Formed in 2005, Swedish rock act Stone Antica was first described as a local funk-rock band. Over the years their sound has developed into something more unique with rougher riffs and louder songs, though their funky roots can still be heard in their music even today. This quartet consists of vocalist Martin Sommansson, guitarist Edvin Egir, bassist Jon Liedberg and drummer David Sätermo.As many others, Stone Antica falls under the category of' "one of those struggling basement bands". Since the very beginning they have been writing and recording songs intensively, though it was not until 2008 that they released their first EP, titled A Goddess Kiss. From this six-track record emerged songs su...
There have been countless records that begin with the same bombast as The Most Serene Republic's ...And The Ever Expanding Universe, but few have taken listeners down a path of such enriching, introspective discovery. Long masters at stimulating senses and stirring emotions, the Ontario-based band have never sounded this immediate and attainable.The sonic density of their previous efforts has given way to more dynamic, engaging fare, as visceral as the most obviously cloying pop music but with a more scintillating head on its shoulders.So what's prompted a shift in musical direction for The Most Serene Republic? According to the band's musical figurehead Ryan Lenssen, the group is highly critical o...
On August 11 of 2009, Dan Mangan released his sophomore album, Nice, Nice, Very Nice in Canada. And it was about time. After three and a half years of touring his sleeper-hit debut, Postcards and Daydreaming, Dan was ready and eager to unveil a collection of lyrical ruminations that showcased his growth as a songwriter. 2010 will see releases throughout Europe, America and Australia.The album immediately shot to #1 on the iTunes Canada Singer/Songwriter Album chart, and #7 at ‘Earshot!' College/Co-Op radio (#1 roots category). Rave reviews came from heavy hitting national music-mags such as Exclaim!, CHARTattack and Metro as well as countless blogs and print media. Then came the news that Dan had won "A...
During her twenty-five years on Earth as what she calls a "rock kid," there have been great passions in Anna Rose's life, and then there has been music. "More than anything, I have always straight-up just totally and truthfully loved it," she says.Always, she has known she would perform and record as a singer, songwriter, and guitarist-pianist who would release an album such as Nomad, her upcoming debut, which she co-produced with William (Billy) Sullivan, five songs from which comprise her sensational current Anna Rose EP. And always she has been a little nuts about guitars. She started playing at age 5, after an older cousin brought one along to a holiday family gift exchange.On Anna R...
Markus Popp's first "Oval" release after almost a decade of silence is a spectacular departure from the deconstructivist electronica that made him a laptop legend. Instead, and totally out of nowhere, the 15-track "Oh" EP establishes Popp as an accomplished musician, who is delivering a glimpse of his very own exciting flavor of "free" music in the best sense of the word.The most important paradigm for the new sound was that everything should be done the exact opposite way from how it was done in the past. Popp exclusively used (cheap) commercially available software and plug-ins instead of programming his own. He utilized one (four years old at that) $500 stock PC instead of several high-...
"The desert is my home. I've never been attracted by the idea of emigrating to Paris or Los Angeles. It's in the desert that I feel that I belong, You have to live simply in the desert. It's the only way. Simplicity is freedom." - IBRAHIM AG ALHABIBTinariwen are guitar-poets on World Village from the southern Sahara desert. They are icons of freedom and resistance among their own people, the nomadic Touareg of the Sahara. The word 'Tinariwen' is the plural of Ténéré which simply means 'desert', in Tamashek, the language of the Touareg.The group was founded by Ibrahim Ag Alhabib, Hassan Ag Touhami and Inteyeden Ag Ableline in Tamanrasset, southern Algeria, at the end of the 19...
Singer-songwriter Alex Cuba hails from Artemisa, Cuba (1 hour west of Havana) and resides in Smithers, B.C. (14 hours north of Vancouver). Musically, he lives everywhere in between. His trademark sugarcane-sweet melodies, pop-soul hooks and rock chords subtly subvert commonly held notions of what Cuban music is. Alex is on the vanguard, crafting a cross-cultural sound that mirrors his geographical journey. Not tied to tradition, this Cuban-Canadian prefers his vintage Gibson over el sencerro (cowbell) anytime.From his earliest years in Artemisa, he was immersed in music. Alex's first stage appearance on national TV was at the tender age of four, playing claves (a percussion instrument) in a group directed by his m...
