CANADIAN MUSIC WEEK 2007
BY: FRIDAE MATTAS

CMW kicked off on Wednesday March 7th and ended Saturday March 10th. From previous festival experiences, I was much more prepared this time around; it is always crazy and mind boggling especially when choosing whom to see. Trust me; you need a game plan when there is limited time, it is especially stressing but you must try to not let it get to you otherwise it will hinder your creativity. There was over five hundred bands to choose from plus all the other stuff like the Awards shows and parties, keynote speakers, celebrity interviews and more. A month earlier I was seriously debating on if I should even cover CMW this year. I decided I might as well do it, I was turning Twenty-Five and it is Canadian Music Week’s 25th Anniversary. The whole interview list I created was originally thirty bands but as much as I want to be Wonder Woman I am not. I then narrowed them again I booted a few and the remaining three bands and one artist congratulations on making it. The list I have compiled below was not created to be the best and the rest, they simply stood out amongst the bunch.

FRIDAE’S CMW TOP 12 STANDOUTS

1. ANTI-HERO – Their interview will be up in a week or so, keep a look out!

2.LOCKSLEY
3.THE MINIATURES
4.GYM CLASS HEROES
5.NEVERENDING WHITE LIGHTS
6.CRASH KELLY
7.BIT BY BATS
8.THE REASON
9.DISCO ENSEMBLE
10.PRIESTESS
11.LIFE THEORETIC
12.GEORGE

The INDIES (The Grammy’s of INDIPENDANT Music) opened the festival with performances by ‘THE NEVERENDING WHITE LIGHTS’, ‘THE STILLS’, ‘WOLFMOTHER’, ‘PRIESTESS’ and more. It took place at “The DOCKS Entertainment Complex” which is the only venue I do not like because it is so far away from all of the other venues and is not easily accessible. It is in Toronto’s waterfront industrial area where the TTC is not even routed to go. The nearest summer TTC stop is about an intersection away not very useful in the middle of winter. To find a cab you must mission to a main street and wave them down, with snow on the ground it took a lot longer I almost took a couple flips along the way of the search. Getting to the venue, we took a cab from UNION, arrived at the venue around 7:30 the show was to start at eight. We walked into the Media room where there was nobody I recognized to bother with, so we migrated outside into the main room walked around not many people wandering around. Forty-five minutes pass and still nobody recognizable, I thought I saw Danko Jones wandering but it was just a random dude. We frolicked in and out of the different rooms, it came to be about 8:45 and the show still has not started. At this point I am thinking that I should have gone to see a band instead of going to the Awards. The lighting was not great, none of the pre-show shots turned out due to the no flash rule, so we decided to leave before the show even began, it took far too long to start, not enough patience to stand around waiting. I did want to see a number of performances but not bad enough to stay. No worries though I do have the winners for you from all the awards shows at the end of the article.

Thursday March 8th was busy I had three bands to check out at the same set time so I tried to get to each band to see at least one or two tunes. The only band I did not get to see that I wanted to was ‘Locksley’ I interviewed the Fellas a couple of hours prior to their set. I found out that No they are not on tour with the “Scissor Sisters” some of us just have severe blonde moments! They are doing a few shows with “Scissors for Lefty” after SXSW and you soon can catch them on tour with “The All American Rejects” coming to a city near you. I had planned on reaching back to “The Silver Dollar” to see ‘Locksley’ perform after I checked out everyone else. First, it was off to see ‘Ohbijou’ they were not that great their music made me want to sleep I could not afford to take a nap at that moment, so bye to that band. Up next was ‘The Reason’ at ‘The Opera House’ they were pretty good I would have stayed although they could be a little more original.



NEVERENDING WHITE LIGHTS



THE BAND OF LOCKSLEYS


That is why I went off to check out others like ‘T-West’ who’s flow just doesn’t cut it, he was too much of a Jigga-abee. He sounded as if he was trying too hard and was too hard on the words when dropping onto the beat, why must he yell instead of rhyme? I understand when you are getting the crowd going trying to hype it all up, that is fine you need the energy but when that intro comes to an end don’t scream into your verse just let it flow, that is why they invented microphones man, That goes for a lot of rappers even the ones in the mainstream. When they do a live show, they tend to try to rap over the music by yelling ( that is where the sound dudes come in your not super ghetto anymore. Tell your techies to turn your MIC up in your earpiece and now back away a from the microphone. I notice many things and yelling just sounds wack unless it is specifically SCREAMO or placed in properly with the whole vibe of the tune, listen to some System for an example.

