So what type of GO rider are you? Do you take it because it beats sitting in traffic for hours, or are you like one of these guys who make riding the train look totally badass? Forget the poor manners of your fellow commuters – go ride this crazy train like it's Train 48.
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Revival Hour: Snowblink, Change of Heart, Julie Doiron & The Wrong Guys, Kinnie Starr, Old Man Luedecke
Blink and you’ll miss it
Toronto duo Snowblink, Daniela Gesundheit and Dan Goldman, are releasing their new album Inner Classics on Sept. 11 via Arts & Crafts. To celebrate the release, the band is offering interested parties the rare opportunity for a singing telegram from Daniela. This might require an explanation. In a fit of marketing brilliance, the band is offering up complimentary singing telegrams via their website. Parties can send a telegram to a friend, or book one for themselves. Simply fill out the online form and wait for the magic to happen. If you’re more into the traditional album release party, it is slated for Sept. 27 at the Music Gallery, though the band also plays Christie Pits Park on Sept. 15 as part of the Bicycle Music Festival.
Listen to the first single from Inner Classics here:
Change of Heart redux
Few bands rocked as hard and as loud as Toronto’s Change of Heart, fronted by Sir Ian Blurton. Blurton has stayed on the scene through bands such as the almost-as-awesome, C’mon, as well as his work as a producer. But, there was something special about that early material — raw, visceral and without any limits. To that end, enter the retrospective There You Go ‘82-’97, a new album released digitally through Sonic Unyon on Sept. 4 with a double-vinyl out Sept. 18. And with any good retrospective comes the good stuff: reunion shows. Change of Heart will do the Hwy. 401 shuffle this month with dates in Hamilton, Montreal, Vankleek Hill, Ottawa and, of course, Toronto. Do not miss this.
Back-in-the-day alert:
Julie and the boys
Toronto-based Julie Doiron, former singer and bass player for wicked-cool East Coast band Eric’s Trip, has teamed up with some rockin’ bandmates in Eamon McGrath along with Cancer Bats’ Mike Peters and Jaye Schwarzer. The new band, dubbed Julie Doiron & The Wrong Guys, are doing everything right on their first release “Heartbeats” off an upcoming seven-inch single. It is probably one of the better songs I’ve heard in a while, and I’m really excited about their upcoming tour, which checks into T.O.’s The Garrison on Sept. 13.
Check out Doiron in action with Eric’s Trip circas 1992:
Starr bright
Hip hop artiste Kinnie Starr has released a fun, new video for the song, “Go Go See It,” off her upcoming new album, set for release in early 2013. It is good, and we can’t wait to hear the rest of the long-awaited album.
Old man and the CD
Roots musician Old Man Luedecke, a former Torontonian now living on the East Coast, has announced a new album dubbed Tender Is The Night to be released on Oct. 2. With this, his fourth full-length album, comes a cross-country tour and a late November date in Toronto at the Glenn Gould Studio. The Juno Award-winning Old Man sounds like he’s getting all emotional on this new release saying, “I am running like everyone else. Laughing just to keep from crying. I am always trying to find a way to express,” says Luedecke. “I am a prisoner for my appreciation for language; language that moves me is language that is unusual. I feel like it’s an important thing I can contribute to songwriting.” Check him out playing a crowd favourite “I Quit My Job” at the Dakota Tavern.
Little Italy readies itself for more meh coffee
If youʼre invested in the ʻbuy local’ movement – or just a proud Indie Coffee Passport carrier – grabbing a cup of joe in Little Italy may not be your go-to destination for caffeine refueling anymore. Not only has that Seattle Behemoth opened two spots in the ‘hood, but we’ve also learned that a new Press Café is setting up shop on College Street.
Presse Café, a homeogeneous franchise hailing from Quebec, will replace The Cupps Cafe at 622 College Street. The latest in corporate coffee culture follows java heavyweight, Starbucks, which recently opened its second Little Italy location.
As for the neighbourhood, while mom-and-pop restaurants and cafés still line the streets, we are left to wonder how long it will manage to keep out the incursions of free WiFi and meh coffee.
Meet a Comedy Troupe: The Sketchersons
The Sketchersons, with its revolving door of local funny people, has been making audiences laugh for eight years and earning tons of accolades along the way (they’ve been nominated seven times for best Sketch Troupe at the CCAs). The troupe, along with its weekly Sunday Night Live show, are so ingrained within the Toronto comedy scene, that it’s actually quite shocking (read: embarrassing) we’ve never featured them before for this column.
