gavin stephens

Here's a bit of Toronto's own Gavin Stephens.

bnl's ed robertson walks away from plane crash..

Barenaked Ladies lead singer Ed Robertson is lucky to be alive today. The Canadian singer along with his wife, and couple of their friends were to fly out of Baptiste Lake but crashed near Bancroft, Ontario Sunday afternoon. It seems that the plane stalled but Robertson managed to set it straight down into the trees with its nose resting on the ground. Robertson got his pilots license in 2005 and now fronts OLN's Ed's Up where he documents his travels by plane. There's no word on if they were shooting when the crash occurred.

like this - d-sisive feat gulity simpson & dj grouch

This is huge for the Canuk rapper. A joint with maybe the best Detroit rapper right now. D-Sisive has released a single for Like This featuring Guilty Simpson and cuts by Toronto's DJ son, DJ Grouch. The track will be available on iTunes on September 23rd.

virgin radio hits toronto..

All last week, 999MIXFM were touting about something Big happening today at 4pm. Many thought it would've been the appearance of new drive home guy Chris Biggs. Many thought - like me - it would be something different. Even though Biggs does start today at 4pm, that's not the announcement. Earlier on today 99.9FM made it official that the station will be re-branded as the first Virgin Radio station on Canadian soil.

99.9 Promises that it'll be the biggest kickoff yet to hit Toronto airwaves. So is this the return of full blown Top 40 music or will it stay on its Rock heritage that gotten the format so big all over the world?

Stay tuned.

red carpet dream..

I've been meaning to post some dreams I've had recently, but always forget but when I woke up this morning, I knew I just had to post something on the dream I had last night.

It starts off with me playing road hockey in front of a bar in a plaza in some little town. I'm playing with a couple of friends and a few other people I don't know. We're playing when I go to take a walk to the corner store to get something. I meet up with a friend of mine from elementary school. We start talking. She says she's going out and if I wanted to come with her. I say, Sure. I go home to get ready. I put on my regular club type wear and meet up with my pal and her friend. I meet her on the corner down the street of the club we're going to. I see her. We start heading to the club. Suddenly as we approach the entrance, we're asked to board on a bus that will take us the rest of the way. The rest of the way? Where is this place? I thought we were just going a few blocks. We're on the bus. We're taking pictures. I think my friends friend likes me. We start flirting. Before we know it, we're asked to get off the bus. We're then on a red carpet. I feel like I'm at some awards show. Photos being taken. Camera shooting reporters interviewing the celebrities. Tres Chic. We enter the building where the red carpet continues which leads us to an elevator.

Aren't we there, yet?


After the elevator we see two guys checking everyones I.D and taking tickets. Tickets? I don't have one. Don't bother my friend says as we just pass by without the bouncers checking anything. Finally, we're there. I leave the two females as I head to the bar. I'm led back to where my friends are playing hockey.

I wake up.

the old prince still lives at home - shad

Some good Cancon Hip Hop for your Sunday afternoon. London, Ontario native Shad got his shinning start in the industry after winning the 91.5fm The Beats Rhythm of the Future talent competition where he was able to finance his debut album with a price pot of $17,500. Now with his follow up album, This Old Prince, the Canuk rapper has been able to sell out venues around the country and also been hailed by the southern brothers like Lupe Fiasco, Common and heads from OkayPlayer.com. Shad is here on September 17th with Hey Ocean.

