Indie Music 85 (25 June - 1 July 2009).

I'm trying out a different format this week. Let me know if you hate it.

Welcome to my weekly roundup of inexpensive indie(ish) musical happenings in downtown Toronto, all for $10 or less. If I'm missing something you think I should list, or you have any comments, let me know. I star (*) shows that most interest me.

Like this list? Join my Facebook group to get my weekly Toronto indie music listings. Subscribe to my weekly podcast (or download the episodes) here, or through iTunes. Or just listen to the latest one, and all the other ones, at Zygiella. Make sure to check the rest of my blog for show reviews and photos, giveaways, and downloads.

Last week was all about NxNE. See my posts from the last few days for much more about that. And stay tuned for special NxNE podcasts in the coming weeks. (No regular podcast this week, sorry.)

Tonight (Thursday), Ohbijou releases Beacons at the Opera House w/ Great Bloomers, and Evening Hymns (playing as a 7-piece!). Tickets are $13; worth it. Or else go party with the Miles, the Sweatshop Hop, and others at the Drake, $5 (before midnight). The Drake’s serving until 4am. At Rancho Relaxo, check out The Shotgun Wedding Band, The Natural Shocks, Australia’s The Boy Who Spoke Clouds, and The Quantum Jitters. $6. Ronley Teper & her Lipliners will impress in the Tranzac’s front room, 10pm, pwyc. Clothes Make the Man and Hijack Delta are at the Bovine tonight, $5, while The Key Frames and friends play at El Mocambo, also $5. The Toronto Acoustic Songwriters Collective presents An Acoustic Roots Revue featuring Chris Assaad, Lisa Marie Kruchak, Liam Kearney, Brooke Harris and hosted by Rhythm Nomad at the Cameron House, 9pm, $8. Glory Glory Man United, !ATTENTION!, and
Birmingham are at the Boat, $5.

Tomorrow (Friday), there's the Royal City tribute show at Tranzac, $10, or else head to the Horseshoe for a great lineup: Sunparlour Players (CD release), Hylozoists (vibraphones are sexy, eh?), and Wayne Petti & the Thieves. That's Wayne Petti from Cuff the Duke's new band. This show is also $10, only at the door. Sneaky Dee's has a stacked lineup, including weirdos Pony Da Look, Nifty, and Animal Monster, only $5. At the Silver Dollar (cover unknown, but maybe $6?), you can catch Hurry Hard, Jetset Motel, The Strumbellas, and The Jessica Mitchell Band. Rancho Relaxo is hosting rock bands Poisonous Glass, A Northern Drawl, Christian Zucconi, and Cold Dead Hands ($6). For rock of a different sort, Anagram and Catl (2 sets) are playing at Mitzi’s Sister. Not to be missed, if it’s your thing, $5. The Trauma Tone Festival, also billed as “The Toronto Extreme Music Fest” takes over the wee Rearview Mirror tonight and Saturday. Details here. The Darlings of Chelsea release their new disk at the Velvet Underground with an early show (starting at 9pm) at the Velvet Underground, $8. Jane’s Party kicks off their summer tour at C’est What, $5. Orangutan, Cody Elliott, The Youngest, and Daunting Village are at the Press Club, pwyc.

Start your weekend off with a free, all-ages acoustic set by the usually hyperactive Oh No Forest Fires, 554 Queen St. E, 5pm. Saturday night, there's that show at the Horseshoe for which I’m giving tickets away (Modernboys Moderngirls w/ Everything all the Time, The Balconies, and Gentlemen Husbands, $6). Zunior (“the little digital music store”) celebrates its 5th anniversary by taking over the Tranzac. All the details are here. I may opt for free tonight: Islands, Gentleman Reg, Kids On Tv, and Hooded Fang are all playing as part of Pride, on the South Stage, starting at 8pm. Oh my! (There’s lots more free music all weekend.) LICE and TONNN release their split 12" with friends Ancestors, 10,000 Watt Head, and DJ/MM/YYYY (cute) at the new Poor Alex (772A Dundas St. W, upstairs), 9pm, $5. The Assistants and The Cheap Speakers got a gig at Neutral (part of the last Kensington Station night), $6. Fleece Elves, The Suncapades, and Universe 326 take over Mitzi’s Sister. At Odds With Even, The Boo, Yoshi, and Jay McCaroll are at Smiling Buddha, $5. Just around the corner from where I live, a local group is putting on the Light Up Our Alley Street Festival. Bands performing include Revolution Love, The Sure Things, Gutstrings (The Winks side-project), Sick Friend, Ten Thousand Creatures, and more. It’s free and happening in the alley at Dupont/Spadina.

On Saturday and Sunday the 6th Annual Toronto City Roots Festival takes over the Distillery District, with free music all afternoon and into the evening/night. For more details, click here.

This is outside my usual price range for these posts, but I will let my love for all things Wavelength win me over: Magik Markers w/ Mouthus, Gastric Female Reflex, and Wasted Nymph. This one’s happening outdoors on Saturday, in the Music Gallery courtyard (the church at 197 John St.). Music’s at 9pm, $15 at the door; less in advance, for Music Gallery members, and students. The Music Gallery is also hosting another show as part of their Summer Courtyard Series on Sunday night. Seeing Veda Hille, Christof Migone, and others will set you back $20, or less in advance, for MG members, and students.

Wavelength itself is happening Sunday night, as always: Bombs, Pick A Piper (!), Pace the Stairs, and Ace Kinkaid, all at Sneaky Dee’s starting at 9:30pm, pwyc. Also that night, Burn Down the Capital brings Zs, Child Bite (!), Feuermusik (!), and Talk Normal to the Boat, $8. Steamboat's summer residency at the Dakota Tavern continues tonight, $5, with "special guests Andy Swan and Matt Murphy as well as a mind shattering horn section!" Wow.

I went to my first Elvis Monday this week (I know, finally), and it seems like these free Monday shows are the place to be if you live anywhere near the Drake (and even if you don’t). Mondays are also free at the Horseshoe Tavern.

Tuesday brings The Hoa Hoas, The Zoobombs, Mother Murder, and the Owle Bird to the Silver Dollar, all for $8. High recommended. Check out 4 bands for free at the Horseshoe: Tenn Fold, A Fourth World, Crash Karma, and Bury the Bully. Melissa Bathory releases her new album with help from The Wilderness of Manitoba at the Parkdale Drink, 9pm, $10.

