Indie Music 28.

Like this list? Join my Google Group to get my weekly Toronto indie music listings.

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, please do let me know.

This is the Pitter Patter Music Festival edition of the listings. I’ve listed everything below, but you can also check the schedule and band list here. It promises to be an excellent bunch of shows! I will be at fest shows on Thursday (the Drake) and maybe Sunday. Friday I’ll be at Rancho Relaxo, and Saturday I’m going to see Basia Bulat, Amos the Transparent, and Katie Stelmanis at Lee’s Palace.

There are no starred shows this week. Keith Hamilton’s PPFest is taking over the city, and all the shows on offer are good (depending on what you like). This is the longest list I’ve compiled in my 28 weeks of doing lists. It’s Pitter Patter’s fault.

MONDAY (24 mar)

Shoeless Monday feat. My Psycho Ex @ 11:30, City Streets @ 10:30, and The Counsellors @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, free.

Elvis Mondays presents The Hounds, Allie Hughes, The Human Statues, The People of Canada, and City Streets @ The Drake Underground, 9pm, free.

Groovy Mondays feat. Darin Yorston and Sweetgrass @ Mitzi’s Sister, pwyc.

Automatic Caution Door and Eiderdown @ Smiling Buddha, 9pm.

Marsupial Mondays presents Erica Werry, Doug Tielli, Eric Chenaux, Aaron Lumley, and Michael Liston @ Tranzac (Tiki Room), 9pm, $5.

Pterodactyl (Brooklyn) and Hot Friends @ Sneaky Dee’s, 9pm, $5.

LiveRockListings presents benefit show for victims of the Queen St. West fire. All kinds of things happening at Holy Joe’s, Kathedral, and The Reverb, w/ and afterparty at Rok Boutique. $10 minimum donation. More info here.

TUESDAY (25 mar)

The See Through Trio @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.

The Edge 102.1 Dave Bookman’s Nu Music Nite feat. Idlers @ 12:00, Cancel Winter @ 11:10, Years of Silence @ 10:20, and Spirits @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, free.

Mike Overton and tba @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

Tundra Fun @ Mitzi’s Sister, pwyc.

Pitter Patter Nights presents Joel Elliot w/ Trailing and Zilhuminzu @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.

Dave Borins @ Tattoo Rock Parlour, 9pm, $7.

Panther (Panther) w/ Nif_D and Secret Japanese Girlfriend @ Lee’s Palace, 9pm, $8.

WEDNESDAY (26 mar)

Lisa Marie Kruchak @ Renaissance Cafe, 9pm, free.

Laura Burns (CD release) @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 10pm.

Anamorphic Heat and Nobuo Kubota / Jack Vorvis @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.

Local Alternative feat. tba @ 12:00, Silvercade @ 11:10, Guys @ 10:20, and Spygirl @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, $4.

Owle Bird and Teeth of Lions @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

LAUGHstock presents Pijenhol, Of the Epic, and CayM @ Smiling Buddha, 9pm, $5.

Chris Assaad (ex-I.AN.EYE) w/ Dylan Murray @ Tattoo Rock Parlour, 8:30pm, $8.

Love You Live 3 feat. live performance of Joy Division’s "Last Concert" by Party Wallet (and guests) w/ Love Kills and Invasions @ Velvet Underground, $7.

THURSDAY (27 mar)

Goodness me, there are an awful lot of excellent things to do tonight.

Tripping Hazard, Left of Zero, and Personal Circus @ Mitzi’s Sister, 10pm, pwyc.

Northamorica @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.

Deep Dark United @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

The Joshua Cockerill Band @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 9pm.

Local Alternative feat. Dirt ’n’ Diamonds @12:30, Playdeaf (CD release) @ 11:30, Revolution Love @ 10:30, and North of Hollywood @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, $5.

Dr. Payne & the Disease @ Concord Cafe, 11pm, $5.

(PPFest) Anagram, The Mark Inside, Lunchmeat, and Salarymen @ Sneaky Dee’s, 9pm, $5.

(PPFest) Live performance of Neutral Milk Hotel’s "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea," The Rural Alberta Advantage, Great Bloomers, and Sister Suvi @ The Drake Underground, 8pm, $5.

(PPFest) Foxfire, Fire Hydrant, Bass Lions, and Reuben O’Dell Barkow @ The Boat, 8pm, $5.

(PPFest) Clothes Make the Man, The Winter Gloves, The Champion Heartache, and Horses @ Teranga, 8pm, $5.

(PPFest) Malcolm Bauld, Ben Somer, Silver Speakers, and Zesty @ The Embassy, 8pm, $5.

(PPFest) The Liras, Fjord Rowboat, and The Craft Economy @ Supermarket, 9pm, $5.

(PPFest) Rangi, tba, and In Support of Living @ The Savannah Room, 9pm, $5.

(PPFest) The Speaking Tongues, Mariposa, and Obviously 5 Believers @ Tiger Bar, 9pm, $5.

(PPFest) Mantler, Maylee Todd, and Blind Mule @ The Central, 8pm, $5.

ZYGIELLA.COM II presents Boxes & Bags, Still life Still, and The Vibrosonics @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $5.

Hot Monogamy, Lipstick Machine, and Vive Quebec Libres, hosted by Grassy Knoll & The Magic Bullit and DADOO @ Smiling Buddha, 9pm, $5.

Black Collar Thursdays feat. Saigon Hookers w/ DJ Stu Dead of Playdead @ The Bovine, 9pm, $5.

Hott Boxx presents Bound, Inoke Errati, Prize Fighter, Kilhuminzo, and Sam Hell @ The Rivoli, 8pm, $5.

LAUGHstock presents Gunnar Rapido, Villains, Worst Case Ontario, and Please Standby @ Clinton’s Tavern, 8:30pm, $5.

Why? w/ Cryptacize @ Silver Dollar, $9.

Edwin & The Forty Five Tension @ Tattoo Rock Parlour, $10. Edwin, yeah.

FRIDAY (28 mar)

If you’re up for something a little different and probably all kinds of great, go to Wavelength’s Kalimba Summit at Tranzac (Main Hall), starting at 7pm. Tickets at $15 at the door, or $12 in advance from Soundscapes. Laura Barrett, whom I absolutely adore, is one of the performers.

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

Odyssey, Sonic Avenues, Fleece Elves, and Square Root of Margaret @ Silver Dollar, 9pm.

Nancy Dutra and Hotcha! @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.

Dave Clark’s Woodshed Orchestra and Greg Hambleton @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

The Independent Truckers Union, Lost at Sea, and tba @ Smiling Buddha, 9pm.

ADA and Easy Way Out @ Clinton’s Tavern, $5.

Ten Kens w/ Young Rivals @ The Drake Underground, 8pm, $5.

(PPFest) Bocce, Beth in Battle Mode, Sleeping Kings of Iona, and TMDP @ Teranga, 9pm, $5.

(PPFest) Pants & Tie, Fire Flower Revue, tba, and Evening Hymns @ The Embassy, 9pm, $5.

(PPFest) Songs from A Room, Burrows, and Acres @ The Savannah Room, 9pm, $5.

(PPFest) Marienbad, Rabbit Season, Great Lenin’s Ghost, and Pink Dead Whale @ Tiger Bar, 9pm, $5.

(PPFest) Knock Knock Ginger, Sports: The Band, and Sean MacDonald @ The Central, 9pm, $5.

Loving In the Name Of feat. a cover band, comedy, and DJs Disappointment, Product Placement, and Strictly Commercial @ The Augusta House (Dundas/Augusta, next to The Boat), 10pm, $5. Details here.

Macro Fiesta @ The Cadillac Lounge, 10pm, $5.

La Casa Muerte @ Concord Cafe, 9pm, $5.

Bombing Neverland (CD release) and Maddison Screams w/ DJ sets by the Darth Virgos AL911 & Patrick Pentland (from Sloan) @ The Bovine, 9pm, $7 (or $15 for the CD too).

We are Wolves and DJ Shit la Merde @ Sneaky Dee’s, 10pm, $7. Oh, la Merde, how I miss you. We’ve had some good times. This sounds like a good party.

TWM 13 presents Tin Bangs, Music For Animals (San Francisco), The Hots @ Rancho Relaxo, $7. I am going to this. Tin Bangs, yes!

Film Jam feat. performances by Man the Destroyer, Everything That’s Fly, Streetlight Light, and Faceless Nameless @ El Mocambo, 8pm, $10 ($8 w/ canned food donation).

Beach House, The Papercuts, and Sing Leaf @ El Mocambo, 9pm, $8.50.

SATURDAY (29 mar)

I will be at Lee’s Palace seeing Basia Bulat, Amos the Transparent, and Katie Stelmanis. You can pick up $10 adv tix at the usual spots. I think it’ll be a good show!

(PPFest) Boo Hoo, Shotgun Jimmie, The Racoon Wedding, and The Guests @ Supermarket, noon, $5.

Seedy Ease @ The Mod Club, 10pm. Get on the guestlist here.

The Swallows and The Erica Werry Band @ Mitzi’s Sister, pwyc.

Songwriters Unite! @ Cameron House (Back Room), 10pm, pwyc. (No details yet on the musicians performing.)

Violet Lyal and Les Kilt @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

Tres w/ Endsville and Makeda @ Smiling Buddha, 9pm, $10 ($7 adv).

(PPFest) Holoscene, For a Minor Reflection, Now Yr Taken, and Riderless @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.

(PPFest) tba, The Love Machine, Arrows, and Camaromance @ Tiger Bar, 9pm, $5.

(PPFest) Sailboats Are White, For the Mathematicians, Fine Motor Control, and 68 Porno Mags @ Teranga, 9pm, $5.

(PPFest) Idle Tigers, Inside a Mind, The Kettle Black, and Roman Pilates @ The Embassy, 9pm, $5.

(PPFest) Dukes of the Archipelago, Ruby Coast, and Gavin Gardener @ The Drake Underground, 7pm, $5.

(PPFest) OK Cobra, Hush Money, and Terror Lake @ The Central, 9pm, $5.

(PPFest) Boo Hoo, Touch Me Airbourne Plague, and Radius & Helena @ The Savannah Room, 9pm, $5.

Black Hat Brigade, Instruments of Lust & Fury (CD release), Sleep The Season, and Hungry Lake @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $5.

Drunkula and The Pariahs w/ DJ Vania @ The Bovine, 9pm, $5.

(PPFest) Love Kills, followed by Kensington Station @ The Neutral, 10pm, $5.

Sights & Sounds, Dinosaur Bones, and The Junction @ Sneaky Dee’s, 9pm, $8.

The Famous Monsters, The Treblemakers, The Knivings, and The Eradicators @ Silver Dollar, 9pm, $8.

Jim Armstrong & The Sonic Deli Band w/ The Schomberg Fair @ C’est What, $10.

The Weber Brothers w/ The Mississippi Kings @ Cadillac Lounge, 9 pm, $10.

SUNDAY (30 mar)

Lazy Sunday Matinee with Scott Cameron and Friends @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 2:30pm, pwyc.

Hiccup Truck @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 5:00pm, pwyc.

Wavelength 406 feat. Friendlyness & the Human Rights, Geordie Haley’s Everytime Band, Waleed Kush, w/ DJ Jeremiah from superheavyREGGAE @ Sneaky Dee’s, 9pm, pwyc.

