This Saturday at Wrongbar get your fix of turntablist DJ Craze. A legendary performer, producer, entertainer, and everything in between, Craze toured as Kanye West’s DJ and has most recently started his own label Slow Roast Records.

Multi-DMC Champion and airtight industry influence, checkout DJ Craze’s 20 Questions below and don’t miss what he’ll be throwing down this weekend in Toronto along side SLOWED, TORRO TORRO, & LUCIE TIC. Buy Tickets.

Join the Facebook event here, follow DJ Craze on Twitter, and share this post to win tickets to the show!

And that’s exactly what members of Jokers of the Scene (Chris Macintyre & Linus Booth) Vitaminsforyou (Bryce Kushnier), are doing.  Opening for TRUST @ Wrongbar the past weekend, Blank Capsule put on a strong performance that caught the attention (especially myself) of people unexpecting such great talent to emerge so early.  Keep an eye on Blank Capsule over the next year because they will become a huge voice to the already amazing line up to the Canadian electronic music scene. Click through for Blank Capsule’s video “Compulsion” and a live view of what you may or may not have missed on Saturday.

It’s no surprise Trust’s sold out show at Wrongbar on Saturday was a heavy night leading into a huge month for music in Toronto.  The repetitive drones of “Bulbform” have snuffed youth from typical bubblegum dance parties, and stripped down “Sulk” —  the record’s pop tilted single — is a phantomland, descending the local group beyond a typical lightness associated with She & Him like dichotomies.  After growing weary of heart-bleeding and hopeful romance from Toronto artists in 2011, Trust deploys cliché expectations of indie-electro bedroom bands and the second the outfit dropped their first beat, hometown was on fire.

Do you know what chiptune is? Anamanaguchi’s music comes from the same vein as the structured videogame tones from a hacked 1985 Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) that create those familiar arcade beeps and bloops that were constantly in the background for most of our childhoods only with more of a punk rock edge.

I spoke with drummer Luke Silas. from the band on the telephone all the way from Miami, Florida.  Anamanaguchi are making their way to Toronto on January 21, 2012 with Extreme Animals and Moon King at Wrongbar (http://embracepresents.com/event/anamanaguchi/).  While he took in the warmth on his vacation, we had the chance to discuss what the band was really all about.

DJ Funk was in the T. Dot last week to DJ at Wrongabar’s Annual Booty Shaking Contest. Known for his booty shaking house music, this dude had the crowd winding and grinding all night. From his sweet mixes to his new Twitter account, you will come to adore this musically talented funny guy. Enjoy!

Seriously, we cannot stop talking about T.Mills. He’s infected our blog, our facebook, our twitter, and our social lives.   So when we found out big don Anna Von was going to have a skype date with Million, everyone else at PinkMafia kinda lost their shit.

Regardless, Anna got to have a 1-on-1 with Mills to talk about everything from touring to Starbucks to Chairman Mills. Check out some clips after the jump.

This is Steve. He’s the good looking dude you see pouring your whisky sour at Wrongbar, outside hacking a butt with the regulars and macking on your girlfriend in the coatroom (then going home and making her an awesome mixtape).

With Wrongbar‘s Annual Booty Shaking Contest quickly approaching (it’s on December 15th by the way), we thought ya’ll would enjoy seeing his beautiful face and reading his hilarious answers.

Every year the boozehound within us all uses TIFF as an excuse to go out, get ridiculous and hope nobody captures it on camera (although it can be difficult to avoid the club’s paparazzi).

But in case you decide you might want to let it be documented, be sure to dress to impress, get your nails did, and practice your drunken duck face.

Here’s our guide to where you should be headed to see, be seen and get silly this coming Film Fest:

Bovine Sex Club - One of our fave TIFF haunts, these kids always have some rad stuff lined up for the licenced nights.

Wrongbar – This place always has something different up their sleeves. Be sure to go tonight especially!

Cobra - Another TIFF staple, these dudes are hitting hard with a line up of international super star club nights  (**doors at 10 both nights)

Cheval - This other local hot spot is featuring a major night with “Blond:Ish”. Way too sweet to miss!

