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| The Wall Live presented by Roger Waters |
UPDATE: October 18 – We recently ran into a band that we feel deserves to be on the list. Read on below to find our first Indie band to ever make our humble classic rock influenced Must-See Concert list.
May 24 2012 – So many concerts, so little time. With the summer concert season getting ready to kick off it all comes down to personal taste. Toronto will be graced with artists from every era and genre. For the classic rock fans here are our picks for upcoming concerts coming to Toronto that should not be missed no matter what. They are presented in chronological order.
OUR REVIEW IS HERE
Roger Waters – the bassist, vocalist, and main lyricist of Pink Floyd has been taking his masterpiece album The Wall out on tour across the world since 2010. The Wall was originally presented as a Pink Floyd album (1979), tour (1980/81), and movie (1982). This latest concert presentation is a spectacle in itself in that it reproduces the original gigs as performed in 1980/81 (which by the way only played in 4 cities since it was just so massive and expensive). It has of course been updated technologically and features some of the most advanced lighting and concert effects ever seen. It is selling out everywhere across the world and it is my personal belief that it will be the last time the world will see such a mega production from the classic arena rock era (as all the musicians are approaching or past their 70’s). There are only 12 dates left after this 2 year global tour that has had 192 dates so far. This is as big as rock and roll gets. Read our review of the Austin, Texas show here and the London, England show here. Below is a video from the London show on May 12th 2011 – note of caution; do not expect to see the guitarist below at any other shows on this tour. Roger Waters plays Toronto’s Rogers Centre on Saturday June 23 and you can get your tickets here.
OUR REVIEW IS HERE
The best band you have never heard of – (or maybe you have heard of them but this band gets very little commercial love in Toronto). Our number 1 album of 2011 as presented in T-Mak World’s Top 10 Albums of 2011 is Circuital by (you guessed it) My Morning Jacket. As good as the band’s studio work is, their live performances are so much better. All 5 members seem to draw from an infinite energy source that lets deliver epic length rock shows whether the band is in intimate venues or massive festivals. These rockers from Kentucky are a must see live act, and unlike Roger Waters The Wall, they do not rely on theatrics on stage or flying pigs. They are purely about the music. In 2008 they went on stage at Bonnaroo as relative unknowns and delivered a nearly four hour set that went down in rock history as one of the finest live performances ever. We last saw MMJ on July 2011 the same night that U2 was playing Toronto and can say with 100% confidence we made the right choice of concert that night. Below is a video from that show in Toronto. My Morning Jacket is playing with Band Of Horses on Wednesday August 15th at Echo Beach and tickets are available here.
OUR REVIEW IS HERE
Do not miss one of the world’s best guitarist and founding member of Canada’s best ever hard rock band Triumph. Home town boy Emmett is still very active as a recording artist even though he left the blinding light show and laser majesty of Triumph 25 years ago. Emmett is a member of the Canadian Rock Hall of Fame, the Music Industry Hall of Fame, and the Junos Hall of Fame. He has 17 solo albums released since his Triumph days, and they include progressive rock, jazz, acoustic duos and classical guitar records. Triumph will also be finally releasing a DVD of their one off reunion concert in Sweden in 2008 and we will have a review of that soon. Truly a musical chameleon do not miss the opportunity to see the Rik Emmett Band on Thursday August 23rd at Toronto’s Sound Academy and tickets are available here.
Lindsey Buckingham
OUR REVIEW IS HERE
Continuing the theme from Rik Emmett, do not miss the chance to see one of the world’s best guitarists and member of Fleetwood Mac. As part of Fleetwood Mac, their mega album Rumors has sold over 40 million copies due largely to Buckingham‘s creative contribution as writer, singer and guitarist. Although he is still part of Fleetwood Mac, Buckingham does not rest on his laurels during the down time and releases very solid solo offerings. In fact his Seeds We Sow album from last year was named our number 5 best album of 2011. “In Seeds We Sow Buckingham puts the spotlight directly on his guitar and vocal skills.” Last time we saw Buckingham was in a very sold out Air Canada Center with Fleetwood Mac and this time we have the opportunity to enjoy Buckingham on his own at a much more intimate Casino Rama. Although not technically not in Toronto it is certainly worth the 2 hour drive north up Highway 400. Lindsey Buckingham is playing on Saturday September 8th at Casino Rama and tickets are available here.
Rush
OUR REVIEW FOR THE FIRST SHOW IS HERE
OUR REVIEW FOR THE SECOND SHOW IS HERE
When they boys from Rush play the hometown of Toronto there is magic in the air. With Rush not only do you get to see a band with 24 consecutive gold albums under their belt but you get to see the world’s best living drummer in Neil Peart. Throw in Geddy Lee who aside from being one of the best bassists ever, can also sing and play keyboards at the same time as kicking bass pedals. Guitarist Alex Lifeson completes the trio with his mind blowing riffs. The technical mastery of the three local rockers is unparallelled by any band and Rush also have a brand new album to showcase. Below is a video from Rush’s last Toronto gig two years ago. Rush plays Toronto’s Air Canada Centre on Sunday October 14 and Tuesday October 16 and you can get your tickets here.
OUR REVIEW IS HERE
