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.

Pink Mafia: So how exactly did you all come together?

Luke: Well, James (DeVito, bassist) and Peter (Berkman, lead singer) met in high school.  Pete had been working on chiptune and this one specific NES program since about 2003? The rest of us all met while we were going to Parsons for fashion.  Through going to Parsons, we ended up at a lot of different art parties and venturing through the fashion avenues getting internships at Gucci and Prada (respectively).  Parsons was a really awesome venue for us because we just ended up coming together, making really awesome art/music and getting drunk.  But once it was all over, we decided to take the band full-time.

Pink Mafia: I think that’s one thing I did NOT realize about the band, that you all were in fashion previously.  That’s crazy.  I knew there was a huge art influence.  But not a fashion one.  So tell me besides all of that, what has been the other biggest influence in the Anamanaguchi sound?

Luke: I think the common misconception about us is that we’re just like crazy videogame music.  It’s not like that at all.  We take a more structured pop songwriting element to making our music.  Lots of melodies and punk-rock hyper melodic craziness.  I mean, there is so many layers to our instruments (the programs we use on top of guitars, bass, drums) but the whole HOLY SHIT I’M WINNING AGAINST THIS BOSS video game craziness.  It’s not the whole focus or main mentality.  We’re all about the pizza and creating a sound that people wanna freak out to.

Pink Mafia: What’s odd is that you bring up pizza specifically.  I happen to remember one of the very first Anamanaguchi show’s that I went to and you guys were just murdering this art gallery here in Toronto during NXNE.  It was packed, hot, sweaty, aggressive and all of a sudden out of nowhere all of these pizza boxes were at the front of the stage.  It was like a legit punk rock / pizza party / jam.  It felt so inclusive yet so real.

Luke:  (laughs) I remember that show.  That was so dope.  One of our fans in Toronto had saw on Twitter that we just saw the Pizza Nova commercials and became somewhat fascinated with them.  So he brought all these Pizza Nova pizzas to our show and well, you know the rest.

Pink Mafia: I won’t lie. I did indulge in that pizza.  OK.  Let’s get back on track.  Since some of our readers won’t have had the Anamanguchi experience like myself, how can you describe an average show?

Luke: Well, without trying to oversell it, I like to call it a sensory overload.  Just a sweaty dance party.  With a lot of great visuals, strobe lights, art and something that will leave you with something to remember.  Some of the bands that we try to compare ourselves to our Japanther and The Death Set, in terms of a live show.

Pink Mafia:  Luke, I don’t think you oversold it all.  Plus, putting it on par with a Japanther and Death Set show is actually pretty key. One final question before I leave to you for the day.  For those wanted to explore making chiptune music themselves, what are some programs they would want to look into?

Luke: Some of the programs that we use for our Nintendo Soundtrack or Nerdtracker.  They have tons of Gameboy samples.  There are lots of other programs out there, but those are two great ones.

Remember to check out Anamanaguchi on January 21, 2012 with Extreme Animals and Moon King at Wrongbar (http://embracepresents.com/event/anamanaguchi/). Advanced tickets are still available for $10.

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!

1. What is your dream of happiness?

HERE AND NOW!!!!!!!

2. Blonde or Brunette?

BOTH

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

BEING REAL

4. What do you fear most?

NOTHING BUT DEAF BUT I GUESS IT WOULD BE FUN!!!!!!!!!

5. 808s or 909s?

RAP 808 DANCE 909

6. What’s your biggest regret?

Daft Phunk asked me to do a remix I didn’t do it family bullshit

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

THE ONE I’M PLAYING AT THAT TIME

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

AIR

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

JB MJ & DJ FUNK

10. What is your favorite decade in music?

70′s 80′s & 90′s

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

DON’T KNOW????????

12. How old is too old?

DEAD

13. Where do you see yourself in 15 years?

HAVING FUN!!!!!!

14. Who’s your hero?

REAL PEOPLE

15. What’s your favourite colour?

WHITE CUZ’ IT’S ALL COLORS

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

I DON’T LISTIN TO THE RADIO SO I’M COOL!!!!!!!!!!

