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

Tattoo Rock Parlor was the destination du jour on April 16th if what you were looking for was an exciting, fun night combined with stellar music.  AfterpartY, Senor Kasio and The Framework were the perfect line up, proving they are all great songwriters, musicians, and entertainers.

First out was AfterpartY, an up and coming pop rock quartet out of Toronto. Throughout the whole performance my eyes were peeled on lead singer Kristina who I feel is destined to become a pop rock icon with her confidence and stage presence. I can just picture it… instead of every little girl emulating Avril and Gwen Stefani, in a couple of years they will be singing AfterpartY songs at the top of their lungs, pretending they are Kristina. Not only did she have a great energy, she also had a powerful voice, not necessarily unique in any way, but boy could she belt out a ballad. The sound mirrored the punk/pop music of the moment – non pretentious, just catchy and fun. Everyone in the band looked like they were having a great time on stage, but hands down the lead singer stole the show for me. If the stars align, they will be the next Paramore in a couple of years.

What can I say about the next band that hit the stage? There are a lot of words to describe Senor Kasio, but I’m going to have to go with FUN, FUN and more FUN! This trio from Toronto was one of the most exciting bands I’ve seen… ever!  Their energetic stage show paired with their eccentric musical stylings made for a great time that transcended to the audience. I had one huge grin on my face throughout their whole set and I know I wasn’t the only one. Their music is indescribable – you cannot pinpoint or categorize it into a genre and there are no words to describe it other than it’s a little bit new wave, with a hint of musical theatre, mixed with a whole lotta love. Their groovalicious dance moves combined with their unique and sometimes outrageous tracks like “I love it,”  “I Wanna F,” and a song about Febreze that could make anyone fall in love with Senor Kasio.

Last, but certainly not least, was headlining band The Framework who finished off the night with an amazing, high-energy set. This band has major star quality, they looked the part and, more importantly, their songs are comparable to (and in some cases even better than), some mainstream music out there. It is definitely catchy with some major radio-friendly tracks, but don’t be fooled, they are not your average pop group – they have depth and substance, which is seen in their song “Wasted”, which is a personal favourite of mine.  The melody and lyrics combined with the mysterious yet soothing sound of Chris’ voice equals pop at its finest. If I had my way, it would be a single off their new album. Musically, they remind me of The Killers and Bloc Party with a little bit of ’80s Prince goodness. It’s the music I would put on at 3am on a Saturday night, inebriated with a bunch of friends to keep the party going and to dance like no one is watching. All in all, this band is a must see! Their high-energy performance and up-beat dance tracks will make you want to boogie down… I know I will next Saturday night!

reported by Kristen Tignanelli

photography provided by Carl Heindl