Late Nights in the City: Poutine & Rock Shows March 18, 2010

"Question: do you like your hands? If yes, then you better get your mammy to knit you some mitts, you baby, because lead singer Owen Carrier will make you clap, hard."

Last week was Canadian Music Week – a fairly unknown event, except, I think, for bar owners and people in music industry. Basically, there is a big conference in a swanky hotel, and tons of amazing shows in venues all over the city.  It smells a little bit like NXNE without the brand recognition.

During CMW 2010 I stayed out past my bedtime 4 nights in a row, I ate food in the middle of those nights, and I had my socks rocked one or two times.  No night rocked (popped?) quite as hard, however, as the night I saw Sweet Thing at Lee’s Palace.

I was won over in such a big way by the band’s stage presence, quirky sexiness and musical force.  In the morning I reviewed 6 outgoing text messages on my phone that all read (gushed?) something like:  “omfg! Sweet Thing are soooooooo good!  You have to come next time!!!”

There are very few things in this world that can force me to use internet memes or more than one exclamation mark in a communication – never mind both.

I read CHARTattacks’s CMW 2010 Report Card about Sweet Thing’s show on Monday morning and was so relieved that I wasn’t the only one peeing in their pants at Lee’s Palace on Saturday, March 15th.  If you haven’t heard of Sweet Thing yet, you’re not alone, but I think you’ll be in the minority really soon.

Check out their official site for a free download of the track “Dance Mother.”  It’s amazing.

**and available in a non-explicit version just in case the f-bomb offends your sensibilities**

MP3: Sweet Thing – Dance Mother

OM NOM NOM indeed.

I basked in another sweet thing last week, as well.  Poutini’s at 3AM.  It’s actually magical.

On a Friday or Saturday night you really have to work for your middle of the night poutine in Parkdale – but not on a Thursday!  I was in and out with my fries, cheese and gravy in 5 minutes flat.  Awesome.

sexy 3AM photo shoot.

I strongly advise you stick out the intimidating looking wait instead of hitting up the Pizza Pizza down the street (ick. gross).  In all honesty, even when the line up is out the door on a weekend, they generally get the goods in people’s hands within 15 minutes.

Poutini’s makes the perfect classic poutine.  Just the right amount of salt, with the squeakiest cheese, and then there’s gravy – oh, the gravy!  There is a vegetarian option as well – plus, they’ll layer the toppings for just a couple of extra coins.

According to their website, Poutini’s is open for brunch as well.  The name Poutini Florentini totally does it for me, and they get bonus points for serving Balzacs coffee.

I’ll have to give this a go and report back – let me know if you’ve tried it!