Musical Muise-ings

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Image result for chris stapleton photos toronto 2019

Chris Stapleton brought his All American Road Show for his only Canadian date on this tour to Toronto's Budweiser Stage along with Special Guests The Marcus King Band and Brent Cobb

August 17th, 2019

Bluesy Southern rock with a little bit of country mixed in made for an amazing combination of stanky face and stupid ass grinning. To top it all off, the CNE as a backdrop, which includes free admission with concert tickets made for a glorious summer night. The earlier frequent rain showers made way for a comfortable evening under the stars...including the stars lighting up the stage with their awesome music!

Videos below:

The Marcus King Band

Brent Cobb

Chris Stapleton

Chris Stapleton, Brent Cobb and Marcus King

Chris Stapleton

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Blue October - Get Back Up [Official Trailer]

Sunday, March 03, 2019

Matt Nathanson

The Mod Club, Toronto, ON

Feb. 26, 2019

Always a good time, the inimitable Matt Nathanson should never be missed. For someone who writes such heart-wrenching poetry in lyrics, he is such a witty, humorous, off-the-cuff, pull it out of a hat, riffing on a thought kind of guy. Every
show is a one-of-a-kind experience.

His ninth album, "Sings His Sad Heart", seems to have a running theme about reminiscing, childhood, the way it used to be, past relationships and such. There's
a bit of a 50's or 60's flavour musically and vocally but a very soulful, percussive underbelly that drives this album, takes the wheel and sends you on a journey.

Speaking of wheels...the infamous wheel o' songs, changed regularly, for his
acoustic tours:

Infectious, quirky and such a variety, when you explore his vast catalogue, there's something for everybody. When you tap into classic eras of music, the songs stand
the test of time, as will his. Below are just a sampling from his show in Toronto:

[Video] Last Days of Summer in San Francisco

[Video] All Been Said Before

[Video] Way Way Back

[Video] Car Crash/I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (U2)

[Video] Bulletproof Weeks

[Video] Long Distance Runner

[Video] Come On Get Higher

Monday, November 12, 2018

Tribute Communities Centre

Oshawa, ON

November 10th, 2018

Ventured out to Oshawa to a venue I've never been simply because I had to see this incredible lineup!

Videos don't really do this concert justice! Vantage point was not great. Couldn't find anti-shake on my new phone BUT the vocals, which are my thing, were just amazing for all three bands!!

[Video 1] Default
[Video 2] Default
[Video 3] Default
[Video 4] Default

Here's where you can find them on their socials:

Default
https://twitter.com/defaultcanada
https://www.facebook.com/DefaultOfficial/
https://www.instagram.com/defaultbandofficial/

Lead singer Dallas Smith
http://www.dallassmithmusic.com/

[Video 1] Seether
[Video 2] Seether
[Video 3] Seether
[Video 4] Seether
[Video 5] Seether

Seether
https://twitter.com/SeetherOfficial
https://www.facebook.com/seether/
https://www.instagram.com/seetherofficial/

Lead singer Shaun Morgan

Saturday, September 08, 2018

Stone Sour and Ozzy Osbourne

Sept. 4th/18 Budweiser Stage, Toronto, ON

* Please excuse the distortion and jostling...it was loud and a rowdy bunch

[Video] Bark At The Moon

[Video] I Don't Know

[Video] No More Tears

[Video] Crazy Train

[Video] Mama, I'm Coming Home

[Video] Paranoid

[Photo Gallery] Stone Sour and Ozzy Osbourne

Sunday, September 02, 2018

+LIVE+ and Counting Crows Aug. 29th/18 at Budweiser Stage, Toronto, ON

[Photo Gallery]

[Video] +LIVE+ Selling The Drama

[Video] +LIVE+ I Alone

[Video] +LIVE+ Lightning Crashes

* Unfortunately no videos of Counting Crows as there were audio issues

Howard Jones July 13th/18 at

The Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto, ON

[Video] Like To Get To Know You Well / Pearl In The Shell

[Video] Hide And Seek

[Video] What Is Love

[Video] Things Can Only Get Better

[Photo Gallery]

Jethro Tull July 3rd, 2018 at Budweiser Stage, Toronto, ON

[Photo Gallery] Jethro Tull July 3rd, 2018 at Budweiser Stage, Toronto, ON

Honoluau, is an event inspired by the beautiful Polynesian Island of Hawaii! The evening featured professional hula dancers, a fireknife warrior performer, music and authentic Hawaiian food, to recreate the feeling of a traditional Hawaiian Luau, transporting guests thousands of miles away from Toronto and into the middle of the South Pacific.

All profits went towards both the Ronald McDonald House Charities and the George Brown College Foundation, which supports funding bursaries and scholarships - allowing students facing financial hardships to continue their education.

Tickets included authentic Hawaiian food, entertainment, and a chance to win a variety of prizes.

* Videos of performances after the photos.

While there, I encountered an awesome charity called "TENFED". Every item sold provides ten meals to children around the world and in Canada.