Celebrate Canada’s birthday on Wednesday with Zeus (who impressed me during NxNE) at the Dakota Tavern on Wednesday night. This one’s presumably a $5 cover. (Re)live your punk rock youth at Siesta Nouveaux (Eating Glass, Fortune Teller, Brick, Scarred Love, Homesick, and Double Cheeseburger), 6pm, $10. If you’re feeling more indie, head over to the Drake Underground for The Lovely Killbots, The Paint Movement, and Provincial Parks, $5. Catch the Constantines and Chad VanGaalen at Harbourfront, 8pm, free. At 3pm, Criminal Records hosts Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears, free and all ages, of course. A band will be playing on the marquee of the Bloor Cinema at 7:30pm, performing "Blue Velvet," "Love Letters," "Crying," "In Dreams," and "Get Back." For more details click here. There's a million other awesome things happening.

Missed anything? Let me know!

Ticket/CD Giveaway: MBMG, The Balconies, EATT, Gentlemen Husbands @ The Horseshoe, Sat, 27 June.

This is gonna be a quick one. A few local(ish) bands, and one Ottawa band (that Toronto loves) are playing the Horseshoe on Saturday night. The headliners are Modernboys Moderngirls, a garage-y pop-rock group. I saw them play nearly two years ago when they were a large ensemble. They’ve trimmed their size and refined their sound since then, and I’ve heard only good things about their performances. Also on the bill are Everything All the Time, a band that produces chilled-out, groovy dance tracks that are impossible not to move to. Then there’s Ottawa’s The Balconies, another solid pop rock band that’s gotten some well-deserved buzz in this city and elsewhere. Their music is more interesting than I just made it sound, with elements of Britpop, psychedelia, and boy-girl vocals just to mix things up a bit. Finally, Gentleman Husbands, whom I have not yet seen, but—again—I hear good things about their countryish rock. All in all, this will be a night of solid local(ish) bands with some musical variety (including female band members).

Thanks to Audio Blood Media I’ve got two prize packs to give away, each one consisting of a pair of tickets to the show, a copy of the MBMG CD, and The Balconies’ demo disk. To enter send me an email at historyjenATgmailDOTcom with “MBMG” in the subject line, and your full name in the body. Make sure you (and your date) are 19+ and can actually make the Saturday show, of course. Deadline for entering is Friday, 26 June at 11:59pm. Not sure you want in? Have a listen:

Download: Modernboys Moderngirls, “My Baby Says Boy, Don't You Ever Go” (I Might As Well Break It, 2009).
Download: Everything All the Time, “Lazy Days” (Everything All the Time, 2008).
Download: The Balconies, “Battle Royale” (demo, 2008).
Download: Gentlemen Husbands, “Tapanga” (Something Along the Lines of “A Lesson in Unprofessionalism”, 2008).

If you don't win the tickets, you can get copies of the bands' merch at the show, which will cost you but $6. Not a bad way to spend a summer Saturday night.

Fine Print: Modernboys Moderngirls w/ Everything all the Time, The Balconies, and Gentlemen Husbands @ The Horseshoe, Saturday, 27 June, 8:30pm, $6.

My NxNE... final tally.

I managed to see more than 30 bands at this year's festival. For the most part, I stayed for full sets, though I got in late to a small handful of them. Here's the complete rundown, from start to finish:

WEDNESDAY

J. J. Ipsen @ The Drake Hotel (Underground) -- nice, but the wrong setting
The D'Urbervilles @ The Drake Hotel (Underground) -- love these guys
Lioness @ The Drake Hotel (Underground) -- Vanessa Fisher is a great lead
Woodhands @ The Drake Hotel (Underground) -- had me dancing for an hour despite my exhaustion

THURSDAY

Dinosaur Bones (in-store) @ Sunrise Records -- reminded me that I do really like this band
Spiral Beach @ Young-Dundas Square -- fun!
Zeus @ The Courthouse -- really good classic rock with new-indie infusion (to my mind)
Flotilla @ Rancho Relaxo -- charmed and pleasantly surprised me
The Most Serene Republic @ The Courthouse -- I wanted to like this set more than I did
You Say Party! We Say Die! @ El Mocambo (Downstairs) -- really fun, better live than on their records
Green Go @ El Mocambo (Downstairs) -- all the people who left after YSP!WSD! missed out
Zoobombs @ The Silver Dollar Room -- blistering performance
The Schomberg Fair @ Lee's Palace -- fantastic performance, new songs sound great

FRIDAY

Green Go @ Yonge-Dundas Square (side stage) -- had me dancing in the sunshine
Black Hat Brigade @ Yonge-Dundas Square (side stage) -- so many people!
Parlovr @ Supermarket -- I loved their somewhat unpolished sound and great energy
Zeroes @ The Silver Dollar Room -- had some great moments
Dinosaur Bones @ The Horseshoe Tavern -- great, I hope they had people talking afterward
Mika Miko @ Sneaky Dee's -- unmemorable for me, but I don't have much experience with punk rock (and they played for no more than 20 minutes)
The Sadies @ El Mocambo (Downstairs) -- amazing!
These Are Powers @ The Silver Dollar Room -- HOLY HECK, their primal electro dance grooves had me dancing like a maniac
Mark Berube & the Patriotic Few @ Rancho Relaxo -- played until past 4am with a good chunk of people still dancing

SATURDAY

Laura Barrett @ Rolly's Garage -- enchanting, perfect (except for that weird guy who interrupted her set)
Boxes & Bags @ secret/not-so-secret afterparty -- terrible technical troubles, but they got something
Japanther @ secret/not-so-secret afterparty --wow, was not expecting this!
DD/MM/YYYY @ secret/not-so-secret afterparty --I was distracted doing door duties, unfortunately, 'cause this is a great live band

After that I caught snippets of Steamboat and Gravity Wave at another secret/not-so-secret afterparty.

SUNDAY

Candy Coated Killahz @ Yonge-Dundas Square -- unoriginal, but when I turned off my music-snob brain they were pretty fun
Mardeen @ Rancho Relaxo -- really good Canadiana pop-rock, made me happy
Brent Randall & his Pinecones @ Rancho Relaxo -- 60s pop, much fun
Diamond Rings @ The Rivoli -- so much better than the last time I saw him, really solid performance
PS I Love U @ The Rivoli -- my friends have been talking this band up for months, and they are right
Wax Mannequin @ Sneaky Dee's -- great
La Casa Muerte @ Sneaky Dee's -- their energy was infectious, even though they claimed to be really low energy that night

All-in-all, I saw 15 bands that I've seen before, and 16 bands that I hadn't. None of the performances were disappointing, though in a few cases I wanted to like the bands more than I did. The best: These Are Powers. The worst: Candy Coated Killahz. But considering both those bands had me dancing despite my sore feet and general tiredness, I really can't complain. What a great five days of music! I learned a lot about a lot of things, including that I need to get out to see more electro bands. I love them so.

