Fave Picks for Warped Tour 2013 in Toronto!

I sit in my bedroom writing this as the clouds darken and the rain starts hitting the pavement. I'm listening to my "Low Key" playlist and wondering what the summer will bring. I'm not one for an action packed, never-have-time-for-everything, summer girl but I always enjoy having things to look forward too - even if it's a

Photo courtesy of creativeallies.com

little to hot for my liking! One music festival that I've looked forward to for the past few years is Warped Tour! Toronto being the one and only Canadian stop this year around (sorry Montreal, I know you're all disappointed!), it's important for a lot of local (and not so local) pre-teens, teens, young adults and adults alike to get in line and listen to some of their favourite musicians.

I find that a lot of these bands and musicians don't get opportunities to come to Canada as often as they'd like and Warped Tour gives them the opportunity to do what would otherwise be impossible. Even bands that I love never seem to reach over the border as often as I'd like and it's part of the reason why I'm excited to see them perform onstage at Warped this year. I'm just hoping the rain decides to hold off. No offense to mother nature or anything but that torrential downpour/mini flooding of the Amphitheatre wasn't exactly the most ideal fun - but we made it work! Seems like my friends and I were even in a clip of "Warped Tour Roadies : Toronto Edition" which is kinda awesome!

Anyways, I always post bands I am excited to see and so I thought I would share with you the ones I'm most excited for and new ones that I believe would round out a fabulous day!

The Used

Photo courtesy of Hopeless Records

I really hope this rings true as I know in Warped Tours past The Used were supposed to be present in Toronto but due to Canadian Border issues, they weren't given entry into the country. I know most people look at me and probably see me as a certain music type, and they wouldn't be wrong. The thing that they don't understand is that if I like the music and the lyrics speak something to me, then I'll more than likely enjoy the band. While The Used isn't necessarily on my regular playlist, I enjoy the musical genius of Burt McCracken. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing these guys hit the stage finally.

Sleeping With Sirens

Photo courtesy of last.fm

I can give whole credit to a friend of mine for tuning me into Sleeping with Sirens. Here is another band that most people are surprised to hear that I enjoy. There's something about Kellin Quinn's voice that is captivating. The lyrics, especially in their most recent album "Feel", are meaningful and I believe a lot of people will be able to relate to what they hear. I have to say that their acoustic album (now THAT is typical of me haha) "If You were a Movie, This Would be Your Soundtrack" is probably one of my favourites. It's nice to hear the voice without a wide variety of instruments to back them up. I know that they'll obviously be focusing on their newly released album (it's amazing by the way), so I am hoping and crossing my fingers that they'll play "Feel", "Low" and "Satellites" off of their new one as well as old favourites "Tally it Up, Settle the Score", "All My Heart", and "Dead Walker Texas Ranger". Obviously this is my playlist wish but it'll be nice to see them onstage again at Warped with a little more of the SWS song knowledge!

Anarbor

Photo courtesy of mattvaroy.com

While I was doing Pre-Warped research back when it was my very first Warped Tour, I was pleased to come across the guys of Anarbor. My ears seriously enjoyed these guys and their unique sound. Their song "Mr. Big Shot" from their album The Words You Don't Swallow was probably one of my favourites for the longest time. In fact their whole album released in 2010. They have come to Toronto over the years but it was very few and far between. I either found out too late (usually after the fact) or I had something previously planned and couldn't attend their show. I've was thrilled when I learned they would be joining this year's tour and that it included Toronto. Anarbor's new album Burnout was newly released June 4, 2013 and I am looking forward to hearing them rock!

The City Shakeup

The City Shakeup is a band that I came across while doing this year's research. When I first heard them they reminded me of Blink 182 and my friend's former band SixXxer. As weird as it is, they're a mix of punk and rock and something else completely. I don't mean to make them sound weird or out there but it's not what I expected when I played their song "Silence" and "Fallen" on Youtube.  I look forward to hearing what they put forth on stage!