Check out his innovative video for his single The Old Prince Still Lives at Home.

carresses - m83

M83 is an electronic band from Antibes, France made up of Anthony Gonzalez - and formerly Nicolas Fromageau. Earlier this year M83 released their fifth studio album called Saturdays=Youth which was produced by Ken Thomas (The Sugarcubes, Sigur Rios), Ewan Pearson (of The Rapture fame and also worked with Tracy Thorn), and Morgan Kibby. Here's a sad track that I just love from M83's debut album from 2001. Carresses uses samples from the 1935 movie, Mark of the Vampire.

bright tomorrow - fuck buttons

Fuck Buttons are a duo from Bristol England who joined up in 2004. Members Andrew Hung and Benjamin John Powe Here's a cool lo-fi video for the groups single Bright Tomorrow. All the raw footage was filmed on a cell phone. Except for that really hard ear-piercing part near the end, it's a nice mellow track. You can pick up Fuck Buttons new material via the groups label site, ATP Recordings.

new dragonette

I couldn't find Dragonette's new video for Competition to link up on here, but Perez posted it up on his site a few days back. Check it out here. Cool track. Dragonette continues to make original Cancon magic.

shoulda known - atmosphere

From the duo's fifth studio album, When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold here's the debut video for the single Shoulda Known . Atmosphere is back with a cool new funky sound.

super friendz - mf doom feat vast aire

Defiantly one of my favorite rappers of all time, MF Doom has teamed up with Vast Aire to make up a really nice track called Super Friendz. Here's the link to downloand the track.

rip leroi moore

Dave Matthews Band have lost its saxophonist and their friend. Band member LeRoi Moore, who was known as a founding member for the popular group died on Tuesday from complications stemming from an ATV accident he suffered in June.

Here's the official statement from the group.

08/19/2008

We are deeply saddened that LeRoi Moore, saxophonist and founding member of Dave Matthews Band, died unexpectedly Tuesday afternoon, August 19, 2008, at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles from sudden complications stemming from his June ATV accident on his farm near Charlottesville, Virginia. LeRoi had recently returned to his Los Angeles home to begin an intensive physical rehabilitation program.

Thank you for the music, LeRoi.

d-sisive live...sorta.

Canadian Emcee goldenchild, D-Sisive recently did a show in Montreal and posted a couple of videos from the show. Since the sound sucked, he added the track he was doing over top. Here are two singles from his current release The Book from a performance earlier on this month.


Kneecaps



Up

guess who's who..

And we thought that the return of Humble Howard to Toronto radio was big enough news to keep radio folk talking until fall, there's something else now to chat about. There's someone else joining the new EZ-Rock morning team. Along with Howard, Colleen Rosholme and Kim Stockwood there's a mysterious forth member of the show that EZ Rock is identifying on their site as only a silhouette. Many are yappering about who could this forth talent be.

How about Howard's old partner, Fred Patterson? Nah.

Bingo Bob who used to work with Humble at CFNY? Nope. He's already got a gig.

Then how about that old morning guy who recently left his longtime post over at CHUM? Ahh..That sounds more realistic.


But wasn't he supposed to join the ranks of CFRB? They are down the hall from each other. Double duty? We'll find out when Rick Hodge starts with 'RB Monday.

scruff's alive!

That old Toronto rock mainstay is still kicking around. Last week a very popular yellow radio board announced that Q107 legend Scruff Connors has passed away. It seemed the mod heard from a secret tipper on the news and thought it was correct. Scurff has been battling cancer for recent years and hasn't really been heard from for a while so it wasn't too much of a shock. As soon as the news was posted, Connors pals wrote the mod letting him know that Connors is still with us doing very well. He's a richer man this week. He won a hundred grand last week and now is a proud renter of an elephant from the Bowmanville Zoo.


This reminds me of the night my pal Tom Rivers passed. While Riv was on his death bed after a short battle with cancer, news of his death was already flooding up the yellow board. The tipper had gotten word from a Rogers worker who had already wrote up the news copy to be read on air. Riv did die. 6 hours later.

rip isaac hayes

Another good one has left us. Soul legend Isaac Hayes was found dead Sunday after relatives found him passed out by his still running treadmill. Hayes was best known for the theme from Shaft and being the voice of Chef from South Park. He'll be missed.

humble howard retruns to toronto morings...