[I went to see Hank & Lily @ The Drake Hotel (Underground) on Monday night, just 'cause I'm nuts.]

I did a bunch of interviews during the festival, so stay tuned for a few special NxNE podcasts with all those plus more than 2 hours of great music!

Done.

I am home and done with NxNE 2009.

Missed Ninjasonik, but saw Candy Coated Killahz. Skipped out on GZA at Yonge & Dundas Square. Something was up at the El Mo, so no Rah Rah for me. But headed to Rancho for Mardeen and Brent Randall & his Pinecones. Then to a busy Rivoli for Diamond Rings (!) and some of PS I Love You. Caught part of Wax Mannequin's set and ended it all with La Casa Muerte, both at Sneaky Dee's. All the bands were good and I really enjoyed myself.

Uh... I need to sleep for 17 hours now.

My NxNE schedule... Sunday.

Oops. I was exhausted yesterday; 3 days of late-into-the-night show-hopping caught up with me, and I wanted to do nothing except stay home and sleep. Plus, it was raining, dampening my enthusiasm for all things NXNE even more. Making it to Rolly's Garage for the Daps Duo / No Shame afternoon show was important to me, though, and I managed to get myself organized enough to get there for Laura Barrett's lovely set. After dinner at home and a failed attempt at napping, I decided to skip the shows I had planned, and just hit up the afterparties.

I went to two different ones, each with a decidedly different vibe, but both basically put on as a reason for more partying and celebrating some of the great bands that are in town. Boxes & Bags, Japanther (!), and DD/MM/YYYY were the bands I saw at the first place. I lucked into a ride, so choose to skip out on METZ and Spiral Beach (unfortunately, sigh), to head over to the party happening in my neighbourhood. I caught a bit of Gravity Wave and Steamboat, but the point of this party was more about talking to friends and meeting new people. I ended up interviewing Prizzy Prizzy Please in their van, and then getting some breakfast at Vesta Lunch with three friends. No regrets about missing Evening Hymns, The Wooden Sky, Grand Analog, Red Mass, Woodpigeon, The Lovely Feathers, and etc. I would have enjoyed then, I'm sure, but another time.

The festival continues today. Here's what I've got tentatively planned. Again, I'm aiming to see bands I haven't yet seen.

SUNDAY

Ninjasonik @ Y & D Square, 6pm.
Candy Coated Killahz @ Y & D Square, 7pm.
Rah Rah @ El Mo (Down), 9pm.
Labasheeda @ Sneaky Dee's, 9:30pm.
The Gertrudes @ Rivoli, 10pm OR Innes Wilson & His Opposition @ Sneaky Dee’s, 10pm OR Brent Randall & His Pinecones @ Rancho Relaxo, 10pm.
La Casa Muerte @ Sneaky Dee’s, 11pm.
PS I Love You @ Rivoli, 12am OR Bellewoods @ Rancho Relaxo, 12am.
Later... If I'm still feeling festive, I hope I might catch Steamboat and The Beauties @ The Dakota Tavern.

There's also an interesting show happening at the Music Gallery.

My NxNE schedule... Saturday.

Friday was insane. From start to finish: brunch at Aunties & Uncles, Green Go, interesting conference session, Black Hat Brigade, dinner, annoyed by Little Italy festival, Parlovr, Zeroes, Dinosaur Bones, Mika Miko, The Sadies, These Are Powers, Mark Berube & the Patriotic Few, biking home in the rain, collapse. I got to interview Matthew from i(heart)music, Burn Planetarium, Justin and Bryan from Black Hat Brigade, Sari and Simone from Audio Blood Media, Michael, Zack from The So So Glos, Evan Dickson from chartattack.com, concert promoter Mark Pesci, photographers Pete Nema and Tom Eschenbrenner, and probably other people that I forget right now.

Best band of the festival: These Are Powers. At 1:50am last night, when the Sadies were still playing, I realized I wasn't going to make it (intact, on time) to the Reverb for 84.85 at 2am. I noticed These Are Powers were going on at the Silver Dollar, two minutes from where I was (at the El Mo). Zack had mentioned them to be earlier, and someone else had too. So I went. And they were amazing.

Today it's raining and my feet are killing me. I may hang out at home for a bit then hit up a day show before more shows shows shows afterparties. If I stick to my plan on not seeing bands I've seen before, my options include:

SATURDAY

No Shame / Daps Duo BBQ feat. Ruby Jean & the Thoughtful Bees, Lightmares, Laura Barrett, “Swirling Shores,” Times Neue Roman, and Pick A Piper @ Rolly’s Garage, 1-6pm.
Record Label DIY: Freeing Your Inner Ani DiFranco @ Regency B, 3–4:30pm.
FACTOR Fiction Redux @ Regency A, 3:30–4:30pm.
AfterpartY @ Neutral Lounge, 8pm.
Casey Mecija (Ohbijou) & Evening Hymns @ Whippersnapper Gallery, 9pm. (Ok, seen both before.)
awkward i @ Holy Joe’s, 10pm.
By Divine Right @ WhipperSnapper Gallery, 11pm.
Brian Borcherdt @ WhipperSnapper Gallery, 12am OR C’Mon @ Lee’s Palace, 12am OR In-Flight Safety @ El Mo (Down), 12am.
Crystal Antlers @ Sneaky Dee’s1, 1am OR The Wooden Sky @ El Mo (Down), 1am (seen 'em before).
The Lovely Feathers @ The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern, 2am.
Bloodgroup @ Neutral Lounge, 3am.

I might skip the last few timeslots and head to an afterparty or two. And now I'm off to shower, eat, and take one last look at the schedule to make sure I haven't overlooked anything.

My NxNE schedule... Friday.

