Indie Music 37.

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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.

I had a calm week, for the most part, music-wise. Went to the Tranzac front room Tuesday evening to hear Keith Hamilton and Brad Casey. 'twas lovely. On Friday some friends and I checked out dance parties at College and Bathurst. Come Saturday, my bathroom ceiling and leaking, and the landlord kept not coming. I was annoyed and not feeling like going out, not knowing what I'd come home to.

This week there's lots to do, as always. Although I've been going to shows twice a week (often more) for many months now, I'm still finding new, fun, interesting, inspiring things to hear and see on a regular basis. To celebrate this, Tyler Wade and I are starting a podcast to accompany these listings each week. You can take a listen to it here. (It might not be there yet.)

MONDAY (26 may)

Reiner Schwarz ("public practice") w/ Steve Whitehouse, Paul Teglas, and others @ The Gladstone Art Bar, 7:30pm, pwyc.

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

Elvis Mondays presents Purr, Allie Hughes, My Flea Circus, National Exit Strategy, Synthetic Folk Hero, and The People of Canada @ The Drake Underground, 9pm, free.

Groovy Mondays feat. Doug MacEachern and Ben Sures @ Mitzi's Sister, 9pm, pwyc.

Marsupial Mondays presents Michael Laderoute and Jack Marks @ Tranzac (Tiki Room), 9pm, $5.

Deadbeat Dads, That's What He Said, The Flyboys, and Sara Labadie @ Smiling Buddha, 9pm, $3.

Action City Blackout, The Blacknines, and Diemonds @ The Bovine, 9pm, $5.

Talent Mondays hosted by Linsday Ferguson, feat. Dave Carmichael, Amy Campbell, and Andrew Vincent @ Supermarket, 9pm, $10.

Helio Sequence @ 10:30 w/ Gravity Wave @ 9:15. The Horseshoe Tavern, $10 (adv, or $12 door). (Yes, this listing breaks my own rules.)

TUESDAY (27 may)

Jenny Allen & friends @ The Gladstone Melody Bar, 7pm, free.

Toronto Folk Singers Society @ Tranzac (Tiki Room), 7pm, pwyc.

Ken Macdonald Quartet and From Downtown @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.

Antler and Nicole Christian @ Not My Dog, 10pm, pwyc.

* The Edge 102.1 Dave Bookman's Nu Music Nite feat. Hue @ 11:40, Les Gars @ 10:50, The i Spies @ 10:00, and Everything All the Time @ 9:10. The Horseshoe Tavern, 8:30pm, free.

Drumheller @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

Charlotte Cornfield and Beth Moore @ Mitzi's Sister, 10pm, pwyc.

Pink and Black presents Hollywood Swank, Rehab for Quitters, Worst Case Ontario @ The Bovine, 9pm, free.

Sketch Songwriters Series @ Free Times Cafe.

WEDNESDAY (28 may)

Several good, interesting shows on tonight. Depending on your mood, go to Czehoski, Tranzac, Sneaks, or the Boat, and probably other places. But I have no opinions on the other things happening.

Baby Eagle @ Czehoski, 10pm, free.

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

Andre Ethier, Adam Cotton, and Wyrd Visions @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

Rock for Renewables presents Key Witness, Still Life Still, Harvest Chant, and Honest I's @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, pwyc. Cool.

LAUGHstock presents Tonnn, Whiskey Priest, and The Veil @ Tiger Bar, 9pm, $5.

Pitter Patter Nights presents Metz, Women, and Mt. Royal @ The Boat, 9pm, $5. If you missed Wavelength last week, you can catch most of the same bands here.

New Music Night feat. Animal Clinic, Di Thomas, and Miss Scarlett @ Clinton's, 7:30pm, $5.

Make Your Exit w/ Minotaur @ The Rivoli, 10pm, $5.

Friends of the Family @ Free Times Cafe, 9pm, pwyc.

Diana Z w/ Brian Moniz and Jeremy Smith @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 10pm, pwyc.

Elana Harte (of VSH) and Jacob & Lily @ C'est What, 10pm, $7.

Toronto Independent Music Awards Showcase feat. Noella Choi w/ Emma Cook, Signe Miranda, Mike Celia, whosarmy, and W!islow @ Annex Wreck Room, 7pm, $7.

Birds of Wales, These Three Cities, and the Last True Gentleman @ Tattoo Rock Parlour, 8pm, $8.

