Issue #12 | July 2013 ft. Ellie Goulding

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Founder: Dania Dwikhanza Editor-in-Chief: Winnie Surya Assistant Editor: Abbey Toomey-Fisk Photo Editor: Winnie Surya Tiffany Lam Social Media & Web Manager: Tiffany Lam Copy Editor: Lauren Lyford Art & Graphic Director: Winnie Surya Seanzha Kemal

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Message from editor: Hello fellow readers!

It’s been an amazing month. I finally graduated!!!!! It feels awesome to be free, yet stressing; hopping from one festival to another at the same day but it’s fun because I always love festival. Like watching different kinds of music genre and witness those energetic crowd singing along to their favourite song. In this issue, we got to cover so many different music festival from NXNE, Burlington Sound of Music, until Vans Warped Tour!!!! I hope you like this issue and if you have any comments, questions or any band that you’d like to see on our issue in the future, feel free let us know at our twitter (@intothecrowdmag)!

Peace out!

Winnie S (@angelawgs) * Ps: for any inquires, email us at intothecrowdmagazine@gmail.com

BEHIND THE SCENEs

Online Editor: Courtney Luzarraga Promotions & Communications Manager: Kasey Peterson Writers: Chloe Hoy Karmin Yu Paula Mirando Lauren Lyford Seanzha Kemal Tiffany Lam Shelby Kreiger Photographers: Kelsey Hall Gabby Mendoza Pauline Nguyen Marisa Martel Abbey Toomey-Fisk Lilly Nguyen

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Table of Content: Real Friends

Dusted

6 Liz Labelle

16 Subtle City

10 Goldhouse

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22 Citizen

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William Beckett 30 The Hush Sound 44 Stop Dead

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Family of the Year 54

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Ellie Goulding

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Staff Picks What we likes, just for you.

Album Recommendation

Born Ruffians Needle

July Playlist

1. Entertainment by Phoenix 2. F**ked Up Kids by The Maine 3. Do I Wanna Know by Arctic Monkeys 4. Long Hair by Drowners 5. Mind Mischief by Tame Impala 6. The Summer by Citizen 7. Beach Community by Joyce Manor 8. If You Wanna by The Vaccines 9. Biography of Heartbreak by This Century 10. Permanent Hesitation by Born Ruffians 11. Miss Jackson by Panic! at the Disco 12. We Can’t Stop by Miley Cyrus Listen to it here: http://8tracks.com/intothecrowdstaff/july2013-issue-playlist

Artist of the month

This Century Biography of Heartbreak

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Family of the year

*Photo supplied by artist

Check out our interview with Los Angeles based indie band, Family of the Year on page 54!

Dusted Total Dust

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Real Friends

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Q: It’s the first day of Warped Tour and this the band’s first time, how are you feeling so far?

A: It’s awesome. I’m surprisingly not tired. You know normally when I’m at Warped I’m usually here to see the show by now I’d be terribly exhausted. But I’m going good, and everyone I’ve met has been super cool and it’s awesome and it’s really good.

Q: How does it feel to be back in the northwest?

A: I’m stoked to be back here. Last time was awesome, super surprised at how well it went over. It’s like you’re all the way out there, but it’s awesome. Seattle killed it.

Q: Which stage are you playing?

A: The Kevin Says Stage. Well I’m not sure if it’s the Kevin Says Stage or the Insidious Kevin Says Stage but that’s where we’re playing.

Q: You just put out a new EP right?

A: Yeah. We just put out Put Yourself Back Together.

Q: What are your thoughts about it?

A: More of like an older sound we wanted to and I wanted to attribute it to listening to the Starting Line, Fall Out Boy, Motion City Aoundtrack. Like all those bands that when I was in Jr. high and early high school that I growing up on that really lead me here. I really, more so then before, really took that in and tried to grasp it at least on my end bring and kind of have that nostalgia. We waned it to be a little more raw and really personal. Like when I listen to these bands, like when I listen to the starting line, like when I listen Say It Like You Mean It or Based On a True Story or whatever album it’s that nostalgic feeling. And I tried to put those feelings that I had listening to those songs into ours.

Q: Are you planning on writing anything new in the near future?

A: We haven’t really talked abut it much. Since we just put out the CD. I do know the next thing we’re putting out is a full length.

Q: How excited are you to be working on your full length album?

A: I would definitely like to take more time to put it together. Because the thing about putting out EP’s at least at the rate that we’ve been doing it you really can’t necessarily show as much growth as you’d like to.

Because when you put out a full length it’s every two years, and a lot of stuff changes in two years. When we’re writing two to three EP’s within one year there’s not much change in the subject matter so it’s not as drastic a change as we’d like. But I would definitely

like to work more on softer stuff. Like I guess the whole “Emo” vibe of those songs, I would definitely like to do more stuff like that or even translate stuff like that into full band with those kind of guitars. I don’t know, we haven’t really talked much about what we want to put together but I’d like to experiment more with that side, more of a clean and still have some things be more aggressive. But really I’d like to have a little bit of everything to showcase into it.

Q: Who are some of your influences?

A: All of us listen to a bunch of different stuff. I mean like I said before about the whole nostalgia thing that’s kind of where it all comes from.

Q: What do you hope to get out of your time on Warped?

A: Well we’re only on Warped till the 3rd but we haven’t been to West Coast since the Senses Fail tour in the spring. I really like that we were able to come hit this again so soon and make some new fans today, and I hope everyday. I’d really like to push the west coast markets, because we really haven’t been playing them as much as East Coast and the Midwest. Just hit the ground running because the west coast is beautiful and everyone is super nice to us and I’d really like to make more of an impact and see a little more of the west coast because I’ve never been here before.

We get to wrap it up in Indianapolis, which is kinda like our home turf in a sense. A lot of people tend to get down on the Midwest and I say forget that. Like Cincinnati, Columbus, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Chicago, Indianapolis, they all have their own thing to offer but I don’t think people see that.

