Tag Archives: The Horseshoe Tavern

[Exclusive] Inside Fred and Mel’s Secret Thing: Billy Talent @ The Horseshoe

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July 28th, 2016 – Billy Talent play The Horseshoe as part of The Edge’s Secret Thing.

Shake  your inner 13-year-old awake. Billy Talent just played The Horseshoe.

Big band, smaller stage.  A few months ago The Lumineers played The Mod Club as a part of The Secret Thing, giving fans a chance to see a big band on a small stage. The catch? You have to win to get in and you don’t know who you’re seeing until they take the stage. A few weeks ago, 102 The Edge’s Fred and Mel made promise of a lifetime once again.

Eagerly, people came dressed in everything from high heels and mini dresses to worn Docs and trucker hats. The mishmashed crowd murmured on their way in, getting teased by the camera crew weaving throughout the front of The Horseshoe prodding for guesses.

DSC_0340July Talk, Drake, Prince (yes, someone said Prince) were all guessed to be the band of honour, but the most believed rumour was The Red Hot Chilli Peppers were somewhere backstage. No Peppers, but another throwback band. Billy Talent took the stage and jumped right into their set full of their previous hits, as well as, songs off of their newest album Afraid of Heights released Friday.DSC_0331They came, they played and they ignited the inner 13-year-old emo in all of us. Check out the photos from the show below.

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CMW |The Dead Love @ The Aussie BBQ

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May 7th 2016 | The Dead Love @ The Aussie BBQ 

Almost at the end of Music Week The Aussie BBQ took over The Horseshoe Tavern, for a showcase literally making people jump off of the walls. The Aussie BBQ, a showcase featuring some of Australia’s best talents, had an afternoon full of loud, hair flipping, amazing bands with a sound so great it bled out onto Queen West. The show stopper of the showcase had to be The Dead Love. A three piece rock band rowdy, loud and full of enough grit to leave the audience breathless and screaming for just one more song.

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The Dead Love

 

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Your Friend will not be Friendly if you’re “texting” front row

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“Who are you texting?” 

An innocent enough question….though not when it’s being said into the microphone of a sold out show and now everyone in The Horseshoe Tavern is now wondering who exactly I’m texting.

What busy lives we all lead. It’s fair to say multitasking has become the norm (at least for me). The Horseshoe Monday night was filled to the brim with what could have passed for ’90s night, but in fact, was show goers piled in to see Your Friend, Alex G and Porches. All bands I’ve never seen live before. What an interesting turn the night took when towards the end of Your Friends set, Taryn Miller took a moment to look into the crowd and call me out for being on my phone.

“Who are you texting? This girl front row is texting so fast it’s distracting me while I’m playing.” She said. “Seriously, man. Who are you texting that fast?” The crowd laughed. I stared, surprised at what had just happened. Because yes, it’s rude to “text” front row at a show, quite a few bands find it endlessly aggravating when they look in front row and see someone staring at a screen…too bad I wasn’t texting.

“Oh now, I feel bad. The entire song I felt like I hurt your feelings.” she added after another song.

Back to time constraints. So many shows so little time, reviews and editing photos take time. I like writing reviews when they’re fresh, I like taking down details during the show careful not to forget what made that band so special. You’d think that maybe the band would recognize someone with a camera around their neck as someone that might also be working while at the show and sadly yes, working off of a phone. They might even be writing…your review.

Which is:

Your Friend put on an amazing show. The haunting aura of Miller in person elevates her sound in a way you can’t hear in the album. You experience the familiar songs differently live. Seeing her in her element, performing with closed eyes as she sways along to her own voice, plucking her guitar distinctly shows how much of an artist she is. Rarely do you see someone get so lost in their own sound, that you can’t help but wonder where they go or how they come back. Seemingly miles away, Miller’s songs from albums, Gumption (2016) and  Jekyll / Hyde (2014) ground you in an emotional state that is frighteningly beautiful.

Embarrassing moment but they were damn good.

Photos | Inside Dirty Nil’s Album Release Show

 

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February 27th – Photos by Yi Shi

Friday marked the released of Dirty Nil’s latest album, Higher Power. Yet, Saturday was the day shit got crazy. Taking over The Horseshoe for their album release, the old fashion rockers made the sold-out night a memorable one. Take a look at what went down below!

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Dirty Nil

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Century Palm
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Solids
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Casper Skulls

Photos: Inside Young Rival’s Album Release

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Young Rival taking over The Horseshoe Tavern during the release party for their latest album, Interior Light.A crowd lingered at the stage closing out every inch of space as Young Rival’s took the stage. Beginning with a glitter cloaked figure, Hamilton’s own, played for a filled room. With a crowd that was rowdy and ready for a great show, on a Thursday evening, Young Rival’s didn’t fail. They played a high-energy set kicking off their short tour.   Check out the gallery of the show below!