AWmusic

Three songs into the album I’m thinking that I can see people (B. Mr. Grosman, and Eliot if you’re reading this) who like “indie rock bands” really digging this album, and loving the live show. The live set was impressive: they were tight, everyone in the band could sing, they rocked out, they had great stage presence and a great co-ordinated jacket-vest-and-tie-thing going.

Thumbs up for The Darcys.

Band #2: Bruce Peninsula
They were absolutely overwhelming.

I think I read somewhere – and I forget where – someone describing them as a force of nature, and that couldn’t have been more accurate. There were 12 people on the stage last night each one playing, banging, hollering and creating this enormous wall of sound. So if the record was like being in a haunted country church (as I described it on Thursday) seeing them live was like being trapped in the church with no where to go (only probably less scary)… I really, really dug all the songs when Neil Haverty(?) and his growling Sunparlour-esque vocals were leading the charge… “Inside/Outside”, “Shutters” and “Crabapples” might be my three favourite songs this year…

Just awesome. They have a bunch of SW Ontario dates so check their myspace.

Band #3: Tom Fun Orchestra
I missed out on, and I feel kinda bad about that… both Liz and I were absolutely wiped… but from what Bob (It’s Not the Band I Hate, It’s their Fans) Battams said he thought they were quite good.

I’d expect Bob and/or Jen will have some thoughts posted in the next few days.

On a somewhat related note:
Also, I’ve got audio for “Shutters” “Steamroller” and “Weave Myself A Dress/Crabapples” from last night in .WAV format, if you’re interested in hearing it I’ll email you.
Holla at cha’ boyee: londononburgeoningmetropolisATgmailDOTcom

And – I went to go see Thunderheist @ Nathan Phillips Square and have some thoughts on that too.

The Darcys:

Bruce Peninsula

Tom Fun Orchestra‘s You Will Land With A Thud is interesting, and not interesting in the I don’t-want-to-say-anything-bad-about-them kind of way, but in a they’re-really-really-unique-and-different kind of way. I’ve got a post in the works about the Glasvegas and Animal Collective albums, and while I liked those albums, they were both a little derivative (from every British band ever and Panda Bear’s Person Pitch respectively); and certainly, everything is a little derivative – in as far as all artists, I think, have music they’re influenced/inspired by – but if you are looking for something truly unique the Tom Fun Orchestra is worth a listen.

From my point of view they’re kind of a bizzare combo of Tom Waits and a big, bad ass version of an East Coast fiddle/rag time band. At first, for me at least, this blend of styles was a little bit of a tough sell – this could because I really don’t care for Tom Waits (the theme from the Wire notwithstanding) – but it grew on me. And each time I’ve listened to the album over the last half-week or so, its got better to the point where the songs I enjoy most are where they slow down the music and really allow the vocals to do the heavy lifting…. whatever that means.

So, given my penchant for the Waits inspired vocals its probably unsurprising that the transition to the more sing-songy Eddie Vedder style vocals on “Marshall Applewhite” in particular were not met with much enthusiasm. In part, because the he sounds exactly like Eddie Vedder (at least as I remember him on Ten, Vitology, and that album with the sheep on the cover); and in part because it doesn’t really seem to fit with the flow of the album… there’s not really any reason for the switch, nor the switch back to Waits voice in the middle of “Last of the Curious Theives”.

The moral of the story: if you’re in for something completely different, the likes of which you have never heard, Tom Fun is what you should be listening to.

If you want to hear a couple songs:

[mp3] Tom Fun Orchestra – When You Were Mine
[mp3] Tom Fun Orchestra – Watchmaker

If you want to win their album (along with albums by Bruce Peninsula and The Darcys):

Allan has a contest
Bob has a contest….
and so does Jen.

If you want to see them live:

Jan 24 | Halifax | The Seahorse
Jan 25 | Fredericton | The Capital
Jan 28 | Montreal | Petite Campus
Jan 29 | Ottawa | The Heart & Crown (Byward)
Jan 30 | London | Call the Office Jan 31 | Toronto | The Horseshoe Tavern
Feb 1 | Guelph | Vinyl
Feb 3 | Thunder Bay | Black Pirate’s Pub
Feb 6 | Edmonton | The Pawn Shop
Feb 7 | Calgary | The Marquee Room
Feb 8 | Banff | Wild Bill’s
Feb 9 | Banff | Wild Bill’s
Feb 11 | Victoria | The Upstairs Cabaret
Feb 12 | Nanaimo | The Queen’s
Feb 13 | Cumberland | The Waverly Hotel
Feb 14 | Vancouver | Pub 340
Feb 15| Kelowna | The Minstrel Cafe
Feb 17 | Nelson | The Spirit Bar
Feb 18 | Canmore | The Canmore Hotel
Feb 19 | Saskatoon | Lydia’s
Feb 20 | Regina | The Exchange
Feb 21 | Winnipeg | King’s Head Pub
Feb 24 | Quebec City | Le Cercle

I’m crossing my fingers and hoping to get to the Toronto Show (w/the Bruce Peninsula and the Darcys), but I suppose we’ll see what happens.

A note to readers of my blog: my pick of the week and (hopefully) the Burgeoning Metropolis HOT 5 will be up tomorrow.

Here are the contents of the prize pack:
2 x tickets to the show (guestlist spots)
Tom Fun Orchestra -You Will Land With a Thud
The Darcys – Endless Water CD
Bruce Peninsula – A Mountain is a Mouth (digital copy)

If you are unfamilar of the bands, here’s my quick analysis.
Tom Fun Orchestra is a huge band (as you would expect with Orchestra in its name), they refer to themselves as a Soul/Western Swing/Post Punk. I hear some gypsy folk in their stylings while some actual western swing. They are definitely as unique of an indie band you’re going to find, with rough vocals and are an impressive set of musicians from Cape Breton.
Watchmaker by Tom Fun Orchestra

The Darcys are a local band doing a one off until march, their band line up is listed as a hockey line up (but with only one defensemen, they should know that 2 forwards and 2 defensemen work out a lot better especially if that defensemen has offensive ambitions). I kind of like the band, apparently Endless Water was released in 2007 and they are working on a full release. I find them to be a bit space rocky, but ultimately liking some of their work. Herohill is pretty reliable (potentially batshit insane ) with reviewing all Canadian bands that are mentioned, so check out their review of the Darcys.
I’m A Ship by The Darcys

Bruce Peninsula was #5 on the Hottest Canadians bands 2008 edition. I left off the list because it seemed like I was left out of the picture or a total left field projection. The local band includes 12 members such as Katie Stelmanis and is quite a unique band indeed. I’m know I’m not going to do a good job of explaining them, just visit their website, it centres around a male lead singer and some hypnotic type of chanting. At first I wasn’t sure if it was my thing but it’s grower material.
Steamroller by Bruce Pennisula

Here are the contest rules:
1. Contest open to Canadians only (it should be to just Torontonians but don’t want to limit it too much)
2. Enter by commenting in this post.
3. Must include a valid e-mail address.
4. Winner will be contacted by e-mail for their name and address.
5. Contest ends on Thursday, January 29th (need to respond asap).

Tour dates after the jump.
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