Recording: Toronto Improvisors Orchestra + The Element Choir

Artists: Toronto Improvisors Orchestra + The Element Choir

Songs: [excerpts from three improvisations]

Recorded at Array Space, March 19, 2017.

Toronto Improvisors Orchestra - [excerpt]

The Element Choir - [excerpt]

Toronto Improvisors Orchestra feat. The Element Choir - [excerpt]

A special night convened by the TIO to pay tribute to The Element Choir and its leader Christine Duncan. Both groups showed up in force — I counted sixteen or so musicians and about twice that many choristers, although there were a few people that were members of both. In the first half, each ensemble performed on its own, and then after the break the whole conglomeration performed together.

The key question for large improvising ensembles is how to keep everyone on the same page and to provide a shape that goes beyond heaping one thing on top of another, and both groups have found a solution in their own similar conducting systems. Eugene Martynec and Christine Duncan led their ensembles in the first half, but Duncan held court in the second, at first leaving one group to improvise while she led the other before (as heard here) attempting to guide the whole thing.

[You can watch Array's archived version of the event's livestream over on their vimeo page.]

Concert Listings Roundup #197

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:

Suuns (Doomsquad / Peeling) / The Silver Dollar Room 2017-04-27 (Thursday) [FB event]

Dilly Dally (Darlene Shrugg / FRIGS) / The Silver Dollar Room 2017-04-28 (Friday) [FB event]

Silver Dollar farewell series: Last night at The Dollar (feat. METZ / Fake Palms / New Fries) / The Silver Dollar Room 2017-04-30 (Sunday) [FB event]

The City That Eats Itself devours another landmark, with highrise redevelopment bringing abut The End of The Silver Dollar As We Know It at month's end. How the meagre guarantees extracted by the city to preserve its heritage elements will play out in reality is something we won't find out for years, but in the meantime, booker Dan Burke is making his last stand with a series of shows bringing some powerful lineups that might just shake the beloved/dank walls to the ground before the wreaking ball gets a chance.

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This week's noteworthy shows:

Crosswires (feat. Kelvin Wetherell / Catholic Wilt / FASTER) / The Baby G 2017-04-24 (Monday – PWYC!) [FB event]

Audiopollination #53.2 (feat. Allison Cameron/Kristel Jax/Heraclitus Akimbo / Brian Abbott/Heidi Chan/Heraclitus Akimbo / Ambrose Pottie/Andrew Furlong/Karen Ng/Heraclitus Akimbo / Ryan Kinney/Paul Newman/Heraclitus Akimbo) / Array Space 2017-04-25 (Tuesday) [FB event]

The Coathangers (Pow Wows / Meanwood) / The Silver Dollar Room 2017-04-25 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Piano Party! (feat. Allison Cameron / Bob Wiseman / Marcel Aucoin) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-04-26 (Wednesday – early!) [FB event]

Bellwether4 / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-04-26 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Ronley Teper & The Lipliners / The Dakota Tavern 2017-04-27 (Thursday – early!) [FB event]

Germaphobes (Dorothea Paas / Wearenotwhoweare / Dohn Valley) / Owl's Club 2017-04-27 (Thursday) [FB event]

Haus Musik (feat. SlowPitchSound / Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra) / The Great Hall 2017-04-27 (Thursday) [FB event]

Childs (Bookchop [first show!] / The Litch) / The Piston 2017-04-27 (Thursday) [FB event]

Iranian Modal Music Ensemble of Toronto / Small World Music Centre 2017-04-28 (Friday) [FB event]

Aurochs / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-04-28 (Friday – early!)

The Ryan Driver Sextet / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-04-28 (Friday) [FB event]

The Big Sound / The Great Hall 2017-04-28 (Friday) [FB event]

Live in the Stacks (feat. Tasseomancy / Castle If) / Toronto Public Library – Yorkville Branch 2017-04-29 (Saturday – free! all-ages!) [FB event]

Wavelength 728 (feat. Del Bel / Saxsyndrum) / The Great Hall (Longboat Hall) 2017-04-29 (Saturday) [FB event]

Cosmic Homeostasis III [collective ambient electroacoustic drone/drift] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-04-30 (Sunday – PWYC! afternoon show, 3 to 5 p.m.!) [FB event]

Eucalyptus [April Sundays residency!] / Hirut Restaurant 2017-04-30 (Sunday – Good eats available but not obligatory! early show 7 to 10 p.m.!) [FB event]

Demons VII (feat. Body Rot / P0ST3RB0Y / Thick Cobra / Charise Aragoza) / Handlebar 2017-04-30 (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!

Gentle Brent [a.k.a. Brent Randall – tape release!] (Pinecones / Paul Linklater) / The Piston 2017-05-03 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Take Action F.A.S.T. for Bangladesh Garment Workers ["an amazing evening to celebrate and honour the people in Bangladesh who make our clothes", with live music, mock sweatshop, Rana Plaza Memorial, fashion sale] (feat. LAL / HEX) / The Great Hall 2017-05-04 (Thursday – free!) [FB event]

Prism Prize: Toronto Plays Itself (feat. Harrison / Above Top Secret / LA Timpa) / The Baby G 2017-05-04 (Thursday) [FB event]

SHHHH, Vol. 2 (feat. Kat Estacio / Julius Pedersen) / Toronto Public Library – Parkdale Branch 2017-05-05 (Friday – free! all ages! early show, 7 to 8 p.m.!) [FB event]

Take Action F.A.S.T. for Bangladesh Garment Workers ["an amazing evening to celebrate and honour the people in Bangladesh who make our clothes", with live music, mock sweatshop, Rana Plaza Memorial, fashion sale] (feat. Lido Pimienta / "secret guest") / The Great Hall 2017-05-05 (Friday – free!) [FB event]

