Two Door Cinema Club-Danforth Music Hall, Toronto ON

Last week, we had the pleasure of venturing out to Toronto's east end to see Two Door Cinema club. This was my first time at Danforth Music hall and I was pleasantly surprised!

Doors opened at 7, and we arrived closer to 8. We snagged the last parking a pot behind the Shoppers Drug Mart for $6. We met up with Chris and Miranda and entrance was super easy. This is a small venue, which we prefer. There is a swag table at the front and a bar as you enter. The hall itself, has two levels much like Sound Academy, but we didn't venture up to the balcony level (which I'm certain cost more). 

The floor level looks like an old theatre with the seats removed. The floor is slanted to allow for good vision lines from the back of the hall. They have a few beer/liquor carts inside and sell candy to boot. My kind of concert venue!

We arrived to hear the tail end of an opening band called Peace. They were ok. An interesting/awkward moment as the lead singer hangs on his last note then walks off stage as the reverb of the final guitar note continues to play. Did they finish or just break up?

The second opening band was St. Lucia. I think they were from Australia. They were great! High energy, layered sounds, catchy beats. I will definitely be looking into their sound. Good eighties vibe. 

Two Door Cinema Club came on after 10 to an enthusiastic crowd! From the moment they walked on stage to their final encore, the energy and quality performance was stellar. I had no idea how much I liked Two Door Cinema club. I knew almost every song and the ones I didn't know I wanted to know! They put on an amazing performance. They sound exactly like their radio edits and do not disappoint with showmanship. This is probably the best band I have seen live (right up their with Fleet Foxes). Great night!

Photo Credit: Miranda Barker

Photo Credit: Miranda Barker

Photo Credit: Miranda Barker

Color Me Rad -Downsview Park, Toronto

Color Me Rad is a 5km race that raises money for local charities while runners get pelted with colourful bombs of dyed cornstarch. Gluten free and good fun! This one was for Big Brothers and Sisters.

Runners aren't timed, as this is more of a fun run, then a competitive race, and colour bombs are plentiful.

Driving to the Rendez-Vous point to meet Leslie and Andrea. The entry fee gives each runner a blue shirt, glasses, and a colour bomb. We purchased extra white shirts, colour bombs and tattoos.

The before shot! It was overcast and threatening rain. The humidity was high, but it wasn't unbearable. We were actually hopeful for a little drizzle. It's good to help the colour stick!

The Emcee got everyone geared up as he launched t-shirts and hats into the very pristine crowd. Vitamin Water and Red Bull were on hand for all your free beverage needs. 

Lining up like cattle with the first wave. There were over 12 000 participants and they had to open up a second race day! To start us off, they ran down a makeshift aisle with a fire extinguisher adjusted to spray colour bombs.

We got a little anxious in line as we waited, and may have pre-emptively smashed a few bombs.

On your marks, get set, GO!!

Already looking a little worse for wear after two colour stations. Shay found a boa along the way.

PINK!!!

We made it to the end, and that's when the colour bombing wars begin!!

Mouths and hair were not off limits, as Leslie blasts us during a photo op....well played Leslie.

Shay upped Leslie and just ate the powder...it got a little out of hand...

It started to rain by the end of the run. We were messy enough and decided to head back to the car to clean up.

The "After" shot

A great day and a great race for a great cause!!!

We headed out to the Fox and the Fiddle for lunch. We were a little concerned that our stained skin was not rinsing clean in the sink, but after a vigorous shower, we were spotless again.

Next race, Mud Hero in August!

Sound Academy -Toronto Ontario

This past week we ventured into Toronto to see Ra Ra Riot and The Shins at Sound Academy. I have never been to this venue before, and I was pleasantly surprised. The Sound Academy is down at The Docks. It has a patio, a large main floor with a stage and bar, and a VIP upper viewing area. There was even a food stand selling pizza and poutine in true Canadian fashion.

The sound quality was good, in that the music was clean and crisp regardless of where you stood, and wasn't loud and ear piercing, even close to the stage. It was an all ages event, so we were branded with wristbands to announce our drinking age. The crowd was really mixed too. Some younger, lots of twenty and thirty something's, and then some quite a bit older, which was cool. Nice crowd. People weren't pushy or rude. There is a somewhat uniform pushing feeling at this venue, as people try to make their way closer to the stage. It's a little difficult to go refresh your beverage and try to get back to your spot without people thinking you're one of the douches pushing his way forward, but all in all, not too bad.

There are lots of hipsters out on foot and on bikes here. Lots of thick rimmed glasses and touques, high waisted denim shorts and busy floral prints. It's pretty entertaining. All in good fun. 

Merchandise is on sale, and up on a little platform at the back. People seemed to voluntarily form a single file line to view it and purchase it one at a time, which was neat and orderly, but a little slow and inconvenient. 

Ra Ra Riot opened, and put on a great show. Highly recommend purchasing their album The Orchard

The Shins came on around 10, and continued for a good hour, including a three song encore. They are 

fantastic live. What a great show! I loved hearing some of their old stuff too. I'm a sucker for 

"Caring Is Creepy" and "New Slang" and "Bait and Switch". 

By the end of the night, I was wishing we splurged the extra five or ten bucks for the VIP section. They had seats. I like to sit down at concerts. Am I alone with this? My favourite venue has been Massey Hall, because you pay for a seat and everyone stays seated. It's wonderful. At the Amphitheatre, you pay for a seat and then everyone stands and it gets very frustrating halfway through when you're all tired, and achey and you want to clap along and give your feet a break from the comfort of your own seat. For Iron and Wine in September, we will have seats!

I took this one for the evil bunny they had on their backdrop. Love the bunny Shins.