There is no dead time rest for Ben Caplan and his raging soulful stage show. Toronto fans will have the chance to see him perform 4 times in February as he takes up residency in Kensington Market at the Supermarket every Wednesday night. Later in February, he will stop in to southern Ontario venues before heading back home to the east coast while playing shows along the way. March 9th will mark a big homecoming celebration at the Seahorse Tavern in Halifax. March 11th Ben will do a Ted Talk as part of TedxHalifax before jumping on a plane to South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas.

Before taking off to Europe for a 3 month-long tour, Caplan will return to Canadian soil to woo audiences at Canadian Music Week and the East Coast Music Awards. This is just the beginning of a very jammed 2012 for this up and coming musician. And to think, he only left his Halifax home for his very first tour at the beginning of 2011. In one year he released his debut album to great critical acclaim, toured internationally, and received offers to perform at major music festivals.

At the tail end of 2011, Caplan performed “Seed of Love” for ToroMagazine’s GarageBand video sessions. The result is an engaging and compelling performance showcasing Caplan’s honest and inspiring songwriting in a natural light. Watch the live video below:

Caplan’s stage show is almost reminiscent of a burly and bearded Freddy Mercury; a raging, strong, and exploratory songwriter, it’s the blues in his soul, and the heart in your chest pounding as one that makes him an unmissable act.

NOW Toronto recently reviewed, “Ben Caplan is an East Coast singer/songwriter with a storyteller’s pen, a flair for the dramatic and a talented Gypsy-influenced team called the Casual Smokers. His theatrical lyrics, barroom arrangements and bushy, unkempt beard practically beg for descriptors like “gruff,” “raw” and “bourbon-soaked.” The Western Gazette wrote, “Flawlessly mixing banjo, clarinets, violins, beards and vocals into a smoother shot of Canadian Whiskey than ever before, Ben Caplan and the Casual Smokers premier album In the Time of the Great Remembering is a shot of refreshing material.”

TOUR DATES
Jan. 29 @ Van Gogh’s Ear, GUELPH (w/ Ladies of the Canyon & Heartbroken)
Jan. 31 @ The Casbah Lounge, HAMILTON
Feb. 1 @ Supermarket, TORONTO
Feb. 8 @ Supermarket, TORONTO
Feb. 15 @ Supermarket, TORONTO
Feb. 16 @ The Spill, PETERBOROUGH (w/ Amos the Transparent)
Feb. 18 @ Ritual, OTTAWA (w/ Amos the Transparent)
Feb.22 @ Supermarket, TORONTO
Feb. 23 @ Maxwell’sl, WATERLOO (w/ Amos the Transparent)
Feb. 27 @ Casa Del Popolo, MONTREAL (w/ Amos the Transparent)
Mar. 1 @ Plan B, MONCTON (w/ Robyn Dell’Unto, The Balconies)
Mar. 2 @ Red Herring, SAINT ANDREW (w/ Robyn Dell’Unto)
Mar. 3 @ Red Herring, SAINT ANDREW (w/ Robyn Dell’Unto)
Mar. 9 @ Seahorse Tavern, HALIFAX
Mar. 11 @ Ted Talk, HALIFAX

Cheers,
Tyler

I have never claimed to be writer. I’m not much of a speaker either come to think of it. I tend to stutter and mumble and look at the floor, making things awkward for all parties.

I try everyday however with the Song Du Jour to put into words just how great the song is, or at least try to convince you that it doesn’t suck.

I’m not going to waste my time or your time today with any of that though, because no matter what I try to type on this old HP laptop of mine, it is going to come nowhere close to doing this song justice. So all I’m going to say is enjoy this song, and see you all on Monday.

Au revoir,
Chris

(Sorry Bitty)

Vancouver four-piece Yukon Blonde are returning to Halifax in support of their sophomore LP Tiger Talk, due out March 20 (Dine Alone Records) with Library Voices at Reflections on Saturday, April 7.

