The Zolas at The Danforth Music Hall - Concert Photos

The Zolas have been one of my favourite bands for a while now. Their live show is always tons of fun, the tunes always get me moving and singing along, and the band’s attitude is contagious, spreading across entire audiences in mere moments. For this show, they were on tour with fellow west-coasters Yukon Blonde. My coverage of their set is here.

This Zolas set was strong with favourite tunes, live must-haves and a bunch of well-received new tunes. It was pretty much a perfect Zolas set. If I had to complain I’d just say it wasn’t long enough. But I'd always say that.

Make sure you check out new tune "Bombs Away", which is about being priced out of the housing market in big cities. We also heard a live debut of a song that might be called "Energy's Off" and a tune about throwing your phone away forever. Keep an eye open for the new Zolas album. Personally, I can't wait.

What about my previous coverage of the Zolas? Click the links for shots of them at The Ex, The Opera House, Riverfest Elora, NXNE, and Lee's Palace.

Check out a whole bunch of my favourite tunes from this night's setlist:

"Ancient Mars"

"Molotov Girls"

"Bombs Away"

"Freida on the Mountain"

"Knot in My Heart"

"Swooner"

Joint cover of The Traveling Wilburys' "Handle With Care" with Yukon Blonde

The Ex 2017: The Zolas - Concert Pictures

Another of my favourite bands, The Zolas, played the CNE Bandshell stage at The Ex this past summer. You could describe their set as a greatest hits set since they're working on new songs and they were opening for Dear Rouge for this gig.

If you managed to miss all the other Zolas gigs I've covered, just click on the following links for shots of them at The Opera House, Riverfest Elora, NXNE Portlands, and Lee's Palace.

I always love a Zolas show and this one was no different. Hope you like the pics, and the set list of tunes below. If you haven't seen the band live, I highly suggest that you do. It's always a great time singing along and dancing to their tunes.

"Molotov Girls"

"Get Dark"

"Fell in Love with New York"

"Ancient Mars"

"Male Gaze"

"Strange Girl"

"Frieda on the Mountain"

"Invisible"

"CV Dazzle"

"Swooner"

The Zolas at The Opera House - Concert Pictures

I've seen The Zolas perform live four times now: if you want, take a peek at my previous pics from Lee's Palace, NXNE, and Riverfest Elora. I caught their sold out, all-ages show at The Opera House last week.

I really like these guys. The tunes are fun, the show is always energetic and I always leave with a smile on my face. Add to it the fact that I love the music (they did have my favourite album of 2016 and several of my favourite songs of 2016, after all) and you've got the ingredients for a perfect night out.

This time, their set hit all the right notes for me in terms of tunes like, "Molotov Girls", "Get Dark", "Fell in Love with New York", "Ancient Mars", "Frieda on the Mountain", "Strange Girl", "CV Dazzle" and the main set closer "Swooner". The encore featured favourite tunes "Invisible", "Observatory" and an in-crowd, singalong version of "Escape Artist". Lots of opportunity to dance, to bathe in the melody and to sing along. Just amazing.

Listen to some tunes, enjoy the photos and either imagine you were there or remember the show if you were there.

"Molotov Girls"

"Get Dark"

"Fell in Love with New York"

"Ancient Mars"

"Frieda on the Mountain"

"Strange Girl"

"CV Dazzle"

"Swooner"

"Invisible"

"Observatory"

"Escape Artist"

Best of: Top 30 of 2016: My favourite albums of 2016

Here are my 30 favourite albums of 2016. And, yeah, they're kind of in order this year. Best at the top!

