Recording: Hank Powell

Artist: Hank Powell

Song: [first piece]

Recorded at Celestina ("Track Could Bend #38"), May 1, 2018.

Hank Powell - [first piece]

Between venues, Track Could Bend was lucky enough to offer this intimate "studio" show, with some couches and a chance for close listening to some delicate sounds. This mysterious stranger, slated to close out the night, turned out to be a joint effort of Karen Ng and D. Alex Meeks, mixing the latter's deliberate rat-a-tat-tats with the former's snaky sax explorations.

[On Tuesday (July 3rd), come celebrate Track Could Bend's first show in its new home, down in the cozy basement space at Wenona Lodge (1069 Bloor Street W., just over from Dufferin Station). There will be sets from Fleshtone Aura, American Standard Trio and Jessica Stuart x Michael Davidson.]

Recording: David Sait

Artist: David Sait

Songs: two pieces

Recorded at Celestina ("Track Could Bend #38"), May 1, 2018.

David Sait - [track 1]

David Sait - [track 3]

Between venues, Track Could Bend was lucky enough to offer this intimate "studio" show, with some couches and a chance for close listening to some delicate sounds and a perfect environment to hear some solo guzheng from David Sait. He sometimes presents his instrument with additional electronic manipulations, but the unadorned acoustic interplay of the strings was more than enough to dazzle in this attentive space.

[On Tuesday (July 3rd), come celebrate Track Could Bend's first show in its new home, down in the cozy basement space at Wenona Lodge (1069 Bloor Street W., just over from Dufferin Station). There will be sets from Fleshtone Aura, American Standard Trio and Jessica Stuart x Michael Davidson.]

Recording: Jen Wardle + John Mark Sherlock

Artist: Jen Wardle + John Mark Sherlock

Songs: three pieces^*

Recorded at Celestina ("Track Could Bend #38"), May 1, 2018.

Jen Wardle + John Mark Sherlock - [track 2]

Jen Wardle + John Mark Sherlock - [track 3]

Jen Wardle + John Mark Sherlock - [track 5]

Between venues, Track Could Bend was lucky enough to offer this intimate "studio" show, with some couches and a chance for close listening to some delicate sounds. Saxophonist Jen Wardle brought a selection of miniature compositions to start the night, presenting them with accompaniment from John Mark Sherlock's shimmering clavinet/pianet and Fender Rhodes.

[On Tuesday (July 3rd), come celebrate Track Could Bend's first show in its new home, down in the cozy basement space at Wenona Lodge (1069 Bloor Street W., just over from Dufferin Station). There will be sets from Fleshtone Aura, American Standard Trio and Jessica Stuart x Michael Davidson.]

^* Does anyone know the titles to these? Please leave a comment!

Recording: Not The Music feat. Joe McPhee

Artist: Not The Music feat. Joe McPhee

Songs: [two excerpts]

Recorded at The Music Gallery @ 918 Bathurst, April 29, 2018.

Not The Music feat. Joe McPhee - [excerpt 1]

Not The Music feat. Joe McPhee - [excerpt 2]

Together, Rimouski's Éric Normand and Montréal's Philippe Lauzier are Not The Music. Both found plenty of space for electroacoustic adventures and to explore the physicalities of their instruments — one was as likely to find Normand with ebow in hand, thwacking away at the body of his bass or Lauzier playing half a taken-apart bass clarinet as to see them take a more straight-forward approach. They were well-matched in these considerations of the plastic properties of their instruments with guest performer Joe McPhee joining them for the set on sax and pocket trumpet. Ranging from balloon parties to feedback fuzz to unexpected bursts of balladry, there was a joyful sense of freedom throughout the set.

Recording: Mercury

Artist: Mercury

Song: unknown [composer: Rainer Wiens]^*

Recorded at The Music Gallery @ 918 Bathurst, April 29, 2018.

Mercury - unknown

This union of two great Montréal musicians (Lori Freedman, clarinet, and Nicolas Caloia, double bass) has pushed past improvisation into finding a space to explore a series of compositions from friends and collaborators who are attuned to their working methods. The pieces (such as one from Martin Arnold, which consisted solely of a series of numbers) have a lot of "open" elements, giving constraints to the bullfrog rumbles, skronks, string sawing, pitch pipes and so on.

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

Recording: Cosmic Homeostasis

Artist: Cosmic Homeostasis

Song: A kind of blue-green, different from the other kinds of blue-green with which you may be more familiar [excerpt]

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Cosmic Homeostasis VI), April 29, 2018.

Cosmic Homeostasis - A kind of blue-green, different from the other kinds of blue-green with which you may be more familiar [excerpt]

The Cosmic Homeostasis Tactical Memo led to some really tasty results this time, with ambient electroacoustic drift from an ensemble that included Ronnie Blake, Patrick O'Reilly, Rob Cruickshank (the designated "Namer of Things"), Syd Ortega, Paul Newman, Laura Swankey, Heraclitus Akimbo and special guest Karen Ng (on piano!). Sputtering and swirling, the sounds' gravity was all around, even if like dark matter its origins could be hard to identify.

