Mechanical Forest Sound: June 2019

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Recording: Daniel Pencer/Kurt Newman/Josh Cole

Artist: Daniel Pencer/Kurt Newman/Josh Cole

Songs: [two excerpts]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), April 17, 2019.

Daniel Pencer/Kurt Newman/Josh Cole - [1st set, 1st piece excerpt]

Daniel Pencer/Kurt Newman/Josh Cole - [2nd set]

Making it a double-header on the night, guitarist Kurt Newman joined bassist Josh Cole for some quiet evening's explorations alongside Dan Pencer on clarinet. Mostly sticking in mellower zones, FreqOut swells and whalesongs wove themselves around bowing and clarinet warbles. After a break to hang out, the very short second set got even quieter in the Tranzac's late-night stillness.

Recording: Two Ted Country Blues with Nick Storring

Artist: Two Ted Country Blues with Nick Storring

Songs: [two excerpts]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), April 17, 2019.

Two Ted Country Blues with Nick Storring - [1st set, 1st piece excerpt]

Two Ted Country Blues with Nick Storring - [2nd set excerpt]

Another unit from Allison Cameron's overlapping universe of bands, Two Ted Country Blues sees her joined by Mark Zurawinski and Kurt Newman. Mixing things up a bit, Cameron primarily played organ here (plus some found percussion) and Newman mixed in some circuit-bent Speak and Spell to his guitar tricks. Meanwhile, to mix things up even more, Nick Storring sat in for the whole show, playing not only his usual cello but also his recently-acquired Suzuki Andes 25F, a device that looks like a melodica but sounds more like a flute. A sort of warped whistling contest ensued, with occasional bontempi beats as well as Zurawinski's textured percussion.

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Recording: Hussein Janmohamed

Artist: Hussein Janmohamed

Song: [devotional chant] + unknown^*

Recorded at Burdock Music Hall (MAW: A Community Celebration of the Vocal Arts), April 16, 2018.

Hussein Janmohamed - [devotional chant]

Hussein Janmohamed - unknown

Georgia Webber's series celebrating the "vocal arts" in all possible forms (songs/stories/chants/poems/hollers and beyond) has been around for a couple years now, finding common ground in performers from a wide range of backgrounds. Asking, "how can we have a conversation?", Janmohamed closed out the night using some praise-songs as frameworks to create an instant connection between audience members, who were quickly drafted into a self-organized choir.

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

Recording: Ori Shalva & Co.

Artist: Ori Shalva & Co.

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at Burdock Music Hall (MAW: A Community Celebration of the Vocal Arts), April 16, 2018.

Ori Shalva & Co. - unknown

Georgia Webber's series celebrating the "vocal arts" in all possible forms (songs/stories/chants/poems/hollers and beyond) has been around for a couple years now, finding common ground in performers from a wide range of backgrounds. This mini-set saw this family trio share some traditional songs in Georgian polyphony mixed with some homespun humour.

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

Recording: Kalendar

Artist: Kalendar

Song: [medley of spring songs]^*

Recorded at Burdock Music Hall (MAW: A Community Celebration of the Vocal Arts), April 16, 2018.

Kalendar - [medley of spring songs]

Georgia Webber's series celebrating the "vocal arts" in all possible forms (songs/stories/chants/poems/hollers and beyond) has been around for a couple years now, finding common ground in performers from a wide range of backgrounds. This group, offering some traditional Ukrainian seasonal folksongs, had some familiar faces from local modal music multiverse.

^* Does anyone know the proper title(s) to these? Please leave a comment!

Monday, June 24, 2019

Concert Listings Roundup #308

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:

Nuit Oliphantik! [double album release!] (feat. Hoover Party / Fahmid Nibesh / Chagall Sierra) / Array Space 2019-06-30 (Sunday) [FB event]

Lots of really great stuff happening this week, including the last couple TONE Festival shows and Deliluh's album-release celebration, but let's draw some attention to this modest jam to close out the week. Johnathan Adjemian's many musical endeavours, including his Hoover Party solo work, are well-documented around these parts, but Fahmid Nibesh (a familiar sight at many local creative music shows) has been more mysterious and elusive up to this point. That will all change with the release of his freshly-recorded work of composed/improvised sounds for electric guitar and amplifier.

This week's noteworthy shows:

TONE Festival: Riparian Acoustics & Canadian Music Centre Present (feat. CVN / Koeosaeme / Korea Town Acid / Kat Estacio) / Burdock Music Hall 2019-06-24 (Monday) [FB event]

Robyn Hitchcock / Monarch Tavern 2019-06-24 (Monday) [FB event]

Toronto Jazz Festival (feat. Michael Davidson & Dan Fortin / Cris Derksen & Jesse Baird) / Church of The Redeemer 2019-06-25 (Tuesday – free!) [more info]

