mmm. music.

after a very long, very cold, very wintery drought, i’m very happy to report that concert season seems to be back in full swing in toronto. it started with cmw and sashayed right into junofest.

on st. patty’s, we went too see the midway state play the ballroom. it was my first time at the venue (we didn’t bowl), but it was definitely not what i was expecting. the upstairs essentially turns into a full-on club in the evening – complete with a dj. and while we had a good time laughing at a group of guys that decided to start the dance floor (when does that ever happen?!), i couldn’t help but wonder how the crowd was going to feel when midway took the stage. it is a bit hard to follow a rihanna banger with a sincere piano ballad, after all. the good news is that the guys gave a stellar show and the crowd didn’t seem to mind that they were hindering their dancing, the bad news is...and it pains me to say this because i truly love the midway state, i think they played waaaay too many new songs. i mean, the new album isn’t even out yet. the new songs really should have been peppered in rather than the main feature. as someone who knows nearly every song on their current (and only released album), i can realistically say that i knew maybe three songs...and two of them were covers. granted, the covers were awesome. i mean midway covering elton john? come on. that’s awesome. despite the new-song-o-rama, the show was still enjoyable - i love a show that i can be up close and with a seat! and with free st. patty’s day swag, a girl can hardly complain.

next up? sweet thing at the mod club for junofest. first, a special mention of the balconies, the opening band that featured a brother/sister duo who were actually quite entertaining. she sounded amazing (no seriously, her voice was amazing) and their tunes were super catchy and about things like tigers(?). now, her pelvic thrusts in her super shiny spandex on the other hand? well, that was enjoyable too. what a spectacle.

sweet thing was up next, and boy oh boy, they never disappoint. there is so much to love...from their lead singer striking a pose in his skinnies to his poncho’d bass playing friend razzing the crowd in his ridiculous glasses. seriously these guys are showmen! and now i know why! we did a bit of research when we got home, turns out half of their members actually have an acting background (complete with their very own failed canadian tv shows). well, they’re putting it to good use. these guys truly know how to work a crowd...they say clap, and you better clap. sing along if you know it? hell yes, you know we will. if you can go to a sweet thing show and not have a good time...i don’t think we could be friends. even more telling of their entertaining amazingness? their choice of cover songs – can you believe rebecca black’s ‘friday’ is actually listenable...and dare i say it...enjoyable when performed by talented musicians? true story. the harmonies actually made it sound like a professionally written song. and don’t even get me started on their cover of amerie’s ‘1 thing’. what all-men band would cover that? totally hilarious. if you haven’t seen sweet thing, i highly recommend it. and hey, if it’s in toronto, i’ll probably be there too.

oh, and i bought maybe the best shirt ever too.