LOL if you haven’t already heard, Clinton‘s has been shut down since March 4th because of a liquor licence infraction aka letting too many people in and the smell of weed coming from the patio. The Grid tried to make a big deal about it, or something, but honestly who cares, they fucked up and  their two week suspension is up March 24th.

We’re digging on the new Beth Ditto, of Gossip fame’s solo stuff. First single, “I wrote The Book” is poppy and fun and like so much of what the Gossip do, it’ll probably have many lives in remixes on gay and straight dance floors everywhere.

But the video, which has got to be inspired by Madonna’s “Justify My Love” period, is a gorgeous throwback to the fun part of the 90s. Big hair, matte makeup, peek-a-boo underwear, black and white, minimal beats and glamour. We love love love it. Fresh to death.

Thanks to Beth Ditto, we’ve been looking at the old 90s vids all morning. Enjoy some of our fav’s.

Madonna “Justify My Love” (ooh la la Tony Ward)

George Michael “Freedom 90″ Supermodels for days.

G’ N’ R “November Rain” This one just for Steph Seymour’s 8-inch mini skirt wedding dress really.

En Vogue “Hold On” The dresses. The beat. Sexy sexy jam right here

Henry Rollins turns 50 on February 13th of this year, and in celebration he’s doing a string of speaking engagements. Here’s what he had to say about it: “On February 13th of 2011, I will turn fifty years of age. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime occasion than by doing some shows,” HENRY explains. “Hopefully, I will be able to evince some imperfect pearls of ancient wisdom to the audience, having made it this far.” He’s rolling through the big smoke on March 24th at the Great Hall. Get your tickets fast. It will sell out for sure. In the meantime, enjoy these 20Qs.

1. What is your dream of happiness?
=======A low stress environment with time to get it all done.

2. Blonde or Brunette?
=======Breathing is fine.

3. What is the quality you like most in a person?
======= Honesty.

4. What do you fear most?
====== Failure.

5. 808s or 909s?
==== I have no idea what that means.

6. What’s your biggest regret?
======= Not keeping my friend alive.

7. What’s your fav bar or club in the world?
======= I don’t have one.

8. What’s the one thing you can’t live without?
====== Passport.

9. What are the 3 musicians dead or alive you’d like to see perform?
==== Coltrane, Hendrix, Charlie Parker.

10. What is your favorite decade in music?
==== 1970s.

11. If you had to choose, would you rather go blind or deaf and why?
======= I would rather go blind. I like listening to music.

12. How old is too old?
===== 49.

13. Where do you see yourself in 15 years?
==== Hopefully in demand and on the move.

14. Who’s your hero?
=== Abraham Lincoln and Ian MacKaye

15. What’s your favourite colour?
==== Green

16. What song could you live without ever hearing again?
=== Anything I have had a part in.

17. Metallica or Madonna?
====== Madonna.

18. What’s your most hated vice?
===== Laziness.

19. Who is the most tragic figure in history?

===== George Bush

20. What are the top three live shows you’ve seen in your life?
======== Zeppelin 1970-something., Minor Threat opening for the Damned 1983, Bad Brains opening for the Damned, 1979.

Barbara Barnett is the author of “Chasing Zebras: The Unofficial Guide to House, MD”. The book examines the addiction to wildly popular TV series, House, MD, dissects the shows episodes and explains the characters behavior, actions, and effect on the show. The book is fascinating and should appeal to fans of the show as well as people interested in today’s popular culture. Modern medicine, ethics, and religion in the medical world are discussed in the book and on the show. Barbara Barnett, the author of the book is considered a leading House expert. That’s one of the craziest and most fascinating topics we can think of, so we asked her the 20Qs of course.

1. What is your dream of happiness?

Cuddling in front of the fireplace with a good book, my man and my dog

2. Blonde or Brunette?

Both and neither. Current color is red with assorted stripes (in blonde and brunette)

3. What is the quality you like most in a man?

Intelligence and a sense of the absurd

4. What do you fear most?

A return to the McCarthyism of the 1950s. And climate change.

5. 808s or 909s?

Have no clue!

6. What’s your biggest regret?

Never finished my novel (but wait! there’s still time!)