Mothring @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10:30pm, pwyc.

Rafe and tba @ Smiling Buddha, 9pm.

(PPFest) Two Minute Miracles, The Minotaurs, Proof of Ghosts, and Hamilton Trading Co. @ The Boat, 7pm, $5.

(PPFest) Sing Leaf and Tom McCammon @ Bread & Circus, 8pm, $5.

(PPFest) Barons & Lengthy, Thousand Dollar Wedding, Tropics, and Les Parallelions @ Teranga, 8pm, $5.

(PPFest) Thee Diet Pills, The Hoa Hoas, and Weird Weather @ The Embassy, 8pm, $5.

(PPFest) The Frequency, Cedar, and The DGB @ The Savannah Room, 8pm, $5.

(PPFest) C-Mon & Kypski, Slow Hand Motem, and Tacoma Hellfarm Tragedy @ The Central, 8pm, $5.

The Isosceles Project, James MacDonald, Street Corner Skandal, and ADA @ Horseshoe Tavern, 8pm, $5. Fundraiser event for OCAD students.

OPOPO, Green Go, Foxfire, XYZ Affair, The Winks.

Those were the bands I saw and liked tonight. I've seen them all at least twice, except for Brooklyn-based XYZ Affair. (Lauren Schreiber brought them up for the first anniversary of her No Shame series.)

It was fun night. I was at the Drake for the early show, and then MB and I ended up at the Rivoli after a last-minute change of plans. It was a good decision. We caught most of Eden Ants, then stuck around for awesome OPOPO and crazy-fun Foxfire.

Now I need to eat more food.

Doing things.

Life's good these days. I'm making ever so slow and painful progress on my chapter, seeing lots of good music, seeing friends, and the sun in shining! I do need to move faster on all things dissertation, but I think I'm gonna remember what a professor said to me Tuesday evening: "Oh, fourth year. You're ahead of yourself, then." Yes! So the fact that I'd yet to finish a chapter didn't disturb him in the least. Too bad he's no longer on my committee . . . .

I've just bought myself a ticket to go see Jens Lekman and Final Fantasy at the Music Gallery. At just shy of $25, it's a bit pricey for me. But, heck, that's what I paid for Spoon, and this will be so much better! Plus, I love love love music in churches. Yay.

Later today I'm blowing off work to go celebrate No Shame's birthday at the Drake Underground. And then maybe another show after that. So much to do all the time.

In other news, I am currently obsessed with Laura Barrett's music.

Old historians at the college.

Tuesday evening I went to Massey for dinner and a history lecture. All this is fine and good, but I do have some complaints. Having to talk to old professor and other types can be quite exhausting. Even when they're nice and are asking you all kinds of questions about your research. Because then I have to be "on" and be all chatty and pleasant and attempt to sound smart without pretending to be more advanced than I am. I hate to sound pompous. So it's all very exhausting. Plus, because I was chatting I didn't have time to eat all my dinner and then I had to eat dessert, which was full of sugar, which I don't like. And it gave me a headache, and the chairs at Massey are the absolute worst ever. (Except for the ones at the Munk Centre, which are, I think, worse.) And then I felt like my personal space was being invaded just a little bit by the dean I was sitting beside. Sigh.

I came home at 10pm and just couldn't do anything for the rest of the day. I couldn't even fall asleep until many hours later. Annoying. Complain. Just thinking about it again makes me want to have a nap.

Also, and somewhat related: Will the weather stop being weird so that my headache will go away?

Dissertating makes my hungry all the time.

Really. All this brain work requires constant feeding. I don't understand why.

Also, I believe that Sneaky Dee's is my most favourite place to be at a show. I love it and the indie kids it draws on Sunday nights to pieces.

I gotta go get more food. I've eaten like 6 times today. It's ridiculous. Starving...

Historians and others.

I am being a bad grad student. I need to start being a much better one. Like, now.

Thursday I got sucked into pub night. Friday I went for lunch then couldn't do anything until EH and I went to a show. Then, Saturday, CS, YT, and I went to a housewarming / birthday party. It was super fun! And then at 1am, instead of going home as I should have, MB and I went dancing at the Boat. So much crazy fun. Dance nights at the Boat---with some exceptions---are ridiculously fun. We made friends and had a blast. I got home at 3:30am. Sunday, I finished building my enormous new filing cabinet (4 drawers! legal size!) and then CS and I ordered delivery for dinner (excellent choice) and then, instead of doing work, I went to Sneaky Dee's. But I probably wouldn't have done much work anyways. Not that that's any excuse. I was definitely missing my indie friends. And a bunch of them were out at the Wavelength show, including some of my favourites. I'm glad I went. But I'm not glad I spent so much time over the last several days not working.

Bad me.

Indie Music 27.

Like this list? Join my Google Group to get my weekly Toronto indie music listings.

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, please do let me know.

There are good shows this week. I mean, of course there are. But come Friday you might have a hard time choosing.

MONDAY (17 mar)

St. Patrick's Day. You'll probably find green beer, drunken frat boys, and good Irish music in lots of places. For something different, go to the Tiki Room at Tranzac.

Elvis Mondays presents Exploding Band, Steve Singh, The People of Canada, Alphabot!, Ali Hughes, and Hallelujua @ The Drake Underground, 7pm, free.

Groovy Mondays feat. The Rosie Jones Band @ Mitzi's Sister, free.

Marsupial Mondays presents Isla Craig, Mike Smith, and Michael Liston @ Tranzac (Tiki Room), 9pm, $5.

TUESDAY (18 mar)

Good options tonight. I suppose it depends on what you want to do/where you want to be while you listen to good music.

Michael Louis Johnson @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 5:30pm, $5.

The Edge 102.1 Dave Bookman's Nu Music Nite feat. Staylefish @12:00, Anti Q’s @11:10, Jet Black Stereo @10:20, and In Perfect Cursive @9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, free.

CaMp CoMbO @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

* The Jessica Stuart Few, FM Hi Low, and Moulann @ Mitzi's Sister, pwyc.

Pitter Patter Nights presents Barn Owl @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.

WEDNESDAY (19 mar)

I'd camp out at Tranzac tonight if I were you. Or maybe check out what the deal is with the new Wednesday night album cover shows at Velvet Underground.

Lindi Ortega @ Supermarket, 9pm, pwyc.

The Lovely Killbots and May Jun @ The Cameron House (Back Room), pwyc.

Local Alternative feat. tba @ 12:00, Shadows In Red @ 11:10, The Terns @ 10:20, and Dammien Alexander @ 9:30 (Cd Release). The Horseshoe Tavern, $4.

Andy Swan @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.

The Speaking Tongues w/ Catl (feat. David McMorrow) @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

Altaira Ambient Night w/ dreamSTATE, Sleep Research Facility, Beta Cloud (Buffalo, NY), This Instrument, Ouroboros, Cauterwall, Toxia, Teratoma, Sighup @ The Renaissance Cafe, 8pm, $5.

Love You Live 2 feat. performances of Neil Young's "Live Rust" and The Who's "Live At Leeds" @ Velvet Underground, $tba.

Kate Fenner w/ Luther Wright @ The Rivoli, 8pm, $10.

THURSDAY (20 mar)

Two Foot Falls w/ Daylight for Dead Eyes and Jesse Labelle @ The Rivoli, 9pm.

Terror Lake, The Blooming Rosebuds, and Thousand Dollar Wedding @ Mitzi's Sister, pwyc.

Arkana Music @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.

Valery Gore @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc,

* No Shame presents Germans, Spookey Ruben, and Sky Shark @ Tiger Bar, 9pm, $5. Yes, Tiger Bar!

Winhara, Picture Sound, Alanna Brown, and The Tom Glenne 5.5 @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.

Tallships, Whale Tooth, Brett Caswell, and Ryan Karam @ Rancho Relaxo, $5. I have enjoyed Whale Tooth.

Mob Mentality @ Silver Dollar, $5.

Black Collar Thursdays feat. The G-Men w/ DJ Stu Dead of Playdead @ The Bovine, 9pm, $5.

Yo! Butter long weekend hip hop dance party launch feat. Ghettosocks w/ DJs Mr Sals and Rob Nice @ Teranga, 10pm, $5.

Joe Sorbara's Other Foot First, Jean Martin, and Evan Shaw @ Somewhere There, 8pm, $6.

FRIDAY (21 mar)

(I think I'm breaking my own rules by starring 6 shows tonight, but, well, there you have it.) There is a lot of good stuff to do tonight. I'll be at the No Shame anniversary party, and once I've had my fill of cupcakes and dancing, will probably head over to Silver Dollar. But it's a difficult decision.

* Raveonettes (in-store) @ Sonic Boom, 6:30pm, free.

The Kensington Hillbilly’s, Meagan Marshall, and Coleen Hodgson @ Mitzi's Sister.

Bellewoods @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.

Matt Lipscombe and tba @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

** No Shame 1 Year Anniversary Party feat. The Winks, The XYZ Affair, and Green Go @ The Drake Underground, 7:30pm (early show with cupcakes!), $5.

* Chris Eaton (Rock Plaza Central), Key Witness, and Yonder @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $5.

The Class Assassins and Dark Pearl w/ DJ sets by the Darth Virgos AL911 & Patrick Pentland (from Sloan) @ The Bovine, 9pm, $5.

* Pop with Brains 14 presents Foxfire, OPOPO, Eden Ants, and Idlers @ The Rivoli, 9pm, $5. I can confidently recommend Foxfire (Forest) and OPOPO. Not sure how they'll go down at the Rivoli, though. But if you go maybe the vibe will be better there.

Local Alternative feat. Chinese Food @ 12:30, Afterparty @ 11:30, Nightlife @ 10:30, and Slave To The Squarewave @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, $6.

* The Primordials (LP release) w/ The Hi-Risers and The Blue Demons @ Silver Dollar, 9pm, $8. Yippee!

* Old Time Relijun, Rozasia, and The Racoon Wedding @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, $10.

SATURDAY (22 mar)

I haven't starred anything tonight because I just don't know enough to know what's good.

National Keyframe Band, Horse, and Jenny Allen @ Mitzi's Sister.

The Vive Quebec Libres, The Blooming Rosebuds, Lucas Goldman feat. The Sleaze Poles, and Planet Creature @ Cameron House (Back Room), 8pm, pwyc (or $5).

Songs of Jennifer Castle and Josh Thorpe performed w/ Eric Chenaux, Jason Benoit, Allison Cameron, and Marcus Quin @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

Easy Targets, The DGB, Two Scoops, Jay Spectre, and Left of Zer0 @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $5.

C.C.Voltage and Delinquints @ The Bovine, 9pm, $5.

The Miles as part of Kensington Station @ The Neutral, $6. These guys are great. I have never been to the Neutral; maybe tonight I will go.

T.O. Heavy hardcore thrashers feat. Cursed (CD release) @ 12:30, Career Suicide @ 11:30, 50WattHead @ 10:30, and Living Darkness @ 9:30 w/ DJ Mark Pesci. Lee's Palace. $8.

Geoff Berner w/ The Phonemes @ Tranzac (Main Hall), 9pm, $10.

SUNDAY (23 mar)

James Lamb & Jess Hill @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 5pm, pwyc.

Wavelength 405 feat Lioness, Syntonics, and Minisystem, w/ DJ K.P. Rollintine @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, pwyc.

