JUST ANNOUNCED

In case you missed it, at the end of last week we announced that the folks at Unique Lives & Experiences and The Toronto Star are bringing Penn & Teller to Massey Hall. Conversations with Penn & Teller. Celebrating “35 years of Magic and BS,” the pair promise an evening filled with their signature performance style plus an audience Q & A. Penn & Teller have been busy fellas – their Showtime television show has received 11 Emmy nominations and the 2004 WGA award for Outstanding Comedy/Variety Series, they’ve released an iPhone app (with which you can trick your friends into thinking you’re texting with Penn & Teller themselves), and they were recently featured in the Katy Perry music video “Waking Up in Vegas.”

WEB WATCH

As you may recall, Soundboard is a fan of Broken Bells. While the initial buzz about the video for their song, “The Ghost Inside,” featuring Christina Hendricks (whom you may know as one Mrs. Joan Harris née Holloway) has started to subside, we thought it was worth having another look because Mad Men’s new season premiered this weekend – if you haven’t seen it yet, now is the time!

Back on planet earth, the UK is currently carefully considering who to add to the “Great Briton” club – members of which are lucky enough to have their faces grace one side of a collectible coin issued by the Royal Mint. One of the contenders for this round is none other than the legendary John Lennon – this is particularly notable as the only other musically inclined “British hero” featured on one of these coins thus far is Sir Edward Elgar (who composed your favourite graduation march, Pomp and Circumstance). We learned from chartattack that just anybody can vote for their fave here until July 31.

You may have seen yesterday’s post about Roy Thomson Hall’s star appearance in the SAW 3D movie trailer. Roy Thomson Hall is no slouch when it comes to film appearances – it’s not too long ago that Professor Charles Xavier was wheeling about in our Lobbies for the filming of X-Men) you can see screenshots over on Torontoist of that moment and others filmed here in Toronto). Massey Hall has had plenty of screen-time as well – recall this post about The Time Traveler’s Wife and The Corruptor (not to mention Geddy Lee’s appearance in one of the special City Sonic short films.)

AUDIO-FILE

Stars, who perform at Massey Hall on Saturday, October 23 recently performed for Spinner.com’s the Interface.  Be sure to watch all of the chapters to see tracks “Fixed,” “Dead Hearts,” “How Much More,” and “I Died So I Could Haunt You,” as well as an interview.

Stefania Paterak is programming coordinator at Massey Hall & Roy Thomson Hall

You are probably wondering why Soundboard is posting about a horror movie like SAW 3D. Aside from the fact that I think its going to be awesome -- if you watch the Youtube trailer (below), you’ll see that Roy Thomson Hall has a cameo in the film! The movie was actually shot at Metro Square, just  outside of the Hall this past March and the Hall is clearly visible the film! We make an appearance in the trailer… well not us but our fabulous building, which was used for wardrobe and artist dressing rooms. This is Roy Thomson Hall’s debut in a horror flick.

The preview looks super exciting and the fact that its in 3D also makes it a must see. It also appears as though they are taking the series to the next level. The synopsis on IMDB says ” As a deadly battle rages over Jigsaw’s brutal legacy, a group of Jigsaw survivors gathers to seek the support of self-help guru and fellow survivor Bobby Dagen, a man whose own dark secrets unleash a new wave of terror.”  Sounds scary -- even for this horror buff!

I for one can’t wait to see it! Care to join me for popcorn?

Lisa Bassett is Marketing and New Media Associate at Massey Hall & Roy Thomson Hall

PERFORMANCES

Peter Frampton (Thursday): Frampton’s career properly took off in 1976 with his epic album Frampton Comes Alive! which features the songs we now know, love, and call classic – “Show Me the Way,” “Baby, I Love Your Way,” and “Do You Feel Like We Do” – and was the best selling album of all time (to that point). True Story: Peter Frampton began his musical journey with a Banjolele – a “banjo-shaped ukulele.” I wish I could say I made up this word but it’s totally legit – it’s pretty much the best word mash-up since liger. Also very cool: you can make your very own banjolele. While I would be surprised if Frampton cracks out ye olde banjolele on Thursday, I am certain that he will bring the awesome sounds that have made him the legend he is (legendary enough, in fact, to have appeared on both The Simpsons and Family Guy).