Oh man, Thursday was crazy. I started by getting my pass then headed off to the Town Hall meeting, which was interesting in several different ways. Then I walked over to see Dinosaur Bones at Sunrise Records. I did some interviews, and got to see a few songs by Spiral Beach, playing outside to a good crowd at Yonge-Dundas Square. Since I was with some friends, I decided to follow them to the Arts & Crafts showcase at the Courthouse. We got there, got stamped, went out for a quick bite to eat, then back to the Courthouse for Zeus. They impressed. Sounded like classic rock but with a bit of new-indie flair. Not exactly my thing, but I got into it and was glad I checked them out. Up next, in the 9pm slot, I went to see Flotilla, this great band from Montreal. I took the 10pm slot off to interview a few more people, drop in to see Keith Hamilton at the Boat (during Whale Tooth's set), and then it was back to the Courthouse for The Most Serene Republic. I was excited to see them, but wasn't blown away like I hoped I'd be. I didn't stick around for The Stills, since I wanted to check out what was happening at the Horseshoe (enormous lineups) or El Mocambo. So I got to see You Say Party! We Say Die!, a Vancouver band whose recordings I haven't loved. Live, though, I got it. The lead singer is really something, and their dance-y stuff is up my alley. Fun! I saw some of Green Go's set (and partook in the dance party near the stage), but then dashed off to the Silver Dollar for the Zoobombs, a Japanese band playing Dan Burke's NeXT showcase. Great. And the place was packed, even though it was 1:30am. My last stop was Lee's Palace, where The Schomberg Fair killed it in front of a small crowd of friends and fans. Their new stuff sounds amazing; the old stuff has new life. A great way to end a pretty good day of music.

More tomorrow. Honestly, I think I will skip the first two things on my list, and may not make the last two.

FRIDAY (19 June)

[Show Me the Money… then Show Me How to Get Some @ Regency A, noon–1pm.]
[Green Go @ Mill St. Brewpub Daystage, 3pm.]
The NXNE Music Meeting @ Regency D, 4–5pm.
Black Hat Brigade @ Mill St. Brewpub Daystage, 5pm.
Said the Whale (in-store) @ Criminal Records, 6pm.
Spiral Beach @ Whippersnapper Gallery, 7pm.
Matt and Kim @ Whippersnapper Gallery, 8pm.
[Slim Twig and Little Girls @ Preloved, 8–10pm.]
Golden Isles @ Horseshoe Tavern, 9pm OR Parlovr @ Supermarket, 9pm OR Valery Gore @ Reverb, 9pm.
Wintersleep @ Y & D, 9:45pm OR Bahamas @ Supermarket, 10pm OR Zeroes @ Silver Dollar Room, 10pm.
Laura Borealis @ The Painted Lady, 11pm OR Hank Pine & Lily Fawn @ Cameron House, 11pm.
The Magic @ Reverb, 12am OR No Age @ Lee’s Palace, 12am OR Mika Miko @ Sneaky Dee’s, 12am.
METZ @ Silver Dollar Room, 1am OR The Sadies @ El Mo (Down), 1am OR Cigarettes @ Cameron House, 1am.
[84.85 @ Reverb, 2am.]
[Mark Berube & The Patriotic Few @ Rancho Relaxo, 3am.]

The best all-round showcases are the ones happening at the Dakota Tavern and the Reverb. The Horseshoe will be fantastic all night, too. I might not get into the first and last of those without waiting (or at all), so I won't try. That, and I've seen many of the bands that are playing there already. But if you're looking for one venue to go to and stay at, those are your best bets (to my mind).

My NxNE schedule... Thursday.

Wednesday night I only made it out to two venues---the opening party at the Berkeley Church (free drinks!) and then the Drake Hotel for the Sonic City party feat. Woodhands, Lioness, The D'Urbervilles, and J. J. Ipsen. Oh boy, what a party. I got mini interviews with a handful of people, and will do more the rest of the festival. These will be gathered together in a special podcast a couple weeks from now.

Ouff, I am wiped. But here's what I might do tonight!

THURSDAY (18 June)

Register @ Hyatt Regency, noon.
NXNE Town Hall @ Second City (56 Blue Jay Way), 2:30-4:30pm.
Dinosaur Bones (in-store) @ Sunrise Records (336 Yonge St.), 5pm.
Spiral Beach @ Young & Dundas, 6pm OR The Coast (in-store) @ Sunrise Records, 6pm.
Amos the Transparent @ Sunrise Records, 7pm.
Language-Arts @ El Mo (Down), 8pm OR Share @ Clinton’s, 8pm.
Flotilla @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm.
The Champion Heartache @ Holy Joe’s, 10pm OR Sleepless Nights @ Clinton’s, 10pm.
The Dress Whites @ Supermarket, 11pm OR Natalie Portman's Shaved Head @ El Mo (Down), 11pm OR Rah Rah @ Rancho, 11pm.
The Darcys @ Clinton’s, 12am OR Elephant Stone @ Supermarket, 12am OR You Say Party! We Say Die! @ El Mo (Down), 12am.
Japanther @ Sneaky Dee’s, 1am OR The Zoobombs @ Silver Dollar Room, 1am OR Green Go @ El Mo (Down), 1am.
[OPOPO @ Horseshoe Tavern, 2am OR The Schomberg Fair @ Lee’s Palace, 2am.]

Podcast 44 (17-21 June 2009).

Jen and Tyler welcomed Lauren Schreiber (of No Shame) to the podcast for a special NxNE preview episode! We tell you some secrets, give you show suggestions, provide tips on how you can make the most of the festival’s 5 days, and play songs from 9 great bands. This one is chock-full of insider info and tips, so take a listen before you make any decisions about what to do and see this Wednesday through Sunday. Featuring songs by The Sonics (“Psycho”), Boys Who Say No (“No I Won’t”), Sleepless Nights (“Allyson Got Robbed”), Great Bloomers (“Honey Blanket”), The Darcys (“The CN Tower Belongs To The Dead [Final Fantasy cover]”), The Magic (“Mr. Hollywood”), Ruby Jean & the Thoughtful Bees (“You Don’t Miss Me”), Pick A Piper (“Rooms”), and Nich Worby (“Ghost Bike”).

Lauren’s got three shows happening this weekend as part of NxNE. A wristband or pass will get you into each show, or else it’ll be $10 at the door. Woo!

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My NxNE schedule... Wednesday.

Here's what I aim to be doing the first night of the NxNE festival. I'll let you know about Thursday and Friday and Saturday and Sunday over the following days. My schedule for those days will change as I cross some bands off my list, get recommendations, and etc. This year I've got a pass so I want to take in as much of the festival as possible, including LOTS of music---including free concerts that you can go see even if you don't want to pay cover or get a wristband---and some of the conference. No movies for me except the City Sonic films.

