Limelight

1. Who are you?

I am 1/6th of the Toronto based band “disco-punk” Afterparty, my name is
Keith Heppler and I play the drums. The band has been around since 2006,
when keyboardist Idan Erez met our lead singer Kristina B. at a party. The
current line up of the band has been in place for about a year.

2. What do you do?

All we try to do is make the music we all want to hear and be the band we all would want to see. We all come from diverse musical backgrounds and we throw them all in a blender, turn it up and turn it on.

3. Where can someone find you?

www.myspace.com/afterpartyretro www.afterpartyband.com

4. Where do you live and work and why?

The band is officially based out of Toronto Ontario, which is were we all wound up and found each other. But I don’t think any of us were actually born in Toronto. Idan is from Israel, Juan is from Juarez Mexico, our new guitar player Josh is from Alberta, Ben is from Caledonia, Kristina grew up in Newmarket and I’m from Waterloo. As far as working most of us don’t anymore, maybe an odd job here and there but the band takes up the majority of our time and energy.

5. When did you start making music together?

That’s a tricky one. Afterparty has been around in some form since about
2006, when Idan and Kristina started writing songs together. I auditionedabout a year ago and Juan started playing guitar with us around then. So we did it as a foursome until about a month ago when we added Ben and Josh to help thicken up the sound live for all the shows we will be doing in support of our debut album “The Army You Got” in stores March 30,2010 on Sound of Pop Records.

6. How would you describe your music?

Blondie meets the Clash in rehab.

7. What inspires you?

I get inspired by anyone out there doing their own
thing. I’m not impressed by people lost in trends, people who are so hip
it hurts. It’s pretty easy to separate the trendsetters from the
followers.

8. What’s the nicest things someone has said you to after a show?

Kristina once told me I smelt good.

9. What’s the worst thing someone has said to you after a show?

“I need you guys to settle your bar tab.”

10. What are your current obsessions?

I can only speak for myself but I am really into the new Jay Malinowski
record. I’ve also probably worn out all of my Nirvana records by playing
them so much.

11. When someone says “Kingston” you think…

I’ve been lucky enough to play in Kingston a few times with a few
different acts. The one thing that always sticks out in my mind is how
crazy your frosh week gets. I’ve never seen anything like it, it was
awesome.

12. What are you currently working on?

We are constantly on tour in support of our new record “The Army You Got”, which is available March 30th,2010 on Sound of Pop Records. Besides playing tons of shows, promoting the record we are starting to write some new songs as a six piece and trying to push our sound forward. Other than that we all love a good party!

Afterparty play Clark Hall Pub tonight!

Note: This was written while watching 500 Days of Summer for the first time. What follows in an exercise in indulgent diarrhea, an outlet for the angst of experiencing the fantasy of one’s past in film form, and a way to type away the twitchiness evoked by Summer’s feminine wiles.

Aww, aren’t they so quirky and adorable? (TimeOut Chicago)

It’s hard to follow up Emily’s quintessential Valentine’s Day post. A list of perfect sad-sack songs for the bitter Singletons (as Bridget Jones would have put it) among us is appreciated by anyone who’s ever had a F-ck Valentine’s Day toast. Personally, the V Day hate has never really resonated with me - single or coupled, it’s just another day, and unless you work in retail or a restaurant, it’s pretty easy to avoid. I wish I could say it was due to a conscious choice to eschew heteronormative capitalist bullshit, but really it’s just because I’m usually unemployed and make for an almost embarrassingly low-maintenance girlfriend.

But today I rolled out of bed at 4pm on February 14th to 500 Days of Summer playing in my living room. And let me tell you, watching the calculatedly quirky montages of the two delicate leads does little to soothe the disaffected soul.
(more inside…)

1. Who are you?
We are the Ascot Royals based out of the Hamilton/Brantford area.

2. What do you do?
The Ascot Royals are an up and coming band that aspires to make people get up and dance.

3. Where can someone find you?
You can find us at myspace.com/theascotroyals

4. Where do you live and work and why?
We are spread across Brantford, Hamilton, all the way to Barrie. All working varying jobs to support our passion of making music.

5. When did you start making music together?
The core of the band formed in the Fall of 2008, and has held its current roster since the early Spring of 2009.