17. Metallica or Madonna?

MADONNA

18. What’s your most hated vice?

NO COMENT……….

19. Who is the most tragic figure in history?

JFK MLK

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

DAFT PUNK JUSTICE & DJ FUNK

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.

Yeah, that’s what he said. 140 SONGS!

“Come Inside” didn’t make the cut…

2 hours make a song. Jesus.

He’s from Oshawa (sorta) suburban ladies, feel free to swoon.

FYI, Chairman Mills is one of the largest party rental companies in Canada, based in Toronto.

You can’t hear what Anna Von says cause our editor has a PC (sucks balls), but basically she says, “I bet you can make a good coffee now” and “that’ll come in handy”…some seriously heady stuff here people.

We heart Trouble & Bass and Luca (Drop The Lime)’s taken our 20 Qs before too.

On the FYI, BOI-1DA is a home grown producer from Ajax (near Oshawa), he’s got two Grammy’s (the last one for Eminem’s “Recovery”), and he produced “Headlines” that Drake track that 93.5 plays on repeat. You know what that means…he’s coming to town to get to work.

Dear, the Nation’s Music Station, T.Mills has a heart on for you. There, we did our mainstream duty, and kept a promise.

So here’s what’s not in there: he’s playing TIME Supper Club in Montreal on the 29th and a one-off fly out date after two days in the studio here in TO.

Then it’s a Euro-tour all through January, then Canada and the US until a top secrete June/July tour int he summer and finally the full-length album drops in the fall of 2012. It’s a long haul, but he’s most definitely up for the job. If you wanna see the full interview (save for some bullshit small talk from the beginning and end) then CLICK HERE

To buy the Leaving Home EP, click THIS 

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.

1. What is your dream of happiness?
To always enjoy what im doing, and continue making a difference in peoples lives.

2. Blonde or Brunette?
Brunettes, mostly.

3. What is the quality you like most in a man?
Im not sure if this is a trick question or a typo. I guess a good beard. I can’t grow a full beard, so I envy anyone who can.

4. What do you fear most?
Failure.

5. 808s or 909s?
I guess I should say 808 since im promoting a booty house party. Wait, they used both I think. Im not actually sure I know the difference to be honest..

6. What’s your biggest regret?
Anna Von Frances

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

I answer this question twice a month, and if I answer wrong I don’t get paid. True Story. Wrongbar.

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

Spaghetti

9. What are the 3 musicians dead or alive you’d like to see perform?
Easy… Michael Jackson, Kurt Cobain, John Lee Hooker.

10. What is your favorite decade in music? 
90′s I guess?

11. If you had to choose, would you rather go blind or deaf and why? 
Deaf, I’ve been blind before, nothing good ever happens.

12. How old is too old?
Never too old

13. Where do you see yourself in 15 years?
Eating pizza on the moon.

14. Who’s your hero?
My Mom. Hi Mom!

15. What’s your favourite colour?
Hilarious.

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

17. Metallica or Madonna?
Meh

18. What’s your most hated vice?
I love all my vices.

19. Who is the most tragic figure in history?
Brittany Murphy

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

Aloe Blacc, SBTRKT when Drake showed up, and I cant think of a third right now. (Nav doesn’t let me out much)

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

]]> http://pinkmafia.ca/blog/2011/09/08/pinkmafias-guide-to-tiff-4am/feed/ 0 http://pinkmafia.ca/blog/2011/06/15/nxne-2011-best-of-the-4-am/ http://pinkmafia.ca/blog/2011/06/15/nxne-2011-best-of-the-4-am/#comments Wed, 15 Jun 2011 14:00:28 +0000 mica http://pinkmafia.ca/blog/?p=26953 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.

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

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

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

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)

When the opportunity came along to interview Das Racist about the upcoming Toronto show, I snatched it up.  I’d heard varying things, like they were great to interview (see Village Voice article here or New Yorker article here) but then I’d read elsewhere that they had been difficult to interview (CNN article here or more recently Cake In 15 Blog here).  Considering I’m a fan, I went in with an open mind and was excited to speak with them.  I follow Heems on Twitter and on Tumblr and personally thought that “Sit Down, Man” was one of the best mix tapes of 2010.  So I had an idea and sense of the humour I was in for.

