A free feast for the ears
Your guide to Apple Crisp’s hearty helpings of tasty concerts
Catch Bruce Peninsula next week with local supergroup The Gertrudes. (Supplied)
Rock Plaza Central’s rock paired with local fellow Reuben deGroot’s country will grace the stage of Next Church. (Supplied)
When: Tuesday, March 17 Where: The Artel, 205 Sydenham Street
Who: The House is Black and Timber Timbre
Why you should go: The House is Black is actually one guy who goes by the name Lucas. The living room of the Artel will be the perfect place for The House is Black to play. He plays the type of music that you lie in bed and listen to (think Sigur Ros) and it sounds like most of Lucas’ music is envisioned in a tiny bedroom. The intimate space will hopefully bring you into the unique world of this musician and allow you to have an authentic experience of his music. The Artel will surely affect your experience of Timbre Timbre. The ever mysterious Toronto band might even scare you a little up that close. Frontman Taylor Kirk gravitates toward 20th century folk while conveying contemporary isolation. Using pre-existing sounds and lo-fi recording, Kirk infuses his work with makeshift fogginess. An ample amount of reverb and soulful, almost creepy tones are used.
Cost: FREE
When: Wednesday, March 18
Where: The Grad Club (19+ event), 162 Barrie Street
Who: False Face and Magic Jordan
Why you should go: Magic Jordan is Ben, Jeff, Jenni and Paul and they are four of the most interesting people I’ve watched perform live. Drummer Benjamin Nelson once told me this band was an excuse to make album art. Judging from their latest track on the Apple Crisp compilation this band is far from an excuse for anything but shredding guitar solos, chant-like vocals, kickin’ keyboarding and downright sexy synthesizer pop. False Face is another local band that’s become a bit of a legend. They’ve only played two shows in their short career and you won’t want to miss this one. This enigmatic band features two guitarists and a drummer. From what I’ve heard, they play the kind of punk you wish you had been alive for.
Cost: FREE
When: Thursday, March 19 Where: The Next Church, 89 Colborne Street
Who: Rock Plaza Central and Rueben deGroot
Why you should go: Have you ever witnessed a rock band in a church? It’s a lot more fun than it sounds. The Next Church has pretty great acoustics and sitting in pews forces good posture. There’s also a great place at the front of the church for dancing, apparently the man who runs the church takes some pews out before shows, which is nice for Rock Plaza Central. Their 2006 release We Are Not Horses received an immense amount of indie-rockabilly acclaim and the hipsters might want to get up close and personal for this one. Rueben deGroot will be the perfect counterpart to this Toronto band. A Kingston local deGroot’s country music is a nice compliment to Rock Plaza Central, and thankfully it’s not the kind of country music you’ll hear on CMT.
Cost: FREE
When: Friday March 20
Where: The Next Church, 89 Colborne Street
Who: The Gertrudes and Entire Cities and Bruce Peninsula
Why you should go: The Gertrudes and Entire Cities and Bruce Peninsula are three bands that live by the philosophy the bigger the better. With upwards of 10 people on stage at one time, there will be plenty to look at. The Gertrudes feature some of Kingston’s most sensitive musicians. They sing a lot about birds and rivers and nature, which will make you smile and want to maybe make crafts with the members of the band. Entire Cities will indeed raise the roof of the Next Church. Their hybrid sound combines, rock, pop, folk and country and is a breath of fresh air. The band also has a soft spot for Kingston, so you might see some locals jump onstage with the band. The Bruce Peninsula is Toronto’s buzz band and has been selling out shows in their native town. Described as a “rock meets gospel” band, the Next Church will be an apt space for the crew to rock out. There’s also a whole mess of kids in this band—apparently there’s a guy who just plays the chains… In a post-Arcade Fire world, bands like this are possible. The more the merrier, right?
Cost: FREE
—Emily Whalen