7. What’s your fav bar or club in the world?

The Blue Note in NYC

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

My guy Phil. (Can I have a second? Music)

9. What are the 3 musicians dead or alive you’d like to see perform?

Pete Seeger, Eric Clapton, Django Reinhardt

10. What is your favorite decade in music?

1970s (pre-disco); 1930s

11. If you had to choose, would you rather go blind or deaf and why?

I’m a hugely visual person. I can imagine sound and music, but I’d hate to have to give up watching the sky continually change.

12. How old is too old?

No such thing. Age is a state of mind.

13. Where do you see yourself in 15 years?

In an idyllic cottage overlooking the ocean at Carmel, California cranking out my fifth bestselling novel. (A girl can dream can’t she?)

14. Who’s your hero?

My mother. She was the strongest person I’ve ever known.

15. What’s your favourite colour?

Sapphire Blue

16. What song could you live without ever hearing again?

John Cage’s “Four minutes, 33 seconds.”

17. Metallica or Madonna?

Madonna

18. What’s your most hated vice?

I’m terrible at keeping either my office or house anywhere approaching a state of cleanliness. I’m a complete slob. But you know what they say about messy desks and creative minds, don’t you?

19. Who is the most tragic figure in history?

Thomas More

20. What are the top three live shows you’ve seen in your life?

Stephan Grappelli, Crayon Box Massacre, Chicago

Justin Bieber falls victim to internet bullying, sexy Soviet spies, The Black Eyed Peas are revolutionary, and mini-Madonna is making her mark on materialism.

Half a million strong to send Justin Bieber to North Korea! This is why I love the internetz. An official contest was launched where fans get the opportunity to vote to have Justin Bieber tour their country; location with most votes wins. The Spice Girls did this during their reunion tour. (Toronto won, obviously.) Well, epic website 4Chan, notorious for being hilariously hilarious and spawning an internet sub-culture of LOLs, took over every girl’s dream and suggested people vote for Biebs to play in the secretive communist nation of North Korea. It is currently the number one voted destination, quickly jumping from 24th to 1st place. “Given the fact that almost all citizens of North Korea are denied internet access and there are restrictive controls over all media, it is unlikely that any of the votes have actually come from within the country. Justin Bieber has been target of a number of internet pranks in recent weeks. Last month, a post on 4Chan urged users to all search for the term “Justin Bieber Syphilis” pushing it to the top of Google Trend’s Hot Searches list.” (BBC News). LEAVE BIEBER ALONE! Just kidding. I have some Googleing to do.

*  *  *

Who is SALT? Probably not the Russian (supposed) spy who has been under recent investigation for plotting to infiltrate the inner circle of young royals William and Harry. Sounds like MY social life. 28-year-old Anna Chapman‘s attempts at meeting them was apparently cause for concern. “In late June of this year, Chapman and nine other alleged spy suspects were arrested in the United States. According to the indictment, she was caught communicating with the Russian intelligence service, the SVR, using a computer attached to a wireless network at a Starbucks coffee shop in January, and two months later from a bookshop. She faces a charge of conspiring to act as an unregistered agent of a foreign government, which carries a potential penalty of five years in prison.” (CTV News). This is a REAL story, and in perfect timing with Angelina Jolie‘s sessy spy thriller. Impeccable coincidental timing, universe.

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More Peas, please. Apparently, big-time director and Avatar-inventor James Cameron is collaborating with The Black Eyed Peas to create a 3-D concert tour movie-experience-thing. I refuse to watch Avatar, and am skeptical when it comes to anything suddenly coming toward my face (that’s what she said), especially all of their on-stage costume armor. It’s being pounded into us that BEP are all about futurism and reinvention, but the schtick feels somewhat expired. Will.I.Am has been quoted as saying “We have the biggest director because we are the biggest group on the planet.” It’s hard for me to take this statement seriously, and it doesn’t help to settle those rumours of Fergie-Ferg leaving the group due to ego clashes. That happens to be false, but statements such as these make BEP an easy target for mostly unwarranted negativity.

P.S. — There were also rumblings of James Cameron weighing in with ideas to help solve the BP oil crisis. BEP crisis? Busy guy.