Now without further ado, it is my great personal honour to present to you the best interview I’ve ever had, brought in part by Das Racist:

Amanda from Pink Mafia: You’ve been tagged as a joke rap / political group.  What do you think it will take for people to accept that you are a serious rap group.

Dap: A short manifesto attached to the dead body of a politician or businessman, preferably both.
Himanshu: That’s a good question.
KOOL A.D.: The synchronized explosions of the summer homes of every Fortune 500 CEO.

Amanda from Pink Mafia: The hip hop game seems to be a lot about who is hood enough or street enough to be “authentic”.  What’s your take on the rap game now.

Dap: As opposed to a time when that wasn’t the case? I think the internet has helped people create/distort their image in a way that allows the music to be heard. Most of it still sucks.
Himanshu: Hmmm, do you mind if I call you Bill?
KOOL A.D.: I’m so hood.

Amanda from Pink Mafia: You’re huge on Twitter right now, people always re-Tweeting your stuff. What’s the appeal of reaching out to fans through Twitter. Have you got some Kanye rants saved for us?

Dap: Twitter, obviously, is a way to communicate quickly, repeatedly and directly with the fans. Rants on-deck, always.
Himanshu: RANTS ON DECK, i like that Dap.

Amanda from Pink Mafia: You recently took part in Fair Use Day.  Since a large part of hip hop is all about fair use remixing, tell me what it was like to be a part of that and your take on Fair Use / Creative Commons.

Dap: The panel was fun, albeit a little meandering. Shouts to Kevin Driscoll and DJ Ripley. Creative Commons are a good thing.
Himanshu: What up with that? Right?
KOOL A.D.: It’s bigger than Hip Hop.

Amanda from Pink Mafia: Thoughts on Canadians?

Dap: They are, indeed, people who live in Canada.
Himanshu: I know right?
KOOL A.D.: YOOOOO!!!

Well there you have it folks.  Be sure to check out the show on January 28th at Wrongbar. I’ve just been informed there will be SOME tickets at the door.  Show up early or else you are bound to miss a show that people will be talking about for weeks.

1. What is your dream of happiness?

To make some music that people remember for a long time.

2. Blonde or Brunette?

Definitely brunette.

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

Kwende

4. What do you fear most?

Bores

5. 808s or 909s?

MPCs

6. What’s your biggest regret?

Don’t believe in them

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

Plastic People in London. The sound system there is uniquely tuned to perfection.

When we went there Alanna hopped on the mic and sang over a deejay set by one of our favorite producers.

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

Pho has to read a quality newspaper every day or else he feels out of touch.

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

Arthur Russell, Betty Davis, The Bulgarian State Radio & Television Women’s Choir

10. What is your favorite decade in music?

90s

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

Blind because it would enhance our listening skills

12. How old is too old?

Depends on what yuh asking about!

13. Where do you see yourself in 15 years?

Doing this and sharing ideas. And building things.

14. Who’s your hero?

Local Rabbits and Seiji

15. What’s your favourite colour?

Black and white

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

Any radio rap with a “rock” vocalist on the hook and shitty synths

17. Metallica or Madonna?

Ride the Lightning

18. What’s your most hated vice?

Getting too distracted by all the fascinating things in this world

19. Who is the most tragic figure in history?

Aaliyah

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

Björk

Method Man & Redman

Feist

If you are taking transportation, the best bet is and has always been, the subway. That’s of course only pre 11PM and post 3AM of course, in between, just pray you’ve got a decent pair of shoes on and a heaping dose of patience for cabbing. A good rule of thumb when it comes to NYE is “stick to what you know”. Parties or clubs that have a reputation for being good throughout the year, are generally the best on New Year’s Eve. And don’t forget that EVERYONE goes out on this night, even the people who never go out, so expect that the standard will be lowered across the board.