The Drake Hotel – Always a good place to go to stargaze, the Drake is often hit by celebs looking to get out of the “spotlight” of the known TIFF regions (at least, that’s what they claim).

WHERE TO GO and WHAT TO DO

 Thursday September 8 2011:     THE REAL FREQUENCY | New North TIFF Party (@Wrongbar)

Featuring special guest performances by Toronto’s finest underground rising stars of hip hop featuring: DJ P-Plus + Special Guest Performances by MC’s from the New North compilation album.

Hosted by Arcee.

$10 with complimentary New North CD before 11PM

THE NEW NORTH LP Features Emcees: Shad, JD Era, Kardinal Offishall, Tona, Rich Kidd, Shaun Boothe, King Reign, among others. Vocalists: Ayah, Lokz, Andreena Mill, T.R.A.C.K.S., & Kim Davis.
DJs for the night: DJ Dopey, DJ Grouch, & DJ Riccachet.

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 9TH :      Mondo LaBruce TIFF Party (@The Bovine)
Hosted by Bruce LaBruce
Performances by Denata
DJS: BRUCE LABRUCE, TRAVIS X BALLER, KEVIN H (DEAD COPS of VILE)
Special Appearance by MISTRESS F of VILE

OR

Friday September 9 2011:                         Embrace & Underdog present (@Wrongbar)
GALAPAGOS // 013

LUNICE
JACQUES GREENE
PURSUIT GROOVES

$10 Advance Tickets
Tickets on sale at Rotate This and Soundscapes and online at http://www.ticketweb.ca/

RSVP GUESTLIST REQUESTS david.dktoronto@gmail.com
RSVP TABLE RESERVATIONS bottles@wrongbar.com

Saturday 10th September 2011:              THE NEW DISCO TIFF SERIES Presents (@Cobra)

James Doman

Alongside DJ AADIL | RASEK, Hosted By SetinStyle

 Sunday September 11 2011:                           Blond:ish(@Cheval)

Back Room: Selection of Canadian Punk and Alt. movies (Curated by Ambrose Roche and Cam Carpenter of NxNe Film Festival)

Front Room: DJ VANIA
Band: A Primitive Evolution

AND

Thursday September 15 2011   Hi-Scores Recording Library Presents ( @ The Drake)

CFCF w/ Bishop Morocco/Doldrums +more!

Saturday 17th September 2011:                THE NEW DISCO TIFF SERIES Presents (@Cobra)

THOMAS GOLD (Germany)

Alongside DJ AADIL | RASEK, Hosted By SetinStyle

Yet again, we get to give to you our top picks of where to go past your usual bedtime. A few of our usual contenders are on here, and you’ll see a couple additions. This year has a 27 bars open til 4 am – you can sleep when you’re dead.

Crawford

718 College St.

NXNE is taking over the basement! Wednesday 2 am brings us a Moombahton party with the always fabulous Lucie Tic (she can also be found at Wrongbar on Thursday – see below). On Thursday after NXNE go back to High School: 90′s Hip Hop and RnB until the wee hours of the morning. Kinda like a house party you would’ve gone to had you been a gangsta kid in Brooklyn before the turn of the century.
Friday is Andrew All Good in the basement with Scott Wade upstairs, and on Saturday you can get your groove on after 2am with Roots Rock Reggae. Sunday is Soul Bomb (we think that one is pretty self explanatory).

Cherry Cola’s

Friday and Saturday get yourselves out after 2 to see Rival Sons, the kind of band whose members make you wish you could be them. Long hair, leather pants/dark denim and serious guitar rift? Yes please.Bovine Sex Club

The Bovine is hooking every one up with some bangin’ DJS and seriously sexy flyers. Wednesday is hi Hat records’ 10th Anniversary party, and DJ Eric Von Eric will be on duty. Thursday and Friday’s late night line up will have DJ Vania on deck. Saturday will bring along DJ Ian Blurton ( C’mon, Change of Heart ), and Sunday will be handled by DJ Rebels – Fathom, Faryl, Doug Carter and Riviera. This year’s line up is dangerously delicious. Plus, check out sister bar Watusi on Ossington for 4 am drinking and dope DJs.