Meekos & Me are an American indie band comprised of singer, songwriter, and guitarist Joey Colando, classically trained cellist Danny Grab and bassist/producer Joshua Rumer. Their sound draws on several musical genres including folk, Americana, jazz, pop, and rock. Soft unconventional guitar progressions matched by equally unconventional cello parts, mixed in with an array of percussion styles and spacey synthesizers, sets this group apart from the mainstream. Formed in Santa Monica, California in 2009, Meekos & Me played several iconic venues throughout Los Angeles including The Mint, Viper Room,...
For Against Me! frontman Tom Gabel, sometimes you have to get the hell, out just to find your way back in. The past 12 years have seen Gabel rise from acoustic folk-punk gunslinger in the dives of Gainesville, Florida to releasing Against Me!'s four searing, blood-smeared slices of scrappy punk. The last of which, 2007's New Wave, was the major label debut, one that Spin magazine anointed as their Album Of The Year. And while Gainesville was home, Gabel felt the walls closing in when touring for New Wave came to an end. So he split. With his wife, he left behind the "didja-hear-about-so-and-so" insular Gainesville world for the sleepy beach town of St. Augustine, wandering the streets ...
Love and death have always been the twin engines of the popular song: the pursuit of love and the mourning of its passing; the havoc death wreaks upon love; love's survival in the aftermath of death; death as metaphor for the loss of one's identity to the consumptive power of love...Few bands of recent times have understood this as completely as Stars. And fewer bands still have so eloquently articulated, in words and in melodies, the seemingly countless ways love and death fill our days and rule our lives. Ten years after singer-lyricist Torquil Campbell and keyboardist Chris Seligman conceived of Stars in a decrepit New York apartment, one can listen back through the band's discography and hear dozens of songs t...
Minus the Bear have always avoided easy classification, preferring to tread their own inimitable path defined by energy and invention. "OMNI," the Seattle-based band's fourth full-length recording and debut Dangerbird Records release, sees a stunning evolution to their sound and vision. As evinced by the album's all-encompassing title, Minus the Bear have merged their myriad influences into a sweeping collection marked by its slinky and sensual melding of city-stomping rock and deep funk grooves. That spirit of sonic lasciviousness is mirrored in the album's raw take on human sexuality - a theme as intricate and elaborate as the band's extraordinary music. Boldly experimental yet instantly accessible, "...
Not many British bands these days have more than one album, which sells a million copies, let alone three. Fewer still manage to replicate - and maintain - that success outside the UK. And only a tiny number are able to continually develop their sound as their career progresses. But, in the last decade, Keane have achieved all of those things and a whole lot more. After selling 10 million copies of their three award-winning albums, it's no exaggeration to say that Keane are firmly established as one of the world's most successful, innovative and cherished bands. And, as far as they're concerned, they're only just getting started.The three members of Keane - Tom Chaplin, Tim Rice-Oxley and Richard Hughes - began ma...
A Friend of a Friend is the first record by Dave Rawlings, the guitarist, producer, singer, and songwriter best known for his work with Gillian Welch and Old Crow Medicine Show. These long time compatriots join Rawlings on this record beside newer friends Benmont Tench from the Heartbreakers, Karl Himmel, and Nate Walcott of Bright Eyes. The notion of recording as Dave Rawlings Machine began in 2007. "I had a few older songs that I had written with other artists that I wanted to record myself. Then the last year or so Gillian and I spent a good deal of time in Los Angeles, hanging out with a new group of musicians and songwriters. This inspired a number of songs that seemed to complete...
"We're not into just kinda being like a little footnote," says The Gaslight Anthem's Brian Fallon. "We want to be The Ones, y'know?"With AMERICAN SLANG, The Gaslight Anthem makes an extraordinary leap forward towards that very goal. The New Jersey-based band's third long player reveals a remarkably powerful rock ‘n' roll outfit honed by two years of nearly non-stop touring. Singer/guitarist Fallon's passionate lyrical approach has grown more personal and introspective, his raw throated vocals stronger and more resonant against the band's pulse-pounding dynamic force. Songs like "Bring It On," "Orphans" and the rousing title track bristle and burn with the sp...
