The Rock ‘n’ Roll Revival Hour: Metric, Dusted, Cold Specks, Men Without Hats, The Do Good Assassins, Rush

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4:18 pm

Momentum building for Metric

Momentum is building for Toronto band Metric’s new album Synthetica, which is set to be released June 12. The first single off the album, “Youth Without Youth” will be released on May 1, while the artwork and track listing were released earlier this month. Synthetica is being released by the band’s own label, MMI, through a series of partnerships with distributors around the world including Universal Music here in Canada.

The album artwork was created by local artist Justin Broadbent, and is said to depict “an inverted window in an upside-down world.” Meanwhile, the band is lining up a slew of music festival dates this summer including the Big Music Fest in Belleville, Ont.; Osheaga Festival in Montreal and Lollapalooza in Chicago. Nothing local yet, however.

Track listing:

1. Artificial Nocturne
2. Youth Without Youth
3. Speed The Collapse
4. Breathing Underwater
5. Dreams So Real
6. Lost Kitten
7. The Void
8. Synthetica
9. Clone
10. The Wanderlust
11. Nothing But Time

Holier than thou

Holy F*ck’s Brian Borcherdt has a new project on the go by the name of Dusted. The first single for the two-person band (Borcherdt along with Leon Taheny), titled “(Into the) Atmosphere,” features intricate arrangements and a fuzzy atmospheric effect behind Borcherdt’s vocals. The album, Total Dust, is slated for a July 10 release. The 11-track record will be issued on standard CD, black vinyl as well as a limited run of 500 maroon vinyl LPs. Dusted will play The Great Hall in Toronto on May 24 along with Bruce Peninsula and will be part of this year’s North by Northeast Music Festival running June 11 to 17 in Toronto. Check out the first track here:

A map to stardom

Next big thing Cold Specks, scheduled to open for the Great Lake Swimmers on tour in May and June, released a new video for the song “Blank Maps” off her incredible debut album, I Predict A Graceful Expulsion, set for release on May 22. The video is second in a series produced by Olivier Groulx. For those who don’t know, Cold Specks is Etobicoke native Al Spx, who has basically been on fire since releasing a few songs online and playing on a few TV shows including a now well-documented appearance on Later With Jools Holland. Look out for a profile of Cold Specks in the June print edition of Post City Magazines.

You can still dance if you want to

Proving last year’s surprising series of reunion shows was no one-off cash grab, Ivan Doroschuk is set to release a new Men Without Hats album on May 22. Sure, “The Safety Dance” and “Pop Goes The World” are decades old, but Doroschuk must have been motivated after rocking’ SXSW in 2011, earning rave reviews. In a hat no less! The album, Love In The Age Of War, is produced by Dave “Rave” Ogilvie, who has also worked with Skinny Puppy and Marilyn Manson. The first single “Head Above Water” indicates there won’t be a major change in direction from Doroschuk’s jingly synth pop that took the world by storm in the band’s heyday back in the ‘80s. Listen to the first single here:

Hawkins readying new double album

According to a post on his website, Ron Hawkins is heading back into the studio with his band The Do Good Assassins for the express purpose of “laying down bedtracks for their debut double disc.” Coming from the person some (okay I) consider one of the finest songwriters this city has produced, in addition to being the singer of on-again, off-again indie band Lowest of the Low, that’s big news. The post goes on to state the album will feature 23 new songs.

In prog we trust

Toronto rock royalty Rush are readying their new album, Clockwork Angels, for a June release and have announced a massive new tour that sees the prog-rock specialists hit the Air Canada Centre on Oct. 14. The album’s first single, “Headlong Flight,” was released on April 19 and it is a killer. Check it out here:

Fashion Art Toronto wraps up with edgy — and racy — looks from House of Etiquette, Pedram Karimi and more

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1:17 pm

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Over the second half of Fashion Art Toronto, things got a little bit racier. With the themes of the two days broken down into “Bodyscapes” and “Futurescapes,” very little was left to the imagination. Montreal’s Zent and Pedram Karimi stood out with their distinctive visions, while labels like House of Etiquette and Artifice Clothing brought the likes of PVC and latex down the runway, much to the delight of the crowd.

Zent’s sense of humour came across strong in a collection that managed to be both sporty and playful — with a dash of the club thrown in for good measure. Fairly simple men’s silhouettes were given a twist thanks to unexpected fabrics; shorts were done in a black sequin, a mohair collar stood out on a shirt and a button-down featured a PVC panel at the bottom. Although much was done in sheer fabrics, our favourite looks were the patterned ones. Red-and-white houndstooth pants were matched with a sleeveless beige-on-beige button-down, while a sage-green herringbone T-shirt paired with matching shorts looked very fresh.