Geraldine Eguiluz/Stéphane Diamantakiou/Nick Fraser / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-06-25 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Furniture Music (feat. Regeneration Trio [Diane Roblin/Rob Clutton/Mark Zurawinski] / Dan Pitt [solo guitar]) / Wenona Lodge 2019-06-25 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Anunnaki (Harmony on Mars / Stargoon / Cola Wars) / Monarch Tavern 2019-06-26 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Lithics (SAUNA / Tough Age) / The Baby G 2019-06-26 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Music by Harry and Furlong S1E9 (feat. Andrew Furlong/Pete Johnston / Harry Vetro/Dan Pitt/Brittany Craig/Simone Baron) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-06-26 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Toronto Jazz Festival (feat. Moneka Arabic Jazz) / Mainstage on Cumberland St. 2019-06-26 (Wednesday – free!) [FB event]

Doomsquad (Ice Cream) / The Garrison 2019-06-27 (Thursday) [FB event]

TONE Festival: Peter Gough Presents (feat. Cactus Truck / Kaja Draksler/Andrew Furlong/Brodie West / Feecho) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-06-27 (Thursday) [FB event]

Filament [five world premieres for violin and electronics by emerging artists/composers Róisín Adams and Cai Shashrvacai, Germaine Liu, Colin Labadie, Ben Wylie and Julia Mermelstein] (feat. Ilana Waniuk) / Array Space 2019-06-27 (Thursday) [FB event]

Aurochs / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-06-28 (Friday – early!)

The Ryan Driver Sextet / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-06-28 (Friday)

Night Owl Festival presents (feat. Plastic Crimewave Syndicate / Simply Saucer / MIMICO) / Velvet Underground 2019-06-28 (Friday) [FB event]

CCMC with special guest Karen Ng / Array Space 2019-06-28 (Friday)

Not Dead Yet presents (feat. Deliluh [Oath of Intent record release!] / New Fries / Eyeballs / Cares) / MOCA 2019-06-29 (Saturday) [FB event]

Blood Ceremony ["Lolly Willows" 7" release!] (Hollow Earth / Häxan) / The Horseshoe Tavern 2019-06-29 (Saturday) [FB event]

Michael Davidson presents: Monk's Music (feat. Marilyn Lerner/Brodie West/Rob Clutton/Evan Cartwright/Michael Davidson) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-06-29 (Saturday) [FB event]

Cosmic Homeostasis XI (feat. Abigail Trotsky/Chris Trotter/Paul Newman/Mira Martin-Gray/Del Stephen/mkl32/Ronnie Blake/Laura Swankey/Dame Cook/Heraclitus Akimbo + more) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-06-30 (Sunday – afternoon show, 3 to 5 p.m.!) [FB event]

Rhythms of Canada (feat. Cris Derksen Trio / Asiko Afrobeat Ensemble / Liz Hysen / Marker Starling / Hussein Janmohamed / Lisa Odjig / Gelax / Nicolette & The Nobodies / Waleed Kush / Bageshree Vaze / Carmen Romero) / Aga Khan Museum 2019-06-30 (Sunday) [FB event]

Donna Linklater (Quarry Bay) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-06-30 (Sunday – early!) [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!

Little You Little Me (Childs / Jose Contreras / Jenna MacGillivray) / Burdock Music Hall 2019-07-06 (Saturday) [FB event]

Lina Allemano's Titanium Riot / The Emmet Ray 2019-07-07 (Sunday – early!) [FB event]

AMBiENT PiNG (feat. NADA / Heiki / Matthew Ryals) / Handlebar 2019-07-10 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Brain Massage: a night of queerness and music (feat. GREX [Mingjia Chen/Mara Nesrallah/Alex Samaras/Laura Swankey] / Carmen Elle / Regina Gently) / The Gladstone Hotel 2019-07-11 (Thursday) [FB event]

Lee Paradise (Crying High / Rapport) / The Boat 2019-07-11 (Thursday) [FB event]

Somewhere There's Second Sunday Series (feat. GREX, facilitated by Alex Samaras [Mara Nesrallah/Laura Swankey/Mingjia Chen] / Music and Movement Improvisations [Noah Franche Nolan/Laura Swankey/Alison Keery/Zachary Cardwell]) / Array Space 2019-07-14 (Sunday) [FB event]

Mimico (Good Fuck / Secret Sign) / The Baby G 2019-07-18 (Thursday) [FB event]

Audiopollination 73 (feat. Tiina Kiik/Paul Newman/Laura Swankey/Sonya Holowell / Alison Keery/Sonya Holowell / Tomasz Krakowiak/Brian Abbott/Sonya Holowell / Elizabeth Lima/Patrick O'Reilley/Sonya Holowell) / Array Space 2019-07-20 (Saturday) [FB event]

Furniture Music (feat. Triio [Alex Fournier/Bea Labikova/Aidan Sibley/Tom Fleming/Ashley Urquhart/Stefan Hegerat] / Dream Number [Alexei Orechin/Chris Pruden/Casey MQ]) / Wenona Lodge 2019-07-23 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Feast In The East 74 (feat. Mdou Moctar / Pantayo / Raf Reza) / Small Arms Inspection Building 2019-07-27 (Saturday – free! all ages! special far-west Mississauga show! shuttle bus available!) [FB event]

Jeremy Dutcher / The Danforth Music Hall 2019-10-12 (Saturday) [FB event]

21C Festival (feat. Laurie Anderson) / Koerner Hall 2020-01-18 (Saturday) [FB event]

Community corner:

It is with great sadness that we note the passing of local musician Adam Litovitz. I didn't know Adam beyond the nod-and-friendly-chat stage, but I was fortunate enough to get to interview him once, and his long, intricate silly/serious musing in the middle of the piece encapsulated his personality. I was also fortunate enough to have documented him making music in some different live contexts. Strength and peace to his friends, family and loved ones.