Gather Round feat. Hamilton Trading Co. @ The Boat, 9pm, pwyc.

The Mighty Gill @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10:30pm, pwyc.

Meh.

I was pretty goo earlier this week, working on my dissertation. But then Thursday happened and I spent hours doing heck knows what---not watching TV or movies, not playing on the internet, not on the phone, not cleaning, not eating, not sleeping, not leaving the house---and then it was time to go do stuff and then I got sucked into history pub night. Friday was different, but equally unproductive. Had lunch out and my body did not agree with the Irish (lamb) stew. And then it was time to go out with EH.

Out we did, but this time not far at all: to Tranzac. We wanted to see the The D'urbervilles and Forest City Lovers. It was double CD release show. And, well, I have some complaints. Not about the musicians. Other things. The sound wasn't fantastic, there were WAY too many people shoving past us, constantly moving (but NOT dancing), and talking over the music. It was all kinds of annoying and frustrating. We were disappointed. But we made the best of it, and ran into some friends in the crowd, and then we went for midnight sushi dinner. And that was good.

I'm on a cleaning bent. My room hasn't looked so spiffy in a long time. It's still pretty dirty, though. And I've got a massive filing cabinet I have yet to build. Best get on that soon.

Listening, dissertating.

I've been doing my best to get my chapter into some sort of shape recently. It's been working, but of course it's far from finished. As I write and edit and move things around and look up information I've been listening to some new music.

MB picked up Woodhands' as of yet unreleased album, "Heart Attack," and it's fantastic. Congrats on it, guys! I will get my own copy at their CD release here in Toronto on 3 April at Wrongbar. (Can't wait!!) I've also finally managed to check out Plants & Animals' "avec/with" EP and their full-length, "Parc Avenue." The latter is a bit weird at times, but overall I quite like it. And then, some of The Acorn's tunes are on heavy rotation on my player, as is Laura Barrett. I'm sad to have missed her performances last week during CMW. I've been in a mood too for Plants & Animals' label-mates, Miracle Fortress. Their "Fives Roses" is great. So looks like it's all Secret City Records and Paper Bag Records for me these days. Totally didn't plan it that way.

And now back to chapter 1. Woodhands will help.

TWM post-CMW show.

I've had some fantastic Sunday nights in this city---think of a handful of crazy-good Wavelength shows---and last night was another one. Dan Wolovick (he of TWM and the booker at Rancho Relaxo) put on a Canadian Music Week after-party. It was one of the best shows I've ever been to, I must say. There were four awesome bands, three of which I just absolutely loved. I had a great big ridiculous grin on my face for a long time.

MB and I somehow managed to arrive at Rancho at exactly the same time, he coming from the southwest, and I from the northeast. And then we headed up the stairs to catch most of Elias' set. The Vancouver-based band had come to town for CMW but had to miss their show because the singer came down with bronchitis. So at least they got a chance to play. I enjoyed the set and would definitely see them again. I must say, though, that I wasn't paying full attention. MB bought their album, he liked them so much.

There was time to chat with the some of my show-going and musician friends, and then The Details (from Winnipeg) started playing. I'd seen them once before (at a Pitter Patter night at the Boat in mid-October), and liked them, but came away without being blown away. Last night, they were great! There were times during their set when there was just me and the music. That rarely happens, that I am made to forget the world around me. Fantastic stuff. Their new album's been getting good press lately, and I'm glad I got a chance to see them again. The band didn't have any disks on hand, so I'll have to make a point to pick one up from them when they play the Boat in April. Can't wait!

The third act of the night was one of my favourite groups, Tin Bangs! How I ever love them. The guys put on an awesome live show, and it was so hard not to dance like crazy. (But I couldn't; my neck is still bothering me a bit.) MB danced hard enough for the both of us, though, I should think. :-) It was so fun for me to see Tin Bangs at Rancho, which is a good venue for them. Well, for me, really. (They should be playing for much bigger crowds!) I'll go see them again at the end of the month: they are headlining at Rancho on the 28th. Yipee!

Finally---could it get any better than this?---The Schomberg Fair. I saw this group at a show back in the fall when it was just me (and a drunk old guy) on the dance floor. And then I enjoyed them at a house party, and have since gotten to know the guys a little bit. Last night was the first time I noticed just how amazing musicians they are. They play high energy rockabilly ballads and are just so much fun. I wasn't sure at first about them playing after Tin Bangs, but it worked well. The small crowd was much appreciative of their performance chops and demanded encores.

What a great night! It's rare that I get to see four bands I really like, and get to hang out with so many good people at a venue I've come to love. Good memories. Grin.

Indie Music 26.

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, please do let me know.

Join my Google Group to get my weekly Toronto indie music listings.

There are some benefit shows this week for residents of and businesses located on that strip of Queen West destroyed by fire a few weeks back. The first one's on Monday, with good lineups at Holy Joe's and Reverb. I might head over to Holy Joe's. I am a fan of LLIONS and Mariposa.

You know that I've cut out the dance listings, right? There are lots of fun dance parties/DJ nights at the Boat, Sneaky Dee's, Tiger Bar, Clinton's, etc.

This is the six-month anniversary of my listings!

MONDAY (10 mar)

* Queen West Fire Relief Fundraiser feat. bands (see below) plus bake and craft sales @ Reverb and Holy Joe's, 7pm, $10 (sugg. donation).
Holy Joe's:
7:45 - 9am Social/Now Yr Taken
8:30 - Sean Pinchin
9:15 - Speaking Tongues
10:00 - LLIONS
10:45 - Steve Shoe
11:30 - Mariposa
Reverb:
7:30 - Basement Arms
8:15 - Salarymen
9:00 - Thee Diet Pills/Birdweek
9:55 - Anagram
10:50 - Arietta
11:45 - Gone Hollywood

Shoeless Monday feat. The Rebellion @ 11:30, Jackfish River @ 10:30, and Deathstyle 666 @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, free.

Elvis Mondays feat. Chasing Sam, Major Grey, Flying Eyes, Boxes & Bags, The Labour Of, and The People Of Canada @ The Drake Underground, 9pm, free.

Groovy Mondays feat. Shawn Creamer, Elana McMurtry, and Ian Phlip @ Mitzi's Sister, free.

Marsupial Mondays presents Steve McKay @ Tranzac (Tiki Room), 9pm.

LAUGHstock presents Soul.Rebel.Sound, Dances With Wolves, W!nslow, and Amelia @ Smiling Buddha, 9:30pm, $5.

TUESDAY (11 mar)

The Edge 102.1 Dave Bookman's Nu Music Nite feat. Vesta Varro @ 12:00, Low Level Flight @ 11:10, Awake & Dreaming @ 10:20, and Auto Pilot @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, free.

Automatic and Tommorow We Die @ The Bovine, 9pm, free.

Craig Smith and The Stars Here @ Mitzi's Sister, free.

Matt Newton Trio @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.

Al Tuck @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

WEDNESDAY (12 mar)

The Mighty Gill @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.

Local Alternative feat. tba @ 12:00, Hey There Pilgrim @ 11:10 (CD release), Playmaker @ 10:20, and Zabeth D’Kos @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, $4.

Boulder, The Medium Mood, Whiskey Priest, and Hooray Henry @ Teranga, 9pm, $5.

James Everett (Methus Bound), Amy Pitt, and Ida Maidstone @ Smiling Buddha, 9pm, $7 ($5 for students). Fundraiser show for PETA.

Love You Live: The Velvet Underground's "Live At Max's Kansas City" performed by The Beauties and friends @ The Velvet Underground, $7.

Pitter Patter Nights presents The Liras and Jordan Fine @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.

* School of Language, I Spies, and Pants and Tie @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, $8. (I'm breaking my own rules: this requires adv tix.)

Ministry Of The Environment w/ Jadea Kelly and Mike Glendon @The Rivoli, 9pm, $5.

* The Weather Station w/ Sandro Perri and Eric Chenaux @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

THURSDAY (13 mar)

BC 3000 and Sonic 500 @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.

ex-Ontario Power Generation @ Mitzi's Sister. Nice! Excellent rockers.

The Beatles, Ethel & The Mermen, and The Dubterraneans @ Smiling Buddha, 9:30pm.

Local Alternative feat. These Three Cities @ 12:00, Sunlit Ambush @ 11:10, Living Room @ 10:20, and Hoolie Snatch @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, $4.

Max Galactic, Cloud Evil, Josh Penslar, and Urban Symphony @ El Mocambo (Upstairs), 8pm, $5.

Hotboxxx presents Loudlove @ 11:45, In Transit @ 11:00, Twenty 6 Hundred @ 10:15, The Kids @ 9:30, and Leighton Bain @ 8:45. Lee's Palace, $5.

TWM presents William The Conqueror w/ Printing Press, Construction & Destruction, and Deadbeat Dads @ Rancho Relaxo, 8:30pm, $6.

Black Collar Thursdays presents The Famous Monsters w/ DJ Stu Dead of Playdead @ Bovine Sex Club, 9pm, $5.

Metal Kites and Nick Zubeck, w/ comedy by Kathleen Phillips @ The Boat, 9:30pm, $5.

The Ugly Bug Band @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

FRIDAY (14 mar)

No Shame presents Songs From A Room, Brent Randall & His Pinecones, and B.A. Jonston @ The Drake Underground, 7pm (early show), $5.

Doc Dailey and William & Polly @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30 pm, pwyc.

Pink Dead Whale, North Amorica, and Maylee @ Mitzi's Sister, 9pm, free.

The Creeps and The Outbred Inlaws @ 751, free.

Ronley Teper & Her Lipliners @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

T.O. Mega Metal feat. Ash Lee Blade @ 12:00, Cauldron @ 11:00, and Curses @ 10:00, w/ host Kayvon of Kayvon TV. Lee's Palace, $5.

Knee Deep In Squaresville Zine First Anniversary Party! w/ Buzz Deluxe and Alistair Christl @ Smiling Buddha, 8pm, $5.

Babylon Telecom w/ We Love, John Kameel Farah, Subscript, Nemo Burbank, and Antimaximum @ The Gladstone Art Bar, 9pm, $5.

TWM presents The Cheap Speakers w/ The Dress Whites and Sitcom @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $6.

* Double CD release feat. The D'Urbervilles and Forest City Lovers @ Tranzac (Main Hall), 8pm, $8 (or $7 adv).

The Lights, Everlea, Matthew Johnson @ El Mocambo (First Floor), 8:30pm, $7.

Hair Police w/ Disguises, Fossils, and Gastric Female Reflex @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, $8.

In Your Face RAWK! feat. C’MON @ 12:30, Rammer @ 11:30, Starvin Hungry @ 10:30, and Zuku @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, $10.

Trigger Effect and Chameleonize w/ DJ sets by the Darth Virgos AL911 and Patrick Pentland (from Sloan) @ The Bovine, 9pm, $10. "The proceeds of this night will be donated to the fire victims of Queen Street West." The Bovine's also having a benefit ($20 cover) on Saturday. Details on their website.

The Parkdale Revolutionary Orchestra @ The Music Gallery, 8pm, $10.

SATURDAY (15 mar)

Paul Linklatter (CD release) w/ Claire Jenkins Avec Band @ Tranzac (Main Hall), 7pm, $tba.

Greg Hobbs Band, Nick Rose, and Nancy Dutra @ Mitzi's Sister.