Persons (Eyeballs) / Monarch Tavern 2017-05-05 (Friday – late show, doors @ 11 p.m.!) [FB event]

SHHHH, Vol. 2 (feat. Carl Didur / Bodies That Matter / deenzi / Manticore / The SKETCH band) / Toronto Public Library – Parkdale Branch (Basement Auditorium) 2017-05-06 (Saturday – free! all ages! afternoon show, 1 to 5 p.m.!) [FB event]

Major/Minor Bloordale Music & Arts Festival: Girls Rock Camp Toronto showcase (feat. HEX / Moscow Apartment Music / Denim Roses) / Burdock Music Hall 2017-05-06 (Saturday – PWYC! all-ages and family-friendly! early show, 7 to 9 p.m.!) [FB event]

Tone Deaf Culture Presents: T.O. NOISE #7 (feat. Knurl / Garbageface / Ero Guro / Fake Flesh / Moth Ash) / Belljar Café 2017-05-06 (Saturday) [FB event]

Buzz Records presents (feat. PONY / T-rextasy / Bueller / Triples) / Smiling Buddha 2017-05-06 (Saturday) [FB event]

Doom Tickler (New Chance) / The Dupe Shop 2017-05-07 (Sunday – PWYC! all ages! afternoon show @ 1 p.m.!) [FB event]

Array Session #48 (feat. Heather Saumer/Doug Tielli/Martin Arnold) / Array Space 2017-05-09 (Tuesday – PWYC!) [more info]

Bonnie Doon (Century Palm / Beth / WLMRT) / Monarch Tavern 2017-05-19 (Friday) [FB event]

Hades Mining Co. (Post Natal Drip / Cares) / Sonic Café 2017-05-20 (Saturday – PWYC!) [FB event]

James Irwin (L CON / EONS) / Burdock Music Hall 2017-05-26 (Friday) [FB event]

The Music Gallery presents (feat. Pharmakon / Mamalia / Kristina Guison) / venue TBA 2017-05-27 (Saturday) [FB event]

Not Dead Yet presents (feat. Rose McDowall [ex-Strawberry Switchblade] / Vallens) / Smiling Buddha 2017-05-27 (Saturday) [FB event]

Clara Engel (North Atlantic Drift) / Gerrard Art Space 2017-06-09 (Friday) [FB event]

Songhoy Blues / Mod Club Theatre 2017-10-03 (Tuesday) [more info]

[pic]

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Community corner:

• Redevelopment strikes blows against the city's cultural communities in more than one way, as was revealed in a sudden dispatch from The Music Gallery informing that "due to the commencement of construction activities next door during the month of May, concerns of structural stability in the worship space – which is also our performance space - need to result in the complete cessation of activities effective May 1st, 2017." The resilient and interant Music Gallery has had to change homes (and go without one) in the past, so hopefully the strength of their staff will allow them to deal with this unwelcome disruption.
  Before the sanctuary is closed off, the Music Gallery is hosting an essential forum entitled "What Sovereignty Sounds Like: Towards A New Music In Indigenous Tkaronto" on Tuesday evening, which "will guide attendees through questioning and exploring Tkaronto Indigenous musical landscapes and investigate how existing musical structures support the development of new dialogues and spaces."

Recording: Buligan/Adjemian/Fava

Artist: Nicolas Buligan/Jonathan Adjemian/Matthew Fava

Songs: Burdocks, Part VI [composer: Christian Wolff] + In Memoriam Robert Ashley [composer: Allison Cameron]

Recorded at Canadian Music Centre (Composer's Toolbox: Contemporary Compositional Resources), March 16, 2017.

Buligan/Adjemian/Fava - Burdocks, Part VI

Buligan/Adjemian/Fava - In Memoriam Robert Ashley

This very tasty event at the CMC presented Allison Cameron in conversation, discussing a range of possibilities in the field of composition — especially around the use of non-traditional notation. Looking across a variety of traditions (from Korean courtly music to European modernism), Cameron considered a musical score as "a mystery that can only be realized in performance" and examined how giving up the composer's strict control can open and give life to a piece. Her points were re-examined in a short performance segment, with this "pickup band" (consisting of Nicolas Buligan on trumpet, Jonathan Adjemian on synth, and Matthew Fava on violin) tackling a few graphic scores.

Concert Listings Roundup #196

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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Gig of the week:

You've Changed Records 8th Anniversary Celebration (feat. Daniel Romano / Partner / Richard Laviolette / Shotgun Jimmie / Misha Bower) / Longboat Hall 2017-04-22 (Saturday) [FB event]

A most worthy celebration for a label that's put out a slightly-bewildering array of excellent albums over the past eight years, this night features music from the label's past (prodigal son Daniel Romano) and future (Partner) all knit together by strong bonds of friendship and respect.

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This week's noteworthy shows:

Crosswires (feat. Eiyn Sof / Olivia Featherstone / Liz Hysen) / The Baby G 2017-04-17 (Monday – PWYC!) [FB event]

Terry Malts (Business of Dreams / First Base) / The Garrison 2017-04-18 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Zoobombs (Munizo / Knifey) / The Silver Dollar Room 2017-04-18 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Array Session #47 (feat. Wrist Error [Mike Gennaro/Kurt Newman]) / Array Space 2017-04-18 (Tuesday – PWYC!) [FB event]

The Wedding Present (Colleen Green) / The Horseshoe Tavern 2017-04-19 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Tasseomancy (Yamantaka//Sonic Titan / Han Han) / The Garrison 2017-04-19 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Quadrupeds [Stephen Parkinson/Mark Zurawinski/Allison Cameron] [debut/last show] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-04-19 (Wednesday – early!)

