Stars celebrate 20 years of Set Yourself On Fire @ The Concert Hall, Friday

Join Torquil, Amy and the whole Stars crew in a 20th anniversary reprise of Set Yourself On Fire tonight. Get tickets right here.

Cold Specks signs with Arts & Crafts

Straight outta Etobicoke, promising 23-year-old singer/songwriter Al Spx aka Cold Specks burst onto the global stage recently with a head-turning appearance on the popular British television show Later... with Jools Holland which you can see below.

Full marks to Arts & Crafts who signed the London-based Spx (previously known as Basket of Figs and The Hotel Ghost) and announced the December 13 release of Cold Specks' debut single Holland b/w Old Stepstone well-timed to coincide her Toronto appearance at the Phoenix opening for St. Vincent on December 15.
Spx sites the field recordings of Alan Lomax and the churchy Memphis belthing of James Carr as key influences on her sound which she describes as "doom soul."
It all bodes well for her forthcoming full-length album currently being mixed with legendary acoustic engineering ace Jim Anderson (Ron Carter, McCoy Tyner, Branford Marsalis, John Zorn) with tracks reportedly produced by PJ Harvey sidekick Rob Ellis who worked wonders for Anna Calvi.  Can't wait to hear what she does with the London Community Gospel Choir. I'm guessing you'll be reading much more about Cold Specks very soon. Check out the two songs from her single following the video clip. If you like what you hear, you can get digital versions right here.



Cold Specks on Later... with Jools Holland



   

A Broken Social Scene video you won't see on TV

According to an Arts & Crafts release, an anonymous fan of Broken Social Scene is said to be the brains behind a provocative G20-inspired video for the group's anthemic instrumental Meet Me In The Basement from their new Forgiveness Rock Record album recently short-listed for a Polaris Prize.
Since it's unlikely that the potentially controversial juxtaposition of images will ever be shown on MuchMusic – at least in in an un-pixelated form – I thought I'd post it here along with a clip of BSS performing the song at Harbourfront last July.

"This video was made as a response to the G20 Summit in Toronto June, 2010. 
The rest speaks for itself.
It was sent to us by a lover of our music who wants to remain anonymous.  
We are very proud to share this mash-up with you." 

- Broken Social Scene

Meet Me In The Basement by Broken Social Scene



Meet Me In The Basement by Broken Social Scene @ Harbourfront July 11, 2009