Indie Music 42 (7-13 Jul 2008).

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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.

It being Canada Day and, well, summer, I was out seeing bands five days out of the last seven. And a whole lot of those bands were ones I hadn't yet seen. Highlights include the Speaking Tongues CD release show at the Boat on Saturday and Ghost Bees at Rancho Relaxo on Thursday. (I have never seen so many women or so many people sitting on the floor at Rancho Relaxo before. No Shame is back!) Oh, and Woodhands at Harbourfront Saturday afternoon. I'd be happy to see a bunch of the other bands I saw perform again, too.

I've starred a few shows in the extensive listings below. It was difficult choosing. There really is just lots of good music to take in. I'll be at Rancho Thursday night. I haven't made any decisions about the other nights of the week. See you around town!

This week's podcast should be up soon at Zygiella (http://www.zygiella.com/historyjen). While If you're into the Toronto scene, or experimental/different stuff, you should know about Ben's podcast. Go to http://www.parkdalerevolutionaryorchestra.com and follow the W.A.T.T. link at the top of the page. It's a good show! Ben's band is playing this week, Wednesday night at the Rivoli.

MONDAY (7 Jul)

CaMp CoMbO @ Gladstone Hotel (Melody Bar) 8-11pm, pwyc.

Elvis Mondays presents Ministry of the Environment, Adam Faux & the Exploding Band, Lindy, La Casa Muerte, Niverse, Stone Angel, and the People Of Canada @ The Drake Underground, 9pm, free.

Shoeless Monday feat. Surfacing @ 11:15, Ethers @ 10:15, and Weeds @ 9:15. The Horseshoe Tavern, 8:30pm, free.

Groovy Mondays feat. Woodland Telegraph and Capital Gross & the No Men @ Mitzi's Sister, 9pm, pwyc.

Purpose Promotions presents The Boogie Man (Jordon Daniel) w/ Authin Heathen, Edo, Beautiful Losers, and Dr. Beefgarden & The Shiggles, hosted by Quinn Martin @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 9:30pm, $5.

Scott McKeon w/ Morning Electric @ Silver Dollar, 9pm, $5.

Monotonix, Brutal Nights, and Team Robespierre, plus art and comedians @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, $10 (but you should probably get adv tix).

Eyes on Toronto feat. Alan Cross (The Edge 102.1), Fraser Young (comedian), and Clothes Make the Man, w/ DJ Medley @ The Gladstone Hotel (Ballroom), 8pm, $10. This is a live talk show. CMTM is an excellent Toronto band.

TUESDAY (8 Jul)

Backyard House Show feat. Dibson T. Hoffweiler and Liv Carrow w/ Chris Yang and Griffin Epstein @ 887 Dovercourt, 8pm (start time). BYOB.

The Edge 102.1 Dave Bookman's Nu Music Nite feat. Boswalos @ 11:40, Kevin Kerr @ 10:50, Dirty Penny (CD release) @ 10:00, and Citizen Erased @ 9:10. The Horseshoe Tavern, 8:30pm, free.

Pink and Black presents Bloodshot Bill, Rehab for Quitters, and Christian D & the Hangovers @ The Bovine, 9pm, free.

The Saffron Sect and Sunbear @ Mitzi's Sister, 10pm, free.

The Best of Free Times Cafe feat. Marcus Walker (host, opener), Rachel Robinson, Kristin Lagasse, and Shaun Mulrain @ Free Times Cafe, 8:30pm, pwyc/$5. Marcus Walker will also be at Graffiti's Wednesday night.

HomeGrown Tuesdays feat. Trainlight, Chad Doucette, Trick of Disaster, Daniel Sadowski, Allister Bradly, and Bunmi @ The Silver Dollar, 7pm, $5/pwyc.

Tristan Avakian (guitarist for the show "We Will Rock You") @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 9pm.

Pitter Patter Nights presents The Furr and Leah Erbe @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.

Revival Dear @ The Cadillac Lounge, 9pm, $tba. Playing every Tuesday in July.

Myk Freedman and Eric Chenaux @ Somewhere There, 8-10pm, $6.

