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Today (Sunday), I'm taking the day off. I've just had a marvelous 3-night-(indie music)-stand, and I really don't think it will be topped any time soon. Wow. This week I've got a few things to do that should be good fun (at the very least) and fun in a "holy crap" kind of way. On Tuesday I'm going to the Gravity Wave party at the Great Hall. (If you don't already have a spot on the guestlist, you're out of luck.) Thursday, Woodhands is releasing its full-length album, Heart Attack. The disk is fantastic, Woodhands shows are amazing, and I am very much looking forward to this (if not the trek out to Wrongbar). On Friday I'll be at Lee's Palace to go see Hamilton Trading Co. And I might just take the rest of the weekend completely off.
MONDAY (31 mar)
Shoeless Monday feat. Adder @ 11:30, Make Your Exit @ 10:30, and Di Thomas @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, free.
Elvis Mondays presents Danny Vix, Barn Owl, The People of Canada, Human Statues, The Champion Heartache, and Miss Scarlett @ The Drake Underground, 9pm, free.
Groovy Mondays feat. Alfie Smith and JP Reimens @ Mitzi's Sister, free.
Songwriter Series feat. Lindsay Ferguson, Dave Leary, Dave Gaudet, and Meredith Luce @ Supermarket, 9pm.
Marsupial Mondays presents Anna Linda Sidall, Colin Fisher, Katherine Sheng Morrison, and Olenka @ Tranzac (Tiki Room), 9pm, $5.
Bramwell & The Left Overs, Kevin Scott, and Jace P. & The Big People @ Smiling Buddha, 9pm.
The Salads, Obsidian, and Sons & Lovers @ Tattoo Rock Parlour, 9pm, $10.
TUESDAY (1 apr)
Pink & Black present Worst Case Ontario and Troy Sinister @ The Bovine, 9pm.
Isla Craig and Maria Kasstan @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.
The Edge 102.1 Dave Bookman's Nu Music Nite feat. C'mon-Kypski @ 12:00, Crash Parallel @ 11:10, LLIONS @ 10:20, and Major Grey @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, free. Go to this to see LLIONS. It's totally worth it: they'll make your week!
Great Aunt Ida, Pamela Brennan, and Balderdash feat. Dan Goldman @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.
Stacey Burke and David Baxter @ Mitzi's Sister, free.
WEDNESDAY (2 apr)
Brian Arcand & the Tramps @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 10pm.
Thom Gill @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.
Secret Japanese Girlfriend and The Heartbeats @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.
PWYC Wednesdays 1 feat. Guitar, Marco Fiesta, and Matt Bahen (Schomberg Fair, solo set) @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, pwyc.
Ryan Clark, Roman Pilates, and tba @ Smiling Buddha, 9pm, pwyc.
LAUGHstock presents The ORFS w/ YNF and Please Stand By @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.
Band of the Month presents Radius & Helena w/ We Love and The Rival Boys @ Velvet Underground, $5.
Wombat Wednesdays presents Metal Kites, Tusks, and Steve McKay & band, w/ DJ Samir Khan @ Tranzac (Main Hall), 8:30pm, $6.
Braintoy (CD release) @ Tattoo Rock Parlour, 9pm, $5.
Teenage Bottlerocket, The Copyrights, The Vapids, and Roman Line @ Sneaky Dee's, $8.
* Blitzen Trapper w/ Fleet Foxes and Fox Jaws @ El Mocambo (First Floor), 8:30pm, $10 (or $8.50 adv).
In Perfect Cursive w/ Homefront @ Clinton's Tavern, 7:30pm, $10.
THURSDAY (3 apr)
The Von Drats and Christian D. & the HangOvers @ Mitzi's Sister, pwyc.
Chris Bartos @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.
NudE as the nEWs feat. Sandro Perri, Gabe Levine, and Ken Reaume @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.
Rob Lutes w/ Scott Normandy @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 9pm.
Sick Kids Fundraiser feat. William the Conquerer @ 11:30, Wednesday Finist @ 10:30, and Ministry of the Environment @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, $5.
* Woodhands (CD release) w/ Jeff Woods & friends ("Magic and Mentalism"), and The Machetes @ Wrongbar, 9pm, $5.
Treestar w/ Streetlight Light, and Kathleen Turner Overdrive @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $5.
Monotonix, Anagram, Metz, and LSdoubleDcup @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, $7.
Get Bend Records presents The Micronite Filters w/ Cam Clark and Recroom @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.
Carrie Catherine w/ Alanna Stuart @ Supermarket, 9pm, $8.
Buckets Of, Hot Kid, Dead Messenger, and Guest Bedroom @ The Savannah Room, 9pm, pwyc.
The Idlers @ Clinton's Tavern, 8pm.
Kingstar Legal, Annalog, and Yuka @ Smiling Buddha, 9pm.
Black Collar Thursdays feat. The Cockroaches and KC & The Moonshine Band, w/ DJ Stu Dead of Playdead @ The Bovine, 9pm, $5.
Hotboxxx presents Haard @ 11:30, Brane @ 10:45, Captain Starr @ 10:00, Love Freak Dinosaur @ 9:15, and Pinto Publico @ 8:30. Lee's Palace, $5.
Secret Public, The Hunting Horns, and Marion Rahn & the Wayte @ Silver Dollar, 9pm.
Come As You Are Charity Event / Birthday Bash feat. The Lovely Killbots, Whale Tooth, The Danny Nix Band, DKs and Friends, w/ DJs tba @ El Mocambo (Upstairs), $7 (pr $5 w/ non-perishable food item).
VHS or Beta @ El Mocambo (First Floor), 9pm, $10.
FRIDAY (4 apr)
The Screwed @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 10pm.
Luckyfool, Strapless, and tba @ Silver Dollar, 9pm, $5.
Ben Gunning @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.
The Ryan Driver Quartet @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.
The Sleeping Kings of Iona, as part of Rollin' & Scratchin' Open Format Dance Party @ Supermarket, 10pm, $5
SuckerPunch! presents Black Hat Brigade, Styrofoam Ones, and Green Splat @ Teranga, 10pm, $5.
Supernal and Speed of Service @ The Bovine, 9pm, $5.
Indie Pop/Rock feat. Wildlife @ 12:00, Hamilton Trading Co. @ 11:00, and Dregs of Society @ 10:00. Lee's Palace, $5. I'll be here.
The Eradicators, The Calrizians, and Christian D. & the HangOvers @ Smiling Buddha, 9pm.
* TWM presents Megan Hamilton & the Volunteer Canola, Northwest Division, Deromantic, and Ugly Bug Band @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $6.
Local Alternative feat. Hello Beautiful @ 12:30, A Fourth World @ 11:30, Hollow @ 10:30, and tba @ 9:30, The Horseshoe Tavern, $8.
Throw Me the Statue w/ Idle Tigers @ El Mocambo (First Floor), $10.
Sandro Perri and Nat Baldwin @ Tranzac (Main Hall), 8pm, tba.
Duchess Says @ Wrongbar, 8pm, $10.
SATURDAY (5 apr)
The Matches (in-store) @ Criminal Records, 4pm, free.
No Shame presents Great Bloomers, Postcards, and Howl @ The Drake Underground, 7:30pm (early show), $5.
Fleece Elves w/ Saucer and The Holy Fathers @ Smiling Buddha, 9pm.
Owl Eyes & Ghost Bees @ Tranzac (Tiki Room), 9pm, $5.
Thomas @ Cameron House (Back Room), 10pm, pwyc.
The Hunting Horns and Jay Sad @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.
How I Won The War, The Scene @ El Mocambo (First Floor), 9pm, $6.
Arise & Ruin and Redeemer @ The Bovine, 9pm, $5.
Punk & Ghettotech feat. Akroid @ 12:00, Gunnar Rapido @ 11:00, and tba @ 10:00. Lee's Palace, $5.
Cold Dead Hands, as part of Kensington Station @ The Neutral, 10pm, $6.
Plastic Crimewave Sound, The Creeping Nobodies, and Allo Caveman @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, $7.
Alt Rock N Roll feat. Tenth Planet @ 12:30, Hail the Villain @ 11:30, Civil Uprise @ 10:30, and Drive Channel @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, $8.
Rat-drifting presents The Reveries (CD release) @ Tranzac (Main Hall), 9:30pm, $10. Followed by a reggae dance party.
