Indie Music 35.

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Welcome to my weekly roundup of inexpensive indie(ish) musical happenings in downtown Toronto. I try to list as many shows here as I know about, though with a preference for listing those happening at venues I especially like, or featuring performers I know something about. This list is thus not comprehensive. In addition, I rarely list shows that cost $10 or more, and never ones that require advance ticket purchases. If I'm missing something or you have any comments, let me know.

Last week I saved up my energy for two late nights at Rancho Relaxo, to celebrate TWM's 1-year anniversary and see 6 great bands and lots of musicians and show-goers out in support. There was also time to catch The Sleepless Nights (Halifax) and The Details (Winnipeg) at the Drake Saturday night. This week I'm going to see bands I haven't yet. This is how one discovers new music.

Clearly there are lots of venues that never (or hardly ever) make it on this list. I tend not to list residencies---there are too many---and skip out on good places like the Dakota Tavern just because I can't get up the energy to list stuff that happens there. There's lots to do, and if you don't see anything you like on my list, there's still a whole lot more things to do. Check the local weeklies for more suggestions.

MONDAY (12 may)

Angela Bower @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7pm, pwyc.

* Elvis Mondays presents Leif Vollebekk, Broomfiller, and more @ The Drake Underground, 9pm, free. I was introduced to Leif Vollebekk at a No Shame show, and oh my he made an impression. His set was magical. Let's hope he's got CDs with him this time around.

Shoeless Monday feat. Earth Tone @ 11:15, Murder City Sparrows @ 10:15, and Nathan Carrol @ 9:15. The Horseshoe Tavern, 8:30pm, free.

Groovy Mondays feat. Matt Epp and Trevor Caswell @ Mitzi's Sister, 9pm, pwyc.

Marsupial Mondays presented by Eric Chenaux feat. Kelly Hood and The Allison Cameron Band @ Tranzac (Tiki Room), 9pm, $5.

Quartet Abstract w/ Robin Jessome and Eiderdown @ Smiling Buddha, 8:30pm, $5.

TUESDAY (13 may)

The Edge 102.1 Dave Bookman's Nu Music Nite feat. The Killin' Time Band @ 11:40, Mardeen @ 10:50, Craig Smith & The Saints @ 10:00, and Danielle Duval @ 9:10. The Horseshoe Tavern, 8:30pm, free. Mardeen are playing all over town this week.

Ronley Teper's Lipliners (2 sets) @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm & 11:30pm, pwyc.

Ann Chaplin, Sarah Burton, and Jesse Labelle @ Mitzi's Sister, 9pm, pwyc.

Pink and Black presents El Riot, Nikkis Trick, and Proposterous @ The Bovine, 9pm, free.

CaMp CoMbO @ Gladstone Hotel (Melody Room), 9pm, pwyc.

An Evening of Short Films & Music feat. "The Door" (8:15pm), "The Boy and His Wolf" (9:30pm), and performances by Kansas City Shuffle, Lee Serviss, and Glory Glory Hallelujah @ Supermarket, 7pm, free.

The Elephant, Adi, Retro Radio, and Gusto Basketcase @ Not My Dog, 9pm.

WEDNESDAY (14 may)

Valery Gore @ Young-Dundas Square, 12:30pm, free.

Chris Warren & Band w/ Erika Werry @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.

Superliminal Sound feat. John Kameel Farah and MN-L w/ DJing and dub effects by Babylon Telecom @ IV Lounge (326 Dundas St. W), 9pm, pwyc.

Tundra Fun and The Ory No'man Too @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

Local Alternative feat. Prodigal Suns @ 11:40, Zabeth D’Kos @ 10:40, Monday Rose @ 10:00, Shadows In Red @ 9:10. The Horseshoe Tavern, 8:30pm, $4.

LAUGHstock presents Hushmoney, Fin, and Alphabot! @ Tiger Bar, 9pm, $5.

* Pitter Patter Nights presents Sleep The Season, Ministry Of The Environment, and Save September w/ James Kelly @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.

Music for Spring feat. Chris Brown @ Czehoski, 10pm. I haven't been listings these shows. Oops.

Lindi Ortega w/ Robert Hedge @ Supermarket, 9pm, $5.

Hand Solo Records presents Hokey Religions & Ancient Weapons (mix tape release) feat. Wordburglar, More or Les, Red Ants, Noah 23, Royce Birth, Brockway Biggs, and Mr. Quibble @ The Rivoli, 9pm, $5.