It's official. Humble Howard is back on Toronto radio starting Monday. The news broke Friday that Howard will be joining EZ-Rock as their new morning man. Joining Howard will be longtime EZ Rock vet, Colleen Rusholme and Canadian entertainer, Kim Stockwood.

This is probably the biggest radio move this summer as the radio jungle started to roar. Moving and shacking all over the dial, but with Howard coming back to Toronto radio it'll defiantly rock the morning spectrum. In an exclusive chat with Howard this weekend, he informs us that the new morning show will be "personality and content with a big emphasis on the later". He continues, "We will endeavor to inform and entertain and make sure that the listener comes away from each break having learned a little something. Less contesting, cutesy, mindless-babble and more sticky items, information and fun."


For longtime Humble Howard fans, it's a surprise that he'll end up on a Hot-CHR radio station geared to women. The CFNY legend noted, "I was 29 when I started at CFNY and now at 48 I think that EZ is the perfect place for me to be." Humble stated, "As for growing as an announcer I think it's just growing and growing up as a person that will hopefully make me a better broadcaster." So going from playing Smashing Pumpkins to Celine? "As for the pumpkins to Celine, the music I played at the EDGE fit the demo and so does the music we'll play at EZ."


Being off Toronto radio for little more than two years, being axed from MIX 99.9 shortly after longtime partner in crime, Fred Patterson was let go ears still remember the voices they love. Howard hopes that his name will bring the listeners. "I think I bring some name recognition to the show. I have been in the market nearly 20 years so hopefully at least a few people will have heard of me." And on reuniting with Fred, Humble hinted, "I would absolutely have FP on the show if the opportunity presented himself."


As for radio always changing, Howard knows one thing for certain. "Radio will always be better than TV for inspiring the listeners imaginations as it is and has always been a more intimate medium.". Get ready to get intimate with Humble, Colleen and Kim Monday morning on the all new EZ Rock morning show.


Good luck, pal. We'll be listening.

rip bernie mac....

What unexpected news. Sad news. Bernie Mac has passed away. The 50 year old comedian was best known for movies Oceans Eleven and Oceans Thirteen. He also had a hit Fox TV Show The Bernie Mac Show.

ysp!wsd!, the rapture hit toronto...

WSP!WSD! are a Vancouver band that have become one of the most anticipated rock gems of Canada. Touring in support of the band's first digital-only release, which is a reworking of their sophomore Lose All Time, We Say Party! We Say Die! show up here August 27th with The Rapture DJ's. The Rapture have just release a new track called No Sex For Ben which appears on the latest Grand Theft Auto soundtrack. The Rapture DJs are made up of Gabriel Andruzzi and Matt Safer. Get tickets to the combo showing of independent talent here.

Here's a sample of both crews..



You Say Party! We Say Die!



The Rapture

california - hey ocean

Vancouver band Hey Ocean are here next month...Hopefully this time they don't get their instruments stolen by a local crackhead.

vmt: 80s...

I thought I would bring you double the joy today and flip the script with two Virtual Mixtapes. The first one is all about the 80's. Enjoy.


Iko Iko - The Belle Stars
Weird Science - Oingo Boingo
Headstart for Happiness - The Style Council
Wot - Captain Sensible
She Bop - Cyndi Lauper
Superstar - Sonic Youth
Blue Monday - New Order
Pretty Girls Make Graves - The Smiths
We Got The Beat - The Go-Go's
Heaven - Bryan Adams
Don't Stand So Close To Me - The Police
Wild Boys - Duran Duran
Still A Lady - Lionel Ritchie
One Moment in Time - Whitney Houston
Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
Make It Real - The Jets

vmt: 90's hip hop...

Since watching The Wackness the other day (see below for the review), I thought I would post up some of my favorite Hip Hop tracks from the early 90's. Tracks that I love and give me that feeling inside when I hear them today. So, without any further jabbering, here's a nice Hip Hop mix to check out on this lazy Holiday Monday afternoon.