THURSDAY (29 may)

Chris Assaad @ Yonge-Dundas Square, noon, free. This is a kick-off thing for the Street Kids International charity event.

Laura Hubert Trio @ The Gladstone Melody Bar, 7pm, free.

Stalingrad (CD release) w/ Surefire Machine and Antitheory @ Velvet Underground, 8pm, free.

The Lucas Stagg Band, Guitar Bomb, and Miwa Gemini @ Mitzi's Sister, 10pm, pwyc.

John Russon Quintet @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.

The Kate Rogers Band @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

Tamara Miller and tba @ Smiling Buddha, 9pm.

Justin Plet w/ Lara Martin and Patrick Ballantyne @ Free Times Cafe, 8:30pm, $5.

Pitter Patter Nights presents Maniac, Sailboats Are White, and CATL @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.

High Art for the Low Down presents Bad Skin, Disgusting Body, U.T.I., and Shit Reign @ Tiger Bar, 8pm, $5.

Loud & Heavy feat. Azenith @ 11:15, Amarith @ 10:15, and Ghost Of Calico @ 9:15. Lee's Palace, $5.

Adam Faux & the Exploding Band w/ Jacob Moon @ The Central, 9:30pm.

National Tragedy, ep. 1 feat. Brown Bird, St. Clair, The Youngest, Wolfcow @ Renaissance Cafe, pwyc. This is a new live music series.

Black Collar Thursdays feat. Steve Hill and Chameleonize w/ DJ Stu Dead of Playdead @ The Bovine, 9pm, $6.

Zygiella.com IV presents w/ Howl, Hungry Lake, Fleece Elves, and The Paint Movement @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $5. I'll be here to see bands I have yet to see.

Machetes w/ Shitt Hottt, Dead Sexy Sheila and DJ Dougie Boom @ The Silver Dollar, $7. Machetes' debut show saw them open for Woodhands a while back, and they impressed us. Shitt Hottt is another (mostly) female band that knows how to rock out. This should be a good party.

Jon Rae Fletcher @ 11:15, Great Bloomers @ 10:15, and Alphabday @ 9:15. $8. The Horseshoe Tavern, 8:30pm, $8.

Bigideas w/ In Its Wakes, October Sky, and Turn Off The Stars @ The Rivoli, 9pm, $5.

Ken Tizzard (CD release) w/ NLX @ Supermarket, 9pm.

Hammersmith: Forgers of Metal (CD release) w/ tba @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm.

Meg-A-Music and IndieCan Radio Birthday Bash II feat. Photocell, The Jon Cohen Experimental, and Drowning Girl @ Tattoo Rock Parlour, 8pm, $8.

No Bra w/ Bruce Labruce (films) @ The Beaver, 11pm, $10/pwyc.

The Northdale Concert Band @ El Mocambo, 7:30pm, $10.

elZOO presents Pre-NXNE Bash feat. Brown Brigade, The Isosceles Project, and ADA @ El Mocambo (both levels), 9pm, $10 (or free with NXNE wristband). There will be art on display, and you can buy a wristband for $29 at the venue. NXNE is happening 12-14 June at lots of venues around town.

Eric Chenaux (CD release) and Ryan Driver (CD release) @ Wrongbar, 9:30pm, $10. I saw these guys do a parred-down in-store at Soundscapes last Friday. It was good. I especially liked Eric Chenaux's folky-funky-electro sound. It made me smile.

FRIDAY (30 may)

Golden Girls w/ TMDP and Mr. Furious @ 751 Queen W., free. The Foolish Things @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 5pm, free.

Arlene Bishop and The Book of Gnomes @ Mitzi's Sister, 10pm, pwyc.

Bob Snider and Erika Werry @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.

Purple Hill and Andy Swan @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

The Lower Town Trio, The Goddamn Goddamns, and R.I.P. @ Smiling Buddha, 9pm, $7.

Aitch, Jordan Faye, and tba @ Free Times Cafe, 8:30pm, $5.

Raclones @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 10pm.

Film Jam 9 feat. Automatic City, Oriana, Two Scoops, The Lovely Killbots, and Robert Desmond Band w/ DJ Melo @ El Mocambo (Upstairs), 8pm, $10 (or $8 w/ canned food).

