Concert Listings Roundup #173

You can read more about why I'm doing listings here. Long story short: This curated and decidedly non-comprehensive list contains nothin' but shows that I am going to/would go to if I had more time.

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Gigs of the week:

416 Toronto Creative Improvisers Festival (feat. EAO & Doug Van Nort / Nidus) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2016-11-02 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Mechanical Forest Sound Presents: 416 Toronto Creative Improvisers Festival (feat. All Ears, All Thumbs [Raphael Foisy-Couture/Vicky Mettler/Karen Ng/Colin Fisher] / Man Made Hill + Friends / Deenzi) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2016-11-03 (Thursday) [FB event]

416 Toronto Creative Improvisers Festival (feat. Matt Miller / Mirapolis / Heraclitus Akimbo) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2016-11-04 (Friday) [FB event]

416 Toronto Creative Improvisers Festival (feat. The Trouble with Billionaires / Faster / Kyle Brenders Big Band) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2016-11-05 (Saturday) [FB event]

The 416 Toronto Creative Improvisers Festival, a long-running autumnal agglomeration of various strands of local improvised music scenes, is generally a low-key and cozy time with four nights of music crammed into the Southern Cross. I can offer an even stronger recommendation this year given that I have a hand in, so to speak — but besides the Thursday night affair which I booked there's great stuff on every one of the festival's nights: from electroacoustic forays to punk cabaret to big-band blast-offs. And don't forget about our Toronto Experimental Music Wikipedia Jam on Saturday afternoon, too!

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This week's noteworthy shows:

HSY (Vallens / Dri Hiev / Protruders) / Monarch Tavern 2016-10-31 (Monday) [FB event]

Robert Diack/Alex Lakusta/Patrick O'Reilly/Jacob Thompson / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2016-12-01 (Tuesday – early!) [FB event]

Track Could Bend #20 (feat. Determinist? / Billion-Year Contract / Bears and Children) / Dundas Video 2016-11-01 (Tuesday – PWYC!) [FB event]

Troubleshooting~ V19: ElectromagneticTrumpet (feat. Nicolas Buligan) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2016-11-02 (Wednesday – early!) [FB event]

Somewhere There Presents (feat. Duo LINKS / Stereoscope) / Array Space 2016-11-02 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Ricky Eat Acid (Kitty / Scott Hardware) / Smiling Buddha 2016-11-02 (Wednesday – all ages!) [FB event]

SIANspheric [dual record release!] (WTCHS / Crrotting) / The Horseshoe Tavern 2016-11-02 (Wednesday) [FB event]

The Sulks [EP release!] (Pink Wine / Bueller) / Monarch Tavern 2016-11-02 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Clara Engel (Damnable Man / Joyful Joyful) / The Dupe Shop 2016-11-03 (Thursday) [FB event]

CMC Presents (feat. New Orford String Quartet) / Canadian Music Centre 2016-11-04 (Friday) [FB event]

Exalt (STÜKA [final show!] / Black Wings / Twin Rivals) / Sneaky Dee's 2016-11-04 (Friday – early show!) [FB event]

Tuns (Young Rival) / Lee's Palace 2016-11-04 (Friday) [more info]

Cousins [solo] (Fiver / Nyssa) / Double Double Land 2016-11-04 (Friday) [FB event]

The Acorn (EONS [Long Walks record release!]) / Burdock Music Hall 2016-11-04 (Friday) [FB event]

Audiopollination #48.1 (feat. Misha Marks / Misha Marks & Bea Labikova / Misha Marks/Kayla Milmine/Mickle Lynn) / Array Space 2016-11-04 (Friday) [FB event]

Peeling [Rats In Paradise EP release party!] (Cellphone / Eyeballs) / The Baby G 2016-11-04 (Friday) [FB event]

Clara Venice (Thick Cobra / JAL / Wearenotwhoweare) / The Silver Dollar Room 2016-11-04 (Friday) [FB event]

Inuit Showcase (feat. IVA / Taqralik Partridge / Nukariik) / The Music Gallery 2016-11-05 (Saturday) [FB event]

Pleasence Records double release party (feat. Blonde Elvis / Germaphobes / Grounders / Whimm) / The Baby G 2016-11-05 (Saturday) [FB event]

Sarah Hennies (Kurt Newman / Allison Cameron) / Ratio 2016-11-05 (Saturday) [FB event]

Fresh Flesh (Martian Crisis Unit / Blanket Fortress) / Tiger Bar 2016-11-05 (Saturday) [FB event]

Nite Comfort 39 (feat. Moon McMullen / Xuan Ye) / Handlebar 2016-11-06 (Sunday – PWYC!) [FB event]

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Add these to your calendar:

Reminder: This post only contains this week's updates — the full listings can always be found over on the right-hand sidebar!

Rainy Days on Monday ["great songs of the 70's, jazz standards, originals"] (hosted by Paul Linklater with many guest stars) / The Cameron House 2016-11-07 (Monday – early! 6 to 8 p.m.!) [FB event]

Plasmalab (Dri Hiev / Posterboy / Doom Tickler) / Baby G 2016-11-08 (Tuesday) [FB event]

DOG (Dani Oore Games) Ensemble ["an ensemble made up of 10 graduate/undergraduate students at the University of Toronto under the direction of Dani Oore"] / Upper Jazz Performance Space 2016-11-09 (Wednesday – early! free!) [FB event]

Ken Aldcroft Convergence Ensemble [Tour Send-off and Trio Records Marketplace] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2016-11-09 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Audiopollination #48.2: 4th anniversary celebration (feat. Neil Wiernik/Clara Engel/Darlene Cuevas / James Bailey/Dan Tapper/Russell Matthews / Dshelly/Arnd Jurgensen/Harrison Vetro / Lorne J. Shapiro/Mickle Lynn) / Array Space 2016-11-12 (Saturday) [FB event]

