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.
Was getting over jetlag last week, so didn't hit up any shows except my favourite: Wavelength at Sneaky Dee's last night. It was as eclectic a lineup as you're gonna get. Sports: The Band, Christine Duncan's Element Choir (weird!), and Fall Horsie.
Wednesday through Saturday of this week International Pop Overthrow is on at the Rivoli (Wed-Fri) and then Annex WreckRoom (Sat aft/eve). Each show features 8 bands. Not having heard of this thing before, I have no opinions. The Rivoli shows have very short sets, with bands on every 30 minutes, so if you want a quick taste of a bunch of bands, these shows are for you. I'm not too familiar with the lineups, though they feature a bunch of bands that do play around town, including The Dress Whites, Broomfiller, Frankie Whyte & the Dead Idols, Cold Dead Hands, Square Root of Margaret, Andy Butler & the 905s, and The Human Statues. Cover is $10 for each show. Check http://www.internationalpopoverthrow.com/Schedule-Toronto-2008.htm for all the details.
MONDAY (24 nov)
Angela Bower (AKA Christine Bougie & Dafydd Hughes) @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7pm, pwyc.
Shoeless Monday feat. The Stanfields @ 11:15, Christianne @ 10:15, and Love You To Death @ 9:15. The Horseshoe Tavern, 8:30pm, free.
Elvis Monday feat. Curtis Santiago, The Wilderness, The Royal So & Sos, My Psycho Ex, Valley Dolls, and The People Of Canada @ The Drake Hotel (Underground), 9pm, free.
Slowdance (Friends Explode DJs) w/ Heaven and Robocopp @ Mitzi's Sister, 9:30pm, free.
Panic Density feat. The Runaway Five @ Tequila Bookworm, 9pm, pwyc.
Bryan Arcand and The Jing Bang Show @ The Cameron House (Front Room), 9:30pm, pwyc.
Trevor Campbell presents I ♥ Pub Session feat. Trevor Campbell (w/ full band), Nancy Silverman, Sara Kamin, Layah Jane, and Zach Stevenson, plus more stuff @ Tranzac (Main Hall), 8pm, $5.
TUESDAY (25 nov)
The Edge 102.1 Dave Bookman's Nu Music Nite feat. three special guests (tba) @ The Horseshoe Tavern, 8:30pm, free. Unless my internet skills have failed me, the special guests include Mobile (Montreal) and Library Voices (Regina).
The Pink & Black Attack presents Dirty Bird @ The Bovine, 9pm, free.
St. Dirt Elementary School @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.
Drumheller @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.
Organic Funk @ The Cadillac Lounge, 9pm, pwyc.
Alexandra Ribera @ The Cameron House (Front Room), 9pm, pwyc.
Blue Blue Satellite and Amanda LeBlanc @ Free Times Cafe, 8:30pm, pwyc.
Showcho feat. Katie Crown (comedian), Wordburglar, Elaine Kelly, and bingo w/ Dot Winters (aka Megan Fraser, comedian), hosted by Anand Rajaram @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, pwyc. These variety shows are a hoot, I hear.
Toronto Exclusive Magazine presents Project Showcase 2008 feat. Mr. Flowas and others @ Smiling Buddha, 7:30pm, $5.
Station Twang and The Superstitions @ The Dakota Tavern, 10pm, free.
Chris Colepaugh & the Cosmic Crew and Keith Hallett & the Big Dirty Orchestra @ The Silver Dollar Room, 9pm, $7.
WEDNESDAY (26 nov)
The Annex WreckRoom & IndieCan Radio present IndieCan Wednesdays feat. Ivorty Tree Observatory, Dan Mangan, and October Sky @ The Annex WreckRoom, 9pm, free.
Brian Gladstone & friends feat. Nancy Dutra @ Free Times Cafe, 8pm, pwyc.
B-List Disney All-Stars (Daniel Jamieson) @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc. A band will play lesser-known Disney tunes.
The Shovels and Jetset Motel @ The Dakota Tavern, 10pm (start time).
Local Alternative feat. Boy In December @ 11:40, The Heavy @ 10:50, Kid Coma (CD Release) @ 10:00, and Chasing Sam @ 9:10. The Horseshoe Tavern, 8:30pm, $4.
* Sounds Like B.S., Alphabot!, and Great Lenin's Ghost @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $5.
Hotboxxx Local Talent Showcase feat. Impulse, Broken Sons, Thank The Academy, and The Barettas @ 8:30. Lee's Palace, 8pm, $5.
Toronto Exclusive Magazine presents Project Showcase 2008 feat. Melissa Bel, CarlyJo, and others @ Smiling Buddha, 7:30pm, $5.
* Nifty, Tropics, Brides, and Tradition, w/ DJ Colin Bergh @ The Drake Hotel (Underground), 8pm, $5.
* Library Voices and Provincial Parks @ The Bovine, 9pm, $5. I'm going to this.
* The O'Darling, J. J. Ipsen, and Mikey Muscat Band @ Concord Cafe, 9:30pm, $5.