Now, here’s our best of…

Best Dance Floor:

Wrongbar. Every year it’s the best. It’s sweaty, it’s unassuming, it’s no bullshit, it’s dress up or down, it’s good tunes and it’s all smiles. No asshole doormen, great dance floor vibes and tickets are starting at $20. Click here for more info and to buy tickets.

Best Year Round Rep:

Shuffle @ 6 Degrees.

These parties have been going off monthly at Revival for AGES. The guys behind one of the hippest charity/blog, 1LoveT.O, in town. It’s a pretty good bet for NYE, especially if you’re into the monthly parties. Get your tickets fast though, this shit will most definitely sell out. Click here for more info. Jedi’s DJing alongside D-Lux, tickets are available at Play De Record, Pleasure And Pain, and Remix for $40.

Best Independent Party:

It’s a tie between the Burroughs Building and Pacha.

Pacha: The Jons and Rob Dyer (Skate4Cancer) are in their third year of this party, titled simply I Heart New Year’s. Hotmess DJs are playing alongside Black Friends and Sonos. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased by clicking here. If you liked Dance Like You Fuck, girls in their 20s, getting booze poure don you, but not having to deal with bridge and tunnel, then this is the jam for you.

The Burroughs: Stacey Felicia is the promoter behind this one. It’s open bar until 11:30PM, with 9 DJs playing over two floors including a rooftop smoking area. Merk Meny, Grahmzilla, and Meech are playing alongside other locals. It’s $80 but there’s that open bar thing and they do deals for groups of 6 or more. For more info, click here.

Best Gay Party:

Arrival @ The Phoenix.

Prism and Matt Sims Events have teamed up to bring you this one. They’re serving until 3AM and there’s 6 DJs over 2 rooms. And can you believe that tickets are only $25 in advance? More at the door of course. This is hands down a best bet if you wanna get down in the gayborhood on NYE. More info here.

Best Free Event:

Bowties + Party Dresses @ The Savoy

Bangs + Blush have done it again. Like 60s music and pretty party dresses? Then this is the NYE you’ve been looking for 100%. The Savoy is tiny, so make sure you come early.

Best Party In A Bar with Bands:

The Bovine NYE @ The Bovine Sex Club

It’s always a blast at the Bovine. A little known gem of a spot for TIFF and NYE and any other bullshit weekend fest that brings out all the novice party goers. bands are: Blackie Jackett Jr. (Finger Eleven side project) and Brooklyn Fletcher (ex trigger Happy, Bangers, Hellen Killer). It’s only $12 and that gets you in + party favors and a Jager toast at midnight of course. More info/tickets here.

1. What is your dream of happiness?

“The day when the human race will successfully get over its own greed.

And the day I write the perfect track!”

2. Blonde or Brunette?

“Brunette.”

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

“Honesty, trustworthiness & creativity.”

4. What do you fear most?

“The loss of electricity.”

5. 808s or 909s?

“809!”

6. What’s your biggest regret?

“I’ve got no energy to waste on regrets.”

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

“Daniela Bar / Hamburg.”

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

“That is simple: music.”

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

- Marvin Gaye

- Larry Levan

- Mozart

10. What is your favorite decade in music?

“1978-1988.”

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

“Hmm, hard decision. Probably deaf, as you could still feel the lower frequencies!”

12. How old is too old?

“You are never too old!”

13. Where do you see yourself in 15 years?

“Sun – hammock – cold drink.”

14. Who’s your hero?

“Musically I would say Larry Levan for all these amazing 12″ mixes.”

15. What’s your favourite colour?

“No favourite colour, i like them all!”

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

“20 Fingers – Short Dick Man.”

17. Metallica or Madonna?

“Madonna.”

18. What’s your most hated vice?

“Smoking.”

19. Who is the most tragic figure in history?

“Most politicians.”

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

Phoenix

Broken Social Scene

LCD Soundystem

1. What is your dream of happiness?
To travel the world and share my music. I’m living the dream.

2. Blonde or Brunette?
My wife is a brunette.

3. What is the quality you like most in a man?
My dad is a pretty stoic guy and I appreciate his rational thinking.

4. What do you fear most?
Physical torture.

5. 808s or 909s?
808s.