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Recording: Raven Chacon

Artist: Raven Chacon

Song: Raven Chacon - [excerpt, in two parts]

Recorded at The Music Gallery @ 918 Bathurst (Raven Chacon mini-fest – Night 3), April 14, 2019.

Raven Chacon - [excerpt, part 1]

Raven Chacon - [excerpt, part 2]

The final night of this three-show mini-fest matched a pair of musicians who are busy collaborators in their communities, but working here in solo mode. After a variety of group approaches over the first two nights, Raven Chacon got the last word in a noisy solo outing. Or almost the last word, as the grey and rainy day welled up in time with his set to provide vivid flashes of lightning through the room's side windows and thunderous background rumbles that were hard to distinguish from their electronic counterparts. Whether casting Chacon as a storm-summoner or kindred natural element, there was an apt correspondence between the sonic adventures the the electricity in the air.

At this posting, you can still watch this whole show on the archived livestream:

Recording: Olivia Shortt

Artist: Olivia Shortt

Songs: [excerpts from two pieces]

Recorded at The Music Gallery @ 918 Bathurst (Raven Chacon mini-fest – Night 3), April 14, 2019.

Olivia Shortt - [excerpt from first piece]

Olivia Shortt - [excerpt from last piece]

The final night of this three-show mini-fest matched a pair of musicians who are busy collaborators in their communities, but working here in solo mode. Clad in rainbows and tasselled veils, Olivia Short brought a couple saxophone concepts to her set, including this one that saw her begin by entering from the back of the room and working up to the stage. She then closed with a vocal piece, using looping technology and a trem/stutter effect to create and fill her own vocal gaps.

At this posting, you can still watch this whole show on the archived livestream:

Monday, June 17, 2019

Concert Listings Roundup #307

Gig of the week:

Luminato: Maada'ookii Songlines ["200 voices from 8 diverse choirs, 4 soloists and a fusion Indigenous musical ensemble in a new massive choral experience composed by Luminato veteran, Juno Award-nominated cris derksen"] (feat. Jesse Baird/Shaun Brodie/Darren Creech/cris derksen/Bruised Years Choir/Canadian Arabic Choir/City Choir/Darbazi/Element Choir/Vesnivka Choir/Yip's Children's Choir/Bryden Gwiss Kiwenzie/Jennifer Kreisberg/Alanna Stuart/Maryem Tollar) / Harbourfront Centre 2019-06-23 (Sunday – free! all-ages and family-friendly!) [FB event]

I find it a bit difficult to even conceptualize what this is going to be like, but there's enough noteworthy names on hand — from composer cris derksen on down — to make this a really compelling show to seek out. Aim for the lake and follow the voices!

This week's noteworthy shows:

Invocation presents (feat. Lubomyr Melnyk) / St. Anne's Anglican Church 2019-06-18 (Tuesday) [FB event]

UnQuartet Raw with special guest Laura Swankey / Gallery 345 2019-06-18 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Kristian Fourier/Nelson Moneo/Mark Zurawinski / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-06-19 (Wednesday)

KIND MIND [Karen Ng/Michael Davidson/Josh Cole] (Yves Charest) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-06-19 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Dreamcrusher (Poster Boy / The Dead Are Those Who Have Died) / The Baby G 2019-06-19 (Wednesday) [FB event]

MSEA (Kira May / Laura Swankey) / Burdock Music Hall 2019-06-19 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Playdate + 1 [Matthew Bailey & Carl Schilde with Christine Bougie] [Manitoulin Tapes Séance Centre album release!] / The Dupe Shop 2019-06-19 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Absolutely Free [Geneva Freeport 12" release show!] (C.R. Gillespie & Rachelle Walker) / The Dance Cave 2019-06-20 (Thursday) [FB event]

Plazas (House Sounds / Birdboy) / Monarch Tavern 2019-06-20 (Thursday) [FB event]

Wavelength Monthly Music Series: Summer Solstice Show/Salone di Cultura presents (feat. Gordon Grdina Quartet / VERSA / Anastasia Minster) / 918 Bathurst 2019-06-21 (Friday – all ages!) [FB event]

Kahil El'Zabar and David Murray / Remix Lounge 2019-06-21 (Friday) [FB event]

HARP+ [Grace Scheele/Arie van de Ven/Dave Klassen] / The Tranzac (Tiki Room) 2019-06-21 (Friday) [FB event]

Vazaleen: Rock N Roll Queer Bar / A Benefit For The Will Munro Fund (feat. Nyssa / Regina Gently) / Velvet Underground 2019-06-22 (Saturday) [FB event]

Analog_futures (feat. N A V I [Cartography EP release show!] / Dirty Inputs / Telum Atramenti / Martin Saint) /The Tranzac (Tiki Room) 2019-06-22 (Saturday – PWYC!) [FB event]

Audiopollination 72.2 (feat. Zheng-Ting Wang/Casey Sokol / Zheng-Ting Wang/Rick Sacks/Olivia Shortt/Doug Van Noort / Zheng-Ting Wang/Glen Hall/Sarah Peebles) / Array Space 2019-06-22 (Saturday) [FB event]

Robyn Hitchcock / The Drake Underground 2019-06-23 (Sunday) [more info]

Jazz United Jam [jazz + tap dancing] / The Tranzac (Tiki Room) 2019-06-23 (Sunday – PWYC!)

