Links for May 27, 2010

Big news of the past few days is that The Arcade Fire just announced that they'll be playing on Olympic Island on August 14, making everyone's summer just that much happier. I'm still considering going to Osheaga where Arcade Fire(plus Pavement) are also playing but now it's not so essential (and of course Pavement is playing Olympic Island on June 19). Tickets for The Arcade Fire Olympic Island show are $47 Advance and go onsale Friday, May 28, 2010 at 12:00PM EST. Via Collective Concerts.

Paste has The Arcade Fire's soon to be released 12-inch single "Month of May" / "The Suburbs" available for your listening pleasure. And yes it's the full songs, not the measly audio snippets the band initially posted on their website.

Sonic Boom continue their streak of fantastic instores (many of which I haven't been able to make or were to lazy to go downtown for) when Born Ruffians play the store's basement on Saturday May 29 at 3 pm. The band will be on MTV Live on May 27 and play a CD release show at the Horseshoe on May 28 for their new record Say It which is out in North America on June 1 (May 31 in the UK).

Toronto 'it' dude John O'Regan aka Diamond Rings plays Wrongbar in Toronto on June 18 as part of NXNE, the same day his new 12-inch release Show Me Your Stuff comes out through One Big Silence. Also playing the show are Trust and Katie Stelmanis.

Heading out on their Business Casual tour, Electro-funksters Chromeo play the Phoenix with openers Holy Ghost on August 3. The tour is in support of their upcoming new album Business Casual out August 17.

Links for May 24, 2010

How quickly my four day weekend[I had this past Friday off in addition to today's statutory holiday, Victoria Day] has gone. I've been nursing a cough and a cold which I've had for over a week now, and with family things occupying some of my time over the weekend, I didn't end up doing anything. However with the terrific weather we've been having, I couldn't resist but venture out to get some sunshine and some fresh air.

UK's Massive Attack made their American television debut this past Friday on the Jimmy Kimmel show performing two songs including "United Snakes" from the deluxe edition only of their newest album Heligoland and their modern classic, "Tear Drop" off their 1998 album Mezzanine. Kinda, sorta wish I went to one of their two shows in Toronto at Sound Academy a few weeks ago. Watch their performance on Jimmy Kimmel below:

Video: Massive Attack - "United Snakes" (live on Jimmy Kimmel Live, May 21 2010)
Video: Massive Attack - "Tear Drop" (live on Jimmy Kimmel Live, May 21 2010)

The Arcade Fire continues to tease us, recently releasing brief snippets of two new songs "The Suburbs", "Month Of May" which they apparently plan to release as a 12-inch in June. Listen here. "The Suburbs" sounds a bit Americana-ish while "Month Of May", to my ears has hints of late-70's DIY rock.

Phoenix performed a Tiny Desk Concert session for NPR performing "Lisztomania", "1901" and a cover of Air's "Playground Love". Fantastic.

Pitchfork has the tracklisting for both the regular and Deluxe-edition vinyl versions of the upcoming new album from indie veterans Versus entitled On the Ones and Threes is out on August 3 on Merge. Their last album was 2000's "Hurrah". The first single from the new album is entitled "Invincible Hero" which you can download below:

MP3: Versus - "Invincible Hero"

And some random concert updates:

Eels returns to Toronto for a show at The Mod Club on September 29. The new album entitled Tomorrow Morning is out August 24.

The experimental, electronic stylings of Baltimore's Matmos will be at Meta Gallery located at 124 Ossington Ave. in Toronto on June 11. Tickets are $20, onsale now.

German electornic duo Mouse on Mars play Wrongbar on June 1, tickets $15.

Soulful country crooner Carolyn Mark plays Dakota Tavern on August 28. Via Mint Records.

Concert Announcements (May 19, 2010)

Mostly concert announcements today:

Although not confirmed, Pollstar is showing that The Sadies will be playing the Mississauga Waterfront Festival on June 19. Jim Cuddy will headline that night, and that is confirmed. The Sadies will also headline the Canada Day Festivities at Harbourfront Centre - that's July 1st for you non-Canadians.

I just noticed that UK singer-songwriter Laura Marling is playing Guelph's Hillside Festival at Guelph Lake Conservation Area this year. Although the festival's schedule has not yet been finalized, Pollstar is listing Marling as performing the night of July 23. Hillside Festival runs from July 23 to July 25.

Collective Concerts has been busy with concert announcements lately. Check out the next six items:

Calexico and Elliott Brood play the Phoenix July 23. Calexico will also be participating in this year's Hillside Festival.

The Weakerthans play a special show at the Horseshoe on May 25 with part of the proceeds going to Regina band Library Voices who had been robbed of all their music gear this part February in Vancouver and then more recently their musical instruments been casualties of a flooded basement. Let's hope they persevere - the band are set to tour Canada through June and July and are scheduled to play the Horseshoe on June 19. Tickets are $25.00 advance, onsale tomorrow at 10 am. [photo above via Exclaim]

The Stills play the Horseshoe on July 29, tickets $20, onsale Friday May 21 at 10 am EST.

The return of NYC's Jon Spencer and The Blues Explosion to Toronto will take place at Lee's Palace on July 31. Tickets are $20.00 advance and onsale this Friday May 21 at 10 am EST.

UK's Wild Beasts make their return to Toronto on August 9 for a show at The Mod Club. Tickets are $18.50 advance and onsale this Friday May 21 at 10 am EST.

Unknown entity to me, Minneapolis indie "supergroup" Gayngs are at the Phoenix on October 1. Tickets are $20 in advance and onsale this Friday May 21 at 10 am. Apparently on indie label JAGJAGUWAR, I just checked out the band's MySpace and thought they were an intriguing listen.

Audio: Gayngs - "The Gaudy Side of Town"

The following news reminds me of that Saturday Night Live sketch with Seth Meyers punctuating his news commentary with "Really?" - Vampire Weekend will be headlining a show at the Molson Ampitheatre on September 7. Really? Apparently so. Openers are Beach House and Dum Dum Girls, which itself deserves another, "really?". Molson Ampitheatre is frickin' huge.

Via The Windish Agency, Girl Talk with openers Kid Street, and Keys N Krates play Sound Academy on June 18.

Check out The New Pornographers' live session from May 18, 2010 on BBC 6 Music's Marc Riley show (it starts 13 minutes in approximately). The New Porngraphers play Sound Academy on June 15.

Stream: Marc Rily, BBC 6 Music (May 18, 2010)

Concert Announcements & Music News (March 7, 2010)

  photo from BAM's Blog

Starting tomorrow hopefully, I'll be posting some Canadian Musicfest previews. Right now I'm taking a break from watching the Oscar's so I'll take the time to clear out some music news and linkage.