Fundraiser for the Toronto Humane Society feat. Arthur Renwick, Nicole Christian, Unadogg, and Flickershow @ The Savannah Room, 8pm, $10.
SUNDAY (6 apr)
Lazy Sunday Matinee with Alex Lukashevsky @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 2:30pm, pwyc.
Mantler and Jason Benoit @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 5pm, pwyc.
* Wavelength 407 fear. Teenanger, Mahogany Frog, and Everything All The Time (CD release), w/ DJ Islamabad @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, pwyc.
The Woodchoppers Association @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10:30pm, pwyc.
Gather Round feat. Hamilton Trading Co. @ The Boat, 9pm, pwyc.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Indie Music 29.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Ouff.
It's Sunday and I'm pretty tired.
The weekend got started on Thursday (see previous post on that night's activity) and it was all kinds of fantastic. On Friday the guy from California came, we had dinner, and then went to a TWM showcase at Rancho Relaxo to see The Hots, Music for Animals, and Tin Bangs, one of my favourite local acts. Some good friends were in evidence, and the music and vibe were just great. We danced. And then there was the stripper who decided to put on a show. I don't really know what to say about this. At first, we were confused and kinda annoyed---she kept knocking into me! And, no, I don't wanna dance with you!! But then just got one up on us, jumping up on stage during Tin Bangs' set, eventually taking her top off and . . . well, it was crazy. She banged up the California guy's glasses when she, er, jumped on his face. I kid you not. (Her top was back on by this point.)
Anyways. Ridiculous. We left after the music ended, so I'll have to get the goss on what happened later on from people who stuck around.
On Saturday we went to Nathan Phillips Square for some Earth Hour concert featuring Nelly Furtado and a few people I hadn't really ever heard of. It was kinda boring. (Furtado just sang solo, accompanied by a guitar player. It needed to be much more up-beat for me.) I was, I think, a good sport about the whole thing, but I was out of my element. It was the first time I really felt that I had actually turned into one of those people. I don't want to be a snob, but, COME ON! Holy geez. Anyways, as we neared Lee's Palace later that night, I was much happier. Much.
We walked in just as Amos the Transparent was starting up. Excellent timing. They were great. It was awesome to see them up on that big stage. I don't quite know why I like them so much, but I do. A lot. (Frank from Chromewaves told me he'd seen the band first perform with many more musicians on stage. I'd definitely want to see that version of the live act, if possible.) Next up, Katie Stelmanis. I've been curious about her, and I'll get to see her again (solo, I think) in just over a week. Last night she played with her band, including percussionist Maya Postepski. That woman is fantastic. Katie Stelmanis has a nice, interesting voice, but in the end I thought all the songs kinda sounded the same. Maybe in a good way. But it was a bit meh for me, if leaning toward good-meh rather than bad-meh. If you know what I mean. Could be that I'll appreciate her sound better in a different venue.
Basia Bulat headlined the show, and she and her band did not disappoint. I had high expectations, having been impressed with their CBC3 performance at Criminal Records back in December. Bulat is just so incredibly charming and lovely on stage, as well as an excellent songwriter, musician, and singer; it was a marvelous show.
And so, yeah, I'm tired. But really, really happy with how the weekend went. I adore all the indie kids (broadly defined) and musicians I know and see at shows, and I had a great time with the visitor from the west coast.
Friday, March 28, 2008
What a great night of music and people.
Uh, I had a fantastic night. I went to Pitter Patter fest at the Drake, saw a bit of Sister Suvi, Great Bloomers, and the RAA. And then a whole bunch of awesome people performed Neutral Milk Hotel's "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea." There were tons of my friends in the audience (and on stage), and I just loved every minute of it. The RAA are great. I am listening to their new album ("Hometowns") right now. It's better than I imagined it could be. It's SO good.
Ok, calming down now.
But, wow. Thanks everyone!
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Chapter update.
Still slow. 48 pages and counting. I'm trying to take out as many direct quotes as possible. Especially those pesky secondary-source quotes. Those are just unnecessary. But sometimes so hard to divest oneself of! Other people have said smart things, in succinct ways.
It's coming. But I should have worked more on it today. Got distracted by being tired and by talking to JH on the phone for more than 2 hours. I missed her.
California will be here tomorrow!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Annoyed . . . but EXCITED!
I do not always act the best. Occasionally I goof up, act like a bit of an idiot, or just am inappropriate. I tend to recognize it soon thereafter, feel badly about it, and apologize as appropriate. The vast majority of the time, I'm pretty sure, I behave as I should: like a proper human being.
Other people do not. I am willing to forgive stress and misunderstandings. I accept apologies and will forget past transgressions without them easily. I don't hold grudges, except fake ones. Be nice to me, and I'll be nice to you. Heck, I'll be nice to you even if you aren't nice back.
What is wrong with people who, well into their 20s or beyond, behave as if they were moody, bratty, teenage jerks? This is uncool; stop it, please. I was so annoyed with certain people last night that I considered purging them from facebook friend list. But I feel this is childish (even if totally justified: I am under no obligation to be "friends" with anyone), so I won't. I've added a couple names to my list of people who I am disappointed in. They've let me down by their attitudes toward me too many times over the past few months.
In happier news, life continues to be mostly excellent. There's only one more week of tutorials; I came home last night with 23 long papers to grade, but I'll put those off for now; the lecture series is coming to an end in a few weeks; I am making progress on my beastly first chapter; there are TONS of amazing shows coming up in the next few weeks; and the California guy is coming to visit soon.
Here's what I plan to check out between now and early April:
Thursday, 27 Mar. (PPFest) Live performance of Neutral Milk Hotel’s "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea," The Rural Alberta Advantage, Great Bloomers, and Sister Suvi @ The Drake Underground, 8pm, $5. This one will be packed!
Friday, 28 Mar. TWM 13 presents Tin Bangs, Music For Animals (San Francisco), The Hots @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $7. Yay, Tin Bangs!
Saturday, 29 Mar. Basia Bulat, Katie Stelmanis, and Amos the Transparent @ Lee's Palace, 9pm, $10. Fantastic.
Tuesday, 1 Apr. Gravity Wave party @ The Great Hall, 8pm, SOLD OUT. I'm looking forward to this one!
Thursday, 3 Apr. Woodhands (CD release) w/ Jeff Woods & friends ("Magic and Mentalism"), and The Machetes @ Wrongbar, 9pm, $5. Ouff, FINALLY.
Friday, 4 Apr. Indie Pop/Rock feat. Wildlife, Hamilton Trading Co., and Dregs Of Society @ Lee's Palace, 9pm, $5. (And then maybe Megan Hamilton @ Rancho Relaxo.) I have yet to see KH perform with a full band. How fun that now he's playing Lee's.
Tuesday, 8 Apr. Jens Lekman w/ Final Fantasy and Katie Stelmanis @ The Great Hall, 8pm, $20.
Ok, that's enough for now. Better get to making that chapter into something that it isn't: finished!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Play and work.
I took the day off on Saturday. Perhaps not well-deserved, but there you have it. (I am working hard today to make up for it.)
Late in the afternoon I got my haircut. It looked great when the stylist was done with it. Different from before, and I quite like it. Afterwards, I walked along Queen West and then north on Spadina toward the restaurant where I was meeting a new friend for dinner. We had Indian (at Nataraj), which I don't think I've had since FN moved out. It was excellent! I decided to have a vegetarian dish, which I would never have done before now. My new roommate is mostly vegetarian, so I haven't been eating red meat or chicken much recently. When I have had it, it hasn't sat well. It could have been other things, but I didn't want to risk it yesterday. So I might have inadvertently become somewhat of a vegetarian. Sigh . . . but probably better for me, as long as I make sure to get my protein elsewhere.
After dinner, there was time for a bit of a break before meeting MB at Tranzac for a show at which we had spots on the guestlist. We wouldn't have gone otherwise, it being a $10 show featuring The Phonemes---who are fine/good, but generally don't thrill me---and a klezmer musician neither of us had heard of. We were soon glad we went, though. Geoff Berner was fantastic! We laughed and sang along and it was great fun. (MB laughed so hard his face hurt.) A couple other historians happened to be in the audience too, which was neat.