Wrongbar

Thursday is Now Magazine’s Showcase, with Fucked Up, Light Fires and Lucie Tic. Friday is the Panache Showcase with Ty Segall, Talk Normal, and Odonis Odonis. Saturday brings us The Agency Group Showcase: Torro Torro w/Billy The Gent,  Barletta, and Mtl’s The Sonixx. (Oh, and did I mention Diamond Rings is going to be on board as well?Yeah. Thought you’d all like that)

PS – guestlist giveaways will be going on for every night of Wrongbar’s  4AM lie up, so email your name to gustlist@wrongbar.com for a chance to get in for free.

And remember, a lot of these places are within 10 to 15 minutes of each other so in the 2 extra hours you have to play, you can make it to more than one a night!

Have fun kids.

Last Thursday Exclaim! Magazine celebrated their 19th anniversary (woot!) at Wrongbar with a super exclusive party that Pink Mafia was asked to attend, naturally. Presented by Scion, the night featured lots of free Steam Whistle (my new favourite thirst-quenching beer) and an array of delicious amuse-bouche. Wasabi wraps = sensory explosion! While the schmoozing was as enjoyable as ever (shout out to our new friends at THUNDERKUSH), we opted to cool down before the performances began and play some Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker. Seriously, how cool/creepy is that game?

For admittance into Wrongbar after the reception fans could enter online for their chance to win free tickets to watch the performances by Miracle Fortress and Shad and then stick around for the after party with DJ sets. Miracle Fortress was supporting Shad, so Graham Van Pelt, drummer and toys took to the stage first. While I had heard his latest record ‘Was I the Wave?’ a couple times prior to the show, I couldn’t help but be skeptical of his live performance especially since reading he prefers the studio to live sound himself. After watching the set though I couldn’t explain why because it sounded just as incredible. All the textures and layers of sound recreated were beautiful and the few specs of improv a welcomed addition. Miracle Fortress will be opening for Junior Boys at The Phoenix on June 9 so you have a chance to catch the live show for yourself.

If you’re a Shad fan and hoped to catch him on his current cross-Canada tour in Toronto I really hope you won because there was no other stop here. Oh, it was also really awesome. Kudos to the winners that were privy to a few special guests you aren’t likely to see in any other spot. No, Dallas Green was not there, but Lisa Lobsinger of Broken Social Scene was and joined Shad on stage for vocals on ‘Rose Garden’. Grand Analog’s Odario Williams also made an appearance to perform a track of his own with some help from Shad. The sound may not have been impeccable but Shad was at the top of his game full of enthusiasm and energy I’d never seen from him before. A+. Gold star. Cat’s pajamas.

Don’t believe me? We’ve got proof:

AND as an added bonus, I caught up with Shad to, well, catch up.

Kate for Pink Mafia: Congratulations are in order! The last time we spoke you had just been nominated for a Juno now you reign victorious. How was the Juno experience for you this time walking away a winner?
Shad: It was a fun weekend. I knew it would be fun either way, but it felt extra good I guess.

K: Your proposal for the next Juno Awards was an interesting read. Do you feel that now as a winner you’ll have the clout you need, so to speak, to make it a reality?
S: I’m not sure, probably not. But the main point I wanted to make with that blog was just that we musicians are lucky people as it is and sometimes these awards can feel a little self-congratulating and unnecessary. I think there’s a fine-line sometimes between promoting music in an honest way and cultivating an unhealthy sort of aggrandizement of musicians, and I think it’s good for us to think about that sometimes and just try to make sure we’re on to the right side of it. So the idea I threw out there in the blog was just a way that maybe we could continue to promote our artists and showcase some other really creative, caring people and their ideas at the same time.

K: It appears you use your fame for good not evil, as seen in your many philanthropic ventures. How did you become involved with the National Parks Project and will you be doing anything else like this in the future?
S: Nothing on the go right now. The National Parks thing was a blast though. Not philanthropic, but a lot of fun and a great experience. And hopefully it will bring more attention to some of our parks and the amazing resource that we have there.

