Toronto's VirginFest was last weekend. The bands were pretty good, but this is not a full review; this is a rant. The crowd got on my nerves. After maneuvering my way through the crowd seated far enough back to ensure they can't see anyone, I'm stuck tripping over everybody's blanket to finally squeeze my way into a decent spot where I'm forced to watch the headliners through the lens of someone else's camera.

When the sun goes down, pick up your sleeping bag/blanket/whatever obstacle you lay down to "mark your territory". When others are trying to get closer, they…

Less than two weeks until I fly to London. It's been almost two years since I was last there, so I'm looking forward to it. I didn't get to see the town much last time, so I expect to be doing the tourist-y things. It's the Bank Holiday weekend, so I hope things aren't going to be closed or otherwise inconvenient.

Afterwards, and for the main event, I'll fly over to Bremen, Germany for the Rock am Ring 2007 festival. Although artists like The Smashing Pumpkins, Linkin Park, and Evanescence aren't usually my cup of tea, I've always…

1. List any artist in your top 50 you've seen live and note the number of times.

Nine Inch Nails (5)
Skinny Puppy (1)
KMFDM (3)
Tool (4)
Pitchshifter (1)
Meat Beat Manifesto (1)
Depeche Mode (1)
Front 242 (1)
Marilyn Manson (5)
Mellowdrone (3)
Rammstein (2)
Muse (4)
A Perfect Circle (3)
Garbage (2)
Placebo (1)
The Dresden Dolls (3)
Gary Numan (1)
Death From Above 1979 (1)
Porcupine Tree (1)
Beck (1)
The Prodigy (1)
Ministry (1)
Jakalope (4)
Kasabian (1)
Deftones (3)
Metric (2)
Joydrop (1)
Gnarls Barkley (1)

2. How many of them have you seen?…

Germany's Rock am Ring festival has been announced. I have been putting serious consideration into attending my first overseas rock festival, and I think I've narrowed down to which one.

Yes, the lineup so far is mostly bands I've seen before (except the German-grown acts of course). I'm hoping some of the other rumoured bands make it through. Rammstein and Nine Inch Nails were rumoured to be making the festival-circuit this year. I hear Metallica are regular headliners at the 'Ring.

Besides, it's Smashing Pumpkins first confirmed live date!

For those who missed the confirmed lineup:
The Smashing Pumpkins
Linkin…

I just arrived home from my month-long vacation in Australia. It was strange being away from my friends and family at Christmas & New Years, but the people I met abroad became a new family and definitely helped the time pass. It kind of sucks being home; Work tomorrow does not excite me.

How can one visit Australia and not listen to new artists? I picked up the new Eskimo Joe disc which I had previously downloaded and thoroughly enjoyed. I also bought the new Hilltop Hoods album. I heard a few songs and figured some friends back home would…

Looks like I won't be submitting tracks for a little bit while I try and fix my computer. My server's hard drive crashed, so I'm using this opportunity to upgrade my Ubuntu to 6.06 Dapper.

I don't think my media files are affected, as they are stored on a secondary hard drive, but my MacBook's iTunes doesn't want to update from my iPod because my network folder isn't mapped.

I've noticed since iTunes 7.0 that when my network drive isn't mapped and I plug in my iPod, iTunes seems to hang while checking if it needs to upload any files…

Due to immigration issues, Massive Attack had to cancel the first four dates of their North American Tour, including this weekend's Virgin Music Festival in Toronto! VFest has quickly replaced them with Toronto's own Broken Social Scene, but I'm still disappointed.

I guess I still get to see Gnarls Barkley, Flaming Lips, Muse, The Raconteurs… but I was really looking forward to Massive Attack!

Apparently Massive Attack plan to make up the lost tour dates at the end of the tour. I hope this includes the Toronto date; perhaps as an intimate club show instead?

So, it's been quite the indie-rock weekend. Friday night I caught Mellowdrone play Horseshoe Tavern here in Toronto. Jonathon Bates truly knows how to rock out. This time the band consisted of three other members (including a female on keyboards). I remember last time it was Jon and two others. I didn't recognize the other band members, does anyone know if this is going to be a permanent line up? I think the band was missing a female, plus it feels complete with someone on keyboards. Jon's a joker, my favourite part of the performance was when Jon pressed his…

I'm excited!! They've announced a date in Toronto! :D

For those not in the know, Gnarls Barkley are Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo; some known collaborators (ie, backing band) have been Chris Vrenna and Clint Walsh of Tweaker fame. The entire band is known to dress in costume for performances… Poor Chris and Clint were in Chewbacca and Storm Trooper outfits (respectively) for their performance on the MTV Video Awards.

06-15 Oslo, Norway - Norwegian Wood Festival
06-16 Hultsfred, Sweden - Hultsfred Festival
06-17 Seinajoki, Finland - Tomava Island
06-21 Copenhagen, Denmark - Vega Musikkenshus
06-23 London, England - Hyde…

Finally Tool have come back to the touring circuit! And what a fine, relatively intimate show it was. They played a decent mix of new material and older singles, but I think I would have appreciated a few more rare pre-lateralus songs…

Things that stood out…
- Having no opener was a treat as the show ended early.
- The encore break was spent watching the band sit on the raiser at the front of the stage while we cheer like maniacs.
- Beer was only $5 (compared to the typical concert venue alcohol inflation rate).
- The lights and…