We chatted with head writer Jon Blair about the troupe’s origins, its notable alumni, and having a football as a host.
How did you guys come together?
I wasn’t around, but as I understand it, the guys who founded the group were originally two separate sketch troupes who did shows together on a really regular basis, to the point where they actually started writing sketches for each other. After a while they just decided to merge everything together, bring in a few more people and start doing this show. Every couple of years we bring new people on. And that’s the story of our great tradition of being larger than two regular sketch troupes.
Sunday Night Live is obviously modeled after Saturday Night Live, but what makes your show different?
This probably isn’t a very smart answer, but I think the fact that you’re actually in the room with it makes the big difference. We aren’t writing and polishing and performing it for everybody in North America, we’re doing it for these hundred people in the room so we can do things we wouldn’t be able to otherwise. You’re really there with us at that show, which makes it more alive.
You’ve had a number of cast members come and go throughout the years. Who are some notable alumni?
Well, Gary Rideout, Pat Thornton and Tal Zimerman are some of the guys who started the show; they’re working on the Comedy Bar TV series now. Bob Kerr who’s over at 22 Minutes, Fraser Young, Nikki Payne, Gilson Lubin. Norm Sousa who’s at The Score now. A lot of us have also done The Second City mainstage, like Jason DeRosse, Inessa Frantowski and Carly Heffernan. We usually have at least one alum in there somewhere. I don’t know, I think all or alumni are pretty notable. You could literally note any of them.
You’ve had a number of hosts throughout the years. Give us a top 5.
We’ve had a little over 300 hosts, so this should be not at all difficult. I’ll for sure tell you the five that I like. We had Bret "The Hitman" Hart on twice and he’s just up for whatever, it’s always great. Same with Andy Kindler and Todd Glass, who both spent the whole day working on it with us and were really fun, which you don’t always get to do when people come in from out of town. So many of our hosts are local comics. Andrew Johnston and DJ Demers are two guys who we like to have back a lot. Actually you know what? Once we did a Super Bowl show and our host was a football. I don’t think the football got a fair shake, so, I don’t know, give the football Bret’s spot.
What would be the top five for musical guests?
There are a lot of bands who I call our "band-buds" (secretly), who we’ve just made friends with through the show and we have them back whenever because we know they’ll be ridiculously good. Some of those are The Wilderness of Manitoba, The Donefors, Donovan Woods, Joel Battle, and The Power of Equality.
And now who would be the ultimate guest performer and musical guest?
I would love to have Maestro Fresh Wes as host and as a musical guest, Sting-style. Has anybody done that since Sting? I feel like I need to update that reference.
What’s the most outrageous sketch from recent memory?
Well, last night we had one where two club district flower salesmen ended up making out and having simulated sex in the middle of the audience. So I guess whatever sketch we were trying to perform at the time!
The troupe has performed in many various festivals, including The New York Fringe Festival, the Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival, the Montreal Fringe Festival, among others. Any memorable moments?
I remember thanking god we were allowed on the plane back home.
Where do you find the inspiration for your sketches?
I think a lot of the members of the troupe draw from a lot of different sources, like local politics, people they meet at the day job, the deepest personal failings of another cast member, or how great drinking a million beers is. Personally I try to spend as much time half-asleep as I can, then I filter through everything I thought of. If something in there half make sense and/or is physically possible, then it’s on.
Why do you love sketch comedy?
I always liked sketch comedy as a friend but I don’t think I completely loved it until I started doing this show. It’s a circus. I think it’s the best ride you can take people on in an hour. You can give them something totally different every couple of minutes, but it’s also something fully realized, everything is its own big production. Also the fact that there are really no boundaries to it, and, also all the money.
Anything bright and shiny and new on the horizon?
The rest of this month is shaping up to be a really good one; we have our Just for Laughs show on the 23rd and we’re having the cast of Avenue Q come on as musical guests. One thing we’re working on a lot more now is improving our relationship with the Internet – we still don’t trust it, but, at this point, we admit it’s here to stay. So we’re looking at new models and formats of how to make ourselves more available over the Internet. Also I plan on ending on a joke, so watch out for that.
