Big Rock Finish… reviews of independent music

Canada Music Week 2009 – ITSJUSTSMITH, originally uploaded by lilfunky1.

So I’ve only just been introduced to ITSJUSTSMITH (http://www.itsjustsmith.piczo.com/) very recently, but I’m already being dragged everywhere they go. Not that I mind. I’ve known the bassist, Justin, for a good while by now and I trust his judgement that whatever project he plays in has got to be at least listen-worthy because he’s an amazing bassist.

This was an early show which was not good in that there weren’t many people out yet (probably all still eating dinner and pre-drinking) but at the same time it was nice because it meant with our multi-coloured CMW Wristbands, we had plenty of time to go bar hopping.

And hopping we went!

P.S. It drives me absolutely NUTS that Justin wears a baseball cap on stage. My high school drama instructor drilled into our heads to never wear anything that casts a shadow over the face while on stage, and that mentality stuck with me!

Indie Night in Canada 2009 – Awaking State, originally uploaded by lilfunky1.

Okay, I already wrote about Awaking State (http://www.awakingstate.com/) with a photo of Todd earlier but I really just <3′ed this photo and wanted to showcase it.

I don’t think it’s right that someone so young and with so few “real-world worries” (generally I think nothing is more real-world than having your own family to take care of) would have such massive neck-veins. I’m convinced Kent works out his neck veins just so they’ll pop more on stage.

While I know it’s a musician’s nature to work exceedingly hard at what they do & to make a product people will love, I don’t think I know of many that push as much as he does.

I don’t know when Awaking State is playing next, but if you enjoy such great video games as Guitar Hero and such great Awaking State songs as Ordinary Days, you’ll love http://www.jamlegend.com/ that has successfully geekified indie rock music like no other! (And I’m pretty kick-ass at it too.)

Indie Night in Canada 2009 – Awaking State, originally uploaded by lilfunky1.

So it’s not a surprise that I know Awaking State (http://www.awakingstate.com) since I’ve been very close friends with their current drummer (Brandon! HEY!) for a while now. But this particular show was going to be fun.

Late night show on a Wednesday. Seriously. There was a massive crowd out and it was fantastic. After one minor mishap that was pretty quickly resolved, the show was great, the lighting was actually decent for being at the Kathederal (it usually is nearly impossible to shoot in) and I had a blast weaving and ducking around at least 5 or 6 other photographers.

While it’s always hard to listen to the band when I’m concentrating on my photography, I took a minute here and there to just hang out and listen. And these guys are doing great. I love their line up, they’re great musicians, great people & pretty damn hot.

Indie Night in Canada 2009 – The Mudmen, originally uploaded by lilfunky1.

Alright so here’s my second entry on The Mudmen (http://www.mudmen.ca/). Why the second entry? Because of this guy. I had a total 14 year old girl teenybopper-ish moment when I started watching this band’s set…

Because I had a crush on this guy about three of four years ago. And it was a bit of a shock, since this band is very much a loud, kind of angry… celtic type of vibe. And I’ve only really known him as the really soft pretty swoony lead singer of Westpoint.

So while I’d been wondering to myself for the past two years where the hell Westpoint have gone? Mordy has been hanging out with The Mudmen.

Kick ass.

Indie Night in Canada 2009 – The Mudmen, originally uploaded by lilfunky1.

Alright, I didn’t even know who The Mudmen (http://www.mudmen.ca/) were, but it seems enough people did. Zeke from Indie Love (http://www.indielove.ca/) told me that Dylan from BROOMFILLER would be playing with them so I should go check them out.

And I did. And it was damn cool. For one thing I didn’t expect any of the eighteen bands to have bagpipes with them. Just not something I really picture with the idea of a rock show. But they were there, and they were rocking. Two of them even. Dylan was awesome on drums, and there’s another entry I want to write.

But yes, this guy especially I noticed was loving the cameras. It was hilarious just because of his facial expressions when playing.

Definitely a band I want to bump into again soon!

Indie Night in Canada 2009 – 40 Sons and Daughters, originally uploaded by lilfunky1.

(As long as my facial recognition is correct…) 40 Sons and Daughters (http://www.40sonsanddaughters.com/) was the firs band I was able to partake in, on what would be an extremely long Wednesday night.

I have to admit, I enjoyed their music, although by the time I’m writing this I really can’t remember much of it (there was a lot of stuff going on) but I was definitely happy with everything that I was hearing.

According to their myspace they’ll be playing many more shows all around the Toronto area so if I can find them again? Sure I’ll go see them again!

I will apologize now for not knowing much more about this band or going up to introduce myself, but I was already tired after working a 10 hour shift & my caffeine pills had not yet kicked in!