House of Etiquette put forth a collection comprised entirely of latex, fitting the contours of the body perfectly. Although the garments were clearly intended to titillate, we felt that many of the pieces could be incorporated into a less risqué outfit. The opening look was a standout one: a red and black geometric bustier was paired with a black pencil skirt with a peplum. We loved a sea-foam green peplum top with a front zip, while a pencil skirt in the same shade of green could be paired with a concert T-shirt and a handful of necklaces for a look that reads more downtown than dominatrix.

At Artifice Clothing, we saw fetish gear with a futuristic twist. The garments were crafted from PVC and clear plastic, with a handful of them featuring glow-in-the-dark trim, lending them a sci-fi feel. A baby blue PVC dress referenced Victorian fashions thanks to full shoulders and a series of ruffles at the hip. A see-through plastic number glowed an icy blue shade under black lights, appearing to have been plucked from the set of Tron. Meanwhile, the traditional kimono was also injected with futuristic appeal, cropped above the knee and done in salmon-coloured PVC.

The strongest collection came from Pedram Karimi. Showing a series of androgynous looks on both male and female models, this Montreal-based designer played around with shape and proportion. Using a palette of black and cream, many of the pieces appeared to be something other than what they were; the opener looked like a dress worn over leggings, but was actually a single garment, with a piece of fabric extending to the knees creating a dress-like illusion. Another innovative piece was a pair of leggings fit with a back panel, creating the illusion of a skirt when seen from behind. A long black dress with side slits featured two inventive faux-hoods protruding from the back, resulting in a look fit for an urban warrior. Definitely one to watch.

SpiritHouse opens serving barrel-aged cocktails and “aficionado” drinks

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1:17 pm

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SpiritHouse, which opened last week in the King West area, is the work of the people behind the Toronto Institute of Bartending — and they insist it’s not just another cocktail bar.

Instead, owner Len Fragomeni says this drinking spot is dedicated to getting guests to sample new and unusual drinks. “If you see something at the LCBO that you think looks interesting, but don't want to commit to buying a full bottle, chances are we have it behind the bar and you can try it,” he says.

The bar, which is housed in the same building as the bartending institute, has an industrial-chic interior that took almost two years of renovation.

The drinks menu offers a mix of seasonal cocktails and modern favourites. The bar staff will also be serving up “vintage classics,” which come from recipes that are at least 100 years old. For those with more refined palettes, or more expensive tastes, the menu also contains an “aficionado” section.

Fragomeni says that the menu is “full of things that you'd never guess would go together.” One drink, the Trinidad Sour, has two full ounces of Angostura bitters in it.

SpiritHouse offers a shareables food menu with items like bourbon-brushed mini burgers ($11) and duck poutine with duck béchamel and whiskey jus ($10).

Barrel-aged cocktails — where a cocktail is matured in a barrel and then served directly from it — are a big deal in the bartending world, and Spirithouse has its own spin on the trend.

“We’re barrel-aging our cocktails,” says Fragomeni, “but rather than serving them from the barrel we wanted to make it more personal, so we’re serving them in 250-ml wax-sealed bottles.”

On opening night, the bottled special was the Boulevardier ($48), aged in a whiskey cask for four weeks. A twist on the classic Negroni, the Boulevardier contains Bulleit bourbon, Cinzano sweet vermouth and Campari.

Buying by the bottle has an added bonus: once you’re done, you’ve got a handy bit of glassware to take home with you.

SpiritHouse, 487 Adelaide St. W., 647-277-1187. Open Tues. to Sat.

Star Trek’s Sulu to host a sci-fi concert series at Roy Thomson Hall

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1:15 pm

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Our inner geek is blissing out over this one: Star Trek’s Lieutenant Sulu is in town and he’s hosting three concerts of sci-fi tunes.

George Takei, who played the helmsman of the Starship Enterprise in the TV series and movies, will take to the stage at Roy Thomson Hall tomorrow (May 1) to host the Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s “Sci-Fi Spectacular.”

The TSO will be zipping around the galaxy playing theme tunes from classics like E.T., Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. We’re wondering whether Takei will start humming along when the orchestra strikes up the tune from Star Trek.

The concert will be conducted by Jack Everly and feature the vocal talents of soprano Kristen Plumley.

Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St., 416-872-4255. May 1 & 2. $29-$109.