You can listen to/download the whole session over on bandcamp:

[Cosmic Homeostasis will return to the Tranzac on the afternoon of Sunday, July 29th.]

Recording: DUST

Artist: DUST

Song: [set 1 excerpt]

Recorded at Gerrard Art Space, April 28, 2018.

DUST - [set 1 excerpt]

The return of "the quietest big band in the known world" (one of several projects re-ignited with the return of percussionist D. Alex Meeks to these parts) brought out a baker's dozen of old hands and new to attempt to collectively make as little noise as possible. The ensemble this time included Nicholas Buligan, John Oswald, James Bailey, Mike Smith, Michelangelo Iaffaldano, Lina Allemano, Cory Latkovich, Kayla Milmine, Brian Abbott, Mark Zurawinski, Sebastian Shinwell, Paul Newman and Meeks, all quietly blowing, rubbing or scratching at their instruments — or, just pausing to eat some fruit. As always, there's no proper way to replicate the aural experience via a recording, as the thing that is striking about DUST in the flesh is that bare minimum of sound interacting with the environment. If it needs to be (barely) heard to be comprehended, there is at least a greater chance of that now re-occurring.

Concert Listings Roundup #256

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.

---

Gig of the week:

Baby Cages [Bitter Melon album release!] (Pantayo / Phèdre with MC Lil Gay) / Owl's Club 2018-06-29 (Friday) [FB event]

Baby Cages celebrate their ambitious Bitter Melon visual album with a performance as well as a screening of videos of all six of its songs. A night at Owl's Club is usually an enjoyably-casual time and the environs will be glamourized by an installation and nail art from Diana Lynn VanderMeulen plus the Posi Vibez glitter station — to say nothing of musical enhancement from Pantayo and Phèdre.

---

This week's noteworthy shows:

The Robert Diack Ensemble / The Rex Hotel 2018-06-25 (Monday – early set, 5 to 7 p.m.!) [FB event]

Joseph Shabason / Church of The Redeemer 2018-06-25 (Monday – free!) [more info]

DeiCont | Philips Collective / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-06-26 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Several Futures (Deathsticks / Stargoon) / The Garrison (front room) 2018-06-28 (Thursday) [FB event]

Josh Cole Quintet / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-06-28 (Thursday) [FB event]

The Mean (Idle Tigers / Greydini) / The Piston 2018-06-28 (Thursday) [FB event]

Ian Daniel Kehoe (Quaker Parents) / Burdock Music Hall 2018-06-29 (Friday – early show, 6 to 8 p.m.!) [FB event]

Gilliam, Milmine, Pottie / Heliconian Hall 2018-06-29 (Friday – free! early show @ 7 p.m.!) [FB event]

Aurochs / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-06-29 (Friday – early!)

The Ryan Driver Quintet / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-06-29 (Friday) [FB event]

Shooting Guns (Comet Control / B-17 / Familiars) / Monarch Tavern 2018-06-29 (Friday) [FB event]

Isaac Vallentin [Amateur LP release!] (LUKA / Alli Devenish) / Northern Contemporary 2018-06-29 (Friday) [FB event]

Otterville / Heliconian Hall 2018-06-30 (Saturday – early show @ 7 p.m.! free!) [http://torontojazz.com/concert/otterville]

Clara Engel (Joyful Joyful) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-06-30 (Saturday – early!) [FB event]

Invocation presents (feat. Marisa Anderson / Sarah Louise / Eiyn Sof) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2018-06-30 (Saturday) [FB event]

Buzz Presents (feat. Hit Bargain / Moul D / Damagers / MARY) / Handlebar 2018-06-30 (Saturday) [FB event]

The Holy Gasp [The Love Songs of Oedipus Rex release celebration] / 918 Bathurst 2018-06-30 (Saturday) [cancelled!]

ACT! [f.k.a. Egyptrixx] (Così e Così / Anna Modo / Cares) / The Baby G 2018-07-01 (Sunday) [FB event]

---

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 Mike Smith Company / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-07-03 (Tuesday – early!) [FB event]

In Between Sounds #87 (feat. Lorde Awesome) / The Only Café 2018-07-05 (Thursday) [FB event]

Casting Shadows: An Analogue Moving Picture Show (feat. moving images by Kristine White / music by Tony Allen/Scott Prouty/Kathleen McDonnell/Danny Simmons/Kathleen Law/Michelangelo Iaffaldano/Catherine Crowe/Sean Donald) / Array Space 2018-07-07 (Saturday) [more info]

Ornate Presents (feat. The Manabu Kitada Quintet) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-07-10 (Tuesday – early!) [FB event]