Josh Cole Quartet / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-04-19 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Not Dead Yet presents: (feat. Behavior / Eyeballs / Meat / Goth Girl) / ask a punk! 2017-04-19 (Wednesday – all ages! dry show!) [FB event]

Flasher (Mimico / Nobro / Smokes / Monomyth) / The Baby G 2017-04-19 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Tim Darcy (The Luyas / Charlotte Cornfield / Omhouse) / The Baby G 2017-04-20 (Thursday) [FB event]

Sebadoh (Zoobombs / Billy Moon / Crazy Bones / Walrus / The Honest Heart Collective) / The Horseshoe Tavern 2017-04-20 (Thursday) [FB event]

Colin Fisher's Monthly (feat. Victor Cirone & Colin Fisher / Karen Ng) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-04-20 (Thursday)

Soundstreams' Salon 21: CeramiX (feat. "immersive walking performance through the museum" by Germaine Liu, performed by Tomasz Krakowiak/Joe Sorbara/Mark Zurawinski) / Gardiner Museum 2017-04-21 (Friday – free with registration!) [more info]

Duchess Says (HOAN) / The Baby G 2017-04-21 (Friday) [FB event]

Record Store Day (feat. LUKA / Sahara / Lonely Parade) / Sonic Boom 2017-04-22 (Saturday – free! all-ages! afternoon event!) [FB event]

Invocation presents (feat. Michael Hurley) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2017-04-22 (Saturday) [FB event]

Cosmic Soul (feat. SassyBlack / Obuxum / M.I.Blue) / The Music Gallery 2017-04-22 (Saturday) [FB event]

Buzz Records Presents (feat. Weaves / Casper Skulls / Vallens / Twist / PONY) / Lee's Palace 2017-04-22 (Saturday) [FB event]

Beliefs (Weight / TEENANGER / Eyeballs) / The Garrison 2017-04-22 (Saturday) [FB event]

Mint Records Showcase (feat. New Fries / Faith Healer / Renny Wilson / Heaven For Real / Fountain) / Handlebar 2017-04-22 (Saturday) [FB event]

Audio Bleed (feat. Shimmer Crush / Leucrocuta / Lumi Krysztal) / Belljar Café 2017-04-22 (Saturday – PWYC!) [FB event]

What Is Freedom? (Resistance is Fertile!) (feat. Bill Gilliam Art Ensemble) / Gallery 345 2017-04-22 (Saturday) [FB event]

Paul Linklater / Castro's 2017-04-22 (Saturday) [FB event]

Batuki Music Society presents (feat. Nhapitapi Mbira) / Alliance Française de Toronto 2017-04-22 (Saturday) [FB event]

Culture Reject (Clamaglamza) / Burdock Music Hall 2017-04-22 (Saturday) [FB event]

Eucalyptus [April Sundays residency!] / Hirut Restaurant 2017-04-23 (Sunday – Good eats available but not obligatory! early show 7 to 10 p.m.!) [FB event]

Nailbiter (Cares/New Tendencies/Johan Seaton) / The Steady Café 2017-04-23 (Sunday) [FB event]

Moon Duo (Jackie Lynn) / The Horseshoe Tavern 2017-04-23 (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!

The Coathangers (Pow Wows / Meanwood) / The Silver Dollar Room 2017-04-25 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Piano Party! (feat. Allison Cameron / Bob Wiseman / Marcel Aucoin) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-04-26 (Wednesday – early!) [FB event]

Iranian Modal Music Ensemble of Toronto / Small World Music Centre 2017-04-28 (Friday) [FB event]

Cosmic Homeostasis III [collective ambient electroacoustic drone/drift] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-04-30 (Sunday – PWYC! afternoon show, 3 to 5 p.m.!) [FB event]

Track Could Bend #26 (feat. Sandro Perri/Allison Cameron/Josh Cole/Nicole Rampersaud / Allison Cameron & William Davison / Moth Ash) / The Steady Café 2017-05-02 (Tuesday – PWYC!) [FB event]

Major/Minor: Bloordale Music and Arts Festival (feat. Tonkapuma / Mitch the Champ / Kashka) / D-Beatstro 2017-05-06 (Saturday – PWYC! all-ages and family friendly! afternoon show, 3 to 5 p.m.!) [FB event]

CCMC / Array Space 2017-05-06 (Saturday)

Chastity (Petra Glynt / Life In Vacuum) / The Baby G 2017-05-06 (Saturday) [FB event]

Evergreen Club Contemporary Gamelan [double album release!] / Array Space 2017-05-17 (Wednesday) [more info]

Invocation × Constellation (feat. Jason Sharp / Joni Void / Jessica Moss [record release show!]) / The Royal Cinema 2017-05-18 (Thursday) [FB event]

Fiver [Audible Songs from Rockwood release show!] (Lonesome Ace Stringband / Christine Schmitt) / Array Space 2017-05-27 (Saturday – two shows!) [more info]

Music in the Barns [performing works by Philip Glass, Michael Oesterle, John Cage] (Dana Lyn & Kyle Sanna / Ayelen Liberona with Allison Cameron ["multi-sensory installation"]) / The Great Hall 2017-05-28 (Sunday) [FB event]

Woods (John Andrews and the Yawns) / The Garrison 2017-07-07 (Friday) [FB event]

Teenage Head (Dany Laj and The Looks / Slamboni) / The Horseshoe Tavern 2017-07-14 (Friday) [FB event]

Recording: Luge

Artist: Luge

Songs: Centrifugal Horse + B.E.N.A.D.I.L.M.A.N.

Recorded at The Baby G, March 15, 2017.

Luge - Centrifugal Horse

Luge - B.E.N.A.D.I.L.M.A.N.

