In case you missed it, Sidewalk Hustle put together a bad ass lookbook for Palladium & I'm totally in it.
See if you can spot me. I'm the one with the feet.
watch my feet be really cool
in fashion-ish
Sidewalk Hustle
Interview: CHVRCHES
Here's an interview I did for Sidewalk Hustle with Chvrches.
They were very chill kind cool people.
Their debut full-length album The Bones Of What You Believe is out now.
You should also read this piece Lauren Mayberry wrote on online misogyny.
Live: Yeah Yeah Yeahs at Echo Beach in Toronto
Monday night. Canada day. Outside, lakeside at Echo Beach. Already that’s a good set up. Now throw the Yeah Yeah Yeahs into the mix and you’ve got one good night.
It’d been too long since the NY art rock trio graced Toronto but luckily the release of their fourth album Mosquitocalls for tour time. Even having just seen them this past March at SXSW, we missed the YYYs already and were stoked to find out that they’d be providing the party on our national day off. Surprisingly the show didn’t sell out. Perhaps the steep ticket price was to blame? Upside: More room to dance. And dance we did.
With a jam packed set list of certifiable JAMS the Yeah Yeah Yeahs delivered like a good pizza: fast, hot and tasty. A mix of all the hits and fan favs from the Is Is EP’s “Down Boy” to debut album Fever To Tell‘s “Y Control”. Did we cry as soon as we realized they were going to treat us to “Maps”? You bet.
Karen O was something like a phenomenon, crawling on the stage, jumping around, screaming and shaking with every fiber in her beautiful being. With 3 outfit changes (fringe + headlamp / black studded leather / streamer cape), blue eyeshadow and some inverted cross eyeliner painted under her eyes, she looked as wild as she sounded, like a true iconic rock star. Somewhere between her passing around the mic in the audience during “Cheated Hearts” for some sweet heartwarming sing-alongs, and her closing up the two encores of the night by unzipping her white sequin capris for a feel, our brains melted. Just insane amazingness.
Live Music: Mykki Blanco at Wrongbar
From last May’s debut Mykki Blanco & The Mutant Angels, to late fall’s Cosmic Angel: The Illuminati Prince/ss mixtape, one thing is for sure: The entity that is Mykki Blanco is not your average human. Industrial, galatic and spastic (all in the best way possible), Mykki B brought his tricks to Toronto’s Wrongbar Wednesday April 24th.
Hitting the stage around midnight just in time for the new moon, we were all mesmerized and mutantized by his powers. Just some of these powers included pulling up crowd members on stage for good vibes, cleansing himself by pouring water all over himself, oh and rapping like mad. Also of note? Miss Blanco’s opening act performance artist Boychild who best explains his act in this video.
It’s fair to say the transgender rap game will never be the same. Heavy hazy wavy…
His upcoming EP ‘Betty Rubble: The Initiation’is due out May 21st and he’s currently closing up his North American tour. Catch him if you can.
For more photos check out my post at Sidewalk Hustle.
Live: White Lung at Hard Luck
What better way to start off the week than to head over to the Hard Luck for some PBRs and BC punk? On April 22nd, Vancouver act White Lung stopped by Toronto to tear our Monday night a new one. Made up of three babes and one lucky dude, White Lung shoved and shouted their songs into our faces and earholes. Agressive? Absolutely. Yes there was a mosh pit, and yes people were crowd surfing, and yes we’re still in recovery.
With tracks from both 2010′s It’s the Evil and last year’s Sorry the set clocked at a short half hour, leaving us wanting more. Drummer Anne-Marie Vassiliou is a machine and it’s no surprise that many make a Courtney Love comparison with front woman Mish Way (a rad writer in her own right as well). They’re currently touring all over North America so check em out if they’re stopping by a city near you. You don’t have to, we just recommend that you do.
