Concert Reviews

Empress Of’s birthday-eve show at Bar Le Ritz closed out the North American leg of her tour for her newest album For Your Consideration. The show was opened by Casey MQ, a former Torontonian DJ turned Los Angeles producer, whose soft vocals cooed into the microphone and coaxed the dispersed audience toward the stage.

    David Cross Band’s performance at Club Soda was one of the most alienating evenings of live music I have ever endured. It was in most ways, objectively lame, but much of it was so endearing or otherwise strange that this feeling of inadequacy was easy to forget about. I have seldom felt so out of place in my entire life.

For over a decade now, Danny Brown’s name has been unavoidable when discussing the state of modern hip-hop. Catering to a more dedicated audience than your average rapper, Brown has carved a name for himself as a legendary MC, rapping with ease over beats that would give your favourite lyricist a heart attack.

If someone was a teenager who was into music and on social media in 2020, it’s likely that they might’ve been exposed to the brightly coloured indie aesthetic and its pairing with Declan Mckenna’s hit song “Brazil”. While the melodic indie anthem that criticizes the 2014 FIFA World Cup has become McKenna’s magnum opus, don't be too quick to dismiss his talent for cynical lyrics, distorted guitar riffs, and energetic stage presence. 

Arriving at the venue not too long before 8:00 PM proved to be just in the nick of time, which was a stark reminder of how much condo developers in Montréal have changed the live music landscape. In light of the recent closing of La Tulipe and the loss of Le Divan Orange back in 2017, both over noise complaints by new neighbours, venues like Bar "Le Ritz" P.D.B seem to be pushing the start times earlier to avoid the same consequence.

Under the soft amber glow of candlelight at The Balcony, Toronto-based collective Lavender Town delivered a soulful night that blurred the lines between jazz and hip-hop. 

The scariest words a music journalist can hear have to be, “Sorry, you’re not on the list.” Which is how my evening began after walking up the steep stairs from Parc Avenue to the will-call window at Théâtre Fairmount this past Friday night. Frantically texting and emailing anyone who could remedy this situation for me, I spent an anxious twenty minutes before doing what I never like to do, but when dealing with a sold-out show it is sometimes the only thing left to do.