CMF round-up

Wed, Mar 11

LIONESS Rating: NNN

It’s impressive how much noise Toronto’s Lioness can make with just drums, bass and vocals (and occasional electronic squeals). The disco-grunge trio were clearly in command of the capacity crowd at the Gladstone. Expect big things from them this year.

Benjamin Boles

Thu, Mar 12

DUCHESS SAYS Rating: NNNN

Nine pm is way too fucking early for Duchess Says’ buzz-saw synth rock. The Montreal quartet, fronted by captivating Annie-Claude Deschenes, are at their chaotic best when both band and audience are liquoured up. Still, they got the El Mocambo crowd moving. Too bad a stage manager cut them off before their best song, In Serial.

Jordan Bimm

CASTLEMUSIC Rating: NNN

Jennifer Castle’s voice, lyrics and folky tunes are undeniably gorgeous, but her out-of-tune guitar distracted, and she sang so softly that the half-packed Gladstone collectively held its tongue – and breath – just to hear her.

Carla Gillis

MALAJUBE Rating: NNNN

There was a large and rowdy francophone presence at the El Mocambo for Malajube’s set of prog rock indie pop, making it feel like the band was a Montreal hometown show. Currently, their sound is a weirdo experimental take on the anthemic pop of Wolf Parade and Arcade Fire, and it works even better live than on record.

BB

RADIO RADIO Rating: NN

This four-member Moncton rap group sound (and look) a lot like Paris, France’s TTC. Both wear flashy outfits and rap primarily in French over banging club beats. But this El Mo show proved the difference is that Radio Radio come down on the wrong side of cheesy and have arrived on the scene with too little too late.

JB

THE WEEK THAT WAS Rating: NNNN

The Field Music brothers plus two mates executed note-perfect, slimmed-down versions of their proggy songs, rocking out woodblocks, slender riffs, choppy beats and vocals sung in unison. Sparse Gladstone attendance allowed for easy viewing.

CG

WE ARE WOLVES Rating: NNNN

Montreal trio We Are Wolves have long been a mainstay on the indie and electro circuits, and the upscale, somewhat corporate El Mo crowd was loving their synth-and-drum-machine-anchored punky garage rock. With a drummer who plays standing up and a balls-out bassist/frontman, We Are Wolves will hopefully fill the void left by Death from Above 1979.

JB

Fri, Mar 13

KIDSTREET Rating: NNNN

This new Waterloo trio makes sugar-sweet, energy-packed indie bangers that would fit perfectly between Bocce and the Go! Team on a mix. Their propulsive beats, inventive vocal hooks and oh-so-catchy synth lines won over the Supermarket. Keep an eye on these kids.

JB

THE MARK INSIDE Rating: NNNN

After spending a few frustrating years sorting out label shit, the bluesy local garage quartet is again on the verge of taking on the world (and SXSW next week). Their sold-out Silver Dollar show found the band in fine form thanks to a winter UK tour with the Hold Steady, striding through songs from Nothing To Admit, set to drop in April.

JB

DJ SEGA Rating: NNN

The Drake basement was packed like a can of sardines when Philadelphia’s DJ Sega took to the turntables for a raw and dirty set of Baltimore-club-influenced beats. He’s definitely a crowd-pleaser, but expect the young DJ to improve like a fine wine as he ages and grows into his own style.

BB

THRE3 STYLE DJ CONTEST Rating: NNNN

The national final of this DJ showdown pitted a cross-Canada contingent of party rockers against each other. Halifax’s Cosmo overcame technical difficulties to snatch the crown from nine others, though hometown hero DJ Mensa’s interaction with the Circa crowd earned him second place. Vancouver’s P-Luv, with his Lite-Brite jacket, won the style contest, though.

Addi Stewart

PRIESTESS Rating: NNNN

The Montreal rockers gave a packed Sneaky Dee’s a frenzy of whipping hair, double-neck Gibsons and speedy riffage, yet it took till the third-last song for a mosh pit to start (okay by me, seeing as it flattened everyone). Blame the 90-minute wait in line.

CG

Sat, Mar 14

NECRO Rating: NNN

Once a year, Necro lurches onstage – this time, at the Opera House – and brings out the superfreaks. There’s brutal nudity, rhyme violence, moshing rap-rock nihilism and an enormous, adoring cult. Madness is a Necro show in Toronto.

AS

PEACHCAKE Rating: N

If it’s possible to defile a place called Trash Palace, then props go to Arizona’s Peachcake. Amidst the B-movie posters and garage rock schlock decor, the keyboard-based puberty pop unit, fronted by possibly the worst singer at CMF, jumped around tunelessly bellowing about peace and love. A set-time countdown clock adjacent to the stage provided something to watch.

Jason Keller

GREAT BLOOMERS Rating: NNN

Photo By Nic Pouliot

Melodically gifted local upstarts Great Bloomers proved at Trash Palace that the hype surrounding their upcoming debut album is warranted. Their rustic-tinged tunes display the band’s precocious knack for Constantines-like grit rock.

JK

RURAL ALBERTA ADVANTAGE Rating: NNN

Although the Neutral Milk comparisons are valid, the intersecting vocals of Nils Edenloff and Amy Cole from Toronto’s blog-hyped Rural Alberta Advantage created a unique dynamic at this Trash Palace show, one that flows melodiously over a skittering backbeat. Strangely, no songs about the fluctuating price of oil.

JK

DOG DAY Rating: NNN

Halifax’s most underrated band won over the half-full Drake Underground with Cape Breton-accented stage banter and dark, melodic tunes from their new album, due out next month.

CG

VALERY GORE Rating: NNNN

Toronto’s Valery Gore turned in a charming set of quirky jazz-influenced piano pop, winning over the crowded and sweaty Supermarket. Turns out you can still rock a crowd while sitting behind a keyboard, although it helps to have punchy horns and a tight rhythm section. Accessible enough for radio, and clever enough for critics.

BB

TING TINGS Rating: NNN

Brit jingle pop duo the Ting Tings are like eating candy for dinner. Pretty awesome at first, but the sugar rush doesn’t satiate. That said, live is the best way to take them. At the Mod Club, singer/guitarist/key tapper Katie White had a Disneyland bounce while Jules De Martino negotiated both guitar and drums, giving the awestruck young fans ting-tingles.

Paul Terefenko