Buck Gooter (Reaches / Doom Tickler / Shelly) / Faith/Void 2018-07-11 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Staycation [album release!] (POM [Robin Dann/Ben Gunning]) / The Piston 2018-07-12 (Thursday) [FB event]

Manabu Kitada Trio [Manabu Kitada/Andrew Downing/Alex Fournier] / The Emmet Ray 2018-07-15 (Sunday – early!) [FB event]

Minibeast [w/ Mission of Burma's Peter Prescott] (Insect Factory / Not Of) / The Baby G 2018-08-10 (Friday) [FB event]

Ancient Shapes (New Swears) / Lee's Palace 2018-08-25 (Saturday) [FB event]

---

Bandcamp corner:

• Keep your Pride celebrations rolling with these selections from the QSO's songbook. All-star arrangements, championship-calibre musicians and some of the city's best singers (including Alanna Stuart, Alex Samaras, Thom Gill and Ghislain Aucoin) all come together to re-imagine these songs and their "historical and personal queer backstories".

Recording: Ng/Crosby/Taylor/Spearin/Feist

Artist: Karen Ng/Ted Crosby/Paul Taylor/Charles Spearin/Leslie Feist

Songs: [excerpt, in two parts]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), April 18, 2017.

Karen Ng/Ted Crosby/Paul Taylor/Charles Spearin/Leslie Feist - [excerpt, part 1]

Karen Ng/Ted Crosby/Paul Taylor/Charles Spearin/Leslie Feist - [excerpt, part 2]

When a musician's sudden unavailability caused a last-minute lineup change and Karen Ng would only say (with a cagey grin and no further details) that she'd found "some friends" to fill in, I knew something was up. And indeed, the old touring pals that came out to jam to a handful of people at The Tranzac were none other than Charles Spearin (armed with keyboard and nyckelharpa) and Leslie Feist. They joined visiting electroacoustic percussionist Paul Taylor as well as Ng and Ted Crosby on reeds for an ephemeral encounter, the sort of one-time-only band that winks into existence in the The Tranzac's protective environment.

After some foraging explorations, the group fell into the rustic soundscape heard here, with Crosby and Ng's clarinets dancing above the others' textures. (Feist showed herself to be a dab hand with her freeze pedal in that regard.) After that, the second set turned out to be an even more informal affair: Spearin had to split, Feist felt like playing the drums, and most of the remaining audience were invited to sit in for some casual meanderings.

Recording: Octopus Curls

Artist: Octopus Curls

Song: [1st set, 3rd piece excerpt]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), April 18, 2018.

Octopus Curls - [1st set, 3rd piece excerpt]

In full-on quintet mode, this group once again explored the accretion of small gestures, tapping and scratching away at their various implements.

Recording: Bellwether4

Artist: Bellwether4

Song: Suite [in two parts] [composer: Anthony Argatoff]^*

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), April 18, 2018.

Bellwether4 - Suite, Part 1

Bellwether4 - Suite, Part 2

Having all the members of Bellwether4 in town at the same time meant it was necessary to grab a slot at The Tranzac, even if it was an unusual extra-early one. That gave Emily Denison (trumpet), Anthony Argatoff (alto saxophone), Victor Vrankulj (double bass), and Andrew Miller (percussion) a chance to take a spin through their book with pieces coming from all members (as well as one by past honoured guest Joe Sorbara). Moving from amped-up études to groovy bumblebee flights it was rewarding to get an increasingly-rare chance to see the band in action as they slide away to other cities and other scenarios.

^* This was called out with just the generic title "Suite". It may have a more complete name — please leave a comment if you know it!

Recording: Special Costello, Budi & Bonka

Artist: Special Costello, Budi & Bonka

Songs: unknown^*

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), April 16, 2018.

Special Costello with Budi & Bonka - unknown

Bonka with Special Costello & Budi - unknown

Budi with Special Costello & Bonka - unknown

Hot on the heels of manifesting as the backbone of Beverly Glenn-Copeland's Indigo Rising, three of the group's east-cost core reconvened at the Tranzac for this late afternoon gathering. A sort of round-robin approach to collaborative soundscape pop, Jeremy Costello, Nick Dourado (a.k.a. Budi), and Bianca Palmer (a.k.a. Bonka) each took turns backing the others as they sketched out their complementary musical ideas, the mellow hang-out-in-the-den kinda vibe suiting the material most excellently.

^* Does anyone know the titles to these? Please leave a comment!

Concert Listings Roundup #255

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.

---

Gigs of the week:

Fake Humans [LP release!] (Blisk / Mark Hundevad) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2018-06-23 (Saturday) [FB event]

Isla Craig [The Becoming Pleasance Records album release!] (Eiyn Sof) / The Tranzac 2018-06-24 (Sunday) [FB event]

Back-to-back release shows in the Tranzac's Main Hall by some of this blog's fave musicians? That's a little piece of heaven in my estimation. I've been waiting for both of these albums to make their ways out into the world for awhile now, and while album release shows sometimes feel more like the end of an era than the beginning of one, hopefully these platters will make it possible for more people to get caught up with some of Toronto's finest.