Amy Brandon with Ali Berkok & Laura Swankey [Scavenger album release!] (Amy Brandon [solo] / Andrew MacKelvie [solo]) / Array Space 2016-11-13 (Sunday) [FB event]

Rainy Days on Monday ["great songs of the 70's, jazz standards, originals"] (hosted by Paul Linklater with many guest stars) / The Cameron House 2016-11-14 (Monday – early! 6 to 8 p.m.!) [FB event]

Petra Glynt (Whoop Szo / Zones) / The Baby G 2016-11-17 (Thursday) [FB event]

Several Futures (Champion Lover / Alpha Strategy / Bonnie Trash) / Hard Luck Bar 2016-11-18 (Friday) [FB event]

Music Gallery Departures Series (feat. Micro-Ritmia Ensemble / Taktus / Ben Grossman) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2016-11-20 (Sunday) [FB event]

Rainy Days on Monday ["great songs of the 70's, jazz standards, originals"] (hosted by Paul Linklater with many guest stars) / The Cameron House 2016-11-21 (Monday – early! 6 to 8 p.m.!) [FB event]

Spencer Burton (Marine Dreams / Evan Redsky) / The Drake Underground 2016-11-24 (Thursday) [FB event]

Wearenotwhoweare (Zoo Owl / Dohn Valley / Body Rot) / Smiling Buddha 2016-11-25 (Friday) [FB event]

Pierre Mongeon's Transharmonic / Array Space 2016-11-25 (Friday) [FB event]

Casey Sokol: "Duets" for Solo Piano / Gallery 345 2016-11-26 (Saturday – PWYC but reservation req'd) [FB event]

Wavelength 714 (feat. Ice Cream / Han Han / Plazas / Bénédicte) / Bike Pirates 2016-11-26 (Saturday – all ages!) [FB event]

Rainy Days on Monday ["great songs of the 70's, jazz standards, originals"] (hosted by Paul Linklater with many guest stars) / The Cameron House 2016-11-28 (Monday – early! 6 to 8 p.m.!) [FB event]

Professor Andy Dolgin's Medicinal Show #1 (feat. Professor Andy Dolgin and The Candy Apple Jazz Band) / Grossman's Tavern 2016-11-29 (Tuesday – free!) [FB event]

New Fries [More 10" record release] (Private Joy / Carl Didur / Fountain) / The Garrison 2016-12-01 (Thursday) [FB event]

Professor Andy Dolgin's Medicinal Show #2 (feat. Professor Andy Dolgin and The Candy Apple Jazz Band) / The Local Pub 2016-11-29 (Saturday – free!) [FB event]

Professor Andy Dolgin's Medicinal Show #3 (feat. Professor Andy Dolgin and The Candy Apple Jazz Band) / The Cameron House 2016-12-11 (Sunday – free! early!) [FB event]

Professor Andy Dolgin's Medicinal Show #4 (feat. Professor Andy Dolgin and The Candy Apple Jazz Band) / The Cameron House 2016-12-18 (Sunday – free! early!) [FB event]

Music Gallery Departures Series (feat. Andrea Parkins with Lina Allemano, Germaine Liu, Jason Doell / JOYFULTALK / Magic Hour) / The Music Gallery 2016-12-20 (Tuesday) [more info]

Tinariwen (Dengue Fever) / Massey Hall 2017-04-12 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Recording: Doug Tielli

Artist: Doug Tielli

Songs: La plus que lente + La flûte de Pan (with Tania Gill) [composer: Claude Debussy]

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Piano Party), September 28, 2016.

Doug Tielli - La plus que lente

Doug Tielli and Tania Gill - La flûte de Pan

As a breeze through the front window set the curtain gently dancing, Doug Tielli started and finished his set with some pieces by Debussy, joined by Tania Gill to play piano as he sang the Chansons de Bilitis. Along the way, he offered some reinterpretations — of tunes originally composed for Drumheller as well as of a song played by an ice cream truck. For a musician known to work with such a range of material and instruments, it was no surprise that everything in this set was handled with such nimble grace.

Recording: Tania Gill

Artist: Tania Gill

Songs: Ah Ti Tah + Good to See You [Neil Young cover]

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Piano Party), September 28, 2016.

Tania Gill - Ah Ti Tah

Tania Gill - Good to See You

Another edition of Jonathan Adjemian's Piano Party series, this time pairing Tania Gill with Doug Tielli. Gill can be seen playing in all sorts of ensembles, from the jazzy chamber prog of See Through 5 to large-ensemble Steve Reich throwdowns, and her solo piano explorations were equally wide-ranging, veering from Bud Powell gambols to Neil Young reveries to a couple revisitations of material from her Bolger Station album, all warmly rendered.

Recording: Brodie West

Artist: Brodie West

Song: [excerpt, in two parts]

Recorded at Alexandra Park, September 23, 2016.

Brodie West - [excerpt, part 1]

Brodie West - [excerpt, part 2]

Cool and a little damp, if you sat still for a minute, you could feel the season turning the corner into something new. And if you looked carefully, you could see the dew gathering on the grass blades as sundown turned into twilight. There's some clatter from back over at the skate park, the hum of the Bathurst streetcar easing by and the distant buzz of a plane overhead. And at the centre of it all, Brodie West playing saxophone. Celebrating the release of Alexandra Park, an album of solo sax improvisations, West convened this release celebration in the space that gave it its name, just over from his old digs in Kensington Market. Wearing the microphones clipped to his pockets, this recording is close in as you can get, so just close your eyes, lean back and feel the music and the city move around you.

Recording: Josh Cole Quartet

Artist: Josh Cole Quartet

Songs: [two pieces]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), September 21, 2016.