This hyper-new-wave unit offered up buckets of melted pitches and fingertapping guitar as the backbone of their candy-kinetic tunes. Also: basslines like a sled ride down an icy hill and lyrics with plenty surrealistic food metaphors ("it's my hand made of quiche"). This is pop music.

[Luge will be playing at Smiling Buddha on Tuesday (April 18th) alongside LA's Jerkagram and Raphael Weinroth-Browne.]

Recording: Cutout Lover

Artist: Cutout Lover

Songs: [two unknown songs] + [unknown song]

Recorded at The Baby G, March 15, 2017.

Cutout Lover - [two unknown songs]

Cutout Lover - [unknown song]

Chris Pitsiokos and his crew of NYC avant-jazz heads offered up some "technical" skronk-shred that sounded like a U.S. Maple tape with the fast forward button held down. The chopsy instrumental sections were offset with Paige Johnson-Brown's intense sing-speak declamations. The band had the somewhat rough-around-the-edges look of a crew that had been on tour for a bit — or perhaps they looked a little pale from the sheer energy and focus required for their brand of no-wave precision metallo-funk — I felt pleasantly exhausted just from watching their set.

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

Recording: Processor

Artist: Processor

Song: Ghost Factory

Recorded at The Baby G, March 15, 2017.

Processor - Ghost Factory

A late addition to this show's bill, Processor — always a band that sounds at its best on a PA with ample low end — felt quite immense in the Baby G's subs. So much so, that they even managed to literally shake loose some bits of the ceiling with their bass rumbulations.

Recording: Retired

Artist: Retired

Song: Lonely Woman [composer: Ornette Coleman]

Recorded at The Baby G, March 15, 2017.

Retired - Lonely Woman

Retired opened up this Burn Down the Capital show with their take on this Ornette Coleman standard, which was totally on point even if they have accused themselves of committing Crimes Against Jazz. With the rhythm section finding the means to harmolodically hover/drone without rushing the entrance of the melody, this showed off the group's ability to pull back from landfill landmine no wave skronk. (That latter style is evident on a newly-released live DVD catching an outdoor guerrilla performance by the band.)

Recording: HARP

Artist: HARP

Songs: Trace [composer: Patrick O'Reilly] + Stockholm [composer: Andrew Downing]

Recorded at Array Space (Somewhere There's Second Sunday Series), March 12, 2017.

HARP - Trace

HARP - Stockholm

On the first night of the hated daylight savings time and in the face of winter's last threatened snowblast before the spring, Somewhere There presented this cozy night in their Second Sunday of the month series. Alphabetically named from the initials of players Harry Vetro (percussion), Andrew Downing (double bass), Russell Matthews (sax) and Patrick O'Reilly (guit), this group presented pieces from each of the players (including another of the picture-scores that Vetro had presented earlier in the night), mixing O'Reilley's deftly-echoplexed guitar twists with Downing's balladic grace.

Recording: Adolescence

Artist: Adolescence

Songs: Why Do People Smoke Outside of Hospitals? + Which Way is Up?

Recorded at Array Space (Somewhere There's Second Sunday Series), March 12, 2017.

Adolescence - Why Do People Smoke Outside of Hospitals?

Adolescence - Which Way is Up?

Once again, Somewhere There was supporting and amplifying the voices of emerging composers + performers with their Second Sunday of the month series. This group (with some familiar faces from the younger cadre and a few that were new to me) was assembled by percussionist Harry Vetro and included Emily Denison (trumpet), Harrison Argatoff (sax), Meghan Gilhespy (vox), Dan Pitt (guitar), and Jacob Thompson (synth + piano). Vetro's scores contained both notated lines as well as pictures, giving the musicians a basic musical framework plus room to explore based on the moods the images evoked. That meant the pieces were more "atmospheres" than "tunes", but they were rather agreeable spaces to range around in.

Recording: Not The Wind, Not The Flag with Rob Clutton

Artist: Not The Wind, Not The Flag with Rob Clutton

Song: [guitar section excerpt]

Recorded at Burdock Music Hall, March 7, 2017.

Not The Wind, Not The Flag with Rob Clutton - [guitar section excerpt]

This evening felt a bit like two shows in one, with two singer-songwriter sets followed by some abstract improvised expeditions. Colin Fisher and Brandon Valdivia closed out the night in a special trio alignment with Rob Clutton sitting in on double bass. That gave a foundation for a two-act drama, with this opening section for shimmery guitar followed by a love cry on sax.

[Not The Wind, Not the Flag will be back in their customary duo alignment this Sunday (April 16th) at the Music Gallery's Departures Series show at Array, heating things up for the Peter Evans Ensemble and Sam Weinberg/Chris Welcome/Ben Bennett.]

Recording: Matias Rozenberg

Artist: Matias Rozenberg

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at Burdock Music Hall, March 7, 2017.

Matias Rozenberg - unknown

This evening felt a bit like two shows in one, with two singer-songwriter sets followed by some abstract improvised expeditions. The first two sets also made it feel like a bit of a Blocks Music Club reunion with a pair of fine songwriters re-emerging to share some newer material. Matias Rozenberg, now re-settled in Hamilton, commented that he was "crawling out" from his recent musical inactivity, getting the creaks out of his joints and sharing some new work. This one is an "extremely liberal" reinterpretation of an Argentinean tune, a meditation on the dislocation and distance felt to his "maternal and foreign land".

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

Recording: Magali Meagher

Artist: Magali Meagher

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at Burdock Music Hall, March 7, 2017.

Magali Meagher - unknown

This evening felt a bit like two shows in one, with two singer-songwriter sets followed by some abstract improvised expeditions. The first two sets also made it feel like a bit of a Blocks Music Club reunion with a pair of fine songwriters re-emerging to share some newer material. Magali Meagher's post-Phonemes songs have, in fact, been around for a while — she offered a knowing smile when she mentioned that her album should be "coming soon" — but they'll be a worthy achievement whenever they do arrive (and in whichever official language they're in).