The streetcars always take forever when you need them, the whole time during CMW they were ridiculous, and on top of that they shut down my main subway stop for construction which made everything more delayed on the transportation part. We finally get back to “The Silver Dollar” just in time to catch ‘Locksley’ rocking out on the last tune of their set which was done well and full of energy from what I caught, they were jumping all over the place big band in small venue. I will have to check them out again to do a full recap on their stage performance. My heart goes out to all the bands I saw, the crowd turn out was not that great because CMW is in the middle of winter and majority of the people went to go see the well known bands instead of trekking out in the cold for Indies.

Now onto the Hard Rock to check out ‘Harmonica’ and a bit of ‘Crash Kelly’ whom I have previously seen at NXNE they always put on a good show but the vocals bother me, it sounds as if he’s singing through his nose and it is a bit throaty the sound I like just find a new front man. Harmonica was not too bad they were too much like the Donnas. Not as good live but neither are the Donnas.

At around 11:30 I dropped into the Revival where ‘Fefe Dobson’ was just wrapping her set and ‘Jacksoul’ was on next, nothing really special about his performance, so off it was to our final stop of the night which was ANTI-HERO playing at the new “Annex Wreck Room” for the Scene Magazine Showcase. I walked in and the band was on stage at least I got to see majority of the performance, which was very energetic, truly rock worthy. Who ever says chicks can’t ROCK are definitely on crack! The band compiled of two females and two males, Rose was in a previous band “HER” but you can find out about that in their interview. Nic was playing that guitar like she was born with it in her hands, she didn’t even notice she was bleeding she just rocked on! Nobody noticed until Rose pointed it out. The woman rocked so hard she sliced up her fingers on those strings I wonder if they were steel or vinyl I could not tell and I forgot to ask.

ANTI HERO


FRIDAY March 9th was the start of a new mission I picked random bands to go see in between the bands already chosen. Here are a few mentions ‘Gym Class Heroes’ nice harmonies and their voices not to annoying they threw it down on the beat pretty well, flow was not stuttering and they were not yelling. They were on at 10:30 at The Opera House, their single is now blowing up on the radio. I also flew in for a few minutes to the “Bodog Battle of the Bands” at Healy’s. The battle was judged by; ‘Bif Naked’, ‘Johnny Rotten’, and ‘Billy Duffy’. The band I walked in on was not exactly up to par with everyone else I do not know their name will never know and don’t want to know, they were all over the place, pitch, key, the music was off, they were crippling my ears so back on out the door I came in.

I decided not to go see Public Enemy due to the lack of wanting to make this mission even more journey like. instead I headed towards The Drake to check out Disco Ensemble but the usual by the time I got to the venue their set was over so off it was to the Kathedral to see what a gwan over there before I headed towards the MOD Club. I walked into the Kathedral there was some blonde chick screaming her lungs off and to me that was so not screamo hardly being able to make out what she was saying. She was just screaming, nothing musical about it, I could not hear the band all I heard was this loud ugly sound coming out of that broad’s mouth I had to then turn around and run out the door. I believe that band was called “**** The Facts” absolutely not METAL and never again will my ears be tortured like that.

I made it to the MOD club a couple of tracks into the Mini’s set at least it was not over. The Miniatures put on an alright performance not enough energy, they were chill but you want to see the guitarists rocking out on their axe, lead vocals going all crazy into the music but not the MINI’s. The most action we saw was when their special guest came on stage to perform with them (I forgot her name) she was all over the place very Bjork like. Otherwise their performance was good if you are into this blend of U2 meets Cold Play. When the Mini’s set was over,


THE MINIATURES






I decided to hit up one more band, their set was for 1:00 am at the Kathedral. The band is ‘Bobnoxious’ and they were rocking out pretty hard when I walked into the Kathedral. Most of the crowd was older, many drunkards screaming and rocking out to the sounds of ‘Bobnoxious’. They were decent, great chemistry as a band they know how to get the crowd going, the only downer was the vocals, they were not that great but practice makes perfect. I would go see them again I liked their energy, everyone was havin a big OL’ PARTAY.