Josh Cole Quartet - [set 1, first piece excerpt]

Josh Cole Quartet - [set 1, second piece]

Nick Fraser was in the drum chair this time out, giving a different sense of momentum to these improvisations from Josh Cole (double bass), Ryan Driver (piano) and Karen Ng (alto sax). There was a lot of rhythmic push/pull in the long first piece excerpted here; the second one worked more atmospherically, guided by Cole's bow work.

Recording: c_RL

Artist: c_RL

Song: [set 1, first piece]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), September 21, 2016.

c_RL - [set 1, first piece]

With its mournful banjo licks, Allison Cameron lead off this elegiac piece that Nicole Rampersaud (trumpet) and Germain Liu (percussion) slowly twisted away from its from its first forays as a folk ramble. From there, Cameron would turn to her keyboard, contact mics and Honeytone amps as the trio essayed small-scale feedback, bent triumphal hopedrones and other twisting, plucking excursions. This might have been the trio's seventh anniversary of first playing together — as with many of the exact particulars of their music, that was left open to argument and interpretation.

Recording: Bry Webb and the Providers

Artist: Bry Webb and the Providers

Songs: Outbound Only, No Return + Memory of a Free Festival [David Bowie cover]

Recorded at Christie Pits Park (Bloor Ossington Folk Festival – Day 2), September 18, 2016.

Bry Webb and the Providers - Outbound Only, No Return

Bry Webb and the Providers - Memory of a Free Festival

Unsurprisingly, the fine sunny weather accompanying the festival's final day had the park feeling much more lively and animated with dog-walkers and playground patrons. The tent was also a lot busier from the get-go and as the warm sun held overhead, the rise of the hill beyond was soon filling as well. There was more of a poignant sad undertone to the day, with organizers, bands and audience members all dwelling a little more on the idea that this was the end of the line for the festival. But, as always, the music was a balm and a call to enjoy these moments while they last.

It seemed a little strange that this was the first time Bry Webb had played BOFF — his music is squarely in the "scene" and vibe that is close to the event's heart. Festival director Kristjan Harris commented that this was a few years in coming, and the fact the Webb was willing to play in the festival's shrunk-down, revamped format was one of the reasons that this year's resurrection had happened at all. Webb's set mixed material from his two solo albums plus some new stuff — and ended with this early "folk" song from David Bowie, which felt like a perfectly-sympathetic dose of instant nostalgia. With Webb being the third member of the Constantines to have played over the course of the weekend, I think some in the crowd were hoping for some sort of collaboration, but instead they got a solo version of the Cons' "Soon Enough", whose "years from now" sentiments also added a retrospective tint to the festival's closing — and ending.

Recording: The Cosmic Range

Artist: The Cosmic Range

Song: Love II

Recorded at Christie Pits Park (Bloor Ossington Folk Festival – Day 2), September 18, 2016.

The Cosmic Range - Love II

Unsurprisingly, the fine sunny weather accompanying the festival's final day had the park feeling much more lively and animated with dog-walkers and playground patrons. The tent was also a lot busier from the get-go and as the warm sun held overhead, the rise of the hill beyond was soon filling as well. There was more of a poignant sad undertone to the day, with organizers, bands and audience members all dwelling a little more on the idea that this was the end of the line for the festival. But, as always, the music was a balm and a call to enjoy these moments while they last.

Interestingly, it looks like, for the time being, The Cosmic Range have had founder Matt "Doc" Dunn's name lopped off the marquee — perhaps to make things a bit more concise on a new release from esteemed local label Idée Fixe Records that drops next week. That doesn't change the sense of whose hand is on the tiller of this groove orchestra, who were out in full force on this day, with Dunn joined by Max "Slim Twig" Turnbull (guit), Jonathan Adjemian (synth), Andy Haas (sax), Mike Smith (bass), Isla Craig (vox), Brandon Valdivia (perc) and Kieran Adams (perc) — a groop so expansive that Dunn actually took his place off to the side of the stage. The set ran through the band's series of grooves combining heavy psych and Sun Ra astral projection with everything in blow-the-roof-off form.

Recording: The Highest Order

Artist: The Highest Order

Song: Keep A Window Open

Recorded at Christie Pits Park (Bloor Ossington Folk Festival – Day 2), September 18, 2016.

The Highest Order - Keep A Window Open

Unsurprisingly, the fine sunny weather accompanying the festival's final day had the park feeling much more lively and animated with dog-walkers and playground patrons. The tent was also a lot busier from the get-go and as the warm sun held overhead, the rise of the hill beyond was soon filling as well. There was more of a poignant sad undertone to the day, with organizers, bands and audience members all dwelling a little more on the idea that this was the end of the line for the festival. But, as always, the music was a balm and a call to enjoy these moments while they last.

Like many songs from Simone Schmidt's pen, this speaks to a specific place (the Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay, Ontario) and to a specific injustice (the indefinite jailing without charge of migrants). But, like many songs from Simone Schmidt's pen, this Christmas story is neither didactic nor offers easy answers, serving as a call to our sense of conscience and empathy. And yes, it also rocks out with a stone groove at the end, giving you a chance to work things out in your own head for a few minutes.

Recording: By Divine Right

Artist: By Divine Right

Songs: Mountain's Friend + Field Of Trampolines [Shotgun Jimmie cover]

Recorded at Christie Pits Park (Bloor Ossington Folk Festival – Day 2), September 18, 2016.

By Divine Right - Mountain's Friend

By Divine Right - Field Of Trampolines

Unsurprisingly, the fine sunny weather accompanying the festival's final day had the park feeling much more lively and animated with dog-walkers and playground patrons. The tent was also a lot busier from the get-go and as the warm sun held overhead, the rise of the hill beyond was soon filling as well. There was more of a poignant sad undertone to the day, with organizers, bands and audience members all dwelling a little more on the idea that this was the end of the line for the festival. But, as always, the music was a balm and a call to enjoy these moments while they last.

