'Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience' Concert Event Review at the Sound Academy

I have a confession to make. My expectations of a band facetiously named Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience who only sing Led Zeppelin songs and are led by the late John Bonham’s drummer progeny, Jason, were miniscule. 

Jason Bonham

That is, till I heard James Dylan shriek like the ghost of Robert Plant’s past and Tony Catania shred the guitar effortlessly and with dexterity while not missing a beat on everything from “The Lemon Song” to “Kashmir”. That is, till I witnessed father and son locked in a necromancer’s drumming duel that was epic in its conception and poignant in its execution. 


Saturday May 14th's concert at the Sound Academy was always going to be about nostalgia for the Baby Boomers that thronged to the event. For those that may never have the fortune to see the original lineup live, the concert and Bonham’s lineage are the closest to witnessing Zep back in their halcyon days. For the youngsters in the crowd, this was an opportunity to experience the English hard rock pioneers in real time – a rare thing in the age of You Tube.

The spotlight was fixed on the deceased Bonham senior as the show was inspired with archival
footage, home videos and some chin wagging from the younger Bonham. The affable drummer voiced his affection for the crowd throughout the performance and his admiration for their ability to sign along to all the classics. Dylan’s rendition of “Over the hills and far away” especially sent chills down the spine as his voice swelled with the audience’s backing. While he might sound like his more illustrious idol, James Dylan is glaringly unPlantlike in appearance. Bald headed and strongly built, the JBLZE front man’s vocal chops were especially impressive during “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” and the crowd pleasing, “Whole Lotta Love”. Tony Catania’s guitar licks and solos were scintillating and retained his own distinct flavor especially during the psychedelic projection-screen-enhanced renditions of “Kashmir” (clip below) and “Stairway to Heaven”. 

Multi instrumentalists Stephen LeBlanc and newly acquired bassist, Dorian Heartstrong kept things tight and economical. However, the spotlight was firmly focused on the music. It might not have been new, earth shattering or even ground breaking but Saturday’s concert was a reminder of what a great band Led Zeppelin were.

The Ex & Brass Unbound Concert Event Review at Lee's Palace

Dutch anarcho-punk outfit, The Ex were in town yesterday at Lee’s Palace with their newly experimental outfit comprising experimental jazz quintet, Brass Unbound. The punk collective have undergone several lineup changes over the years with a revolving door of avante garde musicians and jazz artists. The effect is a breathtaking arrangement of classic punk, jazzy improvisations and Ethiopian folk music resulting in a high octane show that had the crowd clamoring for two encores. 

The Ex

The opening act, Toronto’s The Swyves were well appreciated by the crowd for some nifty punk-jazz creations that stretched the limits of their instruments. This is music that has to experienced live and while their long and drawn out creations can be testing for the casual listener, their uniqueness and the pure joy of their performance is infectious. 

The Swyves

The Ex + Brass Unbound were successful in actually getting the crowd to dance to some obscure Ethiopian folk tracks supplemented by killer punk riffs and the collective blaring of trumpet, clarinet, sax and trombone. Sadly, music of this nature will only find its way into the collection of those with eclectic tastes and a disregard for the bilge being played on mainstream radio.

Rammstein Concert Event Review at the Air Canada Centre

As you might have noticed, our redoubtable team here at Toronto Turnstile have generally reviewed or promoted bands that bask in the relative obscurity of indieness. So, it was with much apprehension that we stepped into the arena that embodies Toronto’s sporting under achievements – the Air Canada Center. 


The band in question were Neue Deutsche Harte pioneers – Rammstein. 

To say that the atmosphere was electrifying would be an understatement. The Berlin sextet has long been renowned for their pyrotechnical propensities and they did not disappoint there. There were explosions galore with extraordinarily iridescent effects that varied between various colors on the spectrum. 