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Blue October

The Opera House

Toronto, ON

April 26th, 2018

Joyful, haunting, gut-wrenching, ethereal, passionate, other-worldly...these are just some of the terms used to describe the music that defies any one particular genre that is Blue October. It is truly something that's difficult to describe to do it justice and needs to be experienced to even comprehend. It is so rich and multifaceted that you discover different layers and something new each time you listen to it.

Just when you think it isn't possible for them to up their game, each tour for each album cycle exceeds the previous one. They are mesmerizing and conjure up so many emotions that run the entire spectrum. Their concert that had four encores left us breathless, eyes welled-up and ready to kick some ass simultaneously.

Over 20 years as a band but only the last 8 years as an independent label, this tour for their 9th studio album 'I Hope You're Happy' brought them back to Toronto as their only Canadian date, and Toronto brought it! Each album a progression of their lives and experiences, if this concert is any indication their new album will be filled with joy, exuberance and grit.

Don't ever think they've gone soft or sappy though. They've shared snippets of songs while doing production on the new album that will melt your faces off and make you feel like you can take on the world! They always have such a mixture of flavours that there is something for everybody. I usually don't like entire albums but I've never experienced that with Blue October. Each one has been astounding from start to finish.

To pre-order Blue October's new album, click here

To find out more about Blue October, click here

Concert videos:

Sway
Into The Ocean
The Feel Again (Stay)
Congratulations
Come Back Home (New Song)
Houston Heights

[Photo Gallery]

Their opener was a relatively new band that formed in 2011 out of Charlotte, NC called Flagship. They had an 80's band kind of sound with early U2 influences and snippets of Kings of Leon. You can find out more about them here: https://www.flagshipofficial.com/

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Mathew V - Let Me Go (A Cappella)

[Video] WHOA! @MathewVMusic live, one-take, a capella video of #LetMeGo

Catch him on:

April 25th - First Canadian Place, Toronto, ON
April 26th - The Drake Hotel, Toronto, ON
May 24th - The Rio Theatre, Vancouver, BC
June 23rd - Red River Exhibition, Winnipeg, MB

Get tickets here: Mathew V Music facebook events
Or here: Mathew V on Bandsintown

Wednesday, April 04, 2018

Andy Grammer, The Good Parts Tour

at The Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto, ON April 2nd/18

Upbeat, down to earth, Andy Grammer's first headlining show in Toronto was all that and more, full of fun, humour and heart. Although it was his second time playing here, it was a far cry from the sombre affair in 2014 for a Liv, Love & Lyrics charity event. No chair dancing this time!

This tour for his third album, The Good Parts, brings him back and beyond with extensive dates in the U.S. and one other Canadian date in Vancouver. Hopefully, the next album cycle and his growing popularity will allow him to do more Canadian dates.

A prolific songwriter, he wrote 115 songs for this current album and wittled it down to just 13 tracks. His debut self-titled album came out in 2011, the most notable track Keep Your Head Up. His second album, Magazines or Novels, came out in 2014 with Honey, I'm Good which went multi-platinum. Quite a difference from his humble beginnings busking in Santa Monica.

With his penchant for writing songs, it won't be long before there's another tour for another album. If you missed him this time around, be sure to watch for future dates at: http://andygrammer.com/home/

(Note: These videos and photos do not do him justice. My vantage point was not the greatest and sometimes you just have to put the camera or phone down and enjoy the moment!)

[Video] "Spaceship"

[Video] "Workin On It"

[Video] "This Ain't Love"

[Video] "The Good Parts"

[Photo Gallery] Andy Grammer at The Phoenix

Saturday, March 31, 2018

Photo courtesy of Too Many Zooz

It's difficult to describe a Too Many Zooz concert. You really have to have been there. Their first concert in Toronto was April 21st/17 at The Mod Club. After that experience, and it is an experience, I also had to go to their second concert in Toronto on March 30th/18 at The Phoenix Concert Theatre.

While The Mod Club has a capacity of 620 people, The Phoenix's capacity is 1,350, a much needed expansion as Too Many Zooz popularity has exploded in a very short time. What started out as underground New York subway buskers has now gone on to tour worldwide with further dates in the U.S., Europe, the UK and Canada.

Their self-described genre is "Brasshouse" consisting of LeoP aka Leo Pellegrino on sax, Matt Doe on trumpet and David "King Of Sludge" Parks on percussion. It's loud, it's brash and it's energetic...all in a good way. Coming from someone who's thing is vocals, and there aren't any, is high praise indeed. The videos below are merely a taste of the experience.

More info and tickets available at: http://toomanyzooz.com/

Too Many Zooz in Toronto

Tuesday, December 26, 2017

Blue October - "I Hope You're Happy" Official Lyric Video

Sunday, October 29, 2017

Gavin DeGraw's SOLD OUT show at the Mod Club on Oct. 25th marked his 5th show in Toronto over the short span of 4 years. With a smattering of other Canadian dates in between the U.S. and European tour dates, this seems to mark an increasing trend of more exposure in Canada, hopefully a trend that will continue to expand. As word gets out about his amazing talent, so too will more opportunities. Of course, hard work and seemingly constant touring has made these things come to pass.