The Summer Set

Not going to lie, these guys are probably the band I'm most looking forward to seeing in Toronto. I'm truly a pop fan and these guys are the epitome of pop. Their songs are catchy, easy to relate to and so much fun to sing along to. Their newest album Legendary was just released this past spring and brings for a variety of happy-go-lucky tunes and ballads that will appeal to a wide variety of people (well...girls).  Off their new album I'm hoping I get to hear "Legendary", "Lightening in a Bottle" and "Heart on the Floor" as well as old favourites like "Must be the Music" and "Punch-Drunk Love". I can't really say anything bad about these guys and I cannot wait to hear them live once again!

Hands  Like Houses

Photo courtesy of mindequalsblown.net

Here is another band I came across and look forward to hearing what they'll bring to the Warped Stage. Hands Like Houses have a rock edge to them that is appealing to my ears. This Aussie rock band (that's right ladies they're from Australia!) was formed in 2008 and have been trying to make a name for themselves ever since. I'm still getting to know their music so I'll most likely just bobbing my head along to the beat but they're definitely a band you should give a chance this year in Toronto!

Now this is only a few of what is to come at this year's Warped Tour in Toronto. There will be a ton of new music to experience, vendor's to scour and friends to meet. Last year met a tragic end so please PLEASE remember to keep hydrated, take shade when you can and take care of yourself. We are in the middle of summer my friends and the heat can and will get to you if you let it. 

If you haven't purchased your Warped Tour ticket yet don't wait to do so! You can find them on ticketmaster.ca or a few should be at the box office the day of the show. You can also skip the lines if you bring 3 canned goods/a used cellphone/or $5! 

CMW 2013: Chum Fanfest ft. Hedley, Marianas Trench, and Serena Ryder

Anybody who reads these blogs or knows me in some form or another knows my love for Hedley. So when I was approved for media for Chum's Fanfest 2013 at Danforth Music Hall on March 22, I was just a little unprofessionally excited.

Fanfest, as many of you probably already know, bring in some of the top selling musicians in the country and in the world for CMW and it's only win to get in. I felt privileged that the staff and crew at Chum FM allowed me to attend their event and was thoroughly impressed with the talent provided as well as the way things ran. I think the only downfall for me was it wasn't nearly enough music - I wanted more!

photo property of Chum FM

Unfortunately due to timing my co-blogger and I were unfortunate to miss Tyler Shaw, the first act of the night. Tyler became known after winning last year's Much Music and Coca Cola Cover contest. Since then he's been working hard on getting his voice out there and known. His current single "Kiss Goodnight" can be heard on radio stations across Canada!

Arriving with moments to spare, I was able to check out the crowd and the surroundings. The Danforth
Music Hall has a lot of history and is a gorgeous building; it was my first time in this music venue, so I was excited to check it out. The crowd was packed with excited winners of all ages (ranging from 19 and up). Everybody was excited to be in the crowd and you could feel their anticipation.

photo property of Chum FM

Serena Ryder is a musician that has been around for some time. She has always been on my radar but never at the forefront - until now. She performed with such zest and enthusiasm that you couldn't help but "Stompa" your feet. Her quirky and catchy tunes had everybody engaged and excited to sing along. "Stompa" was the only song I knew (because of listening to Chum FM - duh!) but because she so graciously intro'd every song, everyone knew what she was singing. Sticking to songs mainly off of her newly released album Harmony - she rocked the crowd and kept them entertained for almost an hour. Something tells me they had her play longer due to the fact that the next act, Marianas Trench, was still MIA (they were at the Indie Awards accepting awards for Video of the Year for Fallout and Pop Group of the Year), but she put on a fantastic performance. Kudos Serena! And congrats on your recent Juno!

