Artist: Kurt Vile
Songs: Jesus Fever + Society is My Friend
Recorded at Lee's Palace, July 13, 2011.
Kurt Vile - Society is My Friend
My notes for this set can be found here.
Artist: Kurt Vile
Songs: Jesus Fever + Society is My Friend
Recorded at Lee's Palace, July 13, 2011.
Kurt Vile - Society is My Friend
My notes for this set can be found here.
Founded as a blog about one curmudgeon's love affair with the em dash, Mechanical Forest Sound has grown to become a community-based archive of local musical culture. Assuming that "independent music" isn't just boys with guitars and "culture" isn't just some sort of pageant, MFS is an investigation of a wide range of artists, reflecting on concerts as shared experiences, acts of citizenship and a chance to get down — fuzzy photographs and clear-sounding original live recordings a specialty.
Current manifestations of this project include Track Could Bend, a monthly concert series featuring "improvised music and weird rock offshoots", presented in a casual environment.
At one point I wrote full-on concert reviews, and for longer I thought I would catch up and write about shows in the past. But these days, because of, y'know, life, do not expect much in the way of full show reviews — but live recordings with blurbs will be posted as quickly after the fact as is feasible.
Check out my original live recordings from many of the gigs discussed here.
You can also check out full sets uploaded to the Live Music Archive. [not currently active]
N.B.: All recordings should be available & playable. If you come across any broken links, invisible or non-functioning players, etc, please leave a comment and I will tend to it ASAP.
ALSO N.B.: I'm perpetually on the lookout for a new place to stash my MP3's online. If you know of any place that allows a couple gigs of stuff to be openly linked to for streaming, drop me a line!
All comments are welcome, or you can reach me at mechanicalforestsound@gmail.com.
All MP3's on this blog are audience recordings shared as a reminder of the excitement of seeing live music. If you are an artist who doesn't want their music shared in this way, please contact me and I shall remove it forthwith.
If you're so inclined, you can also follow me on Bluesky @mfs-toronto.bsky.social
Is your show missing from this list? Submit it via this form!
Reduce / Reuse / Recycle ["the orchestra will use excerpts from iconic works in the classical canon as the inspiration for free-improvised pieces, this time accompanied by live improvised art from Tristan Crocker"] (feat. The New Toronto Symphony Orchestra [Zack Goldstein/Jared Berge/Ben Rositsan/Ilinca Stafie/Annie Elgie/Josh Sparks/Crescenzo DiCecco/Connor Crone/Danielle Sum]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-04-21 (Monday) [more info]
LAKE (Marker Starling / Bernice) / The Garrison 2025-04-22 (Tuesday). $24.11, 19+. [FB event]
No Octopus Dancing [Germaine Liu & Mark Zurawinski / Allison Cameron & Stephen Parkinson / Liu/Zurawinski/Cameron/Parkinson] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-04-22 (Tuesday) [more info]
Sarah Greene with Paul Kolinski & Michael Herring (Shawn Durkin) / Sellers and Newel 2025-04-23 (Wednesday). $20 minimum donation. [FB event]
Nick Storring [Mirante LP release celebration] (Khôra & Mas Aya) / Allan Gardens Children's Conservatory 2025-04-24 (Thursday). $22.63. [more info/tickets]
Karen Ng presents (feat. BLOOP! / Cole Schmidt’s Lettr Opnr) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-24 (Thursday) [more info]
All-Set! presents: Remembered in Exile - Songs and Ballads from Nova Scotia album release (feat.Mole Mountain [Isla Craig/Pete Johnston/Mike Smith/Jake Oelrichs/Elise Boeur/Andrew Killawee]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-25 (Friday – early). [more info]