*  *  *

Madonna‘s daughter Lourdes Leon aka Lola has a started a clothing line called Material Girl, designed exclusively for U.S. retailer Macy’s. Because she can. When I was 13, I was obsessed with Buffy the Vampire Slayer and still addicted to playing Neopets. This kid is, if not already, on a non-stop trip to Coolville, judging from her style. She’s barely 14 and proof that if Madonna is your mother, you can get away wearing platforms and smoky eyes to elementary school. The inexpensive line seems to be very 80′s/Desperately Seeking Susan-inspired. But girl better watch her back, because J-Woww is also new on the scene with her Filthy Couture, which is sure to rival that of a tween’s dream. I realize this is a baseless comparison, but look at J-Woww and then look at this girl, and just compare the general aesthetic.

This is an enthusiastically descriptive excerpt from Lola’s first blog entry (which seems to be missing now — via JustJared) on MaterialGirlCollection.com: “I am totally obsessivo about 80’s shorts… You know the kind that makes your butt look kinda big, with a grunge-looking shirt tucked in. It’s kinda nerdy but I love it. And the 80’s are another huge obsession of mine, which is totally amazingly awesome because Material Girl…HELLO! It’s like 80’s themed, which pretty much rocks, so yeah.” “Music wise My Chemical Romance is THE BEST BAND EVER for realzzzz. They are so awesome it hurts. If you don’t know who they are just… go away OR download their songs.” Run, Lola, Run.

Madonna with some pieces from the Material Girl collection (above), and J-Woww with her spandex-y debut on sexy-mamacita models (below)

*  *  *

Pitchfork describes them as, “Gorgeously pillowy synth-disco,”
we generally refer to them as “ooh la la”, and we can’t count how many times we’ve said, “I only like the Classixx remix”.  Classixx will be playing at Wrongbar on March 13th as part of Wrongbar Satrudays, and Le Belmont in Montreal on the 12th, but before that, Michael David, one half of the duo was nice enought to answer our 20 questions.

1. What is your dream of happiness?
To have a ’74 rolls royce and only drive on the weekends.

2. Blonde or Brunette?
Brunette, but my girlfriend is blonde.
3.What is the quality you like most in a man?
Loyalty

4. What do you fear most?
Giant rats, spiders, and tea-baggers
5. 808s or 909s?
909’s
6.What’s your biggest regret?
Eating so many otter pops in one day
7. What’s your favourite bar or club in the world?
Speak easy cocktail in Santa Monica. Spud, the bartender always compliments me on the year I was born.

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

9. What are the 3 musicians dead or alive you’d like to see perform?
Al Green
The Gap Band
Kraftwerk
10. What is your favorite decade in music?
70’s

11. If you had to choose, would you rather go blind or deaf and why?
I’d easily go dumb. The other 2 options are too difficult.
12. How old is too old?
Dead
13. Where did you see yourself in 15 years?
On a ranch with Rhodesian Ridgebacks
14. Who’s your hero?
Peter Gabriel
15. What’s your favourite colour?
Black sesame grey
16. What song could you live without ever hearing again?
La Vida Loca
17. Metallica or Madonna?
Early Madonna
18. What’s your most hated vice?
Buying expensive frames.
19. Who is the most tragic figure in history?
Joseph McCarthy
20. What are the top three live shows you’ve seen in your life?
Arcade Fire at the Troubadour
Paul Simon Hollywood bowl Rhythm of Saints tour
Kings of Convenience at the Experience Music Project in Seattle

Yacht has announced their New Mystery Moods tour across North America to support their highly-acclaimed See Mystery Lights album. They will be playing in Toronto at WRONGBAR on March 4th.

They did us the pleasure of taking the Pink Mafia‘s 20 Questions With Rad People too:

1. What is your dream of happiness?

The whole driving impulse behind YACHT right now is to bring together a community of like-minded people and somehow make a home for them in the Far West Texas desert, in Marfa, where we lived while recording See Mystery Lights. An alliance, a homestead. The light in the desert is wide and and almost white on the desert plains, the agave cactus. It’s a very spiritual place for us, and we’d like to make a permanent commitment to that land.