By Divine Right has famously churned though a lot of members around singer/guitarist Jose Contreras over its two decades plus existence, but there has been some durability in its current power trio incarnation, seeing Contreras backed by Geordie Dynes and Alysha Haugen. This lineup leaves lots of room for Haugen's nimbly-lumbering basslines in Contreras' heady psych-flavoured pop nuggets, and a stomping guitar solo could tear past at any time. Although the band closed with a couple selections from their song-by-song remake of Depeche Mode's Speak & Spell album, the cover that was closer to my heart was their heavy take on the title track from fellow BOFF veteran Shotgun Jimmie's latest album.

Recording: Will Kidman

Artist: Will Kidman

Song: Two Snowflakes

Recorded at Christie Pits Park (Bloor Ossington Folk Festival – Day 2), September 18, 2016.

Will Kidman - Two Snowflakes

Unsurprisingly, the fine sunny weather accompanying the festival's final day had the park feeling much more lively and animated with dog-walkers and playground patrons. The tent was also a lot busier from the get-go and as the warm sun held overhead, the rise of the hill beyond was soon filling as well. There was more of a poignant sad undertone to the day, with organizers, bands and audience members all dwelling a little more on the idea that this was the end of the line for the festival. But, as always, the music was a balm and a call to enjoy these moments while they last.

Having caught Will Kidman on the Island a few weeks prior to this gig, I'd already had one chance to hear the new songs that made up the backbone of his set. Electing to keep things spare and direct, Kidman managed to hold the crowd with his unadorned considerations giving the festival its final quiet "folk" moments before the more louder bands took over to close out the day.

Recording: Cathy Young

Artist: Cathy Young

Songs: Early Morning Rain [Gordon Lightfoot cover] + Baby What You Want Me to Do [Jimmy Reed cover]

Recorded at Christie Pits Park (Bloor Ossington Folk Festival – Day 2), September 18, 2016.

Cathy Young - Early Morning Rain

Cathy Young - Baby What You Want Me to Do

Unsurprisingly, the fine sunny weather accompanying the festival's final day had the park feeling much more lively and animated with dog-walkers and playground patrons. The tent was also a lot busier from the get-go and as the warm sun held overhead, the rise of the hill beyond was soon filling as well. There was more of a poignant sad undertone to the day, with organizers, bands and audience members all dwelling a little more on the idea that this was the end of the line for the festival. But, as always, the music was a balm and a call to enjoy these moments while they last.

One of the day's biggest surprises was this impromptu, unscheduled appearance by a true Toronto folk icon. Cathy Young, who went from being a Yorkville busker to one of the scene's leading lights was urged onto the stage by festival director Kristjan Harris and she veered from the tenderness of Gordon Lightfoot's "Early Morning Rain" into a salty run through "Baby What You Want Me to Do", building up momentum as she went. A truly special surprise in the middle of the day.

Recording: Eamon McGrath

Artist: Eamon McGrath

Song: Machine Gun Cowboy

Recorded at Christie Pits Park (Bloor Ossington Folk Festival – Day 2), September 18, 2016.

Eamon McGrath - Machine Gun Cowboy

Unsurprisingly, the fine sunny weather accompanying the festival's final day had the park feeling much more lively and animated with dog-walkers and playground patrons. The tent was also a lot busier from the get-go and as the warm sun held overhead, the rise of the hill beyond was soon filling as well. There was more of a poignant sad undertone to the day, with organizers, bands and audience members all dwelling a little more on the idea that this was the end of the line for the festival. But, as always, the music was a balm and a call to enjoy these moments while they last.

Eamon McGrath is another member of the Saving Gigi/BOFF "family" who has only missed the event when he was away touring. Joined by Greg Millson on drums, McGrath shook off the hangover from the previous night's headlining blast with Julie Doiron and The Wrong Guys to dig through his catalogue and bast out a series of tunes.

Recording: Wax Mannequin

Artist: Wax Mannequin

Song: The Quickening

Recorded at Christie Pits Park (Bloor Ossington Folk Festival – Day 2), September 18, 2016.

Wax Mannequin - The Quickening

Unsurprisingly, the fine sunny weather accompanying the festival's final day had the park feeling much more lively and animated with dog-walkers and playground patrons. The tent was also a lot busier from the get-go and as the warm sun held overhead, the rise of the hill beyond was soon filling as well. There was more of a poignant sad undertone to the day, with organizers, bands and audience members all dwelling a little more on the idea that this was the end of the line for the festival. But, as always, the music was a balm and a call to enjoy these moments while they last.

When I last saw Chris Adeney playing about five years ago, he was enhancing his folk-ish songs with some laptop beats to somewhat unsatisfying results. This time around, he just brought his guitar and his deadpan stories and that worked much better. Getting chatty and interactive with the crowd, he wasn't afraid to kick things up to absurdly goofy levels, such as in an extended song about basketball (that reminded the listener that basketball is, in fact, a good game to play when you want to win a trophy) as the balloons he'd tossed out were batted around and kept from touching the ground — a trick normally done in dank bars that worked quite well with the toddler contingent in the crowd.

Recording: Bart

Artist: Bart

Song: Wade

Recorded at Christie Pits Park (Bloor Ossington Folk Festival – Day 2), September 18, 2016.

Bart - Wade

Unsurprisingly, the fine sunny weather accompanying the festival's final day had the park feeling much more lively and animated with dog-walkers and playground patrons. The tent was also a lot busier from the get-go and as the warm sun held overhead, the rise of the hill beyond was soon filling as well. There was more of a poignant sad undertone to the day, with organizers, bands and audience members all dwelling a little more on the idea that this was the end of the line for the festival. But, as always, the music was a balm and a call to enjoy these moments while they last.

