Recording: American Standard Trio with Kayla Milmine and Mira Martin-Gray

Artist: American Standard Trio with Kayla Milmine and Mira Martin-Gray

Song: [excerpt from first piece, in two parts]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Jazz and Otherwise Improvised Musics), July 9, 2019.

American Standard Trio with Kayla Milmine and Mira Martin-Gray - [excerpt from first piece, part 1]

American Standard Trio with Kayla Milmine and Mira Martin-Gray - [excerpt from first piece, part 2]

Short a member for the night, two-thirds of American Standard Trio (Dame Cook and Victor O) enlisted like-minded sonic explorers Mira Martin-Gray and Kayla Milmine to help populate their noise-as-jazz-as-noise soundworld. You know how some nights you can hear feral cats fighting with raccoons in a territorial battle over the green bins? Well, parts of this set sounded like that, only on a planet of robots. Not a Disney soundtrack then, but a lively and joyful ramble nonetheless.

Recording: Cory Harper-Latkovich

Artist: Cory Harper-Latkovich

Song: Verge/Resolve [two excerpts]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Jazz and Otherwise Improvised Musics), July 9, 2019.

Cory Harper-Latkovich - Verge/Resolve [excerpt 1]

Cory Harper-Latkovich - Verge/Resolve [excerpt 2]

More frequently seen wearing his composers' hat recently¹, Cory Harper-Latkovich came down to Wenona's basement to make some sounds. That this'd not be your standard solo cello set was made clear when Harper-Latkovich sat down on the floor in front of his cello, which was laying on its back. In an effort to re-connect with his instrument, Harper-Latkovich has been turning to electroacoustic investigation, using preparations and percussive techniques guided by small gestures and manipulations to make new sounds. Sometimes fading into near inaudibilty — the extracts here are two of the louder portions of the set — the personal connection and sense of internal investigation were underlined in the latter stages when Harper-Latkovich set a piece of paper on the cello's body and wrote a letter, the tap-scrapes of a pencil giving a quiet sonic modulo.

[Cory Harper-Latkovich will be making some less quiet and intimate sounds with his cello as part of Clarinet Panic's set at Pioneer Village station during Intersection's TTC crawl tonight (Thursday, August 29th).]

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¹ n.b.: not a literal hat.

Recording: Khôra

Artist: Khôra

Song: [first section]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #52), July 2, 2019.

Khôra - [first section]

Matthew Ramolo has been a little quieter of late, but this emergence showed the fruits of his recent sonic research. Deploying tiny motors to make tiny percussions on tiny drums, these close-mic'ed implements added an unsteady sound-source to mix with his modular manipulations.

[Khôra will be opening for the reunited Fly Pan Am at a Music Gallery Departures Series show at Matt Durant Studio on Saturday, September 21st.]

Recording: BLOOP

Artist: BLOOP

Song: [last section]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #52), July 2, 2019.

BLOOP - [last section]

Rather than creating a sound-picture, this set of tasty sputters from Lina Allemano (trumpet) and Mike Smith (effects and manipulations) felt like the pair were digging through the toolbox to sketch out what kinds of sounds they could make together — and isn't it a joy seeing people who are really good at their craft at work?

[Lina Allemano's Standards Quartet, featuring Michael Davidson on vibes, will be playing at The Rex in the early slot tonight (Wednesday, August 28th), which will be Allemano's last local show before heading off for another stint in Berlin.]

Recording: Orechin/Fraser

Artist: Orechin/Fraser

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #52), July 2, 2019.

Orechin/Fraser - unknown

Putting on a showcase demonstration of swell techniques, guitarist Alexei Orechin brought the feeling of a day on a Mediterranean beach to this piece (possibly a bit of first-person reportage from his recent time spent in Spain) — though the careful observer will note that the carefree drift is held to a structure by his use of tapes, the appearance of background voices acting as cues and dividers (and with Nick Fraser's languid drum-grooves also providing a container for the waves).