The Knifings and tba @ Smiling Buddha, 9:30pm.

Saturday Night Live launch party feat. Lipstick Machine @ 8:30 and Purr @ 9:30. Velvet Underground, $5.

Local Alternativeeat. Julia Set Generator @ 12:30, Tenth Planet @ 11:30, The Ryde @ 10:30, and Struggle Fish @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, $6.

The Craft Economy (as part of Kensington Station) @ The Neutral, $6.

Holloywood Swank, Maximum RNR, West End Riot, and Vilipend @ Sneaky Dee's, $5.

$100, Party Time, and The Youngest @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

Matthew Pencer's Setbacks Quartet @ Not My Dog, 10pm (two sets), free.

Proposterous, Poisonous Glass, and Nagasaki @ Silver Dollar, $7.

Fake Reality, Blood Theory @ El Mocambo (First Floor), 8:30pm, $10.

SUNDAY (16 mar)

Lazy Sunday Matinee w/ Brodie West and Brent Tanemura @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 2:30pm, pwyc.

David Malach @ Smiling Buddha, 9:30pm.

Wavelength 404 (co-presented with No Shame) feat. PDF Format, Rouge, and One Heart Many Hands, w/ DJ Ruby Petunia @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, pwyc.

Gather Round w/ Doc Dailey and Hamilton Trading Co. @ The Boat, 9pm, pwyc.

Full Irish Breakfast @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10:30pm, pwyc.

Better.

My neck still hurts a bit, but it's much better today. I no longer suffer from momentary bouts of agony. So, good. I had planned on skipping out of the last night of Canadian Music Week, but I also had to cut out all the awesome in-store performances that were on today. This is quite unfortunate, but better to have stayed in than risk damaging myself even more.

CS and did go out for a bit in the snow to acquire fish & chips from Chippy's. Oh, yum.

Sunday night, I am meeting MB to take in The Details, Tin Bangs, and The Schomberg Fair. Yay, fun. But probably no dancing for me. Sad, that.

Boo.

I had to miss my Friday night plans. I pinched a nerve in my neck in the afternoon, and have been more or less out of commission for the past several hours. Ouch.

Yay Sloan yay!!

Last night I partook in Canadian Music Week, going to the Murderecords label re-launch showcase at Supermarket.

CS and I got to Supermarket in time to catch most of Will Currie and the Country French's set. Those kids impressed us. After a trip to the bar---water for me, of course---we headed near the front for Pony Da Look. At first, my basic thought was, "weird," but then the group grew on me and soon enough I had a huge grin on my face and was dancing like a fool. I loved it. Chris, the lead singer of Sloan, kept brushing past us with a video camera. So far the night had been totally worth the $13.68 it cost.

Fellow historian LS showed up in time for Meligrove Band, a group I'd been wanting to see for several months. They (as a three-some last night) were great! I'll have to see them again for sure. And then... SLOAN! Oh wow. These guys are ridiculously hot for 40 (actually or nearly) year-old guys. They rocked out, and it was awesome! During the encore, Robbie from Tin Bangs hopped up on stage (invited) and performed with the band. He told me later Sloan is his favourite band ("and always will be"), so how fun is that for him, eh? Excellent.

I had been quite disappointed in the crowd---there were no more than 200 people there---but it livened up a bit for Sloan's set. Which is good, because damn. Still, the women who took up the two rows in front of us just basically stood still the whole night. CS and I couldn't understand what was wrong with them. This was a rock show, people: dance! Or at least bop a bit. Geez. [Correction: Laura "was front row and dancing!" :-)]

Yay Sloan! Super fun show, Murderecords. Thanks!

Tonight: the Drake, assuming I get in.

Hard time getting work done.

I've been having somewhat busy afternoons, followed by being tired and not particularly wanting to work on my dissertation. But this just won't do: I have a chapter to write! I'm gonna see what I can do to get over this problem, because I really do want to get my first chapter done. It's shaping up, but there's still a lot of work do to.

Otherwise, I'm gearing up for a busy weekend of show-going. Tonight, CS and I have tickets to see Sloan, Meligrove Band, and two others at Supermarket. That will be one extremely packed show. Should be fun! Tomorrow, I'm heading to the Drake for the Paper Bag Records showcase w/ favourites Woodhands, Laura Barrett, and others. (Woodhands is on the cover of eye weekly!) I haven't seen PB in so long, and MB and I haven't done a show in a while too---we've both been sick---so Friday promises to be good for all sorts of reasons. Even if the sets are crazy-short.

Today I have some errands to run this afternoon, and then I hope to get some work done!

[Photo source: eye weekly.]

On Saturday I went to No Shame at the Drake with JH to see the debut of the Gravity Wave band. First up was Burn Planetarium. They were good, but I wasn't paying a lot of attention. Had to catch up with friends in the crowd. But we decided to move up to the front for The Magic. And, oh wow. My, were those kids ever fantastic! Surprisingly interesting music, very dance-y, and their whole schtick I completely bought into. I will definitely see them again. And again. (Actually, I sorta, kinda did already. I went to Soundscapes on Sunday to get concert tickets, and the woman who sold me them was Sylvie from the band! We recognized each other right away. Random.)

Gravity Wave's set was ridiculous amounts of fun for me. I knew most of the songs, but from Ken's Nintendo-iPod days with Tom. I enjoyed the new arrangements, and the energy coming from the stage. So I danced like a complete fool, as is to be expected. Lots of good people came out to see them play too, so that was an added bonus. Fun times. The CD release is on April Fool's Day. (I think that's when the "movie" [I was an extra in] will debut too.)

After the show---it ended at 11pm---LS, BH, and I went to Rancho Relaxo for a TMW showcase to catch Ruby Coast. (LS manages them.) I'd seen them before at Tiger Bar, and had been impressed. Saturday night they were just great. I enjoyed their set immensely. Couldn't stay too long up at the front, though: there was moshing going on. But a young band will have a young fan base, so whatever. Everyone was having a good time, well, except for one guy who looked super unimpressed. Haha. These kids are going places, and fast. Ruby Coast: go see them.

After their set I found two guys in the crowd who looked completely out of place. As in, they didn't look 18 and they weren't making out and generally acting ridiculous. So of course I had to go talk to them. Apart from paying attention to Ruby Coast, I gotta say I spent all my time at the Rancho chatting with people. Fun. It really is a good place to see a show.

Indie Music 25.

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, please do let me know.

Want to get this list every week? Add yourself to the Google Group site.

There are LOTS of shows this week. Because it's Canada Music Week. I'm not even gonna try to list the shows that are part of it. You can check the (very long, but therefore complete) listings on the CMW website, or else see Zoilus' recommendations in the Gig Guide. I'll list a few things that are $10 or less, and that I think might be fun. Check the other sites if you are keen on taking part in the, er, week. I will be at the Sloan/Meligrove Band show on Thursday, the Paperbag Records showcase at the Drake on Friday, and at Rancho Relaxo on Sunday. The hardest day to pick an event (for me) was Thursday.

This week is chock-full of free in-store performances at Criminal Records, Sonic Boom, and Soundscapes. Those are the first items to appear in the listings below. In-stores are awesome. Definitely check one out if you can.

MONDAY (3 mar)

Shoeless Monday feat. Hue @ 11:30, Monday Rose @ 10:30, and Somastate @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, free.

Elvis Monday feat. The Human Statues, GIRAGIRA.gif, The People Of Canada, Angel Peer, and National Exit Strategy @ The Drake Underground, 9pm, free.

Groovy Mondays feat. Mike Alviano, Big Rude Jake @ Mitzi's Sister, free.

Marsupial Mondays presents Andy Swan, Stacy Burke, and Lesley Hoyles @ Tranzac (Tiki Room), 9pm, $5.

TUESDAY (4 mar)

* Dave Bookman's Nu Music Nite feat. Major Maker @ 11:30, Great Bloomers @ 10:30, and Lightspeed Champion @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, free.

Pink and Black presents The State of Things and The Rotten @ The Bovine, 9pm, free.

Great Aunt Ida, Ford Pier, and Balderdash feat. Dan Goldman @ Tranzac (Tiki Room), 9pm.

Slowly Slowly, Liz Hysen, and Anna Linda Siddall @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

The Wisk @ Smiling Buddha, 9:30pm.

GSG Showcase feat. Clare Love, The Humbles, Paul Kolinski, and The People Of Canada @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 9pm, $6.

Bush League, Slim Twig, and Cheveu, w/ comedy by Nick Flanagan and DJs Jeremy Finklestein and Christopher Sandes @ The Boat, 9pm, $6.

WEDNESDAY (5 mar)

* Bon Iver (in-store) @ Soundscapes, 4pm, free. Fantastic!

Daryl Lamoreux @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.

Corbin Murdoch, Kent McAlister, and The Gruff @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

Local Alternative feat. Ryan McMahon @ 12:00, Parker @ 11:10, Paul Disalle @ 10:20, and Red Roses Black @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, $4.

Caitlin Burgess, Makita Hack and the Log Rollers, and Ghostwalk Creek @ Smiling Buddha, 9:30pm, $5. This is a fundraiser show for Evergreen (Yonge St. Mission, street youth programs).

See Spot Run w/ The General Staff @ Supermarket, 9pm, $7.

Shitt Hottt, Dinosaur Bones, The Speaking Tongues, and Little Foot Long Foot @ Tattoo, 9pm, $5.

LAUGHstock presents Still Life Still, Alphabot!, and Please Standby We're Having Technical Difficulties @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.

THURSDAY (6 mar)

Immaculate Machine (in-store) @ Soundscapes, 5pm, free.

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

The Burning Hell (in-store) @ Criminal Records, 6:30pm, free.

Matthew Barber (in-store) @ Sonic Boom, 7pm, free.

Marco Solo @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7pm, pwyc.

Capital Grass & The No Men, Leonids, and The Donefors @ Mitzi's Sister, pwyc.

Nude as the News feat Dan Mangan, Samir Khan, and Sandro Perri @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

Pitter Patter Nights presents Bridges To Dreams and The Yage Letters @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.

* Chart Showcase feat. Oh No Forest Fires @ 2:30, Sunparlour Players @ 1:10, The Acorn @ 12:10, Plants & Animals @ 11:10, Katie Stelmanis @ 10:10, Dog Day @ 9:20, and Immaculate Machine @ 8:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, $10 ($9 adv). This is a great lineup.

* Misteur Valaire, Camouflage Nights, The Cansecos, The Russian Futurists, and OPOPO, w/ DJs until 4am @ Sneaky Dee's, 8:30pm, $10. Up for a dance party?

Harvard Broadcasting and X92.9 present Alberta Xposed feat. Secret Broadcast @ 10:00, Jane Vain & The Dark Matter @ 11:00, The Rocky Fortune @ 12:00, Hot Little Rocket @ 1:00, and Rebekah Higgs @ 2:00. The Silver Dollar, $10 ($8 adv). Also good.

FRIDAY (7 mar)

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

Plants & Animals (in-store) @ Criminal Records, 7pm, free.

Attack In Black (in-store) @ Sonic Boom, 7pm, free.

The Two-Minute Miracles and Share @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

(weework) showcase feat. Jenny Omnichord @ 9:00, Ox @ 10:00, The Burning Hell @ 11:00, The United Steel Workers of Montreal @ 12:00, Proof of Ghosts @ 1:00, and Tokyo Sex Destruction @ 2:00. The Silver Dollar, $10 ($8 adv).