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

Recording: Christine Bougie

Artist: Christine Bougie

Songs: Over The Line + Giant Things By The Side of The Highway [composer: Dafydd Hughes]^*

Recorded at The Steady Café (Track Could Bend #24), March 7, 2017.

Christine Bougie - Over The Line

Christine Bougie - Giant Things By The Side of The Highway

Master guitarist Christine Bougie has an equally deft touch on the lap steel, and has recently been experimenting with new textures and ways of shaping her solo performance with it. Layering atmospheric loops under expansively-hazy melodic drift, she brought a set of simply-beautiful music to close out the night.

^* Thanks to Christine for passing these titles to these along!

[Christine Bougie will be celebrating the formal release of her Whistle Up a World album with an early show at The Burdock on Wednesday, May 17th. Track Could Bend will be back at The Steady on Tuesday, May 2nd.]

Photo by @dccintdot

Recording: Someone's Memory

Artist: Someone's Memory

Song: [excerpt from first piece]

Recorded at The Steady Café (Track Could Bend #24), March 7, 2017.

Someone's Memory - [excerpt from first piece]

Formerly known as Treeotica, this project mixes electroacoustic clicks, thumps and drones (many coming, in different ways, from a customized tree-branch instrument) into beautiful sound-fields. The performative — almost ritualistic — elements also make it completely entrancing to watch. Often found busking across the city, it's a real treat to have a chance to hear these sounds in a dedicated listening space.

[Track Could Bend will be back at The Steady on Tuesday, May 2nd.]

Photo by @dccintdot

Recording: act tbh

Artist: act tbh

Song: [first piece, in two parts]

Recorded at The Steady Café (Track Could Bend #24), March 7, 2017.

act tbh - [first piece, part 1]

act tbh - [first piece, part 2]

This trio provided some purifying sounds to sanctify Track Could Bend's new home in the back room of The Steady Café. I'm sure there are other facts connecting the dots but I do know that Connor Bennett and Aaron Hutchinson (of Hamilton's rather excellent collective/label HAVN) provided musical support on Trevor Truple's After Ever tape, and that the three have been playing together some. That's now been formalized under the banner of this project, and there's signs of a deepening musical mind-meld at hand.

Rather than the lo-fi synth textures that coloured the set I saw at The Tranzac, things were more acoustically-based this time around, even if the instruments were all being treated. There was also a really patient and well-considered build-up here, with the opening sparseness slowing giving itself over to increasing density. I haven't heard any word that there's a HAVN tape forthcoming from this trio, but I'm starting that rumour anyway just to make sure there's pressure on them to make it happen.

[Track Could Bend will be back at The Steady on Tuesday, May 2nd.]

Concert Listings Roundup #195

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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Gig of the week:

Jonathan Adjemian [Adequacies album release!] (IC/JC/VC) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-04-14 (Friday – early!) [FB event]

Jonathan Adjemian will be celebrating Adequacies, a new album of solo piano pieces at this early show, and besides his set, the night will feature a too-rare set of vocal improvisations from Isla Craig, Jennifer Castle, and Victoria Cheong. Oh, also: "there will be pink cookies shaped like hippos."

Jonathan Adjemian - Song For Manasi

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This week's noteworthy shows:

Crosswires (feat. Doc Pickles / Communism / Faiyaz and the Wasted Chances) / The Baby G 2017-04-10 (Monday – PWYC!) [FB event]

Ornate Ornette (feat. Patrick O'Rielly/Harrison Argatoff/Harrison Vetro/Phill Albert) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-04-11 (Tuesday – early!) [FB event]

Invocation presents (feat. ENTRANCE / Man Meets Bear / Justin Small) / Array Space 2017-04-11 (Tuesday) [FB event]

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

Tone Deaf Culture Presents: Toronto Noise #6 (feat. Cares / Rampancy / Lumi Krysztal / Aaron Corbet) / The Smiling Buddha (basement) 2017-04-12 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Music By & For Ken Aldcroft, V (feat. Heather Saumer/Doug Tielli / Jonathan Adjemian/Andrew Furlong/Jay Hay/Joe Sorbara) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-04-12 (Wednesday) [FB event]

The AMBiENT PiNG (feat. Dirty Inputs / dreamSTATE vs Heiki) / Handlebar 2017-04-12 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Bing & Ruth (North Atlantic Drift) / The Great Hall – Conversation Room 2017-04-12 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Colin Fisher/Victor Cirone (James Beardmore/Jakob Rehlinger) / Saving Gigi 2017-04-13 (Thursday) [FB event]

Crash Vegas / Danforth Music Hall 2017-04-13 (Thursday) [FB event]

Fresh Flesh (Girls Rituals / Widdows95 / Valeroo) / The Steady Café 2017-04-13 (Thursday) [FB event]

$5 Rap Show 7th Anniversary Jam! ["special guests, prizes, surprises & cake!"] (feat. Swamp Thing / Ultramagnus & Dj Slam / Coins / Champa) / Handlebar 2017-04-13 (Thursday) [FB event]

Silver Dapple (Our Father Star / Baby Cages / Rogue Tenant) / Smiling Buddha 2017-04-13 (Thursday) [FB event]

Straight, No Chaser Jazz Night (feat. Allison Au Quartet) / Monarch Tavern 2017-04-13 (Thursday) [FB event]

Ice Cream (Queen of Swords / Michele Nox) / The Baby G 2017-04-14 (Friday) [FB event]

Pick a Piper (Yoo Doo Right / Edna King) / The Baby G 2017-04-15 (Saturday) [FB event]

