On The Prismatic Tour, Katy Perry is fierce. From the moment she enters the stage as a warrior, it’s clear that the pop princess is growing up.
Borrowing choreography from Madonna’s Sticky & Sweet Tour, Katy jumps rope during Roar, just as Madonna did during Jump. Katy ups the ante by doing this in heels, whereas Madonna skipped in sneakers. It seems Katy is a big fan of Madonna, as she proudly incorporates a verse of Madonna’s Vogue into International Smile.
If Peter Bjorn and John joined forces with Janelle Monae, they could still learn a thing or two from Fitz and the Tantrums. The indie dance pop band turned the Danforth Music Hall into a wicked dance party on Sunday night, which made me forget my Queen’s Plate FOMO.
Fitz and the Tantrums (FATT) may not be a local band, but the sincerity they expressed during their commentary convinced me that they’d fit right in with polite Canadians. Their fans aren’t necessarily hipster enough for Parkdale, but maybe they biked over from the Beaches.
After FATT dedicated Out of My League to the audience, everyone stood up — including the relatively introverted fans with balcony seats. The band inspired fans to put down their phones and dance like no one’s watching. It was awesome.
Fitz and the Tantrums is one of those bands you’ve heard on TV, but can’t remember how you were introduced to their music.
Begin Again star Adam Levine reportedly discovered Fitz and the Tantrums through a tattoo artist and then invited them to open for Maroon 5. Since then, Fitz and the Tantrums has been featured on Suits, Desperate Housewives, Criminal Minds and The Vampire Diaries.
More recently, Fitz and the Tantrums cemented their place in the spotlight once Ellen Degeneres danced to The Walker in the 2014 Oscars trailer.
[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DisioPE86AY‘]
Familiar Strangers (Ryan Peters, Josh Gladstone and Daniel Draper) put on a great show Sunday night at Drums N Flats. Their set list included original songs like Bar in Seattle, as well as covers of Avicii’s Wake Me Up, Barenaked Ladies’ Pinch Me and The Lumineers’ Ho Hey.
Which band do you want to reunite this year?
Ryan: Groove Street
Josh: On The Rocks
Daniel: Dispatch
Who would you like to see win big at the Grammys?
Ryan: Taylor Swift
Josh: Mumford and Sons
Daniel: Daft Punk or Robin Thicke
Do you think music videos are still important?
Ryan: Videos are a good way to get to know the band’s personality. OK Go have a really cool music video with them walking on a treadmill, which showed off their quirkiness. I think [music videos] are still important.
Josh: I think we’re in an age of visual people because of YouTube etc., so if people want to get famous, they have to go down that route, or else they won’t have a presence. But in my opinion, music should always be primary.
Daniel: I don’t think they help artists sell music, but they’re good for artists that want to make a statement. I like Lupe Fiasco and Macklemore because they recently came out with some interesting videos. What Beyoncé did by putting out a video for each song was incredibly unique and made a statement. They’re not just dancing videos; they’re telling stories.
After studying at different Canadian universities, Ryan Peters, Josh Gladstone and Daniel Draper are reuniting to perform old favourites at an acoustic show. To call Sunday night a reunion would be an understatement because some of their high school friends haven’t seen each other in over four years. The low-key concert (promoted through a Facebook event) will offer a chance for Familiar Strangers’ fans to reconnect over drinks at an uptown bar in Toronto.
In honour of #FlashbackFriday, here are some exclusive insights about Familiar Strangers’ music and the band’s aspirations. Consider this a commercial-free digital spin-off of E! True Hollywood Story and enjoy.
Ryan (piano and vocals) plans to become a teacher, so he’s studying education at U of T and Daniel (guitar) is travelling for eight months before moving to Calgary for a consulting job. Meanwhile, Josh (guitar, cello, recorder and oboe) is a Project Specialist in Bell’s rotational program for new graduates.
Ryan Peters (2011)
Daniel Draper (2011)
Daniel Draper & Josh Gladstone (2006)
Growing up, they enjoyed playing music at summer camp. “We wrote a couple Familiar Strangers songs by the campfire,” explains Josh. Likewise, Daniel’s counsellors influenced his taste in music and they introduced him to some of the tracks he plays on repeat today.
In high school, they liked listening to Billy Joel, Dave Matthews Band and John Mayer. Back in the day, Daniel sent Ryan music via MSN Messenger, but now that’s merely something they’re nostalgic about. Ryan mainly listens to Top 40 and show tunes, “as nerdy as that makes me.” Josh discovers new music through streaming apps like 8tracks, as well as satellite radio. If you subscribe to SiriusXM, Josh recommends listening to The Pulse and The Blend. He’s also a huge fan of Mumford and Sons. “Opening for Mumford and Sons in front of a big crowd at the Molson Amphitheatre is the dream.”
If their dreams come true, then Familiar Strangers’ music will be featured on primetime TV. Ryan believes their “music would take any HBO show to the next level.” If a Game of Thrones producer includes their music in an upcoming episode, “it would be the greatest thing ever,” adds Josh.