The details:
Year Established: 2004
Cast Members: Andy Auld, Jon Blair, Joel Buxton, Jocelyn Geddie, Brendan Halloran, Kaitlin Loftus, Ian MacIntyre, Daryn McIntyre, Phil Moorhead, Ann Pornel, Alexandra Wylie, Gary Rideout Jr and Mark Andrada
Next Show: Sunday September 16th, 9pm, Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor St. W., 416-551-6540. (and every Sunday at that date and time)
Morning Throwback: early bird specials are totally the new TIFF celebrity hang-out spots
Swanky restos and hoity-toity hotel bars are all the rage with the folks at TIFF, but we still think nothing beats a grisly, all-you-can-eat buffet, like this one from back in the day. It's cheap, it cures hangovers, and you're not surrounded by lame-os who debate the pros and cons of Twilight vs. Hunger Games.
Dlish Cupcakes expands to Yorkville
Toronto’s dedication to overindulgence continues with news that Queen West’s Dlish Cupcakes will be opening a new location in Yorkville. To celebrate the opening, the shop is creating a new limited edition flavour, and fans are encouraged to make suggestions on Dlish’s Facebook page. Our favourite one so far? Cheeseburger. (But props to the obligatory shout-outs to bacon.) The new shop is slated to open later this month at 848a Yonge Street.
Toronto’s first-ever Fashion’s Night Out was a whirlwind of cocktails, clothing and confetti
Last night Hogtown was all abuzz with TIFF, magazine launches and the inaugural Fashion’s Night Out jolting everyone out of their sleepy summer haze. We opted to check out the city’s first dalliance with FNO — the worldwide shopping event that highlights local retailers and designers.
With events based in Yorkville and around Queen Street West, some of Toronto’s best shops swung open their doors for late night shopping parties, attracting the city’s most stylish with nibblies, cocktails and deals aplenty. Lasting from 6 to 11 p.m., we stormed the streets to check out what the city’s style buffs were up to.
Up first was The Bazaar by Rac Boutique, held at the Burroughes Building on Queen West. FNO was the perfect excuse for a second installment of this particular event (the first one took place a few months ago), and saw Rac Boutique’s Glenna Weddle and Faith Orfus bringing together a bevy of local retailers in addition to up-and-coming designers. Goods from Fashion Week faves Travis Taddeo and Chloé Comme Parris — who are about to take part in NYC’s Fashion Week — sat alongside duds from the west end’s 69 Vintage, Canon Blanc, Philistine and Life of Manek. Nicole Manek’s collection of Orly Genger necklaces stood out with their unique shapes and resin-coated features. Shoppers nibbled on pint-sized cupcakes from Short & Sweet Cupcakes and sipped on blue drinks while perusing the goods.
Before heading north, we popped into a venue next door to check out goods from Chinedesign. Local designer Chinedu Ukabam is known for his bright, African-inspired designs, and one of the designer’s dresses was recently spotted on model Stacey McKenzie on a NOW's cover. Next stop was the Shopping Soirée at Yorkville’s Shops at Hazelton Lanes. There, folks were able to check out men’s and women’s apparel, including pieces from Toronto-based designer Sid Neigum, who won the TFI New Labels contest this past May. Meanwhile, a team of hairstylists and makeup artists worked their magic on makeover enthusiasts, and FLARE editors styled guests in fall gear.
The most visually impressive event of the eve took place at Holt Renfrew. After checking out some live music at Roots, we joined crowds of revelers in the nick of time as they celebrated the shopping institution’s 175th birthday. With Bloor Street blocked off between Yonge and Bay, Holts fanatics donned birthday hats, waved glow sticks and lined up for Diet Cokes — all of which were available in the emporium’s signature magenta colour. As confetti drifted over the street-side mayhem, we checked out limited-edition sweatshirts in a pop-up truck. Justin Broadbent and Alex Viau were among the graphic designers commissioned to create unique sweatshirts for the anniversary.
Our final stop was the eLUXE shindig, held at the online retailer’s headquarters on Adelaide. There, shoppers perused Smythe’s latest blazers, official Fashion’s Night Out tees and a dazzling selection of baubles. FASHION Magazine’s Randi Bergman spun tunes as lively partygoers waved a life-sized cut-out of Joe Mimran — procured from Toronto Life’s Stylebook launch — over their heads and snacked on chocolate-dipped licorice sticks. Those keen on sipping some tequila-based cocktails were forced to swill an awkward blend of tequila and energy drink instead, seeing as how the juices had been slurped up.
Although we’d planned on making it to events further west — including ones at preloved and Comrags, where Plaid magazine editor Odessa Paloma Parker worked her styling magic on willing participants — the clock chimed 11 p.m., and with that, Fashion’s Night Out came to a close.