WEDNESDAY (9 Jul)

Less than Jake (in-store) @ Sunrise Records, 1pm, free.

Pilgrims of Brock w/ The Billie Hollies, and Metal Kites (John Teilli w/ Julien Beillard) @ Smiling Buddha, 9pm, pwyc.

Emilie Mover @ The Press Club, 9pm, pwyc.

3 Guys from the Prairies @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 9pm.

* Pitter Patter Nights presents Horses, City Streets, and Wild Dogs @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.

New Music Night feat. JohnnyExxtasy, Rough Skeletons, and Impulse (debut) @ Clinton's, 7:30pm, $5.

Drowning Girl, Recovery Child, and Goodbye Glory @ El Mocambo (First Floor), 9pm, $6.

The Box: A Mixed Cultural Salon feat. performances and images, w/ musical guests including Parkdale Revolutionary Orchestra, hosted by Louise Bak @ The Rivoli, 8pm, $5/pwyc. For more details, see http://boxsalon.com/.

Dopplehertz presents Partyshank w/ Rynecologist and Johnny Hockin @ The Social, 10pm, $5 (before 11pm).

Paul Newman's Open House w/ Evan Shaw, Michael Herring, Dave Fish, and Scott Thomson @ Somewhere There, 8-10pm, $6.

Lover, DCT, Teenanger, The Sour Notes @ The Velvet Underground, 9pm, $7. Promoted (by Dan Burke) as Jay Reatard's "revenge show," which I believe refers to a desire to get revenge on Jay Reatard, who performed for Burke a while back at the Silver Dollar, and things got out of hand.

THURSDAY (10 Jul)

Although there are several places I'd be happy to be tonight, I'm going to Rancho Relaxo for sure. If for some reason you don't dig the RAA, well, I can accept that. There are other good things to do. To wit:

Ryan Oliver @ The Gladstone Hotel (Melody Bar), 7-10pm, free.

The von Drats and Luau or Die @ Mitzi's Sister, 10pm, free.

Proof of Ghosts @ The Cloak & Dagger, 10pm, free.

Local Alternative Rock feat. Jay Manara @ 11:40, Scobo @ 10:50, The Maevens @ 10:00, and The Stormalongs @ 9:10. The Horseshoe Tavern, 8:30pm, $4. Broken Sons also think they are playing. I'm confused . . . maybe they are playing instead of Jay Manara?

Jessica Erlendson and Fait Dormi @ Free Times Cafe, 8:30pm, pwyc/$5.

Brooke Gallupe (Immaculate Machine) w/ Great Aunt Ida and The Phonemes @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 9pm, $6.

Allison Cameron Ensemble @ Somewhere There, 8-10pm, $6.

Uhlan w/ Shay Stewart, Nathan Legare, and At Odds With Even @ Smiling Buddha, 9:30pm, $5.

Battala RockStars presents Sons & Lovers, Saigon Hookers, and Story Tellers @ The Bovine, 9pm, $5.

* No Shame presents The Rural Alberta Advantage, Mandibles, and Terra Lightfoot @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $5.

First Person Shooter, The Apollo Effect, and Left of Zero (CD release) @ Lee's Palace, 9pm, $5.

Insurgentlemen, The Job, Sun Satellite, and Jesse Chase @ The Silver Dollar, 8pm, $5.

Rock for Humanity feat. P.D.H., Stop Drop N Skank, 50 Stars Anger, and Dead City Citizens @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, $5. All proceeds go to providing medical assistance to Toronto's homeless people.

Rich Burnett w/ guests @ C'est What, 10pm, $6.

The Break Down w/ guests @ Clinton's, 9pm, $7. The Break Down have a good funky-rock sound.

TIMA Showcase feat. Matt Humphreys, Ashley Alford, Human Kind, The Randall, and Hero from the Start @ The Annex WreckRoom, 8pm, $7.

Caledonia and The Darcys @ The Drake Underground, 8pm, $8. The east coast comes to the Drake (sort of).

