KNEE SOCKS BEAT CLEAVAGE / Pink Mafia!

Ke$ha (pronounced  ke-sha) is one odd duck. She’s been a stalker. She’s broken into Prince’s house and she digs dudes with mullets. It’s balls out with this girl and her character is noted and sparkles and rules, but her audience is not hearing anything they’ve never heard before.

On Sunday night, Ke$ha made her Canadian debut at the Mod Club to gaggles of girls and industry insiders. There was drum-banging, bouncing and thrashing, all under the influence of a shiny substance called glitter. The set was about 30 minutes and ended with chart-topping single Tik Tok plus bursts of confetti. This winner/invite-only private show was made interactive with a Ke$ha-esque make-up station and a small meet-n-greet post show, with Princess Sparkle herself.

Minus the fact that Toronto girls already rock the fingerless leather glove, Ke$ha’s visuals were impressive. With a Mega Ultra Glitter Gong and a side-ponied Keytar player named Laserslut she kicked ass. The under-ragers love the shit out of her.

Face-paint/glitter station participant

From the outside though, her appeal is pretty disgusting. Mothers around the world are running for their lives. Yes, like Jewel she lived in a car and that is absolutely admirable, but unlike Jewel, Ke$ha is a potpourri of the last four years of Pop Music. Lily. Amy. Uffie. M.I.A. Britney for heaven’s sake.  And let NO ONE compare her to Gwen Stefani. She is GaGa part Two.  RIP Tupac.

Today, apparently, role models are encouraged to say “fuck” in front of five-year-olds and being drunk is acceptable all the time, even before breakfast.  But pair the bitch with Blockhead and her vinyl records would surely sit over North Shore mantles.

Ke$ha & Melania

By Kay Vandertramp and Melania Fedyna

A mad mishmash of electro/hip-hop/synthy success, Toronto/MTL duo Thunderheist blew through The Mod Club on Thursday night.

The crowd was assorted in attendees, pretty young things and party people, all equally excited and energetic as they eagerly awaited the performance.

Singer Isis stepped out donning the marvelous Greta Constantine seat belt-esque corset top and shiny skinnies, aura ablaze with fabulousness. Her casual banter immediately connected the audience and developed a presence of knowingness and cool familiarity. Smooth vox and MC skills brought TH’s debut album to live life, causing a sweaty stir. The venue’s intense bass has a tendency of overpowering words, but that doesn’t put a halt on enthusiasm of artist or observer.

Everybody was dancing and singing along to smash-tacular tracks LBG (Little Booty Girl), Suenos Dulces, and Jerk It, even if lyric knowledge was not imminent. There was readiness to shake and scream and thrive forever.

Daring to be groped, Isis threw herself into the audience submissively, crowd surfing on more than one occasion.

Isis’ parents were in attendance, this being their very first time seeing her perform; Commence shout-outs and waves from the audience to proud family members.

Last night’s show also marked the final Thunderheist appearance for a while to come, so if you skipped out, you’re best off picking up their album and hosting a massive glamourous dance party.

Words by Melania Fedyna
Photos by Natalie Lisa Johnson

Peaches‘ reign over Toronto is imminent. Six months after fluttering in on a gust of golden amazing-ness, Peaches was back Wednesday night at The Phoenix to charm the overzealous and starry-eyed audience.

Opening this worldwide tour is Amanda Blank, a feisty firecracker from Philly with panache to spare. The show began with a rad 15 minute dj set, then Amanda bounced onto stage clad in a very Peaches-esque cape-ensemble. “It just got real hip-hop up in here!” Word.

In between speaker-gyrations and swooning over Peaches, Amanda Blank pranced around in a bathing suit, most likely seducing a good portion of the crowd via “Might Like You Better If We Slept Together”. Nicole Scherzinger would be envious.

And now we present you with Peaches; a sparkly shock of in-your-face obnoxiousness, minus the pretentiousness. Calling Peaches “bold” would be an understatement worthy of criminal charges and kinky handcuffing, seeing as she’s so far beyond any visible line that it’s come full-circle and embedded magnificence into the public’s subconscious.

The set was approximately an hour and a half from start to finish, and included most of Peaches’ new album, I Feel Cream, plus old school favourites a la Fuck The Pain Away, Boys Wanna Be Her, Shake Yer Dix, and I U She. Amanda Blank joined Peaches on stage for a sing-a-long, as well as an army of suspender-clad men.

Rowdiness is a requirement at most shows, but drunk and disorderly should be illegal. Another something you can expect if lodged somewhere middle-front is Peaches showering you with champagne, adding fake blood-spit to the mix, and potentially a chance-at-grope as Peaches crowd surfs and stands on your face. Does this make us eligible for into-S&M status?

During the encore, Peaches brought her parents out onto stage, wearing plastic tits while accepting a hug and kiss from her father.