Next on the block was Marianas Trench. I have been a MT fan since my high school years (so going on 10 years) and I usually have nothing but great things to say - this time is no different. Although I often find that

property of Chum FM

no performance of theirs can beat the one I saw in Vancouver at the Commodore, they usually never fail when it comes to pleasing their fans. Being someone who has seen them work super small stages to super large ones, over the years I have noticed minor and major differences with the band. Their music is and will always be fantastically done. The vocals are impeccable 90 per cent of the time and they always sound fantastic. What bothers me, and I noticed it this evening, was their lack of interaction with each other. Josh was fantastic with the crowd but when it came to his band mates, they barely spoke to each other. I found that because of this, it wasn't as good of a show. I wish they acted more like brothers having fun then guys on the stage doing their job. I don't know if anybody else noticed that, but it was definitely something that stood out to me.

As for the music, playing my favourites definitely puts me into a good mood. It's hard to act professional as a writer/media representative when the music is just so damn good. I was definitely singing along to favourites like "Haven't Had Enough", "Stutter", "Celebrity Status", and "Desperate Measures" among many others. It's hard being a fan for so many years and not having so many favourite songs. I was happy they mixed it up a bit for those who have known them longer than their last two albums. I hope their current tour finishing up in Canada is going well and I wish them all the best of luck with their upcoming tour in the US!

photo property of Chum FM

Last but not least we get to Hedley. These boys are a fantastic group of guys and picture perfect when it comes to treating their fans like gold on and off the stage. I can't count how many times I've seen them over the last eight years but each and every time has been a fantastic memory. They never fail to amaze me with their talent for singing, playing their instruments and the energy that they all have on the stage. Each one of them brings such joy and you can definitely tell by the way they interact with each other the camaraderie they have behind the scenes.

Being the headliner meant the longest and most interactive set. Singing songs from all four of their albums, they definitely didn't lead a boring hour. Singing radio favourites like "Invincible", "Cha-ching", and "Perfect" were just the start. I think the song that I loved the most - I'm a little biased, it's my favourite - was "Never Too Late". This is the song I can never record because I get too excited; it's one that I can never get sick of. There is just something about this song that makes my heart swell every time  I listen to it - and no it's not because of the cheesy video remake they did of it a few years back. It's uplifting and hold promises that it's never too late to make things right and start

photo property of Chum FM

fresh. It's worth the listen if you haven't heard it already. Ending it off with "Kiss You Inside Out" was the perfect reminder that they always have something new up their sleeves. Even through twitter they have been hinting new music will be dropped  VERY soon and this makes for one happy girl!

Overall the evening spent with hundreds of Chum FM and music's closest fans was a complete success. They were fun, courteous and enjoyed spending time with those who love music as much as they do. In a world full of crazy, it's nice to get away for awhile and forget all the troubles.

Thanks Chum FM for letting me be one of your guests! I thoroughly enjoyed the night and I'm sure I can say the same for each and every person who attended the event during CMW.

Much Love,
Taryn

CMW 2013: Eleven Past One

Canadian Music Week is somewhat of a staple in Toronto and Canadian culture, and over the years has produced some big names in the music industry and attracted the best of the best in the business. Whether you're a musician, a mogul, or a student training to become one, the conferences and key notes held information that was vital and - because no other words can replace it - informative. 

CMW for a writer is a lot like that of everyone else: hectic, disorganized and exhausting. This year was my first after taking 2012 off, and I'd forgotten just how crazy it could actually get. With venues scattering Toronto, cab rides, subway trips and walking was a commonality when getting to any and all venues. It was sometimes hard to keep track of where and when you had to be there in order not to miss sets.

This year I toned down who I saw strictly because I was transporting myself to and from Mississauga via public transit and that in itself was an adventure. Thursday, March 21, was the first of three days of great music that feasted my ears.

1:11

The first act of the evening was held at The Rivoli, a tiny restaurant/pool hall/music venue, tucked into the uniqueness of Queen Street West. Coming in just before the set of Eleven Past One, my partners-in-crime for the evening caught the tail end of Stef Lang's set for The Feldmen Agency showcase. It was literally one and a half of a song but her energy and passion for music was noticeable. I thoroughly enjoyed her use of the  

drum. She has an indie-pop sound that kind of reminded me of Lights. Obviously they sounded differently but if I were to put her in a category, it'd be the same one as Lights.