2. Blonde or Brunette?

We like a little bit of both. Duality is one of our great interests: dark, light, one thing can’t exist without the other. We honor and respect the darkness all while choosing the path of the light. Jona is a brunette. I am a blonde. This is not without reason.

3. What Is the quality you like most in a man?

Femininity.

4. What do you fear most?

That spirituality is a mass delusion caused by some minute quirk of neurology. We also have nightmares about a dark, inscrutable mask of an alien’s face as it stands quietly in our bedroom doorway in the dead of night; the looming threat of abduction. Nothing is more frightening than the stone-cold other.

5. 808s or 909s?

Whatever is necessary to make the best music you can make. We make all our music with a consumer-level iMac computer, a $50 condenser microphone, and borrowed instruments; for us, it’s about as much as possible with as little as possible, and, furthermore, we believe the tools are essentially irrelevant. It’s about how you transcend the tools, make them invisible, and create the illusion that your music somehow predates you — that it was always there.

6. What’s your biggest regret?

That we can’t remember our own births.

7. What’s your fav bar or club in the world?

For YACHT, it’s not about place, it’s about what can be done in a place. We see shows as Temporary Autonomous Zones, pirate utopias, quick-dissolve anarchies to be constructed and taken apart by its constituents, the concert attendees. There are so many calcified rituals in the club: the stamping, the merchandise, the tickets, the way people hold themselves. Why not subvert those and create an experience that’s both temporary and new?

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

The Internet.

9. What are the 3 musicians dead or alive you’d like to see perform?

Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic, and Dave Grohl.

10. What is your favorite decade in music?

The 1980s gave us a perfect distillation of punk and aesthetics: California hardcore, the post-punk movement, the birth of independent music, the early shivers of grunge, the Talking Heads.

11. If you had to choose, would you rather go blind of deaf and why?

We would rather go deaf because it would put us in a position to make really interesting music. Can you imagine, a deaf band? Traveling and playing music that they’d never heard? Nothing could be more pure.

12. How old is too old?

Dead.

13. Where did you see yourself in 15 years?

We can’t say. We feel as though we’ve taken the first steps onto a long, winding path whose turns and obstacles remain obscured to us. It may lead us off the edge of the cliff, but we have faith that if we keep our heads down, work through the briar patches, and continue with light in our hearts, that it will take us up and over the mountain.

14. Who’s your hero?

Our heroes are many, as are our influences. Like everyone in this hyper-connected, self-navigating digital utopia we call the Western world, our minds are a sieve of millions of ephemera: music, images, colors, ideas, anxieties, connections. It all seeps in, and eventually we turn it around into cogent output that is profoundly inspired by the work of others without being derivative. Kurt Cobain, Luxirare, James Tiptree Jr./Alice Sheldon, Philip K. Dick, the science fiction writers of the New Wave, David Byrne, Brian Eno, Karl Lagerfeld, David Lynch, Yayoi Kusama, John C. Lilly, Aleister Crowley, Manly P. Hall…

15. What’s your favourite colour?

White because it contains all colors. And black because it doesn’t.

16. What song could you live without ever hearing again?

The song “Man, I Feel Like a Woman” by Shania Twain. This song is worthy of all the vitriol a person can muster. It is fucked on so many levels: musically, politically, aesthetically, sexually. It’s a nightmare. “The best thing about being a woman is the prerogative to have a little fun?” Might as well say, “The best thing about being a woman is that you don’t need to think.”

17. Metallica or Madonna?

Madonna.

18. What’s your most hated vice?

Intellectual laziness, the lack of curiosity about the world and one’s place in it. We have no sympathy for those who aren’t curious.

19. Who is the most tragic figure in history?

Vernon Wayne Howell, aka David Koresh, the ill-fated leader of the Branch Davidians. He was a rapturous leader in a fundamentalist vein that is pervasive in America today, before the conservative power machine realized that fundamentalist Christians were political allies. He and the rest of the Branch Davidians, women and children, were squashed like bugs by the FBI at Waco and then slandered posthumously in justification. David Koresh sought to live righteously, and in doing so led his followers into grotesque, unnecessary deaths at the hands of the Feds. Perhaps not the most tragic figure in history, but a parable about of the importance of communication, and very visible example of the propaganda poison we are constantly fed by our leaders and the media about offshoot spiritual groups.