Offering up their first single “Stairway” for download, the band are preparing for worldwide tour dates by playing an intimate and very special show during CBC Vancouver’s Toque Sessions on February 3rd at 5:30 PM. Download the new single “Stairway!”

Over the past two years, Yukon Blonde has earned no shortage of acclaim for its hook-heavy brand of pop rock. From having their debut album Polaris Music Prize listed to being talked about on the major US Network television show “How I Met Your Mother,” Yukon Blonde has been turning heads everywhere they go. But despite their love of vintage rock ‘n’ roll, the members aren’t the kind of guys who cling to the past.

After an intensive three-week writing retreat to a cottage in BC’s Comox Valley that saw the band pulling 12-hour days, the band hunkered down at Burnaby, BC’s Hive Creative Labs studio with Colin Stewart (Black Mountain, Ladyhawk). Eschewing the analog tape of their past work in favour of a crisp digital approach with synthesizer flourishes, the band agonized over tones and meticulously crafted 15 new songs.

Four of these tunes sounded out of place, and bore a distinct similarity to the debut. Yukon Blonde opted to release these four cuts separately as the 2011 EP Fire//Water. With the fan base’s appetite sufficiently whetted, the group held back the remaining tracks for the full-length.

Yukon Blonde has already proved that they are willing to go wherever their restless artistic muse takes them. Along with a 62-show North American tour behind their Fire//Water EP the band also played such as Ottawa Blues Fest, Mariposa Folk Festival, and Milwaukee Summerfest. They toured with Plants & Animals and The Fling, and shared the stage with the likes of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes, Dawes, Josh Ritter, Elliott Brood and more.

Cheers,
Tyler

Italian bass player Alberto Rigoni makes available on Youtube the official video clip of “The Net”, a song from his new solo album Rebirth released by Nightmare Records (via Sony/RED distribution).

Short but intense, the tune is based on bass harmonics that create a unique atmosphere.

“I love bass harmonics. The tune is simple but hypnotic” comments Rigoni.

Tracklisting:
1. Free
2. Rebirth
3. Story Of A Man
4. The Net
5. Emptiness
6. A New Soul
7. With All My Forces
8. Ontogeny
9. White Shine

Cheers,
Tyler

Today we have one of my all time favorite bands featured as the “Song Du Jour”. City and Colour, A.K.A Dallas Green, has been steadily gaining popularity throughout the world and his latest album is evidence to why that is.

Little Hell is the band’s third studio album, and my personal favorite. It has more of a rock and roll flavor, as opposed to their last two which focused on softer songs. The album debuted at #1 on the Canadian Albums Chart, selling over 20,000 copies in it’s first week.

Dallas’ departure of Alexisonfire to pursue a solo career appears to be the main reason the band broke up, so let’s hope City and Colour keeps doing it’s thing for a long while longer so the world is not completely deprived of Dallas’ talent.

Until next time.
Chris

I never really “got” Coldplay growing up. I didn’t care for “Yellow”,  I thought “Clocks” was mind numbing and “Violet Hill” was just ok.

I was pleasantly surprised however when I first heard “Paradise” off of the bands fifth studio album Mylo Xyloto. More than pleasantly surprised actually, more like absolutely hooked. The song has it all; from inspiring lyrics to a wide variety of instruments used, and a chorus that will have you singing “para-para-paradise” all day. Add in a heartwarming video about an elephant escaping the zoo to find his family and you’ve got a can’t miss, gem of a song.

Fan of Coldplay or not, give this tune a listen, and if you’re not a fan, it may change your whole perspective on the band, as it did to me.

Cheers,
Chris

The British Alternative Rock act, The Ocean’s Eyes, are debuting their music video for their song “Room Of Red”, in Canada. It was produced by Daniel Broadly (Futures, That Sunday Feeling and Lab Records) and the track is off their second EP, Lost Along the Way. If you like this then grab the EP on iTunes and snag The Ocean’s Eyes’ first EP release, Lions, for free download here!