Live: Disclosure at The Hoxton
Thursday night we trucked through the wet April rain to catch siblings Guy and Howard Lawrence aka Disclosure show off their hype at the Hoxton. Armed with many mixers as well as a drum set and bass guitar the brothers played a set which featured more than just some button pushing – not that there’s anything wrong with that, it’s was just a nice change. From “White Noise” to their remix of Jessie Ware’s “Running”, the UK duo had us dancing all night long like Lionel Richie.
Thank you Toronto! Absolute vibes :) x
— Disclosure (@disclosure_uk) April 12, 2013
Absolute vibes indeed boys. Come back again soon!
For photos and more check out my post at Sidewalk Hustle.
Live Music: Lianne La Havas at Opera House
Thursday night we made our way East to the Opera House to catch the darling Lianne La Havas. She had stopped by Toronto in the past opening for Bon Iver at Massey Hall, but Thursday’s show was her first headlining gig in our city.
Taking the stage in a sleek formfitting turtleneck dress adorned with a Mickey Mouse chain around her neck, La Havas looked as stunning as her voice sounds.
For those who’ve yet to hear her debut album Is Your Love Big Enough?, it’s a beauty of a soul record filled with soft lyrics of heartbreak mixed with belts of passion. The show itself had a similar mix from the crowd singing along at the top of their lugs to “Forget” to Lianne tearing up during “Empty”. There was even a cover of Radiohead’s “Weird Fishes/Arpeggi” and a fan written poem read aloud.
Throughout the set La Havas was nothing but genuine and thankful. Her album poses the question “Is Your Love Big Enough?” and Thursday night’s answer was nothing but a warm “Yes”.
For photos and more check out my post at Sidewalk Hustle.
Live Music: Alt-J at Sound Academy in Toronto
Wednesday night we shuffled over to the Sound Academy to check out just how “alt” an Alt-J live show is. Here are our findings from the evening…
1. Mercury Prize winners of late have been rather chill. Last year it was The XX, and Alt-J prove to continue this new trend. Keeping the live show low key, more energy could be felt coming off the crowd. Perhaps it was the big box club setting getting in the way, but we could envision enjoying much more in an outside afternoon vibe.
2. They play a short set. Clocking in just under an hour Alt-J’s set wrapped up well before 11pm. While short and sweet, one could also hear many an audience member craving for more as the show let out. “I wouldn’t mind if they played the same song over again! I just wanted them to keep playing!”
3. They fill venues. The last time Alt-J journeyed over from the UK was September 2012 when they sold out Wrongbar. Wednesday’s show was originally set to be at the Phoenix but due to demand was bumped up to the Sound Academy. And yeah, they sold that out too. Their next Toronto show is this coming September at Echo Beach. Get your tickets now!
For photos and more check out my post at Sidewalk Hustle.
SXSW catch up: Street Style
The last of my SXSW catch up! Here's some street style photos I nabbed. So many babes.
SXSW catch up: Day 4
Somehow we’re still alive and still at it. Here’s how we spent our Friday in Austin…
We returned one again to Hype Hotel, this time to check out rap Tumblr princess Kitty Pryde at the Stereogum showcase. The former Claire’s employee had her adorable white girl game on point, despite the crowd’s hesitation. With a bill print bandana tied around her hair, she sang about how she wants to be a millionaire and gave shutouts to herself when the crowd wouldn’t. Power to ya girl.
As cute as Kitty Pryde was, we were ready for something a little more hard hitting, so we bounced over to Cedar Street for HAIM. Holy long hair middle parts. Holy bad ass babes. Holy hell. These three LA sisters go hard.
While they may be rock glam chic in their music videos, they kept things basic this round taking the stage in tattered tees and shredded jackets. The courtyard venue was packed, but whatever little space was left HAIM filled with energy. Pharrell Williams was even spotted side stage, air guitaring along. Yep. Totally. They were just that good. We’re counting down the days until their first LP is released.
As day turned to night we popped over to Republic Live to catch some Mykki Blanco. The illuminati prince/cess was hitting it hard. Such a shame that the more bro oriented audience just didn’t get it.
