Going deep
Deep Dark Woods is back in Toronto tonight for a show at Adelaide Hall. It'll be the first time the band has touched down in the city with their new, boy wonder guitarist Clayton Linthicum in the house. With their new player comes a cool new sound as the band ventures aggressively into bold sonic territory on their fine new album, Jubilee. Head woodsman Ryan Boldt first heard Linthicum and his cousin Kacy Anderson in a small town in Saskatchewan, close to his home.
"It was three years ago, he was 15 and his cousin was maybe 12 or 13," says Boldt. "They were better than pretty much every band I've seen going right now. Pretty weird, 15 and 12 and pretty much better than everyone. When Burke (former guitarist Burke Barlow) decided to leave the band in December of last year, it was the perfect opportunity for Clayton to get involved. His cousin is still in high school, so they don't really play a whole lot yet."
According to Boldt, a number of songs on Jubilee were the result of his and Linthicum's collaboration. And much of the album was recorded in a remote cabin with the band and producer Jonathan Wilson squirrelled away for a couple of weeks intent on making the magic happen.
"We definitely went stir crazy that's for sure, three weeks in a cabin with seven dudes," says Boldt. "But it was a lot of fun. It had been so long since we actually got together and deployed music for the fun of it again, you know. We weren't really thinking about anything other than having fun and playing music. That's the way music is supposed to be. And you can kind of tell on on the record, for sure, I think."
There are many songs on the album that will keep the long-time fans happy, but also enough upbeat, jam numbers to carve out larger territory for the seriously talented group to actually get some increased and much-deserved attention. The showstopper might be the final track on the album, the sprawling 10+ minute song, "The Same Thing," that is epic.
Boldt explains: "Since getting Clayton it has opened up a whole new type of Blues music that we could start playing. Like Howlin' Wolf sort of blues stuff. I just thought I'd try and write a blues song and that's what came out. It turned out to be this Pink Floyd of jam in the middle…. It is probably, one of my favourite tunes on the album."
Deep Dark Woods plays at Adelaide Hall tonight. Go, have your fun.
Last stand
Legendary Toronto punk band Viletones is back playing a show at the Phoenix on Friday, Dec. 13. Ya, Friday the 13th. Seems a fitting night for the last Viletones concert. Joining vocalist and original member Steven Leckie for the historic show is a killer lineup of local luminaries Ian Blurton on lead guitar, Scott McCullough of Rusty on guitar, Damon Richardson of Danko Jones on drums and John Sutton of Weakerthans on bass. Ya, that qualifies as a super-group and guarantees a memorable night of loud and proud music as Viletones celebrate their final gig. Check out this video for a taste of the band in all its decrepit glory.
Sticking with it
Long-time Toronto musicians Gregory Hoskins and Gary Craig are celebrating the release of a new album The Map of Above, The Map of Below with a show at the Drake Underground on Nov. 26. Hoskins has been a favourite of the Toronto music scene for years, including his fine work as Gregory Hoskins and The Stickpeople back in the '90s. The roots/folk duo's performance includes special guests Captain Dirt & The Skirt. Check out this incredible song "Providence Line" from the new album.
The colour of money
Juno Award-winning singer and songwriter Dallas Green has announced a new set of Canadian tour dates in support of his hit City and Colour record The Hurry and The Harm. Tickets go on sale Nov. 16 for his spring date May 9 at Air Canada Centre in his hometown of Toronto. His latest album is certainly more amped up then earlier soft and sensitive releases, but it will be interesting to see how his sound fills the cavernous arena. Check out City and Colour below.
The forgiven
Breakout Toronto sensation Austra released a new video for their tune "Forgive Me," off their latest release Olympia. The band is also releasing a single of the song along with two new "B" sides "Hopeless Place" and "Holy Place," which will be available digitally on Nov. 26 at the Paper Bag Records store. Austra is Katie Stelmanis, Maya Postepski and Dorian Thornton and are joined on tour by Ryan Wosniak.