Dos Mundos and Firegrooves presents Rebel Rhythm (CD release), SOPA SoundCrew and Beny Rockwell, w/ DJ sets by El Machetero, El Inca Negro, and Elman @ Supermarket, 9pm, $5 (before 10:30; $10 after).

Rock The Foundation feat. The Stars Here (12:00am) and the Red Light Riot (10:30pm) w/ comics Jo-Anna Downey, Terence Balazo, Mike Moses, Andy Boorman, Ron Sparks, Fraser Young, Gilson Lubin, Makesi Arthur, and Levi MacDougall @ The Rivoli, 8pm, $10. This is a benefit show for the Canadian Breast Cancer Society.

FRIDAY (11 Jul)

Fridays often involve last-minute show decisions on my part, because there's lots to choose from. This will be one of those nights for me.

* Everything All the Time @ Tranzac (AKA The Fringe Club), 10pm, free. This is part of the Fringe Festival. More details at http://www.fringetoronto.com.

Coal Mine Canaries, Tungda Brown, and Mayfield @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 9pm, free. Pick up a free copy of the CMC's new demo disk.

Embrained, Stefan, and Chris Miller @ The Savannah Room, 8pm.

* Antler, Olenka & the Autumn Lovers, and Jessie Kussin @ Mitzi's Sister, 10pm, pwyc.

Boxes & Bags, Clouds That Look Like Things, and Certified Healer @ The Press Club, 9pm, pwyc. Ah, B & B, those zany kids. Seriously entertaining live show.

Leslie Kirsh, Jeff Jones, and Rob Elder @ Free Times Cafe, 8:30pm, pwyc.

Bo Green & band @ The Renaissance Cafe, 9pm.

Idle Tigers w/ Burn Planetarium and The Cheap Speakers @ The Drake Underground, 8pm (early show, done by 11pm), $5. Good bands on this bill.

You Handsome Devil, The Toads, The Shady Character Revolution, and ArchaeA @ Clinton's, 8pm, $5 (I'm guessing).

* TWM presents Black Hat Brigade, Europe in Colour, and Howl @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $5. Also a good group of bands. I've heard all kinds of good things about Black Hat Brigade, and have been told that I've gotta see them.

Teenage X and The Superstitions w/ DJ sets by the Darth Virgos AL911 & Billy Geek @ The Bovine, 9pm, $5.

The Nameless Faceless (CD release) w/ Cucumber Slumlord @ C'est What, 10pm, $6.

The Farrell Bros. w/ The Blue Demons and The Sceamagers @ Silver Dollar, 9:30pm, $8.

Local Alternative Rock feat. The Joys @ 12:30, The Free Press (CD release) @ 11:30 , Jets To Ground @ 10:30, and The Scenario @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, $8.

Mr. Flowas (CD release) w/ lots of performers @ El Mocambo (Upstairs), 10pm, $8. "A night of regge n' dancehall."

* DD/MM/YYYY (tour homecoming), The Mae-Shi, The DeathSet, and Special Noise @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, $10.

Eclipse Eternal (CD release) w/ Empyrean Plague and Deathmarch @ The Annex WreckRoom, 6:45pm, $10.

Ryan Montbleau w/ David Martel @ The Rivoli, $10.

SATURDAY (12 Jul)

Too many good things happening! If you want free and Fringe-y, you want to head to the Tranzac. Feeling like dance music and then a sweaty DJ party? Go to the Boat. If you want to toast farewell to someone you don't know and listen to good bands while you're at it, then the El Mo is the place to be. If you're up for a night of good-to-awesome local indie rock with some variety, go to Rancho Relaxo. Wanna have a pint downtown and enjoy great singer-songwriters? C'est What is for you. Sneaky Dee's is the place to be to celebrate the launch of a new local label. None of that appeal to you? Then check out the bands at Silver Dollar (especially the infectiously-dance-y Green Go), hear local musicians' takes on Johnny Cash tunes at Free Times Cafe, or hang out at the the Rivoli, or the Horseshoe, or Revival . . . heck, what's not potentially (really) good tonight?

Clela Errington @ Gate 403, 5-8pm, pwyc.