Ted Leo + Pharmacists' new album entitled "The Brutalist Bricks" out on Matador Records on March 9 is currently streaming out the band's MySpace. No Toronto dates at the moment but the band are touring the US, kicking it off in Brooklyn on the album's release date then heading west before swinging back east in April. Ted and band performed a live in studio set for Spinner's Interface:

Video: Ted Leo + Pharmacists (live on The Interface - Spinner.com)

Caribou will release their new album "Swim" on April 20 (April 19 internationally) and will be heavily touring the album in Europe and North America from April through to June. Caribou play the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto on May 3. (via Pitchfork). "Odessa" is the first single from the new album:

Audio: Caribou - "Odessa"

We haven't seen The Flaming Lips around these parts since 2006 since they'd played an 'intimate' show at the Phoenix Concert Theatre in April 2006 (which I unfortunately wasn't at), and then played an aborted set at the Virgin Festival at Toronto Islands in September (which I was at but of course was disappointed that their set got cut short due to delays throughout the day which led to the Lips' set running into the Island's 11 pm curfew). Originally the current crop of tour dates listed a July 22 date at ArtPark in Lewiston, NY which is a hop, skip and a jump down the road from Toronto, but now that date seems to have disappeared.(Although if you go to NME, you'll see the Lewiston date was listed.) I've read some mutterings about the Lips perhaps playing the planned Imagine Music & Arts Concert at Downsview Park taking place July 10-11 although if that does materialize it might just be the Lips' performing a set of their cover of Pink Floyd's "Dark Side Of The Moon", which really wouldn't be a bad thing actually.

Video: The Flaming Lips and Stardeath and the White Dwarfs - "Breathe" (Pink Floyd cover)

Daniel, Fred & Julie, the collaborative project featuring Daniel Romano of Attack in Black, Fred Squire of Calm Down It's Monday, and the Julie being Ms. Julie Doiron, will be performing a set of their contemplative folk tunes at the Horseshoe on April 15, tickets $12 or $15 at the door. Tickets onsale March 10 at 10 am EST. Via Collective Concerts.

Toronto is really almost a second home for Australian indie rock duo An Horse which is fine by me as the band will be returning for a show on April 26, this time at The Garrison. The band's really hitting the road hard through to August. Tour dates at their MySpace.

The Weakerthans/Bahamas bill at Queen Elizabeth Theatre MAY have turned into a two-night stint, because in addition to the already announced May 26 date, a May 27 date is currently listed on Pollstar.com. I haven't found confirmation of the May 27 date yet so keep your ears peeled.

Los Angeles' Nosaj Thing (who remixed The xx's "islands" and which can be heard at Nosaj Thing's MySpace or be downloaded at Stereogum) opens for The xx and jj at the way-sold-out show at Phoenix Concert Theatre on April 4.

Finally, in the midst of this Oscars Weekend and my thoughts of this coming week's Canadian Music Week, it's with sadness to find out that Sparklehorse's Mark Linous committed suicide. At most I was only a casual listener of his music, having plucked out his debut CD "vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot" from a clearance bin in the mid to late 90's and only picking up his 2001 album "It's a Wonderful Life" within the last five years. It's sad that it takes the passing of an artist, to realize who we've lost.

Concert Announcements / Music News (March 2, 2010)

  Massive Attack - "Angel"

With the Vancouver Olympics now but a memory (it's gawdy closing ceremonies and all, Neil Young's performance of "Long May You Run" being the lone highlight for me), there's a lot of other musical things on the horizon.

The Canadian Musicfest schedule quietly went up recently and with the festival coming up next week, I do have some planning to do. I have a shortlist of acts, mostly unknowns, that I hope to post about next week prior to the festival beginning.

One of the highlights could be Toronto's Fucked Up who'll be playing at the El Mocambo on March 10. Egad, that'll sure be intense.

But more interestingly, at least for me, are the number of veteran acts coming to Toronto. News about newer 'veterans' like Pavement (@ Olympic Island on June 19) and older ones like The Specials (@ Sound Academy on April 19) have already been announced. More recently, UK (and let's don't call 'em trip hop anymore) act Massive Attack have announced some select North American dates including two in Toronto at Sound Academy on May 7 and May 9, this being to promote their new album "Heligoland" out now.

Video: Massive Attack - "Splitting The Atom" (music video)

And as bonus, one of my favourite music videos of all time:

Video: Massive Attack - "Angel" (music video)

Another act, although one I'd only ever explored casually, UK's Public Image Ltd will bring their tour to Toronto at Kool Haus on May 7.

Also jumping on the nostalgia bandwagon (and no there's nothing wrong with that) are Echo and Bunnymen who'll return sans orchestra for a show at the Phoenix on April 23.

The Weakerthans, with openers Toronto's Bahamas, will be at Queen Elizabeth Theatre on May 26. Licensed/All-ages show, Tickets $35.00 advance, $40.00 @ the door. Tickets go onsale March 4 at 10 am EST. The band will currently be promoting their new live DVD/CD "Live at the Burton Cummings Theater" due for release on March 23.

Led by Art Brut's Eddie Argos, his curiously named side project Everybody Was In The French Resistance.....Now! bring their skewed pop to Toronto for a show at the El Mocambo on May 8. 19+ show, tickets $10.00 advance, $12.00 @ the door and go onsale March 4 at 10 am EST.

Charlottetown boys Two Hours Traffic can't seem to get enough of Toronto as soonafter making an appearance at this year's Canadian Musicfest at the Horseshoe on March 13 and then going to SXSW, they'll return to headline Lee's Palace on April 3. Other Ontario dates are posted at their MySpace.

Toronto electro-soul outfit Pants & Tie will open the Hot Chip and The xx show at Kool Haus on April 20 (via The Windish Agency).

An American indie triple bill with The Soft Pack, Beaters, and Male Bonding stops at the El Mocambo on April 7.

Things get LOUD at Lee's Palace on May 26 with Scotland's The Twilight Sad and Tokyo's Mono.

Montreal's Silver Mt. Zion play Lee's Palace on May 29.

AUX reports that Toronto electro-soul rock act Thunderheist are no more having apparently posted the news on their Facebook page. So far the band only have some US west coast and British Columbia dates lined up in June, but I'll be surprised if they don't also arrange a hometown Toronto farewell show sometime.

And thanks to Melody for bringing this news to my attention: Chartattack are moving out of their offices at 34 Britain St. in Toronto and will be moving uptown on March 8. Ok, that's not the news. The REAL news is that they're GIVING AWAY FOR FREE back issues(yes, the paper ones) of Chart Magazine as well as various other goodies like old archive CDs, DVDs, reference books and random promotional items. It's first comem first serve and they'll be open from 10 a.m. and 6 p.m from now until March 4. I hope to head down to this tomorrow after work. If I do make it, I'll be sure to bring an environmentally-friendly, reusable bag to haul away anything I can get my hands on. Like I need more stuff. But then again, it's free stuff.