Bart brought their sunny ways to the afternoon's proceedings, and not even a broken string on Chris Shannon's guitar could derail them — although when Eamon McGrath's was sourced as an emergency replacement there was an amusing impromptu seminar on differing approaches to guitar strap length.

[Bart will be playing at Casper Skulls' EP Release Party at The Baby G on Saturday, November 26th.]

Recording: The Idaho Stop

Artist: The Idaho Stop

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at Christie Pits Park (Bloor Ossington Folk Festival – Day 2), September 18, 2016.

The Idaho Stop - unknown

Unsurprisingly, the fine sunny weather accompanying the festival's final day had the park feeling much more lively and animated with dog-walkers and playground patrons. The tent was also a lot busier from the get-go and as the warm sun held overhead, the rise of the hill beyond was soon filling as well. There was more of a poignant sad undertone to the day, with organizers, bands and audience members all dwelling a little more on the idea that this was the end of the line for the festival. But, as always, the music was a balm and a call to enjoy these moments while they last.

There were a couple new members in the fold since this crew (closely tied to the festival's family) played last year, but the core of the band's folk-songs-for-the-city was the same. With perfectly-coincidental timing, vocalist/guitarist Joel Dalton commented that "time keeps rollin' down the track it's on," just as the subway rumbled by under the stage.

^* Does anyone know the title to this one? Please leave a comment!

Concert Listings Roundup #172

You can read more about why I'm doing listings here. Long story short: This curated and decidedly non-comprehensive list contains nothin' but shows that I am going to/would go to if I had more time.

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Gigs of the week:

Retired [Crimes Against Jazz record release!] (Pissbowelking / Fake Humans / Doom Tickler) / The Baby G 2016-10-27 (Thursday) [FB event]

All-Set! Autumn Release Show [triple album launch!] (feat. See Through 5 / Aurochs / The Mike Smith Company) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2016-10-28 (Friday) [FB event]

In a super-busy week for shows, here's two album release events that are truly worth celebrating. Retired have been in tasty form in recent gigs, so this should make for a great night. They're more "punk-jazz" rather than "jazz-punk" more as a matter of what other bands they play with, but anyone into creative/improvised music should have this crew on their radar.

Meanwhile, Mike Smith's All-Set! label is presenting its second group of albums at the Tranzac on Friday. The first set of releases that came out this spring were beautifully packaged and sounded great, so this is not to be missed, especially the long-awaited release of music from the Mike Smith Co. which has been teasing these tunes for a couple years now in various incarnations. (I've heard his music is being presented by a special extra big band for this show.) And in a week overrun with Hallowe'en events, you don't even have to dress up — unless you're particularly into the full-on Hallowe'en experience, in which case, go ahead.

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This week's noteworthy shows:

Kenji Omae/Dan Fortin/Nick Fraser / The Emmet Ray 2016-10-24 (Monday – early! PWYC!) [FB event]

Marateck (Toucan Slam / The Visit / Tranz DéFoncé) / Burdock Music Hall 2016-10-25 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Piano Party! (feat. Diane Roblin / Soren Brothers) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2016-10-26 (Wednesday – early!) [FB event]

The 4 Poets Issue #5 Release (feat. Myra Maines / Persons) / Double Double Land 2016-10-26 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Royal Stompbox presents Carnival Of Souls [with live improvised music score] (feat. Alia O'Brien/Sook-Yin Lee/Adam Litovitz/Colin Fisher) / The Royal Cinema 2016-10-26 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Baby Labour (Bonnie Trash / Bad River / Baby Doomers) / Smiling Buddha 2016-10-26 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Beliefs (Rolemodel [solo] / Mr. Joy) / The Baby G 2016-10-26 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Buzz Records Presents (feat. Duchess Says / Ice Cream / Bad Channels / Plasmalab) / The Garrison 2016-10-27 (Thursday) [FB event]

Summer Isle presents (feat. Cube / Memory Work / Infinite Poolside / Amorphous Substance) / FAITH/VOID 2016-10-27 (Thursday) [FB event]

Jes Cho, Hemingway & Strangerøbo†ix [improvised performance] / Holy Oak Café 2016-10-27 (Thursday – PWYC!) [FB event]

The Jessica Stuart Few [The Passage release party! Expanded band!] (KC Roberts) / Supermarket 2016-10-27 (Thursday) [FB event]

Magiceyeimage (Cameron/Driver/Arnold/Parkinson) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2016-10-27 (Thursday)

Club Boo (feat. E Adi / Nailbiter) / Bambi's 2016-11-27 (Thursday) [FB event]

Death To T.O. 6(66) (feat. David Bowie & Prince Tribute [performed by The Big Sound band with special guest singers on each song] / Nirvana [performed by The Wooden Sky] / The Smiths [performed by Only Yours] / Girlschool [performed by members of Teenanger, Hooded Fang, Milk Lines & more] / Blink-182 [performed by EVJ & Friends] / PJ Harvey [performed by Vallens] / T. REX [performed by Sunshine and The Blue Moon] / The Eurythmics [performed by members of Beliefs & more] / The Rolling Stones [performed by Nyssa & friends] / Corrosion Of Conformity [performed by ex members of Rammer] / Hüsker Dü [performed by several futures] / The Velvet Underground [performed by The Vypers] / Mudhoney [performed by sedge] / Yeah Yeah Yeahs [performed by sportsfan]) / Lee's Palace + Dance Cave 2016-10-28 (Friday) [FB event]

LootBag Records presents: Halloween Forever – Mixtape Vol II (feat. Fresh Flesh / Akage No Anne) / Saving Gigi 2016-10-28 (Friday) [FB event]

EctoSpasm - Halloween-ish Celebrations (feat. Cares / Hexzuul / Lorde Awesome / Fog Spirits / Nwodtlem) / Electric Perfume 2016-10-28 (Friday) [FB event]

The Ryan Driver Sextet / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2016-10-28 (Friday)

