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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.
Good shows this past week for me! Wednesday I saw Leif Vollebekk, a solo performer based in Montreal, the Julie Fader Band's debut, a fun group from the Netherlands called Hospital Bombers, and Proof of Ghosts. Great lineup (but it was freezing at Sneaks). It was much less frigid at Sneaky Dee's the next night for the sold out Fucked Up party which also featured Final Fantasy, my current favourite band $100, Vivian Girls (who are probably better than they were that night), and art-popster Katie Stelmanis & band. The afterparty at Rancho had Lullabye Arkestra and LSDoubleDCup. The former was awesome; the latter was pretty great too, even though it's clearly a joke band. Crazy good bands Thursday night. I took Friday off. Saturday I went to the Opera House to see Born Ruffians, Henri Faberge & the Adorables, and Hooded Fang. An awesome show. Faberge etc. were ridiculously fun and Born Ruffians are excellent... one of the best sets I've seen this year. I guess that's why they get to charge $12.
The free show at the Horseshoe on Tuesday looks pretty good to me. If you can't handle election returns, go there. On Friday I recommend Ruby Coast's EP release at Sneaky Dee's, also featuring electro-pop outfit Green Go, and The Elwins. Should be an absolute blast. There are a bunch of good bands performing Saturday night; good luck choosing. I'll probably be at Lee's for the Last Schmaltz (aka The Bicycles' CD release), but if you don't dig the Bikes, there are a lot of other good parties.
Most of this week at Tranzac you will find the 9th Annual 416 Toronto Creative Improvisers Festival. Full details here (http://board.stillepost.ca/boards/index.php?topic=114471.0). All shows are pwyc. And hey, if you're keen on the improv scene, you'll want to check out shows at Somewhere There and the Music Gallery, and peruse this website (http://www.aimtoronto.org/) too. Ben from the Parkdale Revolutionary Orchestra has a great series of podcasts on the improv/avant-guard/experimental/weird pop music scene in Toronto. Find them through the band's website (http://www.parkdalerevolutionaryorchestra.com/). The series is called What's All This Then?!
MONDAY (3 nov)
Angela Bower (AKA Christine Bougie & Dafydd Hughes) @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7pm, pwyc.
Michou, Mandippal Jandu, Leighton Bain, and Stefan @ Concord Cafe, 8pm, free.
Shoeless Monday feat. Delusion Manifesto @ 11:15, Quiet Centre @ 10:15, and Paul Stewart @ 9:15. The Horseshoe Tavern, 8:30pm, free.
* Elvis Monday feat. Adam Faux, Purr, Hamilton Trading Co., The Human Statutes, and The People of Canada @ The Drake Hotel (Underground), 9pm, free.
Panic Density feat. Casual Gang @ Tequila Bookworm, 9pm, pwyc. They're also playing at the Rex on Wednesday at 9:30pm.
Bryan Arcand w/ Shoot the Cameraman @ The Cameron House (Front Room), 9:30pm, pwyc. Lara MacMillan plays the 6-8 slot on Mondays in November, pwyc.
* Eyes on Toronto Fan Appreciation Night feat. Debra DiGiovanni, The Two Koreas, and more @ The Gladstone Hotel (Ballroom), 8pm, pwyc.
SLOWDANCE 1.1 feat. Pirate/Rock, Bozay, and Oscar Brown, w/ Friends Explode DJs @ Mitzi's Sister, 10pm, free.
Michelle Rumball, Ben Sures, and Stacy Burke & friends @ Tranzac (Tiki Room), 8pm, $5.
TUESDAY (4 nov)
* The Bicycles (in-store) @ Soundscapes, 7pm, free.
* The Edge 102.1 Dave Bookman's Nu Music Nite feat. Andrew Hunter & The Gatherers @ 11:40, Superstack @ 10:50, Hot Kid @ 10:00, and Clouds That Look Like Things (CD release) @ 9:10. The Horseshoe Tavern, 8:30pm, free. Good lineup!
The Pink & Black Attack presents Firethorn @ The Bovine, 9pm, free.
Ben Sures w/ Kerri Ough and more @ The Dakota Tavern, 9:30pm.