We ended the night at The Neutral, a club in Kensington Market we'd never been to before. I wasn't sure I'd like it, and, well, it was ok. I had a bit of a hard time getting into the music. But there were good people about, so had a decent time.
In dissertation-related news, my first chapter is still not done. But it's coming. I took out the crap, and now it's 43 pages. It'll be longer, I think, after I add in the few sections I still need to write and fix it up for submission to my supervisor. It won't be perfect, but I need to finish what I've been working on, get her opinion on a few things, and then see where I'm at.
I would really like the weather to be less cold, seeing as it's technically spring and all. There's still lots of snow and ice on the ground.
Indie Music 28.
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This is the Pitter Patter Music Festival edition of the listings. I’ve listed everything below, but you can also check the schedule and band list here. It promises to be an excellent bunch of shows! I will be at fest shows on Thursday (the Drake) and maybe Sunday. Friday I’ll be at Rancho Relaxo, and Saturday I’m going to see Basia Bulat, Amos the Transparent, and Katie Stelmanis at Lee’s Palace.
There are no starred shows this week. Keith Hamilton’s PPFest is taking over the city, and all the shows on offer are good (depending on what you like). This is the longest list I’ve compiled in my 28 weeks of doing lists. It’s Pitter Patter’s fault.
MONDAY (24 mar)
Shoeless Monday feat. My Psycho Ex @ 11:30, City Streets @ 10:30, and The Counsellors @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, free.
Elvis Mondays presents The Hounds, Allie Hughes, The Human Statues, The People of Canada, and City Streets @ The Drake Underground, 9pm, free.
Groovy Mondays feat. Darin Yorston and Sweetgrass @ Mitzi’s Sister, pwyc.
Automatic Caution Door and Eiderdown @ Smiling Buddha, 9pm.
Marsupial Mondays presents Erica Werry, Doug Tielli, Eric Chenaux, Aaron Lumley, and Michael Liston @ Tranzac (Tiki Room), 9pm, $5.
Pterodactyl (Brooklyn) and Hot Friends @ Sneaky Dee’s, 9pm, $5.
LiveRockListings presents benefit show for victims of the Queen St. West fire. All kinds of things happening at Holy Joe’s, Kathedral, and The Reverb, w/ and afterparty at Rok Boutique. $10 minimum donation. More info here.
TUESDAY (25 mar)
The See Through Trio @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.
The Edge 102.1 Dave Bookman’s Nu Music Nite feat. Idlers @ 12:00, Cancel Winter @ 11:10, Years of Silence @ 10:20, and Spirits @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, free.
Mike Overton and tba @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.
Tundra Fun @ Mitzi’s Sister, pwyc.
Pitter Patter Nights presents Joel Elliot w/ Trailing and Zilhuminzu @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.
Dave Borins @ Tattoo Rock Parlour, 9pm, $7.
Panther (Panther) w/ Nif_D and Secret Japanese Girlfriend @ Lee’s Palace, 9pm, $8.
WEDNESDAY (26 mar)
Lisa Marie Kruchak @ Renaissance Cafe, 9pm, free.
Laura Burns (CD release) @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 10pm.
Anamorphic Heat and Nobuo Kubota / Jack Vorvis @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.
Local Alternative feat. tba @ 12:00, Silvercade @ 11:10, Guys @ 10:20, and Spygirl @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, $4.
Owle Bird and Teeth of Lions @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.
LAUGHstock presents Pijenhol, Of the Epic, and CayM @ Smiling Buddha, 9pm, $5.
Chris Assaad (ex-I.AN.EYE) w/ Dylan Murray @ Tattoo Rock Parlour, 8:30pm, $8.
Love You Live 3 feat. live performance of Joy Division’s "Last Concert" by Party Wallet (and guests) w/ Love Kills and Invasions @ Velvet Underground, $7.
THURSDAY (27 mar)
Goodness me, there are an awful lot of excellent things to do tonight.
Tripping Hazard, Left of Zero, and Personal Circus @ Mitzi’s Sister, 10pm, pwyc.
Northamorica @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.
Deep Dark United @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.
The Joshua Cockerill Band @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 9pm.
Local Alternative feat. Dirt ’n’ Diamonds @12:30, Playdeaf (CD release) @ 11:30, Revolution Love @ 10:30, and North of Hollywood @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, $5.
Dr. Payne & the Disease @ Concord Cafe, 11pm, $5.
(PPFest) Anagram, The Mark Inside, Lunchmeat, and Salarymen @ Sneaky Dee’s, 9pm, $5.
(PPFest) Live performance of Neutral Milk Hotel’s "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea," The Rural Alberta Advantage, Great Bloomers, and Sister Suvi @ The Drake Underground, 8pm, $5.
(PPFest) Foxfire, Fire Hydrant, Bass Lions, and Reuben O’Dell Barkow @ The Boat, 8pm, $5.
(PPFest) Clothes Make the Man, The Winter Gloves, The Champion Heartache, and Horses @ Teranga, 8pm, $5.
(PPFest) Malcolm Bauld, Ben Somer, Silver Speakers, and Zesty @ The Embassy, 8pm, $5.
(PPFest) The Liras, Fjord Rowboat, and The Craft Economy @ Supermarket, 9pm, $5.
(PPFest) Rangi, tba, and In Support of Living @ The Savannah Room, 9pm, $5.
(PPFest) The Speaking Tongues, Mariposa, and Obviously 5 Believers @ Tiger Bar, 9pm, $5.
(PPFest) Mantler, Maylee Todd, and Blind Mule @ The Central, 8pm, $5.
ZYGIELLA.COM II presents Boxes & Bags, Still life Still, and The Vibrosonics @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $5.
Hot Monogamy, Lipstick Machine, and Vive Quebec Libres, hosted by Grassy Knoll & The Magic Bullit and DADOO @ Smiling Buddha, 9pm, $5.
Black Collar Thursdays feat. Saigon Hookers w/ DJ Stu Dead of Playdead @ The Bovine, 9pm, $5.
Hott Boxx presents Bound, Inoke Errati, Prize Fighter, Kilhuminzo, and Sam Hell @ The Rivoli, 8pm, $5.
LAUGHstock presents Gunnar Rapido, Villains, Worst Case Ontario, and Please Standby @ Clinton’s Tavern, 8:30pm, $5.
Why? w/ Cryptacize @ Silver Dollar, $9.
Edwin & The Forty Five Tension @ Tattoo Rock Parlour, $10. Edwin, yeah.
FRIDAY (28 mar)
If you’re up for something a little different and probably all kinds of great, go to Wavelength’s Kalimba Summit at Tranzac (Main Hall), starting at 7pm. Tickets at $15 at the door, or $12 in advance from Soundscapes. Laura Barrett, whom I absolutely adore, is one of the performers.
The Wilderness @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 10pm.Odyssey, Sonic Avenues, Fleece Elves, and Square Root of Margaret @ Silver Dollar, 9pm.
Nancy Dutra and Hotcha! @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.
Dave Clark’s Woodshed Orchestra and Greg Hambleton @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.
The Independent Truckers Union, Lost at Sea, and tba @ Smiling Buddha, 9pm.
ADA and Easy Way Out @ Clinton’s Tavern, $5.
Ten Kens w/ Young Rivals @ The Drake Underground, 8pm, $5.
(PPFest) Bocce, Beth in Battle Mode, Sleeping Kings of Iona, and TMDP @ Teranga, 9pm, $5.
(PPFest) Pants & Tie, Fire Flower Revue, tba, and Evening Hymns @ The Embassy, 9pm, $5.
(PPFest) Songs from A Room, Burrows, and Acres @ The Savannah Room, 9pm, $5.
(PPFest) Marienbad, Rabbit Season, Great Lenin’s Ghost, and Pink Dead Whale @ Tiger Bar, 9pm, $5.
(PPFest) Knock Knock Ginger, Sports: The Band, and Sean MacDonald @ The Central, 9pm, $5.
Loving In the Name Of feat. a cover band, comedy, and DJs Disappointment, Product Placement, and Strictly Commercial @ The Augusta House (Dundas/Augusta, next to The Boat), 10pm, $5. Details here.
Macro Fiesta @ The Cadillac Lounge, 10pm, $5.
La Casa Muerte @ Concord Cafe, 9pm, $5.
