Toronto 7/11 @ Kool Haus

[Natonate99]

anybody else going to this show? im bringing 2 friends to pop their live MMJ cherry. its gonna be an awesome week for me as im seeing the black keys and cage the elephant 2 days later

[oistheone]

After returning from Bonnaroo, there will be no better way to acclimatize back to the real world than by hitting up back-to-back Jacket shows exactly one month after the conclusion of the fest. Night one in Toronto, then a trek for night two in Montreal! The Montreal show will mark my tenth live Jacket experience, but seeing the boys at the Kool Haus will be my first Jacket show in my hometown. So. Fucking. Pumped.

[johnnYYac]

After returning from Bonnaroo, there will be no better way to acclimatize back to the real world than by hitting up back-to-back Jacket shows exactly one month after the conclusion of the fest. Night one in Toronto, then a trek for night two in Montreal! The Montreal show will mark my tenth live Jacket experience, but seeing the boys at the Kool Haus will be my first Jacket show in my hometown. So. Fucking. Pumped.

Not to johnnYYac this thread, but Montreal will be my 10th MMJ show, too.  We must toast to this in Metropolis, o!

[Jaimoe]

I think I'll roll the dice and try to buy tickets at the door the day of the show. I did this last year for the Black Keys when they played a SOLD OUT Kool Haus and its worked for other gigs too at the same venue. The only negative is that MMJ are playing at the Kool Haus. When they played there during their last tour, the show wasn't up to par, but then again, neither was Evil Urges.

[Jon T.]

I think I'll roll the dice and try to buy tickets at the door the day of the show. I did this last year for the Black Keys when they played a SOLD OUT Kool Haus and its worked for other gigs too at the same venue. The only negative is that MMJ are playing at the Kool Haus. When they played there during their last tour, the show wasn't up to par, but then again, neither was Evil Urges.

Out of curiosity, what is the point in "rolling the dice"?  Better seats?

[Jaimoe]

I think I'll roll the dice and try to buy tickets at the door the day of the show. I did this last year for the Black Keys when they played a SOLD OUT Kool Haus and its worked for other gigs too at the same venue. The only negative is that MMJ are playing at the Kool Haus. When they played there during their last tour, the show wasn't up to par, but then again, neither was Evil Urges.

Out of curiosity, what is the point in "rolling the dice"?  Better seats?

It's a GA venue with no seats. I've had alot of foreseen and unforeseen expenses as of late, so I think I should wait. However, I may cave and get tickets in the next few weeks given I have a bunch of friends going and they keep pestering me. Worth noting is that there are a few record stores here in Toronto that sell concert tickets and always with minor service fees when compared to TM. MMJ are going for $42 and the service fee won't be more than a few bucks.

[joey_rogo]

Was about to buy a ticket. Then I thought to myself, hmmm self, you should probably go make sure your passport is still in its special place. So i went to check, and it wasnt there. After an hour or so of tearing my room apart, I can't find it. >:( Must've gotten packed someplace stupid during my semi-recent move. Arf. Gonna give the search another go this weekend.

And yes, Jaimoe, if I get a ticket, we should talk hockey over a beer or two.

[GO4IT]

My wife and I will be at the Kool Haus.  We were going to do a week-long driving vacation north from Baltimore/Washington so now we know at least where we'll be on the 12th of July.  I've heard mixed reviews of the venue reminiscent of the chatter before the T5 shows.  Any other opinions?  Any other things to do in Toronto?
This will be my 10th MMJ show (not counting a few MOF and Yim solo shows).

[Jaimoe]

My wife and I will be at the Kool Haus.  We were going to do a week-long driving vacation north from Baltimore/Washington so now we know at least where we'll be on the 12th of July.  I've heard mixed reviews of the venue reminiscent of the chatter before the T5 shows.  Any other opinions?  Any other things to do in Toronto?
This will be my 10th MMJ show (not counting a few MOF and Yim solo shows).

What do you want to do and see? Toronto has lots to offer and even the Kool Haus has the potential to be good on any given night. I recommend hitting up some of the landmarks - CN Tower, Yorkville (trendy neighbourhood for the rich and famous), Hockey Hall of Fame, Massey Hall, Yonge & Dundas Square, Maple Leaf Gardens, Air Canada Centre, Rogers Centre (perhaps catch a Blue Jays game), Distillery District, King Street (specifically north of Rogers Centre and near the main theatre district; I love the new Toronto International Film Festival's Lightbox building/headquarters/condo, owned by Ivan Reitman http://tiff.net/tiffbelllightbox), the new Trump Tower (still under construction), CBC headquarters, Art Gallery of Ontario (designed by famed architect, Frank Gehry), Royal Ontario Museum, University of Toronto, Canada's Walk of Fame, Yonge Street (main drag with many cool sections and also the longest street in the world http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yonge_Street) etc...; you could even catch live theatre since Toronto is the 3rd largest theatre district in North America. There's also daily film shoots going on all over town, so keep your eyes peeled for celebrities, if you are into that kind of thing.

