Lights at the Sound Academy (more photos...) photo by Clint Gilders - staff photographer

by clint gilders - clubkingsnake staff

April 25, 2008
The Sound Academy (formerly The Docks). Toronto, Ontario

There was a weird vibe surrounding The Sound Academy when I arrived for the co-headliner Protest The Hero/Chiodos show. I wasn't in a bad mood so I don't think it was transference on my part. Au contrair, I've been excited about this tour, dubbed "Beer The Musical", since I heard about it well over a month ago. Also when I mentioned my felling to a few others they pretty much agreed and were glad it wasn't just them. After some serious consideration (lord knows I must have spent 10 minutes thinking about it) I think it may just be growing pains. What was once The Docks is now the Sound Academy, and seems poised to become the go-to venue in Toronto for not-quit-big-enough-to-play-arenas bands.

From First To Last at the Sound Academy (more photos...) photo by Clint Gilders - staff photographer

The opening act of the night was a recent signing to Underground Operations (UO) going by the name of Lights. UO founder London Spicoluk never ceases to amaze me with his diverse, seemingly out of character signings. Lights plays electro pop with little bit of an edge to it and describes herself as "..a small girl who dwells in Toronto and makes music. Most of what you hear comes out of my bedroom". This description paints a somewhat different picture to the confident, relaxed, powerful woman I met at The Sound Academy. Sure she was a little surprised by the size and fervor of the crowd and even quipped that this was the first time a circle pit had eruptd at one of her shows, but she handled it all in stride.

Three Days Grace at the Asphodel-Norwood Community Centre (more...) photo by Clint Gilders - staff photographer

by clint gilders - clubkingsnake staff

April 19, 2008
Asphodel-Norwood Community Centre

There's local boys done good, and then there's Three Days Grace. With two members hailing from Norwood, Ontario, and one from just down the road in Peterborough one of hard rock's most successful bands played a benefit concert to help complete the construction of the very facility in which they performing.

As I parked a good ten or fifteen minute hike down the road from the arena I began to get an idea of the scale of the event about to take place in the tiny town. This was a village of 1300 that had sold out a 2000 seat arena! An hour before the doors were to open the line snaked around the parking lot and steadily grew and spread onto the adjacent fair grounds as I strolled around snapping photos.

I didn't relish the idea of joining the end of the line which probably stretched to somewhere near the downtown strip. Luck would have it that my media contact came outside to find me and escorted me into the building just before the doors opened.

Sum 41 at the Kool Haus (more...) photo by Clint Gilders - staff photographer

by clint gilders - clubkingsnake staff

The Kool Haus.
Toronto, Ontario. March 27, 2008

When I arrived at the Kool Haus I was surprised by how thin the crowd seemed. Yeah, it was early but with this being Sum 41 I expected more early birds. Only a few months before the Sums had been scheduled to play the cavernous Air Canada Centre. This was before Deryck suffered a herniated disc and they had to cancel their co-headlining tour with Finger Eleven. So I expected the packed like sardines turn out so often seen at the Kool Haus.

Die Mannequin at the Kool Haus (more...) photo by Clint Gilders - staff photographer

I arrived shortly before Die Mannequin were to take the stage. This a band I have wanted to see live for ages, but somehow seemed to always miss. My first taste of lead singer Care Failure was on the soundtrack of "Trailer Park Boys: The Movie" where she performed with Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson of Rush among others. Who was this beautiful brunette with the frighteningly powerful voice? Care F@$kin' Failure! Die Mannequin are a trio (Care on Guitar and Vocals, Anthony Bleed on Bass, and Ghostwolf on Drums) that play heavy, dirty, sexy rock. Care obviously uses her good looks to her advantage but not to the point where she becomes a mockery. Die Mannequin are pure Rock and Roll: rolling on the stage, jumping into audience, throwing mics, trashing drum kits, mic cables wrapped around everything. D-D-D Do it or die!!!