The progression through the entire album is top notch and you can tell a lot of work went into its’ production. It’s very rare to find such a young and talented group like 5th Projekt that possess the kind of chemistry that they have. They manage to maintain a particular sound that is unmistakably theirs while producing such an impressive debut full-length release like “Circadian.” This journey should not be missed.

http://www.myspace.com/5thprojekt

Blasting a hard-hitting industrial sound with a metallic edge, they’ve got an addictive presence on stage and a pleasure jam to. Accompanied with some groovy guitar riffs and bass lines along side some incredibly catchy hooks by miss Valentine herself, they’re in your face, fueled with a ton of energy and hell of a lot of fun.

On August 31st, as part of an event hosted by radio station, 102.1 The Edge the legendary Horseshoe Tavern was the place to be. With no cover and a total of four bands playing, for rock n’ roll fans it was a night definitely worth checking out. As due to a very mixed lineup of acts encompassing a variety of different genres, there was certainly something for everyone… but for those looking for something a little heavier, Crooked Valentine stole the show. They played a number of tracks for the enjoying crowd including, “Dead Zone” and “Gates of Hell,” as well as perfectly fitting cover of Rage Against the Machine’s “Bulls of Parade.” For hungry fans during and afterwords, “Crooked” cupcakes were available for consumption for only a dollar or two a piece, but some recorded material or merch for sale would have been even better. The band is planning on releasing a new EP and new fans can eagerly await it dropping in the near future.

Continuing on the Toronto live circuit, the band is expected to play many more shows in the coming months including this Saturday, September 18th at the famous Silver Dollar. Playing along side The Archives and The Playground Hookers, it’s definitely shaping up to be a killer set. Whether you’re in the city or not, make it out to the Silver Dollar this Saturday night for a night you won’t forget. It’s gonna be a good one.

Check out their music at:
http://www.myspace.com/crookedvalentinemusic

Sept 8 – DEAD AND DIVINE w/ Hatebreed &  Emmure @ The Phoenix
Sept 11 – THE CARAWAYS w/ The Raccoons, The Blue Violets + Flash Lightnin’ @ The Bovine Sex Club
Sept 13 – REVOLVERS w/ Garotas Suecas @ The Silver Dollar
Sept 16 – BIBLICAL @ The Bovine Sex Club
Sept 17 – THE SPEAKING TONGUES w/ The Bon & The Party Stompers @ The Silver Dollar
Sept 18 – POLYMORPHINES @ Rancho Relax
Sept 18 – THE UNKNOWN CULPRITS @ The Unicorn Pub
Sept 22 – DRIVE FASTER @ The Drake Hotel Underground
Sept 24 – ISOSCELES PROJECT w/ Bulletproof Tiger, Solitary Sun & Tenkens @ Sneaky Dee’s (DVD RELEASE)
Sept 24 – CUT THROAT KIDS @ The Poor Alex Theatre
Sept 25 – YOUNG RIVAL w/ Pack AD @ The Garrison
Sept 27 – AFTERPARTY w/ Bettie Serveert @ Drake Hotel

An official self-debut CD release concert could not have gone any better for local Toronto rock band, Flash Lightnin’ as they totally destroyed the legendary Horseshoe Tavern. Supported by two other phenomenal bands, Huron and Biblical, it was a definitely a show to be remembered.
Photos by: Stephanie Ho
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Biblical - Kicking off the night, I was already blown completely away. This rock n’ roll band really set the bar high early on in the night, and to top things off it was only their forth time performing. Brand-spanking-new and fresh out in the indie-rock circuit, this was a band that got the job done and then some. Especially incredibly guitar work, a driving bass-line and some smooth keyboard licks kept your head banging and wanting more. It’s a shame they don’t have any music recorded yet but through an amazing live performance, I was reminded of the desert-rock genre and bands like Kyuss and Queens of the Stone Age. Look out for these guys.
http://www.myspace.com/biblicalproportions