6. How would you describe your music?
The Ascot Royals are a dynamic fusion of Brit Indie Rock and Motown with explosive guitar leads, powerful and playful vocals, and a tight rhythm section to hold it all together.

7. What inspires you?
The pure love of playing music in front of people.

8. What’s the nicest things someone has said you to after a show?
Just that they truly enjoy our music is very rewarding for us to hear.

9. What’s the worst thing someone has said to you after a show?
“If you got some tubes bra, it’d push harder” -Anonymous individual

10. What are your current obsessions?
Our one obsession is to achieve a point in our musical careers to make a living from it. There would be no better job on the planet than entertaining and playing music to people.

11. When someone says “Kingston” you think…
Our bass player grew up in the area so Kingston has like all our hometown gigs has an excitement and anxiety about putting on a good show.

12. What are you currently working on?
We are currently working on some new material as well as finalizing plans for an Eastern Canadian tour in April.

The Ascot Royals play tonight at Clark Hall Pub!

This is not a fact—I’m just guessing—but I think that there are probably more breaking-up songs in the universal songbook than getting-together songs. I’m almost positive there are more “fuck-you-asshole” than “I’m-sure-I’ll-love-you-forever” tunes. It’s just a hunch. Sadness has inspired some of the most beautiful art. Thank God for pain. Without out it we wouldn’t have Tracey Emin’s bed. We wouldn’t have Annie Hall. We wouldn’t have excuses to binge drink red wine and we wouldn’t have Martha Wainwright’s anthem “Bloody Motherfucking Asshole”. Here are some more songs, in case you are also protesting Valentine’s Day.

1. Betty Davis—Anti Love Song
2. Amy Winehouse—Love Is A Losing Game
3. Art Brut—People In Love
4. Jens Lekman—I’m Leaving You Because I Don’t Love You
5. Martha Wainwright—Bloody Motherfucking Asshole
6. The Velvet Underground—Who Loves The Sun
7. The Streets—I Love You, More Than You Like Me
8. Handsome Furs—I’m Confused
9. New Order—Bizarre Love Triangle
10. Bob Dylan—Don’t Think Twice
11. Darondo—Didn’t I
12. The Magnetic Fields—I Don’t Really Love You Anymore
13. The Magnetic Fields—I Don’t Want To Get Over You
14. Jason Collett—I’m Not Over You
15. Black Kids—Love Me Already
16. Pop Levi—Never Never Love
17. Rufus Wainwright—Imaginary Love
18. Wilco—We’re Just Friends
19. Billy Bragg—Valentine’s Day Is Over
20. Bruce Springsteen—Valentine’s Day
21. Neko Case—People Got A Lot Of Nerve
22. The Hidden Cameras—Music Is My Boyfriend
23. God Help The Girl—God Help The Girl
24. Lou Reed—Sad Song
25. Julian Doiron—Consolation Prize
26. The Bicycles—I Know We Have To Apart
27. Morrissey—The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get
28. Smokey Robinson—Tracks Of My Tears
29. Joan Jet and The Black Hearts—I Hate Myself For Loving You
30. Leonard Cohen—Famous Blue Raincoat

Please add more. I don’t want to be alone.

METZ!

1. Who are you?
METZ.

2. What do you do?
Explode basements.

3. Where can someone find you?
In a basement.

4. Where do you live and work and why?
Toronto because all of our stuff is there.

5. When did you start making music together?
Roughly 12,000 hours ago.

6. How would you describe your music?
Obscurantism.

7. What inspires you?
Vegetable korma roti.

8. What’s the nicest things someone has said you to after a show?
“What is a good place to eat around here?”

9. What’s the worst thing someone has said to you after a show?
“Meet me at the Equinox…”

10. What are your current obsessions?
Finding a good place to put the flux capacitor in my Deloreon.

11. When someone says “Kingston” you think…
Bradsters.

12. What are you currently working on?
Going grey.

METZ play with False Face in Whine Cellar (The Mansion’s Basement) this Saturday night.

N.O.P.

As much as I love to make fun of Pitchfork, its readers and its sometimes convoluted reviews—I read it. Religiously. And you know what? They’re usually right. Those cool kids over at Pitchfork have also made (and broke) many musicians. Their influence has become massive since their inception in 1995.

