Everywhere we turn, Toronto musicians are forming crazier and crazier tribute bands. A countrified Iron Maiden cover band (Copper Lassie, featuring Our Founders’ Mike Olsen)? CCRR – the Creedence Clearwater Revival Revival – at the Cameron House on Saturday (March 1)? Now, with the launch of local cover band booking agency Born Rebels, expect the trend to intensify.
The company focuses on bands that go beyond top 40 set lists, and so far the roster includes Sheezer (women covering early Weezer), the Black Pearls (Traveling Wilburys, etc), Tommy Youngsteen (a mix of Tom Petty, Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen), the Mercenaries (1950s soul-rock), Hot Rock (Rolling Stones, the Band, etc), and dance-party starters Big Sound and Loving in the Name of.
Video Stars
The Prism Prize announced its 10 best Canadian videos list last week, and a handful of T.O. acts made the cut, including hip-hop electronic trio Keys N Krates (song: Dum Dee Dum, director: Amos LeBlanc), indie poppers Hollerado (song: So It Goes, director Marc Ricciardelli) and international rap star Drake (song: Started From The Bottom, director X). The winner, to be announced at a gala on March 23, will take home 5 grand. There’s also an audience award, voted on by the general public, who can watch vids and get their vote on at prismprize.com.
NXNE, round 2
Toronto’s biggest and baddest music festival, North By Northeast, has announced its second wave of bold-face performers. And there’s plenty to get excited about, regardless of what you’re into. For rock fans, prolific Austin quartet Spoon for hip-hop heads, A$AP mobber A$AP Ferg and alt-hip-hop emcee Le1f for experimental minds, psychedelic space-rocking band Spiritualized for those wanting something a little harder, badass punk-rockers Perfect Pussy, Brooklyn noise duo Sleigh Bells and local noise-rockers METZ for electronic fiends, Ryan Hemsworth, Fuck Buttons and Tim Hecker. Plus, some artists we’ve just been totally digging around the NOW offices of late: Alvvays, Juan Wauters and Mutual Benefit. Happily, that just scratches the surface. See all the new additions, plus the complete list of previously announced acts at nxne.com.