* Nif-D w/ Tropics and Animal Monster @ The Drake Underground, 9pm, $5. I have a sense this will be a good, interesting show.

iMachination, May-Jun, and Kid Metropolis @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, $5.

Cure Gravity, Kessell Run, and Red Roses Black @ Tattoo Rock Parlour, 9pm, $7 (incl. CD).

THURSDAY (15 may)

There are quite a lot of good things on tonight. Ah, Toronto. I'm pretty sure I'll be at the Drake. Now that the snow's gone, if you've got a bike, you can show-hop without too much difficulty or expense.

The Midway State, The Wisk, and Morgan (Birds of Wales) @ Supermarket, 9pm, free.

* The Primordials, The Lengendary Dirtbikers, and The People of Canada @ Mitzi's Sister, 10pm, pwyc.

Avi Granite and Lina Allemano @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.

Musical Improv w/ Mary Margaret O'Hara, Aidan Closs, and Larry Potter @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

Lily Frost w/ Paul Linklatrer, and My Divine Light @ Tranzac (Main Hall), 8pm.

SoulSTir w/ Undadogg and Dame @ Clinton's, 9pm, $5.

River Pilots w/ tba @ The Central, 8pm, $6.

B.A. Johnston, Jeff Peers, Vincat, and Salarymen @ The Boat, 9pm, $5. B.A. is a guy you (and I) should see/hear/experience. And I will, another time.

City Roots presents Jon Brooks, Levi Weaver, Erika Werry, and Howard Gladstone @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 9pm, $5.

Integer and Bedroom Biography @ Clinton's, 9pm, $8.

Indie Can Radio Birthday Bash feat. The Joys, Dearly Beloved, Sam Hell, Sarah Burton, and Andre Skinner @ Tattoo Rock Parlour, 9pm, $8. Proceed to the Missing Children's Society of Canada. Who's been to this venue? Thoughts?

The Dull-Eyed Llamas, Clock Strikes Music, and Whitey @ Smiling Buddha, 9pm, $tba.

* No Shame presents Old Man Luedecke (CD release) w/ The Weather Station and Nils Edenloff (The RAA) @ The Drake Underground, 9pm, $5. So excellent.

Black Collar Thursdays feat. The Death Of Me and The Vicious Guns w/ DJ Stu Dead of Playdead @ The Bovine, 9pm, $5.

TWM presents DCT, The Speaking Tongues, Brides, and Tin @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $6. Rancho's my favourite indie music venue these days.

Static Lab (CD release) w/ Ground Level and Rise for Order @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, $5 (or $10 incl. CD).

Lymbyc Systym, The Unionist Ministers, Hooded Fang, and Whale Tooth @ Silver Dollar, $8.

Treasure Fingers and Kill the Noise w/ DJ Vaneska @ Wrongbar, 10pm, $8 (before midnight).

Alternative Rock N Roll feat tba @ 11:40, tba @ 10:50, Joel Lightman Band @ 10:00, and Pure Finesse @ 9:10. The Horseshoe Tavern, 8:30pm, $5.

Pavlov's Dogs Orchestra @ The Gladstone, 8pm, $10 (or $15 w/ CD).

FRIDAY (16 may)

I'm recommending some different (for me) bands and venues tonight. Other good bets include the fundraiser event at the Bovine, and what's happening at Silver Dollar and Rancho Relaxo. Maybe I'll go to the Boat.

The Foolish Things @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 5pm, free.

Ronley Teper's Lipliners @ Gladstone Hotel (Melody Bar), 7pm, free.

Goodtime and The Ory No'man Too @ Not My Dog, 8pm, pwyc.

Brooke Harris and Dave Mansell @ Mitzi's Sister, 10pm, pwyc.

Mike Butlin @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.

The Ryan Driver Quartet @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

The Heard (acoustic) w/ Adi @ Black Swan, 8:30pm, $6 (or $4 w/ non-perishable food item).

* Dinosaur Bones (EP release) w/ Great Bloomers and Still Life Still w/ DJs MishMosh and Dick Nasty @ The Boat, 9pm, $8 (including EP).

Pan Out Now, Ill of Day, and Moore @ Clinton's, 8pm.

Wendy Leung (CD release) w/ Ex~po and Carnival Moon @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 10pm.

Church & State (CD release), Jewish Legend, and The Fabulous Baird Brothers w/ DJs Tara White and Trial & Error @ Silver Dollar, 9pm, $7 (or $15 w/ CD).