AGO exhibit offers glimpse of the private Picasso

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11:34 am

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When the doors open tomorrow at the AGO’s Picasso exhibition, Torontonians will be given a deeply personal glimpse into the life of one of the 20th century’s most influential artists.

“Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris” features 147 works from the artist’s personal collection, dubbed “Picasso’s Picassos.” His works were always very personal, and those on show include paintings, sculptures and sketches of his lovers, children and friends. They cover almost his entire life, from his time as a young artist in Spain to his death in 1973 in France.

Among the pieces on display are The Death of Casagemas, one of the first works Picasso created in Paris in 1901; studies for his masterpiece, The Young Ladies of Avignon; and The Matador, a self-portrait he painted three years before his death.

“The exhibit came about through a conversation with the AGO’s director, Matthew Teitelbaum and the curator at the Musée National Picasso, Anne Baldessari.” says AGO’s executive director of curatorial, Elizabeth Smith. “Their museum is under construction so in the meantime the collection is touring the world. We’re the only Canadian stop.”

The entire exhibit is inspired by Picasso’s famous phrase, “Give me a museum and I’ll fill it.” The show has been given an unprecedented eight rooms, each dedicated to a different period in the artist’s life. A special section of the exhibit has been reserved for an encore presentation of “Picasso & Man,“ which was the artist’s first exhibit at the AGO back in 1964. Picasso was one of the few great artists whose work gained significant popularity while they were still alive, and that show was very popular.

“I think people will be struck by the range of his work and how he managed to simultaneously use different styles,” says Smith. Picasso, the father of cubism, experimented with different techniques over the course of his career, and allowed himself to be influenced by artists such as Manet and Cézanne before him.

Alongside the exhibition, the AGO is holding a number of events, including a talk on May 23 by art historian Diana Widmaier-Picasso, who is Pablo Picasso’s granddaughter.

Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas St. W., 416-979-6648. To August 26.

Morning Throwback: these men probably wish they were playing Texas hold ‘em

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8:00 am

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Back before MMA and Game of Thrones existed, what exactly did Toronto men talk about in 1898? Well, we think it went something like this: “What the heck does the word ‘Yukon’ even mean?” “So those Spaniards got a pretty raw deal with that Treaty of Paris, eh?” “I hear there's a new element called radium. Sounds pretty harmless.” Good thing for them that the National Hockey Association would soon be on its way.

Red Hot Chili Peppers serve up an energized set at ACC

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2:05 pm

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Maybe it was their newfound status as Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, maybe it was the addition of new guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, who stepped in to replace founding member John Frusciante in 2009. Whatever the reason, the Red Hot Chili Peppers served up an energized, inspired two-hour set at the Air Canada Centre Friday night in the first of two back-to-back shows, the Peppers’ first tour dates since being enshrined in the Rock Hall two weeks ago.

After opening up with “Monarchy of Roses,” a single off the mixed-reviewed album I’m With You (2011), the band jumped right into a string of classic, reliable hits that included “Can’t Stop,” “Dani California” and “Otherside.” In typical Peppers fashion, frontman Anthony Kiedis limited his crowd interaction, keeping the set compact. But bassist Flea did show Toronto some love at the end of the three-song encore by shouting out to what’s been nearly 30 years of the band performing here.

The group demonstrated the maturing effect that those 30 years have had within their performance. Sure, the Peppers had their fun, with Anthony Kiedis and Flea rocking a pair of signature quirky fashion statements and the bare-chested bassist busting out a handstand before launching into “Around the World”. But the days of Kiedis and co. recklessly bouncing around the stage are over. Kiedis, for the most part, remained behind the mic stand and, as a result, conserved the necessary energy to let his vocals echo throughout the arena, particularly during “The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie” and “Californication.”

When Kiedis’ booming voice wasn’t being prominently featured, the band had some powerful instrumentals to fall back on. In addition to Flea, Klinghoffer and drummer Chad Smith, the band boasted Brazilian percussionist Mauro Refosco, who was featured on “I’m With You” and is currently touring with them, and keyboardist Chris Warren. The two founding members gave Klinghoffer, Smith, Refosco and Warren a moment in the spotlight as they all jammed to open the encore.

The only downside of the evening was that the set could have been a longer. With 10 albums to fall back on, the raucous crowd of 14,200 (which clearly featured some of the band’s original fans as well as some new, younger supporters) would have gladly stayed on their feet another hour to hear the Peppers continue cranking out hits. “Scar Tissue,” “Snow (Hey Oh)” and “Aeroplane” were among the notable songs not played.