Q: Real Friends is a DIY (Do It Yourself) band, any future in a Record label?

A: We are. We’re looking into it, as a possibility. We’re talking to labels, still nothing definite. We’re still trying to feel it out. Maybe it may not be the best thing. We’re just going to play it by ear because it’s still really early with this CD and we want to see how it pans out and where we’re out, probably around the end of the year we’ll make a decision. SO the soonest it would be is next year.

Q: So what’s next for Real Friends?

A: After Warped we’re doing a Headliner through the East Coast for what we missed on warped and then we’re playing Riot Fest in Toronto. We’re going to the UK with The Wonder Years for a week and then we’re doing Warped Tour over there which is awesome. We have a tour in the fall that we’re going to be going on in October.

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E

ver noticed a certain young lady jamming outside The Bell Centre in Montreal at a Simple Plan concert? Or you may have caught her opening for This Century’s concert last summer. Some of you probably already know her under the stage name of Liz Labelle or even Liz Skalak. This month, we take the time to get up close and personal with this young starlet.

Goodbye Liz Skalak...

For those of you who met her on This Century’s Endless Summer tour, you would know that she introduced herself as Liz Skalak. Just a few months ago, however, she underwent a name change and replaced the “Skalak” with a name that was a little more refreshing and catchy: Labelle. And why is that?

Simply because she wanted something to fit with her big production that she had in mind. ...and hello to Liz Labelle!

So then, some may wonder: Who EXACTLY is this new Liz Labelle? To start off, she’s a simple person, yet she’s full of energy, always really excited and super bubbly.

Her flamboyant personality is very clearly reflected in her pop music. Labelle also tells us that she is a true musician who doesn’t like to put on a fake show. It’s not that she TRIES to be unique, she IS unique. What you see is who she really is!

High school = the real push Labelle first started to sing at the ripe age of nine. Then, she picked up songwriting when she was thirteen. Even before that, she learned how to play the drums and the piano. But what made her seriously consider music as a path was her search for identity in high school. Like most teenagers, we begin to question what our place is in society and life in general; you’re busy searching for a place to fit in and music was where this young musician fit in. Throughout elementary and high school, she performed in talent shows because she loved the adrenaline that would pump through her veins when she was on stage. So, music was the way to go.

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Fall seven times, stand up eight.

The Montreal singer also heavily credits Katy Perry for being her inspiration. We all know Katy Perry: she is absolutely INSANE (in a good way of course!) As a result, Labelle’s huge costume ideas and crazy video concepts (that we will get to see a little later on) come from Perry’s extraordinary productions. Not only does Perry inspire her musically, but the genius behind California Gurls is also the reason why the young artist is still interested in being in the music industry today. Perry’s road to success was not a smooth one.

She failed one too many times and she was always rejected. However, she never gave up and now she’s one of the most famous artists out there. Upon seeing Perry’s documentary, her fan learned that just because somebody says “no”, it doesn’t mean “no” forever.

Working with Sean and Alex Silverman Prior to the conception of her new album Mad Love, Labelle was seeking a different kind of experience. So, why not fly all the way to Arizona to work with Sean and Alex from This Century to find some inspiration? And so, she did and she says that she couldn’t have worked with any better people. Everything flowed accordingly right from the second she got there. The schedule, however, was very tight and she didn’t have much time to complete everything. Alongside with Colby Wedgeworth, the three of them squeezed the whole entire recording process in a matter of ten days – don’t worry, she promises that the album will sound great even if they were so pressured in time!

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It’s Not Me, It’s You I’m pretty sure we’ve all been with that ONE person that our friends don’t approve of, yet we continue to stay with them nonetheless, until we realize that they’re a total jerk. That’s exactly what Labelle’s first single, It’s Not Me, It’s You, is about. Filled with disses towards a very special someone and based on a recent relationship, this catchy and in-your-face song will for sure get people chanting along all summer long. This song is a must if you haven’t heard it yet!

BOMBS AWAY If you’ve already gotten over It’s Not Me, It’s You and are looking for something new to listen to from this artist, you won’t have to wait too long. Her next hit will be Bombs Away and she’s already planning a music video to come with it. Bombs Away is also a really fun and “in-your-face” kind of song that she worked on with This Century’s two band members. Let’s cross our fingers and hope that the two brothers will appear in the video!

“I didn’t go through some special life where I’m a superhero.”

The album won’t be about her being some kind of hero.

Instead, her record will be based on chapters in her life and hopefully, listeners will be able to relate to what she has to say. In this compilation, you’ll be able to find her ideas, values that she wants people to know of, experiences that certain people have been through, etc.

Don’t forget to grab her record..

Because first of all, it’s real and it was created out of passion. Labelle didn’t make this record with hopes that it could sell nor with expectations that it would be so catchy that people aren’t going to be able to get it out of their heads; she made this record with hopes that people could relate with her experiences. She isn’t forcing anyone to purchase Mad Love, but buy it if you like it or buy it if you like something fun and pop. So be sure to check out the new album when it comes out September 17th!

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Goldhouse S

ome of you may have noticed a studly looking young man performing some energetic tunes on the #Domo stage at Warped Tour under the name of Grant Harris, alias GOLDHOUSE; or some of you may also have heard some of his older covers on YouTube under Breathe Electric. If you haven’t been able to see this musician yet or you just aren’t familiar with his works, then you’re in luck because we had the chance to get to know him.

After a long and rainy day at Toronto’s Warped Tour, we met up with a very exhausted looking GOLDHOUSE. Despite the heat and the long hours, he tells us that his favourite thing about Warped is the large crowds. “Warped Tour is great because there are so many people here that it’s really easy for a small band like us to meet new people” he tells us. However, even though having a lot of people attend Warped Tour COULD be an advantage, he also realizes that it’s different compared to a regular show. At a show in general, fans mainly purchase tickets to see HIM, whereas at Warped, he needs to establish a different game plan because there are many other acts that are “competing” to gain as much of the audience’s attention as possible.

When asked which band/artist he enjoys watching the most on this summer festival, he was quick to reply with New Yorker, Outasight who unfortunately only got to perform for the first two weeks of the tour.

However, he’s not TOO dejected that he doesn’t get to see his friend anymore because he’s always looking for new music. He’s also become a fan of bands like

electro-pop duo Young London and Californian artist Wallpaper. “Actually, we really enjoy a lot of the Spotify stage because our music is kind of pop and a lot of electronic too,” he adds, “but we enjoy seeing a lot of different music every day and seeing new bands.”

Not only has GOLDHOUSE been busy with performing every day to many young adults, but he’s also been busy promoting his new EP All Night Long.

If you’re the type of person who loves energetic and clubby music and haven’t checked out the extended play yet, then you should definitely grab a copy. He credits many modern artists for having influenced his sound, such as Calvin Harris and Pendulum. After Warped’s crazy schedule, he hopes to be touring some more to promote All Night Long and tells us that he plans on writing some more material.

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Dusted

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How did Dusted start?

Brian: “We met through having common friends and hanging out. I’ve known that Leon had a studio: a small space/converted garage, which sounded comfortable.

I heard that he was great to work with and turns out he was! So I came to him with a bunch of songs. Really, it was just a project: playing and recording songs. A year went by before our record came out and when it did, we started to support us as an actual band. So we’re a “studio-turned-band”. “ What inspires you to write most of your music?

Brian: “Just fun. I like to play music, like the guitar. I like to listen to music. I don’t know, it [music] just gives me focus, something to do, something to believe in and it kind of makes me feel good about myself.”

Leon: “New and fun pieces of equipment. I just bought a guitar today and wrote two songs. It’s always exciting when you get a new instrument and you’re like : “Oh! I can make that sound!” and when you end up writing new songs.”

How would you describe your sound/music?

Brian: “I don’t know – I like things when they seem to be coming through something. The median is part of the process, in which case, it’s the sound of the recording.

It’s just something there that you hear. It could be the sound of a room and where the mics are placed. In this case, we just got up on stage and we sort of did some lip perfections: there was a little buzz in the voice and a low bass synth. I guess the sound is kind of grungy, maybe not so much the era or the genre, but a little more the actual term. I like the idea that there’s bits and pieces and a little dust.”

How was the recording and production of Total Dust?

Leon: “It was good; it was awesome.”

Brian: “Joy. Now, we just got to make another one; now the hard part begins.”

Which song do you enjoy performing the most?

Leon: “That new one is great! We have a great song called “Backward Ritual” that we’ve never played before. We were just recording it last week and it was good.”

Can you explain the concept behind Total Dust?

Brian: “The name does kind of say a lot more than it sounds. It sounds a little “cheeky”, but it’s about distortion in the atmosphere, which is the kind of things that we’re always trying to figure out: confusion, selfdispect…Other than that, there’s not much meaning

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beyond that, I’m just trying to make a record that I like, that I can listen to and that I can be happy about.”

What’s in store for The Dusted?

Leon: “We’re working on a record right now. We’ve been at it for a few months now. Hopefully, we’ll get it done in the next month or two so we can release it next year or early next year sometime. We’ll also be playing a couple of shows and festivals.”

What can fans expect from your new album?

Brian: “I don’t know, we’re still figuring that out. Playing a show is a lot of fun because we’re playing new songs. It feels different from the first record, but in really a good way. It doesn’t feel fast, but it feels like we kind of stepped into a new light, into a new room and I think there’s something exciting about that. So, that’s where the live show is at. Now, the question is: where’s the record going to be at? We’re not sure, we’re just learning.”

Is your new record going to be different?

Brian: “Oh yeah. It will definitely be different. I think we knew right away we weren’t going to make the same record again. That one had its special place and time. I think we kind of see this opportunity with the two of us: we’ve played with a lot of different bands over the years and Leon is a really accomplished producer. You know, we both do all these things. So it’s kind of a chance to make something and not just a document of a live show.”

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Subtle City

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sat down with a local metal band from Portland, OR known as Subtle City where they said what they have accomplished and what they are working towards in the near future.

The band recently played Vans Warped Tour and they were all ears when asked how it went. The lead singer opened up the answer with “Warped Tour’s motto is the best day ever and I can honestly say it was the best day ever.” The band talked about how they shared the stage with bands like Crown The Empire who was a big influence on their new tracks they recently put out along with a lyric video.

When asked about recording or putting out a new album they mentioned that they still have one more single to release in fall after putting out two this year. When they released Infamous in March, I knew I had to sit down with them because it is the single that got them so quickly to where they are now. With vocals like theirs, I can’t wait to see where the future leads them. At this moment, Subtle City is focusing on writing, sound and working on stage presence.

WORDs & PHOTOs bY KELsEY HALL The band also talked about their dream tour mates and most of them mentioned band such as Crown The Empire and Memphis May Fire. They talked about how Matty Mullins is one of their biggest influences because of how positive he is. All of their answers’ are the same when asked about who influenced them to start playing music which were Green Day, Haste The Day, As I Lay Dying and Blink-182.

To end this interview, I had to questioned the band about how are they going to see themselves in five years. They all agreed on heading Vans Warped Tour and just touring a lot in general.

This is definitely a band you should be keeping an eye on because not only they have a right motives but their music rocks as well.

Everyone should check out their single “Infamous” to get a taste of what’s to come from Subtle City.

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Summer of Youth with Citizen.

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n 2009, Mat Kerekes started Citizen as a solo project where it was just him writing songs but soon after in 2010 Kerekes asked Nick Hamm and his brother to join in. And on June 11, 2013 they released their new record Youth. We sat down with Citizen to discuss everything from the album to the almighty Warped Tour.

The band seemed somewhat surprised and elated about the album response. Guitarist Nick Hamm had many positive things to say about the albums response, “It’s been great! We all really like the record, so we figured that at least some people will like it. I try not to base things off by sales, but if we’re going to base it off by sales, then it’s been doing really well and a lot better than we thought – at least it’s selling better than we thought.” The album Youth has a dark tinge to all of it’s songs, singer Mat Kerekes explained how “Last year, [he] went through a breakup after a five year relationship” and that, that became the “theme” of the entire album.

Hamm and Kerekes have been influenced by many things such as past breakups and many musical artists. “Green Day.” Hamm recalled “When I was in fourth grade, I heard “Basket Case” on the radio and I really liked it, but I didn’t know who it was because I didn’t know who Green Day was. My friend was listening to their record Dookie on the bus one day and I heard it through his headphones. So I asked him: “What is that?

All of the songs that make up Youth are I’ve heard that before and I really like it. He said: very heartfelt and original so when asked what “It’s Green Day,” and he let me borrow the CD. I song held the greatest significance for both started listening to Dookie a lot and now it’s my Hamm and Kerekes it was hard to choose but favourite record. It kind of got me into – I don’t they both felt that “The Night I Drove Alone” was want to say “punk” – but punk rock, I guess. I just the most important for each of them. “It doesn’t wanted to play the guitar and learn how to play all have the best lyrics, but it was the most heartfelt those songs, and that’s how it all got started!”. and genuine. That song immediately struck me” said Hamm. Kerekes added that this one of the This summer Citizen is on Warped tour most “personal” song he had written. with some of their good friends such as The INTERVIEW bY KELsEY HALL WORDs bY LAUREN LYFORD PHOTO bY WINNIE SURYA LIVE PHOTOs bY PAULINE NGUYEN

Story So Far, Man Overboard, Tonight Alive and The American Scene. Which happen to be the same bands they just recently ended the Suppy Nation Tour with. Hamm said that “We’ve never done anything like Warped Tour, so having friends and people that you hang with and talk to is awesome.” After Warped Tour Hamm promises that fans will see more of them even though they don’t have anything “Locked in yet”.

If you haven’t yet picked up Youth yet go do it! And be sure to see them on the last leg of Warped tour!

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An Evening With....

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FAN OF THE ACADEMY Is…? Excited to see acoustic acts at Warped Tour?

Looking for some new alternative music? If you answered yes to the above questions, then read on to join in our “therapy session” with William Beckett as he unwinds his thoughts about Warped Tour and his new album.

Warped Tour: A Blur Just like every other artist on Warped Tour has answered, the hours of each day are long even though they’ve loved every minute of it. The days go by in a blur and Beckett is just at a point where he can’t even tell the days apart.

To him, a day feels like a week.

Although his schedule has been quite hectic, he’s enjoyed the whole festival so far since he was able to reconnect with old friends and make new ones.

First day off from Warped: Most Memorable You know what they say, you can’t have too much of something or you might wind up getting sick of it. The ex-frontman of The Academy Is… definitely knows how to balance out his life and music.

So, on his first day off from Warped in California, he and his production team rented a couple of boats, got some food and booze and just relaxed on the beach all day long. He feels that this day was the most memorable from Warped so far because it was the perfect summer night where he and his friends got to watch the sunset and gather around a campfire.

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Friends One can never actually have too many friends, but it’s hard to choose one when asked to pick your “favourite/ best” friend. It was difficult for our beloved singer to pinpoint exactly who his favourite artist is from the festival as well. There are many talented people and the whole tour itself is just so diverse: it ranges from folk singers like Brian Marquis to hardcore/metal bands like blessthefall. However, he does slip out that he is a fan of Never Shout Never and The Summer Set. Genuine vs. Counterfeit One of the most heard of pieces of advice is: “Stay true to yourself”.

Honestly, it’s a lot easier said than done. This is what the solo artist wants us to grasp from his upcoming album Genuine & Counterfeit. The album’s main theme deals with the challenges of sustaining a relationship and navigating through the obstacles. He wants listeners to be able to stay true to themselves when they’re in their relationship, to be as genuine as possible and to stray away from the counterfeit.

Favourite song: “Benny & Joon” The songwriter’s favourite song off his new record is “Benny & Joon”.

That track is about falling in love in an asylum and just basically staying true to yourself.

The Academy Is… still in his heart?

Although Beckett has been over his ex-band and he’s almost a “new” musician now, they still hold a place in his heart. He used to write the songs for his band with his guitar player, so in some ways, his music IS influenced by The Academy Is… .It’s also really hard for him to just forget the people he spent NEARLY a decade with.

Looking into the future When asked about a dream tour line-up, Beckett explained that he would like to tour with The Killers, Andrew McMahon and Panic! at the Disco meanwhile he will be touring with Anberlin and The Maine this fall in Australia yet to Canadian fans, he says not too worry too much because he hopes to come back anytime soon.

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o t o h P lery. gal

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LETLIVE. JULY 5 - TORONTO, ON

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BRING ME THE HORIZON JULY 5 - TORONTO, ON

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BLACk VEIL bRIDEs JULY 5 - TORONTO, ON

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THE WONDER YEARs JULY 5 - TORONTO, ON

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THE UsED JULY 5 - TORONTO, ON

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Recently, we had the opportunity to talk to Greta Morgan from The Hush Sound to catch up on the group’s postreunion activities.

picked the best out of the three takes and that’s what we released. So, I think we’re just going to be quicker, more spontaneous and have more life in it.

Q: When did you and the rest of the band realize you wanted to get back together?

A: During the hiatus, we still played Chicago every year because it was our hometown and it was easy for us to get together and perform. Every year, the show would be so fun that we would always wonder whether or not it was the time to start playing together again. But for a number of years, there were always other obstacles: everybody had a different project going on and Darren had been in school – he’s actually still in school and about to finish. So then, in the end of 2012, all of our schedules just sort of aligned: everybody kind of had free time. And so, we figured it would be a good time to test it out. We’ve just done one step at a time, you know, like: “Let’s play a show!”; if it’s fun: “Let’s put four shows!”; if those are fun: “Let’s try to record one song!”; if that’s fun : “Let’s try do three!”…So, it’s kind of very step-by-step.

Q: Are you guys working on a new album?

A: I don’t know. We keep talking about it, but I think we would prefer to just put out EPs. We would prefer to put out three songs every season, instead of an album every year. But, I think that our fans are still very traditional, in a sense that they want an album.

So, we’re kind of discussing that now. We’re actually recording some songs next weekend.

Q: How has it been like switching from The Hush Sound to Gold Motel and back to The Hush Sound?

A: I think the Gold Motel stuff was just nearing the end of its cycle anyway. Everybody’s schedule from The Hush Sound just naturally synchronized.

Q: So you’re not going to write any more music for Gold Motel anymore?

A: I don’t see it in the immediate future; I kind of see it as a two-album-collaboration with some of my other favourite Chicago friends.

Q: How has the hiatus affected your music?

A: It took the hiatus for us to learn how to really appreciate each other and to learn how to work together. For some reason before, we were always sort of “babbling” about everything creatively. Now that we’ve come back after so much time away, I think we see each other with new eyes. It’s a much more collaborative process now.

Q: How would you describe the band’s sound and lyrical development?

A: I would say that all in all, it’s more spontaneous than anything we’ve done before; it’s just more immediate.

Also, we used to spend months torturing ourselves over a number of songs. With these [new] songs, we just went into a room, played them three times all together,

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Q: Which artist(s)/band(s) influence your music?

A: Collectively, I would say that there’s a lot of older pop music: The Zombies, The Beatles, The Beach Boys… Individually, we each have really weird tastes, but those are the ones we lean on for this band.

Q: Why did you name your latest EP “Forty Five”?

A: We’re all from Chicago and arguably, the biggest sports team in Chicago is the Bulls, the basketball team.

Our favourite player is Michael Jordan and when he was originally on the Bulls, he was number “23”. Then, he took a long retirement and returned to the NBA as number “45”. So, we called our EP Forty Five to kind of tease that it was, in some sense, a “comeback”. It also has a double meaning because vinyl records play at 45 rotations per minute and they call it a “forty five”. So, we figured it made sense for both of those ways.

Q: Which one of your past albums is the most significant to you? Why? A: I don’t know. I have songs on each of them that I have a connection to. But as a whole, you make an album and you leave it behind you. I never listen to our records just like probably how your favourite authors don’t read their own books – maybe once every ten years or something like that! There are certain songs that I always feel good about playing, like “Hurricane”, “Sweet Tangerine” and “You Are the Moon”.

Q: What’s in store for you guys after this tour?

A: Well, Darren’s in college. So, he’s going to be finishing the fall semester or the spring semester.

Basically, we’ll be playing some long-weekend tours and then we’re just going to be writing and recording.

We’ll be recording in batches: so we’re doing a batch next weekend with probably two or three songs, we’ll probably do another batch later on. Then, we’ll figure out whether or not we want to release that as an album

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| Into The bamd

next year or whether we just want to release them as EPs. Q: This isn’t your first time in Toronto, so what’s your favourite thing to do when you’re in town?

A: The last time I was here, I was playing in a venue that wasn’t typically a rock and roll venue called “The Tattoo Parlour”. It felt like a dance club: they had velvet pillows, caged bars and all sorts of stuff. I don’t know what part of town that was, but that part of town was awesome! I had some of the best coffee of my life!

There was also this whole row of mid-century-modern furniture stores and art galleries – I wish I remembered what part of town that is!

Q: Compare the crowds in the States vs. the ones in your hometown shows?

A: Our hometown shows in Chicago just have the best and warmest love in the room – it’s just crazy! We’re from Chicago, so we started playing there a year and a half or two before we started touring. Some of these people have been coming to see us play for almost ten years – it’s crazy! Seeing some of the same faces as people who were at our basement shows (like when we started out), it’s such a cool feeling to be able to check in with those people. But, there are certain cities that are really close to that feeling. Whenever we play Philadelphia, Los Angeles, New York and Austin, those towns always have the warmest and most wonderful energy in the room. Tonight’s going to be good too!

Q: What would you be doing if the band hadn’t reunited?

A: When I’m not on tour, I work: I teach music lessons and I write with other people. If I was in no band, I’d probably go to school. But otherwise, I still have a pretty normal life when I’m not on tour.

INTERVIEW bY KARMIN YU PHOTOs bY WINNIE SURYA

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Arkells Live at

TORONTO URBAN ROOTS FESTIVAL 2013

BY WINNIE SURYA

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Oh! The Arkells is Coming!

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ailing from Hamilton, ON, Arkells hits Toronto again for an amazing performance since their last show in town on Valentine’s Day with fellow Canadian band, The Tragically Hip.

Vocalist, Max Kerman, thanks the audience for waiting for the band under the rain that hit the city back and forth that day but it didn’t keep their fans away from the show. The band open their set on the second night of Toronto Urban Roots Festival by performing a song off their second album, Michigan Left, entitled “Whistleblower” followed with my personal favorite older Arkells’ tune “Ballad of Hugo Chavez” from their debut album, Jackson Square.

Arkells always put great yet energetic performance that always makes their crowd dancing along. The band performed total 11 songs that night and closed their set with older jam, “John Lennon.”

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www.intothecrowdmagazine.com Q: So, I’m glad to see that you’re back. You’ve launched your project about.. has it been a year now?

A: Um, Stop Dead… yeah Q: In August it’s going to be a year.

Time passes very fast. And how is that coming along?

A: Good. It’s kinda been like a thing where it’s just when I have time right now, since I’m busy with This Century. But I’m trying to make more time for it whenever I can. I just released an acoustic, kind of folky thing to go with the existing EP. I just packaged it together and gave it away like a week ago or something.

Q: And with the original, not counting the acoustic-deluxe version, what would you say is your favourite track? Which is your favourite lyrically? Musically?

A: My favourite song is probably “Control,” it’s just kind of like it seems to be most people’s favourite song.

Q: It’s a really fun song. It’s really dance-y. Do you dance to it when you perform it? (laughs) A: Uh, not so much, I move to it a little bit but uh (laughs) and the other song would probably be… this song is actually called “Stop Dead.” In a lyric in that song, that’s why I decided to call the project ‘Stop Dead’

sTOP dEAD

It’s easy to tell that an artist is completely immersed in his or her work.

Their eyes light up the moment you give the slightest hint of their project. Their smile widens as they prepare to speak. The moment they lose their selves in discourse, their entire being radiates. I must say it is the most glorious thing. That said, speaking with Ryan Gose (This Century) about his side project under the moniker Stop Dead was simply fascinating—inspiring to say the least.

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Q: What exactly about the track “Stop Dead” would you say… what makes it stand out of all the others?

A: To me, […] like any song I write is like how ever I’m feeling that day…

Q: So it’s very personal?

A: Yeah, all of them are in a sense to me, whether it’s about somebody or something I’m going through.

But that song in particular is just me thinking about the state I was in, and how I was behaving in that

www.intothecrowdmagazine.com state, and how I should behave in that state, I guess.

Q: And transferring this to acoustic…and in fact, what pushed you to do these songs acoustically, and release them that way?

A: Well, I was just kind of like, I’d realized that I put that first EP out and had a pretty big gap of time with not doing anything with the project, and as soon as this tour is over I’ll be in the studio doing another EP, but not recorded in my bedroom, […] (laughs) Q: You guys have great skills for that! (laughs) A: Well, I wanted it to have that garage-y sound and everything.

Yes, so I did the acoustic one just ‘cause I wanted to offer something new. That’s why I made a big point on not just doing a carbon copy of the original song and that happens to be on the acoustic guitar, but it was kind of reinvented into a new song a little bit. It’s a very different vibe I’m sure. Like banjo, and playing guitar.

Q: So about Stop Dead, do you think it’s just going to remain a oneman thing? Or is it going to evolve into this huge band, if you have the time?

A: No I’m uh, behind close doors, talking to people who are joining up in the project and actually go out and play and do the whole band thing with it, still when I have time of course. That’s always the thing.

But I just kind of figured I’d get a little band together and play a show randomly. Whenever, wherever.

Q: Like random secret shows?

A: Yeah.

Q: That’s cool. I think it’s doable.

I mean there are lots of band members who have all these side projects and they’re able to juggle it. It’s just…you just have to get

used to it.

A: Yeah I mean, even friends on this tour, we play on other stuff as well. Fortunately I have a lot of friends that happen to be pretty good musicians.

Q: So I guess your response has been really good then?

A: Yeah, it’s great! There is definitely it seems like more male fans than I have in This Century, maybe it’s just the sound, but everybody that… I haven’t got a lot, any negative feedback. And that feels good ‘cause I was definitely putting myself out there, having not released anything before, so it’s cool to have a positive response.

Q: Always. Of course. I think that a positive response is always a good way to motivate you to continue, especially that since you said it’s your first time you put yourself out there. So, do you think that you could maybe break down the other songs for us?

A: Sure. Well, “Control,” I think I kinda broke that one a little bit.

That’s just kinda like, more just being hung-over (laughs) and just thinking about the night I had, and just reflecting on the past month I’d had, our schedule.. a little wild, going out, partying a lot… So that’s just kind of supposed to be a fun song, not too serious. “Burn It Up” for me was more, just about an occasion where I was just in a flirty instance and wasn’t trying to think anything through with the person I was hanging out with, but just living in the moment. Which uh, my mom thought that song was about something very different. I had to explain to her […] She thought I was talking about something really bad and I was like “no I’m not”. “Stop Dead,” I kinda went through that already with you guys. “Gorgeous” was just, kinda just a little play on words, like people who think they are hot shit but don’t realize they

| Into The BAND

have to have a good personality as well, and be caring and considerate to people. So I was telling Gorgeous to drop dead.

A: So, we are going to finish with.. well you already told us that you were thinking of having another EP come out.

A: Yes, I will have another EP out.

Q: Would it be still 4 songs, 6 songs, maybe take the direction of an LP? A: Well, I mean there’s at least 4 songs that I’m already going to do on it, and there’s the 5 others that I could put together and finish. It just kind of depends on A) the time I have, and yeah, I could end up doing 6. I’d like to do 6. It will be out this fall if all goes as planned, and the idea is to actually have four separate EPs over the next year.

Q: And would it be like sort of following a theme, or they would interconnect or, like they’d be “Part 1” and “Part 2”?

A: Possibly! I haven’t thought that through that much! But that’s a good idea! So it just gonna be like, 16 songs over the year, of just 4 track EPs Q: That’s nice, I like that idea.

Looking forward to it.

Q: I’m excited to put it out there.

Hopefully it gets a good response, and start playing shows out, and things like that.

If you haven’t gotten your copy of Some Kind of Dangerous and the Acoustic EP, be sure to visit tinyurl. com/stopdead for a free download!

INTERVIEW BY NATTIE WREH & JEssICA PAsCARELLA

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Family of the Year 55

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Where did the name Family of the Year come from?

Like most bands, we were trying to find a name for our band. We were kind of stressing out about it and we were drawing names out of a hat. Family of the Year was put into the hat because it was a phrase that was going around because we had a song called “Family of the Year” that we never released. It was about the perfect family and how even though a family seems perfect on the outside, most perfect families have skeletons in their closet.

So, that was kind of where the idea came from and we picked that out of a hat.

How did the band form?

Joe, James and I moved to Los Angeles from Boston about six years ago together with a different band. We just kind of snowballed over time and met everybody. We were actually all just friends first and we weren’t playing in a band at that time.

We just started playing music for fun late at night : we’d cover songs and we’d mess around.

Then, we started playing original music, booked a concert and just went from there!

How are you guys different from other bands?

I hope that when people see us in concert or meet us in person, we come off as just being really real.