Great Lake Swimmers @ Sonic Boom in Toronto (February 5, 2010) / Concert Announcements (February 9, 2010)

I was fortunate to take in the instore performance by Great Lake Swimmers last Friday at Sonic Boom in Toronto. As a teaser for their proper show which was at Trinity St. Paul's the following day, the instore turned out to be quite substantial itself, with the band performing a good twelve songs for the fairly packed crowd onhand. A five member setup with Tony on guitar/vox, Darcy Yates on bass, Greg Millson on drums, Erik Arnesen on guitar, and and a fifth member on violin/background vox[who I apologize for not getting their name], the band devoted much of the set to the most current album "Lost Channels" which I'd unfortunately not heard prior to the show. They also played several older tunes including the dreamy, sepia-tinged "Moving Pictures, Silent Films", as well as the shuffling, folky "Your Rocky Spine" and the more uptempo "I am Part of a Large Family", the latter featuring the audience clapping throughout the song. The new material, or at least some of it, seems to have a more conventional, rootsy sound, complete with rootsy fiddle playing or country rock sound - case in point, "Pulling On A Line" from the new album is a perfectly competent roots rock song, but does somewhat pale in comparison to the older material in terms of effect. I appreciated the set overall, and at 12 songs long[setlist courtesy gittingsc] and the instore being free, there was no doubt that we lucked out.

gittingsc, myslowdescent, and Ivys League have photos from the instore.

Great Lake Swimmers played Trinity St. Paul's in Toronto the following night and The National Post and NxEW review the show.

Photos: Great Lake Swimmers @ Sonic Boom in Toronto (February 5, 2010)
MySpace: Great Lake Swimmers

--------

If saddened by the fact the Thrush Hermit sold out their two night stint at Lee's Palace in Toronto for March 26 and 27, it's good news that they've added a third show[albeit, an all-ages one] for Sunday March 28. It's a matinee performace with doors at 2:30 pm. Tickets are $17.50 advance, $20.00 @ the door, and go onsale Wednesday February 10 at 10 am EST.

San Diego's The Soft Pack stop in for a show at the El Mocambo on April 7. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door, and go onsale February 10 at 10 am EST.

The estrogen-band-named double bill of Girls(from San Francisco) and Dum Dum Girls(from NYC) take over the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto for a show on April 9. Tickets are $16.50 advance, $20.00 @ the door, and go onsale February 10 at 10 am EST.

Land of Talk play Lee's Palace on April 8. Tickets are $10.00 advance, $12.00 @ the door, and go onsale Friday February 12 at 10 am EST.

You Say Party! We Say Die! have a wack of new tour dates up now including a date at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto on April 2.

80's post punk pioneers Killing Joke are coming to Toronto for a show at the Phoenix on May 25. Tickets are $25.

Finally, The National have added a second show for Toronto at Massey Hall on Wednesday June 9(the first show being the previous night). Tickets are $53.50 in advance and go onsale Friday February 12 at 10 am EST. Don't dawdle this time if you dawdled for the first one.

Canadian Musicfest Announcements / Concert Announcements / Music News (February 4, 2010)

  photo by Michael Ligon
January's gone and my February concert schedule looks busy but my March schedule looks even busier not even counting this year's Canadian Music Week. So while precious little of the actual CMW(or more accurately, Canadian Musicfest) schedule has actually been announced yet, Toronto promoter Dan Burke has already announced his NeXT-at-CMW shows running March 11, 12, 13 at The Velvet Underground, The Silver Dollar and The Comfort Zone. Mr. Burke's never been shy about reminding us how he used to run his own mini-festival AGAINST CMW but has now partnered with CMW to bring in a slew of worthy acts to town. Here is this year's NeXT-at-CMW lineups: L.A.'s Nightmare Air will headline The Velvet Underground from March 11-13 with Toronto's The Two Koreas co-headling on March 13. The Dexateens from Tuscaloola, AL will play The Comfort Zone on March 12 with Toronto's Huron & Ian Blurton/Happy Endings and CATL. The Pop Montreal showcase takes over The Silver Dollar on March 12 with a stacked bill that includes Gemma Ray from the UK, Toronto's Diamond Rings, Montreal's Parlovr, PS I Love You from Kingston, and The Peelies from Montreal. The March 11th bill at The Silver Dollar will include Toronto's Dinosaur Bones, American guitar-drums duo Japanther and Toronto country-rock outfit The Treasures. Psychedelia takes over The Comfort Zone on March 13 with one-shot Montreal with The Black Feelings and two-shots Toronto with The Hoa Hoas and Action Makes. The bill at The Silver Dollar on March 13 will feature Detroit's 72Blues, and Toronto's Darlings of Chelsea as well as The Easy Targets. The Comfort Zone on March 11 will feature a reunion with Montreal hardcore act Homicide as well as the heavy rock of Diemonds. Whew! Check out all the details at Stille Post.

Also just announcing their CMW schedule is chartattack who historically have had some decent lineups for the festival, this year being no exception. The chartattack showcases for CMW will take place exclusively at Horseshoe Tavern from March 11-13. The March 11 lineup will feature Ottawa's Amos The Transparent, Guelphites Green Go, Toronto's Hollerado and Great Bloomers and Montreal's The Besnard Lakes. Things get a little more slick for March 12 with Bend Sinister, The Dudes, Jets Overhead, Melissa Auf Der Maur, Hot Hot Heat, and Paper Lions. For the final day of the festival, March 13, charttack ends off on a very high note with Yukon Blonde, The Balconies, The Wooden Sky, Two Hours Traffic and The Junction. There are a few gaps in chartattack's schedule still so it'll be interesting who they'll get to fill 'em. View the schedule(with times) over at chartttack.

Too many concerts, too little time but here's a few more to note, the next four courtesy of Collective Concerts.

The Horseshoe Tavern on March 26 will feature Jon Langord and The Sadies with Burlington Welsh Choir, and The Good Brothers. Tickets $13.50 advance($15.00 @ the door), onsale today at 10 am.

Lawrence, Kansas post-rock outfit The Appleseed Cast play Lee's Palace on April 19, tickets, $13.50 advance($15.00 @ the door), onsale today at 10 am.

San Diego's The Album Leaf play Lee's Palace on April 28, tickets $12.50 advance($15.00 @ the door), onsale today at 10 am. The band's fifth album is entitled "A Chorus Of Storytellers" and is now through Sub Pop.

Scottish indie folk pop outfit Frightened Rabbit are set to return to Toronto for a show at The Opera House on May 4. If their show in Toronto at the Horseshoe Tavern last July was any indication, this one should be equally pleasing. Tickets for their show at The Opera House on May 4 are $15.00 advance($18.00 @ the door) and go onsale today at 8 am. The band's new album "The Winter Of Mixed Drinks" is set for release on March 9 through FatCat Records.

Staunchly independent Toronto record label Unfamiliar Records are celebrating their 5th anniversary with what else but a live showcase. Details still are to be announced but it'll be taking place March 5. Label founder Greg Ipp will DJ the night, and the live acts will include Makeout Videotape from Vancouver, and locals The Two Koreas, Rattail, and Stop, Die, Resuscitate. Download Makeout Videotape's "Heat Wave" EP for free: http://www.unfamiliarrecords.com/download/makeoutvideotape - Password: freeheatwavedownload .... View the show poster over at Stille Post.