Exit Points #59 (feat. Doug Tielli/Lina Allemano/Victoria Miller/Matthew Ryals/Mehdi Rostami / Champagne James Robertson/Tia Alandra/Naomi Sky/Nick Flanagan/Michael Palumbo / Switchemups) / Array Space 2025-04-25 (Friday). $15 early bird / $20 adv / $25 door. [FB event]
The Ryan Driver Quintet / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-25 (Friday). $pwyw. [FB event]
Change of Heart [In The Wreckage record release!] (Bonnie Trash / Andrew Dickson)/ The Sound Garage 2025-04-25&26 (Friday & Saturday). $35.42, 19+. [FB event]
Dan Pitt Trio [Dan Pitt/Alex Fournie/Nick Fraser] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-04-26 (Saturday – early). $15/pwyc. [m ore info]
Gloin (Ancient Greece / Dog Whistle) / The Dance Cave 2024-04-26 (Saturday). $28.19, 19+. [FB event]
Casper Skulls [Kit-Cat album release!] (Twist / Kurt Marble) / The Garrison 2025-04-26 (Saturday). $25.38, 19+. [FB event]
Ministry of Phonic Services presents (feat. Zach Rowden / Shadow Pattern / Kristina Guison) / Agenda Cafe + Bar 2025-04-26 (Saturday). $pwyc. [more info]
catl. / The Belle and the Beacon 2025-04-26 (Saturday). $pwyc. [more info]
Diar (دْيَار ) feat. iIIarra Ryad / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-26 (Saturday). $pwyc. [FB event]
Pet Sounds Band [instrumental re-imagining of Pet Sounds, played in its entirety] [Christine Bougie/Dafydd Hughes/Andrew Downing/Julia Hambleton] / Hope United Church 2025-04-27 (Sunday – 3 p.m.). $20. [tickets/more info]
Sympathetic String Band Residency (feat. Sympathetic String Band / Isla Craig / Carl Didur) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-04-27 (Sunday – early) [FB event]
Eliza Niemi [Progress Bakery album release] (Advance Base) / The Garrison 2025-04-27 (Sunday). $25.38, 19+. [FB event]
Sound & Images Improvisations (feat. Nilan Perera & Mike Filipov) / PIX FILM Gallery 2025-04-27 (Sunday). $free or pwyc, $5 suggested, 19+. [more info]
Marsella Duncan [vinyl release show!] (Zinnia) / Burdock Music Hall 2025-05-02 (Friday). $16.95. [FB event]
CMC Presents (feat. The Cluttertones [Lina Allemano/Rob Clutton/Ryan Driver/Tim Posgate]) / Canadian Music Centre 2025-05-02 (Friday). $15 Advance / $20 at the door (CMC Members and Arts Workers: $12 Advance / $15 at the door; Students: $10 anytime). [more info]
laika berdey and the repeat offenders (Public Library / slack!) / Bampot 2025-05-02 (Friday – late, doors @ 10 p.m.). $15/PWYC, all-ages. [more info]
Labyrinth Ensemble with Âriâ Mohâfez / Aga Khan Museum 2025-05-03 (Saturday). $40 Regular, $36 Friends of Aga Khan Museum, $30 Students and Seniors. [FB event]
Rachmaninoff – The All-Night Vigil (feat. The Tallis Choir) / St. Patrick's Church 2025-05-03 (Saturday). $30 General, $25 Seniors, $10 Students. [FB event]
Brittany Pitt & Evan Tighe / Sellers and Newel 2025-05-06 (Tuesday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]
Track Could Bend #104 (feat. Allison Cameron / Allemano/Driver/Klager / Hex-A-Decimal) / Wenona Lodge 2025-05-06 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [FB event]
Project Nowhere x Departure (feat. Mother Tongues / Motherhood / Jane Inc.) / The Garrison 2025-05-08 (Thursday). $20 adv / $25 at the door, 19+. [FB event]
Lina Allemano Four [Special 20th Anniversary Retrospective Show] [Lina Allemano/Andrew Downing/Brodie West/Nick Fraser] / Sellers and Newel 2025-05-10 (Saturday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]
Ladyfinger [Diane Roblin & Kayla Milmine] / Sellers and Newel 2025-05-14 (Wednesday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]
Playscape Emporium: Arcade-palooza (feat. Render File / Jason Leaver PuzzSoft) / Array Space 2024-05-15 (Saturday). $20.00 (or Pay What You Wish) / Livestream: $10.00 (or Pay What You Wish). [more info]
Above Top Secret [Record Release Show] (Sydanie) / The Cameron House (Back Room) 2025-05-15 (Thursday). $15, 19+. [more info/tickets]