* Paper Bag Records showcase feat. Skratch Bastid @ 1:30, Woodhands @ 12:45, Winter Gloves @ 12:00, Slim Twig @ 11:15, Laura Barrett @ 10:30, Tropics @ 9:45, and Huckleberry Friends @ 9:00. The Drake Underground, $5.

SATURDAY (8 mar)

* Laura Barrett (in-store) @ Soundscapes, 4pm, free. Excellent!

Calm Down It's Monday (in-store) @ Criminal Records, 5pm, free.

Julie Doiron (in-store) @ Criminal Records, 5:30pm, free.

The Superfantastics (in-store) @ Criminal Records, 6:10pm, free.

Dog Day (in-store) @ Criminal Records, 6:40pm, free.

The Key Witness, The Hunting Horns, Nich Worby, Owl Eyes, and Fraser Gielen @ Tranzac (Main Hall), 7pm, $6. This is a fundraiser event for OCAD students.

* Slowcoaster @ 9:00, Tokyo Sex Destruction @ 10:00, Fox Jaws @ 11:00, Cancel Winter @ 12:00, and Beth In Battle Mode @ 1:00. Rancho Relaxo, $10 ($8 adv).

Nina Nielson and The Woolly Leaves @ Tranzac (Main Hall), 10pm, pwyc

Demon's Claws, The Nymphets, and Ugly Stick, w/ DJ Mark Pesci @ Wrongbar, 8pm (early show), free.

NeXT-at-CMW feat. The Superstitions @ 8:15, The Unionist Ministers @ 9:00, Jason Kent & The Crystal Lake @ 10:00, Black Hat Brigade @ 11:00, Radius & Helena @ 12:00, Put The Rifle Down @ 1:00, The Mark Inside @ 2:00. The Silver Dollar, $10 ($8 adv).

Daft Punk Tribute feat. The Daft Punk Tribute Band, Yuka, and Ketch Harbour Wolves @ El Mocambo (Upstairs), 9:30pm, $10.

Dengue Fever @ Sneaky Dee's, 10pm, $10, followed by Fuck Faces dance party, 1-4am.

SUNDAY (9 mar)

Lazy Sunday Matinee with Olenka @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 2:30pm, pwyc.

* Forest City Lovers (in-store) @ Soundscapes, 4pm, free.

Greg Hambleton and tba @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 5pm, pwyc.

Wavelength 403. feat Slow Six and Naw, w/ DJ Matt Blair @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, pwyc.

Gather Round w/ Hamilton Trading Co. @ The Boat, 9pm, pwyc.

Sandbox @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10:30pm, pwyc.

Two Scoops and tba @ Smiling Buddha, 9:30pm, $5.

* The Schomberg Fair, Tin Bangs, The Details, and Elias @ Rancho Relaxo, 8pm, $5. Yes. This is one of the shows I'm most looking forward to this week. The last two bands are two of my favourite local acts, and I'm keen on seeing The Details (from Winnipeg) again.

Mouthus, Axolotl, Almost Blue Sunshine, and Roman Pilates @ Tiger Bar, 9pm, $8.

Quick update before bed.

Friday was busy with school things, and then I decided to stay in that night---there were too many good shows on; I couldn't decide which one to go to! I'm going to attempt to get more work done on my chapter this weekend. But of course shows are interrupting. I need to be more efficient.

If I feel up to it, I'll write more about the two shows I hit up Saturday night: No Shame at the Drake and TWM at Rancho Relaxo. Good times.

no shame!!

I was feeling much better Thursday morning, and by the evening had decided that no matter what, I would definitely go to the Drake for No Shame. It's been too long since I went out, and last night's lineup was just too good to miss: Leif Vollebekk, boats!!, Amos the Transparent, and Two-Minute Miracles. A few friends of mine would be there, too.

After a longer-than-usual trek out to the Drake---the Queen St. fire meant the streetcar took a detour---I arrived in time to catch most of Leif Vollebekk's set. And, wow! That man is quite something. As is true of other artists who perform solo, his recorded tunes don't do justice to the near-spiritual experience that the live set was. I might be exaggerating a bit, but not much. He didn't have extra CDs with him, so I'll have to get one when his album comes out in May.

Next up was Winnipeg's boats!!, who are on a country-wide tour. I missed them when they played at the Boat last Thursday, so was keen to see them last night. Before they came on, I started chatting with a guy sitting near me. Turns out he's finishing up a PhD at York, and did archival research at the Hudson's Bay archives! We talked about history until the music started. The band was quite fun. I can imagine they have had some pretty lively shows in the past. I'd be happy to see them again, hopefully on a night when I'm feeling better and there's more of a crowd out. They are playing Sneaks on Sunday, as part of Wavelength with The Weather Station and Muscox. Now there's another reason to go to that show!

The third act of the night, and the one that drew me out, was Amos the Transparent. I like this band a lot. Their album is great, and I'll see them again in a month, when they open for Basia Bulat at Lee's Palace. Although they were really tired from driving and playing shows for the past few days, they played like they weren't. I'm looking forward to seeing them when they're well rested and don't have a long drive back home hanging over their heads. The crowd had filled up a bit more by their set, but it was still thin. It's too bad, really, 'cause it was warm at the Drake and the music thus far had been great.

In between sets, I made a new friend and generally had a fun time. (None of my friends came out to the show.) I brought a package of Lindt chocolates with me, and did my best to hand them out to everyone there. My cold was beginning to catch up with me by the time Two-Minute Miracles came on. I stayed for most of their set---and thought they were really good---but then I just had to leave. I got home just as my medicine was wearing off.

What a great show!

A week later, still sick.

I felt better during the day, enough so that I cleaned more of the apartment and managed to get a little bit done on my dissertation. More importantly, though, I introduced CS to I Can Has Cheezburger and the NFB animation website.

Indie Music 24.

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, please do let me know.

I didn't make it out to any shows last week. I was sick, sick, sick. But hopefully I'll be better soon---prescription drugs make me happy!---and up for some of the great shows on offer over the next few days. I'll be at the Drake on Thursday and Saturday, and either Rancho Relaxo or Sneaky Dee's on Friday. Maybe Sneaky Dee's again on Sunday. Let me know if you wanna come along.

MONDAY (25 feb)

Shoeless Mondays presents Sanity Amber @ 11:30, One Man's Opinion @ 10:30, and Lust @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, free.

Elvis Mondays presents Boxes & Bags, Allie Hughes, Julia Set Generator, Alphabot!, The Sevenate, and more @ The Drake Underground, 9pm, free.

Angela Bower w/ Christine Bougie and Dafydd Hughes @ The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7pm, pwyc.

Out of This Spark presents Nina Nielsen and Jessy Bell-Smith @ The Tranzac (Tiki Room), 9 pm, $5. This is part of the 416519 (Toronto/Guelph) festival.

Pitter Patter Nights presents I Have Eaten the City w/ Capillary Action and Whiskey Priest @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.

Bad Flirt w/ Blooming Rosebuds and tba @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm.

TUESDAY (26 feb)

Two great, free shows on offer tonight.

Maya Postepski w/ Bruce Peninsula and Katie Stelmanis @ Walter Hall (U of T), 7:30pm, free.

The Edge 102.1 Dave Bookman's Nu Music Nite presents tba @ 12:00, the 6ixty8ights @ 11:10, Clothes Make the Man @ 10:20, and Matt White @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, free.

Lina Allemano Four w/ Nick Fraser @ The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.

Drumheller @ The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc. Also at the Rex on the 27th, and Somewhere There on 1 March.

Lindi Ortega w/ Deromantic @ Supermarket, 9pm, $5.

LAUGHstock presents The Paper Makers, Hallelujah, and Atlas Eyes @ Smiling Buddha, 9:30pm, $5.

Maximum RNR and Ashes @ Tattoo, $7.

WEDNESDAY (27 feb)

Key Witness, Honest I's, Caylie Staples, and R.O.M.I.N.S. @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, free. I have enjoyed Key Witness in the past.

The Earth Tones @ The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

Pitter Patter Nights presents Fire Flower Revue, Idle Tigers, Jesse Matthews, Leslie Predy @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.

The Pale Horses, Our Father, and Hoosier Poet @ Smiling Buddha, 8pm, $5.

Local Alternative feat. Saigon Hookers @ 12:00, Purr @ 11:10, Fighter/Lover @ 10:20, and New Groove Orchestra @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, $5.

THURSDAY (28 feb)

I recommend Mitzi's Sister, the Drake, the Boat, or Rancho Relaxo. Sneaky Dee's would probably be fun too (and make you feel charitable). I'll be at No Shame (at the Drake), which is hosting three excellent shows this weekend.

The Primordials w/ Ethel and the Mermen @ Mitzi's Sister, 9pm, free. Yay, Primordials! An honest-to-goodness 60s beat/garage band.

The Micronite Filters, Cam Clark & the Psycs @ Smiling Buddha, 9:30pm.

Deep Dark United @ The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7pm (I think), pwyc.

Elizabeth Bruce w/ The Good Ideas @ The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm (I think), pwyc.

No Shame presents The Two Minute Miracles, Amos the Transparent, Boats!, and Leif Vollebekk @ The Drake Underground, 9pm, $7. This is where I'll be.

Pitter Patter Nights presents Whale Tooth w/ Winter Gloves @ The Boat, 9pm, $5. Whale Tooth is good.

Zygiella.com presents Ketch Harbour Wolves, Bellewoods, and Les Kilt @ Rancho Relaxo, 8:45pm, $5. So many good shows tonight.

Steers and Queers feat. Lisa Bozikovic, Miss Conception, Lex Vaughn, Male Gayze, Alpha Q, Big Eva Edna, Sigourney Beaver, and Some Random Tall Guy @ The Dakota Tavern, $5. Lisa Bozikovic is super fantastic.

Sadie May Crash, Ed the Sock, Seard Ward, Still Life Still, and For the Record @ Sneaky Dee's, 8pm, $10. This is a fundraiser show.

FRIDAY (29 feb)

There is just too much to do tonight. If you're up for dancing and venue-hopping, I'd definitely do the early Drake show and then head over to Sneaks. If you'd rather rock out, then go to the Silver Dollar. If you feel like being moved (musically) in a church, then the Andre Charles Theriault release show is a good bet. For a good, kinda dance-y, indie music showcase, you want to be at Rancho Relaxo. And that's just the stuff I have opinions on . . .

Slowking w/ tba @ Mitzi's Sister.

No Shame presents Think About Life, OPOPO, and Green Go @ The Drake Underground, 7pm (early show), $5. Sweet! Dance party....

Haggard Beast 12 inch release party feat. The Guest Bedroom, Lunchmeat, Hot Monogamy, Batler, and DJ Troublessssshhhh @ Teranga, 10pm, $5 ($10 w/ record).

Pitter Patter Nights presents Rozasia, Extra Life, and The Dead Are Those Who Have Died @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.

Foxfire Forest, Flashboyz, and DJ Shit la Merde @ Sneaky Dee's, 10pm, $5 (I assume). Well, huh. After the Drake, continue dancing here.

Tripping Hazard (EP release) w/ Cold Dead Hands, Obviously Five Believers, and Invasions @ The Silver Dollar, 9pm, $5.

