Here are videos of our most recent in-stores. Feel free to check out our YouTube page for more!
Not only are Bruce Peninsula part of the very small group of bands that have performed at Soundscapes twice, but many of its members have also played the shop in some other guise, including The Weather Station, Snowblink and Steven McKay. Nevertheless, they're always welcome back! They treated us to pretty much a full set, and we've posted most of it on YouTube so check it out!
Their latest album Slave Ambient has been a favourite 'round here since it came out, so we knew we'd have to ask Philadelphia's The War On Drugs to stop by for an in-store when they rolled through town in August. We even dressed up our window for the occasion (peep it at the start of the video). We've embeded a song called "Best Night," the first song from the new record, but check our YouTube page for a bunch more.
It was a real treat having Eleanor Friedberger down for an in-store. On top of releasing her fantastic solo album Last Summer this year, she's been making great music as one-half of The Fiery Furnases for more than a decade. She also treated fans to pretty much a full set, even playing new songs and taking requests. Enjoy the song "I Won't Fall Apart on You Tonight" above and check our YouTube page for a few more tunes.
Montreal's Little Scream (aka. Laurel Sprengelmeyer) stopped by the shop this past summer on one her many tours supporting her debut album The Golden Record. Here's the song "Heron & the Fox" off of that album.
Doug Paisley has released two albums in the last few years, both of them store favourites. We finally had Doug stop by for an in-store this past May, and as these videos show, he's one of our city's best songwriters.
Toronto's Jennifer Castle released her sophomore record Castlemusic this spring, but having her come play an in-store was a no brainer before we even heard it. Her last record You Can't Take Anyone remains an all-time favourite of the shop, and she's collaborated with enough other great musicians (Ryan Driver, Constantines, Fucked Up) to know she can do no wrong. Here's a song off her new album, while the rest of the set can be found on YouTube.
Miracle Fortress finally released a follow-up to 2007's amazing Five Roses with this year's equally stunning Was I The Wave? It was a real honour having them come by for an in-store, and we were treated to a great set made up of tunes from both their albums. Enjoy this extended, jammy version of WITW? highlight "Miscalculations," and head on over to our YouTube page for the rest of the set.
Toronto's One Hundred Dollars have been favourites of ours for a long time, so we knew as soon as they came out with their new record Songs of Man we would have to have them come play at the store. Here's a song from last year's Regional 7" Pt. 2 called "The Digger."
We were all very excited to help Snowblink celebrate the re-release of their album Long Live back in March. They played a very special in-store with many alternate arrangements of their songs, including this beautiful version of "Ambergris." Check out our YouTube page for the rest of the set, including 3 improvised songs based around members of the audience.
We were really excited to have Bonjay grace our stage recently. During these cold winter months it's nice having bands like them come to turn up the heat! They just put out their new album Broughtupsy - get into it!
It wasn't a huge surprise when Doctor Ew's debut album Gadzooks just about charmed the pants off everyone in the shop. We've been a fan of Drew Smith's songwriting since his time in the dearly departed Toronto group The Bicycles. Luckily, 3/4 of them appear in the video above, Doctor Ew's ode to marriage, "Let's Make It Legitimate."
Steven McKay stopped by the shop to play songs off his brand new full-length album. Check out this song, "Restore Me," to give yourself an idea of what he sounds like. He's good, eh?
Kingston, ON's PS I Love You released their debut album Meet Me at the Muster Station last October, so we invited them to our shop for an in-store a few weeks later. Needless to say, this video might not do justice to how loud it was in the room - the walls were shaking! Watch them play their song "2012" above and visit our YouTube page for a few more videos.
We had the privilege of hosting an solo acoustic set from Avigdor Zahner-Isenberg of Avi Buffalo back in October (before they made it to #9 on our Staff Best of 2010 list). Here's the song "Coaxed" from their debut album, and check our YouTube page for 2 more songs.
Chapel Hill's Lost in the Trees payed a visit for a quick in-store last month, setting up right at the front of the shop. Curious onlookers passed by on the street, peering into the window to catch a glimpse of the music inside.
Toronto's Golden Dogs stopped by the shop a few months back to play selections from their latest album "Coat of Arms." Here's a new tune called "Travel Time." Visit our YouTube page for more from the set.
We really do like having in-stores here at Soundscapes, otherwise we wouldn't keep doing it. From time to time, we'll like a band enough to have them come play a second time! Toronto's Forest City Lovers played here last time they put out an album, so when Carriage dropped this summer, we jumped at the chance to have them again! Enjoy their new tune "Pocketfull of Rocks" above and go to our YouTube page for some older songs.
In the middle of summer, the last thing we want to do is keep people inside for an in-store. That's why we decided to team up with our friends around the corner at The Big Chill (367 Manning Ave.) for a special "out-store" with Chris Chu of The Morning Benders. Loads of people showed up (free ice cream, anyone?) but the diehard fans in attendance made Chris' all-request set into something truly special.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at 11:15AM