Bombing Neverland (CD release) and Maddison Screams w/ DJ sets by the Darth Virgos AL911 & Patrick Pentland (from Sloan) @ The Bovine, 9pm, $7 (or $15 for the CD too).
We are Wolves and DJ Shit la Merde @ Sneaky Dee’s, 10pm, $7. Oh, la Merde, how I miss you. We’ve had some good times. This sounds like a good party.
TWM 13 presents Tin Bangs, Music For Animals (San Francisco), The Hots @ Rancho Relaxo, $7. I am going to this. Tin Bangs, yes!
Film Jam feat. performances by Man the Destroyer, Everything That’s Fly, Streetlight Light, and Faceless Nameless @ El Mocambo, 8pm, $10 ($8 w/ canned food donation).
Beach House, The Papercuts, and Sing Leaf @ El Mocambo, 9pm, $8.50.
SATURDAY (29 mar)
I will be at Lee’s Palace seeing Basia Bulat, Amos the Transparent, and Katie Stelmanis. You can pick up $10 adv tix at the usual spots. I think it’ll be a good show!
(PPFest) Boo Hoo, Shotgun Jimmie, The Racoon Wedding, and The Guests @ Supermarket, noon, $5.
Seedy Ease @ The Mod Club, 10pm. Get on the guestlist here.
The Swallows and The Erica Werry Band @ Mitzi’s Sister, pwyc.
Songwriters Unite! @ Cameron House (Back Room), 10pm, pwyc. (No details yet on the musicians performing.)
Violet Lyal and Les Kilt @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.
Tres w/ Endsville and Makeda @ Smiling Buddha, 9pm, $10 ($7 adv).
(PPFest) Holoscene, For a Minor Reflection, Now Yr Taken, and Riderless @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.
(PPFest) tba, The Love Machine, Arrows, and Camaromance @ Tiger Bar, 9pm, $5.
(PPFest) Sailboats Are White, For the Mathematicians, Fine Motor Control, and 68 Porno Mags @ Teranga, 9pm, $5.
(PPFest) Idle Tigers, Inside a Mind, The Kettle Black, and Roman Pilates @ The Embassy, 9pm, $5.
(PPFest) Dukes of the Archipelago, Ruby Coast, and Gavin Gardener @ The Drake Underground, 7pm, $5.
(PPFest) OK Cobra, Hush Money, and Terror Lake @ The Central, 9pm, $5.
(PPFest) Boo Hoo, Touch Me Airbourne Plague, and Radius & Helena @ The Savannah Room, 9pm, $5.
Black Hat Brigade, Instruments of Lust & Fury (CD release), Sleep The Season, and Hungry Lake @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $5.
Drunkula and The Pariahs w/ DJ Vania @ The Bovine, 9pm, $5.
(PPFest) Love Kills, followed by Kensington Station @ The Neutral, 10pm, $5.
Sights & Sounds, Dinosaur Bones, and The Junction @ Sneaky Dee’s, 9pm, $8.
The Famous Monsters, The Treblemakers, The Knivings, and The Eradicators @ Silver Dollar, 9pm, $8.
Jim Armstrong & The Sonic Deli Band w/ The Schomberg Fair @ C’est What, $10.
The Weber Brothers w/ The Mississippi Kings @ Cadillac Lounge, 9 pm, $10.
SUNDAY (30 mar)
Lazy Sunday Matinee with Scott Cameron and Friends @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 2:30pm, pwyc.
Hiccup Truck @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 5:00pm, pwyc.
Wavelength 406 feat. Friendlyness & the Human Rights, Geordie Haley’s Everytime Band, Waleed Kush, w/ DJ Jeremiah from superheavyREGGAE @ Sneaky Dee’s, 9pm, pwyc.
Mothring @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10:30pm, pwyc.
Rafe and tba @ Smiling Buddha, 9pm.
(PPFest) Two Minute Miracles, The Minotaurs, Proof of Ghosts, and Hamilton Trading Co. @ The Boat, 7pm, $5.
(PPFest) Sing Leaf and Tom McCammon @ Bread & Circus, 8pm, $5.
(PPFest) Barons & Lengthy, Thousand Dollar Wedding, Tropics, and Les Parallelions @ Teranga, 8pm, $5.
(PPFest) Thee Diet Pills, The Hoa Hoas, and Weird Weather @ The Embassy, 8pm, $5.
(PPFest) The Frequency, Cedar, and The DGB @ The Savannah Room, 8pm, $5.
(PPFest) C-Mon & Kypski, Slow Hand Motem, and Tacoma Hellfarm Tragedy @ The Central, 8pm, $5.
The Isosceles Project, James MacDonald, Street Corner Skandal, and ADA @ Horseshoe Tavern, 8pm, $5. Fundraiser event for OCAD students.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
OPOPO, Green Go, Foxfire, XYZ Affair, The Winks.
Those were the bands I saw and liked tonight. I've seen them all at least twice, except for Brooklyn-based XYZ Affair. (Lauren Schreiber brought them up for the first anniversary of her No Shame series.)
It was fun night. I was at the Drake for the early show, and then MB and I ended up at the Rivoli after a last-minute change of plans. It was a good decision. We caught most of Eden Ants, then stuck around for awesome OPOPO and crazy-fun Foxfire.
Now I need to eat more food.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Doing things.
Life's good these days. I'm making ever so slow and painful progress on my chapter, seeing lots of good music, seeing friends, and the sun in shining! I do need to move faster on all things dissertation, but I think I'm gonna remember what a professor said to me Tuesday evening: "Oh, fourth year. You're ahead of yourself, then." Yes! So the fact that I'd yet to finish a chapter didn't disturb him in the least. Too bad he's no longer on my committee . . . .
I've just bought myself a ticket to go see Jens Lekman and Final Fantasy at the Music Gallery. At just shy of $25, it's a bit pricey for me. But, heck, that's what I paid for Spoon, and this will be so much better! Plus, I love love love music in churches. Yay.
Later today I'm blowing off work to go celebrate No Shame's birthday at the Drake Underground. And then maybe another show after that. So much to do all the time.
In other news, I am currently obsessed with Laura Barrett's music.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Old historians at the college.
Tuesday evening I went to Massey for dinner and a history lecture. All this is fine and good, but I do have some complaints. Having to talk to old professor and other types can be quite exhausting. Even when they're nice and are asking you all kinds of questions about your research. Because then I have to be "on" and be all chatty and pleasant and attempt to sound smart without pretending to be more advanced than I am. I hate to sound pompous. So it's all very exhausting. Plus, because I was chatting I didn't have time to eat all my dinner and then I had to eat dessert, which was full of sugar, which I don't like. And it gave me a headache, and the chairs at Massey are the absolute worst ever. (Except for the ones at the Munk Centre, which are, I think, worse.) And then I felt like my personal space was being invaded just a little bit by the dean I was sitting beside. Sigh.
I came home at 10pm and just couldn't do anything for the rest of the day. I couldn't even fall asleep until many hours later. Annoying. Complain. Just thinking about it again makes me want to have a nap.
Also, and somewhat related: Will the weather stop being weird so that my headache will go away?
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Dissertating makes my hungry all the time.
Really. All this brain work requires constant feeding. I don't understand why.
Also, I believe that Sneaky Dee's is my most favourite place to be at a show. I love it and the indie kids it draws on Sunday nights to pieces.
I gotta go get more food. I've eaten like 6 times today. It's ridiculous. Starving...
Monday, March 17, 2008
Historians and others.
I am being a bad grad student. I need to start being a much better one. Like, now.
Thursday I got sucked into pub night. Friday I went for lunch then couldn't do anything until EH and I went to a show. Then, Saturday, CS, YT, and I went to a housewarming / birthday party. It was super fun! And then at 1am, instead of going home as I should have, MB and I went dancing at the Boat. So much crazy fun. Dance nights at the Boat---with some exceptions---are ridiculously fun. We made friends and had a blast. I got home at 3:30am. Sunday, I finished building my enormous new filing cabinet (4 drawers! legal size!) and then CS and I ordered delivery for dinner (excellent choice) and then, instead of doing work, I went to Sneaky Dee's. But I probably wouldn't have done much work anyways. Not that that's any excuse. I was definitely missing my indie friends. And a bunch of them were out at the Wavelength show, including some of my favourites. I'm glad I went. But I'm not glad I spent so much time over the last several days not working.