For almost 20 years Cracker has been laying down some of the most enjoyable, humorous country-tinged alt rock around. On May 20th the band returns to Toronto for a show with psychobilly veterans Reverend Horton Heat in what should be a stellar double bill by two bands that never disappoint live.I recently had the chance to ask Cracker co-founder Johnny Hickman about the tour and his thoughts on music in general. Here's how it went down:T.O. Snob: First off, thank you very much for taking the time to speak with us.JH: No problem. Toronto fans have been right with us since the beginning of Cracker and we love them for that. T.O. Snob: You're playing a dream double bill at the Phoenix in Toronto on May 20th with Rever...
Australian world musician Xavier Rudd has built himself a strong, loyal following with his laid back, socially conscious songs. I recently had the opportunity to speak with him in advance of his tour. Here's what went on:T.O. Snob: First of all thanks for doing this. Xavier Rudd: No worries mate. T.O. Snob: You're coming up to Toronto on the 20th & 21st, how is your show this time around going to differ from what we've seen from you in the past? XR: I'm traveling with two African musicians who are incredible. So it's going to have a sort of African vibe, some more of the same. It's me and a couple of African dudes and some new sound and sort of playing around a bit too. I really like coming to Toronto. ...
freaky mellow beach wedding. screamers. ...
Camper Van Beethoven were undeniably on the leading edge of college rock. Their influence on the development of the indie underground scene is immeasurable. Well they are returning to Toronto with related band Cracker to play Lee's Palace on January 16th.I recently had the pleasure of speaking with founding Camper member Victor Krummenacher about the tour and music in general. Here's our conversation:T.O. Snob: First off thanks for doing this Victor. VK: No problem. T.O. Snob: You guys are coming to Toronto to play Lee's Palace on January 16th with Cracker. I caught you there when you were touring on New Roman Times. What's your favorite, or least favorite memory of playing in Toronto? VK: Well the last tim...
Swedish indie pop singer El Perro Del Mar, aka Sarah Assbring, comes to Toronto to play a show at The Mod Club this Sunday with countrywoman Taken By Trees. I had the pleasure of speaking with Assbring about the upcoming show and her music.Here's our conversation: T.O. Snob: First off, thank you very much for taking the time to speak with us. You're playing the Mod Club on Sunday. For those who haven't seen you perform live what can they expect? SA: They can expect something emotional and groovy. T.O. Snob: I was reading that Lou Reed served as a muse for your new album Love Is Not Pop. What was it about him and his work that inspired you? SA: I've always been a fan of his work and of him but I think with th...
Murder By Death have a rock solid new album, Good Morning, Magpie coming out on April 6th. Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with lead singer Adam Turla and asking him about the record. Here's our conversation: T.O. Snob: First of thanks for taking the time to speak with me. Your new album comes out in a little over a month. How would you describe it versus your previous work? AT: The may thing is we tried to progress musically and maybe be not as dark. We tried to keep the subject matter in line with our interests and our past work, but there are a few songs where we wanted to branch out and try for a more upbeat, major sound, which is something we haven't done a lot of. Songs like "Yes" and "Fox...
Anjey Satori - author 14 CD music for relaxation, meditation and healing. Composer was born 6 April 1969 in the Ukraine. From his early years Anjey started interesting in mysticism and esoteric teaching of the East. He worked as an organizer of special courses and trainings in the Institution of Alternative Medicine where he got enough experience to start teaching basics of bio-energy & healing. Anjey made up his pseudonym "Satori" (Enlightening in Japanese) during one of his yoga practices. Once he underwent a "consciousness expansion" and then he experienced "satori", described in classical Zen-Buddhism. The feeling of inner light and bliss was lasting for a few days. It was an enc...
There's something almost intangible about a band with strong chemistry. When the guitarists vibe off each other just right, the bassist is lock in step with the drummer, the music almost transcends the musicians. And when the vocalist is feeding off the power of the other players, almost anything is possible. It's something Sevendust learned early in their career when guitarist Clint Lowery joined forces with the eclectic Atlanta group."I knew once I got him in there that he could definitely change the band fully," says drummer Morgan Rose. "His background vocals and his writing style and guitar playing were the final ingredients for us to become the band that we needed to be."With Lower...