What else is in the teaches of Peaches?

Words by Melania Fedyna
Photos by Al D

It is almost unbelievable that 2009 marks Kylie Minogue’s first time performing in Canada. Ever. The ACC was packed with gay boys, old school Kylie fans with their children, retired ravers, and an assortment of glittered-out characters, some who have been waiting 20 years for this concert opportunity. And for good reason.

Opening with a major laser light show, Kylie descended from the heavens a top a stunning, sparkling disco spectacle of a skull, draped in a confection of coral feathers and jeweled excellence.

A truly theatrical performance all around, there was a cabaret rendition of Locomotion and amazing stage set ups, including a golden, royal velvet couch fit for the Queen of Everything.

Nothing less than pure elegance, a fur coat was brought out graciously along with a refreshment on a silver platter.

Amidst a vast spectacle of lights, one of the many background video scenes featured boys in various stages of undress, obviously geared toward the demographic of attendees. Choreographed and eccentric, the dancers helped bring these fantasies to life on stage. Incorporating the band and back-up singers into the main performance, as well as communicating with the audience gave the stadium show a feeling of familiarity and personableness.

Exuding no aura of pretentiousness whatsoever, Kylie is an example of sheer decadence and grace without an assuming factor.

Kylie Minogue makes Lady Gaga look like a 5-year-old playing dress up in her mother’s too-big -to-fit Louboutins.

Words and Photos by Melania Fedyna

If by now you’re not familiar with the goodness that is Dragonette, we can’t help with your intense psychological issues, but we will kindly introduce you to mastermind Dan Kurtz, one-quarter of the electro-pop-sex-machines.

1. What is your dream of happiness?
Not sure. Most days feel like happiness, though.

2. Blonde or Brunette?
Does it have to be either/or?

3. What is the quality you like most in a man?
A sense of humour about himself. Same goes for women.

4. What do you fear most?
Outliving my loved ones.

5. 808s or 909s?
808s.

6. What’s your biggest regret?
I can’t tell you.

7. What’s your fave bar or club in the world?
Razzmatazz Barcelona for the all-nighter; The Cow in London for drinking and making new best friends.

8. What’s the one thing you can’t live without?
My wife.

9. Who are three musicians dead or alive you’d like to see perform?
Prince (again); the Police in 1983; Jacko in 1984.

10. What is your favorite decade in music?
I’ll take the early 70s into the early 80s, if possible.

11. If you had to choose, would you rather go blind of deaf and why?
Blind. I like hearing more than seeing.

12. How old is too old?
I’m not old enough to answer that question.

13. Where do you see yourself in 15 years?
Somewhere that’s warm for a great part of the year.

14. Who’s your hero?
I have a few. Most are clichés. #1 is my mum.

15. What’s your favourite colour?
Different colours for different things.

16. What song could you live without ever hearing again?
Man, there’s a long list.

17. Metallica or Madonna?
Madonna.

18. What’s your most hated vice?
It’s only a vice if you do it too often. Luckily I have none of those.

19. Who is the most tragic figure in history?
Man, there’s an even longer list. How could anyone sift through all of history’s tragedies and pick “the most tragic”?

20. What are the top three live shows you’ve seen in your life?
Paul McCartney, Camden, 2007.
Prince, Montreal, 1990?
2ManyDJs, Sydney, 2008

P.S. Dragonette are currently on tour across North America and will be messing up Toronto’s Mod Club on October 8th. Attendance is highly recommended. For full tour dates, check their MySpace. Woot, woot!

Two years after the release of their debut album Galore, Dragonette are back with a brand new collection of scrumptious sounds in Fixin To Thrill.

Amid the massive influx of artists emerging from the UK within the past few years, Dragonette graced us in early 2007. Slightly ahead of an unspecific genre, their fanbase has steadily grown on both sides of the pond. The Toronto via London-based 4-piece band led by Martina Sorbara and Dan Kurtz is a symphony of electro-pop with a sexy rock edge.

Being Dragonette’s sophomore album, they have developed a slightly more mature look and feel since the first. No longer freshmen striving for recognition and approval; it’s been granted.

Martina’s alluring cool and calm vocals are melodically melow and daydream-inducing. A blend of synths, drums and varying guitar gives the album a thoroughly seasoned sound.

Opening track and first single Fixin To Thrill is hard-hitting and rebellious, while Big Sunglasses is most reminiscent of a Galore-days tune. Harboring a secret penchant for country music? Gone Too Far will do you right. Fellow Canadian Sara Quin of Tegan & Sara drops backing vox on a tune that could very well be one of her own, blending nicely with Martina’s tone.

Known for metaphorical and furiously fun lyrics, Fixin To Thrill is full of signature quirkiness and imagery. Marrying a mixture of ‘all of the above’ instruments, the 12 song tracklisting is eclectic and broad. Each song is written by Martina and Dan, slyly encapsulating their personalities.

