Poster by Jesjit Gill
1.
The Toronto record label that launched the careers of Owen Pallett, Fucked Up, and members of Austra is shuttering its doors after more than 12 years and 76 official releases.
Founded by Steve Kado and Mark McLean in a dorm room in 2003, Blocks Recording Club (often stylized as “□□□□□□”) was a supportive home for experimental musicians operating in many different disciplines, from the gentle indie-pop of The Phonemes, to the brazen party-rap of Ninja High School. One of Blocks’ core mandates was to celebrate the city of Toronto, made clear not only in keeping its catalogue Megacity-centric, but through the overtly assured and definitive 2004 label compilation Toronto Is The Best.
With the slogan “Don’t Try, Do!,” Blocks always operated as more of an artistic community than a conventional record label, ultimately incorporating as a worker's cooperative. According to the BRC website, Kado’s mission statement was to “to work together as a musical community to help each other to record and release music that we as a community generate.” Blocks existed in Toronto as a well-kept secret for the most part, but the collective received widespread attention across Canada after releasing the inaugural Polaris Prize-winning album He Poos Clouds by Final Fantasy (Owen Pallett). The final album to be released by Blocks Recording Club is 2013's Pity Slash Love by Prince Nifty.
Now, it’s time to celebrate Toronto with Steve Kado and Blocks Recording Club one more time. Catch Nifty, Austra, The Barcelona Pavilion, Bob Wiseman & Liz Hysen, The Phonemes, Matias, Ninja High School, and Les Mouches performing at the Final Blocks Concert on Saturday May 19th. Doors are at 6:00PM, and admission is PWYC, $15 recommended.