Local Alterna-Pop feat. Big Ideas @ 12:00, Prairie Cat @ 11:00, and tba @ 10:00. Lee's Palace, $6.

Two Way Monologues 11 presents Basement Arms, Barons and Lengthy, and Nich Worby @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $7. Nice! B & L are one of my favourite local groups. I will be here unless I'm needed at Sneaks.

Film Jam 7 feat. The Lovely Killbots, LLIONS, Two Scoops, The WitHouts, Ali the Son of Abdul, and Acrid Ricki @ El Mocambo (Second Floor), 8pm, $10 (or $8 w/ canned food donation). More info here: http://www.thefilmjam.com/. I do love LLIONS, a LLOT.

2nd James Brown Tribute feat. High Plains Drifter, All Star Toronto Performers, KC Roberts, and Jay Spectre @ El Mocambo (First Floor), 9pm, $12 (or $8 w/ canned food donation).

Disco Funk Groove Insanity! feat. The Elastocitizens @ 12:00, King Clancy @ 11:00, and Scobo @ 10:00. The Horseshoe Tavern, $10.

Andre Charles Theriault "Sings The Songs of Andre Charles Theriault" (CD release) w/ Ryan Masters, Jordaan Mason, and Owl/Eyes @ The Music Gallery, 7pm, $10.

SATURDAY (1 march)

The Wanted @ The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 6pm, pwyc.

The Annex Zoo's Clothe The Homeless/Raising the Roof fundraiser @ The Tranzac (Main Hall), 7pm, $5. Details here: http://www.myspace.com/theannexzoo.

John Tielli, Edgar Breau, and Neil Haverty @ The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

No Shame presents Gravity Wave, The Magic, and Burn Planetarium @ The Drake Underground, 7pm (early show), $5. No Shame's outdone herself this week. Gravity Wave is now a stage band! I will be here, for sure.

Haggard Beast 12 inch release party 2 feat. 10,000 Watt Head, Terror Lake, Ghostlight, Sailboats Are White, and DJ Product Placement @ Teranga, 10pm, $5 ($10 w/ record).

The Beautiful Unknown (CD release) w/ Tribal Sun, Lower Back, and Tatti @ El Mocambo, (First Floor), 9pm, $10.

Two Way Monologues presents The Winks, Ruby Coast, The Books Elusive, and The Superstitions @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $6. If I didn't love Gravity Wave, I'd be here.

The Northwest Division (EP release) as part of Kensington Station @ Neutral, 10pm, $6 ($10 with EP).

Alt Rock N Roll! feat. The Spades @ 12:30, We Are The Take @ 11:30, Salingers @ 10:30, and Major Grange @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, $8.

The Pickups (EP release) w/ Entire Cities, Proof of Ghosts, and Tacoma Hellfarm Tragedy @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, $10.

Will Play for Food (soup kitchen benefit) @ El Mocambo (Second Floor), $10, 5pm. More info here: http://utoronto.facebook.com/event.php?eid=8482983041&ref=nf.

SUNDAY (2 march)

Mantler and The Silt @ The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7pm (I think), pwyc.

The WoodChoppers Association @ The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7pm (I think), pwyc.

Wavelength 402 feat. The Weather Station, Muskox, and Boats! @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, pwyc. Excellent!

Gather Round feat. Hamilton Trading Co. @ The Boat, 9pm, pwyc.

Benefit concert feat. The State of Things, The Mahones, Elliot Brood, Stephen Stanley (Lowest of the Low) and Carla MacNeil, Andy Maize and Josh Finlayson (The Skydiggers), and more @ The Mod Club, 8pm, pwyc. Proceeds to this Iain O'Keefe-Kaufman Education Fund.

Prescription drug + me = better life.

Wow, it's been so long since I've taken a prescription drug, and I'm quite astonished at it's efficacy in making life livable again. This nasty, nasty cold that I've had since last Tuesday wasn't getting any better so Sunday afternoon I went to a clinic and two hours later a doctor prescribed me drugs. Excellent. I'm still sick, but at least I can generally breathe.

Needless to say I haven't done any work of any sort in days, and I haven't been to a show in a week.

Sick.

I've been feeling quite crappy the past few days. I don't recommend it. I'd like to be better tomorrow so I can celebrate a friend's birthday and go see Tin Bangs at the Mod Club (which I dislike, but I'll deal).

Feeling kind of crummy.

Yeah, I don't know why. It just kind of snuck up on me this evening. First a sore throat, then tiredness (followed by a nap), then general malaise and low-level headache-yness. I think it's time to go to bed.

Dissertation avoidance.

I've been avoiding my dissertation the past few days. I know, it's bad. I will stop avoiding it soon. I had a busy weekend of going to shows---meh, meh, and then FUN---and Monday afternoon I spent several hours at the Boat, being an extra for the Gravity Wave movie. That was kinda fun, and I really should have been at home working instead. But not many people showed up, and I was the only one who brought CDs (to use as props), so I think it was good that I was there.

In other news, the fridge is now working again. It keeps working and then a few weeks later not working again. It's really annoying. But at least the landlord is good and comes to fix it pretty much right away. Still, I think he just needs to spring for a new fridge for us.

I have some meetings tomorrow, which is making me grumpy. And I signed on to do some work for a prof., but now am kinda regretting it. Extra cash is good, but I really don't need more excuses not to dissertate.

Why are my landlord and his wife having an argument/discussion at 2:30am? They are old, and ought to be asleep.

Indie Music 23.

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, please do let me know.

I'm rushing this one off so you can check out Monday happenings. Will add more comments and show listings in a bit. The Wavelength festival show on Sunday was awesome!! And tonight (Monday) you should all go to the Boat.

MONDAY (18 feb)

Shoeless Monday feat. Sukerfactory @ 11:30, Luke Sneyd @ 10:30, and Downsview @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, free.

Elvis Monday feat. Organical, Dinosaur Bones, Allie Hughes, The People Of Canada, Steve Singh, and Leh Lo @ The Drake Underground, 9pm, free.

Christen Latham and Max Canin @ Mitzi's Sister, free.

LAUGHstock presents Crimson Shadows and tba @ The Smiling Buddha, 9:30pm.

Kaeru and Mandibles @ Tranzac (Tiki Room), 9 pm, pwyc. This is part of the Toronto/Guelph (416:519) series.

Pitter Patter Nights presents Jon McKiel and The Papermakers @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.

Crimson Shadows, Of The Epic, After The Invasion, and more @ Smiling Buddha, 9pm, $5.

Approximately 3 Peters @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 9pm.

TUESDAY (19 feb)

Jeffrey Lewis (in-store) @ Soundscapes, 7pm, free.

The Edge 102.1 Dave Bookman's Nu Music Nite feat. Keepin 6 @ 12:00, Opus Road @ 11:10, The John Henrys @ 10:20, and The Redux @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, free.

The Good Rats Radio and Corporation @ The Bovine, 9pm.

Cindy Doire, Andrea Ramolo, and Ory No'man @ Free Times Cafe.

This Is Not A Reading Series feat. Dan Kennedy (author of Rock On: An Office Power Ballad) in conversation with Dave Bidini w/ music by The Bicyles, hosted by Jonny Dovercourt @ The Gladstone, 7pm, free.

Darryl Erickson and Brian Arcand @ Mitzi's Sister, free.

Lina Allemano Four @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.

Owle Bird and Danger Music @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

William Del Ray w/ Mel Milime @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 10pm.

Autorickshaw @ Lula Lounge, $12. This group is rather different, and they were fantastic when I saw them a few years back.

WEDNESDAY (20 feb)

Pitter Patter Nights presents Fleece Elves w/ Elvyn @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.

Camp Combo @ Cadillac Lounge, 10 pm, pwyc.

Must Stash Hat, The Cunninghams, and The Doug Trucker Band @ The Smiling Buddha, 9:30pm, $5.

The Torrent @ Buddies In Bad Times Theatre, 10:30pm, free.

Zuku w/ Revolution Love @ Clinton's, 9pm, $6.

Jeff Straker, Katey Morley, and Heather Hill @ Free Times Cafe.

The Hunting Horns, Nick Rose (CD release), and Dan Griffin & The Regrets @ The Horseshoe Tavern, free.

Hotboxxx presents Haard @ 11:30, Persist @ 10:45, Prologic @ 10:00, Adam’s God @ 9:15, and Bolus @ 8:30. Lee's Palace, $5.

Alpha Galates @ Tattoo, $5.

Mike Glendon w/ Jaeda Kelly @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 10pm.

Eiderdown @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.

Lindsay Ferguson and Andy Swan @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc. Sounds good to me.

Rock for Renewables feat. Barons & Lengthy, Barn Owl, and Free Kisses @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm. This is a benefit show. B & L are loads of dance-y fun.

THURSDAY (21 feb)

Good shows on tonight. If I'm up for it, I'll go to the Drake. Otherwise, I'll check out Rancho---the Miles are great---or what's on at the Boat. Unless someone wants to grab a pint at the Cloak & Dagger with me.

No Shame presents Plants & Animals (CD release) w/ special guests The Bruce Peninsula @ The Drake Underground, 9pm, $12 (or $10 adv tix). This group's been getting buzz; one blogger has already declared them the 2008 Polaris Prize winner. We'll have to wait and see about that.

The Vestaloynes and Sisters of Mercy @ Mitzi's Sister, free.

Chris Warren & band @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.

Tina Sunshine, Samstag, and Linus & Lucy @ The Smiling Buddha, 9:30pm.

Pitter Patter Nights presents Rabbit Season, Boats!, Slow Hand Motem @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.

Two Way Monologues presents The Miles, Bluesky Borderline, and The Wisk @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $5. The Miles are three guys all ten years my junior, and they play tight, interesting, good music. Go see them.

The Hots, The Good Soldiers, Laganza @ El Mocambo (First Floor), 9pm, $5.

Proof of Ghosts, Cry Rumble, The Saffron Sect, David Schoonderbeek, and Doc Pickles @ The Cloak & Dagger, 9pm, pwyc.

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

Local Loud feat. Shatterpoint @ 11:15, Effigy @ 10:15, and tba @ 9:15. Lee's Palace, $4.

Tenth Planet and Japhy Ryder @ The Bovine, 9pm, $5.

Samba in Solidarity feat. Bateria de Escola de Samba, Dane Jah Ras, Truth Is...?, La Revoluvionaire Group de Capoeia @ El Mocambo (Second Floor), 9pm, $7. Fundraiser event.

FRIDAY (22 feb)

The Heavy, The Giant Baby, and The City @ Smiling Buddha, 9:30pm.

The New State and QuiQue Escamilla @ Mitzi's Sister.

Laromlab, Robot Cowboy, and Nifty @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, $5. Nifty was awesome when I saw them on Sunday!

Frankie Whyte & the Dead Idols @ El Mocambo (First Floor), 9pm, $5.

Groundcrew and Ash Lee Blade @ The Bovine, 9pm, $5.

Racloned @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 10pm.

Vacuity (CD release), Stirling, These Electric Lives, and In Transit @ The Horseshoe Tavern, 9pm, $8. Should be good. I need a break from the Horseshoe, though.

Local Indie CD Release feat. tba @ 12:00, Insurgentlemen @ 11:00, and tba @ 10:00. Lee's Palace, $10.

