Going Live: Fall Out Boy
While some would love to mistreat the hashtag “#IWentToAFallOutBoyConcertAndTheyDidntPlayDeadOnArrival”, FALL OUT BOY’s highly anticipated set at the Sound Academy didn’t disappoint. Their quick stop at the docks marked their first appearance in Toronto in more than four years and it fused together a face-smacking introduction (“Thriller”, “A Little Less Sixteen Candles”), forgotten favourites (“Sugar,... Read More
Going Live: The Shins, Ra Ra Riot
Clashing together Beta Love and Port Of Morrow, RA RA RIOT and THE SHINS got all indie on Toronto this past Wednesday for what some are calling “a night full of ever-so-sweet guitars and vocals”. While the two have grown into their own over the years, the New Yorkers complimented their Rose City compadres at the Sound Academy with a blissful set of how hearts are meant to beat. Once James Mercer and the vets found a place under the lights... Read More
Going Live: Paramore
Is anyone more energetic than Hayley Williams? On a dreary Monday night in Toronto, KITTEN’s Chloe Chaidez made her case, intriguing onlookers with her supporting crew and an array of edgy guitars/electronics while giving the atmosphere the bite it needed. The mic was eventually passed on to the night’s headliner and it became pretty clear that PARAMORE’s charisma is still nearly impossible to imitate. The punk-gone-everything... Read More
Going Live: As I Lay Dying, The Devil Wears Prada
Our friends south of the border are more known for their year-round cycle of punk/metal/hardcore tours but when the odd one makes it’s way to the chilly depths of Ontario, all hell breaks loose. That was the case for Toronto’s Sound Academy this past Saturday (March 23rd). Every attendee decked in flannel expected AS I LAY DYING and THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA to amplify their sets with a flawless sound (and they did) but their support managed... Read More
Going Live: Raekwon
Even the cold dawn of spring couldn’t prevent the New York City Mafioso from taking a road trip up north after a solid/indescribable week in Austin, Texas. Anyone would also be a fool to miss RAEKWON’s one night in Toronto as the one eighth of the Wu-Tang Clan broke out the book of old-school to perform Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… in its entirety. The Sound Academy popped off left, right and center, with the 1995 debut spilling cuts... Read More
Going Live: All Time Low, Yellowcard
ALL TIME LOW, YELLOWCARD, FIREWORKS SOUND ACADEMY, TORONTO / JANUARY 17TH Implanting a bit of substance into pop punk, ALL TIME LOW and YELLOWCARD’s tour stop at the Docks was a sure sign that both bands can tear apart the pop barriers to casually drop doses of mid-2000s’ nostalgia. As Detroit’s FIREWORKS staggered listeners with their own Gospel, the headliners enticed fan faves (“Heroes”, “Weightless”)... Read More
Going Live: Method Man
METHOD MAN, RAZ FRESCO SOUND ACADEMY, TORONTO / JANUARY 10TH Of course everyone remembers the underrated greatness to How High but when was the last time you dusted off your kicks with a brush and bumped “Bring The Pain”? Sharing the stage with upstart RAZ FRESCO, Staten Island’s own METHOD MAN sunk into a dense catalogue that was eclectic enough to have the entire Sound Academy body-rocking to everything from “Release Yo’... Read More
GOING LIVE: The Gaslight Anthem
THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM SOUND ACADEMY, TORONTO / NOVEMBER 25TH Getting intimate at the most appropriate time, THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM muscled the Edgefest Jingle Bell add-on into a cozy night full of whiskey, tears and a sense of belonging. From “Mae” to “Keepsake” to even a cover of the Misfits’ 1982 cut “Astro Zombies”, the group tinted a sold-out Sound Academy with feel-good-blues that gripped everyone by the... Read More
GOING LIVE: Ellie Goulding
ELLIE GOULDING SOUND ACADEMY, TORONTO / OCTOBER 14TH On a “Sunday Bloody Sunday” as U2 would call it, electronic pop songbird ELLIE GOULDING took center stage at Toronto’s Sound Academy and through a gripping performance, stole everyone’s hearts and lungs. The latter coming from a breathtaking set that was ruled by her sophomore record Halcyon where numbers such as “My Blood” and “Only You” seduced eardrums... Read More
GOING LIVE: Two Door Cinema Club
TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB, MOON KING, GUARDS SOUND ACADEMY, TORONTO / OCTOBER 5TH Indie rock doesn’t shake the Sound Academy as much as it should but TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB’s Friday night gig rampaged about as older folk and youngsters fell ill to grooves and excessive foot-tapping. Both Richie Follin’s Cults-associated outfit GUARDS and local indie giants MOON KING turned up a side of alternative you rarely get to see, and through ear-tugging... Read More