We closed up our Friday at the Brooklyn Vegan showcase with IRL Barbie rapper/stripper Brooke Candy. You know that chick in Grimes’s “Genesis” music video with the crazy nails? That’s her. Girl knows how to go wild. Mesh white fishnet shirt with nothing underneath? Check. Gritty tracks with titles like “I Wanna F*ck Right now”? Check. Good times? Check check and check.
Live: Purity Ring at the Phoenix in Toronto
Friday February 1st, Purity Ring brought their North American tour to a close, with a sold out show in Toronto. The Montreal dark darling duo was joined by Brooklyn electronic art collective Young Magic. They opened the show and set the smooth synthy tone for the night. If you’ve yet to check out their debut album Melt, give it a listen and smolder away.
After the fitting opening act (and some very loud bass heavy hip-hop between sets), Purity Ring took the stage surrounded by glowing orbs. Front woman and all around adorable babe Megan James commanded the crowd in the cutest way possible. Decked out in an all black long dress, she sang like an angel and lurked around the stage with a lantern, hitting a giant light-up drum. Think cool future witch. Meanwhile, Corin Roddick grooved out on his collection of lightbulb lantern-eqsue synths. Together, they had the crowd going crazy. Even Megan James’ 91 year-old aunt made it out – a fact James announced before kicking into a Solja Boy cover. The night as well as the tour came to a close with the beloved and oddly romantic “Fineshine” – Cut open my sternum and pull my little ribs around you? Yes please. Happily.
For photos and more check out my post at Sidewalk Hustle.
Live: Christopher Owens at the Mod Club in Toronto
Friday January 18th the former Girls frontman Christopher Owens brought his new solo album Lysandre to the MOD Club. With not a word of banter, the messy haired heartbreaker took the stage. An interesting act simply on his own, Owens was joined by a backing band which featured a saxophone/flutiest and two modelesque twin like (very Urban Outfitters-y) backup-singers.
A much more personal project than Girls, Owens’s Lysandre tells the tale of falling in love on tour, and the romantic yet messy results. When he spoke to Pitchfork last fall, Owens discussed how this record was one he needed to get out of his system. It’s all very personal, vulnerable and honest, as was the show. Once the short set came to an end, Owens closed up the night’s encore with some covers including some Cat Stevens and Bob Dylan. In the end, no banter was needed, the songs say all we needed to know.
Live: Miguel at the Kool Haus in Toronto
If you’re not already turned onto the man with the sultry R&B voice who goes simply by Miguel, get all up on it already. Tuesday evening he had the Kool Haus packed. Even with the venue upgrade up from the Guvernment, the lines still went around the block. Ever seen a bottle service line-up for a concert? That happened, and rightfully so. You gotta do it up for a Miguel show.
While the LA entertainer was running late for his set (it takes time to look so fresh) the room was nonetheless filled with hype. A couple was brought up onstage by the MC of the night who declared them to be contest winners. In reality it was all a set up for this dude to propose to his girlfriend. She said yes! We cheered! A badass chic DJ spun tracks such as Ginuwine’s “Pony” & we all sang along as we waited for the main event.
Finally Miguel took the stage. Man can that guy can preform! Jumping around? Check. Slick dance moves? Check. Floor work? Very sexual floor work? You bet. “By now you can probably tell that I’m a bit of a freak” Miguel shyly smiled, before stripping of his shirt and singing “Pussy Is Mine“. While his release of this year Kaleidoscope Dream was a focus, we were also treated us to some tracks off of his 2010 debut All I Want Is You. Often testing the audience to see if they truly did know his old songs, the female centric crowd passed with flying colours screaming-a-long at the top of their lungs to every word.
It’s no wonder he has 5 Grammy noms under his belt. No wonder “Adorn” is all over every songs of 2012 blog round-up. No wonder he keeps getting called “the new Prince“. Miguel’s smooth and sexy songs are a sure thing.