LAUGHstock presents Hush Money, Soul.Rebel.Sound, and Please Stand By @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.
Tundra Fun, The Jessica Stuart Few (feat. Michael Davidson), and Saint Even @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 9pm, $6.
YNF, Rawlicious 3, and Apex @ C'est What, 9:30pm, $6.
No Official Capacity presents A Flame In December, Storm Their Shores, Wolves of Anson, and The Chainsaw Stunt Double @ Reverb, 7pm, $8. All ages.
Corduroy Road @ Clinton's Tavern, 9pm, $10.
THURSDAY (27 nov)
Club Django @ The Gladstone Hotel (Melody Bar), 8-10pm, free.
Ancient Chinese Secret @ The Cadillac Lounge, 7:30pm, pwyc.
Keith Hallett & the Big Dirty Orchestra @ The Cadillac Lounge, 9pm, $tba.
Live Jazz Thursdays feat. Equilibrium Project @ Tequila Bookworm, 9:30pm (start time), pwyc.
* I am Robot and Proud (CD release, performing w/ Jeremy Strachan, Jim Guthrie, and Samir Khan) and Canaille @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.
The Band & The Last Waltz Tribute @ Free Times Cafe, 8pm, $5.
Oliver Pigott @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 9pm, $tba.
Hummel Entertainment presents New Music Night feat. Andrew Hanna, Jay Manara (Broken Sons, acoustic), and 7th Line @ Clinton's Tavern, 8pm, $5.
Drew Smith, The Shout, and tba @ Smiling Buddha, 9pm, $5.
The Waking Eyes and tba @ Supermarket, 9pm, $5.
The Main Thing Orchestra (2 sets) w/ DJ Double K @ Mitzi's Sister, 10pm, $5. All ages.
The Waxbills, Cathartic, and Opus Road, w/ DJ Ash @ The Bovine, 9pm, $5.
Sex Butler and others @ The Silver Dollar Room, 9pm, $tba.
The Hunting Horns and Drew Hawkins @ The Dakota Tavern, 10pm (start time), $tba.
* The Schomberg Fair @ 11:40, Spookey Ruben (CD release) @ 10:50, Black Hat Brigade @ 10:00, and Whale Tooth @ 9:10. The Horseshoe Tavern, 8:30pm, $7.
* The Acorn @ 11:10, Ohbijou @ 9:50, and The Rural Alberta Advantage @ 9:00. Lee's Palace, 8:30pm, $10. Adv tix avail. and recommended. Amazing lineup.
Born Destroyers (EP release) w/ Carmen & Camille @ The Reverb, 8:30pm, $10.
* El Guincho and Lemonade @ El Mocambo (First Floor), 9pm, $10. Adv tix avail.
FRIDAY (28 nov)
Jake Chisholm @ The Gladstone Hotel (Melody Bar), 6-9pm, free.
Danny Marks @ Free Times Cafe, 8:30pm, $tba.
The Jessica Stuart Few (2 sets) and Chloe & Joelle @ The Press Club, 9pm, pwyc.
Ghostlight (CD release) w/ 100 Pound Head, Picnicboy, Skull Bong, Heavywater/Oldgrowth, and more @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge and Tiki Room), 10:30pm, pwyc.
Looks Linear (CD release) w/ Ashley Bryant @ Clinton's Tavern, 9pm, $6 (or $10 and you get the CD too).
Lizzy Clarke, Suzy Wild, and Friends of the Family @ Concord Cafe, 9pm, $5.
Daysleeper, Bloodline, These Three Cities, and Jay Pollock @ Smiling Buddha, 9pm, $5.
Chris Staig & the Marquee Players (CD release) w/ James Jewell & the Inner Tubes @ Cadillac Lounge, 9pm, $5 (or get in for free when you purchase the CD for $12).
* Catl feat. Sarah Kirkpatrick (ex-Shitt Hott) and Bradley Boy (2 sets each, alternating) @ The Dakota Tavern, 10pm, $5.
DCT and Easy Targets @ The Drake Hotel (Underground), 8pm, $5. Drake weekend shows are over by 11pm, so the dancing can start. If you're going, make sure you don't miss the bands.
Sinkin' Ships and The Rosie Jones Band w/ DJ sets by the Darth Virgos AL911 & Billy Geek @ The Bovine, 9pm, $5.
Handsome Devil w/ Beth Moore @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 10pm, $tba.
True Grit w/ The Bailey Sisters @ Mitzi's Sister, 10pm (start time), $6.
* No Shame presents The Superstitions (EP release) w/ Action Makes and The Bon @ Canadian Corps Legion Hall (201 Niagara St.), 9pm, $6 (or $10 and you get the CD too).
* Woah! Gordo (all local music dance party) feat. Kid Metropolis (CD release), The Paint Movement, The Darcys, and DJ Nova @ El Mocambo (First Floor), 9pm, $7.
Road Engine Dreams, The Odysseys, and more @ The Silver Dollar Room, 9pm, $7.
TWM 29 presents Pavlov's Dogs Orchestra, Young Contrarians, and The Rest @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $7.