Country Saturday feat. Laura Repo @ The Gladstone Hotel (Melody Bar), 7-10pm, free.

Ernest Lee & Cotton Traffic w/ Linda Mercer @ Grossman's Tavern, 9:30pm, free.

* Major Maker @ Tranzac (AKA The Fringe Club), 10-11pm, free. This is part of the Fringe Festival. More details at http://www.fringetoronto.com.

Kraz's Farewell Bash feat. HotKid, Sunset Revue, Megan Hamilton & the Volunteer Canola, and Andrew DeVillers (The Hated, The Exchanges) @ El Mocambo (First Floor), 9pm, pwyc. Good.

Johnny Cash Tribute with Alistair Christl, Cleo Brown, Quincy LePalm, and Matt Bahen (The Schomberg Fair) @ Free Times Cafe, 8:30pm, $5.

Bang the Party (dance party) feat. Marienbad and The Cleef @ The Boat, 10pm, $5. This should be fun.

* Zygiella VI presents The Miles, Coast Guard, The Primaries, and The Books Elusive @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $5. The Miles!

Catl and Bradley Boy @ The Dakota Tavern, 10pm, $5. Each will play two sets. This also appeals to me.

The Wilderness @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 10pm, $5.

The Ugly w/ DJ Vania @ The Bovine, 9pm, $5.

Simeon Ross (Infighter), Mandippal Jundu, and Brooke Harris @ C'est What, 10pm, $5.

The Knifings (CD release) w/ Thee Empty Hours @ Smiling Buddha, 10pm, $5.

* Green Go, Slow Hand Motem, The Music Box, and Streetlight Light @ Silver Dollar, 9pm, $5-$10 (tba). Green Go is a crazy-fun electro dance band from Guelph.

Local Alternative Rock feat. Before The Flood @ 12:30, Big Ideas @ 11:30, The Hollows @ 10:30, and The Human Statues (CD release) @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, $6.

Nilan Perera, Aaron Lumley, & Robin Buckley, and Nilan Perera & Justin Haynes @ Somewhere There, 8-10pm, $6.

Anvil w/ Blood Ceremony and Invermier @ Velvet Underground, 8pm (start time; early show), $10 (or $8 adv).

* Optical Sounds Launch & Double Release Party feat. The Disraelis (EP release) and The Hoa Hoa's (LP release) w/ DJs Pharmasound, Neptune Fizz, and the Totally Wired Gang @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, $8 (or pay $12 and get both disks being released too).

Shortwave w/ The Giant Baby and SLAVE to the SQUAREwave @ The Rivoli, 8pm.

Remix: The Scream Gala feat. The Bicycles @ Revival (783 College), 8pm, $10. This is part of the Scream Literary Festival.

Serving Charity benefit show feat. Three Star Seed, Sex Butler, October Sky, Black Heart Emma, Sunday Detox, and James Harrison Copley @ El Mocambo (Upstairs), 8pm, $10.

SUNDAY (13 jul)

Poor Pilgrim Island Show feat. Heavy Water, Aaron Lumley, Nick Storring Ensemble, Ryan Driver, Charles Balls, Allison Peacock, Eric Chenaux, Nadja, Maya Postepski Ensemble, Yuula Benivolski, Alex Lukashevsky, Laura McCoy, All Under Heaven, and Feuermusik Big Band @ various locations and times. More details here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=15859007087. An all-day musical journey! (Ha, sorry, that was super cheesy, I know.)

Wavelength 421 feat. Have Fun At The Altar, Phantastic Prayer Book, The Heart Beats, and Michelle Breslin @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, pwyc. Wavelength has something up it's sleeve here. I'll probably go to this.

Frankie Whyte & the Dead Idols @ 10:45, Shallow Palace @ 9:45, and tba @ 8:45. Lee's Palace, $5.

Burn Down the Capital presents Altamira (formerly The Future Has A Silver Lining), Bush League, Cave Dudes, and Not The Wind, Not The Flag @ The Boat, 9pm, $6. If the bands performing at Wavelength are too low-key and unexperimental for you, then you'll have a better time at this show.