Red Hot Chili Peppers play the Air Canada Centre again tonight (April 28).

What the Fashion Tweeps are Saying: April 27

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4:35 pm

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Every week, we gather our favourite tweets from in and around Toronto’s fashion scene. This week: exclusive deals from @FashionCanada and @ShopDealuxe, and sad news from the Betsey Johnson HQ.

Winter has returned and a legendary designer is disappearing. Such sad news to learn via @NathAt:

At a gala for 4 hours; emerge to discover that a) it's November outside & b) Betsey Johnson has filed for Chapter 11?! https://on.wsj.com/IsAdVn

The only questions left to ask @SidewalkHustle is, “Now, what to wear!?”

Did you hear @Osheaga & @VirginMobileCan have added 25 new bands / dj's to the line up? Too good to be true right!? https://su.pr/2X7pC0

We’ve had our eye on this Montreal designer ever since we first heard about her through Queen Blogger @susiebubble. Free shipping via @FashionCanada gives us more reason to go on an online spree!

Online Store of the Week: Haven’t heard of the Montreal-based Etsy shop @Norwegian_Wood? https://stjo.es/JJhlVE

We’ve always wondered how @ladygaga got her mega hot bod, and now we know her secrets!

I just had a major Jane Fonda moment in my hotel room. Some sort of Asian aerobic fusion dance to techno music. #YES

Why sport basic black or brown leather bags this season when you can go BRIGHT (and Canadian made) from @ShopDealuxe instead?

The wait is over! The @RootsCanada exclusive collab for Dealuxe is here. Shop now & get a free gift with your purchase. https://ow.ly/aszTM

New doc tells the story of Secret Pickle Supper Club

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3:05 pm

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A new documentary by Brilynn Ferguson delves into the world of Secret Pickle Supper Club, a travelling supper club in Toronto that shuns expensive bottle service and other pretentions, focusing instead on creating an original and top-notch dining experience.

The documentary follows Secret Pickle co-creators Alexa Clark and Matt Kantor as they prepare for their next soiree and recounts how they began their dining experiment. With Kantor acting as executive chef and Clark working the front of house, the duo has made Secret Pickle a must-attend event.

In other news, Kantor, who also runs Little Kitchen catering service, will be opening a new Spanish-inspired restaurant called Bakio at Dundas and Dovercourt later this year.

Theatre Review: You Can’t Take It With You

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1:11 pm

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It is a pleasure to see Soulpepper Theatre’s superb production of You Can’t Take It With You, the Pulitzer Prize-winning American comedy by Kaufman and Hart. And knowing that this very special offering will run in repertory in the Distillery District into the middle of June, only adds to the happiness.

The pedigree of its creators certainly increases interest in the play: Moss Hart was a giant of Broadway during the middle of the 20th century. His co-author George S. Kaufman was an even larger figure both on Broadway and in Hollywood, famous for writing, amongst other things, two of the Marx Brothers’ earliest Broadway plays: Cocoanuts and Animal Crackers. One might call Kaufman the Woody Allen of the first six decades of the last century, and one of the funniest artists of the past millennium.

Is You Can’t Take It With You dated? Of course. The play reeks of the 1930s: the end of Prohibition, the agonies of The Great Depression, the disaster of communism. But is it still relevant? For the most part, yes. Most of the jokes are still surprisingly fresh, especially when they are directed with perfect timing by Joseph Ziegler, and performed by some of the best actors working in Canada today.

Dangerously, the play mixes comedy with great gobs of sentimentality and even gooey, awkward young love. It is a risky combination, and one you will either love or hate. You may even resent the long lecture in the play’s last few minutes, given by the Grandpa of the Sycamore family (played by the brilliant comic actor Eric Peterson).

Enjoy life, we are told; follow your passions; don’t pay your taxes because the government will only waste your money; make your life one of non-stop pleasure — after all, you can’t take it with you. That’s such a great line: you feel a swell of delight shoot through the audience when the title of this classic is almost tossed off by Grandpa.

Frank Capra, the occasionally magnificent Hollywood director (It’s a Wonderful Life), chose to direct a movie version of this great Kaufman and Hart comedy, and it was pretty good. But even the gifted Capra couldn’t find stars with the magic of Soulpepper’s Krystin Pellerin (as Alice, the young female love interest), Maria Vacratsis (Olga, a financially struggling Russian duchess) or Diego Matamoros (who almost steals the show as an exiled Russian dance teacher).

