Magazine

Independent, provocative, now! The CJLO Magazine is the resource for features, reviews, and interviews. Established in 2004, and run by dedicated CJLO volunteers, the magazine covers the latest and best in local and international music, art, theatre, film, festivals, and more!


Warped Tour

My admirably apt associate summed up the Warped Tour 2009 experience pretty well, so I won’t bore you with a second recounting of the day’s events. I also won’t bother with the obligatory “this was my sixth and last Warped Tour because I am OLD” spiel that encapsulated my reviews of the last two years of everyone’s favorite summer cash suck.


Fake Problems

Around mid-to-late 2007, Florida’s own Against Me! were burning up the charts and landing on seemingly everybody and their mother’s “Best of 2007” lists with their major label debut New Wave. This sudden hotness of Florida’s folk-punk elite inevitably resulted in many assumptions (or accusations, depending on who you ask) as to who “the next Against Me!” would be. The forerunners of this ham-fisted contest were undeniably New Jersey’s The Gaslight Anthem and their fellow Floridians Fake Problems (and Texas’ O Pioneers who, despite being the closest to AM!


Raveonettes

The last time I saw the Raveonettes was when they were touring behind their sophomore full length, Pretty in Black, with LA noisepop trio Autolux.  While I’ll admit I went primarily for Autolux (who are probably, and pretty much a well known fact around these CJLO halls, my favourite band currently), having the Raveonettes on the bill was an added bonus, as I was a fan of their Jesus and Mary Chain knock off songs.  It was pretty much a dream show for anybody who likes their pop songs covered in white noise, fuzz, feedback, and the occasional droney rhythms, and the Raves were spot-on that night - bubbly, buoy


Grant Hart

If you’ve ever tuned into my show, you’re probably well aware of my love for Sugar, Husker Du, and all things Bob Mould related (loud guitars? Check.  Huge power pop hooks?


Nickel Eye

The thing about side-project bands is that they are always a gamble the first time around…and when gambling, the outcome can go one of three ways: win big, lose bad or come out even. The latter is how it was last night at the Green Room when Nickel Eye pulled into town to kick off their North American tour.


Lykke Li + Wildbirds and Peacedrum

Months ago, I found out about the young singer with an unusual name.  The Youth Novels CD arrived at CJLO and I was not very impressed after the initial listen.  I had a feeling there was something to her judging by how her name appeared on charts and lists I came across.  In a discussion with a colleague, he mentioned her live performances are "off the hook."  When the opportunity came to see her at Club Soda on February 4, I took it in the hopes of learning what the big deal about Lykke Li


Tom Fun Orchestra + Amanda Mabro

The Tom Fun Orchestra and Amanda Mabro at le Petit Campus was a wild and wonderful experience! The show started a tad late, after I hurriedly shuffled upwards through the blizzard at an incline of 45 degrees up the steep and slippery slope of St.


The Von Bondies

The last time I saw The Von Bondies, I had my hair cut like a Hanson brother and Miley Cyrus was merely annoying, not an alleged racist. Ah yes, The Von Bondies show on January 17th at Café Campus really solidified my thinking that 2008 would kick some serious ass; the band had an incredible amount of energy and executed a flawless set that didn’t lack soul, inspiring this young lady to dance like a maniac all through the night.


The Gaslight Anthem + Saint Alvia + Dirty Tricks

It’s always an unfortunate circumstance when a writer needs to review two shows right after one another since there are only so many creative juices to be spread around. That having been said, I apologize to the Street Dogs for phoning in most of their review because I really need everything I’ve got to adequately describe how blown my mind was by The Gaslight Anthem… although, in all fairness, if your show was as good as theirs it wouldn’t be a problem.


Serena Ryder

I was excited to see Serena Ryder live. I knew a handful of her songs but not much else about her.On the off chance that you don’t either, Ryder’s from Ontario, just outside of Peterborough.  She grew up listening to the Beatles and Leonard Cohen. During her show, she told the audience that she was an AM Radio “kind-of-girl.”


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