Sticky Magazine - Toronto Concert Photography, Reviews, and News

Top 10 Albums of 2011
Article by: Pete Nema

Near the end of every year there is a flurry of Top 10 lists that start showing up as early as the first week in December.

Artist Mixtape: Mookie Morris
Mookie & The Loyalists

Article by: Lucas Samuels

Mookie Morris is the charismatic front-man of one of Toronto's most promising up-and-coming bands, Mookie & The Loyalists.

Artist Mixtape: Yellowbirds
Article by: Lucas Samuels

Yellowbirds is the latest project from Sam Cohen, formerly of Apollo Sunshine fame.  

The 2011 Indie Awards
Hannah Georgas, Bombay Bicycle Club, Hollerado
Royal York Hotel in Toronto, ON
March 12, 2011

Review by: Allyssia Alleyne
Photos by: Pete Nema

Every year during Canadian Music Week, industry and fans get together to vote on and reward their favourite Canadian artists during The Indie Awards.

The JUNO Awards Allow Indie Artists To Shine
Feature by: Colleen Hale-Hodgson

Award shows are tricky. Depending on who's name gets called out at the podium, you, as a music or movie fan, will either be flooded with feelings of vindication, or slouch on your couch, deflated and bitter.

The Verge Music Awards
Mod Club in Toronto, ON
March 1, 2011

Review by: Natalia Buia
Photos by: Robert Ciolfi

The third annual Verge Music Awards provided stellar performances by three amazing acts and some surprising, albeit well deserved winners. XM Canada really knows how to throw a party. Musicians, writers, photographers, friends, family and fans filled The Mod Club to its capacity.

CBC Radio 3 Searchlight
Canada's Best Music Website
Article by: Pete Nema

CBC Radio 3 has held a number of Searchlight contests where their listeners vote to identify what they believe to be the best of Canada.

Ten Great Songs From 2010, Two More From 2011
Article by: Pete Nema

As I listen through some of my playlists that I created over the past year, I realize there's a whole set of songs that haven't been getting enough attention.

Top 10 Concerts of 2010
Forward by: Pete Nema

Sticky contributors collectively attended 195 concerts, including over 420 bands, this past year. Looking through these lists, and the photos/reviews that are linked to the items, it's clear we witnessed an amazing set of shows.

We did it, we made it to 2011. And although just about everyone else out there has already published their "Best Of 2010" lists, I prefer to wait until 2010 actually finishes. What if over the holidays I was to discover some great 2010 music hiding in my collection? As a team, we are last to the party, I know, but as I once said (and received a detention for) "Better late than early."

Nuit Blanche 2010
Toronto, ON
October 2, 2010

Review by: Courtney Lee Yip
Photos by: Courtney Lee Yip, Julie Lavelle

If Nuit Blanche was a concert, and I was to review it, I’d break down each artist’s “set” and tell you about what they “played” and how great or horrible it was. But, I don’t want to tell you what you already know, or rub in your face what you may have missed.

Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival
Big Sugar, Grady, Elias, Classified, and More
Whistler, BC
April 16 - 26, 2010

Photos and Article by: Tom Eschenbrenner

When I moved away from Whistler the Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival was barely 5 years running, now in its 15th incarnation it has morphed into a showcase of talent, mixing music, arts, and sports all as one huge 10 day party held every April in Whistler BC.

Southern Ontario's most affordable music festival is happening this weekend in Toronto and eight other cities. With over 45 shows in Toronto alone, there are many great up-and-coming bands and local favourites hitting stages around this and other towns.

The 3rd annual Record Store Day — a celebration of independently owned record stores — took place on Saturday, April 17th. A number of special vinyl and CD releases are made available exclusively for Record Store Day, and on top of that, bands and musicians make special in-store appearances.

MGMT is now less than two weeks away from the release of their sophomore album, Congratulations, following their widely successful debut release, Oracular Spectacular.

Canadian Music Week 2010 - The Indies
The Rural Alberta Advantage, Plants and Animals
Canadian Room (Royal York) in Toronto, Ontario
March 13, 2010

Photos by: Pete Nema

The Indies celebration was held in the Canadian Room at the Royal York, and although it is both an appropriate and pleasant space to hold the awards, there's just something about the room that prevents the bands from really connecting with the crowd. Still, the awards are a good opportunity to see a variety of bands and help celebrate the spirit and success of independent music in Canada.

Now that 2009 is long gone, you probably think that all of the 2009 wrap-up articles should have stopped by now. Me too. For my blog, I created the Top 50 Albums Of The Decade (50-41, 40-31, 30-21, 20-11, 10-1), spent time writing up my Top 10 Albums of 2009, and even put together a list of Seven Great EPs from 2009, but still it felt like I was leaving something out.

On January 18, 2010, illScarlett headed out into the streets of downtown Toronto to record a new music video for Milkshakes & Razorblades. This was no ordinary shoot because the entire music video was filmed backwards.