Huron – Next up on the bill and providing some more kick-ass rock n’ roll but with a bit of country inspiration. Southern rock at it’s finest, this was a band that was a definite crowd pleaser. Very nice slide-guitar work was in effect, in combination with punchy rhythms and excellent vocals brought the whole package together into a great live show. Hailing from Hamilton, Ontario; Huron is a band that melds inspiration from Black Sabbath to Pink Floyd and Neil Young, and does a hell of a good job in creating a sound that is unique that is hard to define into one genre. Looking forward to seeing more from these guys.
http://www.myspace.com/huronband

Flash Lightnin’ – The one everyone was waiting for and boy did they impress. If you came into the Horseshoe Tavern without knowing these guys before hand, I almost guarentee you left a fan, and possibly with a brand-new CD in hand. Tonight was a big night for this band having their self-titled debut CD released and despite only being a three-piece band, they came with lots of friends. Special guests shared the stage with a second guitarist, a female back-up singer, and even a duo of a trumpet and saxophone bringing in some different (and welcome) elements to their arsenal. Eye-popping guitar solos and relentless drum work stole the show as the band finished up on quite possibly the best CD release they could’ve ever asked for.
http://www.myspace.com/flashlightnin

Hey there guys, we should be doing some updates very soon. This month will be a busy one as we’ve got lots of bands on the bill that we’d like to see. August’s schedule will be posted up soon as well and you should see some brand new content within the next couple days. Stay tuned!

A momentous evening of metal in Toronto, as the three-piece instrumental heavy metal heathens, The Isosceles Project kicked off the start of their Canada-wide 2010 tour. With supporting bands; Saprophyte, The Killing Field, & Nylithia, headbanging metalheads alike were sure to have a good time.

Photos by: Stephanie Ho

Saprophyte – A good start to the night with some powerful death metal. A bit rough sounding on a technical level, they put on a great show regardless. Being put on the bill as a late replacement, Saprophyte definitely stepped up to the plate and gave it their all. Guttural vocals, mixed with melodic guitar work give out a pretty powerful sound to a very ambitious band. Now if only people could pronounce their name properly…

The Killing Field – Next on were these guys, a three-piece metal band from out North Bay, Ontario. Loud, technical, and absolutely brutal, these boys turned up the volume in a couple different ways at the El Mocambo. Putting out a high-energy show in tandem with a very experimental and relentless sound, The Killing Field got the job done.

Nylithia – Crushing rhythms and lightning fast fretwork on the guitar gave the audience an absolute treat for the ears. Coming all the way from Vancouver, British Columbia, these guys put out an intense and incredibly enjoyable show. Metal fans, keep an eye out for this one.

The Isosceles Project – The headline of the night, they aimed to please – and please they did. Performing a number of instrumental soundscapes that sometimes span as long as 14 minutes, The Isosceles Project never ceases to impress with their musical prowess from all members of the band. Their music can best be described as being organic. Ever-changing and morphing through a variety of different time signatures and riffs, one song could sound like ten. With so much going on with their music, the band does a great job at keeping it all together, taking any listeners along for the ride.
http://www.myspace.com/saprophytecanada
http://www.myspace.com/thekillingfield
http://www.myspace.com/nylithia
http://www.myspace.com/theisoscelesproject

Ever since I saw Speaking Tongues perform at NXNE, I have been eager to see them play live once again. Finally that time had come to play at the Horseshoe Tavern. They did not disappoint as they opened for Tucson, Arizona’s own one-man band, Bob Log III.

The Speaking Tongues – consisting of Pete Ross on drums and Aaron Doyle on guitar and vocals, the duo proves that you don’t need a full four-piece band to have a big sound. Rock-infused blues filled the spacious back stage of the Horseshoe with ease to an onslaught of delighted patrons. Each song built up bigger than the one before it and set the word ‘groove’ to a whole new level. The two have such great chemistry on stage and to those spectators who were lucky enough to catch them play last night, most likely left just as satisfied as we were.