WEDNESDAY (17 June)

[Still Life Still (in-store) @ Fred Perry (964 Queen St. West), 6pm, free.]
Ohbijou (in-store) @ Soundscapes, 7pm, free.
NXNE Opening Gala @ The Berkeley Church, 7pm (invite only).
City Sonic film showings / J. J. Ipsen @ The Drake, 9:30pm.
The D'Urbervilles @ The Drake Hotel (Underground), 10:30pm.
Lioness @ The Drake Hotel (Underground), 11:30pm.
Woodhands @ The Drake Hotel (Underground), 12:30am.
Leif Vollebekk @ Dakota Tavern, 2am.
[The Beauties @ Dakota Tavern, 3am.]

I'm missing out on the HUGE Arts & Crafts extravaganza and book launch at the Courthouse. It will be awesome, I'm sure, but the Drake event is guaranteedfuntimesdanceparty for me. It'll be a good way to start off the festival. And get in some interviews on this little digital audio recorder thing Tyler lent me for the duration of the festival.

If you want to come to the Drake, cover if $5 before 11pm; $10 after. A steal, but get there early because the Underground is pretty small and these bands will draw, even on a Wednesday.

Here's what my blogger friends are doing during the festival: Bob, Frank, and Pete.

Podcast 43 (10-16 June 2009).

This week Tyler and I visited La Casa Muerte's practice space, talked to the band, and were treated to a special performance. We chatted with Ireek Sofakia (Bo), Charlie (Bobby), Link (Brandon), Hank Bukkake (Henry), Bentzen (Matt Gilbert), and lead vocalist Namico about how the band came together, their musical compadres in Toronto, their DIY record label (FABRik RECordS), all the other bands they've played and play in, and the importance of community for them. Featuring songs by La Casa Muerte ("All the Wrong Moves"), Hollerado ("Juliette"), Proof of Ghosts ("I'm Coming Home"), Heartbeat Hotel ("TVPO"), 1977 ("The Otherside"), and then two live performances by La Casa Muerte ("Free Range" and "We Fall to Pieces").

Catch La Casa Muerte at Edgefest on 20 June, Wavelength on 21 June, and at their EP release show at the Horseshoe on 16 July. In addition to the 6 we talked to, the band also includes tambourine players and dancers as part of their live show: Ronnie Jesus, Lady Concubine, Dallas Muertley, El Burgundy, El Bandito, and St. Gabrielle.

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Indie Music 84 (10-16 June 2009).

Welcome to my weekly roundup of inexpensive indie(ish) musical happenings in downtown Toronto, all for $10 or less. If I'm missing something you think I should list, or you have any comments, let me know. I star (*) shows that most interest me.

Like this list? Join my Facebook group to get my weekly Toronto indie music listings. Subscribe to my weekly podcast (or download the episodes) here, or through iTunes. Or just listen to the latest one, and all the other ones, at Zygiella. Make sure to check the rest of my blog for show reviews and photos, giveaways, and downloads.

Last week I had to miss the Flotilla CD release show, but was well enough to take in three others. Friday night, I arrived at Tranzac in time for Evening Hymns's set. The band was a duo this time (Joe and Jonas), and lovely, as expected. I really liked that last song Jonas Bonnetta played by himself that involves all kinds of looped layers and is totally a dance party track. A great, celebratory way to end a set.

Jordaan Mason & the Horse Museum's CD release celebration at the Music Gallery on Saturday was definitely a tear-jerker, especially toward the end. Packed house? Check. Overwhelmed performers and audience members? Check. Standing ovation? Check. Just awesome. Hamilton Trading Co., performing second, sounded great, and their surprising, choreographed opening song made excellent use of the church's acoustics and layout. Nich Worby was endearingly awkward, apologetic about his apologies, and a great opener.

And then on Sunday I went to Wavelength, where I was treated to two amazing things and one crazy thing: (1) Glorytellers played so quietly that I did not have to put my earplugs in. Apparently, during soundcheck, they had to ask that the sound be turned down. They wanted, they said, to hear the conversations. And this is not an acoustic folk band, folks. It's not hard rock, either, but still. I have NEVER experienced such a thing. It was amazing to be able to hear a band exactly as they are being mixed, and not as modified through my earplugs. (2) Joe Lally is the bassist from this famous band called Fugazi that hasn't played in several years. His new project is totally chilled out and a little funky, with a dash of experimentalism thrown it. Unexpected. It was v. cool. (3) Boxes & Bags are hilarious. Thank you.

WEDNESDAY (10 jun)

Megan Hamilton and Matthew de Zoete @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc. Last show of her residency.

PWYC Weds w/ Sparkling White, Fat City & Cobra @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, pwyc.

Weds Go Pop! feat. Alysha Brillinger, Eve & the Ocean, Adam Crossley, and LLIONS @ Supermarket, 9pm, pwyc.

* Spring Songbirds' Show feat. Wendy Leung, Melissa Dalton, and Lara Martin @ Cameron House, 9pm, pwyc.

Download: Wendy Leung, "Stop/Start" (Stop/Start, 2008).

The Chronic, Black Magic Pyramid, and The Kettle Black @ Smiling Buddha Bar, 9pm, $5.

* York Redoubt, Bellevue, Dancefloor Revolution, and The Old Ceremony @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.

Download: Bellevue, "One Two Three" (The Road To Recovery, 2008).

The Reason, Amos the Transparent, and Isle of Thieves @ The Bovine Sex Club, 9pm, $5.

Download: Amos the Transparent, "Lemons, aka BigFishLittlePond" (My, What Big Teeth You Have..., 2009). This is a great, great band.

Broken Sons and more @ Tattoo, 9pm, $5.

Amanda Mabro and Darrelle London @ The Rivoli, 8:30pm, $10.

Snowblower, Punchalice, Silverlane, and more @ Velvet Underground, 9pm, $5.

THURSDAY (11 jun)

* Michael Holt/David Celia/Peter Murray w/ Mantler @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

* Grasshopper, Mean Red Spiders, Youth Crime, and The Jim Storie Juniors @ The Boat, 9pm, $5. (I think.)

Reverse Mount Rushmore and The Decade Of Sleep @ Tattoo, 9pm, $5.

The DGB, Tripping Hazzard, The Low Heroes, and Lucky Stabb @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $5.

Balls @ 12:00, Moment of Truth @ 11:00, Vicarious @ 10:00, and Splice’t @ 9:00 @ Lee's Palace, 8:30pm, $5.

Miasmata @ 11:40, The Matavaras @ 10:50, Creature @ 10:00, and Frail Fragment @ 9:10. The Horseshoe Tavern, 9pm, $5.