Live in the Stacks (feat. Doomsquad) / Toronto Public Library – Parkdale Branch 2016-10-29 (Saturday – free! all ages! early show!) [FB event]

Weyes Blood (Sahara / Ducks Unlimited) / The Baby G 2016-10-29 (Saturday) [FB event]

Mystic Triangle [album release!] / Moon McMullen / Kosher Dill Spears / Grandmother Willow) / The Tranzac (Tiki Room) 2016-10-29 (Saturday) [FB event]

2nd Annual Halloween Spooktacular (feat. catl. / Snowheel Slim) / The Dakota Tavern 2016-10-29 (Saturday) [FB event]

Invocation Residency Series: A Summer's Timely Death (feat. Tristan Eckerson / Man Meets Bear / Nathaneal Larochette) / Array Space 2016-10-30 (Sunday – all ages!) [FB event]

Demons V (feat. Zoo Owl / Poster Boy / BonerJamz93 / Mesonyx) / Handlebar 2016-10-30 (Sunday) [FB event]

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Add these to your calendar:

Reminder: This post only contains this week's updates — the full listings can always be found over on the right-hand sidebar!

Track Could Bend #20 (feat. Determinist? / Billion-Year Contract / Bears and Children) / Dundas Video 2016-11-01 (Tuesday – PWYC!) [FB event]

416 Toronto Creative Improvisers Festival (feat. EAO & Doug Van Nort / Mia Zabelka & Glen Hall / Nidus) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2016-11-02 (Wednesday – PWYC!) [FB event]

Somewhere There Presents (feat. Duo LINKS / Stereoscope) / Array Space 2016-11-02 (Wednesday)

Clara Engel (Damnable Man / Joyful Joyful) / The Dupe Shop 2016-11-03 (Thursday) [FB event]

Mechanical Forest Sound Presents: 416 Toronto Creative Improvisers Festival (feat. All Ears, All Thumbs [Raphael Foisy-Couture/Vicky Mettler/Karen Ng/Colin Fisher] / Man Made Hill + Friends / Deenzi) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2016-11-03 (Thursday – PWYC!) [FB event]

Audiopollination #48.1 (feat. Misha Marks / Misha Marks & Bea Labikova / Misha Marks/Kayla Milmine/Mickle Lynn) / Array Space 2016-11-04 (Friday) [FB event]

416 Toronto Creative Improvisers Festival (feat. Matt Miller / Mirapolis / Heraclitus Akimbo) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2016-11-04 (Friday – PWYC!) [FB event]

416 Toronto Creative Improvisers Festival (feat. David Story Quintet / Faster / Kyle Brenders Big Band) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2016-11-05 (Saturday – PWYC!) [FB event]

Sarah Hennies (Kurt Newman / Allison Cameron) / Ratio 2016-11-05 (Saturday) [FB event]

Fresh Flesh (Martian Crisis Unit / Blanket Fortress) / Tiger Bar 2016-11-05 (Saturday) [FB event]

New Chance (SlowPitchSound / KOJA)) / Burdock Music Hall 2016-11-07 (Monday) [FB event]

Sailboats Are White (1914 / OHMNO) / The Baby G 2016-11-13 (Sunday) [FB event]

The AMBiENT PiNG (feat. No Seas / Shimmer Crush / l'ombre) / Handlebar 2016-11-15 (Tuesday) [FB event]

$5 Rap Show: Double Album Release (feat. More Or Les & Swamp Thing / Peter Project & Wordburglar) / Handlebar 2016-11-19 (Saturday) [FB event]

Bears & Children (Doom Tickler / David Jones) / Smiling Buddha 2016-11-30 (Wednesday – PWYC!) [FB event]

The Two Koreas [Altruists 10th-anniversary show!] (Bankruptcy) / The Baby G 2016-12-08 (Thursday) [FB event]

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Community corner:

• As a spin-off event from the 416 Toronto Creative Improvisers Festival (check out the listings above), I will be helping to convene a special afternoon ovent, mixing musicians, music enthusiats and geeks as we join together to try to start a concerted effort to get more of our local history online. Why isn't there, say, an article for CCMC on Wikipedia? It's because no-one's sat down to do it... so that will be one starting point as we gather to share stories and talk about who else isn't there... and what else we can so to preserve our experimental cultural heritage. More info on the Toronto Experimental Music Wikipedia Jam can be found here.

Recording: The Mekons

Artist: The Mekons

Songs: Millionaire / Abernant 1984/85 / Last Dance / Simone on the Beach

Recorded at The Horseshoe Tavern, September 17, 2016.

The Mekons - Millionaire

The Mekons - Abernant 1984/85

The Mekons - Last Dance

The Mekons - Simone on the Beach

An unruly trans-Atlantic collective and an unviable project on any sort of capitalist analysis, this visit to town from the legendary Mekons was a long time coming, with the band last having passed through a dozen years or more ago. Although the Chicago-based Jon Langford is a frequent visitor to these parts, it took the economic logic of a large corporate music festival (for which, if nothing else, we should be thankful for TURF) to get the whole mob together and over the border to Canada. Fortunately for those not inclined to spend the day outside in a cattle pen, the band also played a club set at The 'Shoe. As a designated tie-in with the festival, things didn't get started 'til late, arguably well past the mean bedtime for the band's members and fan demographic alike.

But even, so there was a lot of energy on both sides for this, and the set had most of the "hits", a few worthy depth picks, and a small taste from their new album/book combo. There was also playful intra-band verbal jousts, missed notes, bad jokes (repeated until they were good jokes) and Dallas and Travis Good wandering on-stage to occasionally play a little guitar, sing along or offer the band some Johnny Walker Red. A sprawling, messy, joyous time, in other words, and pretty much what you'd want from a Mekons show. After one particularly bombastic finish to a song early on, Sally Timms commented, "it might be a mistake if we peak too soon."