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

Concert Listings Roundup #316

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:

Intersection Day 1: Music For Subways (feat. Sarah Hennies & Germaine Liu / Clarinet Panic / Mika Posen / Jason Doell with Contact) / Sheppard West Station/Pioneer Village Station/Highway 407 Station / Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Station 2019-08-29 (Thursday – free! all ages!) [FB event]

Intersection Day 2 (feat. Joan La Barbara / Eli Keszler / Germaine Liu) / Jam Factory 2019-08-30 (Friday – all ages!) [FB event]

Intersection Day 3 (feat. Evan Ziporyn and Contact / Man Forever / Ava Mendoza's Unnatural Ways / Retired / Avrha / Null Point Ensemble / The Velvet Crystals / Lorde Awesome) / Yonge-Dundas Square 2019-08-31 (Saturday – free! outside! all-ages and family-friendly!) [FB event]

Intersection Day 4: Music Gallery's Departures Series (feat. Morton Subotnick / Leucrocuta) / Jam Factory 2019-09-01 (Sunday – all-ages!) [FB event]

Once again, the city's forces of strange and adventurous music are massed on the Labour Day weekend for the Intersection Festival. Under The guidance of Tad Michalak (Burn Down the Capital/Feast in the East) the festival has been growing and prospering, giving touring acts an interesting headlining opportunity as well as putting locals in front of new listeners. The "off-site" adventure trip to Allan Gardens that was a huge success a couple years back is headed in a new direction this year with an evening exploring sounds in some of the city's newer subway stations. There are a couple nights at the Jam Factory, and as always, the heart of it all is the always-weird day in Yonge-Dundas Square, pitting uncommercial sounds against the uncanny valley of the city's flashingest billboards.

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This week's noteworthy shows:

Buffy Sainte-Marie (Logan Staats) / CNE Bandshell 2019-08-26 (Monday – free with CNE admission!) [more info]

Otterville Mondays: August residency! (feat. Andrew Downing's Otterville) / The Rex Hotel 2019-08-26 (Monday – early!) [FB event]

Tuesdays in August Residency (feat. Tania Gill Quartet [Tania Gill/Lina Allemano/Rob Clutton/Nico Dann]) / The Rex Hotel 2019-08-27 (Tuesday – early! PWYC!) [FB event]

A Stone for David Berman [celebration of the life, words, and music of David Berman with performances of his poems and songs] (feat. Vish Khanna / Lightning Dust / Kritty Uranowski / Matthew "Doc" Dunn / Ayal Senior / Carl Wilson / Kyle Knapp / Jesse Locke / Mark Grundy / Scott Grundy / Katie Lavoie / Jose Miguel Contreras / Dave Schoonderbeek / Niko Stratis / Halina Katz / Jamez L. Burling / Jonathan Pappo / Kristina Smith / Patrick Grant / Ted Gudlat / James Lindsay / Meghan Harrison / Nick McKinlay / Akash Bansal / Melissa Vincent / Fan Wu) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2019-08-27 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Furniture Music: Duos Night #2 (feat. Urquhart/Fournier / Naomi McCarroll-Butler/Patrick Smith / W H E R E ? [Michael Davidson/Patrick O'Reilly]) / Wenona Lodge 2019-08-27 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Double-Bill / Going-Away Hang! (feat. Lina Allemano Four / Lina Allemano's Titanium Riot) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-08-27 (Tuesday) [FB event]

City Hall Live (feat. KASHKA) / Nathan Phillips Square 2019-08-28 (Wednesday – free! all ages! outdoors! afternoon show @ 12:30!) [more info]

Wednesdays in August Residency (feat. Lina Allemano Standards Quartet [Lina Allemano/Michael Davidson/Andrew Downing/Nick Fraser]) / The Rex Hotel 2019-08-28 (Wednesday – early!) [FB event]

Jessica Ackerley (McCormick/Swankey / Rob Grieve) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-08-28 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Grandma's Secret Spices 3: A Night Of Experimental Music (feat. Xuan Ye + Brigitte Bardon’t / The Databats / Mike Barber / Sonja) / Handlebar 2019-08-28 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Lightning Dust (Joseph Shabason / Andre Ethier / Chad Ross) / Monarch Tavern 2019-08-28 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Proxemics [Laura Swankey/Karen Ng/Mike McCormick/Mark Ballyk] / The Band Named Crow) / Burdock Music Hall 2019-08-29 (Thursday) [FB event]

Dun-Dun Band / Pamenar Café 2019-08-29 (Thursday) [FB event]

NYC x Toronto [works by Stephanie Orlando, Rebecca Gray/Adrienne Scott, Yael Litwin and more] (feat. Femmelody Chamber Music Collective) / Canadian Music Centre 2019-08-30 (Friday) [FB event]

This is Awesome / The Gladstone Hotel 2019-08-30 (Friday) [FB event]

Michael Peter Olsen with Spencer Cole (Soft Thoughts [Tim Condon/Matt Nish-Lapidus/Michael Peter Olsen]) / Imperial Pub's backroom 2019-08-30 (Friday) [FB event]

