UPDATE: Jan. 1, 2002

Happy New Year to everybody from the Wavelength Crew! We've been settling into our new digs quite nicely. The last few Wavelengths at Lee's Palace have been most excellent. 250 people came out for Holding Pattern & Jim Guthrie the other night, and the crowds were nice for Raising The Fawn/Bluebird and Music For Mapmakers/Cuff The Duke as well. Kudos must go to Steve Lindsay of General Chaos Visuals for using the extra-wide canvas of Lee's to turn Wavelength into a full-on visual spectacle. Thanks also to everyone who came out to the Cadillac for karaoke on the 16th. Highlights included Papa Deer Crossingham and Shannon Tetrezene doing "Take on Me" by A-ha, Don Piccollo Do Make doing "Wanted Dead Or Alive" and any time Marco (aka DJ Heavy Early) took the stage. Yours truly (Jonny D) had fun doing "Bust A Move" and "Summer of '69" with the help of Nora C and Craig F, and "Whip It" with the whole crew on stage (including the ever-elusive Paddy O'Donnell!). I got a sore throat that night but it was worth it.

December 2001

Toronto Music Scene News

ROYAL RELEASE
Royal City will be releasing their newest and greatest CD, Alone At The Microphone, on Friday, Dec. 14 at Lee's Palace. The show will feature fine openers in Deep Dark United and The Hidden Cameras. Tickets are on sale now, as is the new RC album, released by Toronto's own Three Gut Records.

NEW EL MO ARISES
Though the legal dispute over the ownership of the name doesn't appear to be settled, the El Mocambo is set to reopen in former location of Ted's Wrecking Yard/Barcode at some point in late December. Dan Burke has bookedThe Sadies for a New Year's Eve show at the new/old club. (Update, Dec. 9: As it turns out, The Sadie are actually booked to play the Horseshoe on New Year's.)

MEANWHILE...
One of the positive side effects of last month's club closings is the chance it has afforded Toronto bands to explore venues they normally wouldn't consider. Here's a sampling of what's going on in December at places besides the usual:
• Wayne Omaha and Dale Morningstar at The Red Flame on Roncesvalles Ave. on Saturday, Dec. 1.
• White Star Line, The Magnetars and Celestino at Holy Joe's on Saturday, Dec. 8.
• Frank Atom at C'est What on Saturday, Dec. 15.
• I Am Robot And Proud at Holy Joe's on Sunday, Dec. 16.
• Kid Sniper and Just Like The Movies at Clinton's on Wednesday, Dec. 19.
• Boygina and The Taint at Clinton's on Thursday, Dec. 20.

SWEARING AT DONUT ROCK CITY
The Raven club in Hamilton has scored something of a coup, with Dayton, Ohio rock duo Swearing at Motorists flying into the Hammer for a one-night stand on New Year's Eve. The Constantines and Mayor McCa are the opening acts. For ticket info, go to: peepholeproductions.tripod.com/.

YOU FIGURE IT OUT
On Thursday, Dec. 6 at Area 51 (577 King W.), there is a CD release for LiminaL projects, wherein "primal ambient sound interacts spontaneously with visceral sensory spaces." Machyderm Inc. and Victor Szabo perform live, with DJ sets by Chris Twomey and Otaku of the wabi collective.

Email band news to wavelength@soon.com