Sunday, November 4, 2007

Dark Lullaby/Four Way Flashers/Bacardi B-Live - November 3rd

It certainly was a fun-fueled and eventful evening. Much more than I expected. The evening began low-key enough by attending a great off-off Queen Street theatre production, a quick stop at a new gallery space that opened beside Grace's Place, known for their cheap pints and cheap dames...and then the party revved up!

Dark Lullaby

Parkdale gentrification is well underway and it’s only a matter of time before all the crack houses become condos. Lullaby is a fact based play by 5-year Parkdale resident Thelon Oeming that looks at the class divisions and quiet conflicts of this neighbourhood in transition. The changes he witnessed sparked him to ask to what extent can one avoid moral involvement with strangers, and at what cost?

Superb acting and great use of the space. A job well done. Catch it soon.

Runs until November 18, 2007 at Simone Interiors (1690 Queen Street West), a site-specific venue in the heart of Parkdale. Tuesday - Saturday 8pm, Sunday 6pm. Tickets: Tuesday through Saturday 8pm $15; Sunday 6pm matinee PWYC. Tickets available in store or at the door, to reserve please call 416-460-9306. For more information see www.darkhorsetheatre.ca

Four Way Flashers

Got a last minute call from my friend Sara to attend the CD launch party for one of the bands she's currently managing, Four Way Flashers (www.fourwayflashers.com). It was being held at the warehouse location of Amsterdam Brewery, 21 Bathurst St, with special guests : The Flints, Jerry Leger & The Situation, and The Labour Of. This is a great special event venue, if you are cool with a beer bar...which I am.

Caught a good part of the set and picked up some of their merch that was available, and designed by another friend of mine, Brownwyn. Her clear and cleverly designed buttons, CD fold, tee's and website will likely appeal to trendier crowd than what the 4WF attract. With the simple 4WF logo, we could be looking at the new CK1. I grabbed a couple of buttons with the backwards printed logo on them. Brownwyn admitted they were a error when printing, but I couldn't wait to look at them in the mirror where they look fine to me. Beside looking cool they are a great mind-fuck and likely a conversation starter.

Barcardi B Live

Finally made it to the free corporate sponsored DJ event at Toronto School of Circus Arts, 425 Wellington St. West. Hadn't been to this venue before. Another great space that would be perfect for large scale DJ or concert events. Warehouse feel to it as you walk down the long dark corridor making your way to the cavernous main room. This is a great special event venue, if you are cool with a rum bar...which I am. Wasn't too keen on the tunes being dropped as I was expecting a more electro infused mix, not sloppy top 40 80's hits that are most common at weddings. The crowd seemed a tad confused as well, but seemed to be having fun regardless.

Featuring James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem) DIPLO and Nasty Nav. Get your ‘slice of the funky life’ with the always irreverent Murphy, as he takes to the decks in Toronto. Diplo closes the deal for B-LIVE Toronto with the final set of electro-pop infused sound. Nasty Nav has been rocking Toronto dance floors for over 10 years.One thing of which Diplo (aka Diplodocus, Wes Diplo, and Wes Gully) cannot be accused is being afraid to experiment with new music. With his mash-up mixtapes, he found and created a sound where his musical tastes -- '80s pop, electronica, Dirty South hip-hop, and his major influence, Miami bass music -- intersect.

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