Shabason/Gunning [Muldrew album release!] (Slow Attack Ensemble) / Dufferin Grove Park 2019-08-31 (Saturday – afternoon show @ 3 p.m.!) [FB event]

Subtle Blend (feat. Obuxum [album release!] / AstroMega / M.I. Blue / Kozue Sato) / Handlebar 2019-08-31 (Saturday) [FB event]

First Five Fest (feat. Dang Show / Moskitto Bar / Amely Zhou / Fethi Nadjem Ensemble / Han Han / Teke Teke) / Aga Khan Museum 2019-08-31 (Saturday – free! outside! all-ages and family friendly!) [FB event]

In Tandem ["an evening of art and music by young LGBT+ artists from Toronto"] (feat. Dame Cook / Aaron Corbett / Autotectonic) / The Commons Theatre and Studio 2019-08-31 (Saturday) [FB event]

First Five Fest (feat. Kamancello x Gross Morne / Labyrinth Ontario Showcase / Late Night Conversations / Sina Bathaie Ensemble / Amely Zhou / Lamia Yared) / Aga Khan Museum 2019-09-01 (Sunday – free! outside! all-ages and family friendly!) [FB event]

Nite Comfort 71 (feat. Howard Goldbach & Brandon DeGroote / Marley Rosen) / Handlebar 2019-09-01 (Sunday – PWYC!) [FB event]

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Add these to your calendar:

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

Ghostlight & Colin Fisher / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-09-04 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Ornate Presents (feat. Colin Clinton/Kaelin Murphy/Phil Albert) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-09-10 (Tuesday – early!) [FB event]

Audiopollination 75: Self-Curating Project (feat. Rod Campbell/MJ Wright/Aaron Corbett / Curtis Whittaker/Esin Gunduz / James Bailey/Ryan Kinney/Danielle Fernandes / 3M [Mira Martin-Gray/Mark Zurawinski/Michael Lynn]) / Array Space 2019-09-14 (Saturday) [FB event]

Diane Roblin Presents (feat. Glen Hall's Ossingtones) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-09-15 (Sunday – early!) [FB event]

Team Building ["new songs, works in progress, thoughts in sound"] (feat. Nigel Chapman / Sophia Ruby Katz / Chris Lyons / Wes Allen / La Diem Fortune / Koza) / Burdock Music Hall 2019-09-18 (Wednesday – PWYC!) [FB event]

NAIL [Nicolas Caloia/Ab Baars/Ig Henneman/Lori Freedman] (Kind Mind [Karen Ng/Michael Davidson/Josh Cole]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-09-18 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Briefcase Show presents (feat. Kayo Dot / Brigitte Bardon't / Hunter Gatherer / Syzygy) / The Grand Gerrard 2019-09-24 (Tuesday – all-ages!) [FB event]

Petra Glynt (Eliza Niemi / Carmen Elle / Persons) / Monarch Tavern 2019-09-27 (Friday) [FB event]

Emel Mathlouthi / Aga Khan Museum 2019-09-30 (Monday) [FB event]

Recording: Fahmid Nibesh

Artist: Fahmid Nibesh

Song: [first piece]

Recorded at Array Space (Nuit Oliphantik!), June 30, 2019.

Fahmid Nibesh - [first piece]

Well known in local creative music circles as a deep listener and organizer, Fahmid Nibesh has stepped out to perform — here in celebration of his Along the Seismic Margins album. Offering "structured improvisation for electric guitar and amplifier, inspired by the work of Anthony Braxton and Will Alexander", the album (as well as the live set) explores different points between feedback manipulations and roots drones, not above hinting at melodic structures but also not constrained by them.

Recording: Hoover Party

Artist: Hoover Party

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at Array Space (Nuit Oliphantik!), June 30, 2019.

Hoover Party - unknown

With a full house of friends and well-wishers, Jonathan Adjemian launched the third volume of his Hoover Party project's Some Liquidity for these Troubled Times, possibly the most ambitious yet in this series, employing "a piano run through electronics and re-amped into the sanctuary of a former church." This set couldn't offer the same impressive spacialization, but used a similar method, with Adjemian manipulating and filtering his piano sounds with his trusty synthesizer. Sometimes those interactions were more prominent and sometimes (as heard here) adding just subtle background drones. The set even ended with a preview of a new path, offering up a song in the piano-and-vocals mode, so keep an eye out for further developments in that direction.

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

Recording: Chagall Sierra

Artist: Chagall Sierra with Jeremy Edwards

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at Array Space (Nuit Oliphantik!), June 30, 2019.

