Dinosaur Jr @ Sonic Boom (January 21, 2010) / Concert Announcments and Music News

Not a shabby deal at all that for the price of a non-perishable canned good (actually I brought two) for the Daily Bread Food Bank, I got to see Dinosaur Jr play earlier this evening at Sonic Boom in Toronto. However, even though I'd made it to Sonic Boom at least an hour before the band started, it was already packed enough that my viewing options were non-existent. So as it goes I didn't see a thing except for a quick glimpse of J Mascis. No photos from me unfortunately but it isn't a big deal - the set itself was magnificent. J Mascis and Lou Barlow were in the house although taking over drums was Kyle Thomas of the band Witch (for which J Mascis drums for); J said that our fair country wouldn't let their original drummer Murph in - I'm not sure if that was a joke but I recall people chuckling. The most interesting facet of the set was that instead of the sonic guitar assault I was expecting [I even came prepared with earplugs], instead the trio performed a rather toned down set mixing drums, bass, acoustic guitar and muted electric guitar and guitar-pedal augmented squalls and solos. It was really fascinating actually - it was always sort of difficult to tell whether J was a messy guitar player on their studio recordings since his solos were always buried beneath a sheet of feedback and squall, but hearing him play acoustically I could hear that he was in fact hitting all the right notes. Still the electric guitar solos, muted as they were for this instore, were still magnificent. Part of me wishes that I'd just coughed up the money to see them play tonight at their sold-out show at the Phoenix, but hey c'est la vie. The setlist for their instore was as follows (and if anyone recorded this and would be able to send a download link my way, it'd be ever so appreciated):

"Severed Lips" (from Dinosaur Jr)
"Get Me" (from Where You Been)
"Little Furry Things" (from You're Living All Over Me)
"Imagination Blind" (from Farm)
"Repulsion" (from Dinosaur Jr)
The Wagon (from Green Mind)

In other news, Toronto music promoters Against The Grain and Rootmeansquare have now merged under the name Collective Concerts and have even changed their URL to reflect that - now bringing double the value for your music buck, or something like that. The next couple of items are courtesy of Collective Concerts (hmmm, I'm not feeling that name, but in a week I probably won't care anymore):

Portland's Scout Niblett will be promoting her newest album "The Calcination of Scout Niblett" out through Drag City on January 26 by going on an US and Canadian trek through February and March. She'll be at the Horseshoe on March 17, tickets for this 19+ show are $11.50 in advance ($13 @ Door), and go onsale Jan 22 at 10 am.

As already announced by the Rocky Votolato show at The Drake Underground on April 5, ticket info has now been confirmed - $13.50 in advance ($15 @ door) for this 19 + show go onsale Jan 22 at 10 am.

Montreal's Parlovr will be returning to Toronto for Canadian Music Week in March playing the Musebox showcase at Sneaky Dee's on March 11, the Sirius showcase at the El Mocambo on March 12, the Pop Montreal showcase at the Silver Dollar also on March 12 and opening for Born Ruffians at the Phoenix on March 14. I've read good things about the band; I'll make an effort to check 'em out but with the amount of CMW showcase they're playing how could I not at least catch them once.

Woodhands are at Lee's Palace on March 12, I'd presume as part of Canadian Music Week. Via Paper Bag Records.

Thanks to Consequence of Sound for pointing to live clips of Ms. Joanna Newsom performing new songs in Sydney, Australia recently. Ms. Newsom's new album is entitled "Have One on Me" and is out February 23rd via Drag City. She'll be at the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto on March 13, tickets $22.50 in advance and onsale now.

chartattack reports that Jason Collett will be releasing a companion EP with his upcoming new album "Rat A Tat Tat" out March 9. The companion EP is entitled "To Wit To Woo" and will be available as a digital download and as well as on Collett's upcoming tour. Collett will be in Toronto with Zeus and Bahamas for a show at Lee's Palace on March 10 as part of Canadian Music Week. You can download a free mp3 from the EP below:

MP3: Jason Collett - "Little Tiger"

Spoon were on Mr Conan O'Brien's show recently to perform their new single "Written in Reverse"(via Pitchfork). The band's new album "Transference" is out now through Merge Records and they'll be in Toronto for a show at Sound Academy on March 29.

Video: Spoon - "Written in Reverse" (live on Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, 19 January 2010)

Via Pollstar, Durham, NC folk-rock outfit megafaun will be at the Horseshoe on April 5 with opener indie-folkie Sharan Van Etten from Brooklyn.

NME has the details on the new album("Plastic Beach, out March 8) from Gorillaz. Listen to the first single:

Audio: Gorillaz - "Stylo"