The Calzirians @ Mitzi's Sister, 10pm, pwyc.
Nancy Silverman and Erika Werry @ Free Times Cafe, 9pm, pwyc.
Myke & the Mod Villains, Nate Daniels, and Chloe & Joelle @ Concord Cafe, 9pm, pwyc.
Pitter Patter Nights presents Porte (ex Secret Hand Snakes), The City Streets, You Call Yourself Soldiers, and Eamon McGath @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.
GoodSoundsGood presents Melissa Bathory, Stefi Beck Band, and Christina Maria @ Supermarket, 9pm, $6.
WEDNESDAY (5 nov)
Granny Boots @ The Gladstone Hotel (Melody Bar), 7:30-10pm, free. Lineup tba.
Paul Linklater @ Czehoski, 9:30pm, free.
Laura Repo @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.
Brian Gladstone & friends @ Free Times Cafe, 8pm, pwyc.
Groopie Records presents King Beez (CD release) w/ The von Drats @ The Cadillac Lounge, 9pm, pwyc.
* Electroluminescent (Record release) w/ Battleship Ethel, Terra Lightfoot, and Ghostlight @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $5.
Lesley Pike (CD release) w/ Mandi Perkins, and Christina Maria @ The Drake Hotel (Underground), 8pm, $5.
LAUGHstock presents Burnitdowns, Rackshot, Blind Cats, and The Bag Ladies @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.
* Sadie May Crash w/ guests @ Tattoo Rock Parlour, 9pm, $5.
* The Goodnight Loving, Stolen Minks, The Weirdies, and World War I @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, $5.
The Lesson, Arunachal Subramanian (Lickpenny Loafer), and You vs mE (EP release) @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 9pm, $10 (incl. free CD).
Jerry Stamp and Sean Brown @ C'est What, 10pm, $5.
Neva Dinova, McCarthy Trenching, and Five Blank Pages @ El Mocambo (First Floor), 8:30pm, $10 (or $9 adv).
Trevor Norris (CD release) w/ Janine Farragher & band and Peirson Ross “the Lost EP” showcase @ The Rivoli, 8pm, $10 (incl. CD).
THURSDAY (6 nov)
* Hart House Music Committee presents Stages feat. Run With the Kittens and Hooded Fang @ Arbor Room (Hart House, U of T), 9pm, free.
* Stolen Minks, The Speaking Tongues, Dead Sexy Sheila, and B.A. Johnston @ Mitzi's Sister, 9pm, $6 (I think).
The Mercy Now @ Graffiti's, 9pm, pwyc.
The Flying Bordelos (debut) w/ Gabe Lee @ The Cadillac Lounge, 9pm, pwyc.
Jane's Party and tba @ C'est What, 9:30pm, free.
Whosarmy and The Waking Eyes (CD release) @ El Mocambo (First Floor), 8pm, free.
Live Jazz Thursdays feat. Will Fisher Quintet (debut) @ Tequila Bookworm, 9pm, pwyc ($5 sugg).
Michelle Rumball's Beauty Saloon @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 5pm, pwyc.
Piano Night feat. Paisley Jura, Shelley O'Brien, Bryan Pickell, and Aynsley Saxe @ Free Times Cafe, 8pm, pwyc.
The Next Level presents Three Star Seed, Six Feet Deep, The First Time, and Ministry of Zen @ Rock & Roll Heaven, "early," $5.
Mean Tangerine and Proposterous @ The Bovine, 9pm, $5.
TWM presents Europe in Colour, Luxury Bob, and Fire Flower Revue @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $5.
* Antler (CD release) w/ Sandro Perri, The Weather Station, and Eiyn Sof @ The Boat, 9pm, $7.
Amy Campbell (CD release) w/ Rhonda Stakick, Tiiu Millistver, and more @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 9pm, $10 (or $8 through http://www.amycampbell.ca).
Dirty Penny, All Night Long, and Flowers of Hell @ Clinton's, 9pm, $tba.
Moon Violet and more @ Smiling Buddha, 9pm, $tba.
Serving Charity presents Amanda Davids and Rick Bahatti, w/ and DJ Law @ El Mocambo (Upstairs), 8pm, $8 w/ can of food (or $10 w/out).
