Happy 70th, Horseshoe Tavern: music lovers pick 70 incredible concert moments there

--taken from: Toronto Star (read more here)

by Ben Rayner

From small-time passionate punks to the Rolling Stones, decades of musicians have made magic happen at fabled Queen St. W. venue, which turns 70 on Dec. 5.

Beloved local live-music spot the Horseshoe Tavern turns 70 years old on Dec. 5, a rather remarkable achievement in a city known of late for shedding concert venues at an alarming rate.

In honour of the club’s impending anniversary, the Star took it upon itself to solicit 70 Canadian musicians, music journalists and industry folk for their favourite ever show at the Queen St. W. venue. The response was insane — so insane, we can’t do justice to it all in print. Here are some of our favourites. Mine was a Neutral Milk Hotel gig in July of 1998, which is covered off below.

34. Dan Burke, concert promoter: “In August 2002, Sweden’s Soundtrack Of Our Lives was touring with Oasis and playing Molson Amphitheatre on Saturday. Elliott Lefko recruited me to be promoter of a late show for them at the ’Shoe. It was incredible. And after they played, the party continued. The Gallagher brothers were there, Sloan, everybody. It went until 5 a.m. Craziest night I’ve ever seen at the Shoe.”

41. Ian Gormely, music journalist: “When I moved to Toronto in May of 2008 and was immediately overwhelmed by the sheer volume of live music options. That June’s North By Northeast seemed like as good a place to start as any, so I headed down to the Horseshoe Tavern, a place I’d read about and seen on TV many times, to check out Thomas D’arcy’s band Small Sins (they had a guy whose main job was to clap, ‘the Clapper,’ beating Noel Gallagher’s scissors player by a decade). After their set I was walking from the back down the stairs to the front part of the bar and looked over to the pool table. Leaning against the wall, holding pool cues were Sloan’s Chris Murphy and Blue Rodeo’s Jim Cuddy, chatting away. It remains the most Toronto, and probably Canadian, moment I’ve ever had.”

--taken from: Toronto Star (read more here)

Not into football? Still lots to do this weekend

--taken from: CBC News

by Sandra Abma

Sing-alongs, art shows and storytelling on the list

Far from the roar of the crowd and Grey Cup festivities, check out some arts events that invite you to join in on the fun.

Choir! Choir! Choir!

It started out as an informal weekly sing-along in Toronto, but Choir! Choir! Choir! has grown into a national phenomenon by tapping into a need that people share — and have few opportunities to actually do — joining together, opening their hearts and raising their voices in song.

Under the direction of Daveed Goldman and Nobu Adilman, the 50-voice choir joins forces with audience members to deliver beautiful choral renditions of pop songs. The repertoire runs the gamut, from Leonard Cohen and Gordon Lightfoot to Drake and Justin Bieber.

The group is in town to perform the national anthem at the Grey Cup, but on Saturday night they'll bring their musical love-in to the NAC, with special guest Chris Murphy from Canadian band Sloan.

--taken from: CBC News

With a little help from my friends: NSO, Sloan's Chris Murphy perform Beatles album

--taken from: CBC News

More than sixty musicians are involved in the performance. (Eddy Kennedy/CBC)

by Jen White

They may not be the original Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, but the all-star ensemble of musicians performing the iconic album in its entirety hope people enjoy the special tribute show.

For its major fundraiser this year, the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra (NSO) has teamed up with Toronto's Art of Time Ensemble and will take the stage at the Arts and Culture Centre in St. John's Friday evening.

Marc David, NSO's music director, says the Art of Time Ensemble events blend pop culture and high art. (Eddy Kennedy/CBC)

"[The audience will] walk away with a very, very special experience with music that they know — a lot of them grew up with this music — but with this special arrangements, special flavour ... a lot of magic," said Marc David, the NSO's music director and principal conductor.

Art of Time has brought in singers to help bring the album to life, including Sloan's Chris Murphy.