Bob Log III – The Man, the myth, the legend, and the main attraction of the night. Dressed in one-piece stunt-man attire, a gleaming silver motorcycle helmet with telephone receiver attached as a mic, and his instruments of destruction – which consisted of little more than his guitar, bass-kick and snare. Admittedly, this had been my first encounter with the infamous Bob Log The Third. Hearing many good things about the one-man virtuoso hailing from Tucson, Arizona, he definitely lived up to the hype. Fueled from what could have been an endless supply of alcoholic beverages from fans (by which Bob Log III coined as “liquid appreciation,”) he played a number of slide guitar masterpieces along side to his own chaotic drum beats and loops that he created on the fly. By the end of the night, the place was packed full of people cheering and begging for more.

What a night: A night filled with incredible talent from all acts. Spine-tingling and enthralling. A night that would leave you speechless. Folk had never sounded so good!

Photos by: Stephanie Ho
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It opened with Layah Jane, a singer, songwriter and guitarist from right here in Toronto. Accompanied by fellow guitarist and producer, Oliver Johnson, the two together gave a phenomenal opening to an already promising evening of music. A perfect union of hauntingly beautiful vocals and awe-inspiring guitar work left the crowd speechless of what was to come next.

Sara Kamin was the answer as she took to the stage guitar in hand, along side drummer/percussionist, Topher Stott. Playing songs that pulled on your heart strings, Sara captivated the crowd completely. Entertaining from start to finish, it was hard not to feel moved by her voice and stories she told through her music.

Finally we had Patchwork Collective, the final act of the night. Comprised of three friends and solo musicians; Justice R.F, Bram Cherun, and Bethany Geddes. The group meeting through the Independent Music Production Program at Seneca College joined as one to perform together. With Justice and Bram on guitar/vocals, as well as Bethany on keyboard/vocals, the three played off of each other as a group harmonizing off one another. Each providing a different flavour and artistic expression within their own music, it was like watching three concerts at once. The experience was different, yet refreshing. Whether it be a solo or group project, these three musicians all have the potential to go far.

Simply an amazing night thanks to all the musicians that played. The sound was crystal clear and the crowd was even better – attentive and completely enthralled by every act that hit the stage. The small back stage at the Rivoli was completely full with people and CDs were flying off the merch table for those who had them available. For those who were there last night left with smiles on their faces. For those who couldn’t make it – you missed out huge. Keep your eyed peeled and your ears open for these acts in the future, you will not be disappointed.

Greetings! Again, it’s been a while since my last update but we have a big one including a bunch of shows to check out for the rest of the month of July! Some great acts are playing all over Toronto but who are we looking out for? Lets get right into it..

Here are our tops picks for the rest of this month:

July 15^th
PATCHWORK COLLECTIVE w/ SARA KAMIN and LAYAH JANE
@ The Rivoli
http://www.myspace.com/537375727

July 16^th
THE CUNNINGHAMS
@ The Hideout
http://www.myspace.com/thecunninghamsband

July 17^th
DEARLY BELOVED
@ Horseshoe Tavern
http://www.myspace.com/dearlybeloved

July 22^nd
DRIVE FASTER
@ Horseshoe Tavern
http://www.myspace.com/drivefasterband

July 24^th
AMOS THE TRANSPARENT
@ The Rivoli
http://www.myspace.com/amosthetransparent

July 24^th
SPEAKING TONGUES
@ Horseshoe Tavern
http://www.myspace.com/thespeakingtongues

July 30th
ISOSCELES PROJECT
@ El Mocambo
http://www.myspace.com/theisoscelesproject

July 30^th
REVOLVERS
@ The Garrison
http://www.myspace.com/revolvers

Hello all! It’s been a few days since my last update but I hope we all had fun at this year’s NXNE. Major props go out to all the organizers for this event as well as all the extremely talented musicians that were all a part of it. This was your week to shine and you all did an amazing job.