---

This week's noteworthy shows:

Marilyn Lerner/Nicole Rampersaud / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-06-19 (Tuesday – early!)

TONE Festival/The Music Gallery's Departures Series (feat. Oren Ambarchi & Will Guthrie / Jazz Bras Dot Com / Retired) / Jam Factory 2018-06-19 (Tuesday – all ages!) [FB event]

Living Fossil feat. Vivienne Wilder (Ronley Teper / Allin) / Burdock Music Hall 2018-06-19 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Play the Parks (feat. Dilan Ensemble) / Mackenzie House 2018-06-20 (Wednesday – free! lunchtime show!) [more info]

Bearrah Fawcett [Chris Pruden/Robert Grieve/Alex Fournier/Stefan Hegerat] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-07-20 (Wednesday – early!) [FB event]

LUKA's Ryokan and Rumi band [Luke Kuplowsky/Felicity Williams/Alex Lukashevsky/Phil Melanson/Josh Cole] (Allison Cameron/Josh Cole/Sandro Perri/Nicole Rampersaud) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-06-20 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Mary Ocher (Lief Hall / Bile Sister / The Canadian Romantic) / D D L 2018-06-20 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Luminato Festival: Ally and Kinship (feat. Cris Derksen/Bryden Gwiss Kiwenzie/Ansley Simpson/Simone Schmidt) / The Great Hall 2018-06-20 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Jessica Stuart presents! Ep. 5 (feat. Nick Teehan / Jessica Stuart Few) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-06-21 (Thursday – extra-early show, 5 to 7 p.m.!) [FB event]

Simply Saucer [7" release!] (Blonde Elvis) / The Baby G 2018-06-21 (Thursday) [FB event]

Wavelength presents: Music in Trillium Park (feat. VC2 / Long Branch / Beams) / Ontario Place (Trillium Park) 2018-06-21 (Thursday – free! outside! all-ages!) [FB event]

AlternaQueer (feat. Above Top Secret / Säye Skye / Hua Li / Bliptor / MDL CHLD / R. Flex / hey! dw / The House of Filth) / Toronto Pride South Stage 2018-06-22 (Friday) [more info]

In Transit (Orechin/Pruden/MQ) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-06-22 (Friday – early!) [FB event]

Fusing: Premieres VII ["six new interdisciplinary premieres fusing new music with dance, circus, literary, visual, theatrical and media arts by emerging and established artists from near and far" (feat. Thin Edge New Music Collective) / The Music Gallery @ 918 Bathurst 2018-06-22 (Friday) [FB event]

Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey / De Runa Banquet Hall 2018-06-22 (Friday) [FB event]

Gentle Leader XIV (Rapport / In Drift / Seance Sisters) / Monarch Tavern 2018-06-22 (Friday) [FB event]

TONE Festival (feat. Charles Gayle / WAYS) / Array Space 2018-06-22 (Friday – all ages!) [FB event]

Tonstartssbandht / The Garrison 2018-06-23 (Saturday) [FB event]

Not Dead Yet presents (feat. Iceage / Mary Lattimore / Cares) / Lee's Palace 2018-06-23 (Saturday) [FB event]

Polyphonic Ground presents: Good Kind Productions + Batuki Music Society (feat. HAIBA + Maryem Tollar / Kamancello) / 918 Bathurst 2018-06-23 (Saturday) [FB event]

Baby Labour [Full Legal Stop release party!] (Luge / Bare Claws / Sea Beau) / Handlebar 2018-06-23 (Saturday) [FB event]

Invisible Out (New Tendencies / Mitchell Akiyama) / Handlebar 2018-06-24 (Sunday) [FB event]

Gentle Reminder No. 3 (feat. Aviary / Bachelard / Baanya [Stefan Banjevic]) / June Records 2018-06-24 (Sunday) [FB event]

Stuck In The City & Not Dead Yet present (feat. Criminal Code / Tough Age / Prom Nite / LS & the Drips) / Faith/Void 2018-06-24 (Sunday – all ages!) [FB event]

Synaptic Circus presents (feat. Encounters With Monk In A Revolving Door [Tania Gill/Ryan Driver] / The Cluttertones) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-06-24 (Sunday) [FB event]

---

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 Robert Diack Ensemble / The Rex Hotel 2018-06-25 (Monday – early set, 5 to 7 p.m.!) [FB event]

Joseph Shabason / Joseph Shabason 2018-06-25 (Monday – free!) [more info]

P0st3rb0y (Leucrocuta / Bad Passion / The Databats) / Handlebar 2018-06-29 (Saturday) [FB event]

Otterville / Heliconian Hall 2018-06-30 (Saturday – early show @ 7 p.m.! free!) [http://torontojazz.com/concert/otterville]