BOBNOXIOUS





A bittersweet ending, the last day of CMW no more MISSIONS except to the RY and the one back home. Saturday March 10th was the day where I decided to catch Chuck D of Public Enemy at his Keynote jibbering at the same time as the CRMA’s. I did however want to check out some of the shows later that night and was going to get all polluted at Triumph’s after party but came to the conclusion after the CANADIAN RADIO MUSIC AWARDS I am going home!! I checked out of the HOJO then migrated on down to the Royal York. I got to the massive hotel, now it was time to explore my surroundings. I went into the Canadian room where the CRMA’s were held they were due to start at 12:30 but had not yet begun so I decided to take a smoke break. While I was outside smoking a few artists and bands crossed my path but there was no way I was going to stop them outside and get some shots, I am not the Stalkerazzi although a lot of them were giving me looks like “Do you know who I am.” Really, I do not care, I am not fazed by any celebrity nonetheless Canadian celebrities. I got back into the hotel was headed to the Ontario room where it was set up as the media room. It was very zoo like so I did not even bother going in. Lingering in the area was George Nozuka whom I interviewed a week prior to CMW while I was snowed in Montreal. George was nominated for a CRMA and ended up winning. When I spotted George he was with his crew I suppose, one of the dudes was Angelo from an obsolete Canadian boy-band titled “Distinct Nature” once called “Natural Reaction” and the other his manager CJ Huyer from the now non-existent soap opera boy band “Three Deep”. I was going to cut dudeface out of the picture but I just left it.


Random shot of the madness!!


Angelo and George


JACKSOUL


After a few shots of George it was off to find others to take pictures of and that is when I found myself at Chuck D’s Keynote Address so I went in tried to get the best possible angle I could so that I could get some good shots of him. Very passionate about what he speaks but also has a sense of humor to balance out the topics. He was talking about the Music Industry and where it is at, why Americans don’t grasp Canadian Hip-Hop or Rock and he even mentioned a city in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) that not many Americans know of except for Enrique Iglesias. He was a funny dude, I agreed with a lot he was saying and learned a few things from him, but for some reason I already knew a lot of what he was talking about, it is odd that I know things I do not even know that I know.

CHUCK D - I allow him to be my friend he's a joker!!









After about fifteen minutes of Chuck D I was off to the CRMA’s to see if they were poppin yet. I went in just in time to catch Jully Black introduce the “Neverending White Light’s” who also were nominated for an award and won. I was trying to find my way to the media wall but could not get to it and no way was I going to climb over all these camera crews equipment just for the same pictures as everyone else, so I stayed on the right side of the presenter’s stage. I migrated to the left side of the stage and there was this chick, who looked very familiar to me, like I have seen her somewhere before. She came up to me and told me very rudely “No media personnel allowed to be on this side of the stage” with dirty looks and all! I responded calmly and sarcastically with a smile on face, by telling her, “maybe someone should direct the media to where they should be, or put a sign somewhere?” She then pointed out to me where it was. I already knew but I had to play along it was fun because I fully was going to write about her and yes here I am! I ended it by telling her “How about I just go back to where I was”. I walked away and went back to where I was. For two performances I was on that side she booted me from, nobody said a word and now, all of sudden, this chick comes over to me as if she runs it, oh hell no! Clearly, she was hating on me, probably stemming from where we had previously seen each other.

TRIUMPH







SUITE XL @ THE CRMA'S





That chicks big head ruined one of the shots of Triumph I had taken. Triumph was the main reason I stayed to the end. They were being inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame. All original members Gil Moore (He also won a Canadian Music Industry award for “Recording Studio of the Year -- METALWORKS RECORDING & MASTERING STUDIOS” which he co-owns.), Rik Emmett and Mike Levine attended and shared the stage to accept their induction. When Triumph hit the stage it was like a mad rush of teenies only this time it was geezies. One Lady I was standing beside pushed me a bit and told me I could go closer to the stage (I was fine where I was), it was weird everyone going crazy, all composure lost. I then floated in and out from Chuck D to the CRMA’s. The shots I took were different I never take generic pictures, I look for candid moments those one of a kind shots that nobody else has.

