Wednesday kicked off the beginning of the end: Wavelength 500. Yep. 500 times we’ve been so lucky to witness small bands find their feet walk and their way up the popularity peak that IS Toronto music. Many can recall more than a handful of bands which have graced the many stages where Wavelength has called home: Lullabye Arkestra, Fembots, Jon-Rae & The River, The Russian Futurists, The Arcade Fire, Think About Life, Timber Timbre, Ohbijou, Ninja High School, Tokyo Police Club, Miracle Fortress, and many, many, MANY more.

The night began with jazz ensemble Canaille, followed by well-known Wavelength-ers’ Deep Dark United. Seeing them a time before, coincidentally at the same venue (opening for Akron/Family), it was an unpleasant experience of directionless noise and sounds. Seeing them a second time around, Deep Dark United had sported a somewhat changed sound. Maybe it was the same to begin with. Regardless, it was enjoyable.

Pony Da Look have recently changed their all-female lineup by one person — Drummer Rebecca Mendoza for Drummer Rob Gordon. Still shaking walls and melting stomachs with their hallow medieval sound, Pony Da Look has slightly changed tangets with their sound since bringing Gordon in to take over on drums. How? Louder, more aggressive, probably a little (or, to some, a lot) more well-rounded. The bottom-line is, Amy Bowles is an entertainer. She grabs a hold of you and lets you feel her wrath. It’s a good, GOOD wrath, folks. However, be brave when you allow yourself to be pulled into the pits of Pony Da Look.

Evening Hymns have evolved from the one-piece wonder that was Jonas Bonnetta to a full band of trusted friends and talented musicians. For a sound like what Evening Hymns shares, The Music Gallery was an ideal place to have it reach its ceilings and depths, however deep they might go. It’s great to see Bonnetta with a full band, but the preference has always been to hear him play solo (for specific songs): they are personal and are usually well-told when it’s him being the storyteller. Otherwise, the talk and the love will rise, and rise, and rise some more for this band. Promise.

Bruce Peninsula, another band which suited the confines of The Music Gallery, ended the night in a church with a choir and a congregation. Some photos were taken, but the remainder of the night was meant for putting the camera down and singing along. It’s great to be a part of this bands tremendous live performance: beautiful choir singing, fantastic percussion and powerful lead vocals. Simply put, everyone wants more.

Be sure to check out more Wavelength shows this weekend!!!

I can remember driving through Southern Greece and seeing Gypsies on the roadsides or hanging out in small towns. Occasionally, the sound of tempo-changing violin (or fiddle) and horns would spout about during the nightfall. I can also remember hearing similar music being played in the film ‘Everything Is Illuminated’. Both were just as settling to the mind, but therapeutic for a beating heart.

A Hawk and a Hacksaw started out a project by former Neutral Milk Hotel drummer Jeremy Barnes. The project grew into a duo consisting of himself on Percussion and Accordion and Heather Trost on Violin. A Tuba and a Trumpet/Flugelhorn were included in the mix and there you have this unique, Eastern-European sounding Mariachi-esque band hailing from New Mexico….and boy, do they have ideas.

Truth be told, I was only at The Drake to see Evening Hymns perform (video shot and edited by Kat Burns). Since their performance was AMAZING, as usual, I decided to stick around and see what the fuss was about for the headliner. Hawk/Hacksaw were beyond what anyone could describe as “brilliant.” Keeping a beat with my foot or hands to the sweet strings and beats was not an issue. A band like this doesn’t let up, and for many reasons they shouldn’t. Near the end of the night, they stepped away from their mics and played in the middle of the room. At Jeremy Barnes’ kind request, he asked for people not to clap their hands to the beat as it was throwing him off. Stomping feet — now THAT was fine.

What would have made the night perfect: if it were warmer, on the seaside or in the hills SOMEWHERE in Europe, having a nice beer sitting out by fire or candlelights….yeah , I’m dreaming.

Local music heroes, Ohbijou, released their debut record a couple of years ago and capped it off with a fantastic CD release party at The Drake. This time around, with the release of ‘Beacons’, the band acquired access to The Opera House. Success? Definitely. They sold out the place and it was a great, great show!

Opening bands The Great Bloomers and Evening Hymns led off the night. Both bands were tight and great choices for the event. I definitely suggest checking out Evening Hymns. Led by Jonas Bonnetta, his songs have a tremendous beauty about them. The debut record, entitled ‘Spirit Guides’ will be released this Fall on local label Out of This Spark, also known for representing Forest City Lovers, The D’Urbervilles, and since recently, Timber Timbre.