// Category Archive for: Canadian Content

Theatre Review: Torquil Campbell’s “True Crime”

By Sachin Hingoo

“I am not my art, and he is not me,” says Torquil Campbell. It ends up being the least truthful line in True Crime, a new one-man show by the Stars frontman. In the piece the musician tells of his uneasy obsession and growing relationship with the “he” in that statement, the very real con man and alleged murderer, Christian Gerhartsreiter. The work is fiercely honest, but perhaps it’s only honest about being a lie.

But if you want to see it, you’ll have to hurry: True Crime only runs until Saturday at the Streetcar Crowsnest Theatre in Toronto’s east end.
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Music Review: Peeling, Rats In Paradise

By Tim Murr

Singer/guitarist Annabelle Lee (ex-Mexican Slang) describes Peeling’s debut EP, Rats In Paradise, as being “about shedding past traumas, transcending pain and finding a way out,” she says. “It’s too easy to become disillusioned; I want to create catharsis and release.” Well, congratulations on succeeding. Rats In Paradise is a wonderfully realized collection. The four tracks, “Magic Eye,” “Leisure Life,” “In The Sun,” and “Wet Nurse” feel very similar to Las Vegas Story-era Gun Club. Even Lee’s vocals remind me of Jeffery Lee Pierce at his most reserved.
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Podcast: TV or GTFO Episode 8, “Breaker High”

By Sachin Hingoo

On this episode of TV or GTFO, we’re going to introduce you to a little-known indie actor named RYAN GOSLING, via the extremely Canadian hit (???) series, Breaker High!

Watch as Ryan and his pals sail around the world to several countries (inasmuch as “taping a flag to the wall of a nondescript room” is another country) under the guise of getting an education from a high school on a boat. We ask how these horny kids manage to avoid every STD on the planet while sailing around in what amounts to a petri dish, whether the girls in the cast have telepathic abilities, why there’s a bully on the ship that seems older than any of the teachers, and how anyone could possibly think that dropping a bunch of teenagers into a Japanese monastery would result in any cultural sensitivity whatsoever.

We’re sailing the seven seas with the blandest, Canadianest high school that ever decided to raise the anchor! AND RYAN GOSLING! An ultra-low budget 90210 on a freakin’ boat? GTFO!

Subscribe to us on iTunes or your favorite podcast app, or take a listen right here!

Popshifter is Attending the Toronto International Film Festival!

Popshifter will be on a brief hiatus during the Toronto International Film Festival, which runs from September 8 through September 18.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for TIFF updates.

We’ll see you after the Festival!

Music Review: Clara Venice, Electric Dream

By Brian Baker

Don’t let Clara Venice’s saccharin appearance fool you. The cover of her Electric Dream EP features her in multi-colored, pig-tailed hair, licking a lollipop. However, her synth-infused pop is by no means child’s play.
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Podcast: TV or GTFO Episode 6, “The Littlest Hobo”

On this episode of TV or GTFO, Sachin and Gary take a look at the most Canadian show ever, The Littlest Hobo!

Running from 1979 to 1985, but somehow not aging or changing or evolving in any meaningful way in that time period, this is the story of one dog (or is it multiple dogs?) and his journey to help rural Canadians out of any number of sticky situations over the course of 114 episodes.

Why does Hobo constantly find himself with a gun? Can he successfully co-pilot a helicopter and operate a parachute? Why is he consistently smarter than any human on the show? Is Michael Bay producing a gritty 2020 reboot called “H.O.B.O”? How did they find a bunch of dogs that are better actors than the Olsen Twins? Well grab your hat, travel light, and join us for this week’s episode – HOBO STYLE.

Subscribe to us on iTunes or your favorite podcast app, or take a listen right here!

Concert Review: Odonis Odonis At Velvet Underground

By Less Lee Moore

Post Plague Record Release Show
June 24, 2016
Toronto, ON

At last year’s NXNE, Odonis Odonis played a show with A Place To Bury Strangers and Iceage and despite both of those bands having huge reputations of being incredible live, the Toronto trio more than held their own. This past Friday’s show was even better. The band has an impressive light show to accompany their newer material and this time, they weren’t plagued with the technical issues that threatened to overpower last year’s Opera House performance. In fact, they almost literally blew me away. But more on that in a minute.

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Music Review: Vallens, Consent

By Less Lee Moore

After several years paying her dues in various Toronto bands, Robyn Phillips was visited by a vision. Adopting the name of Isabella Rossellini’s character from Blue Velvet, Phillips began writing songs informed by this persona, eventually gathering other musicians to complete a full band. Vallens’ first album Consent is out today and it reveals that Phillips’ commitment paid off: it’s a stunning debut.

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Music Review: Neil Young + Promise of the Real, Earth

By Tyler Hodg

There is little that hasn’t been said about Neil Young over his 56-year long career (and counting), yet the prolific musician continues to give people reasons to talk; through the constant delivery of unique additions to his catalogue both musically and visually, and an unapologetically-high standard for passion, it’s no wonder he has been, and will remain, universally respected as an artist.

Young’s latest project sees him joined by Promise of the Real for a two-disc compilation simply titled Earth. The album, which features live tracks from his extensive repertoire and the pairing’s 2015 effort The Monsanto Years, is a 98-minute long collection of what Young describes as songs about “living here on our planet together.”

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Interview: Consenting To Dream with Vallens’ Robyn Phillips

By Less Lee Moore

Photo by Shelby Fenlon

We get a lot of music press releases at Popshifter and sometimes it’s a slog to sift through them, always hoping to have our ears dazzled by a new band but frequently being disappointed.

This is not the case with Toronto, Ontario’s Vallens, the brainchild of guitarist, singer, and songwriter Robyn Phillips. Vallens makes the kind of music that makes you sit up and take notice. The title of Vallens’ stunning debut album is Consent, a word with a lot of connotations—especially for women. Thankfully, the songs don’t shy away from such emotionally charged issues but explore them. Musically and lyrically, Consent is moody, mysterious, and captivating… and definitely deserves your attention.

In anticipation of Consent being released by Hand Drawn Dracula on Friday June 24, I thought I’d find out more about the talented Ms. Phillips.
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