I thought of the term onion music last night because there’s just so many layers to the album. With each listen your peeling away a layer to reveal something new.

I stumbled upon a great review of the album done by Rolling Stone, track-by-track, very similar to my song-by-song series on this very blog!

I’ll be sure write some more when I get closer to the core of it all. Or maybe as I just go along.

Such eloquence.

My favourite discovery of the evening has been Guided By Voices. I’m a devout fan already, I can’t wait to grab two of their albums tomorrow.

I’m sort of crossed between James Blake and Neko Case as they have conflicting schedule times. I’m leaning towards Neko, although James Blake has some serious hype following him.

NEKO it is.

Get ready, I’m feeling totally inspired by Pitchfork Music Festival. The line-up is very Pitchfork friendly and I don’t know many of the acts. But I’m about to have a serious education and last minute cram so I make sure I miss nothing at all. Please keep posted, would ya?

My best pal and I made a very last minute decision to go to the Open Roof Festival, something I put off last year because I discovered it wasn’t actually held on a roof. Rather, it’s in the back lot of the Amsterdam Brewery on Bathurst just south of Front. Their name isn’t entirely off, there is no roof at this venue.

It was made an especially perfect evening because of the weather – a lovely 21 degrees Celsius, perfect for the summer dress. Nicole and I, dressed to the nines took on Toronto.

There was something real surreal about watching a film in the middle of the city buzz.

The Darcys went on around half past eight, the whole idea of these Open Roof sessions is to show the movie right at dusk, so bands kind of leisurely go one with enough time to churn out a few tunes without impeding on the film’s spot. This audience was definitely there for the film over the band. It`s kind of not a good atmosphere for a concert as there are seats and terrible terrain to stand on. I feel like it’s terrible concert etiquette to sit and watch a band, unless that`s the sort of show. People sat and spoke throughout the gig – not a gig I`d like to play myself.

The sound was mediocre to lousy, although loud enough to carry decently, but i’d credit that to the band`s crisp sound rather than the venues good speakers.  The Darcys did not let me down. I was taking Nicole to see the Darcys for the first time since we had first laid ears on them at the Supermarket in 2008. We both thought they were nothing special. It’s really incredible to hear what three years’ll do. Times are a changing and things are looking up for this band.

Trouble is they have yet to release an album. How can a band really explode without any material to support what they`re pushing? I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the Darcys absolutely need to put an album out, or at very least another EP.

I really love what Zeus has done, they’ve sort of lagged between releasing their legendary album Say Us and a follow-up, but they have released a couple of EPs to satisfy my needs.

I am happy to report that the fourth song in was a new tune I’d never heard before and it sounded fantastic. This band has definitely not lost steam, they’re clearly just being picky with things. I just hope they don’t grow bored of their songs before they actually have a chance to really do well.

Now, moving on to the incredible documentary Beauty Day.

Do you use the term “beauty”? I use it time to time when I describe something really great. After seeing this film, it’ll definitely work its way more into my daily language.

Meet Ralph Zavadil – a totally off-beat, weird looking guy, the original Jackass. Of St. Catharines, ON, Zavadil probably had a tremendously hard time fitting anywhere, because he has a hell of a lot less shame than anyone else. Zavadil made absurd recordings of stunts he did involving himself. Take the most absurd thing you can possibly think of and Zavadil would probably do it. His program The Cap’n Video Show aired from 1990-1995, with what seemed to have a solid following.

I think this documentary was such a hit with the audience is because Zavadil is human. Humanity really bleeds through in the descriptions and interviews of his life. One can really relate to this man in many surprising ways.

The music throughout this film was selected and mostly made by Justin Small and Ohad Benchetrit, both of the Toronto-based band Do Make Say Think. The song “Major Lift” was used throughout the film, kind of a theme-song for Zavadil almost.

It’s always really lovely to see what Do Make Say Think will stick their fingers in.

Further thought:

Do Make Say Think, auteurs?
Documentaries to consider: Jay Reatard doc Waiting For Something and Beauty Day
George Harrison (unrelated)

Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) with his lady friend, Canadian Kathleen Edwards at the Dakota Tavern, August 2010

Hooray for Canada Post to be back in action. I was greeted on my way to work by a large package – the new Bon Iver album. I was a little late for work, so I grabbed it and opened it on the drive to work.

It has really taken all of me not to buy this album even though I had purchased it already through the Jagjaguar website. I only technically am a week behind all you Bon Iver addicts.

Yesterday, in sheer anticipation, I purchased the new Spin and Rolling Stone magazines. Fab covers with fab articles, these have to be some of the best music magazine issues that I’ve stumbled upon in a while. It’s really odd to see Bon Iver on the cover of Spin. My friend Nicole was right in posting

Nicole Bakker posted to Kimberley Stemshorn

umm skinny love was on grey’s tonight. prepare for him to be huge.

September 26, 2008 at 12:22am

Bon Iver, aka Bon Iver has become a serious household name. Absolutely ridiculous. I am so happy to say that I have seen Bon Iver twice at a tiny dive like Lee’s Palace before seeing him at the Sound Academy.

My first real listen to Bon Iver is happening as I type. I love it to pieces already. It’s so different from For Emma Forever Ago.

Review to follow this evening. I can’t wait to give you my two cents.

Also, in talking about the Canada Post and how much I use our national mail service, please check out the following:


Send More Mail 
Kid Icarus

I’ve felt so inspired to write letters since stumbling upon these two lovely Toronto-based outlets.

This is a little off, definitely a different feel than the original.

SARAH HARMER, SERENA RYDER and the SKYDIGGERS

Alas, I’ll be in Chicago at this time, but I’d really love to see Sarah Harmer live. Can you believe I haven’t seen her yet?

I sure can’t.

Sadly, Aretha Franklin, at the very same time, is playing a free Toronto gig as a part of TD Jazz Festival!!!!!

You can really feel Franklin’s youth in this video, she just sounds young: