Brian Banks

Editor and Founder, Music Vice Magazine. Writer. Photographer. Poet. From Scotland. Not Ireland. Proudly based in Toronto, Canada. Rock N' Roll Don't Pay The Rent... 

Web Site: http://www.musicvice.com


Dirty Frigs at The Garrison, Toronto – Gig review [CMW 2015]

May 6, 2015
Dirty Frigs at The Garrison, CMW 2015 - photo Brian Banks

Who: Dirty Frigs, Programm Where: The Garrison, Toronto When: Tuesday, 5 May 2015 In One Word: Catatonic I arrived at the Garrison in time to see Whitby, ON’s Programm, the maturation of Volcano Playground, come to a boil. I liked their first band a lot, I like this one too. Programm’s music hits a...
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Daniel Lanois, Terra Lightfoot at the Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto – Gig review [CMW 2015]

May 4, 2015
Terra Lightfoot at the Horseshoe Tavern, CMW 2015 - photo Brian Banks

Who: Daniel Lanois, Terra Lightfoot at Canadian Music Week Where: The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto When: Friday, 1 May 2015 In One Word: Phenomenal It’s officially open season. May 1st, and the first music festival of the summer as CMW takes over with shows for the next ten days at venues all over downtown Toronto....
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Inlet Sound announce farewell with two-song EP ‘July / Storm Chaser’

April 21, 2015
Inlet Sond - July/Storm Chaser

Inlet Sound have announced their decision to part ways. The Toronto-based folk force are saying goodbye with a two song EP July / Storm Chaser, released today, Tuesday 21 Aprila.   In an open letter to their fans, the band speak about how life and new adventures have led Inlet Sound to say...
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TURF announces artists for 2015 festival

April 20, 2015
TURF 2015

Have your Cake and eat it! Toronto Urban Roots Festival has announced artists for this year’s festival. Wilco, Of Monsters And Men, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, The Avett Brothers, UB40, Cake and Neko Case are among the first wave of artists confirmed for TURF 2015. More headliners will be announced in May. TURF 2015 takes place...
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An open letter to my homeland – Please keep the faith, Scotland

September 17, 2014

My heart is in Scotland right now. Its beating hard, too. I’ll be up tonight in Toronto, Canada, while back home in my homeland my fellow Scots will wake up to answer yes or no to the question ‘should Scotland be an independent country?’. My answer to that question is a...
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The Flaming Lips at Riot Fest, Toronto – Photos

September 7, 2014
The Flaming Lips at Riot Fest, Toronto – Photos

Wayne Coyne – photo Brian Banks Wayne Coyne and his band of merry men and women — mushrooms, butterflies and a glowing sun… — known as The Flaming Lips are one of the most fantastically fun bands you could ever see. Maybe it was the homemade acid candy that the band...
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Death from Above 1979 The Physical World pop-up shop in Toronto this week, September 3 and 4

September 2, 2014
Death From Above 1979

We’ve had to wait 10 years, but now Death From Above are fully back, with a new album and tour. The Physical World, the long-awaited follow-up album to 2004’s You’re A Woman, I’m A Machine is now streaming in its entirety on iTunes in run-up to it’s release on 9 September on Last Gang...
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Stay real, Henry Rollins

August 27, 2014
Henry Rollins

I still respect Henry Rollins. His original column on suicide for LA Weekly was a tad clumsy and characteristically blunt, but as honest as ever. His further thoughts are more pointed, and clearly heartfelt, and charged with a genuine intention of trying to understand and to educate himself further. I think he...
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Hands & Teeth to play free Homegrown Sound session outdoor show in Toronto this Friday, July 25

July 23, 2014
Hands & Teeth to play free Homegrown Sound session outdoor show in Toronto this Friday, July 25

Toronto’s Hands & Teeth will play a free outdoor acoustic set this Friday at Christie Pits park in Toronto. The performance is presented by Homegrown Sound, a new project launched in June promoting nature through music with a documentary video series and outdoor shows. Homegrown Sound is produced in partnership with...
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Sponsored Video: Bavaria Red 8.6 – The beer bringing the red – and the music

July 21, 2014

Beer is the drink of summer. On a patio, on a beach, at a concert, or out in the fields at a music festival: beer goes hand-in-hand with the music. Bavaria brewing company have put the two together, with a new beer and radio station. Bavaria’s 8.6 Red is the beer with...
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