K: On this cross-Canada tour what has been your favourite show, sunset or even a falafel?
S: So many falafels! I should rank them. 1) Oasis in Ottawa. 2) Pilot Pita in Waterloo. 3) Ali Baba’s in T.O. cuz they got deals.

K: Have you had time to work on anything new?
S: Not yet, but now that I’m home I’m excited to start writing and recording again.

There you have it, #stayathomeswag.

Words by Kate Masewich

I love the nightlife, I got to boogie…well, you know where I’m going next. I don’t know what I love the most about a sweaty dance party but in my opinion few things make for a better time. Nightbox gets this concept completely and make danceable rock-based songs with just the right amount of electro to facilitate such an occasion. Between their CMF spots I caught up with the boys at The Underground Garage (in the men’s washroom, obviously) to discuss their interesting band origins, their adrenalin pumping EP and texting with Sebastien Grainger.

Nightbox already have such a colourful history. A five-piece who met and began playing together while attending high school in Ireland, they got their first big break after winning the BlastBeat music competition. From there, they secured a one-record deal with Grouse Lodge Studios where they recorded an album. Nick Bitove explains that everything just seemed to fall into place so they collectively decided to make the move and ‘give it a crack here.’ ‘Relocate You’ jokes aside, with roots in Canada, the US as well as Ireland they’ve chosen, at least for the time being, to call Toronto home.

With an EP produced by Death From Above 1979’s Sebastien Granger and MSTRKFT’s Al-P, they’ve found themselves in good hands here in the city. Their EP release held at Wrongbar featured a surprise appearance by Mr. Granger himself which as Jake Bitove explains was a surprise even to the band, “I texted him just asking him if he was going to come to the EP release show and he’s like ‘I have some other things going on but if I can make it I’ll try to swing by’ and then just as a joke I was like ‘Oh shit, cause we were hoping that you’d like sing in our set.” A couple of minor scheduling adjustments later and this was the end result:

Nightbox w/ Sebastien Grainger – Pyramid from Last Gang Records on Vimeo.

Suffice it to say that for most bands influences are subconscious when it comes to writing music; you can’t help but be drawn to a band that sites ‘Donkey Kong Country for Super Nintendo’ as an inspiration for their sound. Nick explains with a chuckle while remaining entirely serious, “We grew up playing that game and the soundtrack is real like ambient and kind of dance-y tracks.” While they may have their differences in opinion regarding what levels are the best/most difficult, they all can agree that their end game is to make music with ‘floor to floor kick and dance elements to get your feet moving’.

Much alike their Kitsuné playlist cohorts Two Door Cinema Club and Phoenix, Nightbox are a rock band that layer their dance and electronic elements subsequently. Nick expands on this concept further, “We’ve seen a couple other bands and they kind of do the same thing that we’re doing with dance music except they don’t have a live drum kit and they don’t use real instruments, so it’s more just on the electronic side. We’re trying to fuse the two together and have the real dance elements while having a full live rock band to back it up.”

Nightbox will be playing a few Toronto dates coming up, one being this Friday at Supermarket followed by an April 23rd spot at Velvet Underground. Be sure to catch at least one, but try for both. I promise you’ll be dancing your ass off in no time.

Words by Kate Masewich

It would be easy to write off SALEM as creepy goth-electro, witch house or ‘rapegaze’ as Pitchfork deemed it (and then took back).  It seems like some people did write SALEM off last year, as they were booed off the Fader Fort stage at SXSW.  One critic saying “it was bad”.

But have haters of the band kept the group down? Not at all, as John Holland from the group tells me, “There’s not one thing where every person is gonna like it no matter what.  All good (or bad) things have to be felt by both extremes to be what they are.  It doesnt bother me at all if people hate our music or think its just noise.  Everybody has their own opinions.  I hate alot of really popular music.”

With the group’s roots in Chicago (gay scene) and Michigan, did Midwest America effect the SALEM sound?  John mentions, “I think growing up and living large parts of our lives in the midwest has effected our music.  The midwest is a very true, mysterious and sometimes sad place and maybe has made our music more truthful.  It is very pretty here though too and people are alot more real than most people I’ve met in say NY or LA.”