The Zolas Swooner

July Talk Touch

Yuck Stranger Things

Wintersleep The Great Detachment

Sate RedBlack&Blue

Warpaint Heads Up

Bob Mould Patch The Sky

The Kills Ash And Ice

Public Animal Palace Arms

Dinosaur Jr. Give A Glimpse Of What Yer Not

The Temperance Movement White Bear

Sunflower Bean Human Ceremony

White Lung Paradise

White Denim Stiff

Weaves Weaves

Split Single Metal Frames

Ron Hawkins Spit Sputter and Sparkle

Pup The Dream Is Over

Catfish & The Bottlemen The Ride

Sleigh Bells Jessica Rabbit

Frightened Rabbit Painting of a Panic Attack

The Balconies Rhonda

Marlon Chaplin Wanderer By Trade

Eagulls Ullages

TacocaT Lost Time

John Moreland In The Throes

The Joy Formidable Hitch

The Strumbellas Hope

Drowners On Desire

Viola Beach Viola Beach

Best of: Top 50 of 2016: My favourite songs of 2016

I loved 2016.

Lots of other people didn't. And that's okay. There was lots to get down about. Lots of aging (and not so aging) rockers that dove into the inevitability and lots of pretty shitty human behaviour, just to name a couple of things.

But there was lots to be very, very happy about. Life was pretty damn good to me, personally. I spent much of the year bathed in art. Lots of real "me time". I attended more shows and saw more bands in 2016 than I have in any other year. I spent a lot of time with a lot of very cool people. It's a concert-going record I don't think I'm going to break any time soon. Or any time at all.

And there was great music. So much great music. This year, I probably listened to less recorded music than I have in many, many years, but I made up for it with live shows. This is reflected in the fact that my favourite songs of the year came mostly from acts I saw live. Many of them I saw multiple times, giving their tunes more time to wedge themselves into my consciousness.

The bonus that comes with this post is that you're also getting a preview of my favourite albums list if you notice the number of repeat songs by certain artists that appear amongst my favourites. It'll be coming soon. And so will a post of my favourite concert photos of 2016. Which comes with a special announcement.

And so, here they are, at long last, my latest ever best of list, except for the ones for my favourite albums and favourite concert photos, which are still in progress... These are my favourite fifty tunes of 2016:

50. "Break My Heart Sweetly" John Moreland

49. "In Stars" Marlon Chaplin

48. "Radio of Lips" The Joy Formidable

47. "Blank Ribbons" Split Single

46. "We Had Everything" Broods

45. "Personal Weekend" Partner

44. "City Club" The Growlers

43. "Molotov Girls" The Zolas

42. "Voices In My Head" Bob Mould

41. "Kiss Me When I Bleed" White Lung

40. "Coo Coo" Weaves

39. "Cannonball" Yuck

38. "Fossils" Marlon Chaplin

37. "Money Money" The Balconies

36. "Easier Said" Sunflower Bean

35. "Swooner" The Zolas

34. "Beautiful Girl" Ron Hawkins

33. "Santa Fe" Wintersleep

32. "Goin' Down" Dinosaur Jr.

31. "Doing It To Death" The Kills

30. "Lemontrees" Eagulls

29. "White Bear" The Temperance Movement

28. "Miracle" The Darcys

27. "Silence" Sate

26. "Beck + Call" July Talk

25. "Swings and Waterslides" Viola Beach

24. "CV Dazzle" The Zolas

23. "Cruel Ways" Drowners

22. "DVP" Pup

21. "Pen to Paper" Modern Space

20. "Wall Watcher" Sunflower Bean

19. "Soundcheck" Catfish and The Bottlemen

18. "Ha Ha Ha Ha (Yeah)" White Denim

17. "Human" Weaves

16. "Blood In The Cut" K.Flay

15. "Give It Up" The Beaches

14. "Get Out" Frightened Rabbit

13. "It Don't Seem Right" Public Animal

12. "It's Just Us Now" Sleigh Bells

11. "Hold Me Closer" Yuck

10. "Tiny" Dinosaur Jr.

9. "The End of Things" Bob Mould

8. "Heart of a Dog" The Kills

7. "Warrior" Sate

6. "Amerika" Wintersleep

5. "Invisible" The Zolas

4. "Hearts In Motion" Yuck

3. "New Song" Warpaint

2. "Spirits" The Strumbellas

1. "Push + Pull" July Talk