andPOP is now on TV and so is Pure Pwnage (do we see a trend here?) What started as a nerdy hobby has turned into a TV series. The television series cleverly takes viewers into the world of gaming by integrating elements of gamer speech, gamer technology and gamer social scene. Week after week viewers can live vicariously through ultimate gamer, Jeremy, as his obsessive gaming hilariously interferes with his relationships with family, friends and co-workers.
Jenn spoke to the creators of Pure Pwnage. You can also check out the show 10 p.m. EST on Showcase on Friday’s.
Natalie Mejia’s trip to Toronto was cut short today after she was arrested in Glendale, Cali. for having more than a dozen individual packages of cocaine in her Gucci purse, reports the Glendale News Press.
The Girlicious performer was en route to tonight’s Fan Fest concert at Toronto’s Masonic Temple when she was pulled over by the police when they noticed her 1998 Ford Mustang travelling at a very high rate of speed.
Mejia, 21, and passenger 28-year-old Peter Asencio are being held in the Glendale City Jail. Mejia’s bail totals US $30, 000.
Glendale Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz is holding both Mejia and Asencio on suspicions of possessing cocaine for sale.
“She doesn’t know how it go into her purse,” says Lorenz.
Asencio is being arrested alongside Mejia for driving with a suspended license.
Here is a little trivia about hip-hop. What is the largest demographic consuming hip-hop music? You ready? White guys aged 15-35. That’s the people keeping Wale in business. Jordan spoke to Wale about that and more during a recent stop in Toronto.
Total babe on guitar, her boyfriend on the drums, and her brother on bass. Seems like an odd dynamic, but it must be working – and the proof is in the pudding. The Balconies’ self-titled debut is not only undeniably catchy, but extremely eclectic while maintaining an original approach to indie rock. I caught up with the young Toronto band just as they returned from their tour of east-coast Canada
When speaking with Moby you realize one thing very quickly – his broad knowledge of so many different topics, besides music. He is a music industry veteran who consistently creates an amazing product, and it was a pleasure to pick his brain.
Before a camera begins recording on a film set, there’s an iconic chant that is heard time and time again.
“Lock it up. Rolling sound. Sound speed!”
If you’re an actor, then you know it’s a verbal-cue that tells everyone on-set to shut-up and listen because a scene is being recorded. And it’s also an acting reference that a few actors from Degrassi: The Next Generation have taken to heart in their new venture into the music scene as one of Toronto’s up-and-coming alternative bands, dubbed SoundSpeed.
But with such a unique sound, combination, and debut EP, it can be said that the six-man band has the same message in mind as that of the chant back on the film set. Before you judge, question, or make an opinion, first…just shut-up, and listen.
“I think we represent something different,” drummer Shane Kippel, 23, tells andPOP. “We have such a refreshing sound, yet you can’t really figure it out. It’s just a blend of all of our input and musical interests.”
The Constantines have been rocking their unmistakable jagged punk music for ten years now. Yes, ten years. I sat down with frontman Bryan Webb during their tenth anniversary tour to discuss critical reception of the Cons’ music, and what kept the band going for so long.
The annual Juno Awards are set to return to Toronto in 2011, reports CHARTattack.com. The show will be held on March 27, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre.
Juno Week will take place from March 21 to 27, 2011 throughout Toronto. Next year’s show will mark the Juno Awards’ 40th anniversary.
“The Juno Awards has had such a significant impact on Canada and the Canadian music industry over the past 40 years,” said Melanie Barry, president and CEO of the Canadian Academy Of Recording Arts And Sciences (CARAS). “There is much to celebrate and reflect upon within four decades of accomplishments, and we can’t think of a more fitting city to hose the festivities than Toronto.”
Virgin Radio Toronto’s Planet Maurie, who got engaged on stage in Las Vegas to his partner Matthew in front of Mariah, is on a quest to complete the story by getting married during Mariah’s Toronto show on February 9. Before he can do this, with the hope that he gets the green light from Mariah’s people, he needed to take the Virgin Radio headcam to the National Bridal Show.
Toronto comedian Daniel Woodrow has created what I think is going to be a hilarious phenomenon. It’s not often I come across a youtube video I like enough to post it on the site, however, this one gets my stamp of approval. I’m hoping some of you will attempt play the game and post some replies. Watch the whole video through, it’s my personal favorite youtube video this week.
Meet your new favourite band. Make Your Exit is a fantastic Toronto band that, despite numerous Fleet Foxes comparisons, have a very unique sound. Their excelent EP, “Remind me the Reason I came”, is an ecclectic mix of indie rock, jazz, and pop. I would love for these boys to receive a lot more attention – just listen to the music and you’ll know why.
(Special thanks to SouthernSouls.ca for providing the subway footage!)
Holy Fuck is Holy Fuck, and there isn’t much else to say. They are incredibly original, extremely fun, and a great live act. I recently chatted with the band before their soundcheck – they were opening up for the now infamous Phoenix here in Toronto. Expect a new record from these folks in the near future, but for now check out this interview. [Music video created by Mirrorshade.]
