Indie Music 1

I am going to post weekly event listings---i.e. shows I may go see in the indie(ish) scene. Here's the first edition.

Toronto's indie music scene is my new hobby, so I'm just getting to know my way around. And I don't like paying more than $5 for a show. Here are my plans for the next few days. Call or e-mail me if you'd like to meet up.

WEDNESDAY

A few history profs will be in attendance at this show in Kensington Market: Bill Colgate, Cam MacInnes and Joe Gaitanis at Graffiti's (170 Baldwin), 7-9pm. Pay what you can. I may check it out.

Bill Colgate & The Urbane Guerillas is Bill Colgate, Cam MacInnes, Shiraz Tayyeb, and Joe Gaitanis.

THURSDAY

I have to spend some time at the Pour House with history people (fun!), but will likely head down to Tiger Bar later on for No Shame. This is the weekly Thursday $5-cover indie music night in the basement of the College Street Diner (College at Lippincott). This week's lineup includes LLions, Nich Worby, Oh No! Forest Fires, and The People of Canada. I've seen LLions
before. They are young and pleasant. And I'm curious about Oh No! Forest Fires, a new band with Rajiv, the entertaining bass player from Five Blank Pages. From the event description:

The People of Canada: tongue in cheek ukelele boogalooist

LLions: Toronto's young newcommers play New Pornographer's style harmony ladden pop... sweet as pie

Nich Worby: Dimple-cheeked Kingston songster writes melodies to make girls' swoon

Oh No! Forest Fires:
Members of The Primordials, Five Blank Pages INAUGURAL show! indie rock at it's finest and freshest

Doors open at 9pm, but the music will probably start later than that. (The last band's set time is 12:45am.) Did I mention that I love Tiger Bar? For more on this great venue, including instructions on how to find it, see this article.

Or, if you aren't a historian . . . head over to the Drake Underground for Foxfire Forest---fun, danceable, definitely recommended---with Europe In Colour and Great Bloomers. This is the Breast Bash benefit show. $5, 9pm.

FRIDAY

***Woodhands and BoyBallz at the Silver Dollar Room, which is on Spadina just north of College. I've been looking forward to this show since the last time I saw Woodhands perform . . . which was last Tuesday at the Drake Underground. This duo (plus vocalist Maylee Todd from the Adorables) is AMAZING live; you can get a sense of their sound by listening to a few of their tracks online. Come ready to dance! Everyone I've taken to see Woodhands has been blown away by them. BoyBallz is loud, wild, and crazy fun. AND, there's a history department connection to one of the band members. Cover is $6, doors open at 10pm, but the music probably won't start until 11pm or so.

If you want something less intense, go see Hunter Valentine at the Rivoli, $6. Better yet, go dancing at the Boat in Kensington Market (Step Ball Hustle, free before 11, presumably $5 after). This is what I'd be doing but for my love of Woodhands. I've had a blast dancing to one of the featured DJs on two separate occasions, and the Boat is a great venue. It's upstairs at 158 Augusta. In fact, maybe you'll see me there after the Silver Dollar show . . . .

SATURDAY

Tonight I'll probably head over to the Boat. $5 will get you in to Zoi Zoi, the monthly French dance party. I've never been. More here.

If dancing's not your thing (yet!) go to the Horseshoe Tavern (Queen at Spadina) to see These Electric Lives w/ Everything All the Time, Fighter/Lover, and Love Machine. $8, "Indie Brit Pop." See this interview for more on Everything All the Time.

Or, historian JRS suggests Basia Bulat's CD release at the Music Gallery. JRS says she is "folksy and great." More details, including ticket information, here. And also see this article.

SUNDAY

I'm staying in, but if you're into loud music and $5 covers, check out Laughstock at the Boat, or Wavelength at Sneaky Dee's (College at Bathurst), another great indie venue. See here and here for more details about these series and the bands performing.

WANT MORE INFO?

Musicologist -- and other music-related postings on Torontoist, a useful blog
blogTO -- has regular music postings
Now Weekly listings -- scroll down to "Live Music at the Clubs," and go back later in the week to see listings for the coming weekend

Am I missing something indie, fun, and cheap? Let me know!