Bad me.
Indie Music 27.
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There are good shows this week. I mean, of course there are. But come Friday you might have a hard time choosing.
MONDAY (17 mar)
St. Patrick's Day. You'll probably find green beer, drunken frat boys, and good Irish music in lots of places. For something different, go to the Tiki Room at Tranzac.
Elvis Mondays presents Exploding Band, Steve Singh, The People of Canada, Alphabot!, Ali Hughes, and Hallelujua @ The Drake Underground, 7pm, free.
Groovy Mondays feat. The Rosie Jones Band @ Mitzi's Sister, free.
Marsupial Mondays presents Isla Craig, Mike Smith, and Michael Liston @ Tranzac (Tiki Room), 9pm, $5.
TUESDAY (18 mar)
Good options tonight. I suppose it depends on what you want to do/where you want to be while you listen to good music.
Michael Louis Johnson @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 5:30pm, $5.
The Edge 102.1 Dave Bookman's Nu Music Nite feat. Staylefish @12:00, Anti Q’s @11:10, Jet Black Stereo @10:20, and In Perfect Cursive @9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, free.
CaMp CoMbO @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.
* The Jessica Stuart Few, FM Hi Low, and Moulann @ Mitzi's Sister, pwyc.
Pitter Patter Nights presents Barn Owl @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.
WEDNESDAY (19 mar)
I'd camp out at Tranzac tonight if I were you. Or maybe check out what the deal is with the new Wednesday night album cover shows at Velvet Underground.
Lindi Ortega @ Supermarket, 9pm, pwyc.
The Lovely Killbots and May Jun @ The Cameron House (Back Room), pwyc.
Local Alternative feat. tba @ 12:00, Shadows In Red @ 11:10, The Terns @ 10:20, and Dammien Alexander @ 9:30 (Cd Release). The Horseshoe Tavern, $4.
Andy Swan @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.
The Speaking Tongues w/ Catl (feat. David McMorrow) @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.
Altaira Ambient Night w/ dreamSTATE, Sleep Research Facility, Beta Cloud (Buffalo, NY), This Instrument, Ouroboros, Cauterwall, Toxia, Teratoma, Sighup @ The Renaissance Cafe, 8pm, $5.
Love You Live 2 feat. performances of Neil Young's "Live Rust" and The Who's "Live At Leeds" @ Velvet Underground, $tba.
Kate Fenner w/ Luther Wright @ The Rivoli, 8pm, $10.
THURSDAY (20 mar)
Two Foot Falls w/ Daylight for Dead Eyes and Jesse Labelle @ The Rivoli, 9pm.
Terror Lake, The Blooming Rosebuds, and Thousand Dollar Wedding @ Mitzi's Sister, pwyc.
Arkana Music @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.
Valery Gore @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc,
* No Shame presents Germans, Spookey Ruben, and Sky Shark @ Tiger Bar, 9pm, $5. Yes, Tiger Bar!
Winhara, Picture Sound, Alanna Brown, and The Tom Glenne 5.5 @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.
Tallships, Whale Tooth, Brett Caswell, and Ryan Karam @ Rancho Relaxo, $5. I have enjoyed Whale Tooth.
Mob Mentality @ Silver Dollar, $5.
Black Collar Thursdays feat. The G-Men w/ DJ Stu Dead of Playdead @ The Bovine, 9pm, $5.
Yo! Butter long weekend hip hop dance party launch feat. Ghettosocks w/ DJs Mr Sals and Rob Nice @ Teranga, 10pm, $5.
Joe Sorbara's Other Foot First, Jean Martin, and Evan Shaw @ Somewhere There, 8pm, $6.
FRIDAY (21 mar)
(I think I'm breaking my own rules by starring 6 shows tonight, but, well, there you have it.) There is a lot of good stuff to do tonight. I'll be at the No Shame anniversary party, and once I've had my fill of cupcakes and dancing, will probably head over to Silver Dollar. But it's a difficult decision.
* Raveonettes (in-store) @ Sonic Boom, 6:30pm, free.
The Kensington Hillbilly’s, Meagan Marshall, and Coleen Hodgson @ Mitzi's Sister.
Bellewoods @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.
Matt Lipscombe and tba @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.
** No Shame 1 Year Anniversary Party feat. The Winks, The XYZ Affair, and Green Go @ The Drake Underground, 7:30pm (early show with cupcakes!), $5.
* Chris Eaton (Rock Plaza Central), Key Witness, and Yonder @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $5.
The Class Assassins and Dark Pearl w/ DJ sets by the Darth Virgos AL911 & Patrick Pentland (from Sloan) @ The Bovine, 9pm, $5.
* Pop with Brains 14 presents Foxfire, OPOPO, Eden Ants, and Idlers @ The Rivoli, 9pm, $5. I can confidently recommend Foxfire (Forest) and OPOPO. Not sure how they'll go down at the Rivoli, though. But if you go maybe the vibe will be better there.
Local Alternative feat. Chinese Food @ 12:30, Afterparty @ 11:30, Nightlife @ 10:30, and Slave To The Squarewave @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, $6.
* The Primordials (LP release) w/ The Hi-Risers and The Blue Demons @ Silver Dollar, 9pm, $8. Yippee!
* Old Time Relijun, Rozasia, and The Racoon Wedding @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, $10.
SATURDAY (22 mar)
I haven't starred anything tonight because I just don't know enough to know what's good.
National Keyframe Band, Horse, and Jenny Allen @ Mitzi's Sister.
The Vive Quebec Libres, The Blooming Rosebuds, Lucas Goldman feat. The Sleaze Poles, and Planet Creature @ Cameron House (Back Room), 8pm, pwyc (or $5).
Songs of Jennifer Castle and Josh Thorpe performed w/ Eric Chenaux, Jason Benoit, Allison Cameron, and Marcus Quin @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.
Easy Targets, The DGB, Two Scoops, Jay Spectre, and Left of Zer0 @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $5.
C.C.Voltage and Delinquints @ The Bovine, 9pm, $5.
The Miles as part of Kensington Station @ The Neutral, $6. These guys are great. I have never been to the Neutral; maybe tonight I will go.
T.O. Heavy hardcore thrashers feat. Cursed (CD release) @ 12:30, Career Suicide @ 11:30, 50WattHead @ 10:30, and Living Darkness @ 9:30 w/ DJ Mark Pesci. Lee's Palace. $8.
Geoff Berner w/ The Phonemes @ Tranzac (Main Hall), 9pm, $10.
SUNDAY (23 mar)
James Lamb & Jess Hill @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 5pm, pwyc.
Wavelength 405 feat Lioness, Syntonics, and Minisystem, w/ DJ K.P. Rollintine @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, pwyc.
Gather Round feat. Hamilton Trading Co. @ The Boat, 9pm, pwyc.
The Mighty Gill @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10:30pm, pwyc.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Meh.
I was pretty goo earlier this week, working on my dissertation. But then Thursday happened and I spent hours doing heck knows what---not watching TV or movies, not playing on the internet, not on the phone, not cleaning, not eating, not sleeping, not leaving the house---and then it was time to go do stuff and then I got sucked into history pub night. Friday was different, but equally unproductive. Had lunch out and my body did not agree with the Irish (lamb) stew. And then it was time to go out with EH.
Out we did, but this time not far at all: to Tranzac. We wanted to see the The D'urbervilles and Forest City Lovers. It was double CD release show. And, well, I have some complaints. Not about the musicians. Other things. The sound wasn't fantastic, there were WAY too many people shoving past us, constantly moving (but NOT dancing), and talking over the music. It was all kinds of annoying and frustrating. We were disappointed. But we made the best of it, and ran into some friends in the crowd, and then we went for midnight sushi dinner. And that was good.
I'm on a cleaning bent. My room hasn't looked so spiffy in a long time. It's still pretty dirty, though. And I've got a massive filing cabinet I have yet to build. Best get on that soon.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Listening, dissertating.
I've been doing my best to get my chapter into some sort of shape recently. It's been working, but of course it's far from finished. As I write and edit and move things around and look up information I've been listening to some new music.