The band had the following to say about the video:

“I love love the video. It captures everything we wanted it to, and really puts across the mood of the track. The response we have received is amazing which makes it all worthwhile”

The band is also going on tour this March with Room 94. The dates and tour poster are viewable below, if you can make it to any of the dates you can purchase tickets here.

15.03 OXFORD O2 Academy2
16.03 SOUTHAMPTON Guava Bar
17.03 BRIGHTON Hydrant
18.03 NORWICH B2
19.03 BRISTOL Thekla
20.03 CARDIFF Clwb Ifor Bach
22.03 NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms
23.03 BIRMINGHAM HMV Institute
24.03 MANCHESTER Roadhouse
25.03 SHEFFIELD Corporation
26.03 LIVERPOOL O2 Academy2
27.03 GLASGOW Cathouse
28.03 NEWCASTLE Riverside
29.03 LEEDS Cockpit
31.03 LONDON King’s College (KCLSU)

Cheers,
Tyler

The British four-piece meld together various sub-genres of hardcore and heavy metal with electronic styles of dub step and trance. Pushing past the barriers of limiting themselves to any genre Enter Shikari show their true colours through inspiring lyrics that focus on political and societal issues. Heavy hitting, genre defying and thick accented; Enter Shikari is not just a band, it’s something that clearly oozes creativity and talent. The band is more than a group of artists coming together to make music, it’s a group with personality, beliefs and hope. Their 3^rd studio album released on January 16^th  and debuted at the top of the UK Album Chart for almost the entirety of the first week of its release. A Flash Flood Of Colour, released through Hopeless Records is Enter Shikari’s most exceptional release to date, displaying their sheer gift that is creating amazing music.

The album opens with an intro track similar to the opening song on their last release Common Dreads. The same “stand up for what you believe” type motto is chanted throughout. This amps the listener up for the album and the following track “…Meltdown” really kicks everything into high gear, Enter Shikari pummel the song with resonating dub step like synths and heavy drums that demand your attention. They capitalize on this after a climbing, high pitched synth tone climaxes, they rush in with a catchy chorus and fast paced drums. The next track, “Sssnakepit” is my absolute favourite track off this record. It seems like the songs with titles “Zzz’s” or “Sss’s” are absolutely amazing. The video for the song debuted before the record was released, serving as a single, and has captivated me since my first time hearing it. The song opens with heavy programming in the intro, followed by a guttural roar “Oh c’mon, just open the door!” from Rou Reynolds kicking the track off. With a catchy chorus, predominant guitars and a great blend of everything that makes Enter Shikari great, this is a must listen. Check it out below to see what I mean:

The reiterated chorus in “Search Party” is so contagious that it had me singing along at the top of my lungs, on my daily jog, running down the street in the middle of the city. The tempo slowed down but still provides enough excitement to be looked upon as wicked songs. Even though lyrically the whole album touches on downfalls of politics and society, “Stalemate” and “Ghandi Mate, Ghandi” focus on corruption and war. “Stalemate” is an anthem for the bands views on the uncivilized civilization shown in lyrics such as; “Money is made when bombs are dropping in Afghanistan, when white phosphorous falls in Palestine.” “Ghandi” is one hard hitting track that outlines the fun the group has through performing in Enter Shikari. Part way through the song Rou screams out the end of a lyric as the band members interrupt him and calm him down; “Woah, woah Calm down mate, calm the fuck down. Gandhi mate, remember Gandhi.”

The next song “Warm Smiles…” shows off the bands talent with a killer blend of electronic and live instrumentation in addition, the song is very catchy throughout, retaining a slow pace but still captivating the listener. For some reason the second last song “Pack Of Thieves” made me truly appreciate everything in my life, it was very inspiring. I’m not sure if that was the bands intentions but kudos either way. “Hello Tyrannosaurus…” shows more of a grungier, heavier side to the bands writing with quick snaps on the drums and high pitched shrieks. This is not one of my favourites, after the first initial listen, I’ll most likely skip it when the track comes up. The final track “Constellations” is one song that you have to listen to. Seriously, I can’t describe how great it is.