Flood Fundraiser (feat. Najva Ensemble) / Aga Khan Museum 2019-06-23 (Sunday) [FB event]

Ace of Wands (Lung / Practice Wife / Strange Limbs) / Handlebar 2019-06-23 (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!

Music by Harry and Furlong S1E9 (feat. Andrew Furlong/Pete Johnston / Harry Vetro/Dan Pitt/Brittany Craig/Simone Baron) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-06-26 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Not Dead Yet presents (feat. Deliluh [Oath of Intent record release!] / New Fries / Eyeballs / Cares) / MOCA 2019-06-29 (Saturday) [FB event]

Donna Linklater (Quarry Bay) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-06-30 (Sunday – early!) [FB event]

Nuit Oliphantik! [double album release!] (feat. Hoover Party / Fahmid Nibesh / Chagall Sierra) / Array Space 2019-06-30 (Sunday) [FB event]

Rhythms of Canada (feat. game.set.trap / Maracatu Mar Aberto / Taktus / Labyrinth Musical Workshop Ontario Showcase / Esie Mensah / Kevin Ormsby) / Aga Khan Museum 2019-07-01 (Monday – afternoon event, 2 to 6 p.m.!) [FB event]

Track Could Bend #52 (feat. Orechin/Fraser / BLOOP [Lina Allemano & Mike Smith] / Khôra) / Wenona Lodge 2019-07-02 (Tuesday – PWYC!) [FB event]

Feast In The East 73 (feat. Sandro Perri / Bernice / New Chance) / Prairie Drive Park 2019-07-06 (Saturday – all ages + family-friendly! includes free vegan dinner!) [FB event]

Toronto Fringe/PS: Music Fest [curated by Futuro Libre] (feat. LOLAA / Witch Prophet) / hockey rink at 275 Bathurst Street 2019-07-06 (Saturday – free! all-ages!) [more info]

Toronto Fringe/PS: Music Fest [curated by Venus Fest] (feat. Rachel Romu / Myra Maines / Bile Sister / Korea Town Acid / No Joy) / hockey rink at 275 Bathurst Street 2019-07-07 (Sunday – free! all-ages!) [more info]

Nite Comfort 69 (feat. Bea Labikova / Oswego) / Handlebar 2019-07-07 (Sunday – PWYC!) [FB event]

Team Building ["new songs, works in progress, thoughts in sound, hosted by Luke Kuplowsky"] (feat. Robin Dann / Ada Dahli / Daniel Monkman / Paul Elrichman / Kyla Charter / Mingjia Chen / Trevor Turple / Carl Schilde / Thom Gill) / Burdock Music Hall 2019-07-08 (Monday) [FB event]

Techniques Berlin (Siviyex / Memorex / Saturn City) / The Baby G 2019-07-12 (Friday) [FB event]

Toronto Fringe/PS: Music Fest [curated by Venus Fest] (feat. New Chance) / hockey rink at 275 Bathurst Street 2019-07-13 (Saturday – free! all-ages!) [more info]

Toronto Fringe/PS: Music Fest [curated by Futuro Libre] (feat. Maylee Todd / Narcy / Cartel Madras) / hockey rink at 275 Bathurst Street 2019-07-14 (Sunday – free! all-ages!) [more info]

Not Dead Yet presents (feat. The Messthetics / Retired) / The Great Hall 2019-07-18 (Thursday) [FB event]

"Road to Sappy" tour (feat. Julie Doiron / Jon McKiel / Apollo Ghosts) / Burdock Music Hall 2019-07-27 (Saturday – early + late shows!) [FB event]

Tinariwen / Danforth Music Hall 2019-09-28 (Saturday) [FB event]

Sunday, June 16, 2019

Recording: Laura Ortman

Artist: Laura Ortman

Song: For Zitkála-Šá [excerpt] [composer: Raven Chacon]

Recorded at The Music Gallery @ 918 Bathurst (Raven Chacon mini-fest – Night 2), April 13, 2019.

Laura Ortman - For Zitkála-Šá [excerpt]

Three nights examining the work of composer/musician Raven Chacon from different angles served as an interesting mirror to the X Avant festival earlier in the season. I wasn't able to make the first night, with the Array Ensemble surveying some of Chacon's chamber pieces, but I was eager for this night. A tribute to the Dakota violin teacher, activist, and librettist for the first American Indian opera, "For Zitkála-Šá" is a modular composition, with a series of solo segments created by Chacon to deploy and challenge the skills of a series of specific collaborators. Each with a graphic score that provides structure but leaves a lot of room to interpretation, there was anguish, joy, and technically-demanding sounds from all the performers. This section, performed by violinist Laura Ortman, collapsed the bow/bough distinction, a tree branch sweeping across her strings and planting a forest of reverb.

