September 14
My second full day at TIFF has begun. Just back from Breakfast at BQM Diner on Queens with some of my compatriots hosted by Avi Diamond and his wife Cheryl Link from Peer. We were joined Canadian music supervisor Natasha Duprey from Feldman and Associates in Vancouver . I am full and sleepy.
Last night was a great success – after a really wonderful multi-course dinner at Marben with Jodie Ferneyhough and Michael Perlmutter, then hustled over to the Roosevelt Room to a house packed with filmmakers and music industry folks.
It started with Royal wood – who is always great live – last time I saw him, it was just him and a piano which lent a real intimacy to his songs – this time it was a full band and really got the crowd moving. Plus that man is such a snappy dresser.
Also a snappy dresser – “Musical Genius” Chilly Gonzalez held court in bathrobe and slippers and berated industry chatters at the back of the room. The Canadian ex-pat and Peaches and Feist collaborator took the 2nd set and really entertained with his classical piano playing and Hip-hop rhyming. A highlight was “The Grudge” sung right at the audience. And I totally know his brother.
Coeur de Pirate came next at the piano. Her heartfelt songs were beautiful and full of deep meaning … I bet. My French is pretty limited but it sure sounded lovely. Her sound is right in the pocket with a lot of music getting synchs in film and tv right now and great for this crowd.
Basia Bulat - she started quiet in a very noisy talkative room – but by the end of her 30 minute set she and her band had won over the whole place - its pretty amazing to see an industry crowd actually dancing - and calling our requests – I had a chat with one of my fellow supes trying to classify her music – is it folk? Alt country? Bar Rock? What do you call rocking music made with fiddle, 8-string ukulele and fiddle? Its just great – so much so that LA’s Consul General David Fransen grabbed me by the shoulder and told so. We were all pretty excited by the set.
Stars – As expected – they rocked the room – their new stuff released on Vagrant records is great – but they went pretty deep into their set. It was a great way to end the night – sweaty and dancing - if they had any t-shirts to buy there – I woulda bought a new one!
And then off into the Canadian night…
Tonight we have a Film and TV music mixer before plunging into the 2nd night of Canadian music in the Roosevelt Room. Lineup looks like this:
8:30 - Racoons – Good danceable stuff – never seen live so I am really looking forward to it
9:15 – Creature – Again haven’t seen them live but the Buzz on them is pretty hot – Ill be the judge
10:00 – Hawksley Workman - This one I’m really excited about – He’s a prolific musician and producer and his music is pretty fantastic. So much so that we’re showcasing them down in LA in October! Stay tuned.
10:45 – Tokyo Police Club – They are a great live act so I cant wait. Their new stuff is a departure and I appreciate a band stretching their artistic muscles.
11:45 – City And Colour – Dallas Green’s solo act is very different from his day gig fronting Alexisonfire. His emotional and beautiful songs are some of my favorites. We had him on our SXSW Canadian Blast BBQ a few years ago. Should be a pretty good set – I always like a good dancy band to close out a night – but his performances are pretty riveting.
So there ya – have it – see you there – get there early - and I swear I’m gonna see a movie today! It is a FILM Festival after all -
September 13
Last night was a whirlwind as I always the first night - Madonna and I made it just as everyone else was just getting their meals - Dinner was Great last night I really recommend Lucien – especially the tuna tar tare (www.lucienrestarrant.com) .
From there we all convened at the “Moose Factory” aka the gallery/living space of the Warhol of Canada – Charles Pachter http://www.cpachter.com/moose_factory/moose_factory.html for the party thrown by NBA star Steve Nash in honor of the Terry Fox documentary showing at TIFF – pretty awesome story - http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/basketball/nashs-hero-terry-fox/article1283221/
There was freshly shucked oysters , tons of Vitamin water and Pachter’s insane level of Canadiana – littlerally paintings of queen Elizabeth with one of his signature mooses (I saw a guy French kiss this painting incidentally – Charles you may want to get that sucker cleaned) Pretty great party –
From there half of us went to some Ubisoft party and the smart ones cabbed it to The Drake Hotel for the Manitoba Film Music party – thanks to lovely hostess Carole Vivier - pretty great even there too taking in the rooftop bar and the Toronto night.
I’ve got a day of meetings and work – so I gotta scramble if I’m going to see a film today – just got my pass – Thanks Marcello – you’re doing a bangup job!
Later today is the 1st of 3 night of Jam packed Canadian music at the Festival Music House – evidently RSVPs filled up pretty quick for this event it’s a 350 person capacity room – so get there early - lineup looks like this:
8:30 – Royal Wood - he’s a pretty amazing entertainer – he played one of our living room showcases at the Hancock Park home of Canada’s Consul General David Fransen
9:15 – Chilly Gonzales – have not seen before – but soooo excited – I think I know his brother
10:00 – Coeur de Pirate – have not seen before but we were seriously thinking about them for Canadian Blast party at this years SXSW
10:45 – Basia Bulat – super cool live show
11:45 – Stars – c’mon – its Stars! I have a T-shirt of theirs!
So that’s it for now – I’ll try to upload some candid pix and give the scoop on the bands tonight - even better – just come on by and check them out yourself.
September 12
Im now in Chicago on my way to Toronto for the Sunday night festivities of the Festival. I arrive at 8 local time and plan to grab Madonna Wade Reed and catch a ride from the fantastic Chris Budd who runs Bearsuit Publishing in Toronto. From the airport its straight to dinner at Lucien (www.lucienrestarrant.com) with all of my fellow supervisor s hosted by the organizers of Festival Music House – Jeff Remedios, Keiran Roy and Marcello Favia of Arts and Crafts – I am starving and really looking forward to seeing everyone. After that its off into the night – several parties tonight including William Morris Endeavor and Manitoba Film Music at the Drake. – I’ll let you know how it goes – Toronto is always great – but really turns it on high gear for TIFF
September 10
And so it begins again! The Toronto International Film Festival (or TIFF for the lazy writers and acronym fanatics) has officially started. TIFF is of course THE festival for films looking to make a splash before the awards season steeple chase. For music supervisors like myself, however it is good hunting grounds for music for my projects.
To that end I am travelling up to Toronto along with my peers Rebecca Rienks, Madonna Wade Reed, Tony Von Pervieux, Rudy Chung, John Bissell, Tony Scudellari, Angela Leus and Bob Hunka. We are going for the films, but also for the music from Canada’s best and brightest. This year, over the course of three nights starting this Monday the 14th, there is the Festival Music House which will host artists ranging from City and Colour, Stars, Beast, and Zeus. Fun begins at 8 and runs till 4 in the morning.
You can check out the details at www.Festivalmusichouse.com I head up this weekend and will be writing during my travels and let you know thoughts on films, music and the great city of Ch’rono!