Now that NXNE is over however, that does not mean it’s the end! We got lots more shows to talk about in the near future such as THE SPEAKING TONGUES playing for you guys once again in Toronto TONIGHT! If you missed seeing these guys at their shoe at The Hideout during their NXNE showcase, definitely come down to the Horseshoe Tavern for a good time.

Also worthy of checking out tomorrow on Friday, June 25th is ARIETTA @ the El Mocambo. These guys are incredibly talented and are making a name for themselves very quickly.

More shows to be posted soon so stay tuned! Check out some of Friday’s NXNE highlights here:

Well ladies and gentlemen, it’s the last day of NXNE but don’t let that bum you out. We’ve got a night planned for you that will surely end this year’s NXNE with a bang. If there’s only one venue you can go to tonight, make it the Bovine Sex Club because they have one hell of a lineup for you rock/heavy metal fans out there! We’ve also got some pretty good stuff playing out of the El Mocambo as well – Check it!

Sights & Sounds @ Bovine Sex Club   -   9PM
Saigon Hookers @ Bovine Sex Club   -   10PM
Sixxxer @ Bovine Sex Club   -   11PM

Drive like Maria @ El Mocambo (Main Floor)   -   9PM
Rah Rah @ El Mocambo (Main Floor)   -   11PM

Gold Lake @ Wrongbar   -   9PM
the DGB @ Rancho Relaxo   -   11PM

Feeling a little tired yet? Last night was a blast, but NXNE isn’t over yet!

More bands coming your way tonight and you know the drill. Music to look out for:

Cut Throat Britva @ Velvet Underground   -   8PM
Ko @ Supermarket   -   9PM
Darlings of Chelsea @ El Mocambo (Main Floor)   -   10PM
The Jing Bang Show @ Rear View Mirror   -   10PM
Drive Faster @ Velvet Underground   -   10PM
Blunt Fiction @ The Shop   -   10PM
Dearly Beloved @ Gladstone Hotel Ballroom   -   12:00 AM-12:40 AM
The Darcys @ Rancho Relaxo   -   1AM
Nikki’s Trick @ Hideout   -   1AM
The Icarus Line @ Bovine Sex Club   -   2AM
Lali Gurans @ Harbour Parklands   -   2:00 PM-2:40 PM

Hello! I hope you are all enjoying this year’s NXNE because so far it has been jam packed. Tonight is no different as there are literally tons more bands to see on possibly the busiest night of the festival. So with so many bands/musicians to see, who are we looking out for? This is where I’ll be…

The Polymorphines @ Rancho Relaxo   -   9PM
Barton Fink @ Neutral Lounge   -   10PM
People You Know @ Velvet Underground   -   11PM
The Speaking Tongues @ Hideout   -   12AM
Revolvers @ Rancho Relaxo   -   1AM

Other great bands that are playing tonight:

Amos The Transparent @ Hard Rock Cafe   -   11PM
Lali Gurans @ The Shop   -   11PM
Brant Bjork & The Bros @ Bovine Sex Club   -   12AM
AfterpartY @ El Mocambo (Upstairs)   -   1AM
A Plot Against Me @ Hard Rock Cafe   -   1AM
The Caraways @ Dakota Tavern   -   3AM
Opus Road @ Hideout   -   3AM

Another day brings another bunch of awesome music to check out. Absolutely tons of musicians playing tonight, but here are some of the ones that stood out for us! Spanning to all sorts of rock n’ roll from alternative, to some pop rock, to a little bit of punk and heavy metal. The choice of yours!

The Icarus Line @ Yonge & Dundas Square   -   7:00 PM-7:40 PM

Clothes Make The Man @ Silver Dollar Room   -   8PM

The Cunninghams @ Rancho Relaxo   -   9PM

Commandeers @ Velvet Underground   -   11PM

Terracotta Pigeons @ Bovine Sex Club   -   11PM

The Coast @ Gladstone Hotel Ballroom   -   12AM
Amos The Transparent @ Gladstone Hotel Ballroom   -   2AM

Burning Love @ The Garrison   -   1AM

Arietta @ Sneaky Dee’s   -   2AM

A Primitive Evolution @ Hideout   -   3AM
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@ VELVET UNDERGROUND