Clara Engel (Joyful Joyful) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-06-30 (Saturday – early!) [FB event]

Track Could Bend #40 (feat. Fleshtone Aura / American Standard Trio / Jessica Stuart) / Wenona Lodge 2018-07-03 (Tuesday – new venue! PWYC!) [FB event]

Toronto Improvisors Orchestra ["Celebrates American Mavericks"] / Array Space 2018-07-04 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Devon Welsh (Foxes in Fiction / Joseph Shabason) / The Baby G 2018-07-08 (Sunday) [FB event]

Ace of Wands (Gosh! / Animal Parts) / The Cameron House 2018-07-14 (Saturday) [FB event]

Reviews (Eyeballs / Mazola) / Owl's Club 2018-07-14 (Saturday) [FB event]

Goosebump [LP Release!] (Chandra / Persons) / Lula Lounge 2018-07-26 (Thursday) [FB event]

Vallens [EP Release] (James Baley / Ellis) / The Garrison 2018-07-28 (Saturday) [FB event]

Buzz Records Presents: (feat. Lonely Parade / T-Rextasy / Mother Tongues) / The Baby G 2018-07-31 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Invocation presents (feat. Michael Hurley / Darren Hanlon) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2018-09-13 (Thursday) [FB event]

Palm (New Fries) / The Baby G 2018-09-25 (Tuesday) [FB event]

The Weather Station / Mod Club Theatre 2018-09-29 (Saturday) [FB event]

Timber Timbre / The Horseshoe Tavern 2018-10-11–2018-10-12 (Thursday–Friday) [FB event]

Concert Listings Roundup #254

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.

---

Gigs of the week:

TONE Festival/Wavelength present (feat. Efrim Manuel Menuck / FET.NAT / Fresh Snow / Scattered Clouds) / Jam Factory 2018-06-15 (Friday – all ages!) [FB event]

TONE Festival (feat. The Revival Ensemble / Sick Boss Löve) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2018-06-17 (Sunday) [FB event]

It's hard not to single out TONE again, with each week offering more variety and surprises. Besides being damn good music, there might not be much a throughline connecting Friday's Wavelength co-curated weird/rock extravaganza and Sunday's jazzier excursion, but both are highly recommended — especially if you've never seen FET.NAT performing in a sweaty room. Sunday's Revival Ensemble show, with Ted Crosby's site-specific big-band re-interpreting Duke Ellington's Far East Suite might not have an eye-catching international touring headliner like some of the other shows, but it's one of the festival's most ambitious offerings and is definitely not to be missed.

---

This week's noteworthy shows:

Ornate Presents (feat Triio w/ Manabu Kitada) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-06-12 (Tuesday – early!) [FB event]

Stop Time [Dan Fortin/Harley Card/Michael Davidson/Dan Gaucher] [first show in two years!] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-06-12 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Phèdre (Ice Cream / Sydanie / Millenial) / The Baby G 2018-06-12 (Tuesday) [FB event]

No Mean City Collective presents (feat. Stones / Bookchop / Tange / Craig Currie / HEX) / The Hideout 2018-06-12 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Maybe Not [Brodie West/Nicole Rampersaud/Allison Cameron/Blake Howard/Alex Lukashevsky/Mani Mazanini] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-06-13 (Wednesday – early!) [FB event]

Music By & For Ken Aldcroft XVIII (feat. Max McEachern & Friends [Chris Adriaanse/Max McEachern/Andrew Miller] / Andrew Furlong & Friends [Andrew Furlong/Colin Hinton/Ashley Urquhart]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-06-13 (Wednesday) [FB event]

J Blissette (Several Futures / Don't Bother / Vanity Phase [first show from solo electronic project of Century Palm/Zebrassieres frontman Andrew Payne]) / Monarch Tavern 2018-06-13 (Wednesday) [FB event]

The AMBiENT PiNG (feat. dreamSTATE / byte.observer / at dhé ju) / Handlebar 2018-06-13 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Colin Fisher's Patio Summer Series (feat. Conception Vessel [Harley Card/Jeff Luciani/Daniel Fortin/Colin Fisher]) / Pamenar 2018-06-13 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Feel Alright [Pleasence album release!] (Goosebump [f.k.a. Germaphobes] / Wares / Nutrients) / Owl's Club 2018-06-14 (Thursday) [FB event]

ContaQt: Many Faces - We Are All Marilyns [music by Eve Beglarian, Amnon Wolman and John Oswald, and choreography by Laurence Lemieux] (feat. Contact Contemporary Music) / Buddies In Bad Times 2018-06-14 (Thursday) [FB event]

Charbonneau/Amato (Simon Trottier) / Burdock Music Hall 2018-06-14 (Thursday) [FB event]

Hannah Epperson (Omhouse) / The Baby G 2018-06-14 (Thursday) [FB event]