WEB WATCH

While it may seem like early days yet for the flurry of TIFF-related blog posts here on Soundboard, the delightful tidbits have started to drop from the TIFF office including this one: Score: A Hockey Musical will be the Opening Night Gala here at Roy Thomson Hall on September 9. You may recall us mentioning the film back in February when it was still in production. Cameos from musical artists include Hawksley Workman, John McDermott, and Nelly Furtado.

If you missed Jimmy Cliff’s performance on Monday, you can check out this Tiny Desk Concert from NPR’s All Songs Considered. In fact, even if you did see the show, you should check out this video because it’s so great.

And over on TwentyFourBit you can prepare yourself for the Belle & Sebastian Massey Hall concert this October by checking out the group previewing their new song, “I Didn’t See It Coming,” live in concert.

YOU SHOULD KNOW

The work of alt-country heroes, The Sadies, would make cosmic cowboy Gram Parsons proud and we think they’re out of this world too. The Sadies are all about performing en plein air this summer: they just performed at Harbourfront Centre on the nation’s birthday (you can check out a pre-concert interview with band member Mike Belitsky over on the Harbourfront Centre’s blog Upfront) and now it’s also just been announced that the Sadies will be joining the bill for the Arcade Fire’s island concert in August. Arcade Fire is keeping busy too – just last week they promised to give $1 million to efforts to rebuild Haiti (matching your donations by text message – details here). The highly anticipated new release from Arcade Fire (with your choice of eight different album covers,) The Suburbs, is available in Canada starting August 3rd.

It would seem that musician-author collabs are the thing to do these days (recall: Justin Rutledge’s work with Michael Ondaatje on his song “Be a Man”). Ben Folds has just tag-teamed with Nick Hornby (author of High Fidelity, Fever Pitch, A Long Way Down, etc.) and according to NME.com the pair will be releasing a full album on September 28. For the time being, get your fix by visiting Huffington Post to listen to the duo’s “immortaliz[ing]” of Levi Johnston.

Stefania Paterak is programming coordinator at Massey Hall & Roy Thomson Hall

1.) MASTERCLASS -- “Like Me”

2.) AUDIENCE SINGALONG

3.) MUSICAL GENIUS -- “with Feist at Mod Club”

4.) this one is in two parts -- Here he challenges Andrew WK to a Piano Battle…

4 1/2) Here is the actual “piano battle” that took place

Chilly Gonzales performs at Glenn Gould Studio September 14, 2010

Peter Frampton got me in trouble when I was a kid. My older brother’s record player was in his bedroom underneath the window. I would spend a lot of time secretly listening to his records while he was out of the house and I mean really listening to records (as loud as possible) for all the nuances and instrumentation. A turning point in listening to music came along for me when I first heard Frampton Comes Alive!. I couldn’t understand why I liked it so much; after all, it was a live record and sounded nothing like those studio recordings I was accustomed to. And I’d ask myself, “What is that weird talking guitar thingy on ‘Do You Feel like We Do’?” (At 3:41 is the Talk Box.) Even the sun coming through the window liked it, so much so, that it softened the large disc into an unplayable shape. I was going to be in unplayable shape if I didn’t find the money to replace it before he got home. I replaced it but didn’t escape my brother’s strength.

The album has an ease to it and makes you feel like you are in the audience. I could almost see the shared glances between band members Frampton, Sheldon, Mayo and Siomos. Cameron Crowe (Journalist/Director) wrote the liner notes for Frampton Comes Alive! and remarks “the full range of live material, both acoustic and electric is here. Even the audience enjoys a major role throughout and as always, Frampton & band perform with the earnestness and competence that we’ve come to expect.” Another song that absolutely blew my mind in those days, and still does, is the live version of Breakdown off of Tom Petty’s live album, Pack Up the Plantation: Live! The audience hijacks the song from vocalist Tom Petty.

