Rancho Relaxo

Many, Many Hometown Shows in the Coming Weeks

We have many Toronto shows in the next 3 weeks. Here are all the details:

Saturday April 19 (Tomorrow)  -I’m playing a solo show at Cabin Fever Collective (1669 Bloor St W) for Record Store Day. 6PM Free Admission

Saturday April 26 – I’m playing solo again at Rancho Relaxo (300 College St.) 9:45PM $7
https://www.facebook.com/events/428080584003625/

Wednesday May 7 –The Velvet Underground (510 Queen St W) 9PM $10 or free w/ wristbands/passes
https://www.facebook.com/events/745104588843912/

Thursday May 8 – Solo show at Charlie’s Gallery (112 Harbord St) 8PM $10 or free w/ wristbands/passes

Friday May 9 – Ranch Relaxo (300 College St.)  1AM $10 or free w/ wristbands/passes
https://www.facebook.com/events/533117326815549/

Echoes From A Dimly Lit Studio Pt.6

Hello.

First, it’s NXNE week here in Toronto so we will be appearing at the venerable Rancho Relaxo, Saturday June 15 at 1AM. NXNE passes will get you in and cover is TBA which means relatively cheap compared to other venues. It’s one of TO’s best kept secrets that Rancho is the place to be in the wee hours of NXNE week, especially during the closing weekend. It’s usually packed with REAL MUSIC FANS – all nicely tipsy.

Second, it’s been radio static here at pmaps dot net and that can only mean one thing: we’ve been hard at work in the studio. In fact, we took a break this week for NXNE and will be returning to the studio – in this case, Nassau 6 in Kensington – this coming Monday to resume and complete our work. Why the studio change, you might ask? Well that’s because we are in the final mixing stage now. 90% of the recording part of the record was completed at our own  Echo Valley studios but we’ve taken the tracks to another studio to get our hands on even more vintage gear and to get another perspective, etc., etc.  Both our good friend, Nathan Vanderwielen and myself are doing all the mixing.

So what’s the new album going to be like?  Well, to sum it up this is one for the freaks and geeks.  Prom queens and star quarterbacks need not apply, although you’re welcome to try.  In past blog entries I dropped some song titles.  Here’s another tidbit: The name of the album, due out this fall, is DARKER LIGHTS.

Photographic evidence:

more vintage gear ...

…

Dean and Nathan mixing ...

Andy at the Grand Piano

…

Dean and Andy add additional guitars and bicycle to the tracks...

Echoes From A Dimly Lit Studio Pt.3

Things are going slowly but are getting more and more exciting.  Take (for instance) the fact that we have a new member joining the band.  Andy Soto is a good friend of mine.  In 2008  I produced a record called Doubleplusgood for his Paris, France-based band, Utopium. In 2010 Andy came to visit Toronto again and helped out with the making of our debut full length, papermaps,  contributing some piano, insights and additional engineering. He fell in love with our city and pledged to return, for good.  Well, Andy is back!

We are still perfecting those same three songs … recording the final lead vocals and working on the textures that Andy will be adding to the mix.  You can witness the early genesis of these new textures at our Canadian Music Week showcase (Hosted by Two way Monologues and GreenShades) at Rancho Relaxo, Saturday March 23 at 11pm sharp! Andy will be joining us on stage for the very first time!!!! So please come out and help us welcome Andy to the Toronto indie music scene! Also, we will not be returning until June for NXNE…(unless something very special compels us to do otherwise).

Astute link followers will also notice that I will also be appearing solo at Shanghai Cowgirl, Thursday March 21 11:30pm as part of CMW.

-dean

Here’s the poster for the BIG SHOW
FB Event (please join): https://www.facebook.com/events/545414052165619/?ref=ts&fref=ts

Papermaps at NXNE !

Hello!

It’s been a while since I’ve logged in – we’ve been super busy creating our new studio space in a top secret location where Papermaps (and some friends) will be creating a majority of our music. I promise some pictures in the near future.  Meanwhile…

We’ve got a couple of hometown show announcements:

First, a chance to see our classic lineup, again:

Friday May 25th – EL MOCAMBO with Mercy Now, Goodnight Sunrise, Rulers of the Moon
We are very happy to be supporting our friends Goodnight Sunrise at this excellent TWM Presents event.  Please note:  because Betty Dimo will be away on vacation in some exotic locale, we will be reprising our classic lineup with Todd on bass guitar duty. This means this set will be heavy on the “classic” material.  Our set time:  10:45 / Doors at 9 / $7

http://www.facebook.com/events/181026985352158/

Second:

Thursday June 14th – Rancho Relaxo – TWM Presents NXNE
Here’s what Dan over at TwoWayMonologues had to say about us:

“Papermaps are Toronto’s best band, but they are criminally underrated as so many of Toronto’s show-going music scene are busy chasing after the next hip thing.  Nationally, and even internationally, people are taking notice in a big way about just how great this band is.  Sooner or later Toronto is going to do the same.  If you are going to see one set for NXNE, this should probably be it.”