Chagall Sierra with Jeremy Edwards - unknown

This night of different drone-pop styles opened with a set from Chagall Sierra, mixing operatic vocals with Celtic folk sounds, lush synth pads and percussion. Possibly influenced by her work as a TTC busker, Sierra has mastered stretching out a song and letting the reverb of a space add even more room. After a couple solo pieces, she closed out her set with this impromptu collaboration with bass clarinetist Jeremy Edwards, who found just the right spots to enhance her vocals and carry them skywards.

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

Recording: Cosmic Homeostasis XI

Artist: Cosmic Homeostasis XI

Songs: Out Among the Reeds [excerpt] + Windows and Passageways [excerpt]

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge, June 30, 2019.

Cosmic Homeostasis XI - Out Among the Reeds [excerpt]

Cosmic Homeostasis XI - Windows and Passageways [excerpt]

As the month's fifth Sunday rolls around once more, a robust turnout of musicians (and audience) showed up at the Tranzac to hang out and hear some pleasantly-unrushed drift-drones.

The afternoon's performers included:

• Dame Cook - electronics, namer-of-things
• Ron Blake - ipad apps
• Michael Lynn (mkl32) - bass
• Niamh Girling - push chime
• Abigail Trotsky - guitar, ebow, pedals
• Paul Newman - tenor saxophone
• Chris Trotter - synth
• Laura Swankey - voice, pedals
• Mira Martin-Gray - electronics
• Jordan Brown - synth, pedals
• Matt Wells - bells
• beard closet - guitar, noisebox
• Del Stephen - piano, synth, drumstick
• Heraclitus Akimbo - static, found sounds, effects

You can also check out the full sets over on bandcamp:

[Cosmic Homeostasis will be back in the Southern Cross on the afternoon of Sunday, September 29th!]

Recording: Deliluh

Artist: Deliluh

Song: Freeloader Feast

Recorded at MOCA (Not Dead Yet Presents), June 29, 2019.

Deliluh - Freeloader Feast

There was a bit of physical/emotional dislocation and relocation at this show, sorting through the realities and ironies of our gentrifying city. Recently a sort of semi-abandoned zone where off-the-grid culture flourished (and just over from where some cool DIY loft spaces used to be) and in a formerly-abandoned building (where audiences and musicians like the ones at hand used to sneak in and explore and smoke a joint, looking out over the city) this show took place in the new Museum of Contemporary Art, now refinished with a sort of austere/pricey minimalism and filled with Expensive Things. From the back of the long, rectangular space, held up by large circular concrete pillars, it looked not unlike a show taking place underneath a highway overpass — and by virtue of the space, it sounded more than a little like one too. Is this a simulacrum of independent culture, selling us back our nostalgia for a recently-departed past at a bespoke markup? Or is it just a matter of trying to find any sort of space in a city where space for the DIY spirit is getting crowded out?

Back from a tour and sharp as razorblades, this show served as the official release celebration for Deliluh's Oath Of Intent EP. It'd actually been a hot minute since I had seen the band in action, certainly not since they solidified with their current four-piece lineup with frontman Kyle Knapp and longstanding guitarist Julius Pedersen joined by Erik Jude (formerly of HSY, here on bass) and Erika Wharton-Shukster (on drums). Playing with fierceness and clarity, this was a tightly-focused set, showing off the EP's tunes, re-arranging a couple old ones and then finishing with one brand new one to leave the audience wanting more.

Recording: New Fries

Artist: New Fries

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at MOCA (Not Dead Yet Presents), June 29, 2019.

New Fries - unknown

There was a bit of physical/emotional dislocation and relocation at this show, sorting through the realities and ironies of our gentrifying city. Recently a sort of semi-abandoned zone where off-the-grid culture flourished (and just over from where some cool DIY loft spaces used to be) and in a formerly-abandoned building (where audiences and musicians like the ones at hand used to sneak in and explore and smoke a joint, looking out over the city) this show took place in the new Museum of Contemporary Art, now refinished with a sort of austere/pricey minimalism and filled with Expensive Things. From the back of the long, rectangular space, held up by large circular concrete pillars, it looked not unlike a show taking place underneath a highway overpass — and by virtue of the space, it sounded more than a little like one too. Is this a simulacrum of independent culture, selling us back our nostalgia for a recently-departed past at a bespoke markup? Or is it just a matter of trying to find any sort of space in a city where space for the DIY spirit is getting crowded out?

The second time seeing this new trio re-incarnation of New Fries found the space rendering their sound a bit more harsh and apocalyptic than the previous go-round, but that takes away nothing from the menacing minimalist groove power underpinning the music.