* Steam Whistle Unsigned 6 presents Gravity Wave, Bocce, and Hexes & Ohs w/ DJs OPOPO @ Steam Whistle Brewing, 9pm, $5. Dance, drink Steam Whistle, and have lots of fun. It's worth the trek out to 255 Bremner Blvd.

My Shaky Jane, Black Hat Brigade (EP release), Oh No Forest Fires, and The Darcys @ Silver Dollar, 9pm, $6. Good indie rock lineup! ONFF is a newish band that's been getting some good press and playing great shows over the past several months.

Tripping Hazard 3rd Anniversary Show w/ Cursed Arrows, Personal Circus, and The Micronite Filters @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $6 or pwyc. Another good rock show, I'd bet.

Ground Level and Days Left w/ DJ sets by the Darth Virgos AL911 & Billy Geek @ The Bovine, 9pm, $5.

Ben Sures, Rhonda Stakich, and Kerri Ough @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 7pm.

The Edge 102.1 Next Big Thing presents Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker w/ Rebel Emergency, Ruby Coast, and The Mission District @ Sound Academy, 8pm, free if you "win" tickets. Get them here. I have no opinions on the first two bands listed, but the last two are good. Especially Ruby Coast. Those kids are great.

Random Order w/ John Wayne, Tres, The Hobo Homos, and Coco La Creme @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, $10.

SATURDAY (31 may)

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

New Music Arts Projects presents Music for 6008 Spokes @ Track field, King Edward PS (112 Lippincott), 3pm. More info here. Cool. Got a bike?

Alex Lukashevsky w/ Aki Takahashi & Jessica Stuart @ The Music Gallery (Outdoor Courtyard), 3:30-7pm, free.

Extermination Music Night VII feat. Lullabye Arkestra, The Walter Haul, Tropics, LSDoubleDCup w/ arty stuff and performances @ Symes Transfer Station (kinda), midnight, pwyc. Bring a flashlight.

Cindy Doire, Ryan Bishops, and Andrea Ramolo (w/ Sean Pinchin) @ Mitzi's Sister, 9pm, pwyc.

The Horables @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 6pm, pwyc.

Max Woolaver @ Free Times Cafe.

Saint Dirt Elementary School @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc. These guys will be playing here 4 times in June too, so lots of chances to see them.

Skull Fist, Sonic Shock, and The Dead Hookers @ Baby Dolls (the stripclub), 10pm, $5.

Vincat w/ PDF Format and Great Lenin's Ghost @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $6. For something a bit indie-different.

Kensington Station feat. Put the Rifle Down (10:30pm set) and DJs Lawrence and Shit la Merde @ Neutral, 10pm, $6.

ARC, Holoscene, Tunturia, Proeliis Fere, and Thee 9am Social @ Siesta Nouveaux (15 Lower Sherbourne), 7pm, $6. Also for something a bit indie-different, but in a different way.

Five Star Trailer Park (CD release) w/ Beth in Battle Mode and Adam Faux @ The Rivoli, 8:30pm, $8. I kinda love BiBM a lot. They are playing second; don't miss them!

Karen Kosowski w/ Rozalind MacPhail and Danielle French @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 10pm, $7. The three of them are also doing an in-store at the Chapters on John St. on Friday at 7pm, free.

Never More Than Less and Minority w/ DJ Vania @ The Bovine, 9pm, $5.

Barn Burner, Our Father, Great Bloomers (?) and Deloro @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, $5.

SUNDAY (1 jun)

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

Prodigal Sundays feat. The Backstabbers @ The Gladstone Melody Bar, 5pm, free.

Annabelle Chvostek (Wailin' Jennys) @ The Gladstone Melody Bar, 9pm, free.

Liam Parker @ Free Times Cafe.

* Michael Holt presents I Love Music! feat. The Michael Holt Ensemble @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 5pm, pwyc. This sounds amazing.

Gather Round feat. Hamilton Trading Co. w/ Play Guitar, Todd Aalgaard, and Miles Kennedy @ The Boat, 9pm, pwyc.

Brad Casey, Yawd Sylvester, and Jack Marks @ Mitzi's Sister, 10pm, pwyc.

* Wavelength 415 feat. No Gold, The Youngest, and International Falls @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, pwyc.

The WoodChoppers Association @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10:30pm, pwyc.

New Music Arts Projects presents Acoustic Gambol: Chamber Music for Found Objects @ The Music Gallery, 4:30pm, $10 (students, more for others).