MB picked up Woodhands' as of yet unreleased album, "Heart Attack," and it's fantastic. Congrats on it, guys! I will get my own copy at their CD release here in Toronto on 3 April at Wrongbar. (Can't wait!!) I've also finally managed to check out Plants & Animals' "avec/with" EP and their full-length, "Parc Avenue." The latter is a bit weird at times, but overall I quite like it. And then, some of The Acorn's tunes are on heavy rotation on my player, as is Laura Barrett. I'm sad to have missed her performances last week during CMW. I've been in a mood too for Plants & Animals' label-mates, Miracle Fortress. Their "Fives Roses" is great. So looks like it's all Secret City Records and Paper Bag Records for me these days. Totally didn't plan it that way.
And now back to chapter 1. Woodhands will help.
Monday, March 10, 2008
TWM post-CMW show.
I've had some fantastic Sunday nights in this city---think of a handful of crazy-good Wavelength shows---and last night was another one. Dan Wolovick (he of TWM and the booker at Rancho Relaxo) put on a Canadian Music Week after-party. It was one of the best shows I've ever been to, I must say. There were four awesome bands, three of which I just absolutely loved. I had a great big ridiculous grin on my face for a long time.
MB and I somehow managed to arrive at Rancho at exactly the same time, he coming from the southwest, and I from the northeast. And then we headed up the stairs to catch most of Elias' set. The Vancouver-based band had come to town for CMW but had to miss their show because the singer came down with bronchitis. So at least they got a chance to play. I enjoyed the set and would definitely see them again. I must say, though, that I wasn't paying full attention. MB bought their album, he liked them so much.
There was time to chat with the some of my show-going and musician friends, and then The Details (from Winnipeg) started playing. I'd seen them once before (at a Pitter Patter night at the Boat in mid-October), and liked them, but came away without being blown away. Last night, they were great! There were times during their set when there was just me and the music. That rarely happens, that I am made to forget the world around me. Fantastic stuff. Their new album's been getting good press lately, and I'm glad I got a chance to see them again. The band didn't have any disks on hand, so I'll have to make a point to pick one up from them when they play the Boat in April. Can't wait!
The third act of the night was one of my favourite groups, Tin Bangs! How I ever love them. The guys put on an awesome live show, and it was so hard not to dance like crazy. (But I couldn't; my neck is still bothering me a bit.) MB danced hard enough for the both of us, though, I should think. :-) It was so fun for me to see Tin Bangs at Rancho, which is a good venue for them. Well, for me, really. (They should be playing for much bigger crowds!) I'll go see them again at the end of the month: they are headlining at Rancho on the 28th. Yipee!
Finally---could it get any better than this?---The Schomberg Fair. I saw this group at a show back in the fall when it was just me (and a drunk old guy) on the dance floor. And then I enjoyed them at a house party, and have since gotten to know the guys a little bit. Last night was the first time I noticed just how amazing musicians they are. They play high energy rockabilly ballads and are just so much fun. I wasn't sure at first about them playing after Tin Bangs, but it worked well. The small crowd was much appreciative of their performance chops and demanded encores.
What a great night! It's rare that I get to see four bands I really like, and get to hang out with so many good people at a venue I've come to love. Good memories. Grin.
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Indie Music 26.
There are some benefit shows this week for residents of and businesses located on that strip of Queen West destroyed by fire a few weeks back. The first one's on Monday, with good lineups at Holy Joe's and Reverb. I might head over to Holy Joe's. I am a fan of LLIONS and Mariposa.
You know that I've cut out the dance listings, right? There are lots of fun dance parties/DJ nights at the Boat, Sneaky Dee's, Tiger Bar, Clinton's, etc.
This is the six-month anniversary of my listings!
MONDAY (10 mar)
* Queen West Fire Relief Fundraiser feat. bands (see below) plus bake and craft sales @ Reverb and Holy Joe's, 7pm, $10 (sugg. donation).
Holy Joe's:
7:45 - 9am Social/Now Yr Taken
8:30 - Sean Pinchin
9:15 - Speaking Tongues
10:00 - LLIONS
10:45 - Steve Shoe
11:30 - Mariposa
Reverb:
7:30 - Basement Arms
8:15 - Salarymen
9:00 - Thee Diet Pills/Birdweek
9:55 - Anagram
10:50 - Arietta
11:45 - Gone Hollywood
Shoeless Monday feat. The Rebellion @ 11:30, Jackfish River @ 10:30, and Deathstyle 666 @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, free.
Elvis Mondays feat. Chasing Sam, Major Grey, Flying Eyes, Boxes & Bags, The Labour Of, and The People Of Canada @ The Drake Underground, 9pm, free.
Groovy Mondays feat. Shawn Creamer, Elana McMurtry, and Ian Phlip @ Mitzi's Sister, free.
Marsupial Mondays presents Steve McKay @ Tranzac (Tiki Room), 9pm.
LAUGHstock presents Soul.Rebel.Sound, Dances With Wolves, W!nslow, and Amelia @ Smiling Buddha, 9:30pm, $5.
TUESDAY (11 mar)
The Edge 102.1 Dave Bookman's Nu Music Nite feat. Vesta Varro @ 12:00, Low Level Flight @ 11:10, Awake & Dreaming @ 10:20, and Auto Pilot @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, free.
Automatic and Tommorow We Die @ The Bovine, 9pm, free.
Craig Smith and The Stars Here @ Mitzi's Sister, free.
Matt Newton Trio @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.
Al Tuck @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.
WEDNESDAY (12 mar)
The Mighty Gill @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.
Local Alternative feat. tba @ 12:00, Hey There Pilgrim @ 11:10 (CD release), Playmaker @ 10:20, and Zabeth D’Kos @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, $4.
Boulder, The Medium Mood, Whiskey Priest, and Hooray Henry @ Teranga, 9pm, $5.
James Everett (Methus Bound), Amy Pitt, and Ida Maidstone @ Smiling Buddha, 9pm, $7 ($5 for students). Fundraiser show for PETA.
Love You Live: The Velvet Underground's "Live At Max's Kansas City" performed by The Beauties and friends @ The Velvet Underground, $7.
Pitter Patter Nights presents The Liras and Jordan Fine @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.
* School of Language, I Spies, and Pants and Tie @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, $8. (I'm breaking my own rules: this requires adv tix.)
Ministry Of The Environment w/ Jadea Kelly and Mike Glendon @The Rivoli, 9pm, $5.
* The Weather Station w/ Sandro Perri and Eric Chenaux @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.
THURSDAY (13 mar)
BC 3000 and Sonic 500 @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.
ex-Ontario Power Generation @ Mitzi's Sister. Nice! Excellent rockers.
The Beatles, Ethel & The Mermen, and The Dubterraneans @ Smiling Buddha, 9:30pm.
Local Alternative feat. These Three Cities @ 12:00, Sunlit Ambush @ 11:10, Living Room @ 10:20, and Hoolie Snatch @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, $4.
Max Galactic, Cloud Evil, Josh Penslar, and Urban Symphony @ El Mocambo (Upstairs), 8pm, $5.
Hotboxxx presents Loudlove @ 11:45, In Transit @ 11:00, Twenty 6 Hundred @ 10:15, The Kids @ 9:30, and Leighton Bain @ 8:45. Lee's Palace, $5.
TWM presents William The Conqueror w/ Printing Press, Construction & Destruction, and Deadbeat Dads @ Rancho Relaxo, 8:30pm, $6.
Black Collar Thursdays presents The Famous Monsters w/ DJ Stu Dead of Playdead @ Bovine Sex Club, 9pm, $5.
Metal Kites and Nick Zubeck, w/ comedy by Kathleen Phillips @ The Boat, 9:30pm, $5.
The Ugly Bug Band @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.
FRIDAY (14 mar)
No Shame presents Songs From A Room, Brent Randall & His Pinecones, and B.A. Jonston @ The Drake Underground, 7pm (early show), $5.
Doc Dailey and William & Polly @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30 pm, pwyc.
Pink Dead Whale, North Amorica, and Maylee @ Mitzi's Sister, 9pm, free.
The Creeps and The Outbred Inlaws @ 751, free.
Ronley Teper & Her Lipliners @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.
T.O. Mega Metal feat. Ash Lee Blade @ 12:00, Cauldron @ 11:00, and Curses @ 10:00, w/ host Kayvon of Kayvon TV. Lee's Palace, $5.
Knee Deep In Squaresville Zine First Anniversary Party! w/ Buzz Deluxe and Alistair Christl @ Smiling Buddha, 8pm, $5.
