Photos: Vampire Weekend @ Sony Centre
On Thursday May 16th, New York indie rockers Vampire Weekend made their way to Toronto’s Sony Centre in support of their brand new record Modern Vampires of the City (In stores now! via. XL Recordings). BTW’s Steve St. Jean was there to shoot the show thanks to Edge 102.1/Corus Entertainment… Check out his photos below: Photography by: Steve St. Jean
Photos: Paramore @ Sound Academy
Tennessee’s Paramore ignited their Toronto fans on May 13th with an explosive set that rocked the shores of Lake Ontario at the Sound Academy. Paramore are coming in hot off the release of their brand new self-titled studio album (via. Warner Music on April 5th, 2013), which they’re currently on tour supporting. If you haven’t bought this record yet… get on it. Check out our photos from their set below and stay tuned for a full Gig Review coming at you soon! Photography by: Steve St. Jean
Photos: Charles Bradley @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
Amercian funk/soul singer Charles Bradley (and his ”extraordinaires”) were in Toronto to perform at the Phoenix Concert Theatre on Saturday May 11th. BTW’s Ryan O’Shaughnessy was there to photograph his set… Check out the photos below: Photography by: Ryan O’Shaughnessy
Photos: Foals @ Kool Haus
Oxford’s Foals were in Toronto to perform at the Kool Haus on Saturday May 11th, supporting their brand new studio album Holy Fire (via. Warner Music on February 4th, 2013). The night consisted of openers Blondfire and Surfer Blood and then of course the main attraction Foals, who destroyed the Kool Haus stage. Lead singer and guitarist Yannis Phillippakis was a mystery on stage – completely unpredictable. He would be so still and calm at times and then out of nowhere he’d be spinning and jumping, fully living in the moment of their music. It was great to see an entire band that into their music (not just Yannis). Great…
Photos: Mötley Crüe @ Copps Coliseum
The legendary Mötley Crüe were in Toronto last year playing with Kiss and this year their headlining the tour, hitting up smaller cities and playing to die hard fans. On Friday May 10th, the Crüe made their way to Hamilton’s Copps Coliseum with a top-notch stage show and all the pole dancing chicks you could ask for. BTW’s Steve St. Jean was there to photograph the set, check out his photos below: Photography by: Steve St. Jean
Photos: Lights @ Winter Garden Theatre
On Friday May 10th, Lights performed at Toronto’s Winter Garden Theatre in support of her brand new acoustic record Siberia (via. Universal Music Canada on April 30th). BTW’s Daniela Rupolo was there to capture the night, check out her photos from Lights intimate set below: Photography by: Daniela Rupolo
Photos: On Set w/ Courage My Love @ Pie in the Sky Studios (Behind The Scenes)
On Thursday May 9th, Beyond The Watch’s Steve St. Jean hit up Pie in The Sky Studios for Courage My Love’s brand new music video for their upcoming single “Know How”. Steve got the chance to spend a few hours behind the scenes watching the band in action with some intense “marionette” scenes; to them smashing the hell out of a car with a sledgehammer. The video was being directed by Award Winning Director Warren P. Sonoda, who had a great vision and concept for the music video. Trust us… everything we saw on the video monitors will blow you away. Courage My Love’s Mercedes Arn-Horn (Guitar/Vocals), Phoenix Arn-Horn (Drums) and new member Brandon…
Photos: Daughter @ The Great Hall
On Tuesday May 7th, Daughter made their way to Toronto’s The Great Hall in support of their brand new record If You Leave (via. Glassnote Records on April 30th, 2013). This leg of the tour featured opener Wilsen who can best be described as some sort of musical dreamscape. The bands dreamy folk rock fit perfectly as an opener for Daughter. Wilsen are currently on tour supporting their release Sirens, which they’ve deemed a “mini-album”. Their sound is anything but “mini”. It could’ve been the heat we were all enduring at The Great Hall, or maybe it’s because of the long wait, but by the time we finally heard Daughter break into their first song, the…
Photos: Palma Violets @ Lee’s Palace
When a band that’s just starting out has a lot of hype, it’s not out of the ordinary to see them stroll through your neck of the woods quite a few times to try to build on that success. Friday night marked the second of at least three trips Palma Violets will take to Toronto this year (the first being prior to the release of their debut album 180 in January, and the third will be at this summer’s Grove Festival) and based on how much the crowd was into it, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a fourth sometime…
Photos: Purity Ring @ Danforth Music Hall
Edmonton’s Purity Ring were back in Toronto on Sunday May 5th to finish off their extensive touring with one last show at Danforth Music Hall. The west coast electronic duo Corin Roddick & Megan James have been on tour supporting their most recent LP Shrines (via. Last Gang Records on July 23, 2012), selling out shows and playing their euphoric live set to die hard fans and followers. Considering that Purity Ring were just in Toronto back in February for a sold out show at Phoenix Concert Theatre (read our review of it here), it was amazing to see how packed the Danforth Music Hall was to welcome…
Photos: Titus Andronicus @ Lee’s Palace
New Jersey’s Titus Andronicus were back in Toronto at Lee’s Palace for their Bring Back the Dudes Tour! The night’s openers consisted of openers Pups from Toronto (formerly Topanga) & New York’s The So So Glos who put on a great set (definitely check out The So So Glos). Titus Andronicus are currently on tour supporting their latest record Local Business (via. XL Recordings on October 22nd, 2012) which every fan of indie-esque punk rock should have already listened to by now. Check out our photos from The So So Glos & Titus Andronicus’ sets below: Photography by: Steve St. Jean
Photos: Death @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
On April 28th, the Death to All Tour stopped through Toronto’s Phoenix Concert Theatre on its second last date of the tour with Anciients opening and Death headlining. The tour was set up as a tribute to the late Chuck Schuldiner (original Death frontman) with a portion of the proceeds going to the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. The night featured three of the surviving members of Death’s “Human” lineup Paul Masvidal (guitar), Steve Digiorgio (bass), Sean Reinert (drums) and special guest vocalist for the tour Max Phelps (Masvidal and Reinert’s bandmate from Cynic). Death’s set started with some very creepy and totally fitting sounds, which seemed unearthed and haunted. Imagine hearing a band come back from the dead and on pursuit to the stage…
