Zeus at Yonge-Dundas Square - Concert Pictures

Toronto indie/classic rock band Zeus were up next on September 23 at Yonge-Dundas Square as the city celebrated the new inductees to Canada's Walk of Fame. I caught the band at a show at Lee's Palace in 2014 and I thoroughly enjoy their tasty rock jams.

Give them a listen:

"Are You Gonna Waste My Time"

"Miss My Friends"

"Love In A Game"

"How Does it Feel?"

"Marching Through Your Head"

Zeus at Lee's Palace

Zeus were the headliners at Lee's Palace on Saturday, September 27. I posted about The Golden Dogs' unique energy and Taylor Knox' amazing power pop and now it's time for Zeus; gods of the night, if you will.

Like The Golden Dogs, Zeus have a sound that's super hard to pin down and classify. I guess you have to say that it's original and unique. Both very good things in an age when you have to fight to differentiate yourself in a crowded music marketplace. Their tunes feature sweet leads and harmonies and lots of elements of the 70s. Classic rock; hence, Classic Zeus, the title of their latest album.

I heard Zeppelin riffs and Queen harmonies in the tunes that Zeus unleashed on the sold-out home town crowd. The opening riff of "Are You Gonna Waste My Time" got a big reaction from the crowd, including myself. It's a great great song that featured on my Top 10 Canadian Songs of 2012 and number 38 on my overall Best Songs of 2012 list. They even treated us to a never-before-played-live tune called "Everybody's Got One"

And, at last, some great Zeus tunes:

"Miss My Friends"

"Are You Gonna Waste My Time?"

"Love In A Game"

"How Does It Feel"

"Marching Through Your Head"

"I Know You Want To Be A Part of This"

"You Could Have A Lover"

"Hot Under the Collar"

New music from Zeus

Canadian classic rockers Zeus have recently released a new album called Classic Zeus. They're on tour and playing at Toronto's Lee's Palace on Saturday night. Give a listen to some of their latest tunes, and a personal favourite of mine from a previous album, and head out to the show.

"Miss My Friends"

"Straight Through The Light"

"27 is the New 17"

"You Could Have A Lover"

"Are You Gonna Waste My Time?"

The Golden Dogs are on the bill. Their 2010 album Coat of Arms has some solid tunes on it.

Taylor Knox is up first on Saturday's show. Here's a cool tune called "My Backyard". It's got a great power pop vibe.

Arts & Crafts' 10th Anniversary: 10 bands - 10 years

Arts & Crafts, an awesome Canadian indie label, recently celebrated their tenth anniversary. To honour them, here are 10 songs from 10 bands who were, or still are, on Arts & Crafts.

Broken Social Scene with "Almost Crimes" from their 2003 release You Forgot It In People.

Feist with "Mushaboom" from 2006's Open Season.

Dan Mangan with "Road Regrets" from 2009's Nice, Nice, Very Nice.

Chikita Violenta with "Tired" from their 2011 release TRE3S.

Los Campesinos amazing tune "You! Me! Dancing!" appeared on their 2007 EP Sticking Fingers Into Sockets and their 2008 album Hold On Now, Youngster.

Zeus with "Are You Gonna Waste My Time?" from 2012's Busting Visions.

Cold Specks with "Winter Solstice" from her 2012 release I Predict A Graceful Expulsion.

Stars are Arts & Crafts alumni. Here's "Elevator Love Letter" from 2003's Heart.

Phoenix used to be on Arts & Crafts. This is "Consolidation Prizes" from back in 2006 and the album It's Never Been Like That.

Alum Young Galaxy from their 2007 eponymous début with "Outside the City".

This is just some of the beauty that Arts & Crafts has helped share with the world. Visit their site and their bands' sites to check out more.

Thanks for all the great music, Arts & Crafts!

My favourite songs: Awesome and cool songs of 2012: My best of list: Top 10 Canadian Songs of 2012

It's been a great year for indie-alternative music. Maybe it's because I've been putting more emphasis on seeking out great music for the blog, or maybe it's just intergalactic forces. Whatever it is, I'll take it.

Just to avoid consistency of any kind, I've abandoned last year's idea of doing 2-year best of posts, like doing "The Best of 2011-2012".

And just because I'm Canadian and I live in Canada and I love great Canadian bands, I've extracted 10 Canadian tunes from the Top 60 and I present them here.

Here is the list of my Top 10 Canadian Songs released in 2012.


10. "Are You Gonna Waste My Time?" Zeus

9. "In Came The Flood" Wintersleep

8. "I'm Just Me" Diamond Rings

7. "Hold On When You Get Love And Let Go When You Give It" Stars

6. "Let's Fall In Love" Mother Mother

5. "This War" Men Without Hats

4. "You Read My Mind" Ladyhawk

3. "Fire's Highway" Japandroids

2. "Katana Rock" Dirty Ghosts

1. "House that Heaven Built" Japandroids

The live shot of Japandroids is mine, taken at their recent gig at The Phoenix.

Check out the rest of my best of posts.

My favourite songs: Awesome and cool songs of 2012: My best of list: Top 60 songs: #40-21

It's been a great year for indie-alternative music. Maybe it's because I've been putting more emphasis on seeking out great music for the blog, or maybe it's just intergalactic forces. Whatever it is, I'll take it.

Just to avoid consistency of any kind, I've abandoned last year's idea of doing 2-year best of posts, like doing "The Best of 2011-2012".

Here's post number two featuring songs 40-21 of my favourite 60 songs released in 2012.

40. "Ropes That Way" Dirty Ghosts

39. "Lost Kids" Blood Red Shoes

38. "Are You Gonna Waste My Time?" Zeus

37. "Little Talks" Of Monsters and Men

36. "In Came The Flood" Wintersleep

35. "Forever" Haim

34. "Waiting" The Whigs

33. "Cold" Blood Red Shoes

32. "To Nothing" Sucioperro

31. "I'm Just Me" Diamond Rings

30. "Stereo" IAMDYNAMITE

29. "Keep Believing" Bob Mould

28. "The Mother We Share" Chvrches

27. "All of Me" Tanlines

26. "Hold On" Alabama Shakes

25. "Hold On When You Get Love And Let Go When You Give It" Stars

24. "Chained" The xx

23. "Sixteen Saltines" Jack White

22. "Anna Sun" Walk The Moon

21. "Runaways" The Killers

Check out the rest of my best of posts

Zeus bring the good ol' Canadian rock

Zeus are an all-powerful and godlike rock band hailing from the Great White North, eh. They deliver a classic rock sound with plenty of loud guitars and more cowbell. Their latest album is Busting Visions and this song is "Are You Gonna Waste My Time?"