[New Fries will be playing with Frigs and Piper Maru at the Velvet Underground on Saturday, December 14th.]

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

Recording: Eyeballs

Artist: Eyeballs

Songs: two unknown songs^*

Recorded at MOCA (Not Dead Yet Presents), June 29, 2019.

Eyeballs - unknown #1

Eyeballs - unknown #2

There was a bit of physical/emotional dislocation and relocation at this show, sorting through the realities and ironies of our gentrifying city. Recently a sort of semi-abandoned zone where off-the-grid culture flourished (and just over from where some cool DIY loft spaces used to be) and in a formerly-abandoned building (where audiences and musicians like the ones at hand used to sneak in and explore and smoke a joint, looking out over the city) this show took place in the new Museum of Contemporary Art, now refinished with a sort of austere/pricey minimalism and filled with Expensive Things. From the back of the long, rectangular space, held up by large circular concrete pillars, it looked not unlike a show taking place underneath a highway overpass — and by virtue of the space, it sounded more than a little like one too. Is this a simulacrum of independent culture, selling us back our nostalgia for a recently-departed past at a bespoke markup? Or is it just a matter of trying to find any sort of space in a city where space for the DIY spirit is getting crowded out?

Even a fire alarm couldn't derail the make-our-own-fun clamour of this disco-punk duo. Loud-as-all-get-out and with the vox buried a bit, this felt like a giant basement party filled with thrumming dirges and square wave dance tracks.

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

Recording: Cares

Artist: Cares

Songs: Knowing + Resolution Body

Recorded at MOCA (Not Dead Yet Presents), June 29, 2019.

Cares - Knowing

Cares - Resolution Body

There was a bit of physical/emotional dislocation and relocation at this show, sorting through the realities and ironies of our gentrifying city. Recently a sort of semi-abandoned zone where off-the-grid culture flourished (and just over from where some cool DIY loft spaces used to be) and in a formerly-abandoned building (where audiences and musicians like the ones at hand used to sneak in and explore and smoke a joint, looking out over the city) this show took place in the new Museum of Contemporary Art, now refinished with a sort of austere/pricey minimalism and filled with Expensive Things. From the back of the long, rectangular space, held up by large circular concrete pillars, it looked not unlike a show taking place underneath a highway overpass — and by virtue of the space, it sounded more than a little like one too. Is this a simulacrum of independent culture, selling us back our nostalgia for a recently-departed past at a bespoke markup? Or is it just a matter of trying to find any sort of space in a city where space for the DIY spirit is getting crowded out?

Like a black and tan or other cocktail where ingredients with different specific gravities co-exist separately until forcefully mixed together, James Beardmore's mix of pretty ambience and unpretty weltzerstörungsgeräusch creates an uneasy listening experience. Still exploring his Regular Unconscious, there were an equal number of weird pop moments and abrasive noisebursts in this set.

[Cares will be playing a collaborative set alongside WHQB at See-Scape next week, as well as solo opening for Xiu Xiu and Jessica Moss on Wednesday, September 25th.]

Concert Listings Roundup #315

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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This week's noteworthy shows:

Avesta Nakhaei / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-08-19 (Monday – extra-early set @ 6 p.m.!) [FB event]

Otterville Mondays: August residency! (feat. Andrew Downing's Otterville) / The Rex Hotel 2019-08-19 (Monday – early!) [FB event]

Double Album Release Concert (feat. Jonathan Kay / Andrew Kay) / Burdock Music Hall 2019-08-19 (Monday) [FB event]

Tuesdays in August Residency (feat. Tania Gill Quartet [Tania Gill/Lina Allemano/Rob Clutton/Nico Dann]) / The Rex Hotel 2019-08-20 (Tuesday – early! PWYC!) [FB event]

Music Hosted by Karen Ng (feat. Rob Clutton Trio [Rob Clutton/Nick Fraser/Karen Ng]) / Wenona Lodge 2019-08-20 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Wednesdays in August Residency (feat. Lina Allemano Standards Quartet [Lina Allemano/Michael Davidson/Andrew Downing/Nick Fraser]) / The Rex Hotel 2019-08-21 (Wednesday – early!) [FB event]

Ken Boothe (Jay Douglas) / CNE Bandshell 2019-08-21 (Wednesday – free with CNE admission!) [more info]

Brian Abbott/Germaine Liu/Nick Storring/Leslie Ting / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-08-21 (Wednesday – early!)

