Recording: Lavender Bruisers

Artist: Lavender Bruisers

Song: I Would Have Lifted You Up

Recorded at The Baby G, January 16, 2020.

Lavender Bruisers - I Would Have Lifted You Up

Having expanded from a solo endeavour to a full band, Kritty Uranowski's pop project is gaining more rock momentum (deployed to good effect on a cover of David Berman's "Margaritas at the Mall"). Even as the rhythm section (of Jesse Locke and Matt Learoyd) extends the anthemic disco vibes (and New order-ish bassline) in this track, it's still Uranowski's charismatic presence that lifts things up.

[Lavender Bruisers will be performing Friday (February 21st) at Long Winter.]

Recording: Lavender Bruisers

Artist: Lavender Bruisers

Song: Salary

Recorded at Owl's Club (basement), May 17, 2018.

Lavender Bruisers - Salary

Though involved, as ever, in a lot of community initiatives (including the No Mean City Collective), Kritty Uranowski has also been spotted lately rockin' out with this fuzzy, stripped-down solo take on the sort of pop she formerly tackled in Patti Cake. Anchored by her powerhouse vox and with a drum machine clattering along for company in the background, the tunes were delivered with a demo-ish rawness and punkrock immediacy. Expect a release of the project's first album (on sale at this show in a preview CD-R with handmade art) to follow soon.

Recording: Moscow Apartment

Artist: Moscow Apartment

Songs: Be You + She Talks To Rainbows [Ramones cover via Ronnie Spector, with Kritty Uranowski + Dan Burke]

Recorded at Lee's Palace (Dan Burke: 60 plus 20), December 8, 2017.

Moscow Apartment - Be You

Moscow Apartment with Kritty Uranowski + Dan Burke - She Talks To Rainbows

Although things didn't feel exactly right, taking over Lee's Palace instead of packing The Silver Dollar, there were good vibes and all-star jams a-plenty at this night dedicated to Dan Burke, celebrating his 60th birthday as well as twenty years of promoting shows. Another young group prospering under the mentorship of local hero Kritty Uranowski, this teenaged duo is already exhibiting strong songwriting and excellent vocal harmonies. On their own they're on the folky side, but with Uranowski on guitar (and Hooded Fang's Dan Lee on drums) they became an ace rockin' backing band for Dan Burke to take a girl-group-ish turn at his birthday celebration, covering Ronnie Spector's version of this late-era Ramones nugget.

[Moscow Apartment will be playing another Dan Burke show, performing as part of the "Class Of 2018" series at The 'Shoe on Friday, January 26th.]

Recording: Queen Of Swords

Artist: Queen Of Swords

Song: Only Time Delivers

Recorded at Artscape Daniels Spectrum (Venus Fest), September 30, 2017.

Queen Of Swords - Only Time Delivers

The idea of a "feminist music festival" might bring to mind an earnest folkie gathering, maybe off in a forest somewhere, but this first annual event was nothing like that, using inclusive and intersectional ideals as guideposts to programming a day of wide-ranging musics. The brainchild of local musician Aerin Fogel, Venus Fest was an ambitious undertaking, presenting a dozen performances in Daniels Spectrum's spacious multi-purpose Regent Park digs. And it all came together quite wonderfully, highlighting a diverse slate of mostly local musicians and incorporating flourishes like Vanessa Rieger's live-mixed visuals. With this first festival completed, there's a new "sessions" series starting up, and lots of energy to build on the positive vibes this day released.

Taking a break from guiding the festival along, Aerin Fogel managed to sneak in a quick set from her own dark dream-pop project. With her self-titled debut album now released online, there were some further developments to the live presentation since I last saw her — most notably the inclusion of Kritty Uranowski (formerly of Patti Cake, currently with Lavender Bruisers) adding harmonies and keyboards to the songs. There were some hip-shakers in the set, but things were at their best when they hit a sort of John Hughes soundtrack slow dance vibe like on this one.

[The Venus Fest sessions series begins tonight (November 2nd) at the Gladstone Hotel, presenting sets from Tasseomancy and Dorothea Paas.]

Recording: Patti Cake

Artist: Patti Cake

Song: Lindsay

Recorded at The Garrison's Front Room ("Swap, Don't Shop" fundraiser for Girls Rock Camp), April 6, 2014.

Patti Cake - Lindsay

Full review to follow. As always, the volunteers at Girls Rock Camp Toronto know how to throw a fundraiser — The Garrison was humming with a clothing swap in the back and cool bands in the front room. This one seemed busier than ever, and a real all-ages show with babies, kids, teens and adults hanging out together.

I reckon that everyone who sees Kritty Uranowski perform wants to be like her when they grow up, so I'm sure she made an impression on the former rock campers and assorted small fry in the crowd, many of whom she greeted by name. This is what it feels like to have rockstars integrated into your community.

^* Thanks to the band for passing along the title to this one!

Recording: Patti Cake

Artist: Patti Cake

Song: She's My Best Friend [Velvet Underground cover]

Recorded at The Silver Dollar Room (Lou Reed: Live Tribute), November 21, 2013.

Patti Cake - She's My Best Friend

Full review to follow. Lou Reed, in his work in the Velvet Underground and as a solo artist, created an entirely new lineage in the great tree of rock'n'roll. Any band that embraces some combination of darkness, bad vibes, unrepentant vice, noise and art can probably trace their roots back towards Lou Reed, and in Toronto, it seemed exactly right that the Silver Dollar (home, most nights, to some combination of the above) should be the place to host a night of music in tribute. A full night saw a wide variety of Reed's heirs celebrate some good songs, ranging from quiet moments of beauty to noise freakouts.

After a long evening of celebration, Patti Cake closed the night out with warmth and love by lighting some candles for Lou.

Bonus! If that's not enough for you, I've made the entire tribute night available to download.

Recording: Patti Cake

Artist: Patti Cake

Song: Diamonds

Recorded at Velvet Underground (CMW 2013), March 22, 2013.

Patti Cake - Diamonds

My notes for this set can be found here.