Jon Mckiel (Cousins) / Monarch Tavern 2017-04-15 (Saturday) [FB event]

Doom Tickler [Pleasence Records Spirit Fingers EP tape release!] (Creep Highway) / Venue TBA 2017-04-15 (Saturday) [FB event]

Zack Kouns (Scream Culture / Thoughts On Air) / Sonic Café 2017-04-15 (Saturday) [FB event]

Eucalyptus [April Sundays residency!] / Hirut Restaurant 2017-04-16 (Sunday – Good eats available but not obligatory! early show 7 to 10 p.m.!) [FB event]

The Music Gallery's Departures Series (feat. Peter Evans Ensemble / Sam Weinberg/Chris Welcome/Ben Bennett / Not The Wind, Not The Flag) / Array Space 2017-04-16 (Sunday) [FB event]

Summer Isle Presents: Providence Basement Electroniques (feat. Timeghost / Craow / Death Kneel / E-Saggila / Burglar) / Smiling Buddha (basement) 2017-04-16 (Sunday) [FB event]

Small World Asian Music Series (feat. Upanishads) / Small World Music Centre 2017-04-16 (Sunday) [FB event]

MAW: A Community Celebration of the Vocal Arts (feat. Christine Duncan & The Element Choir featuring Paul Dutton / Anne Bourne / Amahla Johnson) / Burdock Music Hall 2017-04-16 (Sunday – all-ages + kid friendly!) [FB event]

Diane Roblin/Nicole Rampersaud/Jonathan Adjemian / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-04-16 (Sunday – early!) [FB event]

Hobson's Choice / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-04-16 (Sunday) [FB event]

Somewhere There presents (feat. Swamp People [Michael Davidson/Andrew Furlong/Jay Hay/Joe Sorbara]) / The Emmet Ray 2017-04-16 (Sunday – PWYC!)

Marge (Lonely Parade / Aster More / Triples) / Monarch Tavern 2017-04-16 (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!

Array Session #47 (feat. Wrist Error [Mike Gennaro/Kurt Newman]) / Array Space 2017-04-18 (Tuesday – PWYC!) [more info]

Josh Cole Quartet / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-04-19 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Not Dead Yet presents (feat. Behavior / Eyeballs / Meat / Goth Girl) / ask a punk! 2017-04-19 (Wednesday – all ages! dry show!) [FB event]

Flasher (Mimico / Nobro / Smokes / Monomyth) / The Baby G 2017-04-19 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Sebadoh (Zoobombs / Billy Moon / Crazy Bones / Walrus / The Honest Heart Collective) / The Horseshoe Tavern 2017-04-20 (Thursday) [FB event]

Soundstreams' Salon 21: CeramiX (feat. "immersive walking performance through the museum" by Germaine Liu, performed by Tomasz Krakowiak/Joe Sorbara/Mark Zurawinski) / Gardiner Museum 2017-04-21 (Friday – free with registration!) [more info]

What Is Freedom? (Resistance is Fertile!) (feat. Bill Gilliam Art Ensemble) / Gallery 345 2017-04-22 (Saturday) [FB event]

Paul Linklater / Castro's 2017-04-22 (Saturday) [FB event]

Batuki Music Society presents (feat. Nhapitapi Mbira) / Alliance Française de Toronto 2017-04-22 (Saturday) [FB event]

Culture Reject (Clamaglamza) / Burdock Music Hall 2017-04-22 (Saturday) [FB event]

Eucalyptus [April Sundays residency!] / Hirut Restaurant 2017-04-23 (Sunday – Good eats available but not obligatory! early show 7 to 10 p.m.!) [FB event]

Haus Musik (feat. SlowPitchSound / Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra) / The Great Hall 2017-04-27 (Thursday) [FB event]

Eucalyptus [April Sundays residency!] / Hirut Restaurant 2017-04-30 (Sunday – Good eats available but not obligatory! early show 7 to 10 p.m.!) [FB event]

Crosswires (feat. Botanicals / Field Study / Sarah Greene) / The Baby G 2017-05-01 (Monday – PWYC!) [FB event]

Emergents IV (feat. Stereoscope Duo / Harp Society) / The Music Gallery 2017-05-05 (Friday) [FB event]

Portraits de Georgian Bay (feat. Spectrum Music) / Alliance Française de Toronto 2017-05-05 (Friday) [FB event]

Feast In The East: 6 Year Anniversary (feat. Phèdre / ZONES / Jaimie Branch Quartet / Tenderness + Brodie West's Sax Quartet / Fake Humans) / Jam Factory 2017-05-06 (Saturday – all ages!) [FB event]

Nite Comfort 44 (feat. Northumbria [LP release!] / North Atlantic Drift) / Handlebar 2017-05-07 (Sunday — PWYC!) [FB event]

Crosswires (feat. Wordburglar / More or Les) / The Baby G 2017-05-08 (Monday – PWYC!) [FB event]

Bunny (Andre Ethier) / Burdock Music Hall 2017-05-09 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Crosswires (feat. Dragonflys / Poppyseed & the Love Explosion) / The Baby G 2017-05-15 (Monday – PWYC!) [FB event]

Christine Bougie [Whistle Up a World album release!] / Burdock Music Hall 2017-05-17 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Crosswires (feat. Beard Closet / Bruce Lai / Endless Nameless) / The Baby G 2017-05-22 (Monday – PWYC!) [FB event]

Crosswires (feat. Savino Mazzucco / almost, almost blue sunshine / Heraclitus Akimbo) / The Baby G 2017-05-29 (Monday – PWYC!) [FB event]

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Bandcamp corner:

• This is the last mixtape (for now!) in this series. This one seems to have a nice sense of flow to it. Drone on, y'crazy drone-minds!