Sub-Sessions #10 (feat. Pick A Piper / Essie Watts / Erik Masson / Blush) / BSMT 254 2025-05-15 (Thursday). $pwyc, $15 recommended. [FB event]
Doug Paisley / Monarch Tavern 2025-05-22 (Thursday). $34.37, 19+. [FB event]
Dinner Party: A new opera by Holger Schoorl (feat. Scott Gabriel/Elizabeth Lima/Holger Schoorl/Randi Helmers) / Array Space 2025-05-28 (Wednesday) [FB event]
Forty on Friday [works by Martin Arnold, Jason Doell (world premiere), Tyshawn Sorey, and Joanna Bailie] (feat. Continuum Contemporary Music) / Hugh’s Room Live 2025-05-30 (Friday). $22.63/$19.44 senior/student/arts worker. [more info]
Freesound Presents: Violin // Trumpet // Melodica [featuring new work by Martin Arnold] (feat. Aysel Taghi-Zada/Émilie Fortin/Martin Arnold) / Array Space 2025-06-28 (Saturday). $22.63. [FB event]
Cola (Jane Inc.) / The Garrison 2024-07-18 (Friday). $31.51, 19+. [FB event]
2025 Gigs
Track Could Bend #99 (feat. Lostworldsounds / future proof) / Wenona Lodge 2025-01-07 (Tuesday)
Ayal Senior & Friends (feat. Ayal Senior & Kurt Newman / Michelle Breslin / David Sait / Nick Flanagan) 2025-01-12 (Sunday)
Isla Craig (A L M A) / 918 Bathurst (Sun Room) 2025-02-02 (Sunday)
Track Could Bend #101 (feat. Kayla Milmine/Bob Vespaziani/Michael Lynn / Colin Fisher) / Wenona Lodge 2025-02-04 (Tuesday)
Track Could Bend #100 (feat. Isla Craig/Fahmid Nibesh/Michelangelo / Del Stephen/Danny Sheehan/Phil Hamilton / Ian McPhedran/James Bailey/Tom Richards / Raphael Roter/Sara Constant/Bill Gilliam / Bea Labikova/Mira Martin-Gray/Heather Saumer / Sarah Peebles/Kat Estacio/Danny Alexander / Luka Kuplowsky/Karen Ng/William Davison) / 918 Bathurst 2025-02-16 (Sunday)
Music Hosted by Karen Ng: A fundraiser show for Earlobe (feat. Holger Schrool & Mark Zurawinski / Many People) / Wenona Lodge 2024-02-18 (Tuesday)
Patrick O'Reilly presents: Carded! (feat. Patrick O'Reilly/Samuel Little/amiel ang/Samuel Laramee/Omar Yazaw/Leah Reavster/%%30%30
/Annie Elgie) / Walter Hall 2025-02-24 (Monday)
Track Could Bend #102 (feat. M.D.N.R. / Del Stephen's Totoloto)
Women From Space Festival 2025 (feat. Erin Poole & Rosina Kazi/Chantelle Mostacho & shn shn / Yuniya Edi Kwon / Azumi OE/Eukademix) / 918 Bathurst 2025-03-08 (Saturday)
Women From Space Festival 2025 (feat. Mingjia Chen + Linnea Sablosky / Arushi Jain / Myra Melford's Fire and Water Trio) / 918 Bathurst 2025-03-09 (Sunday)
Nolan Hildebrand’s DMA Recital (feat. Colin Fisher/Roan Ma/Patrick O'Reilly/Chris Weins/Veronica Zupanic/Hirad Moradi/Louis Pino/Nikki Huang/Hoi-Tong Keung/Bevis NG/Jasmine Tsui/Thomas Li) / Walter Hall 2025-03-11 (Tuesday)
Cosmic Homeostasis XXVII / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-03-23 (Sunday)
Clue Note presents (feat. Rob Clutton/Bea Labikova/Doug Tielli/Kevin Turcotte/Mark Zurawinski) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-03-25 (Tuesday)
Nick Fraser presents (feat. Nick Fraser's Special Topics) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-03-25 (Tuesday)
The Music Gallery presents (feat. Turntable Trio [Maria Chavez/Evicshen/Mariam Rezaei] / Kristina Guison) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2024-03-31 (Monday)
Track Could Bend #103 [Co-presented with Ministry of Phonic Services] (feat. Maebh Clark & Lucas Dvorsky / %%30%30
) / Wenona Lodge 2025-04-01 (Tuesday)
Ambient soundscapes for babies to adults (feat. LordAUK / A L M A / Jessica Deutsch) / 918 Bathurst (Sun Room) 2025-04-06 (Sunday)
Kurt Newman presents: Newman Guitars (feat. Kurt Newman / Harris Newman) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-10 (Thursday)
SaltChunkJerry (Man Made Hill / Greydini / Shaaane) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2025-04-12 (Saturday)
Stranger Still / 918 Bathurst (Sun Room) 2025-04-13 (Sunday)
No comments:
Post a Comment