Last night I got word of a secret show, so obviously I wanted in. It was Born Ruffians, The Meligrove Band and The Wooden Sky playing to a modest group at the Garrison for a friend’s wedding fundraiser. What a great idea. I’d ask for any of these bands to play at my wedding. Last night was the first time I’d ever seen Born Ruffians play live and they were phenomenal, they had that full band sound thats even better than their record. I forgot how much I fucking love this band. They’re playful and sweet but they’ve got some pretty intricate and textured instrumentation, and they’re really tight. It was such a pleasure to watch.

Next up was The Meligrove band, which my friend Bobby so aptly described as ’space rock’ a little heavier with distorted/fuzzy guitars- we ran out to get some sweet potatoe fries and came back for The Wooden Sky. I hadn’t seen them play since last year and they were gorgeous, I feel like they just keep growing and growing into this polished band. They were in fine form playing Tom Petty covers with fierce energy. They remain one of my favorite acts from Toronto. It was superfun, and well.. not really a secret now. (sorry)

Born Ruffians- What to Say

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The Meligrove Band- Halflight

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The Wooden Sky- The Late King Henry

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Watch Luke LaLonde of  Born Ruffians serenade me (okay, “us”) with an acoustic set for the Lab Magazine. He’s sweet as pie, don’t you think?

Summer Tour Dates!

9/28 – Rochester, NY – Bug Jar
9/29 – Cambridge, MA – Middle East Downstairs
9/30 – Northampton, MA – Iron Horse
10/1 – Brooklyn, NY – Knitting Factory
10/2 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
10/3 – Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brendas
10/4 – Baltimore, MD – Ottobar
10/5 – Washington, DC – Rock and Roll Hotel
10/6 – Charlottesville, VA – Random Row Books
10/7 – Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506
10/8 – Atlanta, GA – The Earl
10/9 – Birmingham, AL – Bottletree
10/10 -Orlando, FL – Backbooth
10/11-Tallahassee, FL – Club Downunder
10/12 – Baton Rouge, LA – Spanish Moon
10/13 – Houston, TX – Mango’s
10/14 – Austin, TX – Emos
10/15 – Denton, TX – Haileys
10/16 – Kansas City, MO – The Riot Room
10/17 – Denver, CO – Larimer Lounge
10/18 – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
10/19 – Tucson, AZ – Plush
10/20 – La Jolla, CA – The Loft / UCSD
10/21 – Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
10/22 – San Francisco, CA Bottom of The Hill
10/23 – Portland, OR – Doug Fir
10/25 – Seattle, WA – Chop Suey
10/26 – Missoula, MT – The Palace
10/28 – Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock Social Club
10/29 – Chicago, IL – Empty Bottle
10/30 – Detroit, MI – The Majestic

I have a crush on Luke Lalonde. I don’t know, it’s his name. Luke. It’s a good name. Lalonde is the frontman for the band Born Ruffians, and he’s apart of the Bellwoods community in Toronto that I posted some videos of sometime ago.  I’m excited for the new Born Ruffians album, it’s entitled ‘Say It’ which is a reference to ‘being a dick’ and saying what you mean. It’s out May 31st but until then we’ve got the track, ‘Sole Brother’. He really says what he means when he goes, “You never ask sister to help with the chores that are physically straining and sometimes I wish I was a sole brother.. I wish I was an only child”. 

Tracklist–

01 “Oh Man”
02 “Retard Canard”
03 “Sole Brother”
04 “What To Say”
05 “The Ballad Of Moose Bruce”
06 “Higher & Higher”
07 “Come Back”
08 “Nova-Leigh”
09 “Blood, The Sun & Water”
10 “At Home Now

The track won’t upload for now so you can grab it off hypem HERE

I don’t know what it is really, maybe the weather? Maybe the fact that I’ll only be here for five more weeks or so. I’ve never loved or appreciated my home town of Toronto (alright, Oakville.. but for argument’s sake). You know, this life would be much easier if I did in fact, love Toronto. After listening to Gavin from The Wooden Sky talk so sweetly about Toronto, I thought, alright- it can’t be all that bad. He said it took him a few years to find community, and I guess that’s the thing I’ve been looking for up here.

There is this community called Bellwoods- where hellos can be exchanged walking down the street. What a novel idea.. This is mostly a community of artists and musicians, formed around the extended family of Ohbijou, an extraordinary band I’ve previously talked about, along with Tokyo Police Club, Born Ruffians and other lovely people, cut from the same cloth. Anyway, as my luck would have it- could it be that I am falling in love with Toronto? I have come across (thanks to my friend at White Guys With Beards) the ‘Live in Bellwoods’ Series- along the same idea of La Blogotheque, featuring videos of live acoustic performances from said artists. Please watch these sessions, they are so so good. And while we’re on the topic, can we discuss how much I adore Born Ruffians. He is the closest we’ll ever get to Dylan circa ‘63. Thats it, I’m in love.