You will not need to drive around downtown and I don't recommend it. Take transit and walk till your feet fall off (it's a very safe city) - get a day pass, which can be used for subways, streetcars and buses. Toronto is a city of vibrant downtown neighbourhoods, so make sure to check out many of the cool ethnic areas such as Greektown, Little Italy, Little India, Little Korea, 2 Chinatowns, Kensington Market, St. Lawrence Market (a great pocket of cool immediatly north of Kool Haus), Cabbagetown, Leslieville, Gay Village, Parkdale... It's an extremely multi-cultural metropolis, so show up everywhere with an appetite since you can get every and any kind of food. I have a list of many pubs worth checking out too and several favourite restaurants.

Another thing is to grab one of our free weekly newspapers, NOW or EYE. They'll list nightlife spots and live events and clubs. Not unlike NYC or Chicago, every night has tons of live concerts in big and smaller clubs (great blues, country/folk, punk, jazz, hip hop and rock scenes). Heck, if you walk to the northern part of the central Chinatown, you'll pass the El Mocambo, the infamous club where Stevie Ray Vaughan performed in the early '80s (the DVD is famous and easy to find and very fucking good: Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble - Live at the El Mocambo) and the Rolling Stones recorded part of Love You Live. The Horseshoe Tavern is even more revered amongst music historians. I wish Oscar Peterson were still alive because up to his death, he played every week at a local piano bar.

[GO4IT]

Wow, Jaimoe, you make Toronto sound like paradise.  I can't wait to go! The sights, music, food all sound amazing.  I don't think I've ever seen so many great things to do packed into three short paragraphs.  I grew up in NYC and have spent a lot of time in many of the worlds greatest cities but not yet Toronto.
Oh, and then there's MMJ.  I am quite confident it will be a great show; they can transcend any venue.
Thanks so much for the great tips!

[Jaimoe]

Wow, Jaimoe, you make Toronto sound like paradise.  I can't wait to go! The sights, music, food all sound amazing.  I don't think I've ever seen so many great things to do packed into three short paragraphs.  I grew up in NYC and have spent a lot of time in many of the worlds greatest cities but not yet Toronto.
Oh, and then there's MMJ.  I am quite confident it will be a great show; they can transcend any venue.
Thanks so much for the great tips!

I love NYC. I've been there several times and will be going back again soon. I've been to many great cities in the world too and I think Toronto stacks up well. Toronto has lots to offer, but its often more subtle such as knowing and exploring neighbourhoods and avoiding the usual touristy things. I can help with all that when the time arises.

Torontonians and Canadians typically don't hammer tourists over the head regarding what to do and see in any given area or town. I think sometimes we do a shitty job as promotors. For example, Toronto has a historic fort down by the west end waterfront that few ever visit (near where the Toronto FC play MLS games). Fort York was key in battling Americans during the War of 1812. There are lots of landmarks around but you'll have to find them yourself, but it'll be worth it.

Toronto is more spread out and wide-open than Manhattan and the downtown core has the usual traps: Hard Rock Cafe, chain-restaurants and shops etc.. but the shopping is great nonethess. If you stick to the central core, you should venture to the massive Eaton Centre and famed Hudson Bay Company; both are huge shopping centres, the latter is the original department store which helped forge Canada in the 1700s. Also, if ou think you see someone famous on the street, chances are it is that person. We have many world famous actors, comedians, writers, musicians, directors, athletes, politicians, that call T.O. home, but nobody really cares. But I like this; an attitude  similar I think to NYC. Movies are shot here daily, so you never know who'll be sitting beside you sipping a beer at a pub.

[oistheone]

Wow, Jaimoe, you make Toronto sound like paradise.  I can't wait to go! The sights, music, food all sound amazing.  I don't think I've ever seen so many great things to do packed into three short paragraphs.  I grew up in NYC and have spent a lot of time in many of the worlds greatest cities but not yet Toronto.
Oh, and then there's MMJ.  I am quite confident it will be a great show; they can transcend any venue.
Thanks so much for the great tips!

I love NYC. I've been there several times and will be going back again soon. I've been to many great cities in the world too and I think Toronto stacks up well. Toronto has lots to offer, but its often more subtle such as knowing and exploring neighbourhoods and avoiding the usual touristy things. I can help with all that when the time arises.