At this posting, the archived livestream of the full concert is still available online:

Recording: c_RL with Raven Chacon

Artist: c_RL with Raven Chacon

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at The Music Gallery @ 918 Bathurst (Raven Chacon mini-fest – Night 2), April 13, 2019.

c_RL with Raven Chacon - [excerpt]

At this posting, the archived livestream of the full concert is still available online:

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Recording: Furlong/Gee/McEachern/Riddel

Artist: Andrew Furlong/Solon Gee/Maxwell McEachern/David Riddel

Song: East of Baghdad [composer: Ken Aldcroft]

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Music By & For Ken Aldcroft XXVIII), April 10, 2019.

Andrew Furlong/Solon Gee/Maxwell McEachern/David Riddel - East of Baghdad

This electric string band (three guitars and bass) made some savvy selections into the deeper recesses of the Ken Aldcroft songbook, following up "Country Mile" (one of the emerging "standards" of the series) with a dip into some Alaniaris as heard here, as well as essaying the less-frequently-tackled Threads material and closing with the co-ordinated clatter of a Trolley ride.

Recording: Patrick Smith & Max Donaldson

Artist: Patrick Smith & Max Donaldson

Song: [second piece]

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Music By & For Ken Aldcroft XXVIII), April 10, 2019.

Patrick Smith & Max Donaldson - [second piece]

Pianist Max Donaldson continues to impress, but saxophonist Patrick Smith stole the show here, unveiling some cool moves on EWI, starting off electronically shrill but moving into some deliciously glissglorpy sounds.

[Music By & For Ken Aldcroft will be back at The Tranzac tonight (Wednesday, June 12th), with sets from BLOOP (Lina Allemano & Mike Smith) and Patrick O'Reilly & Friends (David Benitez, Cassie Norton, Patrick O'Reilly and Edwin Shepard). Max Donaldson and Patrick Smith will be playing together in a quintet lead by Donaldson (and including Kaelin Murphy, Caleb Klager, and Robert Diack) Friday (June 14th) at The Emmet Ray.]

Tuesday, June 11, 2019

Record: Teenanger

Artist: Teenanger

Song: Straight To Computer

Recorded at The Boat, April 4, 2019.

Teenanger - Straight To Computer

Given the decline in the number of rock'n'roll venues in the city, it's perhaps not surprising to see more shows on my radar popping up up at this familiar Kensington haunt. It'd been a few years since I'd climbed those stairs, but inside the venue was comfortingly about the same as I remembered it was 2014, or even 2009 — as if the relative level of dank has been meticulously maintained. Maybe some improvements in the PA, as this show had better sound than I remember. Maybe there's a lot of stuff going on here that I don't hear about, given that I'm heading out to fewer rock shows than I used to.

That sense of seeing fewer rock shows was heightened when I considered that the last time I saw Teenanger they were previewing songs from what would become their don't-call-it-a-self-titled-album — and now they're starting to work in some songs from its follow-up. Chris Swimmings has upgraded from a sampler to a full-on synth since I last saw the group, adding a bit more new wave-fullness to the newer material.

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

Recording: WLMRT

Artist: WLMRT

Songs: Get Dumped + unknown^*

Recorded at The Boat, April 4, 2019.

WLMRT - Get Dumped

WLMRT - unknown

Ranging from "I am bad at being intimate!" to "I like touching you!" there's an undercurrent of consideration of the contemporary romantic condition in WLMRT's songs, mixed in along with lyrical concerns like food, fast food, friends and attempting to party. Still one of the city's most energetic live acts, there's a bit of assuredness creeping into their casual stage demeanour.

[WLMRT will be one-third of a particularly-exciting triple-record release show at The Monarch on Saturday, July 6th, alongside Hugh Man and Sigil.]

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

Recording: Perfect Blue

Artist: Perfect Blue

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at The Boat, April 4, 2019.

Perfect Blue - unknown

There's a bit of mystery around this noisy coldwave duo (though you can glean some information if you look around). Using the time-honoured Suicide vocalist/instrumentalist configuration, the songs' melodic underpinnings (and sometimes even the beat) would frequently get jackhammered by a noisy jet-engine wash. There were a couple long tracks in the set, plus this relatively-compact number, offering a bracing roar and then done with a flick of a switch, leaving an assaultive silence behind them.

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

Monday, June 10, 2019

Concert Listings Roundup #306

Gigs of the week:

TONE Festival & Cramzac Present (feat. Lotte Anker / Silvia Tarozzi/Dan Pencer/Phil Melanson/Germaine Liu) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-06-11 (Tuesday) [FB event]

TONE Festival & Riparian Acoustics Present (feat. Beverly Glenn-Copeland & Indigo Rising / Dustiny) / The Jam Factory 2019-06-12 (Wednesday – all ages!) [FB event]

Not to be redundant, but the TONE festival hits the sweet spot again this week. Some intriguing visitors are at The Tranzac on Tuesday, with Copenhagen-based Danish saxophonist Lotte Anker playing a solo set while violinist Silvia Tarozzi is joined by top locals Dan Pencer, Phil Melanson and Germaine Liu. And then, if you need a soul pick-me-up, be prepared to get some spiritual uplift from Beverly Glenn-Copeland, bringing not only some unique synth-based songcraft but the most energizing banter and stage presence felt in these parts for some time.