Each time he's come to Toronto, it's been in different venues and different formats. He's been an opener, co-headliner, headliner but this time it was different. Two hours of all Gavin with a set list spanning his entire career thus far that took off 14 years ago in 2003. No backing tracks and a stripped down band consisting of just Gavin on piano, Billy Norris on guitar (plus some stand up bass) and Michael John Baker on drums and percussion, it really allowed you to hear the vocals and the instruments. It felt less formal than big production shows and allowed the musicians to play around more instrumentally and vocally. As much as we love the other band members, Gavin being accompanied solely by Billy and Michael in a smaller, more intimate venue made it seem more earthy and organic, almost as if we were all just hanging out in someone's living room and jamming, albeit with a flashier light and smoke show. It also seemed to allow them to play around more with the set list, making it easier to change things up a little each night to keep things fresh, for them as well as the audience, especially for those that attend multiple shows.

Always writing and working on new music, Gavin plans on keeping this raw thing going to reflect on his next album which is forthcoming, perhaps harkening back to his earlier music with a splash of this and a twist of that to give it a current and less produced flavour. When you use classic elements, as Gavin has done on all his previous albums, and have an eclectic mix of genres that defy any one specific pigeonhole, the music has and will stand the test of time. With no more dates scheduled on this tour after early November, we eagerly anticipate his 6th new album to be in the works soon.

So...after many, many hours of uploading, and without further adieu, below please find the better-late-than-never collection of videos from that momentous night in Toronto:

"Chariot"
"Making Love With The Radio On" aka King Kong
"In Love With A Girl"
"Kite Like Girl/Best I Ever Had"
"Run Every Time/Where You Are"
"Stealing"
"Won't Back Down (Tom Petty cover)/Lover Be Strong"
"Follow Through"
"Something Worth Saving"
"Maybe I'm Amazed (Paul McCartney cover)"
"Annalee"
"Sweeter"
"More Than Anyone"
"Change Gonna Come (Sam Cooke)/Hallelujah I Love Her So (Ray Charles)" covers
"Soldier"
"She Sets The City On Fire"
"We Belong Together"
"I Don't Want To Be"

Sunday, January 01, 2017

The Phoenix Concert Theatre

25th Anniversary

with David Wilcox & Kim Mitchell

(The better-late-than-never edition)

So this was my last concert of 2016 and what a blast! Usually I only record a few videos, just of the songs I like, but there were too many to leave any out. I intentionally did not list the song titles a) in case I got them wrong and b) to allow you to explore and find some old and maybe some new favourites.

First, it amazed me that David Wilcox still sounds the same as he did when I first saw him probably 25-30 years ago. Second, I loved the fact that Kim Mitchell did such a great mixture of songs including those from his Max Webster days.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I did! Granted, I wish the sound quality was better but lowering the volume seems to lessen the distortion :)

Photo Gallery of the hallowed halls of The Phoenix

Video #1 - David Wilcox

Video #2 - David Wilcox

Video #3 - David Wilcox

Video #4 - David Wilcox

Video #5 - David Wilcox

Video #6 - David Wilcox

Video #1 - Kim Mitchell

Video #2 - Kim Mitchell

Video #3 - Kim Mitchell

Video #4 - Kim Mitchell

Video #5 - Kim Mitchell - First time ever the memory in my camera was full!

Video #6 - Kim Mitchell - Had to switch to my phone

Video #7 - Kim Mitchell

Video #8 - Kim Mitchell

Video #9 - Kim Mitchell

Video #10 - Kim Mitchell

Video #11 - Kim Mitchell

Video #12 - Kim Mitchell - And then my phone memory was full too!

Saturday, November 05, 2016

Musicians and their "Wheelhouse"

Whenever a musical artist refers to trying to stay within their "wheelhouse", they're usually referring to a genre or sound that works well with their voice and style. They don't want to alienate or throw off their fans by doing something way out of their norm. To me, it conjures up a different image.

I picture a big house with a giant waterwheel on the side. They use the water as a source of power for various purposes. When I think of it as an analogy regarding music, it refers to a different meaning. Follow my train of thought, if you will...

The wheel itself has many wedges that each represent a different genre or "flavour" of music. An artist can take these different wedges, like wedges of cheese for example, try mixing them together to see if they work well, not unlike pairing wine with cheese. Creating songs, or cheese for that matter, take time and care to craft, at least authentic ones do.

Creating records, an artist uses a variety of flavours so they don't all sound the same. Instead of just having one album, you would want to check out more of their body of work. People have different palettes and identify with different lyrics or flavours...they find something that speaks to them that may not speak the same way to someone else.

When you see descriptions of wine or cheese, they use imagery, emotions or flavours not unlike song lyrics. Coming back to the wheelhouse, the water drives the music and the lyrics pour out of it...hence the waterwheel analogy. I could go on...I guess I just really love music, finely-crafted songs, water...and apparently cheese.