Weekend Picks (8-12 Oct. 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.

Last weekend I was in Montreal and didn't have time to compile a full list for this week. So, instead, here are some suggestions for this weekend. There's lots to do in the indie world. I will check out a show or two before I head to Ottawa for Thanksgiving. Everything on the list below should be good/great, depending on what you're in the mood for.

Something called Indie Week is happening now. I don't really know what this is, but there are a few decent shows happening at venues around town. Cover for each is $10 or more, but you can get a wristband to see all the shows for $10. I haven't listed the shows, but you can find out more information on the festival here: http://www.indieweek.com/.

THURSDAY (9 oct)

Brasstronaut (in-store) @ Criminal Records, 6pm, free.

Christianne (CD release) w/ Andrew Devillers and Lucy Idlout @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

Proof of Ghosts, August, and Orca @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.

TWM presents Sound & Structure, Sleep for the Nightlife, and Star Map Caravan @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $5.

No Shame presents Bad Flirt (CD release) w/ Howl and Engines with Names (members of Ruby Coast) @ Tiger Bar, 9pm, $5.

Parker, Ministry of the Environment (CD release), and Luke Michielsen, w/ DJ Vinyl Fluid @ The Drake Hotel (Underground), 9pm, $5.

Cadence Weapon w/ Woodhands and Stop.Die.Resuscitate @ Lee's Palace, 9pm (start time), $10. Adv tix avail.

Hunter & Cook Magazine Party feat. Anagram, Corpusse, $100, and Josh Reichmann Oracle Band @ Wrongbar, 9pm, $10.

FRIDAY (10 oct)

The Buttless Chaps (in-store) @ Criminal Records, 6pm, free.

Ghost Bees, Emma McKenna, and Steven McKay @ Tranzac (Tiki Room), 9pm.

Andy Swan and J.J. Ipsen @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

Oh No Forest Fires (CD release) w/ Black Hat Brigade and Dinosaur Bones @ Supermarket, 9pm, $5.

Pants & Tie (12" release) w/ Pink Noise, Slow Hand Motem, and DVAS (DJ set) @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, $tba.

The Buttless Chaps w/ Wax Mannequin and Tim Vesely (The Rheostatics) @ The Drake Hotel (Underground), 8pm, $5.

Thomas Function w/ The Unionist Ministers, and The Job @ Silver Dollar, 9pm, $8. Adv tix avail.

SATURDAY (11 oct)

Mark Berube & the Patriotic Few (CD release) w/ The O'Darling @ Cervejaria, 9pm, $tba.

Snowblink and Ryan Driver @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

Young & Sexy w/ Neins Circa @ The Drake Hotel (Underground), 8pm, $5.

Action Makes, The Speaking Tongues, Electric Lions, and the Skirt Chasers @ Silver Dollar, 9pm, $5.

Tripping Hazard, Little Foot Long Foot, Left of Zero, and The Assistants @ Lee's Palace, 9pm, $6.

TWM presents The Vive Quebec Libres, Rival Boys, Nineteen Seventy Seven, and Bold Saber @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $6.

SUNDAY (12 oct)

Alex Lukashevsky @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 2:30pm, pwyc.

Wavelength 434 feat. Viva Mexico Mariachi, The New Kings, and Guy Dallas @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, pwyc. omg lolz.