Author: Greg

Band of the Month: Kira May

- Greg

Friday….What a day!

Today’s band is Kira May. A Toronto musician whose
hypnotic and soothing loop mastery quiets and captivates entire rooms upon her first breath.

Powerful, layered vocal harmonies, and slow, softly haunting melodies keep you listening to every word. And at live performances she’s known to have appropriately intense visual projections, adding depth and colour to the stage as Kira tweaks her effects on bended knee.

Here’s a little taste of Kira May’s work below. See her live at an art gallery opening or another DIY venue as soon as you can.

Band of the Month by Greg O’Toole

Band of the Month: Most People

- Greg

It’s July…..Time for Band of the Month!

Today’s band is Most People.

Soothing, yet energetic, and jam packed with a vibrantly colourful sonic palate, Most People capture attention and lay a landscape your ears could drive for days. Using brightly percussive guitar, and warm, soaring vocal melodies over soft synth and driven by uplifting acoustic and electronic drums, this Toronto duo sounds like a much bigger ensemble both on record and on stage. You can listen below for a snapshot of what I’m talking about.

These guys are very complimentary to my summer listening mood, and easily one of my favourite bands to catch live. So, if you find yourself in Toronto July 20, stop by the Rivoli and catch some of their good vibes.

Cheers,
Greg O’Toole

Band of the Month: The Cautioneers

- Greg

Hello Friday! We made it!

As the NXNE music festival has been invoking joyous, creative revelry inside AND outside of venues throughout downtown Toronto over the last three days, we’re now in the thick of it and I’m excited for the second featured Band in the last week.

Today’s band is The Cautioneers.

Combining harmonious, reverb-doused vocal melodies over softly percussive keys, and smooth synthesizer behind ethereal and driven guitar hooks, this Toronto six piece takes melodic pop to a dark and dreamy level.

The Cautioneers are being featured in three NXNE showcases this week. Be sure to catch at least one of them, including tonight, June 14, at The Boat at 1am. They are also closing off Saturday night at 3am @ Rancho Relaxo and playing a stripped down set @ Of A Kind on Sunday afternoon.

Now get out there and give your ears a treat!

Band of the Month by Greg O’Toole

Band of the Month: Human Bodies

- Greg

This week, I will be featuring two bands as a small highlight of the 1000 plus talented bands from all over the globe performing in Toronto’s upcoming NXNE music festival that runs June 10-16.
The first of this weeks two bands is Human Bodies.

Patient, lush, and explosive all rolled into a tight, heavily harmonized package, Toronto’s Human Bodies are a group of friends turn band whose charisma and charm are carried both on stage and off. A progressive, instrumentally neurotic sound of one song can be smoothly transitioned into a spacious, vocally driven sonic landscape of the next by this five piece of multi-instrumentalists. The fun never ends with these guys and gal.

Check out a sample below and catch them on stage June 12 at 8pm @ The Rivoli for their NXNE showcase!

Band of the Month by Greg O’Toole.

Band of the Month: Bury the Hatchet

- Greg

Happy Friday……We’ve made it!
Today’s band is Bury the Hatchet. This Toronto ensemble translates tales through warm and wordy, infectiously honest melodies spoken by a wide array of instruments such as cello, guitar, clarinet, flute, and keyboard. Poetic and powerfully driven, Bury the Hatchet is a band deserving of an entire long weekend’s worth of listening.
Enjoy!

Band of the Month by Greg O’Toole

Scroll To Top