Northern Dusk Records presents Yonder (CD release) w/ Boys Who Say No and Dan Griffin @ The Rivoli, 9pm, $10.

Jubilation w. The Human Statues @ El Mocambo (Second Floor), 9pm, $10.

Kae Sun, iNSiDEAMiND, and Louwop @ Clinton's Tavern (NuJazz Festival Performance), 9pm, $10.

SATURDAY (23 feb)

Tin Bangs and tba @ The Mod Club, 10pm. Well, this is clearly where I'll be. Clearly.

Marienbad, Subculture Syndrome, The Canaries, and Antitheory @ Smiling Buddha, 9:30pm.

Wendy Lands @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 10pm.

Fidget and Krakatoa Metal @ The Bovine, 9pm, $5.

East Coast Joel Plaskett Approved Rock N Roll! feat. Two Hours Traffic @ 12:00, Wooden Sky @ 11:00, and My Shaky Jane @ 10:00. The Horseshoe Tavern, $8. Wait... maybe I don't need a break from the Horseshoe.

Aceface @ Neutral, $6.

Spiral Beach w/ Slim Twig @ WhipperSnapper Gallery, 9pm, $10 (or $8 adv tix). Fun!

CATL feat. David McMorrow, Golden Ghetto, and Horse @ Mitzi's Sister, pwyc. CATL is recommended by Dan W.

Rude Mule presents Major Grange w/ Danielle Duval and William Delray @ The Rivoli, 9pm, $5.

Maniac, Piledriver, Spewgore, and Dipsomania @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm.

Truth Explosion Magazine 4th Anniversary Party feat. DJs More Proof @ 12:30, Hell Yeah Fuck Yeah @ 11:30, Delinquents @ 10:30, and Video Dead @ 9:30. Lee's Palace, $10.

SUNDAY (24 feb)

Wavelength 401 feat Shitt Hottt, Brides, Nick Storring @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, pwyc. This is worth your while to take in if you're into the sound on offer.

The Spider Dogs and The Sound Foundation @ Mitzi's Sister.

Gather Round feat. Hamilton Trading Co. @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.

Wavelength 400-4.

Well, that was excellent! And exactly what I needed. Definitely one of the best shows I've been to since I started going to shows. Congrats to all involved.

I actually really wasn't looking forward to the show, but wanted to go because I'd missed all the other Wavelength Festival events. What was I thinking?! Must be that the crowded Teranga show didn't do justice to OPOPO and Green Go when I saw them play with Woodhands (and Bocce) last month. And Donne Roberts and band was awesome, and Nifty was unexpectedly great! So I had a fantastic time. Then RN and I went to late-night Chinese, and I complained about people (in general, not in particular). I shouldn't have done that.

I've been bad about updating this blog. Basically, life continues. Went to a couple shows in the past couple of days, and had a good time, but mostly because there were good people about. Music-wise, I've heard better. I'm itching for some good indie pop. Or something interesting and different. And, no matter what people say, I really don't much like the Horseshoe. I've had good times there, but I don't particularly dig the vibe of the place.

Laundry has sucked the energy out of me. I think I need a nap.

Small progress.

Managed to get several pages of my dissertation done yesterday. I shouldn't say "done"---it's more like vomit on the page---but at least there's something written out in the form of paragraphs. I decided to not check e-mail for 5 hours, and it was a good plan. I of course got distracted with other things, but wasn't obsessively checking the internet for updates. I will do the same thing today, and attempt to get another subsection or two written out.

Last night I really had intended to check out the first night of the Wavelength festival, but then YT came over and we had wine and baked goods and TV. And it was fun. We haven't hung out in a long time, so it was good. Tonight, though, I'll be at Rancho Relaxo for TWM's "feast of indie" for sure. I haven't been to a show in a week and a half.

SNOW.

It's been snowing all day. Really. And it's ridiculous. Toronto isn't supposed to have winter like this.

So needless to say I am not going out tonight, though there are things I could be doing. I will dissertate instead. And drink hot liquids and try to stay warm.

I may not leave the apartment tomorrow. Unless we need food. Which maybe we do. Crap.

Indie Music 22 [short].

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, please do let me know.

Here's my short list of events. I've been crazy busy in the last week. So, check venue listings on these sites: The Bovine, The Cameron House, El Mocambo, The Horseshoe Tavern, Mitzi's Sister, The Rivoli, The Smiling Buddha, Sneaky Dee's, Supermarket, and Tranzac. There's more over at Zoilus, Stillepost, and Musicologist. The Wavelength Festival runs this weekend---I will definitely check out some of it, and you should too. This week may also see me hit up The Boat, Rancho Relaxo, and The Horseshoe Tavern.

MONDAY (11 feb)

Going to bed early.

TUESDAY (12 feb)

I'm not going to a show.

WEDNESDAY (13 feb)

Rock-n-Burlesque feat. Fire Hydrant, Fine Motor Control, and some burlesque performers @ The Boat, $5. More details here.

THURSDAY (14 feb)

A handful of Valentine's-themed shows tonight. And then there's the first night of the Wavelength festival, which is where I will probably be.

Wavelength #400, Night One feat. Bruce Peninsula, Huckleberry Friends, and Terry Riley's "In C" played by the Social Music Workgroup @ Music Gallery, 7 pm, pwyc.

Lipstick, Cherry presents Loveless (My Bloody Valentine tribute) w/ Germans, Sleeping Kings of Iona, Gravity Wave, To Downcast Your Eyes, Hollowphonic, DJ Pammm, and more @ The Drake Underground, 9pm, $5.

FRIDAY (15 feb)

Good options, with good people guaranteed at each of these events:

Wavelength #400, Night Two feat. Glissandro 70 (DJ set), Bocce, Daniel Nebiat, Sister Suvi, and Abdominal @ Gladstone Hotel, 9 pm, pwyc.

Two Way Monologues Indie Feast fest. Whale Tooth, The Coast Guard, After the Weather, and Diamond Teeth @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $5.

The Boy From ET (CD release) w/ Ajay Mehra @ Tranzac, pwyc.

Kate Maki (CD release) @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 10pm.

Big Primpin' Happy Valentine's Gay Party w/ Kids on TV and special guests @ The Drake Underground, 9pm.

SATURDAY (16 feb)

Wavelength #400, Night Three feat. Lullabye Arkestra, DD/MM/YYYY, Dance Electric, Telefauna, and Femme Generation @ Theatre Centre (1087 Queen W.), doors 8 pm, pwyc.

Indie Rock Extravaganza feat. Raised By Swans, Great Bloomers, Key Witness, and First Person Shooter @ The Horseshoe Tavern, 9pm, $8. This is where I'll be, with friends.

SUNDAY (17 feb)

Wavelength #400, Night Four feat. Nifty, Donne Roberts, Green Go, Opopo, and Transylvanien @ Sneaky Dee's, 8pm, pwyc.

No list this week.

I've no time to compile my listings, but I will probably do something to at least let you know what I'm planning on checking out.

Conference is done.

It went really well! But I'm totally exhausted and am not going to do anything today.

Symposium.

Conference is in the morning. I can't sleep . . . nervous, excited, freaked out, a million things on my mind. Will be happy when Friday is over.

Good life, busy life.

I know I've been delinquent about updating this blog. It's been a busy few days. The grad conference I'm helping to organize is coming up soon---Friday and Saturday! This week is also a tutorial week for me, which means I'm on campus more than I'd like to be.

Last night I went to the Silver Dollar for a Beach Boys tribute show. It was so much fun! Some of the music was fantastic, and what I didn't get didn't bother me in the least: I was just happy to be there taking it all in. There was a bunch of people I knew, which made the whole thing that much better. Thank you to all the organizers and performers. Fun, fun, fun.

Highlights: Ken Farrell (Gravity Wave), Picnicboy (because I just have no idea), The Bicycles (yipee!), and the "supergroup": ex-OPG (Ontario Power Generation) with Laura Barrett and backup singers/percussion. Also, Great Lenin's Ghost! were good too: I must see them perform again. (They play tonight at the Cameron House and then on Friday at the El Mo.) What a great group of performers.

Ok, I need to get going.

P.S. I neglected to mention earlier that on Saturday night (at the Horseshoe) I ended the show on stage with the band, dancing with a maraca in my hand. So that was different. :-)

And it's snowing outside:

Mix disk.

I've just finished putting together a mix CD for a Massey exchange thing. It was a fun process, but a long one! Being obsessive, I of course had to go through lots and lots of music, much of which I hadn't had a chance to really listen to yet. I made a few loose rules for myself: I wanted the list to be a bit varied in terms of musical style, but in general broadly "indie"; I wanted to highlight bands that I've seen live, and local bands in particular, but I didn't want to be strict about this; I wouldn't include any bands that I put on a mix CD I made for an earlier exchange; and everything had to have been released in the last year or so.

Here's what I came up with:

This was hard . . . the disk includes some stuff you will probably have heard, and other stuff you may not have. These are all songs I like, from bands I like. Many of these groups/performers you can see play in Toronto, usually for not too much money. If you like what you hear, you don't have to wait too long to go see Amos the Transparent (based in Ottawa), Basia Bulat (Toronto/London), Bon Iver (Wisconsin), Born Ruffians (Toronto), Chromeo (Montreal/NY) The Diableros (Toronto), Justice (France), Laura Barrett (Toronto), Metric, Miracle Fortress (Montreal), The Primordials (Toronto), Vampire Weekend (Brooklyn), and Yeasayer (Brooklyn) play live in local venues; The National's coming in June with R.E.M. and Modest Mouse (!!). I've only put on new(ish) songs on this disk. Some are from albums that haven't been released yet.

1. Amos the Transparent - Title Track (Everything I've Forgotten to Forget, 2007)
2. The Apples in Stereo - Energy (New Magnetic Wonder, 2007)
3. Basia Bulat - Snakes and Ladders (Oh, My Darling, 2007)
4. Bon Iver - Skinny Love (For Emma, Forever Ago, 2007)
5. Born Ruffians - Hummingbird (Red, Yellow and Blue, 2008)
6. Chromeo - Fancy Footwork (Fancy Footwork, 2007)
7. Cuff the Duke - Surging Revival (Sidelines of the City, 2007)
8. The Diableros - Nothing Down in Hogtown (Aren't Ready for the Country, 2007)
9. Holy Fuck - Royal Gregory (Holy Fuck LP, 2007)
10. Justice - D.A.N.C.E. (+, 2007)
11. Kate Nash - Foundations (Made of Bricks, 2007)
12. Laura Barrett - Robot Ponies (Earth Sciences EP, 2008 re-release)
13. Metric - Hardwire (Grow Up and Blow Away, 2007)
14. Miracle Fortress - Have You Seen In Your Dreams? (Five Roses, 2007)
15. The National - Fake Empire (Boxer, 2007)
16. Of Montreal - Gronlandic Edit (Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?, 2007)
17. The Primordials - That's, If You Want Me To (Fourteen Prime Numbers, 2007)
18. Spoon - Don't You Evah (Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, 2007)
19. Vampire Weekend - Oxford Comma (Vampire Weekend, 2008)
20. Wintersleep - Weighty Ghost (Welcome to the Night Sky, 2007)
21. Yeasayer - Sunrise (All Hour Cymbals, 2007)

And here's the disk I made a few months earlier. I think it's good, but the new one is I think reflective of my growing interest in discovering new music.

