Title: Stars
Location: Toronto
Link out: Click here
Date: 2008-12-08

In my other life, I cover the mobile technology scene, and happened to be in Toronto for Telus’ launch of the BlackBerry Storm. You wouldn’t expect to find one of Canada’s most preeminent bands at such an event, but Stars were there to rock the house and seriously up the cool factor. I was able to snag a few videos before my camera died. You can see the rest after the jump, and I’ve posted Stars upcoming shows below.

Thursday December 11th, 2008 Toronto, ON – Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Friday December 12th, 2008 Toronto, ON – Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Saturday December 13th, 2008 Toronto, ON – Queen Elizabeth Theatre

[Editor's Note: We're sorry but we had to take the video down. It is now only available for a limited time at StreetCarnage.com]

Our good friend Pinky who does TV Carnage, directed the new Crystal Castles video for the track “Vanished”. Here is what he had to say about it:

Presenting the debut of the Crystal Castles video for VANISHED directed by PINKY of TV CARNAGE along with the loving involvement of Sir Vernon Chatman. Crystal Castles asked to have a video done without them appearing in it, so we discussed creating something that would involve eerie stupidity that warmed the soul and could possibly be turned into a sitcom or BET comedy special. We arrived at this. A video meticulously rammed together in the last week of May 2008 (including awesome choreography by Megan Kain) and shot at Union Pool in Brooklyn, NY.

The video has won some sort of thing in Berlin and is apparently sluttishly embraced by the Europeans.
God bless their cotton socks.

Special thanks to Ari Fishman of Petite Monster who is the only maniac who can produce this sort of thing at a moments notice.

P.S. I am also taking this opportunity to announce my candidacy for Chris Tartarro’s love. He sat in my crack den of an apartment for 2 days with a laptop atop his lap, helping me edit this thing.

Abnominal’s back with some updated concert listings and you’re damn right I’ve posted this video again. I can’t get it out of my head! Go on, watch it. And when you love it, go check out one of these upcoming shows!

10 Oct 2008 22:00 Hip-Hop Karaoke @ Revival Toronto
11 Oct 2008 20:00 Mod Club Toronto
11 Oct 2008 22:00 DoRight Saturday @ Supermarket Toronto
17 Oct 2008 20:00 “Serious as Cancer” Supermarket Toronto
25 Oct 2008 15:30 Pop!Tech Conference Camden, Maine
2 Nov 2008 13:00 Bunch Family Dance Party @ Lula Lounge Toronto

I think maybe the reason people are feeling detached from a lot of the music that gets played on the radio today is because everyone’s trying so hard to be their own island, their own original person,” she says. “But it’s not important what makes you stand out – what’s important is how connected to everything you are. Everyone’s trying so hard to do something brand new, something they think people need or want, but really, we don’t need anything but what we already have. — Serena Ryder

If the video doesn’t motivate you to go check out Serena Ryder in concert, my idle threats should. DO IT!

16 Oct 2008 21:00 Majestic Theatre Madison, Wisconsin
17 Oct 2008 21:00 Varsity Theatre Minneapolis, Minnesota
18 Oct 2008 20:00 Shank Hall Milwaukee, Wisconsin
20 Oct 2008 20:00 The Hub Live Cedar Falls, Iowa
21 Oct 2008 20:00 Iowa State University Ames, Iowa
22 Oct 2008 20:00 Blueberry Hill St. Louis, Missouri
24 Oct 2008 21:00 Subterranean Chicago, Illinois
25 Oct 2008 21:00 Subterranean Chicago, Illinois
26 Oct 2008 19:30 The Ark Ann Arbor, Michigan
28 Oct 2008 20:00 Southgate house Newport, Kentucky
29 Oct 2008 20:00 Beachland Ballroom Cleveland, Ohio
30 Oct 2008 21:00 Rex Theatre Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
31 Oct 2008 20:00 Water Street Music Hall Rochester, New York

This is the music video for ‘Little Black Dress’ by previously mentioned Toronto jazz diva Dione Taylor. The video was directed by Cylla Von Tiedemann, produced by Riddle Films, and funded by Bravo!FACT.