Cut Throat Kids -   8PM
julia set generator -   11PM
The Lying Cheats -   12AM
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@ BOVINE SEX CLUB

The Decay -   8PM
Wayfarer -   9PM
The Video Dead -   1AM
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@ CN TOWER

The Balconies -   7PM
Hollerado -   8PM
The Meligrove Band -   9PM

————–

@ MOD CLUB

Ko -   8PM
The Blue Van -   9PM
Still Life Still -   10PM

NXNE is here, and for those living under a rock, that stands for the North By North-East festival that is going on in Toronto right now! Showcasing more than 400* bands and artists from all over the Country, as well as a number of independent films, you’d be silly to miss this. Kicking off things this past Monday, and going through to Sunday, you have an entire week to check out some of the greatest talent this country has to offer.

But with so many choices of people to see and hear, where do you start? Highlighting the music side of things, we will update you day to day of some of the awesome music we’ll be checking out starting tomorrow and perhaps give you some incentive to come out and see what this year’s NXNE festival has to give to those hungry to hear some great new and unheard independent acts. Strap up your wristbands because this is gonna be one hell of a week. Don’t miss it!

The Schedule – Who are we seeing?

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DAY 1  – Wednesday, June 16th
DAY 2 – Thursday, June 17th
DAY 3 – Friday, June 18th
DAY 4 – Saturday, June 19th

You can also follow us on twitter via http://www.twitter.com/gigsurfer
More updates coming soon!

Quite possibly the worst name in rock n’ roll, Dildoniks proved on Monday night that they got a hell of a live show to back it all up. Performing with a number of other great local talent and abroad, (Birthday Suits and Blind Shake from Minneapolis) Dildoniks was the band to steal the show.

Playing what could only be labeled as surf-rock, Dildoniks laid it all out on the stage giving the audience exactly what they came for – a good time. So much fun was to be had once these guys hit the stage, and you could tell instantly that this is a band that has fun in what they do no matter what. Filled with loads of energy and a sound that could make even a dead man dance, it’s hard not to like what these guys give out during a live show.

If a heavy instrumental surf-infused garage rock band is what you’re after, then look no further than Dildoniks.

http://www.myspace.com/dildoniks

People You Know is one of those bands that once you hear once live, you can never get enough of them. Consisting of Devon Clarke on bass, Iman Kassam on drums, and Aimee Bessada on vocals and lead guitar, they pack quite a punch for only being a three-piece.

There’s so many good things to say about this band. Their live shows are full with energy and a powerful sound that is both addictive and fun to listen to. Once these girls are in full swing, it’s hard not to catch yourself dancing to the beat. Once they hit the stage, you can tell at first glance that this is a band that loves what they’re doing.

Hailing from right here in Toronto, these girls have been growing in popularity at an impressive rate. Performing at a variety of venues all over Ontario, People You Know is a band that is definitely leaving their mark within the indie-rock music scene.

For those in the city, be sure to catch these girls playing TONIGHT at the Silver Dollar! Expect a great show out of this band as they never cease to disappoint.

This Friday sparks the start of The Zoo’s, an event showcasing both art and music under one roof for all to enjoy. Headlining tons of talent from both artistic fields into one night promises an event that many can come to enjoy.

This will be the start of an event, which will showcase many other dates in the near future. To kick things off in Toronto it’ll be located at a new venue known as The Hard Luck, which is located around the Dundas/Bathurst area. Talent from Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary are coming to please both your eyes and ears to create a night that will be sure to remember! Headlining this awesome night of collaboration is The Isosceles Project – a three piece instrumental/experimental metal band that have been getting a lot of hype these days throughout Toronto. Recently featured on Much Music’s show, Disband, the band has only been getting bigger and more well-known. For those interested in some rock and roll as well as some kick-ass art featured along the way, definitely check out this event as you will not be disappointed! Check our calendar on LiveUpcoming for the date and location!