The heavy mixture of singing, deep screams and gang vocals appeal to many listeners and throughout the album Rou displays his greatly diverse vocals as well as the range he can reach. With the steadiness of so many reoccurring elements, so many different voices and vocal styles, it’s awesome to see talented musicians meld everything together so well. I think Enter Shikari has found a perfect balance of tone, as well as a great blend of melodies and live instruments. This album is full of many electronic synths, amazing guitars and drums as well as catchy choruses and hard hitting lines that display true talent.

I’m giving Enter Shikari’s A Flash Flood Of Colour a glamorous and well deserved 4.5/5

Favourite Songs:
Meltdown
Sssnakepit
Search Party
Constellations

Cheers,
Tyler

The St. John’s, Newfoundland six piece East Of Empire has been together since late 2010. They’ve pieced together their first demo album, Into The Elephant, and were nominated for 3 Music NL awards this past year. You can purchase a copy of their live performance at at Cochrane St. United Church in St. John’s on their BandCamp. I shot the band an email and each member took a different question to truly get a better understanding of the band and their unique style of music.

T: How would you describe your style of music?

Reuben: If I were to label our music as a specific genre I’d call it “Neo-Folk/Pop”.
I think the best way to capture East of Empire’s sound is that we’re very current. We take a lot of inspiration from modern music and blend it with a spicy mixture of classic staples to get a creation that really only could have happened now. That’s not to say were necessarily doing anything new, but rather taking from multiple sources to create something unique.
If I was to identify our style I’d say we are a highly energized somewhat psychedelic pop-rock band that seems to morph with every new song we create.

T: Where has the band toured so far?

Annie: We’ve only performed locally so far but have had the opportunity to play with many amazing artists in many different venues around St. John’s. A couple highlights have been playing at The Ship with Mark Bragg and opening for Timber Timbre when Mighty Pop brought them here in October 2011. We’re also hoping to tour the province and even play a few shows in Halifaxover the next year.

T:  Have you released any singles or EP’s before “Into the Elephant”?

Darhen: No. Into the Elephant is our first and only released demo, although some recordings from our show with Timber Timbre are posted on our bandcamp page and are available to download.

T:  What artists influence you the most, either in your daily lives, or in your writing style?

Charlie: We all certainly have different artists and bands that inspire us individually, but as a band…
Collectively, I’d say we’re influenced by The Whitest Boy Alive, Timber Timbre, Wolf Parade, Pixies, and of course Arcade Fire, to name a few.

T: The band has only been together since late 2010, correct? Have any members performed in other bands?

Jonah: Well Reuben, Charlie and I started off as a more toned down sort of group. After that it sort of snowballed and three more were stuck with us before they knew what they were getting into. As far as I know, none of our band members are cheating on us right now. Nobody except me actually. I have a 3 piece project of my own called “the J’s” but it’s progressing at a uselessly sluggish pace. Most of us also have solo electronic projects we’re working on all the time. Also, Annie has her own solo acoustic stuff which is actually quite infectious if you ever get to hear it. I think the bulk of our more naturally occurring musical energy is being channelled into what is now East of Empire.

T: Any plans for another record, or anything big coming up?

Tim: For sure! We’ve got some stuff that we’re pretty excited about going on: an as-yet untitled demo that we’re recording with Romesh Thavanathan of Hey Rosetta that’s coming out asap and there are plans in the works to record a complete album by summer.

Cheers,
Tyler

Photo by Justin Brake

Well guys, this morning has been a rough one. Some of the VisiONtheNet staff had a few too many cold ones last night, so I beg your forgiveness in not going into too much detail about the song or the band. I will say however that “hulahoop wounds” is a great track, off a great album and I’m sure you will enjoy it as much as I do.

Sorry for the briefness, but I need to go take a nap.

So long,
Chris