"It's already too late," Langford replied, "too late to peak too soon."

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I've uploaded this entire show to the Live Music Archive. You can stream the whole thing, or download it in the format of your choice, including lossless FLAC files.

The Mekons, Live at The Horseshoe Tavern 2016-09-17

Recording: Julie Doiron + The Wrong Guys

Artist: Julie Doiron + The Wrong Guys

Song: The Wrong Guy/No More

Recorded at Christie Pits Park (Bloor Ossington Folk Festival – Day 1), September 17, 2016.

Julie Doiron + The Wrong Guys - The Wrong Guy/No More

It was a bad news/good news sort of vibe down at Christie Pits. There was a sense of triumph that the festival — for the previous five years a well-curated, intimate event with an enjoyably-casual vibe — was happening at all, given that it was at the very precipice of the plug being pulled in the face of some expected grant money not coming through. The joy at the fact that the organizers found a way to go ahead with it was tempered by the sadness at the corresponding announcement that this would be the festival's final edition. On Saturday, the fact the event had been downsized — losing its main stage and moving everything under the beer garden tent — turned out to be a blessing in disguise as the day arrived with the (seemingly annual) dose of rain. The park was eerily quiet but it made everything feel extra dry and cozy as the bands played.

A perennially integral element of the festival — she'd played it every year with one or another of her various backing groups — Julie Doiron's final festival appearance was with a unit that was redolent of her time in T.O. and her participation in the scene around Saving Gigi. Eamon McGrath (guitar) plus the Cancer Bats rhythm section (Mike Peters and Jaye Schwarzer) were also all there at the start of BOFF and were still tearing into Doiron's tunes with carnivore gusto. Apologizing for sticking to the same established repertoire, Doiron also revealed that the band were booking a week in a Manitoba cottage for a writing retreat, which augers well for this project's future, and will hopefully serve as part of the festival's lingering legacy.

Recording: Hooded Fang

Artist: Hooded Fang

Song: Shallow

Recorded at Christie Pits Park (Bloor Ossington Folk Festival – Day 1), September 17, 2016.

Hooded Fang - Shallow

It was a bad news/good news sort of vibe down at Christie Pits. There was a sense of triumph that the festival — for the previous five years a well-curated, intimate event with an enjoyably-casual vibe — was happening at all, given that it was at the very precipice of the plug being pulled in the face of some expected grant money not coming through. The joy at the fact that the organizers found a way to go ahead with it was tempered by the sadness at the corresponding announcement that this would be the festival's final edition. On Saturday, the fact the event had been downsized — losing its main stage and moving everything under the beer garden tent — turned out to be a blessing in disguise as the day arrived with the (seemingly annual) dose of rain. The park was eerily quiet but it made everything feel extra dry and cozy as the bands played.

Through sheer bad luck, I hadn't seen Hooded Fang playing since their Venus On Edge album dropped. There's a slightly-altered pulse behind the band, with Jonathan Pappo (also of Whimm) towing the hypersurf beats without trying to slavishly imitate the inimitable D. Alex Meeks. The propulsion of the newer stuff had Dan Lee referring to some lyrics on a music stand, and it was a little sad to see he had the only mic on stage, limiting April Aliermo's essential banter. With only a couple glances back to older stuff, the band hummed and bopped along in fine style, essaying the knotty tensions of the newer stuff.

Recording: Bidiniband

Artist: Bidiniband

Song: Everyday Superstar

Recorded at Christie Pits Park (Bloor Ossington Folk Festival – Day 1), September 17, 2016.

Bidiniband - Everyday Superstar

It was a bad news/good news sort of vibe down at Christie Pits. There was a sense of triumph that the festival — for the previous five years a well-curated, intimate event with an enjoyably-casual vibe — was happening at all, given that it was at the very precipice of the plug being pulled in the face of some expected grant money not coming through. The joy at the fact that the organizers found a way to go ahead with it was tempered by the sadness at the corresponding announcement that this would be the festival's final edition. On Saturday, the fact the event had been downsized — losing its main stage and moving everything under the beer garden tent — turned out to be a blessing in disguise as the day arrived with the (seemingly annual) dose of rain. The park was eerily quiet but it made everything feel extra dry and cozy as the bands played.

Former festival MC Dave Bidini took some time away from prepping for a reunion gig with his other band to return to BOFF, bringing some Big Rock Jams that had room built in for things like guitar solos, banter on controversial topics (like which No Frills store in fact has the fewest frills), and a mid-song pause during "Legal Age Life at Variety Store" to evaluate the "7 out of 10" rainbow that had appeared in the sky as the rain faded and the day's first sunshine finally appeared.

Recording: catl

Artist: catl

Song: Misunderstand^*

Recorded at Christie Pits Park (Bloor Ossington Folk Festival – Day 1), September 17, 2016.

catl - Misunderstand

It was a bad news/good news sort of vibe down at Christie Pits. There was a sense of triumph that the festival — for the previous five years a well-curated, intimate event with an enjoyably-casual vibe — was happening at all, given that it was at the very precipice of the plug being pulled in the face of some expected grant money not coming through. The joy at the fact that the organizers found a way to go ahead with it was tempered by the sadness at the corresponding announcement that this would be the festival's final edition. On Saturday, the fact the event had been downsized — losing its main stage and moving everything under the beer garden tent — turned out to be a blessing in disguise as the day arrived with the (seemingly annual) dose of rain. The park was eerily quiet but it made everything feel extra dry and cozy as the bands played.

Like many of the bands involved with this final incarnation of the festival, catl were returnees who showed a definite fondness for the event. And just like their previous go-round at the festival, the duo once again was stocked up on new material in a set that moved from back porch "folky" tunes to get-wigglin' juke-joint jams, even if the seated late-afternoon beer garden crowd couldn't quite be convinced to hop up and dance.