Eleven Past One has been on my my radar for quite some time now. I'm not entirely sure how it came about but eventually we were in contact via Facebook and it went forth from there. They were always making music and having fun but one day I heard they were Chum FM's Artist of the Month and they blew up on the radio. Their song "The World is Ours" is catchy, fun to dance to and easy to memorize. So when I heard they were playing CMW, I knew I had to check them out in person.

I can't place ages on these boys because I'm not entirely sure how old they all are, but what I do know is that they're young. Since their conception since 2007, these guys have been working mercilessly to get their foot in the door and get noticed. While somewhat unknown to the majority of the population, their devoted fans, aka "Timebombs", were out in full-force at both shows I attended during CMW.  

Singing songs like "Fate Love", " Tonight's the Night" (their soon to be released new single), and of course

 

"The World is Ours", they had the crowd dancing and singing along. Personally, I believe when lead singer Daniel belted out "Fate Love" while playing the keys,  I truly became a fan. Eleven Past One may be categorized as "just another pop band" but this song made me believe otherwise. Daniel put so much passion into the song you could almost feel it. His vocals were on par and practically spotless (to my untrained ears) and I couldn't help but be enthralled. They're most definitely made for bigger things and I look forward to hearing their album when it gets released.

CMW 2013 update

Hey guys! Posts for CMW will be up as soon as physically possible! Right at this moment I am typing this from my iPhone because my computer battery is shot - to the point it won't even turn on. I am waiting for a new one but until then I must refrain from posting. I'm mainly scared of grammar mistakes and I feel it would be a little bit of a letdown.

Fear not though, you will be getting show reviews and overall thoughts on CMW as well as news on CMW 2014 in the following weeks!

You can expect to see reviews for : Eleven Past One, Morgan Cameron Ross, Treble Charger, Serena Ryder, Marianas Trench, Hedley (Chum Fanfest), and Trouble and Daughter!

I recently got a new camera and I am super excited to show you all my pictures. I am nowhere near a professional but I'm happy to have a camera that is functioning and takes great photos!

Anyways, ta ta for now!
Taryn

CMW 2013: Canadian Radio Music Award Winners

Another year of very successful songs hitting our airwaves and it's exciting to see that Canadians have been making such an impact here in Canada as well as abroad. It's always awesome to say "I knew them when nobody else did" and I can say that for a lot of winners from last night's award ceremony. It makes me proud that what they've worked so hard to accomplish is actually coming true! 

Big congrats to all the winners out there!


CRMA AWARD WINNERS 2013

FACTOR BREAKTHROUGH AWARD

WEEKND (took me awhile to catch on to them, but definitely catchy)

BEST NEW GROUP OR SOLO ARTIST (CHR)

VICTORIA DUFFIELD (and to think she used to be a contestant on YTV's The Next Star)

BEST NEW GROUP OR SOLO ARTIST (ROCK) OF THE YEAR

MONSTER TRUCK

BEST NEW GROUP/SOLO (DANCE/URBAN/RYTHMIC)

TEGAN & SARA

BEST NEW GROUP/SOLO ARTIST (COUNTRY)

DALLAS SMITH

BEST NEW GROUP/SOLO MAINSTREAM A/C

SCOTTY JAMES (great vocals!)

BEST NEW GROUP/SOLO ARTIST (HOT AC)

JESSE LEBELLE (hot vocals, hot man. win-win?)

SENNHEISER CHART TOPPER AWARD

CARLY RAE JEPSEN (this is an "I knew her way back when" moment!)

SOCAN SONG OF THE YEAR

CALL ME MAYBE (so catchy but overplayed)

FAN'S CHOICE AWARD

MARIANAS TRENCH (this is an "I knew them way back when" moment!)

INTERNATIONAL SOLO ARTIST OF THE YEAR

RIHANNA 

INTERNATIONAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

FUN. (those who can't admit to liking fun, secretly do - they have to, they're just THAT good)

HEATSEEKER AWARD

SERENA RYDER

SPECIAL COLLABORATION AWARD

ARTISTS AGAINST (fantastic collaboration for a great cause)

Canadian Music Week 2013 Here We Come!