Torontonians and Canadians typically don't hammer tourists over the head regarding what to do and see in any given area or town. I think sometimes we do a shitty job as promotors. For example, Toronto has a historic fort down by the west end waterfront that few ever visit (near where the Toronto FC play MLS games). Fort York was key in battling Americans during the War of 1812. There are lots of landmarks around but you'll have to find them yourself, but it'll be worth it.

Toronto is more spread out and wide-open than Manhattan and the downtown core has the usual traps: Hard Rock Cafe, chain-restaurants and shops etc.. but the shopping is great nonethess. If you stick to the central core, you should venture to the massive Eaton Centre and famed Hudson Bay Company; both are huge shopping centres, the latter is the original department store which helped forge Canada in the 1700s. Also, if ou think you see someone famous on the street, chances are it is that person. We have many world famous actors, comedians, writers, musicians, directors, athletes, politicians, that call T.O. home, but nobody really cares. But I like this; an attitude  similar I think to NYC. Movies are shot here daily, so you never know who'll be sitting beside you sipping a beer at a pub.

You've definitely got to get a job at Tourism Toronto.

[Jaimoe]

You've definitely got to get a job at Tourism Toronto.

Thanks, but I'm also very critical of this city too. Large swaths of the waterfront are underdeveloped and desolate, and the Kool Haus is located in one of these areas. Toronto's new mayor is a fatheaded shortsighted rightwinger who hates the city that elected him; he's actually from the suburbs and gained most of his votes by pitting suburban residents vs those living in the urban core, such as me. Regardless, the core is vibrant and healthy regardless of the mayor or the suburban embracers.

There are a few areas to avoid, but like I said, it's a safe city with a very low crime rate. Any American used to big cities will have no worries. We don't have ghettos, but there are a few sketchy areas that my wife refers to as "colourful". Just be streetsmart at night. The area around Kool Haus is safe (actually, the area around Kool Haus is dead, but just a block north and east are cool neighbourhoods well worth spending time exploring). The one interesting thing about Kool Haus' location is that there's currently mega-developments going on across the road on the waterfront. In a year or two, Kool Haus will actually be in a kinda cool location.

[Natonate99]

i love toronto and canada in general for that matter and ill make any excuse to hop over the boarder and i dont think there is a better excuse than MMJ

[GO4IT]

So, Jaimoe (do you still play drums for the Allmans?), with all of the things I have to see in Toronto now based on your great sightseeing advice, I booked 5 nights right downtown in the entertainment district starting the Fri before the show.  I appreciated your call-out of the Mocambo Club as one of the Stones' venues for "Love You Live".  I checked it out on Wikipedia (interesting story) and I pulled out my original vinyl copy from when it came out (not played in many years) and played side 3 which has the Mocambo Club recordings. Very nice.
Sort of interesting that the Kool Haus is described as a couple blocks off the mainstream which sounds just like T5.

[Jaimoe]

So, Jaimoe (do you still play drums for the Allmans?), with all of the things I have to see in Toronto now based on your great sightseeing advice, I booked 5 nights right downtown in the entertainment district starting the Fri before the show.  I appreciated your call-out of the Mocambo Club as one of the Stones' venues for "Love You Live".  I checked it out on Wikipedia (interesting story) and I pulled out my original vinyl copy from when it came out (not played in many years) and played side 3 which has the Mocambo Club recordings. Very nice.
Sort of interesting that the Kool Haus is described as a couple blocks off the mainstream which sounds just like T5.

It's loud down at the Entertainment District, but not a bad locale. I would have suggested something on Bloor Street near Yorkville (more central downtown, but more encompassing). It's also the El Mocamabo, but the top floor where Stevie Ray performed his iconic live '80s show has been turned into a dance studio. The downstairs is still intact and that's where The Stones did side 3 of Love You Live, which caused a Canadian political scandal in the process.

5 days will be a nice vacation. We have a world class zoo , but it's located in the far 'burbs. Toronto Island is well worth visiting for a lazy afternoon too.

I'll suggest areas to check out later. I'll also do some digging for other live events going on during your stay. We have some good jazz clubs and a couple of excellent blues venues.

[petemoss]

I really wish that MMJ had booked Massey Hall.
Great work Jaimoe.

[firesofcanning]

I will be there with some friends and bandmates! This will be my 2nd MMJ concert (first was T5 EU show), first in my hometown. I can barely contain my joy! If it wasn't during the week, I'd drive to montreal to see them afterwards...maybe I will anyways. haha.

[petemoss]

TWO WEEKS!!!




sorry.

[dondantears]

Is anyone out there going to both the Toronto show and the Montreal show?  I am looking for a ride from Toronto to Montreal.  Let me know. 

I'll be coming from detroit to Toronto.  And then to Montreal, and then to DC on wednesday the 13th.  I'm looking for rides all over the place, but Mainly toronto -> montreal.

Thanks,
Ryan