[catl will be hosting their Second Annual Halloween Shindig (promising "glow in the dark fun") at The Dakota Tavern on Saturday, October 29th.]

^* Thanks to the band for confirming the title!

Recording: Steven Lambke

Artist: Plymouth Acclaim For Sale

Song:

Recorded at Christie Pits Park (Bloor Ossington Folk Festival – Day 1), September 17, 2016.

Steven Lambke - Plymouth Acclaim For Sale

It was a bad news/good news sort of vibe down at Christie Pits. There was a sense of triumph that the festival — for the previous five years a well-curated, intimate event with an enjoyably-casual vibe — was happening at all, given that it was at the very precipice of the plug being pulled in the face of some expected grant money not coming through. The joy at the fact that the organizers found a way to go ahead with it was tempered by the sadness at the corresponding announcement that this would be the festival's final edition. On Saturday, the fact the event had been downsized — losing its main stage and moving everything under the beer garden tent — turned out to be a blessing in disguise as the day arrived with the (seemingly annual) dose of rain. The park was eerily quiet but it made everything feel extra dry and cozy as the bands played.

Knitting cosmic observation from day-to-day observations (selling an old car, cutting a ripe pear with a sharp knife) is folk music's stock-in-trade making this set feel like one of this eclectic fest's most straight-up "folk" moments. Steven Lambke returned to Christie Pits with a whole pile of new songs (even telling the crowd he was open to suggestions for the title of one of them) including this one that fits nicely into the small canon of love songs to dearly-departed automobiles.

Recording: The Wilderness of Manitoba

Artist: The Wilderness of Manitoba

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at Christie Pits Park (Bloor Ossington Folk Festival – Day 1), September 17, 2016.

The Wilderness of Manitoba - unknown

It was a bad news/good news sort of vibe down at Christie Pits. There was a sense of triumph that the festival — for the previous five years a well-curated, intimate event with an enjoyably-casual vibe — was happening at all, given that it was at the very precipice of the plug being pulled in the face of some expected grant money not coming through. The joy at the fact that the organizers found a way to go ahead with it was tempered by the sadness at the corresponding announcement that this would be the festival's final edition. On Saturday, the fact the event had been downsized — losing its main stage and moving everything under the beer garden tent — turned out to be a blessing in disguise as the day arrived with the (seemingly annual) dose of rain. The park was eerily quiet but it made everything feel extra dry and cozy as the bands played.

It sometimes gets too easy to take a band for granted when they feel like a part of the background fabric of the musical community. For one reason or another, I had missed out on a whole album cycle of live shows from The Wilderness of Manitoba, for whom 2014's Between Colours was now mostly in the rear view as they previewed material from their forthcoming fifth album. The band has always featured an evolving cast around frontman/songwriter Will Whitwham, so it was no surprise to see different faces surrounding him on stage — but there was a surprising sonic consistency from what I recalled, the group's sonic palette showing their accumulation of folkish and California mellow-rock tendencies, all held together by warm vocal harmonies and a certain "homeyness". Raven Shields, on vocals and guitar, was a new element since I last saw the band in action, but gave a nice contrasting balance to Whitwham's vocal work. This one-off show felt like a casual neighbourhood hang-out for the band — there'll probably be more activity on the horizon once the new album makes its way into the world.

^* Does anyone know the title to this one? Please leave a comment!

Recording: Little You, Little Me

Artist: Little You, Little Me

Songs: Greed + Wrong

Recorded at Christie Pits Park (Bloor Ossington Folk Festival – Day 1), September 17, 2016.

Little You, Little Me - Greed + Wrong

It was a bad news/good news sort of vibe down at Christie Pits. There was a sense of triumph that the festival — for the previous five years a well-curated, intimate event with an enjoyably-casual vibe — was happening at all, given that it was at the very precipice of the plug being pulled in the face of some expected grant money not coming through. The joy at the fact that the organizers found a way to go ahead with it was tempered by the sadness at the corresponding announcement that this would be the festival's final edition. On Saturday, the fact the event had been downsized — losing its main stage and moving everything under the beer garden tent — turned out to be a blessing in disguise as the day arrived with the (seemingly annual) dose of rain. The park was eerily quiet but it made everything feel extra dry and cozy as the bands played.

The second half of the festival-opening East Coast one-two punch, this Saint John quartet also had some internal back-and-forth sonics with slightly-differing approaches from a pair of alternating lead vocalists ping-ponging from Thermals-esque smart/snotty punk to nuthin'-to-Dü rawk (with a pause to give a shout-out to Satan along the way) that still sounded like it all emerged from the same garage.

Recording: Motherhood

Artist: Motherhood

Song: Greed

Recorded at Christie Pits Park (Bloor Ossington Folk Festival – Day 1), September 17, 2016.

Motherhood - Greed

It was a bad news/good news sort of vibe down at Christie Pits. There was a sense of triumph that the festival — for the previous five years a well-curated, intimate event with an enjoyably-casual vibe — was happening at all, given that it was at the very precipice of the plug being pulled in the face of some expected grant money not coming through. The joy at the fact that the organizers found a way to go ahead with it was tempered by the sadness at the corresponding announcement that this would be the festival's final edition. On Saturday, the fact the event had been downsized — losing its main stage and moving everything under the beer garden tent — turned out to be a blessing in disguise as the day arrived with the (seemingly annual) dose of rain. The park was eerily quiet but it made everything feel extra dry and cozy as the bands played.

Things were set up enough to get going — though finishing touches were still being attended to — and it was fairly quiet as this Fredericton trio lead off the day. There were some poppier moments, mostly driven by Penelope Stevens' keyb work, but things were a little noisier when she shifted to bass, including this set-closer with co-shouted vox shared with guitarist Brydon Crain.