Courtesy of local indie record label Out of This Spark (who sadly I missed their recent 3rd anniversary celebration show) have a lovely lineup at the Tranzac's Main Hall on March 25 with Snailhouse (featuring a full band) and Evening Hymns. Tickets are $10 at the door only. Via Stille Post.

Dust off your Doc Martens, Fred Perry shirts and Ben Sherman(ok, I actually wear Ben Sherman, but I'm not a mod) as The Specials (yes The Specials!) are coming to Toronto for a show on April 19. It's at Sound Academy unfortunately. Tickets are $36.50(or $46.50 for VIP Balcony seats) and go onsale today at 10 am. Toronto's only one of seven dates in North America so that's pretty special(pun, intended). As Billboard reveals, this reunion features the original lineup minus keyboardist Jerry Dammers. Also look for the band to perform live on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on April 13.

It's a little strange to see that Specials' peers The English Beat are playing the much smaller Lee's Palace(compared to Sound Academy) on May 18, but then The English Beat as far as I know is really only vocalist/songwriter Dave Wakeling with a band that does not feature any other members of the original UK lineup(most notably Ranking Roger). Tickets for The English Beat's show at Lee's in May are $23.50 advance($27.00 @ the door) and go onsale February 5 at 10 am. Openers for the show are Toronto's Rebel Emergency.

So I got my ticket for The National who are playing Massey Hall on June 8. I opted to not go through the presales last week and then I totally forgot about logging in to ticketmaster.ca for the public onsale last Friday morning(January 29) but I ended up purchasing a ticket that night online and lucked out with a left centre floor seat in second row. How effin' sweet is that? $63 well spent I say.

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"

Concert Announcments / Music News (January 20, 2010)

It doesn't look like a go for me this year (although that could change) for the Coachella festival taking place in Indio, California from April 16 - 18. Not as strong as previous years' lineups but still there's a lot to see. I mainly not enthused by the headliners with the exception of Day Three featuring Gorillaz and Pavement. I guess I have from now until early April to make up my mind. Perusing the lineup, Canadian acts making the trip to Coachella this year include Jets Overhead, Tokyo Police Club, and Owen Pallett, which seems like a smaller Canadian contingent than in previous years.

Like he hadn't already played live enough over the last 12 months, but Gentleman Reg's prepared to do it hardcore when he sets up residency at The Drake Underground every Wednesday in February. The lineups are as follows:

February 3rd w/ Hooded Fang & Kite Hill
February 10th w/ By Divine Right & The Balconies
February 17th w/ Dance Yourself To Death & Sheezer
February 24th w/ Evening Hymns & Special guests.

Tickets are $10 in advance at Rotate This and Soundscapes or can also be purchased through GalleryAC.com (which also includes a free digital download of his new "Heavy Head" EP. Doors are at 9 pm with the show at 9:30 pm for each night of the residency.

The Diableros have a few new local dates including a February 20 date at the Horseshoe. Also on the bill are local cow-punks The Schomberg Fair.

On March 9th of 2010 (March 8th in the UK), Jagjaguwar will release The Besnard Lakes' new album "Are the Roaring Night" with the band scheduled to play as part of Canadian Musicfest in Toronto at the Horseshoe on March 11. (tourdate via Outside Music).

Also via Outside Music, Toronto's The Sadies have some tourdates around the Golden Horseshoe (although no Toronto date) over the next several months, while the band's Myspace also fleshes out their itinerary with a couple of US dates(NYC & Rochester).

As chartattack pointed out, Jason Collett, Zeus and Bahamas will be kicking off a Canadian tour together at Canadian Musicfest in Toronto at Lee's Palace on March 10. Zeus will release their debut album "Say Us" on February 23 through Arts & Crafts while Collett releases his newest album "Rat A Tat" on March 9 also through Arts & Crafts.

Oklahoma City's The Uglysuit are set to roll through Toronto for Canadian Musicfest for several showcase sets it seems according to their Myspace. Their MySpace indicates that they'll be part of the Billions showcase at Lee's Palace on March 13.

I should be probably be more excited but the fact is that I'm not as familar with Joanna Newsom's music as most of you. But I like her enough that I think I want to see her live when she plays the Phoenix on March 13. The new Joanna Newsom album is entitled "Have One on Me" and it's out February 23. Maybe I should dust of her debut "The Milk-Eyed Mender" and acquaint myself with that first.

Still in support of 2009's "Mean Everything To Nothing", Manchester Orchestra are at The Mod Club with The Features, Biffy Clyro, and O’Brother on March 27.

Rocky Votolato stops in at The Drake Hotel for a show on April 5 in promotion of their newest CD "True Devotion". Tickets $13 in advance.

Via Pollstar, UK's Little Boots will be at the Phoenix Concert Theatre on April 30.

As confirmed by Sub Pop and Inland Empire Touring, Handsome Furs will be perform at El Mocambo on March 12 as part Canadian Music Week.

Who knew UK folkies would be so popular in T.O.? To play it safe I'd picked up my tickets for both Laura Marling (Feb 9) and Mumford and Sons (Feb 15) a few weeks ago before they'd sold out but both shows have been moved to larger venues - Marling's show moved from The Drake Underground to Lee's Palace and Mumford and Son's show from the El Mocambo to Lee's as well. The respective dates still stand. Get your tickets while you can. NME reports that Marling is set to release two new albums this year, firstly her second album entitled "I Speak Because I Can" set to be released on March 2, and then Marling plans to record another album which is scheduled for a September release. The Guardian has Marling's new music video below:

Video: Laura Marling - "Devil's Spoke" (music video)

Unconfirmed at the moment, but Pollstar is listing Joel Plaskett Emergency playing The Mod Club on March 13. I guess it's a definite possibility since the date is during Canadian Musicfest and Plaskett is already confirmed for the festival.

Finally, psych-rock vets Brian Jonestown Massacre will be hitting three continents from February through to June on their upcoming tour including a date in Toronto at the Phoenix on June 2. I'm sure some of you will be very excited for this. As chartattack reports, the band will release their new album "Who Killed Sgt. Pepper?" on February 23.

Concert Announcements / Music News (January 13, 2010)

There was an insane amount of quality concert announcements over the past few days, most courtesy of Against The Grain:

The big one first - the initial lineup for this year's Olympic Island Concert has been announced. The shindig will take place Saturday June 19 at Toronto Islands featuring Pavement, Broken Social Scene, and Band of Horses with more acts to be announced in the future. Tickets $49.50 in advance ($49.50 @ door), onsale January 22 at 10 am, or jump on the presale on January 18 over at galleryac.com (presale ticket buyers will get $5 towards the Arts & Crafts boutique at the concert as well as a chance to win one of 10 pairs of VIP wristbands.