RANDOM SHOTS

REX GOUDIE



DANKO JONES


JULLY BLACK AND BEDUIN SOUNDCLASH











As the CRMA’s came to a close I wanted to go into the media room to get one on one’s with Triumph maybe a quickie interview but no…. Stupid security man wouldn’t let anyone in although it stated in the after party invite that Triumph would be available before and after the awards!! Toy popo’s sometimes become confused, but I did not want to fight, no energy left. I went to go see if any guest speakers were starting soon no one of interest. Instead I went into the media room it was cleared out not many people there just a few stragglers and Rex Goudie, Rex won an award earlier and is known for being the second runner up on Canadian Idol surprisingly his debut album went platinum. For a Canadian Idol runner up that is awesome we will see how long it lasts. I took one last photograph although I passed by him several times before I felt only comfortable taking pictures at appropriate times. That warps up Canadian Music Week 2007 if I was to tell you everything we would be here all day!



AWARD SHOWS


7th Annual Independent Music Awards (The Indies)
THE DOCKS CONCERT THEATRE, 11 POLSON STREET
March 7, 2007
JULLY BLACK M.C.

"INDIES HALL OF FAME" AWARD: ROUGH TRADE

"XM Satellite Radio Favourite Group or Duo of the Year" Award:
Alexisonfire

"Favourite Pop Artist/Group of the Year" Award:
Billy Klippert

"Favourite Rock Artist/Group of the Year" Award:
The Trews

"Favourite Jazz Artist/Group of the Year" Award:
Elizabeth Shepherd Trio

"Favourite Blues Artist/Group of the Year" Award:
Trouble and Strife

"Favourite World Artist/Group of the Year" Award:
Eccodek

"Favourite Children's Artist/Group of the Year" Award:
Splash'N Boots

"Favourite Urban Artist/Group of the Year" Award:
Cadence Weapon

"InDiscover.net Favourite Artist/Band Website of the Year" Award:
Ember Swift - Ember Swift - New Album: The Dirty Pulse

"Favourite Single of the Year" Award:
Neverending White Lights – The Grace

"Favourite Classical Artist/Group of the Year" Award:
Measha Brueggergosman

"Favourite Folk/Roots Artist/Group of the Year" Award:
The Sadies

"Favourite Country Artist/Group of the Year" Award:
Corb Lund

"XM Satellite Radio Favourite Francophone Artist/Group of the Year" Award:
Malajube

"Galaxie Rising Stars Award of the CBC":
Tokyo Police Club – A Lesson in Crime (Paper Bag)

"Favourite International Artist/Group of the Year" Award:
Wolfmother

"Favourite Video of the Year" Award:
City and Colour ‚ "Save Your Scissors"

"Favourite International Album of the Year" Award
Arctic Monkeys, "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not"

"Favourite Metal/Hardcore Artist/Group of the Year" Award:
Cancer Bats

"Chart Magazine Favourite Album of the Year" Award:
Alexisonfire ‚ "Crisis"

"Favourite Solo Artist of the Year" Award:
Feist

"Favourite Electronica Artist/Group of the Year" Award:
MSTRKRFT

Presented by inDiscover.net, the Indie Awards was sponsored by MaxTrax, XM Satellite Radio, Eye Weekly, FACTOR, Galexie, 102.1 The Edge, CAAMA, and Chart Magazine.



Canadian Music Industry Awards
THE FAIRMONT ROYAL YORK-CANADIAN ROOM
March 8, 2007
HALL OF FAME AWARDS: Ray Danniels, David Foster, Jim Waters

Independent Record Store of the Year
SAM THE RECORD MAN, TORONTO

Rack Jobber of the Year
CD PLUS

Mass Merchant/Specialty Retailer of the Year
BEST BUY/FUTURE SHOP

Retail Chain of the Year
HMV CANADA

Recording Studio of the Year
METALWORKS RECORDING & MASTERING STUDIOS, MISSISSAUGA

Canadian Independent Label of the Year
MAPLE MUSIC

Distributor of the Year
KOCH CANADA

Music Publisher of the Year
EMI MUSIC PUBLISHING

Major Label of the Year
UNIVERSAL MUSIC CANADA

Music Director of the Year (Secondary Market)
PAUL MORRIS, CHTZ HTZ FM, ST. CATHARINES

