Almost Crimes

Given the Broken Social Scene ladies(Leslie Feist, Emily Haines, Amy Millan) recent solo forays/successes, NOW's Sarah Liss profiles each member(plus hired gun Lisa Lobsinger) as if they were part of a Lou Pearlman-style prefab pop band(who Sarah fantasizes would be called 'Almost Crimes'). It'd be funny/cool if the ladies read this and make this a reality. Feist plays Massey Hall this Friday and Saturday nights - I don't think either of them are sold out. They're both sold out. Can't wait for the show on Saturday.

Cover story for the current issue of NOW goes to Montreal's Land Of Talk, with the weekly's Sarah Liss speaking to LoT frontwoman bandleader Liz Powell. Land of Talk open for Merge Record's The Rosebuds this coming Monday May 28 at Horseshoe Tavern - tickets $10.50 in advance.

Lady Sovereign is at The Social in Toronto on Wednesday May 30. Tickets $15 at Play De Record and Rotate This[via Stille Post].Note, this is an after party show as Lady Sovereign's opening for Gwen Stefani at Air Canada Centre earlier that evening.

According to Republic of Safety's MySpace, they'll be opening for Portland, Oregon's The Blow at Horseshoe Tavern on July 8. Before that, RoS play Stones Place in Toronto this Saturday then Reverb on June 8 as part of NXNE. For Guelph, London[ON], and Montreal dates check their MySpace.

Toronto's The Parkas return in June to promote their new album "Put Your Head In The Lion's Mouth" which is out June 19 through Calgary's Saved By Radio & Saved By Vinyl. They play an NXNE set at Dakota Tavern on June 7 at 11 pm, a matinee NXNE set at Global Village Backpackers Hostel the following day, and then a proper CD release show at Horseshoe Tavern on July 27. I saw them in March 2006 during Canadian Music Week at Healey's and they put on a great no-frills, rock n' roll set that never lost track of a good pop melody. Their bassist could teach a course on humourous banter. Check out some tracks over at their MySpace including a few new songs from the new album. Ps. The photo associated with the song "Margaret Atwood" posted at their MySpace is actually a photo I took of the band at Healey's last year.

The Lemonheads were last in Toronto for a show at Lee's Palace in December 2006 - it was a great show that included many of their most familiar tunes plus a few of the new songs sprinkled throughout. Evan and the band return to Lee's for a show on June 20[via NOW and confirmed at the band's MySpace]. Tickets $23.50.