Norweigan acoustic pop duo Kings of Convenience return to Toronto for a show at the Phoenix on February 18 in support of their most recent album "Declaration of Dependence" released last October. Tickets to the show are $21.50 advance ($25.00 @ the door), 19+, and go onsale January 16 at 10 am.

Scheduled for a two-night stint at the Horseshoe Tavern on March 27 and 28 are Atlanta's The Black Lips with openers Demon's Claws and Box Elders. Tickets $15.50 advance ($18.00 @ the door), 19+, and go onsale January 14, 2010 at 10:00AM.

Austin's Spoon return with their new album "Transference" to be released January 19 and which is currently streaming over at NPR. For better, they are touring in support of the new album and will make a stop in Toronto on March 29 with openers Deerhunter and The Strange Boys. Doors 7:30 pm. Tickets $24.50 advance ($28.50 @ the door), all-ages/licensed. Tickets are as follows: Advance Floor - $24.50 and Advance VIP Balcony - $33.50, Door Floor - $28.50 and Door VIP Balcony - $38.50. Tickets onsale tomorrow at 10 am.

Making up for last year's Broken Social Scene Olympic Island concert cancellation for which they were to be a part of, Beach House are coming to Toronto for a show at The Opera House on March 30, tickets $14.00 advance, $16.00 @ the door, 19+, and go onsale January 15, 2010 at 10:00 am.

Also a higly sought ticket, UK's The xx return with Swedes jj for a show at the Phoenix on April 4, tickets $20.00 advance, $25.00 @ the door, 19+, and go onsale tomorrow at 10 am. I finally listened to The xx's debut album in its entirely - a very calculated(in a good way), minimalist sound. I really need to hear it on good speakers.

Hamilton's Attack In Black return for a show at the Horseshoe on February 13, tickets an affordable $10.50 advance ($12.00 @ the door). It's a 19+ show and tickets go onsale January 15 at 10 am. Quite impressed with them when I saw them open for The Constantines recently.

Seemingly a man about town now, Mr. Joe Pernice will play Dakota Tavern on February 16.
Tickets $20.50 advance ($23.00 @ the door) and go onsale January 15 at 10 am.

As previously announced, the Thrush Hermit reunion dates in Toronto take place March 27 and 27 at Lee's Palace. Ticket details have now been confirmed - tickets will set you back $17.50 in advance ($20.00 @ the door). It's a 19+ show and tickets go onsale January 15 at 10 am.

With their new album "The Golden Archipelago" out on February 23 through Matador, Austin's Shearwater take to the road including a stop in Toronto at Lee's Palace on April 1. Openers are Merge Records' Wye Oak, and Kansas outfit Hospital Ships. Tickets for the show are $12.00 advance ($14.00 @ the door) and it's a 19+ show. Tickets go onsale January 15 at 10 am.

Philly psych-rock outfit Dr. Dog, having signed to ANTI- last year, will release their newest album "Shame, Shame" on April 6. North American tour dates kick off at the end of January with a Toronto stop on April 14 at Lee's Palace. Tickets $16.50 advance ($20.00 @ the door), and it's a 19+ show. Tickets onsale January 22 at 10 am.

Portland's Quasi release their new album entitled "American Gong" on February 23 through Kill Rock Stars (according to Pitchfork). North American tour dates get underway in March with a stop in Toronto on April 18 at the Horseshoe. Tickets $10.50 advance ($12.00 @ the door), 19+ show. Tickets onsale tomorrow at 10 am. And that ends the Against The Grain portion of concert announcements.

Here's some other notable upcoming shows:

Born Ruffians play the Phoenix on March 14, presumably in support of their new album "Say It" which is to be released, supposedly during the early part of this year. I'm guessing this show is part of Canadian Music Week.

NYC noisy pop trio Vivian Girls will be playing Wrongbar on March 10 with similarly thrashy openers Male Bonding from the UK. Via Ground Control Touring.

The Wedding Present come to the Horseshoe on April 14 to the celebrate the 21st birthday of their major label debut album "Bizarro" by doing what else, but perform that album in its entirety. Mr. Gedge is on Twitter, if you're so inclined. For a man who still mans his own merch table at show, it's really no surprise for me that he's on Twitter. Hey, the man likes to keep in touch with his fans.

Toronto show promoters No Shame host the Horseshoe on January 30 with two shots of dance rock in the form of local groups Everything All The Time and Lioness and one shot of Haligonian experimental pop from Rich Aucoin. Tickets $8.

Edge 102.1 Dave Bookman's Nu Music Nite at the Horseshoe on February 9 will feature Ashville, NC alt-country punks Those Darlins at 10:50 pm and San Antonion's Hacienda at 10 pm. Notably, Hacienda were The Black Key's Dan Auerbach's backing band on his recent solo tour. Also on the bill are local garage pop outfit Invasions who headline the evening at 11:40 pm/

Swedish indie pop group Shout out Louds release their new album "Work" on February 23 through Merge Records and will embark on a North American tour in May with a stop in Toronto on my birthday, May 8 for a show at The Mod Club. The first single from the new album is entitled "Fall Hard":

MP3: Shout Out Louds - "Fall Hard"
Video: Shout Out Louds - "Fall Hard"

Via The Windish Agency, the Brooklyn/Chicago based indie-dance-rock outfit These Are Powers (whose set at NXNE last year I'd only caught but a few minutes of unfortunately) and their friends Javelin will be at The Deleon White Gallery in Toronto for a show on March 30. These Are Powers have a new EP out February 23 through Rvng Intl entitled "World Class Peoples/Candyman" EP.

Finally, screening for only one night in Canada, Bjork's concert film "Voltaïc: The Volta Tour Live in Paris and Reykjavik" will be shown at The Acacia Centre (formerly Golden Classics Cinema) on January 22, 10$ Advance, 12$ Door. Via Stille Post:

Trailer: "Voltaïc: The Volta Tour Live in Paris and Reykjavik"

Concert Annoucements / Music News (January 6, 2010)

Not an essential purchase for me by any means but I may still pick it up at least for the artwork and of course to hear REMASTERED audio of Pavement classics (ok I'm being sarcastic), but Pavement will be releasing a mid-priced 23-track compilation entitled "Quarantine The Past" on March 9 through Matador Records. Tour dates have already been announced for New Zealand, Australia, Europe and New York City and the buzz around the T.O. Community is perhaps they'll play this year's Olympic Island Festival. Of course that's just speculation but I'm sure some of us will be glued to the Olympic Island Concert website on January 11 at 7:30 pm EST when details of this year's Olympic Island Concert is announced. C'mon Pavement!

Against The Grain's been busy with concert announcements these days (and in the process providing me with much thinking to do about what shows I might take in - and just when I thought I might take it easy this year)

With the assistance of Beck's backing band, Parisian singer-songwriter Charlotte Gainsbourg plays the Phoenix on January 29, tickets $21.50 in advance($25 @ door), onsale Friday Jan 8 @ 8 am. Update: The show is cancelled. Bummer.