Recording: Baby Dee

Artist: Baby Dee

Songs: Calvary + When I Get Home

Recorded at Burdock Music Hall, March 5, 2017.

Baby Dee - Calvary

Baby Dee - When I Get Home

"We are here to sing you fucked-up songs about our fucked-up family," Baby Dee reported near the outset of this set. There was no piano this time 'round, and no band, just Dee on accordion accompanied by her nephew Blake Norris on acoustic guitar. That left plenty of room for her singular voice and vision as a songwriter to shine through as she ranged throughout her catalogue of self-proclaimed "creepy" music.

Recording: IC/JC/VC

Artist: IC/JC/VC

Songs: [two excerpts]

Recorded at Burdock Music Hall, March 5, 2017.

IC/JC/VC - [excerpt #1]

IC/JC/VC - [excerpt #2]

It's always a treat when this trio gather together to combine their voices. Crouching and sitting on the floor, there was no fancy stagecraft here, just a simple alchemy casting a spell over the room. Originally convened as a "vocal yoga" exercise, there was a bit more of an emotional journey in this set, floating through some turbulent, dark currents before seeing dawn's first glimmers of sunrise on the horizon.

IC/JC/VC will be playing at Jonathan Adjemian's Adequacies album release party, this Friday (April 14th) in the early slot at The Tranzac.]

Recording: Tranz DéFoncé

Artist: Tranz DéFoncé

Songs: [two presumably-untitled pieces]

Recorded at The Dupe Shop, March 5, 2017.

Tranz DéFoncé - unknown

Tranz DéFoncé - unknown

This new Storefront location for duplication.ca not only brings cassette production and other services closer to the people that are most likely to use them, they're also serving as a community hub, hosting a series of shows and mixtape exchanges. This Sunday afternoon show pulled three bands from their garages for a rawkin' good time. When a random passer-by sees a band playing in a store, comes in to watch, and then grabs a mic to start singing, most bands would take umbrage. Tranz DéFoncé are not most bands. Even on what was mentioned as their last-ever show, this junk-rock supergroup took the volunteer in stride, encouraging more than just tolerating the unexpected turn of events and adding one more random element to their noisy thrum.

Recording: Eroders

Artist: Eroders

Songs: The Land Of... + Use Your Eyes

Recorded at The Dupe Shop, March 5, 2017.

Eroders - The Land Of...

Eroders - Use Your Eyes

This new Storefront location for duplication.ca not only brings cassette production and other services closer to the people that are most likely to use them, they're also serving as a community hub, hosting a series of shows and mixtape exchanges. This Sunday afternoon show pulled three bands from their garages for a rawkin' good time. This Detroit trio brought a bit of a surfy vibe to their tough-edged songs, most of their songs emitted in two-minute bursts.

Recording: The Soley Ensemble

Artist: The Soley Ensemble

Songs: I Wish to Let All Go [based on a poem by Attar] + It Is All Hu, There Is Nothing But Hu [excerpt] [based on a poem by Dr. Javad Nourbakhsh]

Recorded at Aga Khan Museum Auditorium, March 4, 2017.

The Soley Ensemble - I Wish to Let All Go

The Soley Ensemble - It Is All Hu, There Is Nothing But Hu [excerpt]

I first encountered local Persian singer Soley a little while back at an informal session at The Tranzac, and was struck as much by his gravitas and dignified demeanour as by his voice. Since then, I'd been keeping an eye out for a chance to see him perform in his own element, which is why I jumped at this chance to check out this Nowruz celebration in one of the city's most beautiful venues, the auditorium at the striking Aga Khan Museum. The evening was titled "Mystic Persian Music and Poetry", featuring Soley's adaptations of Rumi and other poets.

Framed by spoken segments in translation (stirringly delivered by Sheniz Janmohamed) and featuring hypnotic sacred whirling dance from Farzad AttarJafari, the group headed for the boundless with their acoustic qawwali grooves. Soley's backing group included Siavash Kaveh (kamancheh), Ali Razmi (tar), Sardar Mohamadjani (oud), Bamdad Fotouhi (tombak) and Zohreh Shahbazy (daf). It's a genuine treat in our city to have encounters such as this so near at hand — there's so much wonderful music outside our usual bubbles.

Recording: Century Palm

Artist: Century Palm

Songs: Then You're Gone + New Creation

Recorded at Monarch Tavern, March 2, 2017.

Century Palm - Then You're Gone

Century Palm - New Creation

A night of celebration not only launching the band across the country on tour, but also celebrating Meet You, their first full-length. The joyful scrappiness of the live set pushes things away a a bit from the recording's moody undercurrents, but singer/guitarist Andrew Payne's sparky leather jacket reminded that there's a soupçon of roxyglam under the band's postpunk glower.

Recording: Moon Eyed

Artist: Moon Eyed

Song: Downtown Up & Down

Recorded at Monarch Tavern, March 2, 2017.

Moon Eyed - Downtown Up & Down

This duo offered up some low-key bedroom pop with psychedelic/paisley underground vibes. On stage, the keyboard sound wasn't as much of a comforting warm sweater as on their recordings, but it was a cozy fit regardless.

Concert Listings Roundup #194

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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Gig of the week:

Emergents III (feat. Castle If / Laura Swankey) / The Music Gallery 2017-04-07 (Friday) [FB event]

I've been a fan of the Music Gallery's Emergents series for several years now, so it was a real rush when I was asked to curate one of this year's instalments. This show features two different approaches to musical experimentation, matching Castle If's plant-kingdom synthtopia with Laura Swankey's vocal journeys. I'm hoping this will be a sonic treat for Music Gallery regulars... and for those who don't get out there too often, a chance to experience a show in one of the city's best venues.