This week's noteworthy shows:

Tara Kannangara (Goosebump / Scattered Clouds / Young Clancy) / The Baby G 2019-06-10 (Monday) [FB event]

Ornate Presents (feat. Bearrah Fawcett [Madeline Ertel/Kaelin Murphey/Rob Grieve/Alex Fournier/Stefan Hegerat]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-06-11 (Tuesday – early!) [FB event]

Cold Beaches (Queen Of Swords / Green Girl) / The Cameron House 2019-06-11 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Jazz and Otherwise Improvised Musics (feat. Reknee & friends [Laura Swankey/Patrick O'Reilly/Josh Sinclair/Reknee Harrett] / Andrew Furlong [solo]) / The Garrison 2019-06-11 (Tuesday – PWYC!) [FB event]

BREM [Evan Cartwright/Marilyn Lerner/Reg Schwager/Brodie West] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-06-12 (Wednesday – early!) [FB event]

Music by & for Ken Aldcroft XXX (feat. BLOOP [Lina Allemano & Mike Smith] / Patrick O'Reilly & Friends [David Benitez/Cassie Norton/Patrick O'Reilly/Edwin Shepard]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-06-12 (Wednesday)

The AMBiENT PiNG (feat. Michael Peter Olsen / Snake Church [Michel Mucci & Ben Grossman]) / Handlebar 2019-06-12 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Anika [solo] (Phèdre / Praises) / The Garrison 2019-06-13 (Thursday) [FB event]

Grandma's Secret Spices 2: A Night Of Live Experimental Music (feat. Leucrocuta / AUTOTECTONIC / 3hands4milo / Sonja) / Handlebar 2019-06-13 (Thursday) [FB event]

Max Donaldson/Kaelin Murphy/Patrick Smith/Caleb Klager/Robert Diack (Max Donaldson [solo]) / The Emmet Ray 2019-06-14 (Friday – early!) [FB event]

Luminato: BIZIINDAN! ["a newly-commissioned tribute performance to the ‘trailblazer of truth,’ Willie Dunn, hosted by ShoShona Kish] (feat. Marie Gaudet / Digging Roots / Lido Pimienta / Pura Fe / Jeremy Dutcher) / Koerner Hall 2019-06-14 (Friday) [more info]

Wavelength x NXNE (feat. Most People / Persons / Syngja / Nick Schofield) / The Baby G 2019-06-14 (Friday) [FB event]

Toronto Creative Music Lab presents (feat. Quatuor Bozzini with special guest Andrea Young) / The Music Gallery @ 918 Bathurst 2019-06-14 (Friday) [FB event]

Okavango African Orchestra / Alliance Française de Toronto 2019-06-14 (Friday) [FB event]

Walrus (Mauno / Vallens / WHOOP-Szo) / The Drake Underground 2019-06-14 (Friday) [FB event]

Fiver / Burdock Music Hall 2019-06-14 (Friday) [FB event]

Toronto Creative Music Lab: Final Showcase (feat. composers/performers from TCML 2019) / The Music Gallery @ 918 Bathurst 2019-06-15 (Saturday) [FB event]

Archives of Eternity [Patrick Smith/Mark Hundevad/Andrew Furlong/Mike Gennaro] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-06-15 (Saturday) [FB event]

Diane Roblin/Nick Fraser/Brodie West / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-06-16 (Sunday – early!) [FB event]

Jazz United Jam [jazz + tap dancing] / The Tranzac (Tiki Room) 2019-06-16 (Sunday – PWYC!)

Somewhere There Presents (feat. Jonnie Bakan & Mark Zurawinski / Fish with an 'F' [Brian Abbott/Andrew Furlong/Naomi McCarroll-Butler/Mark Zurawinski) / The Emmet Ray 2019-06-16 (Sunday – PWYC!) [FB event]

Not Dead Yet Presents (feat. Fennesz / ACT!) / The Great Hall 2019-06-16 (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!

Kristian Fourier/Nelson Moneo/Mark Zurawinski / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-06-19 (Wednesday)

KIND MIND [Karen Ng/Michael Davidson/Josh Cole] (Yves Charest) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-06-19 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Impossibly Happy ["a new suite of songs written by Susanna Hood setting poetry by the 15th century Zen poet Ikkyu"] (feat. Near to the Wild Heart [Julie Houle/Lucy M. May/D. Alex Meeks/Sovann Prom-Tep/Jennifer Thiessen]) / Array Space 2019-06-20–2019-06-21 (Thursday–Friday) [more info]

Toronto Jazz Festival (feat. Michael Davidson & Dan Fortin / Cris Derksen & Jesse Baird) / Church of The Redeemer 2019-06-25 (Tuesday – free!) [more info]

Cosmic Homeostasis XI (feat. Abigail Trotsky/Chris Trotter/Paul Newman/Mira Martin-Gray/Del Stephen/mkl32/Liz Lima/Ronnie Blake/Laura Swankey/Dame Cook/Heraclitus Akimbo + more) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-06-30 (Sunday – afternoon show, 3 to 5 p.m.!) [FB event]

X Hardware v1.0 (feat. Blunt Chunks / Soft Matter / Wet Dog / Maggie) / The Baby G 2019-07-05 (Friday) [FB event]