Cuff The Duke have introduced few more local dates including a stop at Lee's Palace on March 20. Tickets $15 in advance($18 @ door), onsale January 8 at 8 am.

Nada Surf will be promoting a new covers record entitled "If I Had a Hi Fi" and taking it on the road including a stop at Lee's Palace on March 29. Tickets $16.50 in advance($20 @ door), onsale January 8 at 8 am.

Vampire Weekend played live on Letterman yesterday in promotion of their new album "Contra" (out next week) and are hitting the road soon. Big enough to play Sound Academy in Toronto? We'll see - they're booked for a show there on March 30. Tickets $27.50 in advance($35 @ door), all-ages/licensed, onsale January 8.

I always assumed band A Sunny Day In Glasgow, where y'know, from Glasgow and I'd imagined them to be indiepop. OK, so they're from Philadephia, and their music's described as using "samples, guitars, and melodies". Lest not judge a book by it's cover anymore - they'll be playing The Garrison on April 2, tickets $10 in advance($12 @ door).

Polyvinyl will be releasing Sweden's Love Is All's third album "Two Thousand and Ten Injuries" on March 23, with the band touring thereafter. They'll be joining Japandroids on April 3 at the Horseshoe. Tickets a measly $12 in advance($15 @ door), onsale January 7.

Owen Pallett will give fans a 2nd chance to see him live(for those unlucky not to get a ticket to his sold out show at The Mod Club next week on January 12) when he plays a significantly larger show at Queen Elizabeth Theatre on April 8. Tickets $25 in advance($30 @ door), all-ages/licensed, onsale January 7.

So it seems to be confirmed now that UK's The xx will be playing with jj on April 4 at Lee's Palace as both record label Beggars Group Canada and booker The Windish Agency are listing it.

On Thursday, January 28, 2010 at 8 pm, Eye Weekly's Stuart Berman will be hosting a free event, Inside The Musician's Studio, down at the Harbourfront Centre Brigantine Room featuring The Happiness Project in performance and interview. And again, it's FREE. Here's a link to the Facebook event details.

While not much CMW/Canadian Musicfest scheduling info has yet to be released, Billions is listing a March 12 show at Lee's Palace which I'm guessing is a CMW-related event and as lineups go it's fantastic - the bill will include Plants and Animals, The Acorn, Russian Futurists, Winter Gloves, and Think About Life. As with CMW usually, I fully expect brief sets at most but that night should still be a good time. Although I don't usually like to stay in one venue during CMW for an entire night, I could definitely imagine making an exception that night.

According to Pollstar, The English Beat return for at show at Lee's Palace on May 18.

Cleveland's enigmatic Baby Dee plays The Music Gallery on April 13. Via The Windish Agency.

chartattack reports that The New Pornographers' Carl Newman had tweeted on January 1 that the recording of the new New Porns' album has been completed. No confirmed release date as of yet but charttack does say the band want to release it this year.

Music News & Concert Annoucements (November 30, 2009)

  Elizabeth Fraser: photo by Sally Mundy

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. I've been reflective lately about the last decade of music (given best of decade lists like Uncut's and Bob's) and have been revisiting some old favourites and loading up the old iPod. I may just throw a list together and post it. Or not. One thing I realized however is that in our/everyone's quest for seeking out new music it's easy to forget all the great music that's come before. So if I haven't posted about whomever is the hot new musical act right now, you'll understand right?

New Massive Attack album coming out in February. Pitchfork has the deets.

One-time Massive Attack collaborator, Elizabeth Fraser(of Cocteau Twins), has a new single(aww, just a single) entitled "Moses". Limited to 900 copies on 12" vinyl, it's available for order through Rough Trade. The song is a tribute to Jake Drake-Brockman, late keyboardist of Echo and The Bunnymen. The Guardian has a revealing article on Ms. Fraser regards to The Cocteau Twins reunion that never happened, about her distance from the music industry over the last 12 years, and her relationships with Cocteau Twins' Robin Guthrie and singer songwriter Jeff Buckley. (The Guardian link via The National Post)

On an Liz Fraser tangent, I just picked up Echo and The Bunnymen's Ian McCulloch's 1989 debut solo album "Candleland" on vinyl which contains a track that Ms. Fraser sings background vocals on. Wonderful:

Video: Ian McCulloch(w/ Elizabeth Fraser) - "Candleland" (music video)

Pondering travel plans in 2010 already and thinking a revisit to Barcelona, Spain next year for the Primavera Sound Festival may be in order. The intial lineup is fantastic. Pavement, Pixies, Wilco, New Pornographers, the Fall, The xx!

Local country outfit $100 have some shows lined up this month and in the new year. There'll be a duet show on December 1 at Graffiti's as well as December 5 at Canadian Corps. There'll be a trio configuration when they play Holy Oak on December 3. They'll play Horseshoe Tavern on January 22 in the new year in what I presume will be a full band. From the band's MySpace.

Winsome pop-folk outfit Ohbijou will be performing for an in-studio session for Third Floor Sessions on December 5 at 3 pm. You can be part of the studio audience - tickets are $5 and can be had by e-mailing livingghostproductions@gmail.com. Details at Stille Post and Facebook. The radio program is through SPIRITlive a 24-hour a day, 7 day a week live Internet Broadcaster, produced by students in the School of Radio & Television Arts (RTA) at Ryerson University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Also according to the Facebook page, Toronto indie roots act The Wooden Sky are to perform for Third Floor Sessions on December 15.

Underneath the organic, sunny pop-rock of Will Currie and The Country French belies a band who embrace technology as they hope to broadcast their live shows on their Ustream Channel whenever they can. They play to stream their upcoming Waterloo show taking place December 3 at Maxwell's Music House. (via chartattack)

Concert Announcements / Music News (August 28, 2009)

Sorry again for the lack of updates. Summer's just about coming to an end. We're all shedding a tear or two I'm sure. At least I have Virgin Festival @ Molson Ampitheatre to look forward to this weekend. Fortunately, I got a reviewers pass - I was a little disappointed to not get a photo pass but I'm over it(ok, maybe I'm lying a bit) - it seems like I'll probably be at the mainstage a lot, although I'm looking forward to The Rural Alberta Advantage's headlining set at the Boardwalk Stage at 9:10 pm - yes I will gladly miss some of Ben Harper and The Relentless 7's set on the mainstage for RAA.

To get you in an RAA mood, RAA's Nils Edenloff performed a solo acoustic session for Luxury Wafers. Check out the exclusive videos and mp3's.

If it weren't for the Pixies going on at Virgin Festival on August 29 at 7:40 pm I'd probably have considered scooting on over to the CNE and checking out Tokyo Police Club at the Bandshell at 7:30 pm. But maybe you should.