6. What’s your biggest regret?
I wish I would have started singing sooner.

7. What’s your fav bar or club in the world?
The Do-Over: blog.thedoover.net

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

9. What are the 3 musicians dead or alive you’d like to see perform?
Jorge Ben, Nat King Cole, Michael Jackson.

10. What is your favorite decade in music?
1960s.

11. If you had to choose, would you rather go blind or deaf and why?
I would rather go deaf because you can still feel vibrations through your bones and I am visually inspired to create. Plus, I enjoy being completely independent, which makes sight necessary.

12. How old is too old?
Dead.

13. Where do you see yourself in 15 years?
Probably directing films after an acting career.

14. Who’s your hero?
Ghandi, MLK, Mandela, Siddhartha, Sam Cooke, Quincy Jones, Oprah, Nina Simone.

15. What’s your favourite colour?
Oxblood.

16. What song could you live without ever hearing again?
Hmmm…Ithink I have already established a pretty good mental block, so it doesn’t come to mind.

17. Metallica or Madonna?
Madonica.

18. What’s your most hated vice?
N/A

19. Who is the most tragic figure in history?
When it comes to the music of my generation, I think Cobain is likely the most tragic figure.

20. What are the top three live shows you’ve seen in your life?
-The Police in a stadium in Sydney
-Paul McCartney performing across from me in the Jools Holland studio in London
-Raul Midon in a small private showcase in Hollywood

So who exactly are these dudes who have decided to helm this disco revival?  Well, James tells me that Horse Meat Disco all began, back in the seedy underbelly of gay clubs and raves in 2000.  “My first club collaboration (with Jim) was back in 2002/3. The party was called Never Mind the Neighbors (on account of me having problems with my neighbors at the time).”  Both frustrated with what the gay scene had to offer (musically and creatively) and under advisement from NYC DJ Adam Goldstone, James and Jim decide to make a name and party by themselves and for people like themselves, disco enthusiasts. Thus, Horse Meat Disco was born.

For James, disco has always been in his blood and a part of his family.  His father, also a DJ, collected disco records when he was younger and passed down the infectious nature of the music to him.  “Perhaps it was familiarity or the infectious nature of the dance grooves that got me from a very early age, I don’t know but it must have been an influence. I think as I grew up and got to understand what the songs were about, what they expressed and what they spoke of I quickly identified with it (disco).”

With it being Horse Meat Disco first time in Canada, what can the Wrongbar crowd expect from one of their live shows?  Having listened to one of the Horse Meat disco sets, I can definitely say that it’s a mix between classic disco, house, funk and soul-disco.  A little bit of something for everyone on the dancefloor to shake and vibe to.  James tells me that each of the men in the group have their own different styles that complement one another.   While one will pump up the party with house sounds (Severino), Luke will come in with sounds from his soul background and try to shake things up.  This is something you can hear when you are listening to them live.  You are taken on a journey not just through all the styles of disco, but through the different genres of music. James notes that, “What you will get regardless is a party. We’re not afraid to play hits if we feel like it. Neither do we shy away from playing stuff that you might not have heard before or that is just plain weird. One thing we are always surprised about when we travel is the diverse nature of the crowd.”

Close your eyes one more time and think back. Horse Meat – now all you will think of is visions of Saturday Night Fever and four blokes from the UK trying to get your ass on the dancefloor.  Check out Horse Meat Disco at Wrongbar this Friday.

If it’s your first TIFF, you’ll probably spen all your time up in Dorkville trying to catch a glimpse of Helen Mirrin or Clive Owen lunch at that vile One or coming out wine-drunk from risotto and low lighting at Sotto Sotto. If you’ve been around a few, then you know the real parties, and gossip and good times all happen post 2AM at a select few bars that get extended license. And here’s our guide to what’s good at TIFF 2010.