Grab “Fixin To Thrill” September 29th and peep the brand new video for “Pick Up The Phone” here.

“We’ve only just started having fun…”

Dragonette Contest Winner!

We ran a Dragonette contest and we’re happy to announce Miranda Idris (@bebhinnz) as our winner! Congrats!

Perez Hilton: Blogger. Media whore. Concert tour sponsor? Among various other unexplainable achievements, Perez Hilton managed to wrangled up some of the best underrated acts of today and bring them to 17 cities across North America, Toronto being the only Canadian stop.

Thursday night at The Opera House proved to be more of a mini-music festival rather than your average evening concert experience. Three acts were scheduled to appear, but in turn, we got to check out four. Songstress Ida Maria was advertised as the headliner, but turned out to be MIA. Semi Precious Weapons and Ladyhawke remained on the bill, along with two local acts.

The first to hit the stage was Anjulie, an up-and-coming Toronto artist with great stage presence and a melodic 60s vibe. She was sweet and full of bubbly banter, interacting with the audience between songs.

Secondly was Woodhands, another Toronto-based band of two guys and their instruments. Their sound is beat-heavy, with lots of drums and guitar, descriptive of indie rock plus electronic.

Up next was New York City’s glam-rock band Semi Precious Weapons; an explosion of unexpected energy and pretentious animation, featuring a gold chain-link mini dress and what can only constitute as audience sexual harassment. In between an on-stage wardrobe change into Marilyn Monroe leggings and requests for exposed tits, lead singer Justin jumped onto the floor, creating an invitational path of destruction and mass hysteria as he made his way through the willing crowd. After dry-raping a few ladies against the speakers and collapsing onto the floor, he hijacked an SLR and snapped away his shame.

The closing act, New Zealand’s 80s synth-influenced Ladyhawke, ended the night on a sweetly simple note. Stepping out in a Nirvana tee and signature androgynous look, she rocked out on guitar from start to finish, singing her heart out, heavily accompanied by everyone in attendance. Complete hit My Delirium was the perfect end to a talent-filled night.

All bow down to Little Boots. She may be small, but this delightfully colourful concoction of electro-pop and cuteness knows how to hold down a room. Or hype it.

Toronto’s Wrongbar was packed to the max for a Monday at midnight. Anticipation was heavy, adding to the already lingering humidity late into the evening.

Armed with a live band and sparkly shoes, Little Boots stepped out in a metallic mini and neon pink nail polish, grabbing the mic and stomping on stage to a welcoming myriad of eager spectators. Her set was short and sweet, with a 2-track encore ending with Stuck On Repeat – an obvious crowd pleaser and sing-a-long tune. New In Town and Remedy were also standout.

The intimate space was stacked with sweaty boys in tight tees, one ambitiously pursuing a moment in the spotlight by hobbling onto the tiny platform-like stage. Over-enthusiastic music lovers are a common factor when you’re shiny and fabulous. Oh, and also have a killer voice.

Opening the show was Yes Giantess and dj Vaneska. Miss Boots could have definitely handled a larger venue, with loyal appreciators galore. If you did not have the chance to catch her this time around, get ready to fight a mob the next time she steps into town.

Little Boots…big things to come.

First, here’s what you missed on Friday…

Arcade: ar-cade
Pronunciation: \är-kad\
Function: noun
1: An amusement center having coin-operated games.
2: Your new favourite Friday night party!

Brought to you by Embrace, The Mod Club’s new Friday evening plays host to an assortment of colourful, interactive activities, featuring your fave Djs and and a hoppin’ dance floor.

September 4th marked the official launch of Arcade Fridays, incapsulating new levels of epic. Main floor guest djs were Barletta, Nasty Nav, Milano, and Brandon Sek, while the upstairs loft hosted an intimate lounge with tunes by Vaneska and David Hall.

If you missed out last Friday, copy and paste these images into your memory and get pose on when LastNightsParty.com and Parallels take over College St, on Friday, September 11th.

We sorta skipped Saturday, Hot & Spicy fest had us filled with the itis. But by Sunday, it was Game On Again.

Barletta is our boy, and we’ve been shooting an amazing promo for his upcoming Whisper EP release by running around town getting into all kinds of trouble with Al D (our main man on the snaps)

Some morsels for ya:

Out takes from the video:

We know it looks bad, but it’s staged. Katchup and Sweetner. Still, so delicious

Anna Von’s new ride

It was Gillian’s Bday. We danced danced danced.

Hot off the tail of The Social, we hit Labor Of Love at the Guvernment just in time to catch Tiga’s jaw dropping set including our most delicious top fav, Fever Ray Triangle Walks (Tiga 1-2-3-4 Mix) was the real deal. None of these tried and true radio hit tricks. Actual talent. So rare. So delicious.

Photos courtesy of Al D!