I learned two things from the album Frampton Comes Alive!. Firstly, music and performance are sometimes beyond description no matter how hard you try. It’s taken several years for me to realize why it was such an influential record in my archive. There are lots of live records out there but this one may have been the catalyst for getting me involved in music as a career. It was the live audience and knowing that you had one shot at each and every song with no opportunity to stop and re-record. It is hard to recreate a live show but this album inches closest to being there for me. Frampton is an entertainer, performer, artist, musician and band member. I don’t think things have changed for Frampton in his many decades of performing. The songs continue to be patient and build and undulate, much like melted vinyl. The other thing I learned was, if the sun is shining upon your record player, close the curtains.

Greg Henderson is Programming Associate at Massey Hall & Roy Thomson Hall

PERFORMANCES

Jimmy Cliff (Monday): is a very significant figure in the world of music: he is a Grammy award-winner, and is only the second Reggae artist (after Bob Marley) to have been inducted in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He’s also a very significant player in the world of film: he starred in The Harder They Come as well as 1985’s Club Paradise. He also re-recorded Johnny Nash’s “I Can See Cleary Now” which was featured on the Cool Runnings soundtrack. All of this is to say, this is one important music legend and if you don’t have a ticket, you should.

ACCOLADES

Last week the Polaris Music Prize shortlist was announced which means we now begin the countdown to learn which Canadian artist or group will be deemed to have created the album with the most artistic merit (i.e. not based on sales) in the past year. We’re pretty excited to play these albums on loop all summer while we venture guesses as to who will bring home the grand prize of fame, glory, and a cheque worth twenty grand and we’ll probably start with Tegan and Sara’s Sainthood, after all they did visit us here at Massey this past January (though BSS stay close to our hearts!) Let the heated arguments begin!

And just in case you were curious, the Grammy Awards are changing it up for next year after one Ms. Gaga was considered ineligible to win Best New Artist last year because of her nom for another award in 2008. You can read all about the new rules and regs here.

AUDIO-FILE

A few weeks ago we told you that the Canadian Songbook event at Massey Hall that honoured Bruce Cockburn would air on Canada Live on CBC Radio. Now it’s available for your listening pleasure at your listening leisure on CBC Concerts on Demand. The concert features all your favourite Bruce Cockburn fans including Hawksley Workman, Buck 65, Amelia Curran, Barenaked Ladies (doing Lovers in a Dangerous Time, of course), and Colin Linden, as well as songs performed by the Mr. Cockburn himself.

Stefania Paterak is programming coordinator at Massey Hall & Roy Thomson Hall

“Long Way to Go” Liam Finn featuring Eliza-Jane Barnes:

Growing up in a musical family is sure to have a profound effect on a child. Being the son of Crowded House’s Neil Finn meant getting a taste of life on the road at an early age. But good genes alone do not a successful career make. A famous last name is no guarantee of greatness in this business.

No stranger to the stage, Liam began performing with Crowded House at the age of 14. Forming his first band shortly thereafter, he’s toured with Eddie Vedder, Coldplay and most recently, held the opening spot on Wilco’s world tour.

At the tender age of 26, his solo career and his debut release I’ll Be Lightening have already garnered him strong reviews and captured the attention of critics around the globe. With the obvious comparisons to his father’s band out of the way, Liam Finn has embarked on a career that has drawn attention, regardless of his genetic code.

See where it all began as Crowded House return to Massey Hall Monday night.

Caroline Hall is marketing coordinator at Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall

Each year it creeps up on me. I don’t do too much advanced planning, yet I end up being entertained every night. Just for Laughs hits Toronto with what I expect will be a fairly decent amount of jokes about the G20 and the heat wave. Using some of the cities great entertainment venues JFL not only exposes great comedic talent it also showcases that Torontonians have the ability to laugh at ourselves.

Massey Hall welcomes back Emmy winner Louis CK. I was first introduced to him through the Opie and Anthony Show on XM Radio about 3 years ago. He was talking about being a parent and how selfish his daughter is. I was howling! Did you see his set last year? The Sarah Silverman hosted Gala had Louis CK closing out the show. The only bad part of his set was it seemed to be too short. The cool part of the program was Silverman was on fire. I’m sure having CK host the late Gala Saturday night will provide plenty of Louis HAHAs. You might want to warm up for his Gala with a few Louis CK videos that you can find on YouTube. Here’s the clip that went viral last year. Just be cautious going there, the videos might trap you indoors on your computer for hours.