* Animal Monster, Man Made Hill, and DJ Craig Dunsmuir @ Wrongbar, 9pm, $5.

The Sunday Sinners, The Bang Bangs, Hank & Lily, and Rich Girl @ The Silver Dollar Room, 9pm, $6.

Truth Explosion presents Bleeders and Matheson @ The Bovine Sex Club, 9pm, $7.

* Simeon Ross (CD release) w/ Major Maker, and DJs Poppa Cheery & Shirley Tempo @ The Drake Hotel (Underground), 9pm, $7.

Music for MS feat. The Assistants, 5th Projekt, AfterpartY, and Radius & Helena @ El Mocambo, 7pm, $10 (or $7 w/ canned food).

ATG presents LORDS, Titan, Barn Burner, and Vilipend @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, $10.

FRIDAY (12 jun)

* Malajube, Hollerado, and Les Nombres @ Lee's Palace, 9pm, free. Tickets have already been distributed, but there will be some at the door.

Download: Malajube, "Porte disparu" (Labyrinthes, 2009)
Download: Hollerado, "Americanarama" (Record In A Bag, 2009)

Rucksack Willies, Bluespoon @ Mitzi's Sister, 10pm, pwyc.

Christian D & the Hangovers, Buzz Deluxe, and DJ Vania @ The Bovine Sex Club, 9pm, $5.

WreckingBall Entertainment presents Gutbustalooga feat. The Boys of Reason, Hi Heels Lo Fi, and BS101 @ Bread & Circus, 9pm, $5.

Wordburglar, Noah 23, K The I, Ira Lee, Plague Language, and more @ The Boat, 9pm, $5?

Drunken Moon Sister, The Flyboys, Max Galactic, Arc the Line @ The Silver Dollar Room, 9pm, $6.

* TWM presents Language-Arts, Proof of Ghosts, Luke Nares & the Sleepwalkers @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $7.

Download: Language-Arts, "White Socks in Birkenstocks" (Small Run, 2008).
Download: Proof of Ghosts, "Genevieve" (Proof of Ghosts, 2008).

* No White God, Sun RaRaRa, Saffron Jook Band, and Actual Water @ Rolly's Garage (124 Ossington), 9:30pm (start), $7. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be into this, but many other people will love it.

* One Hundred Dollars, The Deep Dark Woods, and Jason Benoit @ The Horseshoe Tavern, 9pm, $10 (or $8 adv). This will be amazing.

Download: One Hundred Dollars, "No Great Leap" (Forest of Tears, 2008).
Download: The Deep Dark Woods, "Farewell" (Winter Hours, 2009).

Pacific Trash Vortex, J.R. Hill & the Oktars, Magic Cheezies, and tba @ Polish Combatants Hall, 8pm, $tba.

SATURDAY (13 jun)

* Great Bloomers (acoustic) @ TARA (554 Queen St. East), 5pm, free. All ages. You must RSVP with your name and the number of people coming to rsvp@secretsessionstara.com. I have more about the GBs here.

Jesse Hill, Andre Charles Theriault, J.R. Hill, and Brooke Manning @ 960 Queen St. W. (backyard), 7:30pm, pwyc.

Urban Preacher, Groovesmith @ Mitzi's Sister, 10pm, pwyc.

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

Ginger & Irene, Trainlight, Unsung & more @ The Silver Dollar Room, 9pm.

* TWM 43 feat. The Miles, Heartbeat Hotel, Daniel Daniel & the Small Wonders, and People You Know @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $6. Looking forward to this one!

Download: Heartbeat Hotel, "TVPO" (Transbastardized Orphan under a Harvest Moon, 2009).

Mark Pesci and Stuck In the City present Urban Blight, Cruel Hand, Rah, Hazardous Waste, UV Ray, and Bad Choice @ Siesta Nouveaux (upstairs), 8pm, $10. All ages. BYOB.

Bruce Bickford screening party + Brian Ruryk, D.A.D.S., Battleship Ethel, and Man Made Hill, w/ DJ Longhorn Grille @ The Deleon White Gallery, 8pm, $8. Music at 9:30pm.

The Davey Parker Radio Sound, Revolvers, Clydesdale @ Smiling Buddha Bar, $5.

T H O M A S, Ivy Mairi @ St. Andrew by the Lake, Toronto Island, 8 pm, $8/PWYC.

Diemonds (tour kick-off) w/ Dogs and DJ Darrin Pfeiffer @ The Bovine Sex Club, 9pm, $5.

Download: Diemonds, "Diemoney" (In the Rough, 2008).

Reid Jamieson @ The Rivoli, 8pm, $10.

SUNDAY (14 jun)

* Pink Mountaintops (in-store) @ Sonic Boom, 3pm, free. All ages. Bring a donation for the Daily Bread Food Bank.

Download: Pink Mountaintops, "Holiday" (Outside Love, 2009)

* The Tranzac presents the Festival on Bloor (music) feat. Richard Underhill & the Kengsinton Horns vs. Guh (parading from Spadina and Bathurst, respectively, at 1pm), JCC Choir (1:40pm), One Hundred Dollars (2:05pm), Les Singes Bleus (2:40pm), Ten Ten (3:15pm), Jenny Omnichord (3:50pm), Fojeba (4:25pm), Element Choir (5:05pm), hosted by Michelle Rumball @ Main Stage, Bloor/Brunswick Ave., 1pm, free. All ages. (Obviously, this is a street party).

* The Piano Salon feat. T H O M A S, Kate Tennier (talk), and Beauty Saloon @ 592 Palmerston Ave., 7pm, pwyc. This is a monthly series. There will be snacks and drinks, but feel free to being your own to share.

LAUGHstock feat. A History Of, Tomcat Combat, and Hoosier Poet @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.

* Steamboat (3 sets; residency) @ The Dakota Tavern, 10pm, $5.

* Wavelength 467 feat. Planet Creature, The Jim Storie Juniors (CD release; Doc Pickles' band), The Whole Entire Universe, and Kathleen Yearwood, w/ DJ Dorian Sky @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, pwyc ($5-10 sugg).

Download: Doc Pickles, "Sex Drive" (5 is S, 2009).

MONDAY (15 jun)

Elvis Monday feat. Red vs. Red, Mercurymen, In Plain View, Cadillacs of Men, and The People of Canada @ The Drake Hotel (Underground), 9pm, free.

Shoeless Monday feat. Dancing Soul @ 11:15, Montaque Street @ 10:15, and On A Rope Enterprises @ 9:15. The Horseshoe Tavern, 8:30pm, free.