Charismatic lead singer, Till Lindemann probably handles more fire-emitting gizmos than the Terminator. The fireworks crossbow even caused a few to flinch, half wanting to take cover from the fiery onslaught. Lindemann did not stop there, proceeding to don impressive Gothic, flame spewing dragon wings. However, the two most memorable moments of night did not involve burning or destruction. 


One was when Lindemann rode a pink, phallus shaped cannon that spewed confetti over the delirious crowd.

 The other involved the sparkly attired, keyboardist Christian Lorenz riding his rubber raft upon waves of ecstatic metal heads. As far as experiences go, the Rammstein gig was definitely one for the ages.

'A little death' Track Review

Toronto's Fucked Up have unleashed a track that is at once garbled and nonsensical in a manner that is truly punk but undeniably catchy at the same time. In fact, the guitar riffs that sandwich this epic pop-punk-i-don't-wanna-say-they're-going-commercial-because-it's-so-good effort have a distinct space rock quality that takes this ripper to a different plane altogether. Have a listen with the volume cranked way above the ideal noise level.

'My Morning Jacket' Track Review

Indie rockers My Morning Jacket’s sixth album, Circuital is scheduled to be released on May 31, 2011. The track, “Victory Dance” begins with what sounds like a cartoonish cavalry call slowly building on its brooding tone to reach an epic rock crescendo. 


Jim James’ plaintive vocals are effectively complemented by Hallahan’s assured drumming ensuring that the track leaves a mental image of storms, wastelands and dark prophecies in a post-apocalyptic setting.

'OF MONTREAL' at the Phoenix - Concert Review

The Phoenix Concert Theatre was brimming with excitement last night as fans waited patiently for the arrival of indie rock legends, Of Montreal. Over the years, Kevin Barnes and his band of massively talented multi instrumentalists have regaled music lovers with their brand of theatre, vaudeville, sexual imagery and yes, even pro wrestling to complement a genre bending sound that is purposely uplifting while the lyrics often reflect dark tales of misery, death, suicide and heart break. 

Kevin Barnes

Having only just missed Painted Palms, we had the opportunity to watch art rockers, Braids from Montreal, Canada. The foursome have been making a buzz on the indie circuit with the debut album, Native Speaker. Lead singer, Raphaelle Standelle-Preston’s ethereal voice delicately connects the lilting, cosmic sounds being created by each member as it rises and falls with sublime cadences complimented by medieval whoops and incantations. The band appeared oblivious to their audience and while on stage were almost in a trance-like state quite suitable to the dream pop realm they are inhabiting. This is cerebral music that is best appreciated at home rather than live.

Braids

Of Montreal strutted on stage with an assurance and swagger that can only come from years of performing and critically acclaimed releases. Barnes changed outfits with regularity and effortlessly mixed androgynous sex appeal with rock star braggadocio. The theatrical presentation and carnival-like atmosphere did not distract from the music and while not appearing to be totally in sync with it, offered  a pleasing distraction. 

Garishly dressed, combating luchadors (with one conveniently decked in Canadian colors), fair maidens, pigs, a bizarre monster in a mustard gas brandishing a gigantic claw,a massive head juxtaposed between bulging breasts, rump-shaking go-go dancers, cryptic two-sided placards, circus performers, a lounge singer and a suitably surprised audience member being invited onstage – the show had it all. 

Throughout the spectacle, the group kept their performance taut, polished and professional. The icing on the cake was the end when band members turned against one another and tossed each other into the welcoming sea of audience members. K Ishibashi’s soul-stirring rendition of “O Canada” was the perfect conclusion to a night of fun, entertainment and above all, exquisite music.

Check out the bands:

Of Montreal

Braids

Painted Palms

YACHT & Guests @ Lee's Palace - CONCERT EVENT REVIEW

Lee’s Palace on Bloor Street West has a dark and dingy interior that is quite the opposite of its graffiti-art inspired veneer. Dance Cave, the indie/alternative club is the place to go on most Saturday while its live music area has hosted more eclectic acts in North America. This area is poorly lit with sparse redness lending it a touch of the forbidden. 

