TODDLA T was in town this weekend as part of his whistle stop Canada-US tour. It was one of those “summer’s officially over” sort of days. There was rain. There were howling winds (the kind of that whips girls’ hair in every direction at once and causes empty garbage cans to roll about). It was cold. It didn’t make any sense. Nobody cared.

The jam was part of a Ninja Tunes showcase at Piknic Électronik, an electronic music event held every Sunday in a park (Parc Jean Drapeau), on an island (Île Ste-Hélène), minutes from downtown Montreal. The lineup was commendable. The homie Ghost Beard was there (his 9-months pregnant wife booty-shaking all the while). Shuttle (a fantastically pertinent dj who happens to be Passion Pit‘s drummer) played a murderous set. TODDLA came on last and went all in. Kids were all bounce and smiles, like it wasn’t the end of summer at all, and eight months of winter weren’t just around the corner. Good music, like love, can make you blind.

“C’était magique!” I overheard some French Canadian girls telling each other afterwards, grinning giddily under guerilla-style scarves and hoodies.

Clouds of tiny moths with long beige wings conglomerated around speakers and flood lamps, occasionally diving into drinks.

“Those girls said that was magical,” I told him.

He laughed, and rolled his eyes a little. “In a past life – yeeears ago – that’s what they used to say every morning,” he said.

Coming from a 25 year-old, I though that was very amusing.

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So here are some pictures I took earlier in the day, during a sunny break. TODDLA was sharing a track, which he’d starting putting together in his hotel room that afternoon, with Jillionaire (aka Trini Chris). It was a hard (and hilarious) remix of Gyptian’s Hold Yuh. Prior to sliding underneath those headphones, I felt like I’d already settled on a couple favourite version of the summer banger. (Like Major Lazer’s, and Uproot Andy’s Los Rakas “Abrazame” remix, if you need to know.) But if TODDLA ever releases that one, I’ll have to make room in my heart to squeeze one more. It’s silly good.

TODDLA’s tour continues for a few more days, zigzagging across the Canada-US.
I’d say catch him while you can.

8 Sept. 2010 – Vancouver – Fortune Sound Club

9 Sept.2010 – Calgary

10 Sept. – San Diego  – House of Blues

11 Sept. – Toronto – Wrong Bar