20. What are the top three live shows you’ve seen in your life?

Jona’s first ever concert was the Melvins, the Breeders, and Nirvana. He fulfilled the “top live shows” category of existence before I even hit the ground, and now we don’t have to worry about it.

In Montreal’s bustling and colorful quarter better known as the “gay village” welcomed none other than model and DJ Jesus Luz at Club Unity Saturday night playing the most recent pulsating beats for about 250 people. Despite rumors that Madonna’s boy toy lacks any real DJ skills and plays pre-mixed CD’s didn’t stop the crowd from going all out on the dance floor even causing more than just a few men to strip down to their tiny underwear. After showing up almost an hour after he was due in the booth, Jesus dashed through two quick questions with the media, gave a big smile in three directions at the flashing cameras, and practically bolted toward the back of the club in preparation for his performance, requesting no further interviews. He’s clearly picked up a few habits from the material mom.

Wearing a black t-shirt and jeans, and sporting dark shades, the Brazilian pretty boy was a single spectacle of his own as his fervent energy, rhythm, and star quality was like eye candy.  It’s no doubt that he has a blast DJing, beating his fists in the air, mouthing the lyrics to every song, and encouraging the crowd – and occasionally grabbing the begging hands of excited girls and guys who climbed atop of their friend’s shoulders just to get a peek of him. What better way to hype up his music career by borrowing Madonna’s large gay fan base, especially when you got the Queen of Pop herself pulling the strings.

Words By: Gina Ionta

Photos by: Stacy Lee

Not surprisingly, Arts & Crafts is responsible for another great artist, Gentleman Reg. He has had two highly acclaimed full-length albums released in the past and now his six-song Heavy Head EP is out and ready for the public. Toronto has been having the privilege of seeing Gentleman Reg and his band perform at the Drake every Wednesday this February, and tonight is the last show.

1. What is your dream of happiness?
I only have scary dreams unfortunately.

2. Blonde or Brunette?
Blonde. (obviously)

3. What Is the quality you like most in a man?
Needs to be talkative.  extremely.

4. What do you fear most?
Degenerative diseases.

5. 808s or 909s?
808s

6. What’s your biggest regret?
I was introverted for far too long. Life is too short to be shy.

7. What’s your fav bar or club in the world?
The Beaver in Toronto on queen west.

8. What’s the one thing you can’t you live without?
My persistence, I would be nowhere without it.

9. What are the 3 musicians dead or alive you’d like to see perform?
Arthur Russell, Eurythmics, Fleetwood Mack (back in the day)

10. What is your favorite decade in music?
There isn’t one really.

The last half of the 80′s through the first half of the 90′s is my favorite period in music.

11. If you had to choose, would you rather go blind of deaf and why?
Well music is my life, so losing my hearing is my worst nightmare.  But, i don’t know if i could live with the loss of freedom that would come with going blind.  So i’ll choose going deaf.

12. How old is too old?
‘Age aint’ nothin but a number…’  remember that song?

13. Where did you see yourself in 15 years?
Very very successful, rich and living it up.  Or, living in a cabin hermit styles.

14. Who’s your hero?
Bjork

15. What’s your favourite colour?
My eyes!  I cannot stop staring at them.

16. What song could you live without ever hearing again?
‘More than words’ by Extreme

17. Metallica or Madonna?
Well I like to call her Madge!

18. What’s your most hated vice?
My sweet tooth.

19. Who is the most tragic figure in history?
Nick Drake

20. What are the top three live shows you’ve seen in your life?
Cibo Matto at Lee’s Palace when Sean Lennon and Russell Simmons were in the band.
Sinead O’Connor in 1990 at the peak of her celebrity. My first stadium experience.
Jim Guthrie at Jimmy Jazz in Guelph, early 90′s.  When I realized I could have a band too.

