Official Blog of City Sonic Toronto

This Saturday Toronto’s favourite melodic folk band is coming home to play a show at Trinity-St. Paul United Church. The show will no doubt be incredible, but if you waited too long to get tickets, you’re out of luck.

But don’t consider yourself out of options if you planned on seeing Tony Dekker and company in action. It turns out in addition to the band’s show on Saturday, Great Lake Swimmers is putting on an all ages show TONIGHT at Sonic Boom!! And get this….it’s FREE!! The band has asked however that you bring a non-perishable food item when you show up.

Now if you feel completely hopeless because you’re out of town for the weekend and have to miss both shows, Social Media Week has got you covered. They’re streaming Friday night’s show HERE starting at 6:30pm. So there’s really no excuse to miss Great Lake Swimmers this weekend.

Downloading has forever changed the way we get introduced to new music. It only takes a few clicks from home to have any music you want right away. This isn’t anything new, but despite the efforts of the record labels, shopping for real music is still in serious jeopardy.

But there is hope. Thanks in large-part to DJ’s during the 1990’s, vinyl records stuck around and have been ever so slowly making a comeback with sales that improve each year. CD sales still squash vinyl, but everyone agrees that there seems to be something eternal about music on a record.

Keeping that it mind, wouldn’t it make sense to make a switch in your collection now? If CD’s are really a thing of the past, buying new music on vinyl only makes sense if you want something that lasts. Not to mention the benefits of buying music from a real person, with a real passion for music.

So make time this weekend to get to a record store, talk with other music lovers, and start your record collection. Could be something new, something old, something you’ve never listened to, or something that you’ve heard 1000 times. The wonderful thing about vinyl is it’s like listening to your music again for the very first time. An experience no iPad can match.

It shouldn’t take a major natural disaster in Haiti for us to get out and donate to those in need. There are already millions who suffer everyday from manmade destruction. Tonight Buck 65 is kicking off a new year of ‘Dakota Nights for War Child‘, with an intimate performance at the Dakota Tavern.

War Child is one of Canada’s most trusted charities providing urgently needed humanitarian assistance to war-affected children around the world. They’ve already worked with major Canadian musicians like Tegan and Sara, and past Dakota Nights have included artists like Luke Doucet, Sloan, and Serena Ryder.

The night wraps up with a late performance from Catl! An unbelievable bluegrass punk band from right here in Toronto. You might recognize them from their NOW magazine cover currently on newsstands.

Tickets are $30 — doors open at 7pm.

Friday morning has taken a long time to get here, but Friday night will be here before you know it. So fast that you’ll find yourself somewhere between 7 and 8pm wondering what to do with your life. I suggest putting such important questions aside and going to see Little Girls at Sneaky Dee’s.

Now despite what that sounds like, this isn’t the kind of show that could possibly get you arrested (although it’s a bar so that’s still entirely plausible). Little Girls is the lo-fi alternative pop-rock sensation developed by artist Josh McIntyre. They were one of the most blogged about bands last year, and Blog TO recently named them their #1 pick for Toronto bands in 2009 saying they were quote “easily the brightest band coming out of Toronto”.

With all that hype it’s no wonder the band is already under scrutiny for getting too big too fast. Still there’s only one way to find out for yourself. Show up at Sneaky Dee’s, Little Girls go on at 10.

Here at City Sonic we’re not just interested in 20 specific locations. Each one of us loves music and we know how important every club, bar, or stage is to contributing to the amazing scene that is Toronto music. In a recent article published in the Toronto Star, Nick Krewen reflects on the upcoming closing of the Big Bop, and lists the many music venues we’ve already lost like The Riverboat and Concert Hall.

We may be powerless to save the venues we love as they change hands, succumb to the wrecking ball, or become the next Starbucks, but we can keep the stories alive. The “I was there” memories of a great concert or chance encounter with a favourite artist aren’t just boasting: they contribute to the legacy of that place.

So get out while you still can and create some of your own “I was there” moments. The Dayglo Abortions are playing back-to-back shows at The Big Bop this weekend, which should help its legendary reputation last a little longer. The Big Bop officially closes its doors January 31st, appropriately without a grand final farwell.

Rock on,
Scott M