Thanks Dan!

Our set: 11PM Sharp! $10 at the door.  http://nxne.com/tickets/

Friday June 15th – The Football Factory – SonaBLAST NXNE Party!

Our first ever “open air” concert! The Football Factory 164 Bathurst Street  just south of Queen St.  Come party with us on the Patio!

That’s all for now folks!

-d

CMW Maddness!!! (the recap)

Wow what a week.
Thank you, Toronto (our beloved hometown) for being so fucking amazing and supportive.  We got to play not one but two great CMF/CMW showcases this year.  The first was at the Hardluck Bar (a first for us) and we were thrilled to see you in such great numbers.  Our second showcase was a last-minute add to the amazing CMW finale at Rancho Relaxo.  We were proud to be the last band to play this year’s festival and to such an enthusiastic bunch – kudos to all who stayed behind for last, last call!  We also got to meet some great bands, like the amazing Royal Canoe and Topanga and got to catch up with some good friends like the Elwins.  All and all, a good time.

See you next time, Toronto!

Meanwhile, we have our sights set on you, Ottawa: Zaphod’s this Friday (30th) w/ Fire and Neon & Aardwolf.
Maybe we’ll crash the  Juno Fest while we’re at it!

-d

Happy Halloween!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM PAPERMAPS!

We had too much fun at Wolovick’s 30th B-Day Party/Halloween Bash/P’maps Homecoming! Thank you to the Rancho DEVOtees.   Special thanks to Dan for inviting us to play and The Love Machine and Honheehonhee for being awesome!  We had fun dressing up as DEVO and playing Whip It (one of my life-long fantasies fulfilled!).  Here are some pics of our set (thanks to those who snapped pictures):

http://twitpic.com/77zmv2/full

http://yfrog.com/z/ocioignj

http://twitpic.com/77z3qy

http://twitter.com/#!/atomdivision/status/130486465942663168/photo/1/large

It’s a wild and crazy weekend here in the city!

-dean

Nov 25 @ Rancho Relaxo

Check out this awesome poster for our forthcoming show Thursday November 25th at Rancho Relaxo with Mooseblood and Azores.

Dan Wolovick (of Twowaymonologues.com) says:  “(Papermaps) new album will surface in 2011 and I’ve heard it and it is bloody fantastic. They also are one of the best live indie rock bands in the city. So much more intensity to the new songs and Dean Marino has the best band you could ask for.”
Thanks Dan!

Cover: $5, Doors: 9PM, Mooseblood: 10PM, Papermaps: 11PM, Azores: 12AM

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=171793302846365

Bobby’s Birthday, Shows in November

Thanks Fall — my favourite season — for holding on so long.  It’s a balmy 20 Celsius in Toronto Today with an evening low of 14.  A perfect night for voting (we have a mayoral election in Toronto).  Halloween is just around the corner — looks like the revellers won’t need winter coats over their costumes (let’s hope).

Last Friday we played a secret gig at the Academy of Sciences.  It was secret because it was Bobby’s surprise birthday party!!!  We didn’t want to spoil the surprise by publicly announcing the show.  The Academy of Sciences is also Bo’s house (aka frontman of LA CASA MEURTE).  He was a gracious host, providing his famous handmade tortilla Casa Chips. Great times were had by all the guests because we made Bobby work. What better way for a drummer to celebrate his birthday than by drumming for his two bands? YOUTUBE evidence below (with Bobby doing all the drum duties in Complicate Things)

Enough with the past, let’s talk about the future.  What are you going to be for Halloween?  Who do you think will be elected Mayor of Toronto tonight?  — and/or what do you think will become of our city? Also, we have 2 shows in November:

Tuesday November 9th at the El Mocambo Club (Spadina and College) supporting Will Currie and the Country French and Maurice.  $7.00 (or around there)

Thursday November 25th at Rancho Relaxo (College and Spadina)  with Azores, You and Mooseblood

More info about these shows to come . . .

Last but not least,  we are working on a 7-inch collectible record with Reunion on one side and something else on the other . . . hopefully these will be ready for November 25th!! Hang in there for updates!!!

love and fun,

-dean