The Ongoing Music Documentary along with 6000 rain braving music lovers enjoyed the second annual Rogers Picnic at Historic Fort York in Toronto. This years Picnic was the first of its kind to offer complete wireless ticketing where attendees can text and get their ticket confirmation number directly to their cell phone. Basically, your phone becomes your ticket. NO PAPER!
City and Colour
From St Catherine’s, acoustic folk mega star Dallas Green Performs the song “The Death of Me” from his album “Bring Me Your Love”, which also has a terrific song about life on the road called “The Girl” available on their myspace… similar to “This Respirator” by The Flatliners (lyrically speaking). Originally a member of the punk rock anomaly Alexisonfire, Dallas has moved forward but not on, establishing himself and his new band (including Dan of Attack In Black as his second guitarist) as a folk rock force to be reckoned with while balancing life with AOF. Just listen to his voice. “City and Colour” have been hard at it for a few years now and are currently in their second album cycle promoting “Bring me your love” on tour across America with Tegan and Sara.
Chromeo
Originally formed in Montreal Quebec, this two-piece musical collage is contrived of childhood pals P-Thugg and Dave 1. Together they are the only successful Arab/Jew partnership since the dawn of human culture and have forged an on stage dynamic that is second to none. You simply can’t help bobbing your head and tapping your toes to Chromeo. This two stepping, techno mashing, hip hop, funk combo brings the party in our video of the song “Outta Sight” from their album Fancy Footwork (now available “Fancier Footwork” two disc limited edition). On stage Chromeo combine synth, drums, keytar, a voice Vocoder and more for a unique musical explosion that grips the audience from start to finish.
Tokyo Police Club
From the town of Newmarket Ontario, Indie garage sensation The Tokyo Police Club are making waves too big for their small time beginnings in the city stuck mid-way between the big city and northern cottage life. Being one of this years monster headliners at The Rogers Picnic can only be a premonition of things to come. The Tokyo Police Club perform “Graves” off their album entitled “Elephant Shell”. Recently I overheard Dave Bookman (BOOKIE) of 102.1 THE EDGE state that their debut EP could be the best 16 minutes of rock music on disc today.
The Vampire Weekend
New York, New York’s own Vampire Weekend made a brief stop in Toronto between Chicago and Seattle for this years Picnic. The Vampires are currently on tour BIG TIME across the world with shows everywhere from Australia to Honolulu, to Liverpool and back. We filmed The Vampire Weekend as they played “Mansard Roof” the first track on their latest disc (self-titled) which seem to make a great opener to their set with the crowd immediately singing along.