Stay tuned to TransCanada Radio for upcoming concert dates for the fabulous Dione Taylor.

Julie Ann Bertram has posted her first and second albums, Jab and Ecstatic Songs respectively, on her website. She’s a fantastic musician, as I’ve mentioned before, so be sure to check out the albums while you can!

Julie Ann Bertram is right here: http://www.julieannbertram.com/

Bringin’ It Back: The latest video from God Made Me Funky’s latest album ‘Enter The Beat’ Available iTunes and CD.

These guys were a BLAST to hang out with at NXNE back in June — a total blast. I caught their show at Sunshine Records on Yonge and then followed up the show with burritos and story time down the street. All around great people and fantastic musicians! Sadly all of my hilarious video footage from that day’s been lost. I’ll sum it up for you: It started with awesome, awesome music and ended with a talking burrito and Coke coming out of my nose. Got the picture?

Now, these guys have a small request from us (you and me and all of you who love awesome music, that is): The latest GMMF single, ‘Too Shy’, has just been released to radio nation wide. Go, request the single (please?). Call into your college station mix shows and ask them for some God Made Me Funky! Shout it from the roof tops, etc. Give these guys some love!

(Wanna see another super cool video from GMMF? Check this out! I have this song in my head for days at a time.)

18 Sep 2008 21:30 Lydia’s Pub SASKATOON, Saskatchewan
19 Sep 2008 22:00 Dickens Pub CALGARY, Alberta
20 Sep 2008 22:00 Lyrics Bar GOLDEN, British Columbia
21 Sep 2008 21:30 Rose and Crown BANFF, British Columbia
23 Sep 2008 21:30 The Drake Inn CANMORE, British Columbia
27 Sep 2008 19:00 Cincinnati MidPoint Music Festival CINCINNATI, Ohio
28 Sep 2008 21:00 Boulder Coffee Co. ROCHESTER, New York
1 Oct 2008 22:00 Arlene’s Grocery NEW YORK, New York
2 Oct 2008 21:30 Merlin’s BUFFALO, New York
4 Oct 2008 20:30 Funk N’ Waffles SYRACUSE, New York
16 Oct 2008 22:00 The Mansion House St. CATHERINES, Ontario
18 Oct 2008 22:00 Revival Toronto, Ontario

In May I told you all about this awesome young songstress, now Asheville, Salem, Delmar… she’s coming your way, so get out there and check her out!

Upcoming concert dates:
Sept 13, 2008 7pm Grey Eagle – Benefit Concert Asheville, NC
Sept 14, 2008 8am Jubilee Community Asheville, NC
Sept 14, 2008 7pm Elk Mountain House Concert Series Asheville, NC
Sept 19, 2008 7:30pm Cyd & Wendi’s Place Salem, NY
Sept 20, 2008 8pm Salem Art Works Salem NY
Sept 21, 2008 2pm Java Jazz cafe Delmar, NY

Here’s an update for you: If you haven’t yet seen Royal Wood in concert, do yourself a huge favour and make sure to be at Hugh’s Room on August 14th (that’s Thursday, folks) or at the Peterborough Folk Festival on August 22nd. If you missed my glowing recommendation of Royal Wood the first time around, be sure to check it out. And, as further convincing – check out the video above. How can you resist that voice? (…and that pretty face? Heh.)

Upcoming shows:
14 Aug 2008 20:00 Hugh’s Room with Laura Barrett Toronto
22 Aug 2008 12:00 Peterborough Folk Festival Peterborough

Canadian Music Mix, Part One!

Happy Canada Day, fellow Canadians! And to the rest of my readers, happy Tuesday!

If you’re Canadian, you already know that we celebrate nearly everything with music! So, here at TransCanada Radio, we want to know — are you celebrating Canada Day in style? Seeing some of the awesome music that this country has to offer? Tell us about your Canada Day musical adventures – we’re dying to hear all about it!

And now, for your viewing pleasure, here are some of Canada’s biggest and best put together into three cool music mix videos! Be sure to check it out!

Canadian Music Mix, Part Two!

Canadian Music Mix, Part Three!

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