Triptych ["blurring realities between contemporary music, technology, gaming and theatre, Triptych features the premiere of three interdisciplinary works"] (feat. Thin Edge New Music Collective) / The Theatre Centre 2019-07-18–2019-07-20 (Thursday–Saturday) [FB event]

Toronto Noise Fest (feat. The Rita / Knurl / God Of Gaps / Machine Moon / Pain Chain / L'eclipse Nue / Murther Walking / Goth Girl / Abrasion Therapy / 090916 / Hexzuul / Esther Splett / Exe Jocko) / See-Scape 2019-09-20–2019-09-21 (Friday–Saturday) [FB event]

Tuesday, June 4, 2019

Recording: Franklin/Sheahan/N-L

Artist: Michael Franklin/Danny Sheahan/Matt N-L

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at Array Space (Track Could Bend #49: Fourth Anniversary All-Star Spectacular!), April 2, 2019.

Michael Franklin/Danny Sheahan/Matt N-L - [excerpt]

For its fourth anniversary, Track Could Bend once more invited back all of the past year's performers to partake in some instant bands, with names being drawn from a hat before each set. A dozen musicians took up the challenge, divided into four trios. Unexpected connections emerged — there were more violins than usual, for example — and once more the results were highly satisfying. There was actually no violin in the last set, but its place was admirably filled by Michael Franklin's hurdy-gurdy. Matt N-L's modular moans and blips were an unexpected companion, but fit in quite wonderfully while Danny Sheahan completed the atmospheres on voice and piano.

[Track Could Bend is back at its Wenona home base tonight (Tuesday, June 4th) offering sets from Mike Barber, Ashley Urquhart and Friends plus Pete Johnston's Bog Standards.]

Recording: Dame Cook/O'Reilly/Bray

Artist: Dame Cook/Patrick O'Reilly/Bryan W. Bray

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at Array Space (Track Could Bend #49: Fourth Anniversary All-Star Spectacular!), April 2, 2019.

Dame Cook/Patrick O'Reilly/Bryan W. Bray - [excerpt]

For its fourth anniversary, Track Could Bend once more invited back all of the past year's performers to partake in some instant bands, with names being drawn from a hat before each set. A dozen musicians took up the challenge, divided into four trios. Unexpected connections emerged — there were more violins than usual, for example — and once more the results were highly satisfying. This set saw two guitar heroes take the stage, though only Bryan Bray brought his axe, while Patrick O'Reilly instead brought a toy keyboard and some bells. Dame Cook, meanwhile, added the requisite violin as well as some treated youtube sounds.

[Track Could Bend is back at its Wenona home base tonight (Tuesday, June 4th) offering sets from Mike Barber, Ashley Urquhart and Friends plus Pete Johnston's Bog Standards.]

Recording: Rehlinger/Webber/O

Artist: Jakob Rehlinger/Georgia Webber/Victor O

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at Array Space (Track Could Bend #49: Fourth Anniversary All-Star Spectacular!), April 2, 2019.

Jakob Rehlinger/Georgia Webber/Victor O - [excerpt]

For its fourth anniversary, Track Could Bend once more invited back all of the past year's performers to partake in some instant bands, with names being drawn from a hat before each set. A dozen musicians took up the challenge, divided into four trios. Unexpected connections emerged — there were more violins than usual, for example — and once more the results were highly satisfying. A trip into the drone zone here, with Jakob Rehlinger's synthscapes providing the backdrop for Georgia Webber's vocalizations/violin sounds and Victor O's percussion/piano counterpoints.

[Track Could Bend is back at its Wenona home base tonight (Tuesday, June 4th) offering sets from Mike Barber, Ashley Urquhart and Friends plus Pete Johnston's Bog Standards.]

Recording: Stewart/Sait/Ng

Artist: Andrew Finlay Stewart/David Sait/Karen Ng

Song: [first piece]

Recorded at Array Space (Track Could Bend #49: Fourth Anniversary All-Star Spectacular!), April 2, 2019.

Andrew Finlay Stewart/David Sait/Karen Ng - [first piece]

For its fourth anniversary, Track Could Bend once more invited back all of the past year's performers to partake in some instant bands, with names being drawn from a hat before each set. A dozen musicians took up the challenge, divided into four trios. Unexpected connections emerged — there were more violins than usual, for example — and once more the results were highly satisfying. This first grouping, with Andrew Finlay Stewart's violin, David Sait's guzheng and Karen Ng's alto sax set the tone, with lots of space left open for listening.

[Track Could Bend is back at its Wenona home base tonight (Tuesday, June 4th) offering sets from Mike Barber, Ashley Urquhart and Friends plus Pete Johnston's Bog Standards.]

Monday, June 3, 2019

Concert Listings Roundup #305

Gigs of the week:

The Music Gallery's Departures Series: TONE Festival (feat. Dwarfs of East Agouza [Maurice Louca/Sam Shalabi/Alan Bishop] / Fresh Snow / Omar Bongo) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2019-06-06 (Thursday) [FB event]

TONE Festival (feat. Ben LaMar Gay / Bonjay / Craig Dunsmuir's Dun Dun Band) / The Drake Underground 2019-06-09 (Sunday) [FB event]

The TONE festival returns for a third year, mixing visiting headliners who are too audacious or too out-of-the-box for other local festivals with noteworthy local acts. There's three pairs of shows spread out through the month, but things get going with a bang with these two nights. Money-saving four show and festival passes are available if you want to take the plunge. (Taking the plunge is recommended.)