We don’t really put on any “act”, we just try to express ourselves as best as we can.

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Which artists influence your band?

I think a lot of our influences are the classic singer-songwriters from the 60’s and 70’s, a lot of mix from the Britpop of the 90’s…

It’s kind of all over the place because we listen to everything: like folk and country sometimes.

We just listen to all sorts of stuff.

What inspires you to write?

Each other, our friendships, our experiences we share together, our hopes, our dreams and fears.

Which album/EP is your favourite? Why? I really like Loma Vista. I feel like it’s the first thing we’ve done that really shows who we are as a group of people and how we play as well. The other ones were kind of bits and pieces of songs and ideas that we put together to create an album. This one we wrote and recorded them all with an album in mind. So, it’s more cohesive and the whole albumhopefully has more of a general feeling to it.

What is your single “Hero” about?

It’s almost like an anti-hero song.

There are a lot of undertones of love and fear in it. It’s also a strong song and it’s almost like a liberation of realizing that it’s okay to not be what everyone wants you to be.

Speaking about singles, will you be releasing another one soon?

Yeah, “St. Croix” is going to be the next single. It’s already being played on the radio in the States and it’s coming out soon.

What are you most excited for this summer?

Very excited to play festivals.

We’re playing in Downsview Park with fun. andTegan and Sara – I’m looking forward to that. I’m also looking forward to Lollapalooza in Chicago.

What’s different about touring and playing in festivals?

In festivals, you get to see so

many bands that you love at once, drinking beer during the daytime and just the whole general festivity of it all.

What do you have planned after your summer festivals?

We’re going to be on tour all fall until November with Atlas Genius; we’re going to be touring for months and months!

What’s a regular day like for Family of the Yearwhen you’re on tour?

Wake up, try to find some healthy food somewhere, do interviews, go to soundcheck, get dinner, have a beer, get loose and then we get ready for our show – it gets pretty routine. Afterwards, we go out and have a good time in the city because it’s amazing to be in all these cities.

What are the pros and cons of touring?

Missing all your friends and family and not really having a home. We’ve been on tour for two years straight, so none of us have homes. All of our stuff is in storage spaces. But on the other side, we get to see all these cities together; you’re travelling with your best friends. I feel so fortunate; it’s the best job in the world!

What do you absolutely need to bring on tour with you?

Dental floss and socks.

List three songs from your playlist?

“Carry On” by fun., “Closer”

by Tegan and Sara and “San Francisco” by The Mowgli’s.

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By Lilly Nguyen

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IN FOCUs

Burlington Sound of Music Known to be Canada’s largest FREE music festival, this festival is one of the best family-friendly summer weekend music festivals in Ontario. Located by the Waterfront in downtown Burlington, the festival of all musical genres was also host to many carnival games, food trucks, and the downtown streetfest. Over 200,000 people over the weekend gathered by the lake to enjoy the thrills of this festival. This year’s main-stage acts included Eleven Past One, DiRTY RADiO, Down With Webster, Diamond Rings, Lights, and many many more. And to top it all off, the nights were concluded with beautiful 15 minute firework shows by the water!

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D ay 1 - E l e v e n P a s t O n e , D i r t y R a d i o , D o w n W i t h W e b s t e r

D ay 3 - D i a m o n d R i n g s , L i g h t s

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Ellie Goulding

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[On Quebec City] It’s lovely. Really friendly and beautiful.

It’s a lot more green and a lot more old looking than I expected it to be; it’s a very unique place I think.

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his year, we had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Quebec City and cover Le Festival D’Ete de Quebec 2013 (Quebec City Summer Festival), also known as the largest outdoor music festival in North America. That’s right, over 140,000 people attended this highly underrated 11-day festival. And guess what, ticket passes were only 76$! Unbelievable.

Why you haven’t heard about it until now? We don’t know, but you better be glad you have now. The next Festival d’Ete de Quebec will take place from July 3 to 13, 2014.

Our next issue will feature a full spread of FEQ photos, which include acts such as Passion Pit, MGMT, Weezer, Carly Rae Jepsen, Foreigner, Def Leppard and LP. In addition, exclusive interviews at the festival with PEI indie rock band Paper Lions and pop rock singer-songwriter-artist LP. Videos for these interviews, as well as our interview with Goulding, will also be released.

In the meantime, read our special interview with Ellie Goulding in Quebec City below, and have a look at some photos from the festival on Day 5 - July 8.

BY TIFFANY LAM

Q: Your music video for “Burn” just came out, and the single is coming out soon in August. What is this new song about?

EG: It’s kind of about not giving an eff but in a good way haha, I wanted to have a song that was positive and bringing people together and something that everyone could relate to. I had all those kids and it was really fun and it was nice, I write quite serious matter most of the time so it was really refreshing to do a video with really lovely enthusiastic kids. It was fun, I think the song’s just a really good feel good kind of summer song. I really enjoy singing it.

Q: This is coming out on the new re-packaging of the album Halcyon, why did you decide to rerelease it under Halcyon Days?

EG: I was always going to re-release it with newer songs, its good because [...] the [newer] songs are kind of in the thread of Halcyon, but rather than making another record, they kind of belong on this one. And then Halcyon Days, it’s kind of where the term Halcyon comes from, and also I had to keep my album title in the title of the repackaged album so, technicality haha.

Q: So you’ve been on tour a lot recently and mostly in North America, how is it different performing here as opposed to performing back in Europe?

EG: I guess crowds are more up for it and enthusiastic.

I feel like people are way less self conscious here.

Q: After this tour, are you planning to take a break, settle down for a bit and relax?

EG: Yeah hopefully, but I know that’s not going to happen that’s not going to be the case. My plan was to finish this tour, go home and just have a few months off, get myself together, but I already know that it’s not going to happen.

Q: What do you do during your time off?

EG: Run, get fit, get healthy, play guitar, have singing lessons, you know sort of just work on everything and myself. I constantly want to learn and read and know everything about anything; I keep myself busy.