Angela Bower @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7pm, pwyc. This is a lovely way to start your week / rewind after your workday.

* Share, Paper Beat Scissors, and Julie Fader @ The Cameron House, 9pm, $?

Burn Down the Capital presents Daedelus, Ghislain Poirier, and INSIDEaMIND @ Wrongbar, 9pm, $10. Adv tix avail.

TUESDAY (16 jun)

* Apostle of Hustle (in-store) @ Criminal Records, 7pm, free.

The Edge 102.1 Dave Bookman's Nu Music Nite feat. Fairchild @ 11:45, Prototype A @ 11:00, Morre @ 10:15, Ben Kinder @ 9:30, and Smothered In Hugs @ 8:45. The Horseshoe Tavern, 8:30pm, free.

* St. Dirt Elementary School @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.

* The Book of Gnomes and Paper Beat Scissors @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

Showcho 10 feat. Nick Flanagan (comedy), Mike Kiss (comedy), Julian Bachlow (music), and 1977 (music) @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, pwyc.

Download: 1977, "The Otherside" (1977, 2009).

Swiss Dice, T H O M A S, and more @ Supermarket, 9pm, $5.

At Odds With Even, Actors & Architects, Backbone Beat, and Orianna @ The Poor Alex (772A Dundas West), 9pm, $5.

Tom Carter, Shawn McMillan, Texas, Steve Gunn, and Carl Didur @ 69 Vintage (1234 Bloor St. W.), 7pm (early show), $7.

* gangLion comics present The Magic, Boxes & Bags, Henri Faberge, Sour Patch Kids, and Grandmother Willow (Ben Ong) @ The Boat, 9pm, $8. Wedding reception-themed show, and if you dress the part, cover is $5.

Deastro, Young Flux, and Hut @ The Drake Hotel (Underground), 9pm, $8.

Shout out: Great Bloomers.

Tyler and I have hosted only a few bands on the podcast in the year we've been doing it, and we've enjoyed each one. The band I had the longest experience with before we got to interview them is Great Bloomers. I first saw them play back when they were performing songs off their first EP (Great Bloomers, 2007), a couple times more, and then was thrilled to make their CD release show at the Horseshoe this year where they showcased songs off their debut full-length (Speak of Trouble). The band is heading off on tour this summer, and I feel like it's about time I told you a little more about what I think.

This young group based in Toronto craft folk-pop Canadiana perfect for summer evenings at the cottage or backyard barbeques. The songs on this debut full length are all about romances and breakups, nostalgia, and moving on. The record is upbeat but thoughtful, youthful yet mature, built on the vocal strength of singer Lowell Sostomi and the spot-on instrumentation of his talented band-mates. And the production, care of The Wooden Sky’s Gavin Gardiner, is excellent. I especially enjoy the keyboard parts and the rare slide guitar appearance. Meant to be experienced as a whole album, it’s hard to pick just one track to post. But the various moods showcased on the album come through on “Admit Defeat.” Enjoy.

Download: Great Bloomers, “Admit Defeat” (Speak of Trouble, 2009).
Download: Great Bloomers, “Speak of Trouble” (Speak of Trouble, 2009).
Download: Great Bloomers, "Catching Up" (Great Bloomers, 2007).

The band performs in Toronto a few times over the next little while, and then they hit the road for tour stops across Canada.

Saturday, 13 June
AUX.tv secret session @ TARA (554 Queen St. East), 5pm, free. All ages. RSVP with your name the number of people coming to rsvpATsecretsessionstaraDOTcom. More information about this acoustic series is here.

Thursday, 18 June
The band performs as part of the Us vs. East showcase during NXNE @ Clinton's Tavern, $10 or free with wristband/pass. More details at the Facebook event page.

Thursday, 25 June
Ohbijou CD release show @ The Opera House. All ages, $13 (adv tix avail.). Great Bloomers open up along with Evening Hymns. Should be a fantastic night of music. Facebook.

More Canadian tour dates:

Thurs July 23 Wakefield – Black Sheep Inn
Sat July 25 Kingston – The Mansion
Sun July 26 Toronto – Wavelength at Sneaky Dees w. Jon Rae
Tues July 28 London – Black Sheep
Wens July 29 Hamilton – The Casbah
Fri July 31 Guelph – The Albion
Sat Aug 1 Sault St Marie – Loplops
Tues Aug 4 Regina – Exchange
Thurs Aug 6 Calgary - Palomino
Sat Aug 8 Vancouver - Biltmore
Mon Aug 10 Kelowna – Blue Gator
Wens Aug 12 Edmonton - Hydeaway
Thus Aug 13 Saskatoon – Lydias

Check the band's MySpace page for more tour details as they are announced in the coming weeks.

Here's the Zygiella podcast with Great Bloomers (in case you missed it the first time around).

Check out their MTV Canada live performance here.

Buy their albums over at Maple Music.

Finally, here's Colin's interview with the band:

Podcast 42 (4-10 June 2009).

Featuring Flotilla ("Charlie, I'm Through"), Clara Engel ("Appetite for Pain"), Evening Hymns ("Sentimental Reasons"), The Darling DeMaes ("Girl Soldiers"), The Lovely Feathers ("Lowiza"), and Jordaan Mason & the Horse Museum ("Bird's Nest").

Tyler and I realized that we've already done a year's worth of podcasts! The first one covered the last week of May 2008. So here's to the start of year 2. Thanks so much to everyone who's listened!

Listen at Zygiella
Download the podcast
RSS (subscribe / download this and past podcasts)
iTunes (subscribe)

As always, we're on the lookout for new music. Streaming from MySpace can be difficult or impossible some days---like yesterday, when the player wasn't at all reliable, so feel free to send me some song files (historyjenATgmailDOTcom).

Another podcast you should know about are the ones done by Justin Beach for the NxEW.ca music blog. Check out previous all-music podcasts here, and submit your band's music for potential inclusion (northbyeastwestATgmailDOTcom).

Indie Music 83 (3-10 June 2009).

Like this list? Join my Facebook group to get my weekly Toronto indie music listings. Subscribe to my weekly podcast (or download the episodes) here, or through iTunes. Or just listen to the latest one, and all the other ones, at Zygiella. Make sure to check the rest of my blog for show reviews and photos, giveaways, and downloads.

Welcome to my weekly roundup of inexpensive indie(ish) musical happenings in downtown Toronto, all for $10 or less. If I'm missing something you think I should list, or you have any comments, let me know. I star (*) shows that most interest me.