Photo by: Ysa Perez

Drop the Lime, (born Luca Venezia) is an electronic producer and DJ who also runs Brooklyn based dance label and badass crew, Trouble & Bass. His sound was described by label mate Vivian Host (Star Eyes) in XLR8R Magazine as, “chopped-up breaks making hairpin turns, breakdowns coming out of nowhere, a foundation of wobbling goblin bass often cut in with tropical, clacking snares”. We describe him more simply as, “bass heavy babe” He will be performing at the SCION show at Mod Club this Thursday, February 11th. Alongside DTL are label mate, AC Slater as well as Jokers Of The Scene, and Nacho Lovers.

Oh yeah, and check this premier of his latest single, Devil’s Eyes (Michael Meds Remix)

Drop the Lime – Devils Eyes (Michael Meds Remix) by

DTL was nice enough to take our 20 Qs from the road somewhere in Europe.

1. What is your dream of happiness?

Floating on a midnight cloud with a princess and Manhattan on the rocks in arms while the most beautiful song in the world plays in our ears.

2. Blonde or Brunette?

Black.

3. What Is the quality you like most in a man?

Honesty and loyalty.

4. What do you fear most?

Sleep.

5. 808s or 909s?

808′s.

6. What’s your biggest regret?

Not having any.

7. What’s your fav bar or club in the world?

Il Lupo Brutto in Rome. Best cocktails and bar tenders in the world.

8. What’s the one thing you can’t you live with out?

Music.

9. What are the 3 musicians dead or alive you’d like to see perform?

Tom Waits, Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley.

10. What is your favorite decade in music?

50′s.

11. If you had to choose, would you rather go blind of deaf and why?

Blind. Music would become even more amazing.

12. How old is too old?

Dead is too old.

13. Where did you see yourself in 15 years?

Going to mars in a flying car.

14. Who’s your hero?

Brian Eno.

15. What’s your favourite colour?

Black.

16. What song could you live without ever hearing again?

Celine Dion’s Titanic theme song.

17. Metallica or Madonna?

Madonna.

18. What’s your most hated vice?

Candy.

19. Who is the most tragic figure in history?

George W. Bush.

20. What are the top three live shows you’ve seen in your life?

Radiohead during OK Computer tour.

Fever Ray at Melt! Festival.

Fugazi at Roxy NYC in the 90′s.

Andy Butler formed Hercules and Love Affair in New York in 2007. Members include: Nomi, Kim Ann Foxman, and  Anthony Hegarty (lead singer of Anthony and the Johnsons). Not only did he take our 20 Qs, but Hercules and Love Affair are coming to Toronto January 23rd to play LoveMusic at the Sound Academy. Click here for ticket info.

1. What is your dream of happiness?

Lots of dogs, music, quiet and a soft bed

2. Blonde or Brunette?

Both

3. What Is the quality you like most in a man?

Integrity

4. What do you fear most?

What happens after

5. 808s or 909s?

909s

6. What’s your biggest regret?

There are a few, trying to work through them…

7. What’s your fav bar or club in the world?

Hard one, maybe Panorama bar or Erste Liga in munich or Vegas in sao paolo

8. What’s the one thing you can’t you live with out?

Cookies

9. What are the 3 musicians dead or alive you’d like to see perform?

Dawn Crosby, Klaus Nomi, Michael Hutchence

10. What is your favorite decade in music?

80′s

11. If you had to choose, would you rather go blind of deaf and why?

Deaf, because it is less scary, but of course would make me sad. but i would still hear the voices in my head, so…

12. How old is too old?

No such thing

13. Where did you see yourself in 15 years?

Couldn’t tell you.

14. Who’s your hero?

My younger brother daniel

15. What’s your favourite colour?

Green

16. What song could you live without ever hearing again?

Blister in the sun

17. Metallica or Madonna?

I like early Metallica and early Madonna

18. What’s your most hated vice?

Cigarettes

19. Who is the most tragic figure in history?

Genie, the American confined child/social expirement, grim

20. What are the top three live shows you’ve seen in your life?

Pylon, Antony, Kid Creole and The Coconuts

Toronto’s own Holy Fuck and France’s golden boys Phoenix rocked the shit out of the stage at the Sound Academy Saturday night. Although the weather outside was a bit on the chilly side, inside was radiating with heat from the energy of the hundreds of people waiting for one of France‘s most famous exports.