Local Alternative Rock feat. Blurred Vision @ 11:40, A Fourth World @ 10:50, My Shaky Jane @ 10:00, and Mondays Fiction @ 9:10. The Horseshoe Tavern, 8:30pm, $8.
* iNSiDEaMiND (album release) w/ LAL and Peter Project. Lee's Palace, 9pm, $10 (or $8 adv).
Robertson @ The Drake Hotel (Underground), 8pm, $10 (or $8 adv).
Luka Jackson (album/video release) w/ Jeremy Robinson @ The Rivoli, 7:30pm, $10.
Stuck in the City presents Trap Them, Surroundings, Crossroad, and Vilipend @ Siesta Nouveaux, 7pm, $10. All ages.
Gravity's Zero Productions presents Zombie Party feat. Akroid, Revolution Love, Yell the Burden, Gunnar Rapido, August, and Man with Target @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, $10 (humans, or $7 for zombies).
Birds of Wales w/ guests @ Tattoo Rock Parlour, 9pm, $10.
Jenifet feat. Steve York Band, Lysa Fina & the Boys, The State Of Things, and Tarik Zaky @ Supermarket, 10pm, $10. Raffle tickets sold at event for stuff from various places. This is a fundraiser show.
FRIDAY (7 nov)
Songwriters Unite! Monthly Showcase hosted by Russell Leon, feat. D'arcy Wickham, Stacy Ricker, Shawna Caspi, Ed Winnacott, Stacy Burke, Melanie Peterson, Terry Hart, Jeff Oussoren, and Lily Cheng @ Graffiti's, 9pm, pwyc ($5 sugg).
Brian Blain @ Free Times Cafe, 8:30pm, pwyc.
Tin Roof Rusted @ Cadillac Lounge, 10pm, pwyc.
The Humbles and Fleece Elves @ Mitzi's Sister, 9:30pm, pwyc.
* Room Party (dance party) feat. Golden Girls (band, 11pm) @ The Boat, 10pm, $5.
Rollin' $ Scratchin' (dance party) feat Syntonics @ Supermarket, 9pm, $5.
Hijack Delta and Orphan Choir w/ DJ sets by the Darth Virgos AL911 & Billy Geek @ The Bovine, 9pm, $5.
Guatemala City, Truman Peyote, Pace the Stairs, and The Honest I's @ Teranga, 9pm, $5.
The New State @ 12:30, tba @ 11:30, The Tanks @ 10:30, and Get Down Sound @ 9:30. Lee's Palace, $5.
TWM presents Broadcast Radio, The Boo, and Waking Up Cross-Eyed @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $5.
Woodward Company w/ The Vive Quebec Libres @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 10pm, $tba.
* No Shame presents Ruby Coast (EP release) w/ Green Go and The Elwins @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, $8 (I think; $7 adv). A great lineup at a great venue!
* S.O.S Fundraiser feat. Oliver Pigott, Claire Jenkins (solo), More than Breathing, Robert Hedge, Caitlin Burgess, and MJ Cyr (solo, from the Hots) @ El Mocambo (Upstairs), 8pm, $8 w/ can of food (or $10 w/out).
This Crooked Mile (CD release) w/ Janine Farragher & band, and Hobsons Choice SunnyLane Records presents Priya Thomas (CD release) w/ Barzin, The Hunting Horns, and Ronley Teper @ The Rivoli, 9pm, $10.
* Pink Mountaintops (members of Black Mountain), Nordic Nomadic, and Castlemusic @ The Drake Hotel (Underground), 8pm, $10 (adv tix avail.).
The Spades @ 11:40, Matthew Barber @ 10:30, and Big Ideas (CD release) @ 9:15. The Horseshoe Tavern, 8:30pm, $10 (or $9 adv).
SATURDAY (8 nov)
John Borra Band @ Graffiti's, 4pm, pwyc.
The Dirty Dogs @ Graffiti's, 9pm, pwyc.
Country Saturdays feat. Howard Willett Trio @ The Gladstone Hotel (Melody Bar), 7-10pm, free.