June Records Block Party (feat. Eamon McGrath / Ocean Potion / The Future Primitive) / June Records 2018-06-15 (Friday – free! all ages!) [FB event]

Knowing River - Body Notes ["This intertwined practice will bring together music, painting, text, body gesture and projection to create new possibilities of mark-making through improvisation, randomness, and elements in time and space."] (feat. Ronley Teper/lo bil/Nava Waxman/David Jager/Tim Posgate) / Sheldon Rose Gallery 2018-06-16 (Saturday) [FB event]

Peach Kelli Pop (Tallies / Tange) / The Baby G 2018-06-16 (Saturday) [FB event]

Toronto Creative Music Lab & the Music Gallery present: TCML 2018 Showcase ["10 new works that have been developed... in the week leading up to the concert"] / The Music Gallery @ 918 Bathurst 2018-06-16 (Saturday) [FB event]

Nailbiter (Blue Light / Natural Violence / Esther Splett / Beard Closet) / The White House 2018-06-16 (Saturday) [FB event]

June Records Block Party (feat. Sam Nease / Isla Craig / Blind Matty Band / MIMICO) / June Records 2018-06-17 (Sunday – free! all ages! afternoon/evening event!) [FB event]

Glen Hall/Diane Roblin/Harry Vetro/Bruce Cassidy / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-06-17 (Sunday – early!) [FB event]

Najva Ensemble / Small World Music Centre 2018-06-17 (Sunday – early!) [FB event]

Chino Amobi (myst milano) / The Music Gallery @ 918 Bathurst St. 2018-06-17 (Sunday) [FB event]

Anthems & Icons (feat. The Queer Songbook Orchestra) / Buddies In Bad Times 2018-06-17 (Sunday) [FB event]

Somewhere There's Second Sunday Series (feat. Linsey Wellman/Phill Albert/Mark Zurawinski) / The Emmet Ray 2018-06-17 (Sunday – PWYC!) [FB event]

---

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!

Living Fossil feat. Vivienne Wilder (Ronley Teper / Allin) / Burdock Music Hall 2018-06-19 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Bearrah Fawcett [Chris Pruden/Robert Grieve/Alex Fournier/Stefan Hegerat] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-07-20 (Wednesday – early!) [FB event]

Jessica Stuart presents! Ep. 5 (feat. Nick Teehan / Jessica Stuart Few) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-06-21 (Thursday – extra-early show, 5 to 7 p.m.!) [FB event]

Polyphonic Ground presents: Good Kind Productions + Batuki Music Society (feat. HAIBA + Maryem Tollar / Kamancello) / 918 Bathurst 2018-06-23 (Saturday) [FB event]

Baby Labour [Full Legal Stop release party!] (Luge / Bare Claws / Sea Beau) / Handlebar 2018-06-23 (Saturday) [FB event]

Stuck In The City & Not Dead Yet present (feat. Criminal Code / Tough Age / Prom Nite / LS & the Drips) / Faith/Void 2018-06-24 (Sunday – all ages!) [FB event]

Synaptic Circus presents (feat. Encounters With Monk In A Revolving Door [Tania Gill/Ryan Driver] / The Cluttertones) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-06-24 (Sunday) [FB event]

Ian Daniel Kehoe (Quaker Parents) / Burdock Music Hall 2018-06-29 (Friday – early show, 6 to 8 p.m.!) [FB event]

Gilliam, Milmine, Pottie / Heliconian Hall 2018-06-29 (Friday – free! early show @ 7 p.m.!) [FB event]

Mimico [EP release show!]) (WHIMM / ZONES) / The Drake Underground 2018-07-05 (Thursday) [FB event]

Feast in the East 69 (feat. The Highest Order / Eric Landry / Faun Fables) / Prairie Drive Park 2018-07-07 (Saturday – free, with free meal! all ages + family friendly! outdoors in a beautiful park setting!) [FB event]

Tough Customer (Puzzlehead / WLMRT / Hugh Man) / Faith/Void 2018-07-18 (Wednesday – all ages!) [FB event]

American Devices (Prom Nite / Protruders / Robert Dayton) / Owl's Club 2018-07-20 (Friday) [FB event]

Nhapitapi / Island Café 2018-08-24 (Friday – all ages! PWYC!) [FB event]

Ivy Mairi + Max Heineman / Island Café 2018-09-14 (Friday – PWYC!) [FB event]

Recording: Beverly Glenn-Copeland and Indigo Rising

Artist: Beverly Glenn-Copeland and Indigo Rising

Songs: Ever New + Sunset Village

Recorded at the Jam Factory, April 15, 2018.

Beverly Glenn-Copeland and Indigo Rising - Ever New

Beverly Glenn-Copeland and Indigo Rising - Sunset Village

On the heels of some recent re-issues, there has been a re-appraisal of sorts for Beverly Glenn-Copeland, who is perhaps as well remembered by a couple generations of Canadians as an occasional performer on Mr. Dressup as a Yorkville folkie-turned-synth-explorer. For his part, in an emotion-filled performance, Copeland confessed that while originally making his music he could sense that his true audience (and musical peers) were not yet born.