Upon entering the venue last night, I was struck by the sweat soaked air inside as a handful watched Jeff Brodsky aka Jeffrey Jerusalem go through his lo-fi bedroom disco repertoire. This is what happens when nerds make music, I brooded (silently relieved that stereotypical notions of craftsmanship and performance had long been erased). Brodsky would return later that night to take up drumming duties for the main attraction, Yacht. Brodsky’s oeuvre includes the mandatory samplers and drum machines but is supplemented by a whirling dervish of percussion, falsetto and Napolean Dynamite-like dance moves aided by his flashing tambourine. It was a quirky show that at least deserved a bigger audience.

I was silently waiting for Brooklyn duo Light Asylum’s performance primarily because of the Depeche Mode-like track, “Dark Allies”. They did not disappoint. Shannon Funchess’ voice is unique, dark and powerful at once soaring to extra planetary heights and permeating every sinew as she simultaneously beats on electric drums. Bruno Coviello’s 1980s New Wave inspired synth melodies perfectly complement Funchess’ vocals and while the Depeche Mode comparison are not entirely unwarranted, they do have the potential to fill the void left by the break up of their Brooklyn counterparts, LCD Soundsystem. By the end of Light Asylum’s act, the crowd had increased significantly and the dance floor/miniature wooden mosh pit was buzzing with energy (credit to this should go to a dancing youth who never stopped gyrating from start to finish). 

When Portland’s Yacht took to the stage, I was instantly struck  by the front woman, Claire L. Evans and their newest member, a bonafide female Buddy Holly, Katy Davidson (ex- Dear Nora member and now of the Key Losers). 

Electronic auteur and certified Pitchfork.com genius, Jona Bechtolt’s multi-instrumentalist capabilities were on full display as while the rest of the band also shared synthesizer duties. 

However, the real star of last night’s electronic celebration was Evans. Decked in all white she strutted the stage like a shaman, perched herself on speakers, prowled cat-like around on top of the side and delivered evangelical forces mock-faith healings to ecstatic audience members. This was showmanship at its most potent and spiritual!

Check out the bands here: 

Jeffrey Jerusalem

Light Asylum

Yacht

STEAM WHISTLE UNSIGNED EVENT REVIEW

Alright, imagine this.  A warehouse packed to the rafters with  a buzzing crowd soaking in music that will probably never be played on MTV while clutching alien green beer cans.  The April 29^th edition of the Steam Whistle Unsigned was a celebration like none another. 

Steam Whistle Swag Bag

There were no drunken brawls, stage diving or sixteen year old upstarts  brandishing fake IDs for kicks. Thankfully, the focus was on the music. 

The show began with folk electronic outfit, Freedom or Death who sound better on their record, Ego than live. A quick listen to the songs on their MySpace page suggests that the band can scale the commercial indie heights now firmly ruled by the likes of Metric. 

The Darcys came on next – the most hyped band at the concert with their status of “Toronto’s best kept secret” lending them a mystique often reserved for the unknown. Their Jane Austen inspired name notwithstanding, the two songs that I had previously heard were reminiscent of early Radiohead complete with the prog rock sensibilities and Yorke-like falsetto. Much like the Radiohead indie rock god, Jason Couse has to be experienced live to be fully appreciated. The intensity and energy that goes into his performance is complimented by his fellow band mates who do not miss a beat. Lead guitarist Mike le Riche’s backing vocals were hampered by a silent mic but he more than made up for it through some nifty guitar work. The Darcys certainly have promise and their evolution will be watched with interest by indie music lovers. 

The highlight of the show was alt rockers, Wildlife whose raucous, bacchanalian performance got the crowd dancing and affirmed that Canada’s indie renaissance which began in 2000 is still in full swing. 

Wildlife

Check out the bands at:
Freedom or Death

The Darcys

Wildlife