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 09, 2010

BRANT HOUSE 522 King St. West

Kevin Dillon from Entourage is hosting. Bet he’ll be a hot mess. expect celebrity bartending and lots of shots shots shots shots shots.

WRONGBAR 1279 Queen St. West

FUBAR 2 GIVE’R AGAIN PARTY!
The Official Afterparty for the Toronto International Film Fest
Premier Screening of FUBAR 2!

http://www.fubar-themovie.com/

With Live Performances by Skullfist, Dentata and DJ Ian Blurton.

DJ sets by Legendary Times DJ’s The Gillespie Brothers.

Heavy Metal Karaoke hosted by Terry and Deaner!

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 10, 2010

BOVINE SEX CLUB 542 Queen St. West

Early Bovine Presents: Teenage X, Voodoo Bunny, Mass Assembly. Late Wild Bunch Presents TIFF after party.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2010

WRONGBAR 1279 Queen St. West
Red Bull, Embrace and Nastymix present

THE ED BANGER HOCKEY SQUAD 2010 PARTY

$20 Advance Tickets available at Rotate This, Soundscapes and Play De Record and online at Ticketweb.ca For Reduced email: Jonathanc@embracepresents.com

THE SOCIAL 1100 Queen St. West

Mowgli + Neoteric + Lucy ‘Lo

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2010

CENTURY ROOM 580 King Street West

Street Level Tuesdays Presents: RIVA STAR

THE DRAKE HOTEL 1150 Queen St. West

Sasha Grey Late Night DJ Set + Betti Forde + Your Boy Brian

We have a HUGE Reduced List for this sucker, email: info@pinkmafia.ca Subject: “SASHA” to get on it.

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 16, 2010

THE DRAKE HOTEL 1150 Queen St. West

Do Right Music Presents: Maylee Todd + The Right Look + Friends

$5 Before and $10 After 12AM

THE BOVINE SEX CLUB 542 Queen St. West

Sailor Jerry Presents; The Balconies, Biblical + DJ Sebastien Grainger

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 17, 2010

WRONGBAR 1279 Queen St. West

HERCULES & LOVE AFFAIR (DJ SET)

with The MAKEOVER & Filthy Gorgeous

http://www.myspace.com/herculesandloveaffair

http://www.myspace.com/themakeovermusic

TICKETS $15.00 Advance (plus service charge) • 19+ Event • Doors @ 10PM

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2010

THE SOCIAL 1100 Queen St. West

Bassanova: Jubilee (NYC) and Grahmzilla

If you make it through that with your liver in tack, call us, we have a trophy for your death bed.

Thank you for flying Tight Air flight 339 to Big Sex. Where you have no seat belt and ageism is finally a thing of the past…

Maybe it was Cut Throat Britva guitarist Zaddi Pesino smiling your way, or simply meeting Menno and his lovely new fiancé Annie that wound your karma maker for the night, but nothing quite says ‘special snowflake’ like learning the best kept rock and roll lifestyle secrets from the best kept rock and roll lifestyler himself, Mr. Serb Superb.

If you’ve been to birthday parties at the Boat before, you know this one was by far the best.* The bar was to the tits with cats for a night of exceptional music and good times. Highlights included: Huffing wine in the alley, Clothes Make the Man’s fire starting Bon Jovi cover, ‘Nightime/Anytime’, and a flake or two of confetti. You should be glad you were there because it’s nights like these that remind you just how great Toronto can be.

*The Untold City’s summer birthday jam party at the Boat became a whole lot more important to me with the announcement of a) a Constantines hiatus yesterday, and b) the Casby Awards nominees. By far one of the best Canadian bands of our lifetime and towing along with them sounds from the young bucking Arkells, our Golden Horseshoe boys will surely carry on. But suffice to say, the Constantines will be missed and I hope their paths weave again soon AND bouillon to the Manotick boys, sitting pretty with 4 nominations this year! ~KLV

