Last night, Abel Tesfaye—a.k.a. The Weeknd, a.k.a. the man who out-Draked Drake—released his third, highly anticipated mixtape, Echoes of Silence. We’re still processing our reaction to it (and trying to figure out what an echo of silence sounds like), but on a casual first listen the record comes off a heck of a lot less restrained than the two previous offerings, House of Balloons and Thursday. There are fewer layers of reverb drowning Tesfaye’s vocals, which positively channel Michael Jackson on the first track, “D.D,” a gloomy reimagining of “Dirty Diana” off M.J.’s Bad. Fans needn’t worry, though; 2011’s signature sad-sack Lothario vibe remains intact. Get the mixtape »
The comprehensive index of every blog post, magazine story and restaurant review that appears on Torontolife.com
All stories relating to Pop
The Weeknd drops his third mixtape of 2011, Echoes of Silence
The Pick: St. Vincent, an indie act that cuts through the preciousness
Read the rest of this entry »
Pop music has no shortage of ethereal female singer-songwriters, but none cut through the preciousness quite like St. Vincent’s Annie Clark, who performs this week at the Phoenix. Like her elfin counterparts, there’s something alien and inaccessible about her. Sometimes it feels like she’s on the other side of a wall, but her latest album plays on that faraway sound, burying images of tangible cruelty and grit within its layered orchestrations.
The Weekender: Don Giovanni, Literary Death Match and six other events on our to-do list
Phillip Addis as Don Giovanni, giant pumpkins at the Royal Winter Agricultural Fair, Matthew Good
1. LITERARY DEATH MATCH TORONTO
In this singularly silly lit event, four authors (Grace O’Connell, Carolyn Black, Rebecca Rosenblum and Dani Couture this time around) give readings of their best pieces of writing. After each reading, the panel of judges (poet Ryan Kamstra, comedian Lindy Zucker and National Post books editor Mark Medley) offer up American Idol–esque commentary (more Paula than Simon) before narrowing the field to two finalists, who compete in a madcap showdown (last time involved throwing cupcakes at a poster of Margaret Atwood). November 6. $10. Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W., 416-531-4635, literarydeathmatch.com.
2. THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL WINTER FAIR Read the rest of this entry »
Even the hippest Torontonian could use a little rodeo in their lives now and again. The annual fair is back in town, with its gigantic horses, veggies of unusual proportion, craft shopping and the ever-popular SuperDogs. We do have one small beef with this longtime Toronto tradition: why does it have to be called the winter fair? For the record, it’s still fall, and we’re not nearly ready for winter yet. November 4 to 13. $22. Ricoh Coliseum, 100 Princes’ Blvd., 416-263-3400, royalfair.org.
How Deadmau5—a.k.a. DJ Joel Zimmerman—came to make $100,000 a show and have four million Facebook fans
Mouse pad: Joel Zimmerman’s downtown condo has jägermeister on tap. (Image: Matt Barnes)
A steady August downpour drenched Chicago’s Grant Park on the final night of the Lollapalooza music festival. The rain and the force of thousands of feet had turned the park into a swampy field of splattering mud. The show should have been a flop; instead, it became a frenzied dance party, like Woodstock on methamphetamines.
Some of the dancers wore cartoonish, oversized mouse helmets that bobbed side to side and back and forth. The helmets’ eyes were blank and bulging, their crescent mouths leering grins. They were worn as a tribute to the musician Deadmau5, who was the headlining act that night. Deadmau5 (pronounced “dead mouse”) is the nom de guerre of the Toronto electronic music artist Joel Zimmerman. When he performs, Zimmerman wears his own electronically enhanced mouse mask, what fans call a Mau5head. The helmet looks goofy, but it’s important: it was key in Zimmerman’s transformation from a dance music outsider into a mainstream icon. Read the rest of this entry »
The one thing you should see this week: quintessential autumn music from a pair of twin sisters
This week’s pick: Tasseomancy’s album release for Ulalume at the Great Hall.
There’s an otherworldly quality to a lot Tasseomancy’s music. The baroque-folk duo, made up of twins Sari and Romy Lightman, took their name from a word for tea-leaf reading, and their latest album, Ulalume—launching this Thursday at the Great Hall—is appropriately rooted in mysticism.
Read the rest of this entry »
The one thing you should see this week: an underground R&B crooner on the brink of superstardom
This week’s pick: The Weeknd at the Mod Club
Every year, it seems an enigmatic Toronto-based singer drops a free mixtape on his website and sets the Internet ablaze. In 2009, it was Drake; in 2010, Diamond Rings. This year, the Twitter-Tumblr-Soundcloud matrix that shot these local boys to stardom is working its magic for Abel Tesfaye, a.k.a. The Weeknd, who in March released his debut House of Balloons, an assortment of confident, lusty R&B tracks that was recently shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize.
Read the rest of this entry »
The Weekender: Wishful Drinking, Festival of India and six other events on our to do list
Ted Dykstra in The Kreutzer Sonata, Carrie Fisher in Wishful Drinking and Taylor Swift
1. NIGHT IT UP! (FREE!)
Follow your nose: that, um, pungent smell that’s filling the air at this annual Asian cultural fest–meets–foodie adventure is actually a delicacy. The infamous stinky tofu draws crowds, but it’s not the only unique treat to try (and thank goodness for that). Inspired by traditional night markets across Asia, this all-night event also has game booths (look for the goldfish scooping), shopping and a martial arts–inspired breakdancing performance. July 15 and 16. Metro Square Plaza, 3636 Steeles Ave. E., Markham Markham Civic Centre, 101 Town Centre Blvd., nightitup.com.