Boss Rebel and guests @ Lee's Palace, 8:30pm, $7.
New Love Army, That's What She Said, and Chip Thomas @ Holy Joe's, 9pm, $10.
Landed Film Jam presents Battle of the Jams 2: Found 2 hosted by Skye Collyer and Adam Risbridger feat. Everything That's Fly, Shobha, Slides, Foresight For the Blind, Brain Sandwich of Zion, and Via Linez, w/ DJ Ear2ear @ El Mocambo (Upstairs), 8pm, $10 (or $8 w/ canned food donation).
* Two Hours Traffic, Boys Who Say No, and The Danks @ WhipperSnapper Gallery, 7pm, $10. All ages. Adv tix avail.
Double Dose of Samba feat. Sambando Samba and Samba Porrada, w/ DJ Avan @ The Gladstone Hotel (Ballroom), 9:30pm, $10.
A Sin for a Prayer, Braintoy, The Isosceles Project, and Kodessa @ The Reverb, 7pm, $10. All ages.
SATURDAY (29 nov)
Country Saturdays feat. Kensington Hillbillys @ The Gladstone Hotel (Melody Bar), 8-10pm, free.
The Madhatters @ Cadillac Lounge, 10pm.
The Monster Show w/ Samantha Martin (Kensington Hillbillys) @ Mitzi's Sister, 10pm (start time), pwyc.
Tennessse Voodoo Coupe and Ancient Chinese Secret @ The Dakota Tavern, 10pm.
That's the Spirit and Ryan Masters @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.
The Lost Chord, Justin Bachlow, and EarthJuice @ Free Times Cafe, 8:30pm, $tba.
* No Shame presents The World Provider (CD release) w/ Fighter/Lover and The Cleef @ The Drake Hotel (Underground), 7pm (early show), $5.
Rival Gang Theatre and MJ Cry @ The Cameron House, 9pm, $5.
You Call Yourselves Soldiers, Drunkula, and DJ Stroke @ The Chelsea Room, 9pm, $5.
Social Clash, Isle of Thieves, A Match for the Curious, and The Cunninghams @ The Savannah Room, 9pm, $5.
TWM presents Debbie Suede, Ginger & Irene, and This is Picture @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $5. This Is Picture is great, and I'm uber curious about Debbie Suede.
* FABRik RECordS presents FUnhUnT feat. La Casa Muerte, Still Life Still, Heartbeat Hotel (Chris Lyons from Mariposa), Alphabot!, and Boxes & Bags @ Mengrai Restaurant (Basement, 82 Ontario St. at Richmond St E), 9:30pm, $5. All ages.
You Handsome Devil (3 sets) @ The Hideout, 10pm, $5.
Ghost Walk Creek and Makita Hack & The Log Rollers @ C'est What, 10pm, $6.
The AMBiENT PiNG presents Psychedelic Ping feat. Harold and Zooids @ Renaissance Cafe, 9pm, $6.
* 2nd Annual Toronto Rock Lottery, hosted by David Dineen Porter @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, $7. Twenty-five musicians will separate randomly into 5 five new bands that morning, will go off to write new songs, and will then perform them for you! It was good last year. Participants
include members of Slim Twig, Golden Dogs, The Old Soul, Laura Barrett, Nif-Dee, Republic of Safety, Forest City Lovers, Ruby Coast, Muskox, The Sure Things, The D'Ubervilles, Mackenzie King, Provincial Parks, The Postage Stamps, Sports: The Band, Great Aunt Ida, Key Witness, and more.
* Delinquints, Semi Precious Weapons, and Machetes @ The Velvet Underground, 8pm, $8. Adv tix avail.
Burn to Black (last show) w/ Cauldron, Legion 666, and Starring Janet Leigh @ El Mocambo (First Floor), 8pm, $10 (adv tix avail).
The Aline Morales Band and Friendlyness & the Human Rights @ El Mocambo (Upstairs), 9pm, $10 (or $7 w/ canned food donation).
SUNDAY (30 nov)
Marc Roy @ The Gladstone Hotel (Melody Bar), 5-8pm, free.
Les Singes Bleues w/ Amelie Lefevbre @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 5pm, pwyc
* Wavelength 441 feat. First Person Shooter, The Maynards, The Pink Noise, and School Jerks, w/ DJ Matt Blair @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, pwyc. Wavelength does punk(ish).
Shunga (Steve Ward & Felicity Williams) & Pretty Lonely Woman @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.
Derek Knott @ Free Times Cafe, 9pm, $tba.
Darker My Love @ 10:00 and The Assistants @ 9:00. The Horseshoe Tavern, 8pm, $10. Adv tix avail for $8.50.
3 comments:
I can't wait for that Rock Lottery show, sounds awesome.
I assume you're attendeding Acorn/Ohbijou/RAA? I'm pretty pumped about that one... too bad that the Black Hat Brigade is the same night... I keep missing them.
Rock Lottery was great last year. Best to get there by start time (10pmish) 'cause there's no knowing which performers will be the first band!
As for Ohbijou etc., I don't know yet... I really really hope so! BHB will play again. :-)
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