Photo Credit: Courtney Lee Yip

Warpaint w/ Javelin @ Wrongbar

Ok, so granted not every show you pay your painstakingly hard earned cash to attend is going to go off without a hitch, sometimes you really think somethings got to give. A classic case of bait-and-switch. We’re promised a stacked bill with Warpaint, Javelin and Beach Fossils so it’s pretty safe to say it’s going to be fantastic, no doubt. Then things slowly start to change. First it’s announced that Bassmentality(with Juan Bassman no less) is scheduled to make it’s Wednesday night debut starting around 11; meaning it’s going to be an early show. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it just means that bands will stay true to their allotted set times and scheduling (read: no encores). I can live with that. Then Beach Fossils mysteriously disappear from the line-up, allegedly loosing their passportswhich is a total bummer, but again I can live with that. Luckily the ’give’ part came with vengeance and I was served up a healthy dose of badass with a side of NY.

Javelin was up first and I felt as though I was partaking in a archaeological dig into layers and layers of sounds. Known to be a flint of sorts in igniting a party, their shows are BYOB – the B standing for boombox, naturally. Their concept of broadcasting their shows via FM transmitter alone should be enough incentive to check them out. I didn’t catch any boomboxes, ghetto blasters or jamboxes in the crowd but not everyone can pull off the look like Julian Casablancas can. Their music is an anomaly. They erase the lines of distinction between genres and produce an undefinable sound. Their mixtape of a setlist kept the audience engaged if for nothing more than to hear what was coming next. This Brooklyn duo was full of good vibes that bounced around stage amidst their boomaatats. Minus the one rather limber gentleman in the front, the vibes weren’t reciprocated until their final track but the crowd was definitely left wanting more. Or maybe they were confused.

After a very short break we were whisked away to the sunny west coast by four total babes who restored my faith in all-girl bands entirely. Warpaint are phenomenal. Sure, it helps to have the considerable backing of oh, I don’t know say John Frusciante, but these ladies can definitely stand on their own 2 feet. Equal parts talent and looks, their arrangements can go from simple to complex in an instant. They bounce vocals that are both airy and sultry back and forth. Their songs are lackadaisical yet profoundly meaningful. They had the audience eating out of the palm of their hands; entirely captivated in a dream-like trance. Their sound came pouring out the speakers and lazily floated down to be readily absorbed. While their set was disheveled in comparison to the one played at NXNE earlier this year, the ladies took breaks between songs for pow-wows to sort themselves out which further cemented their darling status and made them that much more endearing. Together on stage they each individually exude talent and their collective arrangement allows them the flow freely while casually exchanging giggles.

Missing from the set was “Billie Holiday” off the 2009 released Exquisite Corpse EP but a chilling rendition of “Burgundy” more than compensated for it. Instead of covering all the tracks off the EP they heavily favoured their new material which utilizes the full band. Stella Mozgawa on the skins is an excellent addition. Playing now as a quartet, their sound seems complete and it is definitely working to their advantage. I highly encourage you to check out their first full length to be released in the fall.

The set was raw and beautiful and I was completely swept up in their mystique. ~Kate Masewich

Wrongbar is by far the best dance floor in the west end. They recently launched a Jamaican inspired menu too that’s quite delish.

1. What is your dream of happiness?

Not having to dream of Happiness.

2. Blonde or Brunette?

Blonde Dyed Brunette.

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

Honesty. A Warm Moustache.

4. What do you fear most?

Cops.

5. 808s or 909s?

808 Kick. 909 Snare.

6. What’s your biggest regret?

Not having enough time for Regrets.

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

Roxy Blu (RIP).

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

Music.

9. What are the 3 musicians dead or alive you’d like to see perform?
John Coltrane. Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Bernard Edwards.

10. What is your favorite decade in music?

The 1970′s.

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

12. How old is too old?

Dead.

13. Where do you see yourself in 15 years?

Dirty Old Man at the Discotheque.

14. Who’s your hero?

My Mother.

15. What’s your favourite colour?

Brown.

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

Stardust “The Music is Sounds Better With You”.

17. Metallica or Madonna?

Metallica: “Garage Days Revisited” EP.
Madonna: “S/T” and “Like a Virgin” LP’s.

18. What’s your most hated vice?

Gambling. Seriously. Fuck Gambling.