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Q: I saw you tweeted earlier to someone who didn’t get into their university that you hadn’t either, but that you turned out pretty alright. What would you be doing if you weren’t singing?

EG: I think I’d be a personal trainer of some kind. I’d want to teach a style of training for people.

Q: One last question, I know your style kind of changes from time to time, you know sometimes it’s girly then kind of grungy. As a fashion icon to many girls, how do you describe your style?

EG: Tomboy... It’s bipolar. Sometimes I want to be a boy, sometimes I want to be a girl. It’s quite simple really. I like having the option of both. I’m very sporty, very active. When I’m on stage, I’m very energetic; I don’t really like wearing dresses or skirts, but then if I go to a party or go out I instantly want to become a girl again.

Ellie also mentioned, though she has been collaborating a lot lately and wants to do less, she thinks it would be cool to do a song with Canadian rapper Drake. Hey Drizzy, what do you think?

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Darren Criss 68

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n June 12th 2013, Darren Criss stopped in Toronto for a show on the LISTEN UP Tour.

This was the only Canadian date on the North American summer tour, and tickets had been sold out no more than a week after the onsale date. As you would expect, it was nothing less than a full house that evening at the Phoenix Concert Theatre.

Opening was Theo Katzman, fellow University of Michigan graduate and long time friend of Darren Criss. While not very many seemed to know who he was, nor did I, the crowd seemed to like him very much. Katzman was surprisingly impressive. Though I hadn’t heard any of his music before, I definitely liked what I had heard. I would recommend checking his album Romance Without Finance.

Many know him as Blaine Anderson from Glee, and older fans will know of him from the StarKid Potter musicals. Headlining act Darren Criss was up next and the lively teen fans were getting quickly anxious for the star to take the stage. The stage was set up with many comic book designed props surrounding the various stage instruments. I wasn’t sure what to expect, and it didn’t look like he was going come out and perform alone; and he didn’t. Criss came out with a full five-piece band who accompanied him for the majority of his set.

Much to my surprise, the crowd was pretty diverse. The vast majority of attendees were little to young female fans, many accompanied by a mother, father, big brother or sister. some being accompanied by th where were a lot more older fans than I had expected. Criss led on an incredible show. Needless to say,

www.intothecrowdmagazine.com Criss was and is no doubt a strong and talented performer.

With his quick rise to Hollywoodfame, Criss opened with a rendition of the Lion King’s “Circle of Life”, transitioning into “I Still Think”, one of his old songs from the StarKid Potter series “Little White Lie”. The second he stepped on stage, it was clear he was a natural talented performer. Next, he sang a new song, “Any of Those” accompanied by female screams in between verses. This catchy tune was a personal favourite. His smile and high energy performance radiated across the stage and through the crowd. Soon enough, Criss sang Picture Perfect, the song usually most anticipated by fans. This is when Darren picks a “picture perfect girl” from the audience to bring on stage and serenade. It was without a doubt a thrilling moment for the lucky girl, and everyone in the crowd.

Also at the piano, he sang an evident old crowd favourite, Not Alone. The moment he started keying the intro on the piano, fans quickly began to out-sing him, leaving him momentarily speechless with a smile before continuing on with the song. From his 2010 EP, Criss also sang “Sami”, “Human” and “Don’t You”. “Words”, “Pheromones”, and “Once Upon A Time” were among the newer songs he performed.

Halfway through, he performed a solo set, or as he liked to call it: “The set you can go get yourself a drink ­— if you’re able to, or go to the bathroom; the slow set.” It was also the part of the set where he does “something new in every single city and never do the same thing twice”. Toronto’s choice was It’s Over Now, another old tune Criss wrote for the Team StarKid Potter series Little White Lie. In the series,

| listen up tour

it was performed by character Sami Reese, the one from the song “Sami”. I was surprised how many fans knew this song.

It was nice seeing him perform a mix of old and new songs and play for two crowds, his StarKid Potter fans and his Glee fans. While the well-versed musicians of his band well-amplified his set, I particularly preferred these more raw and simple acoustic solos. He interacted very personally with the crowd continuously throughout the show, like they were close friends. He spoke about jazz, blues, and performing in cafe bars. He seamlessly explained between songs what every song was about and the story behind it.

It felt like a very natural unscripted show, and it was nice to see he made sure he gave every show something special. He spoke a lot between songs and his down to earth and carefree personality gave the show a comfortable and casual atmosphere. He even laughed and pointed out that he had a habit of speaking too much. His stage persona was definitely something that drew to myself and many, with ample smiles and laughter.

As the show approached its end and Criss left the stage, I had gotten quite worried we weren’t going to get a performance of his infamous cover of Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream”, the song that blew him and Glee off the charts. Returning to the piano for an encore, Criss playfully tickled around the ivories for a moment as the crowd’s anticipation grew higher and higher.

Finally, it was the Teenage Dream cover everyone had been waiting to hear. Watching the crowd from back to front sing along with Criss in perfect harmony was the perfect moment of the night. Then, he sung “Stutter”, another crowd favourite with a groovy drum beat, where

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www.intothecrowdmagazine.com he unsurprisingly later joined his drummer on the drums for a little double drum solo. His performance of this song was intense, and definitely a fun one to remember.

Thanking everyone, he closed the show with a beautiful “Circle Of Life” reprise.

To be quite honest, my expectations for the show, musically, were a little higher than received. It’s not to say his songs weren’t good; they were good, and by no means did he disappoint. Perhaps it was his five-star stage performance that made me want more out of his songs, or maybe it was my expectations for every song to sound as great as him singing “Teenage Dream”.

Admittedly, some of his softer songs could have been better appreciated with more quiet and a little less overly frequent screams. But regardless of what I have to say, this is only his first tour as a singer-musician, and I have a feeling he has a lot more in store for us all.

Darren Criss makes his theatrical debut in the new summer movie Girl Most Likely, in theaters July 19.

BY TIFFANY LAM

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