Fortunately, this crew, dominated by east coast soft-rockers Jeremy Costello, Nick Dourado, Bianca Palmer and Kurt Inder (plus local Thom Gill) has the tenderness and tenacity to bring Copeland's intricately-layered sounds to life and a love for the same sort of goopy showtune softness and electronic new-age textures that were resolutely unfashionable for so long, returning Glenn-Copeland to the cannon as an icon and influence. Filled with heatfelt spoken passages that stirred the audience as much as the songs, this felt like a special (and cathartic) night for audience and performer alike, and served as a reminder that new chapters, new partners and new songs could be just around the corner for any of us.

Recording: TRYAL

Artist: TRYAL

Song: Companion

Recorded at the Jam Factory, April 15, 2018.

TRYAL - Companion

Continuing to hone the sophisticated, layered pop found on the project's album, from the opening strains of "He Needs Me" (from the Popeye soundtrack), there was whimsy and meta-commentary layered into vocalist Alex Samaras' lamentations. The band this time included Johnny Spence (keyb), Josh Cole (bass), Christine Bougie (guitar) and Phil Melanson (percussion/electronics) and the crew was now incorporating the background vocals of Robin Dann and Felicity Williams and turning over the setlist with some brand-new tracks.

[TRYAL will be part of TONE's Saturday night show (June 9th at Burdock) alongside Jessica Moss and the recently-reactivated Manticore.]

Recording: Loom

Artist: Loom

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at the Jam Factory, April 15, 2018.

Loom - unknown

Amongst this night's many joys (including an emotional headlining set from Beverly Glenn-Copeland) the return of Brooke Manning's Loom to active status is not to be overlooked. Laying low for a couple years in the face of other life pursuits and community initiatives, Loom was (as it ever was) same-but-different, re-manifesting with Manning backed by a vocal trio, adding only some bare-bones snare work to her guitar. A cozy, candle-lit room in the midst of a fierce (yet strangely-beautiful) ice storm is about as perfect a situation as you could ask for to listen to these songs, filled with emotional doubt, longing and vulnerability.

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

Concert Listings Roundup #253

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.

---

Gig of the week:

Bernice [album release!] / The Drake Underground 2018-06-06 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Consider the slow unfolding of a flower blooming in a stop-motion capture, and reflect on the ongoing emergence/steady transformation of Bernice en route to Puff, their long-awaited second album. Promising "extremely fun surprises", expect some quiet astonishment and moments of joy to radiate throught the room.

---

This week's noteworthy shows:

Paul Newman/Brian Abbott / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-06-04 (Monday – extra early set, 6 to 8 p.m.!) [FB event]

Nate Renner & Alex Samaras / The Emmet Ray 2018-06-04 (Monday – early!) [FB event]

The Mike Smith Company [D. Alex Meeks/Karen Ng/Mike Smith] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-06-05 (Tuesday – early!) [FB event]

Track Could Bend #39 (feat. Barry Prophet / Nicole Rampersaud / Sal Grosso) / The Baby G 2018-06-05 (Tuesday – PWYC! extra-early show @ 7 p.m.!) [FB event]

TONE Festival (feat. Waclaw Zimpel & Kuba Ziolek / Joseph Shabason / Nick Storring) / The Baby G 2018-06-05 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Wooden Shjips (Holy Wave / ZONES) / The Horseshoe Tavern 2018-06-05 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Ghostlight / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-06-06 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Robert Würz Berlin/Toronto Quartet [Robert Würz/Heather Saumer/Rob Clutton/Nick Fraser] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-06-07 (Thursday – early!) [FB event]

In Between Sounds #86 (feat. Lorde Awesome) / The Only Café 2018-06-07 (Thursday) [FB event]

Telephone Explosion: Year Ten (feat. Odonis Odonis / Freak Heat Waves / New Fries / Teenanger / Andre Ethier) / Lee's Palace 2018-06-08 (Friday) [FB event]

TONE Festival (feat. Anthony Coleman / c_RL) / Arraymusic 2018-06-08 (Friday – all ages!) [FB event]

Colin Fisher/Andrew Furlong/Mark Hundevad / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-06-08 (Friday) [FB event]

Overleaf [Heidi Chan/Mira Martin-Gray/Kayla Milmine] (Bea Labikova/Kayla Milmine/Kristen Moss Theriault/Laura Swankey/Brian Abbott) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-06-09 (Saturday – early!) [FB event]

WLMRT (No Men / Smooches / Slutcode) / Handlebar 2018-06-09 (Saturday) [FB event]