Music Director of the Year (Major Market)
KATH THOMPSON, CKQB FM 106.9 THE BEAR, OTTAWA

Program Director of the Year (Secondary Market)
GRUFF GUSHNOWSKI, CKLM THE GOAT 91.2, LLOYDMINSTER

Program Director of the Year (Major Market)
ROB FARINA, 104.5 CHUM FM, TORONTO

On-Air Talent of the Year
ROGER, RICK & MARILYN, 104.5 CHUM FM, TORONTO

Station of the Year (Secondary Market)
CHTZ FM 97.7 HTZ-FM, ST. CATHARINES

Station of the Year (Country)
CKRY FM COUNTRY 105, CALGARY

Station of the Year (CHR)
CFBT FM THE BEAT 94.5, VANCOUVER

Station of the Year (MAINSTREAM AC)
CHFI FM 98.1, TORONTO

Station of the Year (ROCK)
CFNY FM 102.1 THE EDGE, TORONTO

Station of the Year (MULTICULTURAL)
CHIN AM 1540, TORONTO

Station of the Year (NEWS/TALK/SPORTS)
CFTR 680 NEWS, TORONTO

"Massey Hall" Performing Arts Centre of the Year
HUMMINGBIRD CENTRE, TORONTO

"Air Canada Centre" Major Facility of the Year
THE MOLSON AMPHITHEATRE, TORONTO

Management Company of the Year
NETTWERK MANAGEMENT

Booking Agency of the Year
S.L. FELDMAN & ASSOCIATES

Promoter of the Year
HOUSE OF BLUES

SPECIALTY VENUE OF THE YEAR
NIAGARA FALLSVIEW CASINO, NIAGARA FALLS

Station of the Year (CLASSIC GOLD)
CILQ FM Q107, TORONTO

Station of the Year (HOT A/C)
104.5 CHUM FM, TORONTO

Promotion of the Year
Derringer's Search for the Funniest Person With a Day Job, CILQ Q107, TORONTO



The Crystals
The Fairmont Royal York - Canadian Room
March 9,2007
Tim Steeves M.C.

Performance Category
TARGET MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS FOR MAPLE FOODS LTD.

Public Service Announcement Category
MARKETEL FOR QUEBEC COALITION AGAINST AIDS

Station Promotion Category
THE BEAT BROADCASTING CORPORATION FOR THE BEAT 94.5

Creative Use Of Sound/Music
MACLAREN MCCAN FOR SCIENCE ALBERTA FOUNDATION

Station Single
THE BEAT 91.5 FOR FAMILY FITNESS

Agency Single
DDB CANADA FOR VANCOUVER AQUARIUM

Station Campaign
AM 740 FOR BRANT FLORIST

Agency Campaign
DORY ADVERTISING LTD FOR SOBEYS

Platinum Best In Show
DORY ADVERTISING LTD FOR SOBEYS


Canadian Radio Music Awards
Fairmont Royal York - Canadian Room
March 10, 2007
JULLY BLACK M.C.
"HALL OF FAME" Inductees: Triumph

Best New Group or Solo Artist (Mainstream A/C) of the Year
TOMI SWICK - A NIGHT LIKE THIS

Best New Group (Rock) of the Year
NEVERENDING WHITE LIGHTS - THE GRACE

Best New Solo Artist (Rock) of the Year
CITY AND COLOUR - SAVE YOUR SCISSORS

Best New Group or Solo Artist (Dance/Urban/Rhythmic) of the Year
GEORGE - TALK TO ME

Best New Group (CHR) of the Year
MOBILE - OUT OF MY HEAD

Best Solo Artist (Hot A/C) of the Year
TOMI SWICK - A NIGHT LIKE THIS

Best New Group (Hot A/C) of the Year
MOBILE - OUT OF MY HEAD

Best New Solo Artist (CHR) of the Year
REX GOUDIE - RUN

FANS' CHOICE AWARD
DANIEL POWTER

CHART TOPPER AWARD
NICKELBACK

FACTOR Breakthrough Award
SOUND BLUNTZ




©2007FRIDAE™