Babylon Telecom w/ We Love, John Kameel Farah, Subscript, Nemo Burbank, and Antimaximum @ The Gladstone Art Bar, 9pm, $5.
TWM presents The Cheap Speakers w/ The Dress Whites and Sitcom @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $6.
* Double CD release feat. The D'Urbervilles and Forest City Lovers @ Tranzac (Main Hall), 8pm, $8 (or $7 adv).
The Lights, Everlea, Matthew Johnson @ El Mocambo (First Floor), 8:30pm, $7.
Hair Police w/ Disguises, Fossils, and Gastric Female Reflex @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, $8.
In Your Face RAWK! feat. C’MON @ 12:30, Rammer @ 11:30, Starvin Hungry @ 10:30, and Zuku @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, $10.
Trigger Effect and Chameleonize w/ DJ sets by the Darth Virgos AL911 and Patrick Pentland (from Sloan) @ The Bovine, 9pm, $10. "The proceeds of this night will be donated to the fire victims of Queen Street West." The Bovine's also having a benefit ($20 cover) on Saturday. Details on their website.
The Parkdale Revolutionary Orchestra @ The Music Gallery, 8pm, $10.
SATURDAY (15 mar)
Paul Linklatter (CD release) w/ Claire Jenkins Avec Band @ Tranzac (Main Hall), 7pm, $tba.
Greg Hobbs Band, Nick Rose, and Nancy Dutra @ Mitzi's Sister.
The Knifings and tba @ Smiling Buddha, 9:30pm.
Saturday Night Live launch party feat. Lipstick Machine @ 8:30 and Purr @ 9:30. Velvet Underground, $5.
Local Alternativeeat. Julia Set Generator @ 12:30, Tenth Planet @ 11:30, The Ryde @ 10:30, and Struggle Fish @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, $6.
The Craft Economy (as part of Kensington Station) @ The Neutral, $6.
Holloywood Swank, Maximum RNR, West End Riot, and Vilipend @ Sneaky Dee's, $5.
$100, Party Time, and The Youngest @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.
Matthew Pencer's Setbacks Quartet @ Not My Dog, 10pm (two sets), free.
Proposterous, Poisonous Glass, and Nagasaki @ Silver Dollar, $7.
Fake Reality, Blood Theory @ El Mocambo (First Floor), 8:30pm, $10.
SUNDAY (16 mar)
Lazy Sunday Matinee w/ Brodie West and Brent Tanemura @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 2:30pm, pwyc.
David Malach @ Smiling Buddha, 9:30pm.
Wavelength 404 (co-presented with No Shame) feat. PDF Format, Rouge, and One Heart Many Hands, w/ DJ Ruby Petunia @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, pwyc.
Gather Round w/ Doc Dailey and Hamilton Trading Co. @ The Boat, 9pm, pwyc.
Full Irish Breakfast @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10:30pm, pwyc.
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Better.
My neck still hurts a bit, but it's much better today. I no longer suffer from momentary bouts of agony. So, good. I had planned on skipping out of the last night of Canadian Music Week, but I also had to cut out all the awesome in-store performances that were on today. This is quite unfortunate, but better to have stayed in than risk damaging myself even more.
CS and did go out for a bit in the snow to acquire fish & chips from Chippy's. Oh, yum.
Sunday night, I am meeting MB to take in The Details, Tin Bangs, and The Schomberg Fair. Yay, fun. But probably no dancing for me. Sad, that.
Boo.
I had to miss my Friday night plans. I pinched a nerve in my neck in the afternoon, and have been more or less out of commission for the past several hours. Ouch.
Friday, March 07, 2008
Yay Sloan yay!!
Last night I partook in Canadian Music Week, going to the Murderecords label re-launch showcase at Supermarket.
CS and I got to Supermarket in time to catch most of Will Currie and the Country French's set. Those kids impressed us. After a trip to the bar---water for me, of course---we headed near the front for Pony Da Look. At first, my basic thought was, "weird," but then the group grew on me and soon enough I had a huge grin on my face and was dancing like a fool. I loved it. Chris, the lead singer of Sloan, kept brushing past us with a video camera. So far the night had been totally worth the $13.68 it cost.
Fellow historian LS showed up in time for Meligrove Band, a group I'd been wanting to see for several months. They (as a three-some last night) were great! I'll have to see them again for sure. And then... SLOAN! Oh wow. These guys are ridiculously hot for 40 (actually or nearly) year-old guys. They rocked out, and it was awesome! During the encore, Robbie from Tin Bangs hopped up on stage (invited) and performed with the band. He told me later Sloan is his favourite band ("and always will be"), so how fun is that for him, eh? Excellent.
I had been quite disappointed in the crowd---there were no more than 200 people there---but it livened up a bit for Sloan's set. Which is good, because damn. Still, the women who took up the two rows in front of us just basically stood still the whole night. CS and I couldn't understand what was wrong with them. This was a rock show, people: dance! Or at least bop a bit. Geez. [Correction: Laura "was front row and dancing!" :-)]
Yay Sloan! Super fun show, Murderecords. Thanks!
Tonight: the Drake, assuming I get in.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Hard time getting work done.
I've been having somewhat busy afternoons, followed by being tired and not particularly wanting to work on my dissertation. But this just won't do: I have a chapter to write! I'm gonna see what I can do to get over this problem, because I really do want to get my first chapter done. It's shaping up, but there's still a lot of work do to.
Otherwise, I'm gearing up for a busy weekend of show-going. Tonight, CS and I have tickets to see Sloan, Meligrove Band, and two others at Supermarket. That will be one extremely packed show. Should be fun! Tomorrow, I'm heading to the Drake for the Paper Bag Records showcase w/ favourites Woodhands, Laura Barrett, and others. (Woodhands is on the cover of eye weekly!) I haven't seen PB in so long, and MB and I haven't done a show in a while too---we've both been sick---so Friday promises to be good for all sorts of reasons. Even if the sets are crazy-short.
Today I have some errands to run this afternoon, and then I hope to get some work done!
[Photo source: eye weekly.]
Monday, March 03, 2008
On Saturday I went to No Shame at the Drake with JH to see the debut of the Gravity Wave band. First up was Burn Planetarium. They were good, but I wasn't paying a lot of attention. Had to catch up with friends in the crowd. But we decided to move up to the front for The Magic. And, oh wow. My, were those kids ever fantastic! Surprisingly interesting music, very dance-y, and their whole schtick I completely bought into. I will definitely see them again. And again. (Actually, I sorta, kinda did already. I went to Soundscapes on Sunday to get concert tickets, and the woman who sold me them was Sylvie from the band! We recognized each other right away. Random.)
Gravity Wave's set was ridiculous amounts of fun for me. I knew most of the songs, but from Ken's Nintendo-iPod days with Tom. I enjoyed the new arrangements, and the energy coming from the stage. So I danced like a complete fool, as is to be expected. Lots of good people came out to see them play too, so that was an added bonus. Fun times. The CD release is on April Fool's Day. (I think that's when the "movie" [I was an extra in] will debut too.)
After the show---it ended at 11pm---LS, BH, and I went to Rancho Relaxo for a TMW showcase to catch Ruby Coast. (LS manages them.) I'd seen them before at Tiger Bar, and had been impressed. Saturday night they were just great. I enjoyed their set immensely. Couldn't stay too long up at the front, though: there was moshing going on. But a young band will have a young fan base, so whatever. Everyone was having a good time, well, except for one guy who looked super unimpressed. Haha. These kids are going places, and fast. Ruby Coast: go see them.
After their set I found two guys in the crowd who looked completely out of place. As in, they didn't look 18 and they weren't making out and generally acting ridiculous. So of course I had to go talk to them. Apart from paying attention to Ruby Coast, I gotta say I spent all my time at the Rancho chatting with people. Fun. It really is a good place to see a show.
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Indie Music 25.
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There are LOTS of shows this week. Because it's Canada Music Week. I'm not even gonna try to list the shows that are part of it. You can check the (very long, but therefore complete) listings on the CMW website, or else see Zoilus' recommendations in the Gig Guide. I'll list a few things that are $10 or less, and that I think might be fun. Check the other sites if you are keen on taking part in the, er, week. I will be at the Sloan/Meligrove Band show on Thursday, the Paperbag Records showcase at the Drake on Friday, and at Rancho Relaxo on Sunday. The hardest day to pick an event (for me) was Thursday.