Canadian outfit Broken Social Scene has cited Pitchfork as being one of the reasons they started selling out venues. Merge executive Martin Hall told the Chicago Tribune that Arcade Fire’s debut record Funeral was out of print for a week after it received a 9.7 from the online magazine. These are just a few examples. Pitchfork has been responsible for the success of many obscure bands and they deserve credit.

And now, Kingston’s very own Paul Saulnier and Ben Nelson—more commonly known on the Internet as PS I Love You—have received an 8 out 10 (a pretty substantial number, considering the fact their critics sometimes give zeros) for their track “Facelove” on Pitchfork. You can read the review here.

But, who would I be if I didn’t plug The Queen’s Journal in all of this? Before his Pitchfork shout out, Paul got one in The Journal. I interviewed Paul at a bowling alley in Kingston and it has been one of my favourite interviews to date. You can find that piece here. This year Ben and Paul also did a short, but hilarious Artist In Profile for The Journal. It’s interesting to see how distinctly different the sentiments are in each of these pieces…Ever elusive, who knows what’s next for Paul and Ben.

Mad props PS, you deserve it—and don’t forget us when you’re famous.

I’ve never been one for New Year’s resolutions. All I can guarantee is a substantial hang-over come January 1st—but a New Year playlist? Now there’s an idea I can get behind! Let these inspirational (and sometimes ironic) songs guide you into the New Year.

1. Changes—David Bowie
2. A Change Is Gonna Come—Sam Cooke
3. Monday—The Jam
4. I’m Gonna Change the World—The Animals
5. Don’t Look Back In Anger—Oasis
6. Next Year In Zion—Herman Düne
7. I’m Gonna Make You Love Me—Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross
8. This Will Be Our Year—The Zombies
9. That’s How It Should Be (Sha Sha)—Ben Kweller
10. Brand New Start—Paul Weller
11. Right Now I’m A-Roaming—Nick Cave
12. In The New Year—The Walkmen
13. New Year’s Resolution—Otis Redding and Carla Thomas
14. Harder Better Faster Stronger—Daft Punk
15. Wharf Rat—The Grateful Dead
16. Feeling Good—Nina Simone
17. Box Elder—Pavement
18. Better Things—The Kinks
19. My Year in Lists—Los Campesinos!
20. Just Like Starting Over—John Lennon
21. New Year’s Resolution—Lootpack
22. Another Day—Jamie Lidell
23. Quit Smoking Song—Princess Superstar
24. I Won’t Back Down—Tom Petty
25. The Wild Rover—The Pogues
26. True Love Will Find You In The End—Daniel Johnston
27. Maggie’s Farm—Bob Dylan
28. Piss Factory—Patti Smith
29. I’m Gonna Get Me a Gun—Cat Stevens
30. I’m Gonna Be A Wheel Someday—Fats Domino

If you can think of other songs about resolutions or the New Year, post them!

Moneen may be a decade on, but they’re still going strong. (Supplied)

1. Who are you?
Kenny Bridges.

2. What do you do?
I sing and play guitar for Moneen.

3. Where can someone find you?
Hopefully not in a ditch.

4. Where do you live and work and why?
I live in Brampton. I can’t really call the band work. But if it were, then I work in a small van traveling around trying to make people smile. I travel with 3 other guys who also have the same mission. Why? Why not.

5. When did you start making music together?
10 years ago. Time flies.

6. How would you describe your music?
Aggressive melodic pop, with a side of space.

7. What inspires you?
Beach boys, old jimmy eat world, failure, people who are extremely good at what they do and warm days.

8. What’s the nicest things someone has said you to after a show?
I once told Walter from quicksand / rival schools how much his music meant to me and that it changed my life. He quickly replied, “you know what? One day someone is going to come up to you and say the same thing”. I thought he was just being really nice. But one day someone did come up and say that to me. That’s when I realized how truly powerful music can be.

9. What’s the worst thing someone has said to you after a show?
The other day a drunk girl told our tech that we were a great band, but sounded like shit.

10. What are your current obsessions?
Lost.

11. When someone says “Kingston” you think…
Uncle Doug.

12. What are you currently working on?
I am so close to finishing my home studio. Built it from scratch with our bass player Erik. We gutted the basement and framed it all, wired it all, dry-walled it all ourselves. The only thing left is windows and doors. So close! It will be great to be able to create music whenever we want.

