(Photo: Royal Wood)

Music supervisor and The Comet blogger recounts night one of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and offers his music recommendations.
I arrived in Toronto for the International Film Fest just in time to catch a ride from the fantastic Chris Budd, who runs Bearsuit Publishing. It was a whirlwind as it always is the first night. Fellow music supervisor Madonna Wade-Reed and I made it to dinner just as everyone else was getting their meals. 

Dinner, which was hosted by the organizers of Festival Music House (Jeff Remedios, Keiran Roy and Marcello Favia of Arts and Crafts), was great I really recommend Lucien – especially the tuna tartare. 

From there we all convened at the “Moose Factory,” aka the gallery/living space of the Warhol of Canada – Charles Pachter for the party thrown by NBA star Steve Nash in honor of the Terry Fox documentary showing at the TIFF – pretty awesome story.

There was freshly shucked oysters, tons of Vitamin water and Pachter’s insane level of Canadiana – litterally paintings of Queen Elizabeth with one of his signature mooses . (I saw a guy French kiss this painting incidentally – Charles you may want to get that sucker cleaned.) Pretty great party….

From there half of us went to some Ubisoft party and the smart ones cabbed it to The Drake Hotel for the Manitoba Film Music party – thanks to lovely hostess Carole Vivier  – it was wonderful taking in the rooftop bar and the Toronto night.

I’ve got a day of meetings and work, so I gotta scramble if I’m going to see a film today. I just got my pass. Thanks Marcello – you’re doing a bangup job!
Later today is the first of three nights of jam-packed Canadian music at the Festival Music House. Evidently RSVPs filled up pretty quick for this event and it’s only 350 person capacity room, so get there early.

Here is the lineup:

8:30pm – Royal Wood:  He’s an amazing entertainer.  He played one of our living room showcases at the Hancock Park  home of Canada’s Consul General David Fransen.

9:15pm – Chilly Gonzales: I have not seen before, but soooo excited. I think I know his brother.

10:00pm – Coeur de Pirate: Have not seen before, but we were seriously thinking about them for Canadian Blast Party at this year’s SXSW.

10:45pm – Basia Bulat: Super cool live show.

11:45 – Stars: C’mon – it’s Stars!  I have a T-shirt of theirs!

So that’s it for now – I’ll try to upload some candid pix and give the scoop on the bands tonight.  Even better – just come on by and check them out yourself.