It's official, media for this year has been approved! Unfortunately I'm not able to take in the full fun of this fabulously and full-of-frenzy week but I am excited to be able to take part - if only for a little while!

My top picks for shows:

Take me to the Pilot

HARD LUCK · 812 DUNDAS STREET WEST ·

Wednesday March 20, 2013 11:00 pm

Heard of these small-town Winnipeg boys through an eastcoaster who told me I just had to listen. Their sound is unique and catchy and they perform with energy and enthusiasm. They love their fans and they are most definitely worth checking out if you are looking for something new.

Trouble and Daughter

CZEHOSKI · 678 QUEEN STREET WEST 

Thursday March 21, 2013 11:00 pm

These guys are incredible and definitely have a different sound. Originally called CondoKrew, the trio performed solely in a condo. Johnny, originally in the Canadian band Illscarlett had been the original reason why I had given them a listen in the first place but they definitely caught me off-guard.  Their music is definitely catchy and intriguing.

104.5 Chum Fm's Fan Fest 2013

THE DANFORTH MUSIC HALL · 147 DANFORTH AVENUE

Friday March 22, 2013

CMW is all about showcasing talent of all musical statures while bringing the best in the business with those who want to learn more. Chum FM's fanfest, while not bringing in small-town talent, still showcases some of Canada's best singers/bands in the country. This year will bring the likes of Hedley, Marianas Trench, Serena Ryder and Tyler Hall. All are at various (successful) stages in their careers and FanFest is a great way to showcase them all!

Keep in mind that FanFest is 100% WIN TO GET IN so keep an ear out on 104.5 fm for all your chances to win. Also keep in mind that it is a 19+ event.

Eleven Past One

TATTOO ROCK PARLOUR · 567 QUEEN ST WEST 

Saturday March 23, 2013

 These guys have been on my radar for quite some time. Twitter was their game and ever since then I've kept an ear out for them. This month I found out that they were Chum Fm's upcoming artist of the month and I couldn't be more proud. Their song "The World is Ours" has taken the Canadian airwaves by storm and they are taking off. 

Morgan Cameron Ross

SUPERMARKET · 268 AUGUSTA AVE.

March 23, 2013  9:00 pm

Morgan is the bomb. That's really all there is to it. His folksy heart-felt tunes are reverberated in the way he sings and you can tell he loves to make music. He is one talented albeit a little weird musician and they go together perfectly. If you want a more laid back atmosphere and a similar type set, Morgan will be music to your ears and food for your soul.

Can't wait for the week of music to begin! See you all there!

-Taryn

(*All photos were sourced from their Facebook fan pages)

 

Fall Out Boy is Back and Coming to Toronto!

photo taken from www.beyondthewatch.com

They may have been on hiatus for the last couple of years to pursue solo projects, but that has all come to an end. Fall Out Boy is back and with a bang! 

Announced Monday that they'll be unveiling a new album, "Save Rock and Roll", in the spring as well as kicking off a nationwide tour this Monday in Chicago, this pop-punk quartet are back with a vengeance. 

Their new single My Songs Know What You Did In the Dark (Light Em Up) is currently available on itunes right now.

“When we were kids the only thing that got us through most days was music,” the band’s website statement said. “We needed to plug back in and make some music that matters to us. The future of Fall Out Boy starts now.”

Fall Out Boy first became popular in 2005 with their sophomore album "From Under the Cork Tree". They became known for hits like Sugar, We're Goin' Down and Dance, Dance. And while they've been on a little bit of a break fans are ecstatic with their comeback. The last album they released was back in 2008, "Folie a Deux".

*Just the other week I was at a concert at the Sound Academy waiting in between sets when a FOB song came on over the noise of the crowd. Two seconds later you could hear the entire place singing along to their song!*

Fall Out Boy will be performing at The Sound Academy May 24, 2013. Pre-sale for Toronto tickets will be available on ticketmaster on Feb. 7, at 10 am eastern time.