Moneen play The Mansion Dec. 11

After local band Crimes in Paris rocked their mustaches and instruments for the Ale House Movember Party this past Saturday, I talked with their bassist Rudy Olsson about highlighting them on Limelight. Here’s their lowdown:

Band Members:
Rayce Veitch: Vocals and Rhythm Guitar
Stuart Miller: Lead Guitar
Rudy Olsson: Bass
Zach Giannotti: Percussion

What’s the story behind your band’s name?

Stolen from an Elvis Costello song (and tweaked to avoid any sort of conflict), Crimes in Paris sounded completely reasonable.

Where and how did you originate?

From Muskoka, Ontario, we came together in the eighth grade to play a talent show at our elementary school. And after 10 years of playing talent shows, coffee houses, and totally devastating supernova sets in and around the Muskoka and Simcoe regions, we decided to relocate ourselves to Kingston.

Are you all Queen’s students?

Two of us have graduated from Queen’s with a Biology and LifeSci/Phe degree respectively. Of the other two members, one is still attending Queen’s in music, and the other, just recently graduated from Guelph University with a business degree.

What are some of your main influences?

Our influences range anywhere from punk, to folk, electro/house and 60’s brit-rock. The Beatles, Ben Folds, the Kooks, Sufjan Stevens, Radiohead, and Joe Jackson are pretty influential artists.

How would you describe your sound?

Melodically driven music, written acoustically and carefully molded into a full-band dynamic sound with the rare feeling of a well-written song.

Do you have any bands that you’d like to promote, other than your own?

Winhara is a band located in Toronto; they’re friends of ours from Muskoka, as well as Queen’s Alumni. www.myspace.com/winhara

If Crimes In Paris could have any present, collectively, for Christmas, what would it be?

$30,000 to pay for our upcoming album costs.

Dream venue to play in?

Wembley Stadium in England, where many of our favourite artists have performed.

What are your plans for a demo/record/performance schedule?

We have been recording at MetalWorks Studio in Mississauga since August, working on our debut album set for release in March 2010. We have an upcoming show on Thursday, Dec. 3rd at Elixir nightclub, and our set starts at 10:30 PM.

Can we expect you to pursue music post-grad?

Yes

Their Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/CRIMES-IN-PARIS/118292194678?ref=search&sid=1657350051.1300878694..1
Their MySpace: www.myspace.com/crimesinparis

Next Show: Thursday, Dec. 3 at Elixir

Bob Dylan. So full of cheer. (Supplied)

Please don’t turn on your radio. You might be subjected to the terrible, terrible sounds of the Christmas carol. Take my advice, download these songs, make adorable personalized CDs and give them to your friends—I wouldn’t lead you astray. These Christmas picks will allow you to be festive and alternative at the same time. Who could ask for anything more?

1. Ron Sexsmith — Maybe This Christmas
2. Billy Bragg — Cold and Bitter Tears
3. Arcade Fire — Jingle Bell Rock
4. Yo La Tengo — It’s Christmas Time
5. The Pogues — Fairytale of New York
6. Bob Dylan — Must Be Santa
7. Sufjan Stevens — Come On! Let’s Boogey To The Elf Dance!
8. Radiohead — Winter Wonderland
9. Dave n’ Megan — I Wanna Kiss You This Christmas
10. Bright Eyes — Blue Christmas
11. Feist — Lo, How A Rose E’re Blooming
12. Jason Collett — A Beguiled Christmas in Sales
13. Rufus Wainwright — Spotlight On Christmas
14. The Beatles — Christmastime (Is Here Again)
15. Blitzen Trapper — Christmas Is Coming Soon
16. Litterbug — It’s Christmas Time
17. Burquitlam Plaza — Christmas Wish
18. Dan Bryk — Love Me for Christmas
19. Paper Moon — I Hope It’s Something Good
20. Eels — Christmas is Going to the Dogs
21. Belle and Sebastian — O Come, O Come Emmanuel
22. Ryan Adams — Hey Parker, It’s Christmas
23. Tom Waits — Silent Night
24. Evangelicals — The Last Christmas On Earth
25. The Walkmen — No Christmas While I’m Talking
26. Weezer — Christmas Song
27. The Black Halos — Homeless For Christmas
28. Hot Hot Heat — Christmas Day in the Sun
29. Young and Sexy — Santa Likes Rich Kids Better
30. Hawksley Workman — Merry Christmas, I love you!

If I’ve forgotten any essentials, post them!