19. Who is the most tragic figure in history?

Michael Jackson.

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

Public Image Limited with Hasil Adkins, Masonic Temple, Toronto. Nirvana with The Melvins, Opera House, Toronto. James  Brown with his own Bad Self,
Lulu’s Roadhouse, Kitchener.

After this year’s NXNE, I’ve decided that I want my life to only consist of going to fun parties and drinking and eating for free. Seriously. Do you know how awesome free beer is? Because, it’s awesome.

My photographer Steph and I headed over to London Tap House on Friday for an “exclusive” Exclaim! bbq. After waiting outside due to the venue already being at capacity (FYI–it opened at 3, was at capacity by 3:30pm) we headed up to the rooftop patio for a seriously wicked party. Upstairs, the party was packed with record executives, bands and socialites from Toronto’s music scene.

In addition to being hosted by the Jagerettes (imagine Suicide Girls if they were legitimately employed), the party featured a pig roast, live music, dunk tanks, and my new favourite: jager snow cones. Yum. Though the sun was totally blistering, they kept us cool with icy treats.

After trying to dunk the guy in the deer costume, and being “iced” by a record company guy, we proceeded to watch The Flatliners play an amazing acoustic set on the roof. I somehow missed the phase of my life where listening to them had been a ‘thing’ and had actually never heard anything by them before. I must say, they’ve got a new fan.

Needless to say, it was the perfect way to kick off our weekend of NXNE.

Diamond Rings & Katie Stelmanis @ Wrongbar, June 18th

Oh. Em. Eff. Gee. Actually. For those who know me, you know I love me The D’Urbs–they’re my boys and I love to support. Diamond Rings, lead singer of The D’Urbervilles’ John O’Reagan’s gender-bending side project, however, could be my new favourite thing to come out of Toronto.

Friday, he released his 12″ single for “Wait and See” at Wrongbar as part of NXNE. Diamond Rings has blown up. Last summer, his famous “All Yr Songs” Pitchfork-favourite blew people away, and from his show on Friday, it’s clear that nothing is going stop him from reaching the top. Ladies and gentleman, it could be Bowie re-incarnate.

After a mind-blowing opening from Katie Stelmanis and her army of talented Torontonians, John O’ took to the stage in his regular Diamond Rings fashion. Complete with some amazing gold leggings, blue glitter & infamous unicorn banner–the man commanded our attention when he put on a giant headress (which, you may recognize if you’ve seen the “Wait & See” video that came out last week).

The performance was absolutely beautiful to see. Diamond Rings conjures up emotions that make you want to dance, laugh, sing, and depending on if you saw his heartwrenching closer on Friday, cry. After dedicating his performance to his family for all their love and support in helping him release the 12″, he played a teary rendition of the song that started Diamond Rings before the glittery manifestation he is now.

If you haven’t had a chance to see Diamond Rings (or Katie Stelmanis for that matter, that woman has the voice of an angel!) you need to. They are two of Toronto’s rising talents, and they deserve our full attention.

The Raveonettes @ Yonge & Dundas Square June 19th

I have waited since I was 14 years old to see The Raveonettes. Don’t get me wrong, I love Iggy, but when I made my way down to Yonge and Dundas on Saturday, I had my heart set on The Raveonettes.

As you’ll have read from the other Iggy review, the crowd was just wild. Completely packed. We barely were able to lift our arms to get photos because it was so crowded. But hot damn, it was worth it.

The Raveonettes are potentially one of the best bands I’ve seen live. They’re such babes. They’re so European. They’re just so, so cool. Their sound echoed and reverberated across the packed square, throwing people off by the sound. You rarely encounter bands who use feedback like an instrument. And well, that’s kind of their signature move.

Seeing them play amidst their heavy duty fog machine, hearing their sultry voices–it’s modern day rockability chic at its finest. They were the perfect opener for Iggy Pop and The Stooges, and they played a full set which I was really pleased with.

Though they didn’t play some of the key tracks I was really hoping to hear, my heart was won over by finally getting to see those Euro-babes live.