Model Behaviour

On Tuesday, I went to the Drake Underground to hear two new-comers to the local music scene. Both were obviously "indie" (i.e., unsigned) but were more pop than experimental. Opener Good Ghost had an electro-pop meets Lana Del Ray vibe. As they pointed out, they had "one dance song". But they played a nice set: understated beats, quiet guitar, and mildly plaintive lyrics. It was low-key but not snooze-inducing. I was impressed with the quality of these young musicians.

It was a large crowd for Mieke's EP release. This alias was the musical nom-de-plume for model Elissa Mielke. She played most of her set with just her and a piano. From photos online of her artfully tousled blond mane and sloe-eyed gaze, you might be expecting soft, airy pop. But with her strong jawline, assertive voice, and penchant for confessional, prose-like lyrics, she oddly reminded me more of Carrie Underwood or Shania Twain even if there was nothing country in her music. Mielke said that this EP was a big step for her, and not only because she "spent all her money on it". It was an admission that music was her main passion, even if it was a "career that makes no money". To that end, she was joined on stage by a growing number of musicians to play through her EP. These songs had more "pop production" and I could see mainstream radio play for them especially crooner Sleeping Alone.

Both of these young acts have strong material and talent. It will be interesting to see their progress in the days ahead.

Summer Harvest

On Saturday, I stopped by Harvest Kitchen at Harbord and Spadina for brunch. This eatery claims to use locally sourced ingredients as much as possible. It was mostly empty inside because everyone opted for the back patio. I ordered a small "elixer" ($3.95), an omelet ($11.95) and two slices of peameal bacon ($1.35/each). From the description of the juice which included kale, spinach and celery, I was hoping it wasn't too grassy like a real-life "Veggie Boy". But it was smooth and refreshing, made palatable by the ginger and lemon.

The omelet was stuffed with mushrooms, eggplant, and cheese. It was tasty but well-cooked whereas I prefer the softer French-style. The cold soup based on puree apples made a fine complement to the eggs. The bacon was excellent: fatty, smokey and meaty. Even the slaw was good, not overly acidic and soft without being overly moist. All in all, the meal had a nicely balanced combination of flavour.

Space Is The Place

Thursday night, I went to Burdock for some live music. First up was L Con. The more I hear their "experimental space folk", the more I enjoy their airy arrangements but anchored by solid bass and beats. To be fair, those drums come from cheap pre-programmed synths. But when you have excellent music on top, they don't sound so cheesy. Tonight was no different. The only downside was that the newer stuff like the bluesy song about "getting rid of ghosts" and a funky "space jam" wasn't available for purchase.

The head-liner was Paper Beats Scissors. This band, augmented with some extra players on french horn and violin, is fronted by Tim Crabtree. Although based in Halifax, his English burr could be lightly heard in his stage patter. I've found the sound here to be excellent but tonight I was partially defeated. Crabtree comes from the "white man screaming" school of singing, and I had trouble making heads or tails of his lyrics. The arrangement themselves were Arcade Fire-ish anthems. That is, sparse and slow passages that grew in sonic layers and then gradually diminished. Unfortunately, with the majority of the dozen or so songs having the same characteristics, I zoned out after a while.

Almuerzo

On Thursday, I was feeling a bit low. I had just found out that a recession will likely have a negative impact on my future. Maybe a good lunch can raise my mood. At Bloor and Dufferin, there's a "mini-mexico" with several businesses including two dining spots. But just a bit away from this spot, nearer to Lansdowne, Latin World also offers food.

Similar to Tierra Azteca, it's a combination small ethnic grocer with a few tables for dining. I guess this is Toronto's version of a bodega. Latin World is a family business, with Mom in the kitchen and the teenage daughters taking orders and serving food. I ordered a small pozole ($5) and a chilaquiles ($10). Before my mains arrived, there was complimentary tacos with 2 kinds of sauce.

The tacos were freshly fried and crispy. The red sauce had more kick while the milder yellow sauce provided a palate cleanser. Along with Mexican coke, made with sugar cane, it was a nice start to a stultifyingly humid day.

For my soup, I chose chicken instead of the more traditional pork. The bowl was also filled soft hominy or white corn kernels. The flavouring was mild and not too salty. After the addition of lettuce and raw onions, I was practically full. The plate of chilaquiles had tacos soaked in sauce, topped with the usual cheese, refried beans, and beef. It was a bit bland but only because the portion was huge. This seemed more like a family-size dish than for 1 person. So after a while, it just got tiresome to eat. This was a filling, no-fuss lunch in a cozy, laid-back store.