If I haven't run out of steam after Virgin Festival concludes on Sunday night(August 30), perhaps I'll scoot down to The Boat whose lineup will feature Secretly Canadian's Throw Me The Statue, Sub Pop's The Brunettes and Dead Ocean's Nurses. Via Stille Post.

Also on August 30 is another edition of Wavelength at Sneaky Dee's featuring some nice lounge pop from Maylee and Pegwee Power!!! at 12 am, as well some indie-folk from The Weather Station at 11 pm and Wilderness of Manitoba at 10 pm. Also via Stille Post.

Happening tonight is the Friends In Bellewoods II (CD compilation of some of the city and country's best musical artists - check out Narratives for more info) show happening at Lee's Palace with Bocce, Ohbijou (special set with guests), Forest City Lovers, and Evening Hymns. Tickets $15 at the door and music starts at 9:30 pm.

If you aren't going to Virgin Festival on Saturday(Aug 30) why not check out the all-day Friends In Bellewoods II show happening at Tranzac starting at 12:10 pm. There's also a BBQ! The set-times for this shindig are as follows:

12:10 – Bruce Peninsula
12:45 – Kate Rogers
1:20 – Great Bloomers
1:55 – Sylvie Smith's Country Band
2:30 – Sebastien Grainger
3:05 – The Low Notes
3:40 – The Phonemes
4:15 – Tusks
4:50 – Canadian Wildlife
5:25 – The Cutting Edge (mmbrs of the Wooden Sky and Ohbijou)
6:00 – Dinghies (Stringer/WAMO/Ohbijou)
6:35 – Kite Hill
7:10 – Bellewoods
7:45 – Lisa Bozikovic
8:20 – Kids On TV
8:55 – Emma McKenna
9:30 – Germans
10:05 – Snowblink
10:40 – The Acorn

Another indication of summer coming to an end are the announcements for the various University orientation events going on over the next several weeks. Playing Ryerson University's annual orientation concert at Toronto Islands on the afternoon of September 9 will be Girl Talk and K'naan. I'm not sure how easy it is to crash this but it's worth a try. K'naan is a busy beaver this year and he'll also be playing York University's Yorkfest orientation concert on September 23 along with The Stills, Snow, Rival Boys, Affinity and DJ Manifest. Yorkfest apparently is hard to get in to if you are not alumni or a student. University of Toronto's orientation concert which is scheduled to take place Friday September 4 at the school's back campus apparently announced the lineup but haven't yet updated their website. Anyone know? I've checked this out a few times over the last several years and it's definitely crash-able - no barriers whatsoever.

On Saturday September 5, at a location to be announced [to be announced on September 4 to ticketholders only] the music lineup will feature Final Fantasy, Gowns, Huckleberry Friends, Wyrd Visions, and Carl Didiur. Starts at 7 pm with Carl and Final Fantasy will end things off by 11 pm. An afterparty is promised at 11:30 pm at a bar in a nearby strip mall. Tickets are only available IN ADVANCE for $10 at Rotate This and Soundscapes. Final Fantasy's new album "Heartland" is set for release in early 2010 - oh and congrats on him signing to Domino Records in the UK. Mr. Pallett coincidentally produced a few tracks on Pet Shop Boys newest album "Yes" - Pet Shop Boys are the penultimate act of Day Two(Aug 30) of Virgin Festival in Toronto at Molson Ampitheatre.

I've yet to check out a single instore at Criminal Records in Toronto but perhaps I'll get to one soon. Daredevil Christopher Wright plays an instore tomorrow August 28 at around 6 pm (nice-sounding melodic indie rock) and Cuff The Duke play an instore on September 8 (celebrating the release of their new album "Way Down Here" that same day) - for the moment you can hear Cuff The Duke's new album here.

Joe Pernice performs a session for the Interface. Mr Pernice will play a show at Dakota Tavern on September 10.

Toronto's Everything All The Time are interviewed over at The Singing Lamb. They played yesterday at the Horseshoe. I didn't go. I suck. Frank did. Look for his review.

Someone may have already mentioned this but I'll mention it anyway - Osaka, Japan's Shonen Knife play the Horseshoe Tavern on October 18, tickets $15.50 in advance. More tour dates over at the gals' MySpace. The girls' newest album is entitled "Super Group" and was just released this week in North America through Good Charamel Records.

MP3: Shonen Knife - "Super Group"
Video: Shonen Knife - "Super Group"

As a recent Wilco mailing list update indicates August 27 saw the release of the hi-fi vinyl reissue of Wilco's "Summerteeth". Similar reissues will follow for "A.M" in September and "Being There" in October. Each vinyl reissue is of 180-gram quality coming in a gatefold sleeve and including a copy of the full album on CD. You can preorder all 3 in a special bundle here. Wilco are touring this fall and are in Toronto for a two-night stint at Massey Hall on October 14-15...I'll be at the second show, Left Centre Balcony, Row F. Should be stellar.

Concert Announcements / Music News (August 19, 2009)

Apologize for the lack of posts lately, but who says you haven't been getting along fine without me. Family's been taking much of my time lately with my father's 75th and my nephew's 18th birthdays being celebrated last weekend with a big bash and my 12-year old nephew and his little sister leaving today for Italy for a month. And then of course work's been busy. I'm thankful that summer's finally arrived and I hope to make the most of what remains of it before Labour Day rolls. It's also been one of those weeks where I've been pondering the future of this here blog. Posting once a week feels wholely insufficient. At the same time, I don't necessarily have the time nor want to devote all my time to this blog when of course there are other things in life. Concert reviews remain the crux of the content but writing up reviews and processing photos and posting them online in a timely manner continues to be difficult to do, especially weeks when I have several shows. During my concert-going down-time, I'm finding hard to get motivated to write about anything. Album reviews? Artist profiles? Concert announcements? Music news? The latter two I'll probably continue to post about occasionally although sometimes it seems a little redundant when resources like Stille Post are around. The former two, I hope to post more frequently of but I'll likely keep things simple and concise - many days I'd rather be listening to music than writing about it but if I fancy any new music I hope to write a few good sentences about it. I recently got my new iPhone 3GS so I hope to stay connected to the Internet more frequently. So I'll see how things go from here on in. I'll play it by ear. Wish me luck.

Filing under maybe - I'll - finally - make - it - to - a - British - music - festival - next - summer, NME reports that Pete Doherty says The Libertines' plans to reunite for UK festival gigs next summer hoping that member Carl Barat will soon agree. Their debut album "Up The Bracket" has been getting a lot of play on my iPod in my car this summer.

No plans are on the horizon for a New Order reunion but member Bernard Sumner doesn't seem to care as his new band Bad Lieutenant have released their debut single online as NME reports. The track 'Sink Or Swim" can be heard at the band's MySpace. The band's debut album "Never Cry Another Tear" will be released on October 5.