The five members of Remaindermen, the Chicago pop/rock band formerly known as Trio in Stereo, aren’t going to use a Formerly-Known-As-Prince-like symbol to denote the shift in monikers. But according to drummer Chris Kolodziej, it was never meant to be permanent. They made up the name on the spot when their success as a basement party band at Indiana University led to an early recording opportunity. The five-piece group’s success at playing the scenes in both ...
Immolate means to die by fire as a self-sacrificial victim. The process of immolation has been employed by some Buddhist monks as a form of protest. Enio's latest album "Immolate" borrows this theme of self-sacrificial consumption by fire. In it, he grapples with the intensity of failure, love, loss, victimhood by crimes of passion, teenage-girl adolescence, God, and Janet Jackson. Quite the gamut of emotions, eh? These eclectic musical themes however, are balanced with the greatest of care. For this openly-queer, Canadian singer/songwriter/musician/producer, music has always been a passion. Music beyond the capacity to play an instrument, write a song, or even produce one. Music, for Enio, is ab...
A Hard Rocking band from the late 1980s. Skid Row at the time gave a gritty edge to rock music much like Guns 'n' Roses. Amongst the best well known songs of Skid Row are 'I Remember You' and '18 and life'....
In 2008 producer and composer Michael Moppert made a long-held dream come true. After 15 years away from the mixing desk Michael left his position as CEO of a successful software company he founded in 1993 to re-focus on his lifelong musical passion. The multi-talented Swiss musician, who launched a small 16-track studio in the 1980s in his hometown of Basel while studying history at the local university, is currently putting the finishing touches on a dynamic ambient electronic instrumental project under the concept and name of Sonarpilot. The first release, a double CD titled "Mothership", includes expansive, richly textured tracks that evolve in unique and surprising ways. It is sch...
One late winter day, about a year ago, I was standing talking to my neighbour, Todd. He is a farmer. We couldn't help but notice that we were getting killed by a strong, cold wind, coming hard off the lake. ‘That's an east wind,' Todd remarked, ‘the laziest wind'. ‘The laziest wind?' I asked. ‘Yea,' he said, ‘it doesn't go around you, it goes right through you." There was a long pause then he said, ‘you can use that.' The summer before that, I first met Chris Walla backstage at a festival in Pemberton. Chris is a gem. We talked easily for an hour or so, about what is funny about peace, love and understanding; about making music of our language for no other reason tha...
New Orleans is a city defined by its unique and colorful history. It's for that reason that most tend to view the place as something of a musical museum while ignoring the town's vibrant and innovative new music. In New Orleans, the hip-hop at the heart of today's culture emerged from an energetic, highly eroticized and occasionally gender-bending music called "bounce". And the truth is, all the town's seemingly disparate styles - jazz, brass bands and funk as well as the newer "bounce" influenced hip hop, are all intrinsically linked. There is a particular inclusiveness about the place which connects both its people and their music. And now, for the first time ever, all these sounds have been combined on one undeniab...
The legendary American band, The Slackers, are back with a new full length album, The Great Rocksteady Swindle, on Epitaph/Hellcat Records. What began in New York City some 19 years ago has grown into an international musical phenomenon that blends ska, rocksteady, dub, R&B, Reggae,Soul,Garage Rock, and 60's pop into what leader Vic Ruggiero calls, "Jamaican Rock n Roll."The Great Rocksteady Swindle is the Slackers 12th studio album and is a credit to the bands continuing vitality and longevity in the music scene. Bandleader Vic Ruggiero observes, "We learned from guys like Rancid that were offered the MTV ride and we watched them not take it. We watched bands that did take it. And who ...
Straight from the heart of the suburban wasteland of southern Ontario comes Brett Caswell, an emerging singer songwriter who has set his sights set on breaking your heart, then making you smile. Armed with his backing band, The Marquee Rose, (which contains members of Fox Jaws and other Barrie staples) Caswell will release his first full length album, A New Balance, on May 18th digitally and off-stage. This is the first time loyal followers will get a chance to hear new material since his debut EP, Still Waiting, was released in 2007.A New Balance was recorded in a secret location on the outskirts of the Bruce Trail with Mitch C.W. Hall and Marty Kinack (Feist, Broken Social Scene, Jason ...
