Miss Raquel's Month In Review!

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Robyn - Sound Academy, Toronto

Robyn's show at Toronto's Sound Academy was long past due, as her last scheduled gig was cancelled because of illness. She had a great stage presence talking to the audience. She belted out different medleys and arrangements of Body Talk remixes, and performed an acappella "Show Me Love" (1996) at the end.

I will say the crowd was really pushy, even more so than at raves or special events with international DJs. I found there were people trying to force their way deeper toward to the stage when there is no space whatsoever for them to get through.

Robyn is a bona fide dance artist, as she proved with this well-attended show.

Luv This City: Deko-ze and Jelo - Footwork Bar & Afterhours, Toronto

Aside from me being turned down by four cabs at the end of the night because I wasn't going in their direction, and me screaming on my cell to my boyfriend to listen to me as he spoke to other people on his end, the night was awesome!

There was also Jonathan Rosa (formerly Jon Jon) and Evan G on the bill. If you've been reading this column for a while now than you know I just love me a good Deko-ze and Jelo show. I mean there is no other duo who knows how to wreck a room like these two tomcats.

The place was rammed by 12:30 am, which I was thankful for because it proved the good job us hosts did in promoting the event, but that's how we roll.

This was one hair-flying (Jelo), bouncing (Deko-ze) event, which is always sure to please. It was an intense crazy techno rollercoaster ride. As Jelo would say it was "Awesomesauce!"

Houseaddict Presents: Jimpster - Footwork Bar & Afterhours, Toronto

I know what you may be thinking: here we go with another Footwork event, but what can I say? This venue pumps out events and talent like no other venue in Canada, seriously.

Jimpster was a slow start but by around 1:30 am it picked up. And what I love about Jimpster is his humble attitude - and of course deep beats, which he brought in full force along with irGO, Mike Gleeson and Dirty Dale.


Poppycock! On GayGuideToronto.com

I've interviewed many DJs and producers but interviewing Mr. Oakenfold was surreal. Watch my interview with Paul Oakenfold here.

UPCOMING EVENT:  Friday March 11

MARIO OCHOA / EVAN G / BASSLINE JACK
Hosted by: Miss Raquel

Dolce Social Ballroom, 647 King Street West, Toronto / 19+ / Dress code in full effect

GUESTLIST: $15 on Scenester's VIP guestlist text 416.839.8522 OR email guestlist@scenestermagazine.com

See you on the dancefloor!

Miss Raquel

Miss Raquel's Month in Review!

Vitalic - Birds

Miss Raquel December Month in Review

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Happy New Year to you - and thanks again for reading yet another year of me blabbering on about the electronic music happenings here in Toronto and Canada. And thanks for watching electronica this past year. Remember if you have videos and/or events, please hit me up at info@scenestermagazine.com.

We’ve kicked 2010 out the door and let in 2011. As far as music is concerned I have to say 2010 was a good one, with tech-house as the dominant force. We heard less minimal and more house and deep house than in 2009. There have been risks taken in rhythms, vocals and basslines, and deepness. 2010 was the year for all that was deep-sounding.

Creativity and boundaries were pushed with videos from such artists as:

* Vitalic - Birds (my pick of 2010)

* The Bloody Beetroots ft. Steve Aoki - Warp 1.9

* Paul Kwitek - Katun

* Goldfrapp - Rocket

* Jamiroquai - White Knuckle Ride

Some standout tracks were:

Pendulum – The Island (Steve Angello, AN21, Max Vangeli Remix) – Size Records

Cari Golden/Pan-Pot – Captain My Captain (Original Mix) – Mobilee Records

Lee Burridge, Matt Dekay – Wongel (Original Mix) – Cecille

Pfirtr– The Dub Track (Len Faki Remix) – Figure

John Tejada – Sweat (On The Walls) (Martin Landsky Remix) – Poker Flat Recordings

Funk D’Void – Flealife (Christian Smith Remix) – Outpost Recordings

AFMB – Backup Days (Original Mix) – Drumpoet Community

And this is to only name a few,as there was a lot of goodness in 2010.

The only downfall to this past year was the influx of DJs coming out of the woodwork thinking their snizzle is the sizzle. For this I have the perfect the blog to read from The Lowler Agency in L.A. You can find the link at the bottom of this review.

What I saw this past year musically was of course the usual club politics, which I feel year after year always hurts the EMDS. We need to step back for 2011, dig into our musical crates and pull out P.L.U.R.: Peace, Love, Unity, Respect.

Photo: houseplant.dj

DJ Dan - Footwork Bar & Afterhours, Toronto, ON

On this night Robb G (one of my favourite crazy deck ducks) opened. Then Jelo (a sheer deckician) and DJ Dan tore it up!

I can't say any more than this was a dirty filthy good mess!

Make it Funky 5-Year - Revival, Toronto, ON

This was a great Make it Funky (MIF) 5-year anniversary.

Musical selectas were QBERT, who laid down a 2.5-hour set, Big League Chu, Mikey D, Farbsie, Thunder, Lady Linsee, Sunpredictable, Travis Robinson, Dave Saddler, Zirca, ill Gates, Dave Dub, Red Turtle, Dirtyred and Robb G.

It’s great to see a crew such as MIF putting on events as solid as this for the past five years.

Too bad there’s haters on a particular message board slamming Jay and Farbs (MIF) for reviewing their own event, which to me was more of a huge thank-you to those who came, saw and have been solid attendees throughout the years. What ever happened to P.L.U.R.?

Avicii and Glenn Morrison NOT at 99 Sudbury, Toronto, ON

I believe greed reared its ugly head for the So, We Dance? New Year's Eve bash with Swedish DJ Avicii and Glenn Morrison at Toronto's 99 Sudbury (a restored glass factory), which police shut down before the countdown due to safety issues outside the venue.

According to the Toronto Star, only 300 of the 1,500 people with tickets made it into the venue when DJ sets by Avicii and Glenn Morrison were cancelled around 11:30 pm, said Jennifer Love, a spokesperson for the organizers of the event.

Love said according to The Star the special events venue at 99 Sudbury St. can accommodate 1,500 people and the event was cancelled because people without tickets showed up and tried to force their way in. My sources said the majority of people in line had bought advance tickets and weren’t allowed in, and this is what caused the mad New Year’s mob.

According to Toronto's 14 Division, which showed up on the scene with at least 20 officers, the organizers could be at fault.

Avicii said there were lots of people waiting outside when he arrived at the venue around 10:30 pm. “I felt very bad. I was really excited to play, but they did not let me,” he said. "It's horrible, horrible. I hate not playing for people."

What happened to P.L.U.R.?

For 2011 I feel we need to step up and remember that the music is the reason we love being in the EMDS, and to kick greed, hate and entitlement to the curb.

UPCOMING EVENT

Join me for one of my favourite DJs Chus & Ceballos – This is London – Friday January 21.

Presented by Adnan Media with residents DJs Manzone & Strong.

Celebrating This is London’s SOHO Anniversary Party Friday January 21 at This is London, Toronto, ON.

I’ll be there, so if you see me come please say “Hi.” I’ll be in the bottle service booth beside the DJ booth.

For list and information contact Adnan at (416) 274-2753.

Here’s the blog I mentioned at the top of my review, Writing a Cover Letter and Submitting a Press Kit By David Lowry.

SEE YOU ON THE DANCEFLOOR!

- Miss Raquel

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Don't miss electronica: every Saturday @ 8 pm ET.