According to the Facebook event page, Junior Boys are at Tattoo Rock Parlour on August 25. The Facebook event page says it's a live set. Sorry I don't have any ticket info. Also related to the band, their track 'Dull To Pause' is Starbucks' iTunes pick of the week - you can pick up a promo card at participating stores. Update: A closer look at the JPEG of the gig poster on the Facebook event page indicates that Junior Boys are doing a DJ set - I thought so since a live gig would have probably been better advertised.

Via Chromewaves, Hope Sandoval long-awaited return to Toronto will be at The Mod Club on October 7 in support of her and her band The Warm Inventions' new album "Through The Devil Softly" being released September 29.

And given Chromewaves positive response to Micachu & The Shapes' show at the El Mocambo last month, I'm tempted to check out the return performance when Micachu plays Lee's Palace on September 29. (ps. not sure of this show anymore since the date on the MySpace has mysteriously disappeared - although the cached version of the MySpace clearly indicates the Toronto date and a bunch of other North American dates which are now no longer listed) Update: Thanks for Frank in the comments for pointing out that Micachu's tour dates have been cancelled. Dang.

The Stranglers' frontman Hugh Cornwell plays The Mod Club on September 17 in support of his new album "Hooverdam" being released September 8.

In support of their upcoming third album scheduled for release this November, NYC's The Bravery play The Opera House on October 6.

Pitchfork reports that UK electronic-dance act Basement Jaxx have scheduled some North American dates including a date in Toronto on November 3 at a venue called Century Room which I've Google-d is located at 580 King Street West, apparently a nightclub.

The Sadies play the Horseshoe on September 12, tickets $15.

The Antlers(who'd I caught recently opening for Frightened Rabbit at the Horseshoe) return for a show at the Horseshoe on September 24, tickets $10.50. The band just released their new album "Hospice" through Frenchkiss Records.

The Avett Brothers bring their hurtin' Americana to town for a show at the Horseshoe on September 30, tickets $17.50.

Albertan Corb Lund brings his own hurtin' country music when he returns to town for a two-night stint at the Horseshoe on Oct 22-23, tickets $20 each.

Congrats to Toronto's Little Girls who'll release their debut album "Concepts" through Paper Bag Records on October 13. They'll open for psycho garage outfit Monotonix at Velvet Underground on October 7.

Music News / Concert Announcements

Yo La Tengo's new album "Popular Songs" is getting Matador Records' "Buy Early Get Now" (BEGN) treatment. What you get:

- CD or LP copy of Popular Songs, available for collection at a trusted physical retailer (easily found via the store finder on the front page) or via mail order on September 8.
- the full 128k album stream starting August 4, with exclusive bonus MP3s to follow.
- a vinyl LP featuring Yo La Tengo’s Orginal Score from the Motion Picture “Adventureland”
- a poster (design TBD)

For full details go here. As just reported, Yo La Tengo have a date in Toronto at The Opera House on October 3, tickets $25. Photo from www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com.

As Brooklyn Vegan reports Seattle indie-pop band Throw Me The Statue are touring with New Zealands' The Brunettes with a stop in Toronto on August 30 at a venue still to be announced. Mark your calendars.

Punk Rock Karoake takes over Lee's Palace on September 3. Check out the official website for the official song list and be prepared to sing along to your favourite punk rock classic. And if I actually had the nerve I'd probably pick The Undertones' 'Teenage Kicks' .

Berlin resident / Toronto homeboy Gonzales is rereleasing his 2004 album "Solo Piano" as a Deluxe Edition on September 22 through Arts & Crafts. It'll be a 2-disc package with the original album on the first disc and and containing a bonus DVD, featuring the documentary film, "From Major To Minor", "the first long form video to document the outlandish and eccentric universe of Gonzales." To promote the release he'll be playing a hometown show at The Mod Club on September 30.

Kid Koala plays a 19+ early show(doors 7 pm) at The Mod Club on October 3, tickets $18.50.

A double shot of Portland indie hits The Mod Club on October 6 with Mirah and Norfolk & Western. Tickets $15.

Vancouver's Brasstronaut play Sneaky Dee's on October 17.

As chartattack pointed out Metric announced upcoming tour dates for Ontario and Quebec for this October including a date in Toronto at Massey Hall on October 20 with openers The Stills. And then maybe Metric may have played just about every large sized venue in the city. Next stops Ricoh Coliseum and ACC?

The Raveonettes are back with a new album "In & Out Of Control" being released through Vice Records on October 6 and they will be in Toronto for a show a the Phoenix on October 22, tickets $18.50.

As NME reports, NYC's A Place To Bury Strangers release their second album entitled "Exploding Head" on October 6 and will be at The Mod Club on October 27. Pitchfork reports that the openers will be Dead Confederate, and All the Saints.

Barrie indie rockers Fox Jaws return with a new album entitled "At Odds (or, Exercises in Separation While United in the Fall)" being released through local indie label Nevado Records on August 18 and while no tour dates are on the horizon you know they'll be playing in and around the city a bunch of times.

Portland's The Gossip have no date for Toronto lined up but they've always been good to Toronto in the past. And yet I've never gotten around to seeing them. I must remedy that next time they play here although I hope it's not a venue larger than the Phoenix. They have a whack of dates posted on their MySpace which will be in support of their new album "Music For Men" being released October 6. The first single is 'Heavy Cross' which is streaming at their MySpace and is featured this week as iTunes free Single of the Week.

I got an e-mail the other day about a book called "Our Noise: The Story of Merge Records: The Indie Label That Got Big and Stayed Small" (written by John Cook, Laura Ballance, and Mac MacCaughan) coming out September 15 through Algonquin Books that I'm looking forward to reading. Hey Superchunk(and while we're at it, Versus who apparently started recording a new album!), please come to Toronto!

NME reports that The White Stripes documentary "Under Great White Northern Lights" chronicling Jack and Meg White's 2007 Canada tour [remember all those uncoventional locations the band had played] will be premiering at this year's Toronto International Film Festival on September 18. You can view the trailer here. Jack's other band The Dead Weather play Kool Haus tonight which I don't believe is sold out.

NME also reports that UK's Zero 7's newest album is entitled "Yeah Ghost" and will be released September 7. It's suppose to be a more uptempo affair. NME has the tracklisting.

Looking forward to the Frightened Rabbit show at the Horseshoe tonight. It's sold out by the way, so don't bother showing up if you don't have a ticket. I'm a newbie myself but I was sent a digital promo of their album "The Midnight Organ" just recently and I'm enjoying it a lot. Love the thick Scottish-accented vocals. Nice melodic indie rock with attractive folk and country accents at times. Having not really listened to them that intently until recently, I realize they're more straightforward sounding than I anticipated but still interesting enough (I still wonder if they'd be as interesting if say the vocalist was American rather than Scottish. Hmmm?). Check out the video below (a stripped down, 3-song performance at the warehouse of Fat Cat Records, link via Brooklyn Vegan):

Video: Frightened Rabbit - "Old Old Fashioned", "Good Arms vs Bad Arms", "Modern Leper" (live acoustic @ Fat Cat Records)