TWM presents The Torcus, Pavlov’s Dogs Orchestra, Locusts Have No King, and La Casa Muerte @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $7.

In Support of Living and Picturesound @ The Drake Underground, 8pm (early show), $5.

Shearing Pinx, The Dead Are Those Who Have Died, Cave Dudes, and tba @ Renaissance Cafe, 9pm, $6.

* Ketch Harbour Wolves (CD release), The Framework, and The Rest @ El Mocambo (First Floor), 9pm.

Cold Dead Hands and Tenth Planet w/ DJ sets by the Darth Virgos AL911 & Billy Geek @ The Bovine, 9pm, $5. This is a benefit show for the Canadian Cancer Society. Good bands, if you want rock music. Should be a cool event, at a neat little spot.

Alternative Reggae Rock n Roll feat. Bobby Dreadfull @ 12:30, Playmaker @ 11:30, The Groopies @ 10:30, and Touch Me Airborne Plague @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, $8.

* PunchClock Showcase II feat. Anagram, Nif-D, and $100 @ WhipperSnapper Gallery, 9pm, $5-$15.

Everlea, Aberdeen, and Melodious Drones @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm.

SATURDAY (17 may)

Bill Colgate et al. @ The Dominion on Queen, 4pm, pwyc.

Jadea Kelly @ The Central, 9:30pm, $6.

Tres Bien Ensemble and Magna Cum Loud @ Mitzi's Sister, 10pm, pwyc.

base war // 06 feat. Put the Rifle Down, Egyptrixx, John Caffery, Justin Tyce, and Errol @ Club Z (812 Dundas St. W), 10pm, $7.

F. Scott & the Ashbury Band w/ Morning Electric @ Silver Dollar, 9pm, $7.

Red Elite and Sojourn w/ DJ Vania @ The Bovine, 9pm, $5.

Local Alternative Rock feat. My Shaky Jane @ 12:30, The Ryde @ 11:30, Bella Clava @ 10:30, and Ashley @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, $6.

Capital Grass & the No Men and Lucas Stagg @ C'est What, 10pm, $6.

Soup Kitchen Charity Show feat. Sycho Logic, Black Cat Attack, Liar And a Thief, and Meggi Faye Band @ El Mocambo (First Floor), 8pm, $6 (or $5 w/ canned food).

Two Hours Traffic, We Are The Take, and Mardeen @ Lee's Palace, 9pm, $8.50.

LIVESTOCK fundraiser for the Farm Sanctuary feat Harmony Trowbridge, Alex Lukashevsky, Lisa Bozikovic, In Support of Living, Arctic, and tba @ The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 6pm, pwyc ($10 sugg). See http://www.farmsanctuary.org/.

PunchClock Showcase II feat. The Phonemes, Bob Wiseman, Richard Laviolette, and Calvados @ WhipperSnapper Gallery, 8pm, $5-$15.

Dopplehertz presents Dandi Wind (release party) w/ DJ set by Woodhands and DJs Nasty Nav and Dopplehertz @ Wrongbar, 10pm, $10.

SUNDAY (18 may)

I think the Monday's a holiday (right?), so you can party hard Sunday night.

Lazy Sunday Matinee w/ Jake Chisholm @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 2:30pm, pwyc.

Mardeen and Mercy the Sexton @ Mitzi's Sister, 10pm, pwyc.

* Gather Round feat. d'UTERVIL, Hamilton Trading Co, and David Simard @ The Boat, 9pm, pwyc.

* Wavelength 413 feat. The Winks, Secret Mommy, and The Cleef w/ DJ Perfect Sound Forever @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, pwyc.

The Nihlist Spasm Band and Sun Plexus 2 @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10:30pm, pwyc.

Healing Power feat. Bloodhoney @ Tranzac (Tiki Room), 11pm.

* Boxes & Bags 1-Year Anniversary hosted by The People of Canada feat. Boxes & Bags w/ Skullians, Alphabot!, Still Life Still, and Oscar Brown @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $5. Help them celebrate!

Hotboxxx presents These Silent Waves @ 11:15, Second Pass @ 10:30, The Falling Trees @ 10:00, All But Over @ 9:15, and Black Cat Attack @ 8:30. Lee's Palace, $5.

Barf, Pigeons!; Latino Health Crisis; and Vapid @ The Press Club, 9pm, pwyc.

Bonde Do Role and Deathset w/ DJ Gorky (Bonde Do Role), Rory Them Finest, and A.D/D. @ The Social, 10pm, $10.