* Provincial Parks (EP release) @ The Mod Club, 11pm (start time), $10. BUT, e-mail the band at provincialparksATgmailDOTcom to get on the guestlist, and get in for free, as long as you get there before 11pm, when the band starts.
YnF (Your New Friends) and Alanna Brown @ Mitzi's Sister, 9:30pm, pwyc.
Emily Weedon & Delta (CD release and farewell show) w/ The Kensington Hillbillies @ The Dakota Tavern, 10pm.
Three Penny Opus (Toronto debut) @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 6pm, pwyc.
* Andy Swan, JM McNab, and and Nick Zubeck @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.
The Bible All-Stars (CD release) w/ Handsome Dewey & the Swag @ Cadillac Lounge, 10pm, $5.
Del Asher and Chasing Mercury, w/ DJ Vania @ The Bovine, 9pm, $5.
Coal Mine Canaries Scavenger Hunt (and show) @ O'Grady's, $5. Organize yourself into a team of 2-4 people. Registration is from 7:00-7:45pm.
The Sedatives, School Jerks, and tba @ The Badcave (393 Margueretta St.), $5, 9pm. BYOB.
Trigger Effect, The New Enemy, and Smoke & Mirrors @ High Art for the Lows Down, 9pm, $5. All ages.
Das Piumas and Thrillharmonic @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, $5. "But the first sixty people in get a free Mars Bar. Seriously."
Red City (Dave Mansell) and more @ Free Times Cafe, 8:30pm, $6.
* TWM 28 presents Archipelagos, Videotape (CD release), Parlovr, and Barn Owl @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $6.
* The Framework, The Dunes, and N I G H T S, and DJ Rexford @ El Mocambo (First Floor), 9pm, $6.
Matt Humphreys + Andrew Austin + Paul Filek @ C'est What, 10pm, $7.
Shaman's Revival, Save This City, and Madman Orchestra @ Smiling Buddha, 9pm, $8.
Hotboxxx presents Jaded, The Benvereens, From now till Forever, Lucas Hunter, Carly Malone Smith, The Kernals, Rep By Pop @ The Rivoli, 7pm, $10.
* The Bicycles presents The Last Schmaltz (Bicycles' CD release party) w/ Young Rival (EP release) and many special guests @ Lee's Palace, 9pm, $10 (or $8 adv). Guests include Sandro Perri, Gravity Wave, $100, Sebastien Grainger, Matt Murphy, Hooded Fang, Brutal Knights, Forest City Lovers, Laura Barrett, Henry Fletcher, Green Go, and The Old Soul. And there are more.
Eugene Chadbourne (solo) @ Tranzac (Main Hall) 8:30 pm, $10.
Truth Explosion Party! feat. Bionic @ 12:40, Delinquents @ 11:50, Ghost Of Modern Man @ 11:00, Dinosaur Bones @ 10:00, and Siberia @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, 8:30pm, $10.
Fuzion - A Catwalk Concert to Combat Cancer hosted by Steve Anthony (ex-MuchMusic VJ) feat. Written in Red, Second Pass, and Nathan Down, w/ DJ Hussler @ The Annex WreckRoom, 6pm (early event), $15 (or $10 w/ guestlist RSVP). Fasion: World's End Clothin, Fashion Whore, and Tarz Industrial. Prizes. All proceeds to the Canadian Cancer Society.
SUNDAY (9 nov)
Taxi Chain @ Mitzi's Sister, 3pm, pwyc.
Stuck in the City presents Soul Control, Rah, In Time, and Bored Stiff @ Siesta Nouveaux, 3pm (matinee), $8. All ages.
White Squirrels and Sinnerz @ The Gladstone Hotel (Melody Bar), 5-8pm, free.
Bloor Street Gospel Choir @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 5pm, pwyc.
Emer O'Discoll & Trio @ The Gladstone Hotel (Melody Bar), 8-10pm, free.
Wavelength 438 feat. The von Drats, Huelepaga Sound System, and CONTACT @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, pwyc.
God's Gift to Yoda and Graham Campbell's Limbic Lifters @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.
* Cam Malcolm & the Owls w/ Andrew Vincent and The Hunting Horn @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $tba.
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