Granted, SALEM’s sound is dark and haunting — you can almost sometimes find that hopefulness in SALEM’s music.  Maybe the Midwest injected this.  Jack Donoghue says, “There are moments in our music that are dark, joyful, filled with hope, close to death and everywhere in between. To me, our music is a surrender to all those things rather then struggling against them.”

SALEM has done a lot of growing since the release of their two EPs (I Smoke Crack – 08 & Water – 09) and the more recently released album (Kings Night – 2010).  With opportunities coming in from HEALTH, Gucci Mane, Radiohead and HIM to do remixes on tracks — touring has not stopped the band from working.

But more recently, they were featured in a fashion spread for the New York Times (NYT).  Not only has the band become known for their musically abilities, but also for their fashion sense.  “We all have a personal style but are not involved with the fashion world. The spread showed the artists of 2010 that the NYT thought stood out as gifted. We were honored to be featured.”, Jack told me of the piece.  Heather Marlatt had other thoughts, “It’s kind of a good change to work in a studio, usually we are just photographed in bars or alley ways, which are not necessarily places we would like to hang out in real life.  People might think we are into fashion because of that shoot or the Givenchy show but I don’t think we consider ourselves fashionable.”

Finally, earlier this year SALEM had to deal with the “rapegaze” controversy as Pitchfork labeled them.  I asked them about this and they told me how they felt about it.  “Ya, I’m a little sick of those labels because they really don’t mean anything.  We don’t classify our sound as anything. If someone asks what our music sounds like,  we just say they should listen to it.  I really hate the term rape gaze.  i think its fucked up.  All the other names though we don’t care about them and we usually don’t think about them.”, John told me.  That right there is real talk, plain and simple.

If you haven’t had the chance to have your own SALEM experience, then now is your chance.  SALEM is playing at Wrongbar on March 17th, 2011.  Tickets are $13.50 in advanced and are currently still available.

Words by Amanda (Ama) Scriver

Jay Joliffe is one half of 84.85 who have a news project coming out called “Good Problems” March 16th, followed by a show on March 18th at Wrongbar. His solo stuff as Lucy ‘Lo attempts to reconcile this musical poly-amour, invoking hip hop’s love of 70’s soul samples, and interpreting it in the form of modern house. He also took our 20 Qs below.

1. What is your dream of happiness?

A bottle of whiskey, a pack of belmonts and a stack of Capitol Records LPs from the 1960’s

2. Blonde or Brunette?

Brunette

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

Integrity

4. What do you fear most?

Living life based on someone else’s expectations.

5. 808s or 909s?

I’m a 707 man.

6. What’s your biggest regret?

I was supposed to go to New Orleans for the first time in the summer of 2004 and canceled for reasons I can’t remember. That was two months before Katrina, and I feel like I’ll never understand why it was America’s last great (live) music mecca.

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

Paris Social Club

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

My blue polo oxford cloth

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

James Brown (’71-75)

Lou Rawls (’64-’67)

Rakim (’86-’88)

10. What is your favorite decade in music?

1980’s —> the downfall of disco in the late ‘70s opens the creative doors house and hip hop in the ‘80s

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

Blind. Music and the fact that I hate texting.

12.How old is too old?

You’re too old when it doesn’t feel good anymore

13. Where do you see yourself in 15 years?

Refer to question 1.

14. Who’s your hero?

My dad. Work ethic like a motherfucker (no pun intended).

15. What’s your favourite colour?

“My favorite hue is Jay-Z Blue.” Psych. My favorite colour is black.

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

The Eagles – Hotel California

17. Metallica or Madonna?

Madonna as long as Nile Rodgers produces

18. What’s your most hated vice?

After hours. Also, TUMS.

19. Who is the most tragic figure in history?

I always found Leon Trotsky’s narrative to be pretty tragic.

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

Citizen Cope (2005 – Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto)

Gonzales (2009 – Toronto)

JB Boogie- (2006 – Bilbouquet in Paris)