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This week's noteworthy shows:

Money House [Alex Fournier/Patrick O'Reilly/Stefan Hegerat] / The Emmet Ray 2017-04-03 (Monday – early!) [FB event]

Anthony Argatoff/Harrison Argatoff/Andrew Downing/Nick Fraser / The Emmet Ray 2017-04-03 (Monday) [FB event]

Crosswires (feat. Doc Pickles / Abigail Lapell / Away Forward [members of Mean Red Spiders, Neck/Christiana, Soft Copy, Ghostlight]) / The Baby G 2017-04-03 (Monday – PWYC!) [FB event]

Rob Clutton Trio [Karen Ng/Nick Fraser/Rob Clutton] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-04-04 (Tuesday – early!)

Track Could Bend #25: Second Anniversary All-Star Spectacular! [past performers return for improvised "bands from a hat" sets!] (feat. Allison Cameron/Fae Sirois/Benjamin Hackman/Michael Lynn/Aaron Corbett/Neil Wiernik/Justin Haynes/Brian Abbott/Chris Adriaanse/Patrick O'Reilly/Ian McPhedran/Laura Swankey/Jesse Levine/Del Stephen/Mike Smith/someone's memory/Bryan W. Bray/Christine Bougie Brett Despotovich/Andrew Furlong/Kayla Milmine/Alexei Orechin + more TBA!) / The Steady Café 2017-04-04 (Tuesday – PWYC!) [FB event]

Not Dead Yet/Stuck in the City present (feat. Allison Crutchfield & the Fizz / Vagabon) / The Silver Dollar Room 2017-04-05 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Fresh Snow (Decorum / Yi / The Whisper Game) / Smiling Buddha 2017-04-05 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Century Egg (Lido Pimienta) / Burdock Music Hall 2017-04-05 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Un Blonde (Thomas / Stefana Fratila) / Monarch Tavern 2017-04-06 (Thursday) [FB event]

Mr. Joy [Alien Selfie Heretical Objects Co-operative tape release!] (Praises / Pink Acid Wash) / The Steady Café 2017-04-06 (Thursday) [FB event]

The Forest ["featuring music from their catalogue of releases, along side fresh new sounds from artists who will join the roster for this evening of music. LAL will also be joined by local community organizations to share initiatives that are a part of their daily lives."] (feat. LAL) / Adelaide Hall 2017-04-06 (Thursday) [FB event]

You'll Never Get to Heaven (ZONES / SWANES) / The Baby G 2017-04-07 (Friday) [FB event]

Casey Mecija (Char Aragoza) / Drake Underground 2017-04-07 (Friday) [FB event]

Come Back Barbara (Slutcode / Groin Swivel) / Monarch Tavern 2017-04-07 (Friday) [FB event]

Mermaids / Imperial Pub 2017-04-07 (Friday) [FB event]

Ear Candy: Music in Fifths [Philip Glass' "Music in Fifths" will be performed by an exciting ensemble of musicians taken from Toronto’s pop, jazz, and classical community. It will also be paired with a brand new piece collectively composed by the performers in homage to Glass' music"] (Feat. Soundstreams) / Artscape Sandbox 2017-04-08 (Saturday) [more info]

Owen Pallett / Longboat Hall 2017-04-08 (Saturday) [FB event]

Audiopollination #53.1 (feat. Abigail Trotsky/Chris Trotter/Owen Lyons / UsK/Dominique Banoun/Alan Bloor / William Davison/Mark Gane/Ambrose Pottie/Eugene Martynec / Alaniaris) / Array Space 2017-04-08 (Saturday) [FB event]

Sunday Residency (feat. Sacred Lamp) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-04-09 (Sunday – afternoon show @ 3 p.m.!) [FB event]

Crossed Wires (Tough Age / Klarka Weinwurm / Protruders) / Monarch Tavern 2017-04-09 (Sunday) [FB event]

Somewhere There's Second Sunday Series (feat. Paul Dutton & Joe Sorbara / Mikrøghöti [Robert Diack/Alex Fournier/Patrick O'Reilly]) / Array Space 2017-04-09 (Sunday) [FB event]

Channel no.3.2 (feat. HEXZUUL / Roarke Menzies / Xuan Ye / Inchoate) / The Steady Café 2017-04-09 (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!

Ornate Ornette (feat. Patrick O'Rielly/Harrison Argatoff/Harrison Vetro/Phill Albert) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-04-11 (Tuesday – early!) [FB event]

Jonathan Adjemian [Adequacies album release!] (IC/JC/VC) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-04-14 (Friday – early!) [FB event]

Doom Tickler [Pleasence Records Spirit Fingers EP tape release!] (Creep Highway) / Venue TBA 2017-04-15 (Saturday) [FB event]

Record Store Day (feat. LUKA / Sahara / Lonely Parade) / Sonic Boom 2017-04-22 (Saturday – free! all-ages! afternoon event!) [FB event]

Audio Bleed (feat. Shimmer Crush / Leucrocuta / Lumi Krysztal) / Belljar Café 2017-04-22 (Saturday – PWYC!) [FB event]

Germaphobes (Dorothea Paas / Wearenotwhoweare / Dohn Valley) / Owl's Club 2017-04-27 (Thursday) [FB event]

Redd Kross (B-17) / Lee's Palace 2017-05-06 (Saturday) [FB event]

Anamai [What Mountain LP release show!] (Chrysanthemum White Alder / Pissbowelking) / Smiling Buddha 2017-05-14 (Sunday) [FB event]

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Bandcamp corner:

• D'you ever do that thing where you're layering the end of an Ann Southam piece into the start of a Sade song.. and then you keep overlapping more and more of it until you might as well call it a mashup?