Lina Allemano/Karen Ng/Blake Howard/Josh Cole / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-08-21 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Summer Music in the Garden: Something Old, Something New (feat. VC2) / Toronto Music Garden 2019-08-22 (Thursday – free! all-ages + family-friendly!) [more info]

InBetween [Josh Cole/Ted Crosby/Karen Ng/Kai Basanta] (Kai Basanta [solo]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-08-22 (Thursday) [FB event]

Leather Jacuzzi (Priors / Dates / LICE6) / The Baby G 2019-08-23 (Friday) [FB event]

Lee Paradise (Scarlett Rose) / The White House 2019-08-23 (Friday) [FB event]

Marlaena Moore (Tange / Lavender Bruisers) / Monarch Tavern 2019-08-23 (Friday) [FB event]

Toronto New Wave Multimedia Festival 2019 [ film, music and VR] (feat. Mike Barber / Olive B / R. Flex / MBG) / The Dakota Tavern 2019-08-23 (Friday) [FB event]

Sound For Silence III (feat. Omhouse / The Holy Oak Family Singers) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2019-08-23 (Friday) [FB event]

Lozenge (Jazz Dads / Fury 161) / TBA 2019-08-23 (Friday) [FB event]

Mike Gennaro & Ryan Driver (The Kurt Newman Jazz Trio) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-08-23 (Friday) [FB event]

Saturday Instrumental Bluegrass Spectacular / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-08-24 (Saturday – afternoon set @ 12:30 p.m.!) [FB event]

Toronto Bicycle Music Festival 10 (feat. Communism / Abigail Lapell / Dream Soda) / Trinity Bellwoods Park 2019-08-24 (Saturday – afternoon show! free, outdoors + all-ages!) [FB event]

Arts in the Park: Labyrinth Ontario (feat. Labyrinth Ensemble / Turkwaz) / Flemingdon Park 2019-08-24 (Saturday – 3 to 5 p.m.! free! outdoors + family-friendly!) [FB event]

Carl Didur (Karen Ng / Slime) / Beguiling's Basement 2019-08-24 (Saturday – PWYC!) [FB event]

Elagabolus Dub [Mark Zurawinski/Mark Zurawinski/Arnd Jurgensen plus special guests Matt Miller/Andy Yue/Jamie Thompson] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-08-24 (Saturday) [FB event]

Jazz United Jam [live jazz + tap dancing!] / The Tranzac (Tiki Room) 2019-08-25 (Sunday)

Black Dresses (Brigitte Bardon't / Esther Splett / Body Rot) / Handlebar 2019-08-25 (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!

Tuesdays in August Residency (feat. Tania Gill Quartet [Tania Gill/Lina Allemano/Rob Clutton/Nico Dann]) / The Rex Hotel 2019-08-27 (Tuesday – early! PWYC!) [FB event]

A Stone for David Berman [celebration of the life, words, and music of David Berman with performances of his poems and songs] (feat. Vish Khanna / Lightning Dust / Kritty Uranowski / Matthew "Doc" Dunn / Ayal Senior / Carl Wilson / Kyle Knapp / Jesse Locke / Mark Grundy / Scott Grundy / Katie Lavoie / Jose Miguel Contreras / Dave Schoonderbeek / Niko Stratis / Halina Katz / Jamez L. Burling / Jonathan Pappo / Kristina Smith / Patrick Grant / Ted Gudlat / James Lindsay / Meghan Harrison / Nick McKinlay / Akash Bansal / Melissa Vincent / Fan Wu) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2019-08-27 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Lightning Dust (Joseph Shabason / Andre Ethier / Chad Ross) / Monarch Tavern 2019-08-28 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Intersection Day 1: Music For Subways (feat. Sarah Hennies & Germaine Liu / Clarinet Panic / Mika Posen / Jason Doell with Contact) / Sheppard West Station/Pioneer Village Station/Highway 407 Station / Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Station 2019-08-29 (Thursday – free! all ages!) [FB event]

Proxemics [Laura Swankey/Karen Ng/Mike McCormick/Mark Ballyk] / The Band Named Crow) / Burdock Music Hall 2019-08-29 (Thursday) [FB event]

NYC x Toronto [works by Stephanie Orlando, Rebecca Gray/Adrienne Scott, Yael Litwin and more] (feat. Femmelody Chamber Music Collective) / Canadian Music Centre 2019-08-30 (Friday) [FB event]

This is Awesome / The Gladstone Hotel 2019-08-30 (Friday) [FB event]