I took in some of the huge Pitter Patter Music Festival on the weekend. And it left me sick come Tuesday. Yeah, PPMF, I blame you. And all the great bands I saw: Octoberman, Sandman Viper Command, Pick A Piper, The Diableros, Sports, Cursed Arrows, The Speaking Tongues, Chang-A-Lang, Mt. Royal, Sarah D., and Drunk Woman. And Slim Twig and Wyrd Visions, too. Also, and most especially, Keith Hamilton. *cough* *sniffle*

Everything is great this week. Here's to hoping I'm well enough to take some of it in. My schedule looks like Flotilla on Thursday, Jordaan Mason et al. on Saturday, and Wavelength on Sunday.

WEDNESDAY (3 jun)

PWYC Weds feat. Rocketonik, The Artful Vandelays, and The Cast @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, pwyc.

* The Black Hollies, Schomberg Fair, The Disraelis, and Siam Cat @ Velvet Underground, $6.

THURSDAY (4 jun)

The Parkdale Revolutionary Orchestra performs The Torture Memos @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

Omon Ra, Broken Tree Fort, and Rat Tail @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.

Nomadic Science (Sound & Spatial Improvisation), Clara Engel (Apocalyptic Folk), Laura Mendes & John Loerchner (Dance & Live Animation), and The Thing Is (Balkan/Jazz Fusion) @ Labspace Studio, 8pm, $5.

* Flotilla, Culture Reject, and Metal Kites @ Tranzac (Main Hall), 8pm, $8.

Telepathe w/ Teen Girl Fantasy @ El Mocambo (First Floor), 9pm, $10.

FRIDAY (5 jun)

International Turpentine and Ramblin' Rose @ Imperial Pub, 10pm, pwyc.

Out of This Spark presents Evening Hymns and The Youngest @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

Wet Dirt, House of Lancaster, Husk, and Gettysburg @ The Silver Dollar Room, 9pm, $5.

TWM presents The Cheap Speakers, Galore, and Old World Vulture @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $5.

The Endless Blockade, Winters in Osaka, Mudlark, Scumbelly, Eating Glass, and Piss Horn @ Siesta Nouveaux, 8pm, $10. All ages, BYOB.

Great Lakes Surf Battle feat. The Blue Demons (CD release), The Calzirians, The Flying Bordelos, and Las Avispas Locos @ The Cadillac Lounge, 8pm, $10.

SATURDAY (6 jun)

BidiniBand (in-store) @ Soundscapes, 4:30pm, free. All ages.

Beware! The Leopard @ Kops Records, 5:30pm, free. All ages.

The Ghost Is Dancing (acoustic) @ TARA (554 Queen St. East), 5pm, free. All ages. You must RSVP with your name and the number of people coming to rsvp@secretsessionstara.com.

Catl (2 sets) @ Cloak & Dagger, 10pm, no cover.

SUNRiSER (CD release) w/ Give us the Daggers @ El Mocambo, 9pm, $10.

theZOOs art&music series presents Ball Harness (CD release) w/ The Isosceles Project, plus guitar art and djZOOs @ Bread & Circus, 10pm, pwyc.

* TWM 42 feat. Donlands & Mortimer, The Darling DeMaes and Dancehall Free For All @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $5.

Peter Project and Hibou @ The Drake Hotel (Underground), 8pm, $5.

Ignatz, Harris Newman, Spiritual Sky Blues Band, and DJ Longhorn Grille @ 1234 Bloor St. W., $7.

* The Lovely Feathers, The Ghost is Dancing, and Boys Who Say No @ Lee's Palace, 9pm, $8.

Isla Craig (CD release) w/ Heavy Water, Darbazi, and video installation by Yuula & Xenia Benivolski @ St.-Andrew-By-the-Lake, Toronto Island, 7:30pm, $10 (adv tix avail.).

* Jordaan Mason & the Horse Museum (CD release) w/ Nich Worby and Hamilton Trading Co. @ The Music Gallery, Saturday, 6 June, 7pm, $10 (or pwyc). The music starts at 8pm. At 7pm, in the church's Fellowship Room, there will be a reception featuring artwork by Tara Fillion and Josh Pogue, whose artwork decorates the album.

Mark Pesci presents Nitad, School Jerks, Canadian Rifle, Molested Youth, and Mature Situations @ Siesta Nouveaux, 8pm, $10. All ages, BYOB.

Great Lakes Surf Battle feat. The Von Drats, Luau Or Die, Evil Farm Children, and The Vondrells @ The Cadillac Lounge, 8pm, $10.

The Dave Bidini Band, Laura Barrett, and tba @ The Horseshoe Tavern, 9pm, $10.

SUNDAY (7 jun)

* Ignatz, Harris Newman, Eric Chenaux, and Viviv @ 377 Landsdowne, 3pm, pwyc. "Limited food and refreshments will be served so come early if you're into that."

* WL466: Joe Lally (from Fugazi), Boxes & Bags, Glorytellers, and Helen Money, w/ DJ Robin All The Banks, and visuals by General Chaos @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, pwyc ($10 sugg).

MONDAY (8 jun)

Elvis Monday feat. Noisedive, Noisebox, Arkweld, The Kramdens, Frail Fragment, and People Of Canada @ The Drake Hotel (Underground), 9pm, free.

Peter James Project fundraiser feat. Alex Woodrow, Alison Jutzi, Dan McLean Jr., Darrelle London, DJ Monkestra, Edo, Lenny Silvini (spoken word), Quincy LePalm, and Peter James Project @ Clinton's Tavern, 8pm, $10. Door prizes.

TUESDAY (9 jun)

The Main Thing, Your New Friends, and Groove Suit @ The Silver Dollar Room, 8pm, $5.

WEDNESDAY (10 jun)

Megan Hamilton and Matthew de Zoete @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.

PWYC Weds w/ Sparkling White, Fat City & Cobra @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, pwyc.

Weds Go Pop! feat. Alysha Brillinger, Eve & the Ocean, Adam Crossley, and LLIONS @ Supermarket, 9pm, pwyc.

Spring Songbirds' Show feat. Wendy Leung, Melissa Dalton, and Lara Martin @ Cameron House, 9pm, pwyc.

The Chronic, Black Magic Pyramid, and The Kettle Black @ Smiling Buddha Bar, 9pm, $5.

Bellevue and York Redoubt @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.

Amanda Mabro and Darrelle London @ The Rivoli, 8:30pm, $10.