2. WISHFUL DRINKING Read the rest of this entry »
To put it mildly, Carrie Fisher has had an interesting life. She’s had lots of ups—a decades-long career as a script doctor, iconic roles (Princess Leia) in blockbuster films (Star Wars, The Blues Brothers, When Harry Met Sally)—but just as many downs. The downs are the fodder for this one-woman show, which somehow manages to be hilarious despite recounting the star’s tumultuous relationship with Paul Simon, problems with addiction, visits to rehab and electroshock therapy. July 12 to August 21. $35–$99. Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King St. W., 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.
This year’s ALL CAPS! indie music fest to feature camping on Toronto Island
Read the rest of this entry »
Here’s some exciting news that we missed when it was first announced a couple weeks back: this year’s edition of the ALL CAPS! Island Festival is offering on-site accommodation alongside its indie music lineup. While the festival isn’t exactly Bonnaroo North, we’re excited that this marks what we believe is the first music series on the island to allow sleeping over. Hosted by the folks at Wavelength, in collaboration with Dundas Street’s Whippersnapper Gallery and Artscape Gibraltar Point (which is providing the host site), the festival takes place Aug. 13 and 14 and features a variety of Canadian indie artists, such as Julie Doiron, The Wooden Sky, Rich Aucoin, Evening Hymns, Jennifer Castle and DD/MM/YY.
Today in Toronto: Girl Talk and The Black Keys
Girl Talk The New York Times Magazine once called Gregg Gillis “a lawsuit waiting to happen,” but the man more commonly known as Girl Talk is getting the last laugh. Find out more »
The Black Keys Canada seems to have a bit of a thing for thi bluesy rock duo made up of Ohioans Dan Auerbach and Pat Carney. Find out more »
Today in Toronto: Daniel Lanois’ Black Dub
Daniel Lanois’ Black Dub Mega-producer Daniel Lanois may be famous for his work behind the music (Bob Dylan, Neil Young and U2 are all collaborators), but he has vaulted into the limelight for his recent project, Black Dub. Find out more »
Today in Toronto: 9 to 5 and Katy Perry
9 to 5 Hello, Dolly! La Parton’s girl power musical, based on the 1980 movie in which she starred, hits town this month. Find out more »
Katy Perry Pop tart Perry has come a long way from her Bible-thumping days in Santa Barbara. Find out more »
Today in Toronto: Keren Ann, Return to Forever IV and Sade with John Legend
Keren Ann Musician Keren Ann defies easy categorization. She’s French, Israeli and Dutch. She runs her own label, composes operas, has written for Roman Polanski’s wife, Emmanuelle Seigner, and straddles pop, jazz, folk and electronica. Find out more »
Return to Forever IV This jazz fusion ensemble, the brainchild of the feverishly talented pianist Chick Corea, has been going for 40 years, with a hiatus here and there. Find out more »
Sade with John Legend The inimitable R&B star Sade worked her “Smooth Operator” skills leading up to the release of her greatest hits disc, The Ultimate Collection. Find out more »
Today in Toronto: Elvis Costello and João Pedro Rodrigues
Elvis Costello Declan Patrick MacManus (a.k.a. Elvis Costello) brings his signature sound and eyewear to the Sony Centre today. Find out more »
João Pedro Rodrigues Audacious Portuguese filmmaker João Pedro Rodrigues has become, over the past decade, one of the most intriguing figures in international film. Find out more »
The Weekender: Samsara, TD Toronto Jazz Festival and six other events on our to do list
Coeur de Pirate, The Roots’ Black Thought and Lisa Ray
1. TD TORONTO JAZZ FESTIVAL
Somehow, the organizers of this annual music fest always manage to book musicians that even non-jazz fans are dying to see. Case in point: this year’s lineup, which features Aretha Franklin, The Roots and Los Lonely Boys alongside more straight-up jazz offerings like Kurt Elling and Nikki Yanofsky. The Queen of Soul kicks off the entire festival with a free concert at Metro Square this Friday. June 24 to July 3. Various locations, 416-870-8000, torontojazz.com.
2. SAMSARA (FREE!) Read the rest of this entry »
We have a not-so-secret love of Bollywood, but no amount of dedication could score us tickets to the International Indian Film Academy Awards this weekend. Luckily for us, there’s this free street fest. Faisal Anwar has curated a film series of old and new Bollywood dance sequences. There are also two performance stages, one dedicated to classical music and dance and the other to all things fusion. Local girl Lisa Ray will rock the runway during two of the four scheduled fashion shows. June 25. Rogers Centre, 1 Blue Jays Way, toronto.ca/iifa2011.
Today in Toronto: Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel The man behind one of MTV’s most acclaimed videos of all time (“Sledgehammer”), the first pop song about apartheid (“Biko”) and one of the most publicized breakups in music history (Genesis) heads to the Molson Amphitheatre tonight. Find out more »
Follow Toronto Life on Twitter, Facebook and via RSS