The lineup includes:

Music:
The Isosceles Project – http://www.myspace.com/theisoscelesproject
This City Defects – http://www.myspace.com/thiscitydefects
man your horse – http://www.myspace.com/manyourhorse
The Revolvers – http://www.myspace.com/revolvers
Chris Miller – http://www.myspace.com/christopherjmiller

Artists:
Salvatore Angileri
Hugo Arias
John Berry
Eric Euler
Andre Fortier
Roxanne Ignatius
Bradford Wilson

The Art Gallery will be up for a duration of 6-weeks. From May 14-June 30.

The Deatils:

There’s something about the El Mocambo that creates such great shows for these guys. Everything felt so right and despite a few technical hiccups in the beginning of the set, you could tell the band was enjoying themselves almost as much as the screaming crowd was. It was a pretty intimate night with about 30-40 people attending with most dancing, screaming and all feeling the groove. Revolvers never ceases to please the crowd and reach new levels with their live performances. No live show from them is ever the same as they always try to mix it up and create something that you will never hear on any record. You have to be there to experience it, and on a night like this, it was an experience that should not be missed.

SETLIST:

Fire (Sound Check)
Break It Loose
Elmore’s Surf
She Gets Back
5 To 1
King Bee
Johnny Has Shuffle
Shuffle
Dive In, Diver
It’s Alright

Encore:
Who Do You Love?

This Saturday, May 8th will mark the second annual not-for-profit concert series – THROWDOWN FOR CANCER. Headlining an assortment of hardcore bands from all over Ontario, this year’s lineup is sure to be a huge hit. Raising money for cancer research, creating awareness as well as getting the chance to experience some kick-ass indie hardcore music in the process – how could you go wrong?

Lots of great bands are on this bill, but one that stands out for me is Beyond The Shadows. They’ve recently released their EP and it’s definitely a band worth checking out. Crunching guitars and sinister screams coupled with some brilliant melodies, they’re a hardcore band that stands out quite a bit for me. Check them out!

Other great bands on the bill include:

Illuminate The Sky
Dancing With Paris
As You Like Me
Horizons
Can’t Stop Won’t Stop
Hard Shell Invader
The World On Trial
Forever Circa

Being held at The Rockpile in Etobicoke, it’s a little far for some, but for those living in the city it’s just a ride on the Bloor line to Kipling station. For those who can make it, come and THROWDOWN… for cancer.

I got a chance to sit down with Gabi Mezzetti, Sebastian Molaro and John McKinnon from the highly acclaimed Toronto rock band – Revolvers. We got the background info on how they got started, what their studio and live experience is like, as well as their thoughts on the Toronto indie-rock scene. Check it out! 

So give me a rough background on how you guys got started as a band!

Seb: Personally, I’ve been playing in bands for years now. Back in high school we were 16 and we were one band and we played for a while. When that broke up, we were a two-piece for a little bit and during that time I don’t know what kind of music we were playing… we were just messing around and having fun. I started chilling with Gabi and we wanted to play rock and get back to the roots. At that point we were thinking of making a band. We were old friends and at the time we were trying to make a band that was going to be like the Rolling Stones… you know, rock and roll. Lavien came by with the song “Shuffle,” and I knew from that point on that was exactly the kind of sound we wanted to do. We got Gabi on bass and we started a band. Playing stuff like Rolling Stones, Muddy Waters and Elvis for example, little by little we started writing our own songs. With our particular music, it’s not what you play – it’s how you play it. We started playing a little more and by that time we needed another guitarist so we picked up Jon.

You lend from a lot of different influences. Can you talk to us a bit about that in how it shaped the sound you guys make today?

Seb: We progress little by little. We started off with the roots with a lot of blues type of rock, and then after that we became more 60s. Before that we were 50s, 40s… really early stuff. In our first album we have a lot of shuffles right out of the early 60s like Bob Dylan and Velvet Underground kind of. For what we are currently recording now for our next record, it is along the same path but we are growing out of it and trying some new things. I feel with us that we explore something and we don’t wanna do the same thing twice.