Michael Peter Olsen with Spencer Cole (Soft Thoughts [Tim Condon/Matt Nish-Lapidus/Michael Peter Olsen]) / Imperial Pub's backroom 2019-08-30 (Friday) [FB event]

Saturday Instrumental Bluegrass Spectacular / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-08-31 (Saturday – afternoon set @ 12:30 p.m.!) [FB event]

Nite Comfort 71 (feat. Howard Goldbach & Brandon DeGroote / Marley Rosen) / Handlebar 2019-09-01 (Sunday – PWYC!) [FB event]

Track Could Bend #54 (feat. Stephen Lyons / Brittany Craig Group / Michael Palumbo & Glen Hall) / Wenona Lodge 2019-09-03 (Tuesday – PWYC!) [FB event]

Max Donaldson [solo piano] / Array Space 2019-09-06 (Friday) [FB event]

Scaphe (Mononegatives / Rob Michalchuk / Oxalis) / The Imperial Pub's backroom 2019-09-08 (Sunday) [FB event]

Burn Down The Capital presents (feat. Xiu Xiu / Jessica Moss / Cares) / Jam Factory 2019-09-25 (Wednesday) [FB event]

L CON [EP release!] (Phèdre / Isla Craig) / The Baby G 2019-10-06 (Sunday) [FB event]

Ancient Shapes (Teenanger) / Lee's Palace 2019-10-10 (Thursday) [FB event]

Night Owl Festival – Day 1 (feat. No Joy / Ice Cream / Mimico / The Blank Tapes) / The Horseshoe Tavern 2019-10-11 (Friday) [FB event]

Biblical (Witchrot / Fake Humans) / Monarch Tavern 2019-10-25 (Friday) [FB event]

The Solipsists ft. Reknee Harrett / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-10-27 (Sunday) [FB event]

Mulatu Astatke / Mod Club Theatre 2019-12-11 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Recording: Cactus Truck

Artist: Cactus Truck

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (TONE Festival 3.6: Peter Gough Presents), June 27, 2019.

Cactus Truck - [excerpt]

This final night of the third edition of the TONE festival saw a quartet of Amsterdam-based musicians recombine over three sets to make sounds in several styles. Things closed out with this jazz-punk trio of John Dikeman (sax), Jasper Stadhouders (guit & bass) and Onno Govaert (percussion) skronkin' out in a way that would be familiar to fans of countrymen The Ex (or, perhaps even more appositely, Lean Left). Sending drumstands a-flying and twisting like shimmering ghosts, this was the way that the Festival ended, not with a whisper but a bang.

Recording: Draksler/Furlong/West

Artist: Kaja Draksler/Andrew Furlong/Brodie West

Song: [final section]

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (TONE Festival 3.6: Peter Gough Presents), June 27, 2019.

Kaja Draksler/Andrew Furlong/Brodie West - [final section]

This final night of the third edition of the TONE festival saw a quartet of Amsterdam-based musicians recombine over three sets to make sounds in several styles. Pianist Kaja Draksler returned for a second set, this time joined by locals Andrew Furlong (double bass) and Brodie West (alto sax). Although there were no prepared piano excursions here and the overall sound was somewhat more restrained, this was an example of quiet intensity, building up a bit at the end of the set heard here to release the pent-up latent energy.

Recording: Feecho

Artist: Feecho

Song: [first section]

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (TONE Festival 3.6: Peter Gough Presents), June 27, 2019.

Feecho - [first section]

This final night of the third edition of the TONE festival saw a quartet of Amsterdam-based musicians recombine over three sets to make sounds in several styles. The first set saw percussionist Onno Govaert joined by pianist Kaja Draksler (who added some preparations on the strings of the Southern Cross piano). Mysteriously-flattened plonks and scraped strings ensued, filling up the space with fractal sound-clusters.

Recording: Anunnaki

Artist: Anunnaki

Song: The Cries of Hypatia

Recorded at Monarch Tavern, June 26, 2019.

Anunnaki - The Cries of Hypatia

This duo from Nanaimo sees bassist Dave Read (of Moths & Locusts, etc) joined by drummer Arlen Thompson (of Wolf Parade). Mixing ominous drone-haze with dark metal heaviousity, the pair left the crowd wanting more, playing only a pair of longform tracks. Found in recorded form on a tour EP, the volume and crunch of the live versions put some flayed flesh on the bones of the pieces.

Recording: Harmony on Mars

Artist: Harmony on Mars

Song: Sell Your Fears

Recorded at Monarch Tavern, June 26, 2019.