You Can’t Take It With You contains some of the funniest lines ever written for American theatre, and the packed opening night audience was often howling uncontrollably. The running gags of Grandpa keeping pet snakes, fireworks going off in the basement and the borderline-insane Sycamore family and their boarders (the mother of which is well-played by Nancy Palk) provide a steady stream of laughs.

You Can’t Take It With You is certainly not one of the “greatest stories” that Soulpepper is mandated to produce, but I’m so glad I experienced this true American classic by Kaufman and Hart. And for all its dated gags, you’ll have a grand ol’ time. Go!

Young Centre for Performing Arts, 55 Mill St., 416-866-8666. To June 21.

Fashion Art Toronto: like Fashion Week, only crazier

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12:25 pm

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Fashion Art Toronto — recently renamed from Alternative Fashion Week — is Fashion Week’s younger and more expressive cousin. Held in a loft space on Sterling Road (next to the Nestlé chocolate factory, which emits mouthwatering aromas), the festival gives up-and-coming designers a chance to expose their creations to an open-minded and alternative crowd. Alongside the runway shows you’ll find this fashion event’s unique selling point: art, and lots of it.

This year, attendees can meander through an installation exhibit featuring video projections and live performances. There’s also a wall of fashion photography, presented in conjunction with Germany’s Goethe-Institut, showcasing the work of select Berlin-based photographers. All this makes for a rather convivial atmosphere, although admittedly we did miss the live music acts from last year’s event.

The event is held over four days, each with a different theme. The first day focused on landscapes, while day two explored cityscapes. Standout designers from the first half of the week included Armour by Seema, Angela Sum, Parade and the well-loved Emily Woudenberg. While Fashion Art Toronto does sometimes have overtly crafty leanings — and a fondness for fetish gear — these designers have coherent visions that translate into strong market potential.

Check out the gallery below for pics from the shows

Emily Woudenberg — one of the top 20 finalists for the Mercedes-Benz Start Up — is a talented designer who refuses to stick to just one design outlet. Having recently crafted unique concrete jewellery for Line, the designer’s fall/winter collection was inspired by ’90s fashion and media egos. The androgynous garments were all covetable; a look worn by a male model paired an emerald green and black tee with hunter-green trousers, while various garments featured a taupe Ben-day dot print. Accompanying most looks were hefty rope necklaces starring beetles suspended in resin.

At Armour by Seema, designer Seema Patel matched feminine floral-print garments with masculine leather pieces, which referenced historical body armour. The opening look featured a tan leather corset fitted over a cotton dress, while a leather “sleeve” elevated a basic tee into something far more avant-garde.

Angela Sum’s collection was inspired by wintery things like snowstorms, ice and glaciers. The designer played with texture, and used a colour palette of white and its closest kin; a softened neon green broke up the monochromaticism. Favourite looks included a knobby, slouchy knit that fell off the shoulder with ease, and a gently draped silk gauze dress with a hint of neon green and pink at the hem.

At Parade, Ryerson grad Cailin Banks matched boiled wool with metallic leathers to great effect. Although some of the pieces featured leather patchworks — somewhat reminiscent of those ’90s patchwork leather bags — the majority of the garments use the leathers in a more restrained manner. As of late, we seem to be seeing more use of metallic and lamés on the runway; unfortunately more often than not, they read as cheap. Banks managed to avoid this pitfall by adding just a hint of it; a sliver of pale green peeked from the back of a cape, while a pair of well-cut wool pants was edged in dark blue. Meanwhile, patchwork bandeaus would be a fun addition to any outfit.

Fashion Art Toronto, 213 Sterling Rd. To April 28.

Korean franchise Bulgogi Brothers is coming to the GTA, offering — wait for it — bulgogi

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11:54 am

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Popular Korean franchise Bulgogi Brothers is opening its first North American location in Richmond Hill next month, offering several types of bulgogi (including the slightly creepy heart-shaped version) along with other Korean standards such as galbi, bibimbap and cold noodle soup.

The Korean barbecue-style restaurant will have capacity for around 200, we’re told, and will feature an “innovative ventilation system” to clear out barbecue aftermath. Bulgogi Brothers will also feature traditional Korean alcohol such as soju and makgeolli.

Bulgogi Brothers has around 30 locations in Korea and recently began expanding abroad, opening its first international location in the Philippines last year. The Richmond Hill location is expected to open in early May, and keep an eye out for other Toronto locations to start popping up soon.

Bulgogi Brothers, 140 York Blvd., 905-731-5252