This week is chock-full of free in-store performances at Criminal Records, Sonic Boom, and Soundscapes. Those are the first items to appear in the listings below. In-stores are awesome. Definitely check one out if you can.
MONDAY (3 mar)
Shoeless Monday feat. Hue @ 11:30, Monday Rose @ 10:30, and Somastate @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, free.
Elvis Monday feat. The Human Statues, GIRAGIRA.gif, The People Of Canada, Angel Peer, and National Exit Strategy @ The Drake Underground, 9pm, free.
Groovy Mondays feat. Mike Alviano, Big Rude Jake @ Mitzi's Sister, free.
Marsupial Mondays presents Andy Swan, Stacy Burke, and Lesley Hoyles @ Tranzac (Tiki Room), 9pm, $5.
TUESDAY (4 mar)
* Dave Bookman's Nu Music Nite feat. Major Maker @ 11:30, Great Bloomers @ 10:30, and Lightspeed Champion @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, free.
Pink and Black presents The State of Things and The Rotten @ The Bovine, 9pm, free.
Great Aunt Ida, Ford Pier, and Balderdash feat. Dan Goldman @ Tranzac (Tiki Room), 9pm.
Slowly Slowly, Liz Hysen, and Anna Linda Siddall @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.
The Wisk @ Smiling Buddha, 9:30pm.
GSG Showcase feat. Clare Love, The Humbles, Paul Kolinski, and The People Of Canada @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 9pm, $6.
Bush League, Slim Twig, and Cheveu, w/ comedy by Nick Flanagan and DJs Jeremy Finklestein and Christopher Sandes @ The Boat, 9pm, $6.
WEDNESDAY (5 mar)
* Bon Iver (in-store) @ Soundscapes, 4pm, free. Fantastic!
Daryl Lamoreux @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.
Corbin Murdoch, Kent McAlister, and The Gruff @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.
Local Alternative feat. Ryan McMahon @ 12:00, Parker @ 11:10, Paul Disalle @ 10:20, and Red Roses Black @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, $4.
Caitlin Burgess, Makita Hack and the Log Rollers, and Ghostwalk Creek @ Smiling Buddha, 9:30pm, $5. This is a fundraiser show for Evergreen (Yonge St. Mission, street youth programs).
See Spot Run w/ The General Staff @ Supermarket, 9pm, $7.
Shitt Hottt, Dinosaur Bones, The Speaking Tongues, and Little Foot Long Foot @ Tattoo, 9pm, $5.
LAUGHstock presents Still Life Still, Alphabot!, and Please Standby We're Having Technical Difficulties @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.
THURSDAY (6 mar)
Immaculate Machine (in-store) @ Soundscapes, 5pm, free.
Jenny Omnichord (in-store) @ Criminal Records, 6pm, free.
The Burning Hell (in-store) @ Criminal Records, 6:30pm, free.
Matthew Barber (in-store) @ Sonic Boom, 7pm, free.
Marco Solo @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7pm, pwyc.
Capital Grass & The No Men, Leonids, and The Donefors @ Mitzi's Sister, pwyc.
Nude as the News feat Dan Mangan, Samir Khan, and Sandro Perri @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.
Pitter Patter Nights presents Bridges To Dreams and The Yage Letters @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.
* Chart Showcase feat. Oh No Forest Fires @ 2:30, Sunparlour Players @ 1:10, The Acorn @ 12:10, Plants & Animals @ 11:10, Katie Stelmanis @ 10:10, Dog Day @ 9:20, and Immaculate Machine @ 8:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, $10 ($9 adv). This is a great lineup.
* Misteur Valaire, Camouflage Nights, The Cansecos, The Russian Futurists, and OPOPO, w/ DJs until 4am @ Sneaky Dee's, 8:30pm, $10. Up for a dance party?
Harvard Broadcasting and X92.9 present Alberta Xposed feat. Secret Broadcast @ 10:00, Jane Vain & The Dark Matter @ 11:00, The Rocky Fortune @ 12:00, Hot Little Rocket @ 1:00, and Rebekah Higgs @ 2:00. The Silver Dollar, $10 ($8 adv). Also good.
FRIDAY (7 mar)
Winter Gloves (in-store) @ Criminal Records, 6pm, free.
Plants & Animals (in-store) @ Criminal Records, 7pm, free.
Attack In Black (in-store) @ Sonic Boom, 7pm, free.
The Two-Minute Miracles and Share @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.
(weework) showcase feat. Jenny Omnichord @ 9:00, Ox @ 10:00, The Burning Hell @ 11:00, The United Steel Workers of Montreal @ 12:00, Proof of Ghosts @ 1:00, and Tokyo Sex Destruction @ 2:00. The Silver Dollar, $10 ($8 adv).
* Paper Bag Records showcase feat. Skratch Bastid @ 1:30, Woodhands @ 12:45, Winter Gloves @ 12:00, Slim Twig @ 11:15, Laura Barrett @ 10:30, Tropics @ 9:45, and Huckleberry Friends @ 9:00. The Drake Underground, $5.
SATURDAY (8 mar)
* Laura Barrett (in-store) @ Soundscapes, 4pm, free. Excellent!
Calm Down It's Monday (in-store) @ Criminal Records, 5pm, free.
Julie Doiron (in-store) @ Criminal Records, 5:30pm, free.
The Superfantastics (in-store) @ Criminal Records, 6:10pm, free.
Dog Day (in-store) @ Criminal Records, 6:40pm, free.
The Key Witness, The Hunting Horns, Nich Worby, Owl Eyes, and Fraser Gielen @ Tranzac (Main Hall), 7pm, $6. This is a fundraiser event for OCAD students.
* Slowcoaster @ 9:00, Tokyo Sex Destruction @ 10:00, Fox Jaws @ 11:00, Cancel Winter @ 12:00, and Beth In Battle Mode @ 1:00. Rancho Relaxo, $10 ($8 adv).
Nina Nielson and The Woolly Leaves @ Tranzac (Main Hall), 10pm, pwyc
Demon's Claws, The Nymphets, and Ugly Stick, w/ DJ Mark Pesci @ Wrongbar, 8pm (early show), free.
NeXT-at-CMW feat. The Superstitions @ 8:15, The Unionist Ministers @ 9:00, Jason Kent & The Crystal Lake @ 10:00, Black Hat Brigade @ 11:00, Radius & Helena @ 12:00, Put The Rifle Down @ 1:00, The Mark Inside @ 2:00. The Silver Dollar, $10 ($8 adv).
Daft Punk Tribute feat. The Daft Punk Tribute Band, Yuka, and Ketch Harbour Wolves @ El Mocambo (Upstairs), 9:30pm, $10.
Dengue Fever @ Sneaky Dee's, 10pm, $10, followed by Fuck Faces dance party, 1-4am.
SUNDAY (9 mar)
Lazy Sunday Matinee with Olenka @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 2:30pm, pwyc.
* Forest City Lovers (in-store) @ Soundscapes, 4pm, free.
Greg Hambleton and tba @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 5pm, pwyc.
Wavelength 403. feat Slow Six and Naw, w/ DJ Matt Blair @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, pwyc.
Gather Round w/ Hamilton Trading Co. @ The Boat, 9pm, pwyc.
Sandbox @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10:30pm, pwyc.
Two Scoops and tba @ Smiling Buddha, 9:30pm, $5.
* The Schomberg Fair, Tin Bangs, The Details, and Elias @ Rancho Relaxo, 8pm, $5. Yes. This is one of the shows I'm most looking forward to this week. The last two bands are two of my favourite local acts, and I'm keen on seeing The Details (from Winnipeg) again.
Mouthus, Axolotl, Almost Blue Sunshine, and Roman Pilates @ Tiger Bar, 9pm, $8.
Quick update before bed.
Friday was busy with school things, and then I decided to stay in that night---there were too many good shows on; I couldn't decide which one to go to! I'm going to attempt to get more work done on my chapter this weekend. But of course shows are interrupting. I need to be more efficient.
If I feel up to it, I'll write more about the two shows I hit up Saturday night: No Shame at the Drake and TWM at Rancho Relaxo. Good times.