Walima Cafe moves north; new Moroccan joint opens in its place
Moroccan favorite Walima Cafe is reopening after moving from its original home on the Danforth to a new location at 1943 Avenue Road. The doors will officially open early next week. East-end residents haven’t left in the dark, either: Sahara Nights Moroccan Lounge has taken over Walima’s old space at 1450 Danforth, offering shisha, kabobs, burgers, sandwiches, desserts and more.
Gentleman’s Choice: a plaid, woven-wool tie that can spice up any suit
Sometimes, a cross-continental road trip in the name of hard-to-get haberdashery is an adventure worth having. That goes double if we’re talking stuff by Alexander Olch, the acclaimed New York tie-maker who got his start hand-crafting neckwear at Harvard; it’s all but impossible to find outside Canada’s west coast or the States.
Thankfully, famed online retailer Mr. Porter is saving you the hassle of a trip to the Big Apple or The Couve with free express shipping to Canada until Sept. 18. Use this chance to delve into Olch’s trademark offbeat fabrics, which can range from corduroy and flecked wool to cotton and cashmere. No uptight power ties here — this playful plaid woven-wool tie, at $135, exemplifies Olch’s bespoke casual feel. Its mix of reds, blues, greens and other tones can kick up a slim, grey suit, making certain you don’t fall victim to the neutral shades of colder months.
Alexander Olch tie, $135. Available at Mr. Porter
Tony Aspler’s Weekly Wine Pick: Domaine Sigalas Asirtiko Athiri 2010
Grown on the island of Santorini on vines that date back 50 to 200 years, this wine, made from two local Assyrtiko and Athiri varieties, reminded me of a Viognier. Golden straw in colour, you can smell its volcanic soil behind the melon and citrus aromas. It’s richly extracted, with an unctuous mouth feel and flavours of melon and peach, that finishes dry.
Food match: grilled fish, roast chicken
Tony Aspler is Post City’s wine columnist. He has written 14 books on wine and food and also created the Ontario Wine Awards. He can be heard on 680News.
Morning Throwback: in the early 1900s, $99,000 beds were out of the question
Who needs a $99,000 built-on-unicorn-tears custom bed in your hotel suite when you can squeeze into the same dumpy one with your brother and have your personal lumberjack mini-bar?
Our top five events for Toronto’s first-ever Fashion’s Night Out
It’s a big night for Toronto. Not only is TIFF launching tonight, but it’s the night of the first-ever Toronto edition of Fashion’s Night Out. The citywide shopping event will unite style-setters like never before with extended hours, fashionable freebies and, of course, some bubbly. So ready your wallets and head down to our top five events of the night.
Aime by Monica Mei
Homegrown fashion designer Monica Mei launches her label’s first showroom boutique tonight. Along with some Tunezy tunes, fashion shoppers will sip champagne and nibble on hors d'oeuvres as they browse the goodies. An Aveda Ponytail Bar is also available for those needing a quick and elegant up-do.
198A Davenport Road, Upper Level.
Thursday September 6, 6 – 11 p.m.
The Bazaar at Rac Boutique
Fashion’s Night Out kicks off The Bazaar, a three-day shopping extravaganza featuring independent retailers from across the city, including Gotstyle, Lab Consignment, Chloe Comme Paris, Woodlawn and more. There will be lots of snacks and drink on hand, and DJs Famous Players will spin the tunes.
The Burroughes Building, 639 Queen St. W., 6 floor.
Thursday, Sept. 6, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday, Sept. 7, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 8, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Fuzz Wax Bar
Get fuzz-free and fashionable with a free eyebrow wax with the purchase of any product. The free bubbly will no doubt help ease the pain. There’s also a trunk show and raffle co-hosted by Stella & Dot.
701 Queen St. W.
Thursday September 6, 6 – 11 p.m.
Rudsak
Leather lovers will dig the boutique’s 20 per cent discount on Fall/Winter outerwear purchases, and there’s also a free gift in store, too (with purchase).
315 Queen St. W.
Thursday September 6, 6 – 11 p.m.
Toronto Eaton Centre
It will be mall madness tonight with stores — including Roots, Massimo Dutti and Armani — staying open until 11 p.m. There will also be a public fashion show at 7:30 p.m. showing off the latest looks from retailers Stuart Weitzman, Juicy Couture and GAP.
220 Yonge St.
Thursday September 6, 6 – 11 p.m.
