Sloan, Ivory Hours rock New Year’s Eve

--taken from: The London Free Press

by Joe Belanger

Sloan and Ivory Hours headline the Rockin’ New Year’s celebrations at London’s Victoria Park.

Thousands of Londoners young and old are expected to converge at the park for an early children’s party and fireworks, followed by the rock groups and a second fireworks display to bring in the New Year.

Glee London will dance and sing ahead of a junior-bedtime fireworks display at 9 p.m.

Then the London-based alt-pop band, Ivory Hours, take the stage.

The band features guitarist and singer Luke Roes, bassist Chris Levesque and drummer Thomas Perquin. They won CFNY 102.1 the Edge’s Next Big Thing contest out of 442 bands from across Canada.

The honour came after the release of their album, Morning Light, followed by a win of the Canada’s Walk of Fame Emerging Artist Mentorship Program. The band has announced a North American tour for spring 2016.

They will be followed by the headliners, Sloan, nominated for 10 Juno Awards over a career that began in 1991. In 1997, they won the Juno for best alternative album for One Chord to Another.

The Toronto-based rock/power pop quartet from Halifax including Chris Murphy, Patrick Pentland, Jay Ferguson and Andrew Scott, have released 13 albums during the years and 35 singles, of which several reached the Top 10 on the Canadian charts.

--taken from: The London Free Press

Tuns / Bankruptcy

--taken from: Exclaim! (see more pictures here)

by Cam Lindsay

In the cozy confines of the Dakota Tavern, it was hard not to bathe in the nostalgia that came from the first headlining show by newly minted Tuns. As "super" as a group gets in Canada, Tuns are comprised of Matt Murphy (the Super Friendz, the Flashing Lights), Mike O'Neill (the Inbreds) and Chris Murphy (Sloan). If that 1990s East coast/Murderecords connection wasn't enough, it was further bolstered by their opening act Bankruptcy, featuring former Thrush Hermit member Rob Benvie, who has spent time in bands with each member of Tuns.

Named after Tiger Benvie's 2003 album, Bankruptcy also had cause to celebrate: it was their first-ever show. "So sucks to be you," an overly humble Benvie added after that reveal. But the new wave-leaning band proved they weren't exactly novices, giving a tight performance that at one point ventured into a prog rock odyssey. Though the newness of the band was undeniable, Benvie dished that Bankruptcy's debut album is due in March, which means they've clearly been practicing to make their first impression perfect.

Despite being advertised as the first headlining gig for Tuns, the trio made their debut back in October for the Dream Serenade benefit concert at Roy Thomson Hall, followed by an opening slot on Zeus's Ontario tour in November. But the intimacy of the Dakota allowed for a much warmer welcome; with so many friends on hand it felt like the polar opposite of an industry gig. And the band appeared comfortable and loose, demonstrating that the reason for Tuns was as much about three good friends playing together than anything else.

"The reason why we're playing all these songs without any mistakes is because we recorded them a while ago with Mr. Ian McGettigan (ex-Thrush Hermit)," Chris "Drums" Murphy announced. And although it wasn't exactly a perfect performance, Tuns gave the crowd what it wanted: a rock show that combined the best that each member has given us in their other projects. A rousing run-through of "Throw It All Away," their only release to date, even saw Matt Murphy do a signature leg kick, and pulling it off as if he were 20 years younger.

On top of Chris Murphy's rolling Moon-like fills, Mike O'Neill's hooky bass lines and Matt Murphy's jangular guitar riffs, the greatest thing Tuns offered was a lead vocalist democracy. All three members assumed the frontman position, as well as backer, making it a real dream come true for the average Sloan/Super Friendz/Inbreds fanatic in attendance.

Tuns may have sold out their show because of the Dakota's modest capacity, but once word gets around in 2016 — and it will — they'll do the same in bigger venues. No one likes to use the word "supergroup," but Tuns are just that: three of Canada's best songwriters/musicians from the '90s having a blast for their sake and ours.

--taken from: Exclaim! (see more pictures here)

The Lord Almightys Unveil 7-Inch/CD Hybrid

--taken from: Exclaim!

by Josiah Hughes

The Lord Almightys is a new Toronto band made up of Halifax expats like Myles Deck, Carla Gillis and Gerry Hubley. Working with Toronto drummer Stephen Bowles, the quartet have finally completed three songs for their first proper release.

It seems like they couldn't decide on what format was best for the material, because they've revealed a very unique way to get these songs out there. The three-song release will be available as a hybrid 7-inch and CD through We Are Busy Bodies.

As the label explains, this is "a compact disc that also plays on a turntable. This release contains three songs, two which will play in any CD player or computer, and a different song that will play on a record player."

The three songs were recorded by Sloan's Patrick Pentland and mastered by Death From Above 1979's Jesse F. Keeler.

Before the release arrives on January 8, you can stream all three songs below. The Lord Almightys will also play a record release show at Toronto's Handlebar on December 18.

--taken from: Exclaim!

The Windsor Scene: December 2015

--taken from: Windsor Independent (read more here)

by Jamir Greer

Toronto's indie rock dance villains Zeus bring their tour to Windsor for the first time with a stop at Venue Music Hall (255 Ouellette Ave.). They're quirky electro pop will have this the dance party of the winter. Their opener, an unknown rock band called TUNS isn't gaining much attention but they should – their a Halifax pop supergroup featuring Chris Murphy (Sloan), Matt Murphy (Superfriendz, Flashing Lights) and Mike O'Neill (The Inbreds).

--taken from: Windsor Independent (read more here)

Sloan and Ivory Hours headlining Rockin' New Year's celebrations at London's Victoria Park

--taken from: The London Free Press

by Debora Van Brenk

Londoners might never hear the end of today's rock and of the next best thing as bands Sloan and Ivory Hours headline the Rockin' New Year's celebrations at London's Victoria Park.

Nationally acclaimed Ivory Hours, the London-based alt-pop band that won The Next Big Thing competition, previews its 2016 North American tour with a set at the park's bandshell on Dec. 31.

Sloan has won nine Juno awards, including a nomination for best rock album with Never Hear the End of It.

For the kids, Glee London will dance and sing their way towards a junior-bedtime fireworks display at 9 p.m., before the main acts take the stage to lead into midnight fireworks.

Event co-chairperson Ed Holder said the event is possible only with the help of sponsorships and donations totalling more than $100,000.

"I think this is going to be the best entertainment line-up that we've ever had," Holder said. "It's the most powerful three acts we've put together in 15 years."

--taken from: The London Free Press

CBC Ottawa's top 4 shows for the weekend

--taken from: CBC News

by Jessa Runciman

Not long ago, when Canada was still in the throes of Blue Jays fever, Toronto band Zeus was rooting for their home team with the masses. They even released a rousing version of the age-old anthem OK Blue Jays after the Jays beat the Texas Rangers in the American League Division Series. So it's safe to say Zeus's members have been recovering from considerable disappointment since that magical run came to an end. The cure for those baseball blues? A province-wide tour the band has christened the "Ontario Classic."

When Zeus rolls into Zaphod's on Friday night, you can expect to hear songs from their latest album Classic Zeus, which has seen their brand of vintage rock 'n' roll get a shinier, poppier treatment. The opening act, TUNS, is a bonus: it's the combined force of Chris Murphy from Sloan, Mike Murphy of Flashing Lights and Super Friendz, and Mike O'Neill of the Inbreds.

--taken from: CBC News