Indie Extraordinary! A selection of songs I’m listening to at home and at shows.

1. Homework - The Bicycles (The Good, The Bad & The Cuddly, 2006)
2. The Crash - The Craft Economy (All On C EP, 2007)
3. Hang Me, Oh Hang Me - The Deep Dark Woods (Hang Me, Oh Hang Me, 2007)
4. Narcissist In The Forest - Foxfire Forest (Foxfire Forest, 2007)
5. My Ghetto Noise - Ghetto Pony (Without A Name)
6. Thick Atmosphere - Ghetto Pony (Without A Name)
7. Footprints - The Gravity Wave (Martyr’s Brigade)
8. Cure for the Common Cold - Ladyfingers (My Prom, 2006)
9. The Sun The Stars - LLIONS (demo EP, 2007)
10. Righteous Heart - Nathan Lawr & The Minotaurs (A Sea Of Tiny Lights, 2007)
11. My Right Versus Yours - The New Pornographers (Challengers, 2007)
12. Walk In The Park - Oh No! Oh My! (Oh No! Oh My!)
13. Parables - Rebekah Higgs (Rebekah Higgs, 2006)
14. Edmonton - The Rural Alberta Advantage (The Rural Alberta Advantage EP)
15. Made Of Stone - Spiral Beach (Ball, 2007)
16. Odessa - Tin Bangs (Nice Backpack . . . You’re So Weird EP, 2007)
17. White Lies (Timekiller) - Tin Bangs (Ontario In Stereo EP, 2007)
18. The Age Of Pretending - The Mission District (Youth Games)
19. Dancer (Extended) - Woodhands (Dancer single, 2007)
20. I Can’t See Straight - Woodhands (Woodhands/Peter Project split single, 2007)
21. Little Fool - The XYZ Affair (A Few More Published Studies)

Indie Music 21.

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, please do let me know.

There's a lot of good stuff this week, as I've come to expect. And there's always lots of stuff that I'm not listing. Like shows that cost more than $10, for example. If I were to go out every day this week, I'd do the Tranzac on Monday; The Beach Boys thing Tuesday; the Drake on Wednesday; the Supermarket or the Boat on Thursday---maybe both, depending on the timing of the bands; Rancho Relaxo on Friday (you should def. go); probably one of the El Mocambo shows or the Silver Dollar on Saturday; and Wavelength on Sunday.

Note that my listings shouldn't be relied upon as the gospel truth. I and obsessive and try to get things right, and I'll update if I find out about changes, but if you're keen on something, I'd double check just to make sure.

MONDAY (4 feb)

Spectrum (Sonic Boom from Spaceman 3) (in-store performance) @ Sonic Boom, 7pm, free.

Angela Bower w/ Christine Bougie and Dafydd Hughes @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7pm, pwyc.

Shoeless Monday feat. Loud Love @ 11:30, The Heavy @ 10:30, and Littlefoot Longfoot @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, free.

Elvis Monday presents Still Life Still, Boxes & Bags, The People of Canada, The Human Statues, and The Labour Of @ The Drake Underground, 9pm, free.

John Allaire and Emily Weedon @ Mitzi's Sister, pwyc.

LAUGHstock presents The Flying Museum Band, Soul Rebel Sound, and Jesse Cairns @ The Smiling Buddha, 9:30pm.

Out of this Spark presents Matias and Chris Yang @ Tranzac (Tiki Room), 9 pm, $5.

TUESDAY (5 feb)

The Edge 102.1 Dave Bookman's Nu Music Nite feat. Secret Japanese Girlfriend @ 12:00, Wild Sweet Orange @ 11:10, The Whigs @ 10:20, and Hello Operator (CD release) @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, free. Huh. I predict this will be good!

Lina Allemano Four @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.

Newberry vs Newberry, Canary Mine, and Violet Lyal @ Mitzi's Sister.

Peter James Fox, Alex Woodrow, Darrelle London, Trick of Disaster, and Brooke Fraser @ The Smiling Buddha, 9:30pm.

The Beach Boys/Weezer Tribute Night feat. The Bicycles, Laura Barrett, PDF Format, Shawn Jurek, and others @ The Silver Dollar, 8 pm, $5. Well, clearly this is a show I must go to. Clearly. See you there! More deets here.

LAUGHstock presents Dinosaur Bones, The Metacomets, and Alphabot! @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.

Great Aunt Ida, Jack Breakfast, and Balderdash feat. Dan Goldman @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

Pink and Black presents Lifestory:Monologue and Sons&Lovers @ The Bovine, 9pm, $tba.

Good Sounds Good feat. Sarah Shafey, Styrofoam Ones, and Mike Celia @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 10pm, $6.

WEDNESDAY (6 feb)

BC3000 and Sonic 500 with Greg Hambleton @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.

Marcel Aucoin w/ Mantler and Michael J @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

Local Alternative feat. tba @ 12:00, Terns @ 11:10, In House Mavericks @ 10:20, and Craig Smith & The Saints @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, $4.

Pitter Patter Nights presents Jenn Foster, Winhara, and Black Hat Brigade @ The Boat, $5.

Andre Ethier and Ghosthands @ Supermarket, 9 pm, $5.

Little Women (New York City, member of Zs), Nifty, Cow Tongue, and DJ Daniel Vila @ Teranga, 10 pm, $5.

The Michael Parks and Tres Bien Ensemble @ The Smiling Buddha, 9:30pm, pwyc.

Baby Dee w/ Sandro Perri @ The Drake Underground, 8pm, $12 ($8 in advance from Rotate This and Soundscapes). Read an interview with Dee here.

The Cheap Speakers w/ Great Lenin's Ghost! @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 10pm. Both bands are worth seeing.

THURSDAY (7 feb)

Infighter, The Hots, and Public @ Supermarket, 9pm, $5. I've been waiting a long time to see Infighter again.

Local Rock feat. Bury The Bully @ 11:15, Hello Beautiful @ 10:15, and Apollosdown @ 9:15. Lee's Palace, $4.

The Maylee & Slippers Sweatshop Hop II w/ Woodhands @ The Boat, 10 pm, $5. Come for the sweaty workout, stay for the sweaty dancing! Ok, that was way lame. But seriously: fun!

NudE as the nEWs w/ Geraldine and Sandro Perri @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

Odyssey (Gerry Alvarez from The Gruesomes) w/ Obviously Five Believers and The Invasions @ Mitzi's Sister, pwyc.

No Shame presents Jane Vain & The Dark Matter, The Parkdale Revolutionary Orchestra, and Anhai @ The Drake Underground, 9pm, $5. Definitely recommended if you're up for something a smidge different.

Effigy, Trigger Effect, and tba @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, $5.

The Ryde and High Voltage @ The Bovine, 9pm, $5.

Quadrophonic w/ Joanna Mohammad @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 10pm.

Wolff and Tuba w/ Doc Pickles (Secret Japanese Girlfriend) and Hollowphonic @ El Mocambo (First Floor), 8pm, $10.

FRIDAY (8 feb)

Little Brown Bat and To Downcast Your Eyes @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

Tin Roof Rusted w/ Lucky Fool @ Mitzi's Sister.

Salarymen, The WG's, 122 Greige, and DJ Anousheh @ Smiling Buddha, 10pm, $5.

Ten Kens, Metz, For that Day, and Hijack Delta @ Sneaky Dees, 9pm, $5. I didn't like Ten Kens when I saw them live, but I do like their recorded tunes. Maybe they've changed up their act, or maybe I just didn't get it. You decide.

Two Way Monologues presents The Schomberg Fair, The Stables, and B.A. Johnston @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $7. This is where I'd be for sure if not for the need to be a history grad student Friday night. The Schomberg Fair is rock 'n banjorific with just the right balance between murder ballads and songs about hobos (their descriptions). One of my faves. Plus, B. A. is a guy you gotta see, so I hear (and believe).

Ska, Pop & Rock feat. Two Scoops @ 12:30, After The Anthems @ 11:30, SCOBO @ 10:30, and The Blame-Its @ 10:00. Lee's Palace, $5.

Two Scoops, The Class Riot, and Personal Circus @ Lee's Palace, doors 10 pm, $6.

Local Alternative feat. tba @ 12:30, The Joys @ 11:30, Free Press @ 10:30, and tba @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, $6.

Macro Fiesta and other bands tba @ Cadillac Lounge, $5.

Ill Of Day (CD release) w/ All The Brightness, Rise For Order, and Great Lenin's Ghost! @ El Mocambo (First Floor), 9pm, $5.

Jeremy Robinson w/ Andrew Heintzman @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 10pm.

Shortwave w/ Slim Pickens and Opopo @ The Rivoli, 9pm, $6.

SATURDAY (9 feb)

Castlemusic, Ryan Driver, Anna Linda Siddall, and Alex Lukashevsky @ Eastminster United Church, 4pm, $5.

Nadja (in-store) @ Sonic Boom, 6pm, free.

The Horables @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 6pm, pwyc.

The Weather Station, Casey Mecija (from Ohbijou), and Lisa Bozikovic @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc. If you're looking for something awesome, this is it.

The Watter Bros., Rebellion, and The Felines @ Mitzi's Sister.

The Rosie Jones Band and The Shalyn Gray Project @ The Smiling Buddha, 9:30pm.

The Hoa Hoas, The Disraelis, Picturesound, and The Superstitions @ The Silver Dollar, $5.

The Von Drats, Trole, The Primordials, and The Sisters of Mercy @ El Mocambo (Second Floor), 9pm, $5.

Minority and Stolenowners @ The Bovine, 9pm, $5.

Ministry of the Environment w/ Adam Warner @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 10pm.

Local Alternative feat. Shenanigans @ 12:30, Moore @ 11:30, Virtue & Vice @ 10:30, and Honky @ 9:30. The Horseshoe Tavern, $6.

Bob Marley Tribute / Daily Bread Food Bank Benefit feat. lots of people @ Lee's Palace, 9pm, $15 (or $10 w/ non-perishable food donation). You can also get adv tix ($9) for this. Details here. There's also a Bob Marley tribute night at the El Mocambo on Thursday.

This one is now sold out: Yeasayer, MGMT, and Foxfire Forest @ El Mocambo (First Floor), 10pm.

SUNDAY (10 feb)

Lazy Sunday Matinee with Olenka @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 2:30pm, pwyc.

Laura Hubert @ Mitzi's Sister, 3-6pm.

Wavelength 399 feat. Megan Hamilton & the Volunteer Canola @ 11:00pm and Jane Vain & the Dark Matter @ 10:00pm. Sneaky Dee's, pwyc. Good stuff. I will probably go.

Sandbox @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10:30pm, pwyc.

Linda Mercer, Nik Beat, Joani Paige, Ernest Lee, and Deanna Prall @ Mizti's Sister.

Gather Round feat. Silver Speakers and Hamilton Trading Co. @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.

Vitamin X (Holland) w/ Reprobates, Hazardous Waste, and tba @ Rancho Relaxo, 8pm, $8.

Back in TO; FBP show.

I'm back, and just in time to catch a fun lineup at the Horseshoe last night. Five Blank Pages were headlining and celebrating their last show with Rajiv (bass, excitement) and Chelen (drums, cuteness). It was loads of fun. I will miss them. But they'll be back with some new people in a few months.