As I surveyed the majority of the audience, I was surprised to be among such a variety of people. From an elderly man wielding a
wooden cane to the flannel shirt and beanie-wearing cool and young hipster, to even the sleek and sophisticated business women
in their sky-high killer heels.

HOLY FUCK

-Words Alexandra DeCarolis

Not knowing that much about the band Holy Fuck and their songs, I went into the concert open-minded and ready for some smooth beats. My, was I mistaken. Holy Fuck blew the roof off with their energetic and beat-pulsating performance. Their songs oozed and dripped with mind-numbing and heavy-hitting electric noise that reverberated off the walls and sunk deep into the pit of your cranium. Every song was just as intense and fast-paced as the last. Unlike other electronic bands who pride themselves on their use of computer technology to alter their music (Kraftwerk, anyone?), Holy Fuck keeps it real with their use of Melodicas and heavy bass and drums.  Seriously, if you’ve never heard of these guys before, what the fuck are you waiting for?

PHOENIX

To Versaille. Propelled. Phoenix shocked and swelled the marvel at 11 Polson Pier on Saturday. Lucky stars and brick rocks, Thomas and his reckless schoolboy chums packaged a rouge performance of classics or hits in a visually magnetic forum of chaotic North America. In an escapade of rhyme, reason, and well composed Pop, tickling synth ruminates this record, this tour, this band.  “Rome” flashed sophomore hearts and 19 Remixes later,  “Liztomania” is still a mansion.  Think Is This It. Only Evolved. French. Cute. And named after a deaf genius. Go Platinum Amadeus.

Photos: Rachel Renda

Introducing Juno Award Nominee for Rap Recoding of the Year(2008), Shad Kabango. Born in Kenya and raised in Ontario Shad is setting the bar high for other hip hop artist. Not only is he a Juno and Polaris Music Prize Nominee for his album The Old Prince, he is also a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University. Watch your money, his degree is held in Business! In 2007 he was signed to Black Box Recordings so get ready to hear alot more from him!

1. What is your dream of happiness?
Loving without fear.

2. Blonde or Brunette?
Either.

3. What Is the quality you like most in a woman?
Honesty.

4. What do you fear most?
Failure. Second greatest fear, success.

5. 808s or 909s?
808′s.

6. What’s your biggest regret?
Never learning good work habits.

7. What’s your fav bar or club in the world?
Wherever my friends are.

8. What’s the one thing you can’t you live with out?
cranberry juice. and the internet.

9. What are the 3 musicians dead or alive you’d like to see perform?
MJ in his prime, KRS, Feist

10. What is your favorite decade in music?
60′s.

11. If you had to choose, would you rather go blind of deaf and why?
Thats hard. I think I would feel more disconnected if i was deaf. But it would harder to function I think being blind… buuut, being deaf would mean no music obviously… I’m gonna go with id rather go deaf though. I wanna be able to see my mom.

12. How old is too old?
37?

13. Where did you see yourself in 15 years?
No clue. Hopefully a better man than I am today.

14. Who’s your hero?
My parents.

15. What’s your favourite colour?
Grey

16. What song could you live without ever hearing again?
Mambo #5. Or any of my earliest demos.

17. Metallica or Madonna?
Madonna.

18. What’s your most hated vice?
Of my own? I can be too self-focused sometimes… most of the time.

19. Who is the most tragic figure in history?
John Stockton – that man deserves a championship more than anyone ever.

20. What are the top three live shows you’ve seen in your life?
1) Roots at rogers picnic – didn’t even have ?uestlove and they still killed it. Black Thought is a machine. De La and Lupe both came out… dirty.

2) Common at Kool Haus summer 2005 – Be just dropped. It was my first time seeing him live and he had been my favorite emcee for years. He was breakdancing, freestyling, storytelling, piano playing (kind of), crazy energy … he destroyed it. i lost my voice rapping along…

3) K-OS playing at the Laurier campus pub with nothing but him and a guitar player. It was like nothing I had ever seen before.