93 till Infinity - Souls of Mischief
Bonita Applebum - A Tribe Called Quest
Juicy - Notorious B.I.G.
C.R.E.A.M - Wu-Tang Clan
T.R.O.Y - Pete Rock and CL Smooth
Ain't Nothing But a G Thang - Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dog
It Was A Good Day - Ice Cube
MC's Act Like They Don't Know - KRS-One
U.N.I.T.Y - Queen Latifah
Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat) - Digable Planets
Can't Truss It - Public Enemy
You're All I Need - Method Man feat. Mary J Blige
Momma Said Knock You Out - LL Cool J
Soul By The Pound - Common Sense
Just Hanging Out - Main Source
Mass Appeal - Gangstarr
Livin' Proof - Group Home
Halftime - Nas

get well, kelly bundy...

Christina Applegate has started undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Reps for the Married With Children and Samantha Who? star released this statement Saturday.

"Christina Applegate was diagnosed with an early form of breast cancer. Benefiting from early detection through a doctor ordered MRI, the cancer is not life threatening. Christina is following the recommended treatment of her doctors and will have a full recovery."

The 36-year old actress plans to appear on the Stand Up 2 Cancer special that will air September 5th on the major three networks. The special will raise money for cancer research.

the wackness..

A pal sent me a link to watch The Wackness online. It's too bad because I would've loved to have seen this movie in the theaters. It's would've been better with more people around bumping like me to the soundtrack which was made up of 1990 Hip Hop classics.


Based in 1994 Manhattan, The Wackness is about a confused and misunderstood teenage Hip Hop head drug dealer who is looking to be excepted in world where he knows a lot of people but feels like he has no friends. Think Good Will Hunting.

Star Josh Peck does a wonderful job playing the troubled teen and his scenes with his new homeboy slash shrink, Ben "Dr Squires" Kingsley showed a lot of maturity.

Director Jonathan Lavine takes it back to the Hip Hop scene in '94 really well which makes you want to go back to that time and remember when it was just after Kurt's death and Biggie just released Ready To Die. Pagers were the dealers way of communication and Mayor Giuliani was ruling NYC.

The movie reminded me of Good Will Hunting and Kids. A soul searching powerful hip rocker which was based on drug deals, music and beer all the while looking for the meaning of self in a very hot summer right after high school graduation.


If you want to take a trip back to the 90's, hear a dope soundtrack and see a very good growing of age movie, check out The Wackness. Do me a favor, though. See it in the theaters.



The Wackness gets 8.5/10 spray cans.

the dark knight...

I bit the bullet and caved into the peer pressure and went to check out The Dark Knight last night. I mean, this flick continues to break records so it must be good, right? That's what I hate about Hollywood movies. The reason why a movie does so well it's not always about the quality of the movie, but it's the hype that surrounds it.

Didn't Public Enemy teach us anything?


Anyway. Checked out the movie. It was much better than I thought it would've been. I tend to fall asleep during major summer blockbusters. Did it during two Harry Potter movies. Jurassic Park. Heck, even Batman Begins. But not this one. To tell you the truth, though - it was Joker that kept me on my feet. Heath did good. Too bad he isn't here to feed from the fame he would've gained from it.


I found the movie to be a bit too long and could've ended really nicely a few times, and would've made more sense that how it did end. Is this the end of the saga? Where's Batman? Where's Two-Face? Yeah, he showed up. But why introduce him if you'd only kill him off an hour later? Whatever. Joker's scenes were unforgettable. The ongoing jabber between Michael "Alfred" Cain and Christian "Batman" Bale were lighthearted, deep and meaningful. Aaron "Two Face" Eckhart was fabulous. Maggie "Rachel Dawes" Gyllenhaal looked fine.

The storyline was ok. The acting good. The action and comedy made the movie. If it wasn't for the the little tweaks in the ending it would've been a summer classic. The movie still gets a 8/10, though..


If you're up for one good summer blockbuster in a long while, check out The Dark Knight.