This week's noteworthy shows:

Thom Gill & Friends [Thom Gill/Ryan Driver/Alex Lukashevsky/Alex Samaras/Karen Ng/Dan Fortin] [playing the music of Abbey Lincoln] / The Emmet Ray 2019-06-03 (Monday – early!) [FB event]

Brian Abbott and Paul Newman / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-06-04 (Tuesday – extra early set @ 5 p.m.!)

DUST, the quietest big band in the known world / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-06-04 (Tuesday – early!) [FB event]

Peripheral Vision (Titanium Riot) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-06-04 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Track Could Bend #51 (feat. Pete Johnston's Bog Standards / Mike Barber / Ashley Urquhart and Friends) / Wenona Lodge 2019-06-04 (Tuesday – PWYC!) [FB event]

Night Owl Festival presents (feat. JJUUJJUU / Hot Garbage / Peeling) / The Horseshoe Tavern 2019-06-04 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Misha Bower [Trying to Have it All album release celebration!] / Burdock Music Hall 2019-06-04 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Canadian Piano Left Hand Commissioning Project Concert [new works for left-hand only piano by Emilie LeBel, Christopher Butterfield, Adam Sherkin, Christina Volpini, Alex Eddington, Taylor Brook, Nick Storring, and Anna Hostman] (feat. Adam Scime / Adam Sherkin) / Canadian Music Centre 2019-06-05 (Wednesday – PWYC!) [FB event]

Moon in June (feat. Ghostlight / Kapali Carsi) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-06-05 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Elephant In The Room ["mak[ing] space in our community and friendship group to talk about loss, hope, and action around the climate crisis, as well as listening to and celebrating music"] (feat. Marker Starling / Tania Gill plus conversations with Tania Gill, Brooke Manning, and Tamara Lindeman) / Burdock Music Hall 2019-06-06 (Thursday – early!) [FB event]

In Between Sounds #98 (feat. Lorde Awesome) / The Only Café 2019-06-06 (Thursday) [FB event]

Dundas West Fest: Transmit Festival 2019 (feat. Suuns / Teenanger / Peeling / Sauna) / Dundas West Fest Main Stage 2019-06-07 (Friday – free! outdoors! all-ages!) [FB event]

Transmit Festival 2019: Not Dead Yet Presents (feat. FACS / Dri Hiev / Slurry) / The Garrison 2019-06-07 (Friday) [FB event]

Pleasure Craft [single release!] (Bernice / Fleece) / Lee's Palace 2019-06-07 (Friday) [FB event]

Roedelius (Castle If / Catholic Wilt) / The Baby G 2019-06-07 (Friday) [FB event]

Didgori [Georgian polyphonic singing] / Trinity St Paul's Centre 2019-06-07 (Friday) [FB event]

Calvin Love (Dusted / Side Hustle) / Monarch Tavern 2019-06-07 (Friday) [FB event]

Dundas West Fest: Transmit Festival 2019 (feat. Dilly Dally / Mother Tongues / Tallies / Nyssa / Blonde Elvis / Kaleidoscope Horse / Royal Crowns) / Dundas West Fest Main Stage 2019-06-08 (Saturday – free! outdoors! all-ages! starts at noon!) [FB event]

Yeah You're Right [Pete Johnston/Jesse Levine/Jake Oelrichs] / The Emmet Ray 2019-06-08 (Saturday – early! PWYC!) [more info]

Transmit Festival 2019 (feat. Kiwi Jr. / Prism Shores) / The Baby G 2019-06-08 (Saturday) [FB event]

Labyrinth Musical Workshop Ontario (feat. This Tale of Ours / Tzvetanka Varimezova) / Eastminster United Church 2019-06-08 (Saturday) [FB event]

Arraymusic Social (feat. Michael Snow & Mani Manzinani / Missing Montgomeries / Frequency Freaks / Stephen Clarke / David Schotzko / Rick Sacks) / Array Space 2019-06-08 (Saturday) [more info]

Jazz United Jam [jazz + tap dancing] / The Tranzac (Tiki Room) 2019-06-09 (Sunday – PWYC!)

New Friends DIY and Art Of The Uncarved Block present (feat. Lume / meth. / Stresser) / Owl's Club 2019-06-09 (Sunday) [FB event]

Somewhere There's Second Sunday Series (feat. Lotte Anker/Heidi Chan/Chris Adriaanse / Lotte Anker/Mark Zurawinski/Raphael Roter/Bea Labikova) / Array Space 2019-06-09 (Sunday) [FB event]

SynapticCircusSundays presents 'warble': a night of throats (feat. The Element Choir conducted by Christine Duncan and featuring Ronley Teper and Jackson Welchner / Sook Yin Lee/Samaza Murava/Stephen Jackman-Torkoff ) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-06-09 (Sunday – early!) [FB event]

Lina Allemano Four / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-06-09 (Sunday) [FB event]