STARS @ London Music Hall

Last night, Lisa and I had the privilege of going to see some amazing live music performed by an awesome Canadian band right here in the lovely city of London, Ontario. Stars played two full sets at London Music Hall, with Young Galaxy as the supporting act.

Stars

I didn't know what to expect in seeing them perform live. I knew that they hailed from my hometown Toronto and that they recently split from the Arts & Crafts label (home to another great band Broken Social Scene and based in Toronto), and that I loved listening to my vinyl copy of Set Yourself On Fire, but I hadn't heard their newest album and pretty much just went to the concert ready for whatever came at me. Personally I think a band can really solidify a place in a person's heart once you've seen them live - if the experience is good. I was hoping that would be what happened.

And it did happen. The band has this great energy and spirit, and the audience could feel it. At one point, frontman Torquil Campbell asked everyone to take a step back so there would be more room for dancing. He added that he didn't want to see anyone get crushed at the front of the stage tonight. The audience obeyed so peacefully and I've never seen that happen at a concert before. Very cool.

At the end of the show Lisa bought a vinyl copy of their newest album The Five Ghosts - which I was happy to discover was white - for my sadly small record collection. Yay my first fun-coloured record!

The Five Ghosts

Anyway we listened to it with our other roommate when we got home and its greaaaat. Check it out for sure.

FENDI f/w 2010 ft. Anja Rubik

Get a load of this: Fendi's f/w 2010 capmaign featuring my all-time favourite model Anja Rubik. So impressed.

There's a Hitchcockian feel to the composition and styling of the shots...the images are particularly reminiscent of Vertigo, full of mystery and elegance. Ms. Rubik adds a dimension of feminine attraction to it all. It's all no surprise: the campaign was shot by Karl Lagerfeld.

The Last Summer Concert...

Walking to work this morning, shivering in my completely inappropriate-for-the-weather gladiator sandals and tiny cardigan, I realized that alas summer is officially over. I started coming to terms with the idea tuesday night (Sept 7th) when I took my sister to the Molson Amphitheatre to see Vampire Weekend...it was to be my last outdoor concert of the summer (though the Amp has three more outdoor concerts scheduled until the end of September...including KISS tomorrow night, sweet right?) and rightfully so, with the temperature plummeting as it is.

We went to the venue with our sweaters tucked into our bags...bought two plastic cup-fulls of red wine to warm up, sat in our plastic seats and listened...

Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally of Beach House

The opening act was a fiery group fronted by a bushy haired and husky voiced maven. Beach House's fearless front woman Victoria Legrand commanded the stage from behind her keyboard, though she admitted the venue was far bigger than the group was used to. Nevertheless, their big and sweeping sound transcended intimidation and won over the audience. There were even a few people brought to their feet...dancing around their seats like flower children on acid (yeah...they may have actually been on acid).

Then came Vampire Weekend. These boys look like they've never been unhappy in their entire lives...no trace of angst or resentment in their act. Don't get me wrong, they know how to entertain, but its a different kind of vibe than say, Ray Lamontagne or The Arkells or even their openers Beach House. They're less concerned with the depth, and the subsequent poppy fun vibe permeates the whole act. You can hear it in their music too. So it was a good show but not quite the ride I enjoy when I go to a concert. Yah I like to feel happy, sad, angry, and uplifted througout the course of a concert. But I guess if there had been more than just red wine involved my experience would've been different....

Phone Shot of My Last Summer Concert :(

So all in all, I'd recommend listening to Vampire Weekend's album Contra...but more than that I'd recommend checking out Beach House. Go to their myspace or buy their album on iTunes if your feeling like supporting the musician's cause
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Ray and Gray

Lisa and I are off to see David Gray and Ray Lamontagne tonight at the Molson Amphitheatre! Very excited. Just checked out the new album by Mr. Lamontagne Gog Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise...it is excellent. Should be a very chill night...will report back on it tomorrow

Back from bohemia...again

So once again this summer I made the journey to Eastern Europe. This time, I spent 10 days in Prague and 3 in Vienna amongst wonderous architecture, cobbled streets, and delicious goulash. In my time roaming the streets of these two historically saturated cities, I may have popped my head into a few stores and I may have taken note of a few trends popular with the cappuccino-sipping ladies of the land.

So here's what I discovered on my travels: denim harem pants are quietly taking over.

Yes. They are like a hybrid of the droopy boyfriend jean and the classic harem pant, and they are actually quite fun though on some people come dangerously close to looking like clown pants. I saw them on tons of women in Vienna, not so much Prague, but also in stores like ZARA and H&M and ProMod and Top Shop and such.

Verdict: I like. I bought. I will wear them proudly and probably get looked at funny here in good old Canada.