Everything’s Amazing & Nobody’s Happy

Tonight is Russell Peters at Massey Hall. If you’re going, try to have a sip of beer each time he says the word “Brampton”, maybe don’t. You may not make it through the show. I have seen Peters a number of times and he never disappoints.

Go see the shows, and enjoy the funny side of the city. Thanks JFL for once again making Toronto smile.

Jeff Leake is the Director of Music Programming at XM Radio (follow him @theleake)

JUST ANNOUNCED

Yesterday we announced a performance at Glenn Gould Studio by Chilly Gonzales to take place on September 14. This is the very same day that his latest album Ivory Tower, drops as does the feature-length film of the same name (featuring Tiga and Peaches). It all makes you wish the “most wonderful time of year” Staples commercials were on and September was around the corner right? If you don’t know who Chilly Gonzales is, allow this performance to be your education. Prerequisite information required: Gonzales made waves in Paris last spring after earning the world record for the longest solo concert (no less than 27 hours, three minutes, and 44 seconds long). Also – check out Chess Cat vs The World over on the Chilly Gonzales website: possibly the most democratic board game you’ll ever play on a Canadian musician’s website.
 

PERFORMANCES

Just for Laughs (July 8 to 10) (Various shows and dates): The Toronto Just for Laughs Festival is nearly upon us which means a host of funny folks grace the stage at both Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall. WestJet Galas at Massey Hall include performances by hosts Demetri Martin, Wayne Brady, Russell Peters (two shows!), Brad Garrett, and Louis C.K.. Over at Roy Thomson Hall on July 10, it’s your chance to take in the Young@Heart chorus, made famous for feature documentary about them of the same name.

Crowded House (Monday): Crowded House are hitting the Massey stage for a show filled with hits, no doubt including the song that sky-rocketed them to the top, “Don’t Dream It’s Over.” While we’re anticipating their latest record, Intriguer, to be released check out this video clip from their appearance at Live Earth in Australia in 2007.

WEB WATCH

If you  missed the epic Levon Helm performance last week, what can we say but that’s a real shame. On Monday we tweeted this delightful blog review – you can also check out the Globe and the Sun’s take on the evening.

And just for fun, in case you missed it – Saturday July 3rd was the 25th anniversary of the first Back to the Future film. Oh the memories! Remember when Marty McFly (and the Starlighters) perform Johnny B. Goode to a rather confused gym of teenagers at the Enchantment Under the Sea dance? Priceless. And now, all of this has led to a rather feisty online argument that has the webbernet all, ahem, a twitter. (This just in – The Washington Post sets the Back to the Future record straight)

In any case, this anniversary means, most importantly, that in just a few years we’ll be able to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Back to the Future III which, in turn, means a celebration of ZZ Top’s appearance in the wild, wild west.
 Stefania Paterak is programming coordinator at Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall

Just after Canada Day, this week’s Listening Booth features a little something for our friends in the South. Even after his unfortunate passing this past Christmas, Vic Chesnutt is an American treasure. He has inspired hundreds of writers, musicians and artists with his sincere and passionate articulation of ordinary events, much like he does in this clip (with Guy Picciotto from Fugazi on guitar!) where he re-defines the term “Independence Day.”

Chesnutt’s obituary from the London Telegraph lends some insight into his life: “Having become almost completely paralysed after a drunken car crash in 1983 in which he broke his neck, he rediscovered his musical abilities while under the influence of LSD. Eventually, Chesnutt developed a limited but uniquely soft strumming style on guitar and began to sing his eccentric, engaging songs in a high, wobbly, croaking moan.

During a residency at the 40 Watt Club in Athens, Georgia, he was “discovered” by the REM singer Michael Stipe, who recorded the very next day what became Chesnutt’s debut album, Little. Its release in 1990 launched Chesnutt on an unlikely 20-year career in which he toured the world in a wheelchair and released another 15 albums; these ranged from acoustic alternative country and folk to indie rock.”

Stephen McGrath is Soundboard Editor and Media Relations Manager at Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall