I Heart the Music: Your Online Source for Live Music Reviews and Interviews in Toronto!

iheartthemusic kicked off CMW at the Eye Weekly showcase at The Roosevelt Room. On the lineup was Styrofoam Ones, DVAS, and Parallels. While the bands were no stranger to CMW, it was evident that The Roosevelt Room was. We arrived at the venue only to find that they were charging media $20 cover (despite having a media pass) and fumbled excessively with the guest list in the dark. Needless to say, The Roosevelt Room was an underwhelming venue of choice, but it served its purpose for the evening.

Styrofoam Ones were a great diversion from the troubles getting into the venue, kicking off their performance with “Sov Flight”. The crowd took notice and quickly congregated in front of the stage. As a group, they have a subtle intensity about them that sparks intrigue as soon as they hit the stage. Things really took off when they performed a captivating rendition of ”Pavement” followed by “Hid in the Walls” and “April Fools”. The performance started to flat line at the track “Kings and Queens”. It was hard to tell if the crowd were actually still engaged or simply zoned out. They redeemed themselves with the better known track “O.T.A.P.P”  and raised the temperature when they were joined by two awesome back up singers. Although there is limited interaction between band members, their chemistry is apparent, as song transitions throughout the set were seamless. The band has an obvious following and after seeing their live show it is easy to understand why. For those who have only had a chance to listen to their album; you are definitely missing the full experience. To truly appreciate what this trio has to offer, it is a must to get out and see them live.

Taking it up a notch, DVAS took to the stage next and got the crowd moving. With the wacky Captain Ron apparel and electric energy of Dietzche V. and the Abominable Snowman, it was hard not to take notice. Hailing from Edmonton, this innovative duo have quickly garnered the attention of electro dance devotees across the globe. With their recent signing to Toronto label Upper Class Recordings (home of The Russian Futurists, Cadence Weapon, Girlsareshort and The Cansecos), there is no doubt that this group has lots of success coming their way. We can’t wait for the upcoming release of their album Society this summer!

Once headliners Parallels took the stage, the evening really started to transform. Holly Dodson was unquestionably the unabashed star of the evening. She worked the stage and the cameras like a seasoned pro, moving on the spot in nuanced poses throughout the entire set. Dodson brings an intrigue to their performance resulting from her docile nature, soft vocals and chic style. Highlights of their set included “Ultralight” and “Resevoir” and the final track of the night “Countreparts”. We will be definitely following this group and watching closely as they continue to gain notoriety and adoration from their fans. 

As reviewed by Catherine Russell

photography provided by Renee Rodenkirchen

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