What goes on within the recording space? What is your in-studio experience like compared to playing live?

Seb: When playing songs, we try to be true to that song. We have a very primitive setup hooked up with mics and we do everything like that. The way we do it, we’re not trying to do capture the live sound within the recording. We treat the stage and the studio as two different platforms and two different entities. Each one has its own limitations and its own opportunities.

Do you guys enjoy yourself more within the studio or within the live environment?

Seb: Probably both…

John: I think its good to be good and try your hardest with both. ‘Cause a lot of the time I’ll see a band and they try to mimic what they did in the studio and it sucks.

Seb: It’s part of the live sound. It’s the whole room and the people to give you that energy.

John: Sometimes you hear a studio recording that pretend to make it live in a way and it comes out really boring.

Seb: But like I said, we love both. Each gives its its own opportunities that the other doesn’t provide. It’s a new experience every time. To record it opens one door, and then live – another door opens and a new world to explore.

What makes a good live show for you guys?

John: The people.

Seb: First and foremost, it’s probably whether or not we hear each other. Our type of music is very organic and not rigid. It has room to grow and morph into different things. If we don’t hear each other, we’re forced to play the static – we’re forced to play what the other person is expecting to play. In situations like that, you do it so you don’t fuck up. But if we hear each other, we can expand, really feel and make things longer. That’s when it’s a good live show – when it’s that whole trip.

Gabi: It’s to prove that you can expand from the record. You don’t wanna play the same thing every time… I’ve been trying to develop a formula as to what it is to feel nice about the show. Sometimes it’s the people, sometimes it’s what you hear, and sometimes it’s all in your mind… There is no true formula.

John: Sometimes what makes a good show is that my gear doesn’t screw up. Haha. It’s the truth. If something isn’t working, I take it out and you’ll sound good anyway. I did a show without pedals once and that sounded fine.

Seb: I remember at the Silver Dollar last time we played and it was an awesome show. There was lots of people and it had good vibes. I’m not sure if we sounded our best but it was one of our best shows because of the energy on the stage and the open communication within the audience.

How do you guys feel with the indie music scene these days?

John: I’d like to see more recorded music in Toronto. Seems like I see a lot of shows where the band looks really cool and they got a thing and they’re good, but they have no record.

Gabi: Sometimes with regards to live, I’d like to see more involvement with the people. People come by and say “That was an amazing show” and you tell them to come back next time. Some people do come again but sometimes people just happen to be there at the moment you are playing and really enjoy it.

Seb: There’s a lot to say about the music, but audience wise – the way they participate and getting involved is important. It’s more than just watching a band. A live show is about getting together.

How do you feel about attendance with your shows?

Seb: We’d always like to see more people of course.

John: You could always go to more concerts. Usually it’s only like $5. Why go to a movie when you can see like four bands?

Finally, what can new-comers come to expect when they go see a Revolvers show?

Gabi: Bring 3D glasses!

John: A pretty positive experience and a lot of joy.

Seb: A good vibe and good music.

John: Expect to be highly aroused.

Hello ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to GIGSURFER!

As you can see we are currently under construction and should be fully operational very soon. We have lots of content that will be filtering through in the coming weeks featuring…

• Live event calendar with lots of shows to check out around Toronto
• Interview with local psychedelic rock band, REVOLVERS
• Photo coverage and review for THE JOB live @ Horseshoe Tavern
• 5 bands you MUST see live
• … and MUCH MORE!

Stay tuned!

Last month was Canadian Music Week/Fest and with my 5-day wristband equipped, going to concerts had never been so much fun. With 5 days of all sorts of musicians playing all over the city, it had something for just about everyone. I got a chance to see a lot of great bands, talk to a lot of cool people, and not to forget to mention all the great pictures I captured along the way.

It was a treat for fans and new fans alike, as well as a great chance for musicians to get heard. It was an experience I’ll never forget and only wished festivals like these came around more often.