Sixty musicians from the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra will take part in the performance on Friday night. (Eddy Kennedy/CBC)

"[Art of Time] pride themselves on putting together events where you have fusion between pop culture and high art," David said.

"They've had arrangements made of this music, wonderful orchestral arrangements, that highlight different sections of the orchestra, so it's a real pleasure for us to work with them."

Murphy's debut with orchestra

Thursday night was the first time that the 60 NSO musicians and the Art of Time Ensemble were able to practice together. David was particularly thrilled that everyone fit on the Arts and Culture Centre stage.

Meanwhile, Murphy said he's elated to be taking part, though he's a little out of his element.

Sloan singer/bassist Chris Murphy says he's a Beatles expert, but still had to do some homework for this show. (Eddy Kennedy/CBC)

"This is the first time I've ever played with an orchestra in my life," said the Sloan singer/bassist.

"They're loud, but they're super musical. And even though I'm a musician, I don't even feel like a musician playing with these people. They're so good," Murphy added.

He'd seen the Art of Time's Sgt. Pepper show before, and was asked to sub in for a friend for this performance.

He's joined on stage by Andy Maize from the Skydiggers and Jason Plumb from the Waltons, who have both participated in Art of Time shows before.

But Murphy said he didn't want to be the only singer out of his element on stage.

"I got Mike [O'Neill of the Inbreds] to do it, because I wanted a friend to do it with me," he said.

"He and I have never done anything like this before. So it's pretty fun. But we are Beatles experts, fanatics, nerds ... so we'll know what's going on."

Murphy says this is the first time he's ever sang with an orchestra. (Eddy Kennedy/CBC)

But the self-proclaimed expert still had some homework to do.

"I did not know all the lyrics to Good Morning Good Morning or Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!, but now I do!" he joked.

"When we were first thinking about it, I was like, 'Yeah I'll sort of be able to do this no problem, I know these songs.' But then I really started to rotoscope ... picked apart all the harmonies that the Beatles and [producer] George Martin would have figured out."

Sloan working on new album

Meanwhile, Murphy said he has some news with his other musical gig.

"Sloan's still at it. Making our must-have twelfth album right now," he said.

Murphy said the band hopes to be mixing the album soon, but is staying mum on any details. When asked for further details, all he would say is, "We're close."

--taken from: CBC News

TUNS on stage at the Sportsmans in Charlottetown

--taken from: The Guardian

TUNS featuring Matt Murphy (Superfriendz/Flashing Lights), left, Mike O'Neill (the Inbreds) and Chris Murphy (Sloan), will be playing the Sportsmans Club in Charlottetown tonight at 10 p.m.

Back Alley Music presents TUNS featuring Chris Murphy (Sloan), Mike O'Neill (the Inbreds) and Matt Murphy (Superfriendz/Flashing Lights) at the Sportsmans Club in Charlottetown Thursday at 10 p.m., with special guest Liam Corcoran (Two Hours Traffic/the Love Junkies) opening the show.

TUNS is a new band of equals, of collaborators, of experienced veterans who sound as exuberant as ever. It’s power pop with intricate melodies, electrifying rock ‘n’ roll written with a deep appreciation for song craft, states a press release.

--taken from: The Guardian

UP + Downtown 2017 Day Two and Three Recap

--taken from: Beatroute

Don’t call it a supergroup: TUNS talent shines without resting on members’ prior notoriety.

by Colin Gallant, Jarrett Edmund, Levi Manchak and Brittany Rudyk

We took a break to pop into Rocky Mountain Ice House to see TUNS, side project of Sloan’s Chris Murphy. Although the music itself was basic feel good Canadian rock, Murphy’s personality shined, making quick and clever comments about the DJ’s choice to play Sloan before their set and other little quips. The show was packed with Sloan nerds, nervously clamoring for Murphy’s attention; but not in an obnoxious manner. The endearment of serious fans in the audience fed into TUNS’ performance, energizing those of us who may have been feeling sluggish from a weekend of festivities. That, and their cover of “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” were welcome ways to close the fifth year of the festival.

--taken from: Beatroute