Elly Jackson of La Roux sits way in the back of her tour bus. Quiet. Secluded. Curled up. On first glance, seemingly trying to shut out the blistering cold Toronto November day outside, and maybe even the world along with it.
But can you blame her?
As one of the United Kingdom’s most popular new artists in 2009, Jackson finds it hard to trust people these days. Her tendency to be honest and opinionated have often been taken advantage of by media haters. But the singer can’t help it, she’s always been an individual with real thoughts and feelings- a leader rather than a follower. Even back in Elementary school, the 21-year-old London-born says she was a tomboy, and always had a bit of an assertive and free-spirited tendency.
But that ability to not succumb to peer-pressure is one of the main reasons for the raving success of her debut self-titled album last June, her flooding international fan-base, and why she will keep pushing strong past the negative hurdles in her career.
“You really have to be careful in this industry,” Jackson tells andPOP in her tour bus. “Obviously it’s impossible for us to like everything. So when you can get asked your thoughts about something, and say we don’t like or agree with something, it’s like a total shock to the world.”
The Wooden Sky are one of Toronto’s most exciting acts. I caught up with the band while they were touring in support of their latest release, entitled “If I Don’t Come Home, You’ll Know I’m Gone.” I highly recommend you watch the stunning ‘Documentary In Pieces’ videos, which follow the band on their tour through Canada, performing in intimate and unconventional places. Check out the videos at http://www.vimeo.com/channels/thewoodensky
O.A.R. had a chat with us on a recent Toronto stop about being on The Twilight soundtrack and their indirect connection with Kristen Stewart (it’s one of those weird Kevin Bacon connections). Also we discussed how they have been able to consistently stay relevant all these years. Cool guys and a great interview – check it out!
Perez Hilton at the 2009 MuchMusic Video Awards
Perez Hilton has dropped the assault charge that he filed against Black Eyed Peas’ manager Polo Molina, according to NME.com.
Molina was accused of punching Hilton, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira, outside a Toronto nightclub at a MuchMusic Video Awards after party in June, after the celebrity blogger allegedly made a homophobic comment about Black Eyed Peas member Will.I.Am.
But the assault charge against Molina was dropped after he issued a written apology to Hilton.
Molina has also agreed not to contact Hilton except through his lawyer, not to carry a weapon for 12 months, not to come within 100 metres of the nightclub where the incident allegedly took place, and to donate $500 to Toronto’s Red Door Family Shelter.
At andPOP we spend a lot of our time thinking about deep philosophical questions. What’s the meaning of life? If a tree falls in a forest and nobody is around, does it make a sound? If your Birthday falls on Valentine’s Day does that mean you get double Birthday Sex? Well the last question we found an answer from Jeremih, who is the expert on Birthday Sex. And good for Jenn as her Birthday is on Valentine’s Day. Watch to find out more.
The best way I can describe Spiral Beach’s music is “ghoul punk”. Yes, that’s ridiculous, but I stand by my claim. Considering how young the members of this band are, they have an impressively well-developed sound and style. Spiral Beach puts on one of the craziest live shows in Toronto, and their recent album “The Only Really Thing” is a great listen. Check out our interview and hop on the bandwagon.
For those of you under 20 years of age, there used to be these crazy things called VHS and Vinyl. VHS were these tapes that played movies and all sorts of video, in machines hooked up to your TV. Vinyl were these big discs which contained music that you played on something called a record machine. Sadly as Emily told Jordan, her newest projects, Hannah Montana The Movie will not be available on VHS and her newest album will not be available on Vinyl. Ah well.
With the touch of a button, Nicolas Dresti delivers a shot of adrenaline to the sea of 30 thousand fans. Their screams are met with his quick rhythmic jumping and head bobbing to the beat on-stage. He’s not the main event, heck he’s not even a co-headliner, but he’s still the man orchestrating one of the hottest concerts on the planet – all from a laptop. This may be Lady Gaga’s party, but DJ Space Cowboy is the event’s power source – the battery that keeps the beat alive.
He’s now on top of the world.
On that night Dresti was the European energizer bunny, but now he’s recharging his own batteries at his hotel. It’s hard to believe that he is the key to Lady Gaga’s live performance successes. The man in the neatly-cut dark-suit and sparkling rhinestone skinny-tie seems sophisticated and quiet – the complete opposite of what a Gaga concert is notorious for.
But it’s true. Look at Dresti and his alter ego DJ Space Cowboy like you would Clark Kent and Superman – they’re both the same person, yet totally different at the same time. Put Clark Kent into a phone booth and he’ll become Superman. Well, put Dresti in front of an audio mixer and laptop, and he’ll suddenly transform into the backbone – or backbeat, if you will – as DJ Space Cowboy, Gaga’s DJ and head maestro responsible for explosive energy in any crowd.
His new album Digital Rockstar dropped earlier this week, and it’s one of the rare chances to really hear Superman-like energy harnessed into one CD.
“Raising the energy bar is one my main jobs as a DJ,” Dresti tells andPOP in the martini bar of Toronto’s Pantages Hotel.