Heavy Leather Parking Lot (feat. Vag Halen with guests NYSSA, Dainty Smith, Roxanne Luchak, Axel Blows, and Shane McKinnon) / Buddies In Bad Times Theatre 2018-06-09 (Saturday) [FB event]

TONE Festival (feat. Jessica Moss / Tryal / Manticore) / Burdock Music Hall 2018-06-09 (Saturday) [FB event]

The Tich Maredza Band [10th anniversary concert!] / Small World Music Centre 2018-06-09 (Saturday) [FB event]

Persamenco [Bahram Aghakhan/Pedram Khavarzamini/Araz Salek] / Pamenar 2018-06-09 (Saturday) [FB event]

No Mean City Collective and and Girls Rock Camp Toronto present: Music in Trillium Park (feat. Kingdom of Birds / Deep Waters / Kat Nap / HEX) / Ontario Place (Trillium Park) 2018-06-10 (Sunday – free! outside! Afternoon show, 1 to 6 p.m.! all-ages + kid-friendly!) [FB event]

Eugene Chadbourne ["in-store reading/signing"] / Soundscapes 2018-06-10 (Sunday – afternoon event, 3 to 5 p.m.!) [FB event]

Ayal Senior (Jonny Friedman) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-06-10 (Sunday – afternoon show, 3 to 5 p.m.!) [FB event]

Lina Allemano's Titanium Riot with Special Guest Brodie West / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-06-10 (Sunday) [FB event]

Jordaan Mason [Earth to Ursa Major album release!] (RUUNE) / Burdock Music Hall 2018-06-10 (Sunday) [FB event]

Somewhere There's Second Sunday Series (feat. Victoria Gibson [Sound Seed: Tribute to Pauline Oliveros DVD release!] / Laura Swankey / Play The Moment Collective [Victoria Gibson/Heather Saumer/Bob Vespaziani]) / Array Space 2018-06-10 (Sunday) [FB event]

---

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 AMBiENT PiNG (feat. dreamSTATE / byte.observer / at dhé ju) / Handlebar 2018-06-13 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Charbonneau/Amato (Simon Trottier) / Burdock Music Hall 2018-06-14 (Thursday) [FB event]

Hannah Epperson (Omhouse) / The Baby G 2018-06-14 (Thursday) [FB event]

June Records Block Party (feat. Eamon McGrath / Ocean Potion / The Future Primitive) / June Records 2018-06-15 (Friday – free! all ages!) [FB event]

Toronto Creative Music Lab & the Music Gallery present: TCML 2018 Showcase ["10 new works that have been developed... in the week leading up to the concert"] / The Music Gallery @ 918 Bathurst 2018-06-16 (Saturday) [FB event]

June Records Block Party (feat. Sam Nease / Isla Craig / Blind Matty Band / MIMICO) / June Records 2018-06-17 (Sunday – free! all ages! afternoon/evening event!) [FB event]

Glen Hall/Diane Roblin/Harry Vetro/Bruce Cassidy / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-06-17 (Sunday – early!) [FB event]

Somewhere There's Second Sunday Series (feat. Linsey Wellman/Phill Albert/Mark Zurawinski) / The Emmet Ray 2018-06-17 (Sunday – PWYC!) [FB event]

Luminato Festival: Ally and Kinship (feat. Cris Derksen/Bryden Gwiss Kiwenzie/Ansley Simpson/Simone Schmidt) / The Great Hall 2018-06-20 (Wednesday) [FB event]

LUKA's Ryokan and Rumi band [Luke Kuplowsky/Felicity Williams/Alex Lukashevsky/Phil Melanson/Josh Cole] (Allison Cameron/Josh Cole/Sandro Perri/Nicole Rampersaud) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-06-20 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Wavelength presents: Music in Trillium Park (feat. VC2 / Long Branch / Beams) / Ontario Place (Trillium Park) 2018-06-21 (Thursday – free! outside! all-ages!) [FB event]

Isla Craig [The Becoming Pleasance Records album release!] (Eiyn Sof) / The Tranzac 2018-06-24 (Sunday) [FB event]

Several Futures (Deathsticks / Stargoon) / The Garrison (front room) 2018-06-28 (Thursday) [FB event]

Buzz Presents (feat. Hit Bargain / Moul D / Damagers / MARY) / Handlebar 2018-06-30 (Saturday) [FB event]

ACT! [f.k.a. Egyptrixx] (Così e Così / Anna Modo / Cares) / The Baby G 2018-07-01 (Sunday) [FB event]

Bells Atlas (Witch Prophet / Ice Cream) / Lee's Palace 2018-07-07 (Saturday) [FB event]

Music in the Park (feat. Kamancello / Castle If / Absolutely Free) / Ontario Place (Trillium Park) 2018-08-09 (Thursday – free! outside! all-ages!) [more info]

The Curse [with original vocalist Mickey Skin] (The Discarded / Chris Haight's Ad-ventures / The Screwed) / Rivoli 2018-10-20 (Saturday) [FB event]