Harmony on Mars - Sell Your Fears

The most song-based act in a night of psych-inspired experimenters, this Toronto-born, Montréal-based brother duo gave a contrast to the night's krautrock variations with a bracing blast of garage rock.

Recording: Stargoon

Artist: Stargoon

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at Monarch Tavern, June 26, 2019.

Stargoon - [excerpt]

Re-emerging after a couple seasons away from the stage, Stargoon brought not only a new tape but also return special guest performer Kayla Milmine, adding some soprano sax (dry and processed) to the proceedings.

You can also see a visual sample from this set over on Ayal Senior's youtube channel:

[Still from Ayal Senior's video.]

Recording: Cola Wars

Artist: Cola Wars

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at Monarch Tavern, June 26, 2019.

Cola Wars - [excerpt]

This solo space rock project aimed a wormhole to the planetarium within. Armed with extra lighting and fog machines, keyboardist Gregory Macdonald made his set as much a visual spectacle as a musical one — possibly some stagecraft learned in his tenure as the unofficial fifth member of Sloan.

Concert Listings Roundup #314

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:

Music at Tibet Kitchen (feat. Araz Salek / Karen Ng / Dusty / Dorothea Paas) / Tibet Kitchen 2019-08-18 (Sunday – music starts @ 3! good eats available!) [FB event]

A welcome return of a past favourite, Tibet Kitchen's back patio is as cosy an escape from the city as you could hope for. With Johnathan Adjemian selecting some healing vibes on the musical side, this is nourishment for the soul — and there's very tasty eats on offer as well for those seeking them.

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This week's noteworthy shows:

Otterville Mondays: August residency! (feat. Andrew Downing's Otterville) / The Rex Hotel 2019-08-12 (Monday – early!) [FB event]

Jack Name (Andre Ethier / Isla Craig with Colin Fisher) / The Tranzac (Tiki Room) 2019-08-12 (Monday) [FB event]

Samantha Riott & Sandy Ewen (Kurt Newman & Mira Martin-Gray) / Array Space 2019-08-12 (Monday) [FB event]

Ornate Presents (feat. Mike DeiCont [solo bass]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-08-13 (Tuesday – early!) [FB event]

Audiopollination (feat. Glitter Queens [Olivia Shortt & Tyler J Sloane] / Love Children of the Apocalypse [Elizabeth Lima & Michael Lynn]) / Wenona Lodge 2019-08-13 (Tuesday – PWYC!) [FB event]

Hello Delaware (Moscow Apartment / Queen of Swords) / Horseshoe Tavern 2019-08-13 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Cramzac (feat. Karla [Yunjin Claire Lee/Yoni Newman] / Doc Dunn & Friends / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-08-13 (Tuesday)

Wednesdays in August Residency (feat. Lina Allemano Standards Quartet [Lina Allemano/Michael Davidson/Andrew Downing/Nick Fraser]) / The Rex Hotel 2019-08-14 (Wednesday – early!) [FB event]

Brodie West Quintet / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-08-14 (Wednesday – early!)

Music By & For Ken Aldcroft XXXII (feat. Rob Clutton [solo bass] / Josh Cole & Colin Fisher) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-08-14 (Wednesday) [FB event]

AMBiENT PiNG's 20th ANNiVERSARY (feat. Planet of the Loops [Andrew Aldridge/Wally Jericho/Steven Sauvé/Cheryl O/Kurt Swinghammer/Scott M2/Jamie Todd]) / Handlebar 2019-08-14 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Not Dead Yet presents (feat. Drab Majesty / Xeno & Oaklander / Body of Light) / Velvet Underground 2019-08-15 (Thursday) [FB event]

Creeping Jenny (Clara Engel / Concetta Abbate) / Antikka 2019-08-15 (Thursday) [FB event]

Colin Fisher/Hugh Marsh/Kieran Adams / Pamenar Café's patio 2019-08-15 (Thursday – PWYC!) [FB event]

The Leanover (Blonde Elvis / Johnny De Courcy / The Kommenden) / The Garrison 2019-08-16 (Friday) [FB event]

Not Dead Yet presents (feat. Kriegshog / Skizophrenia / S.H.I.T. / Vaaska / Game / Absolut / Cell / Tashme) / The Velvet Underground 2019-08-16 (Friday) [FB event]

Monk-a-Thon ["An all day Monk-a-Thon at the Tranzac! We will perform every one of Thelonious Monk's compositions in 3 configurations."] (feat. Lucas Dann/Tijs Klaassen/Wouter Kühne / Michael Davidson/Dan Fortin / "mystery solo act") / The Tranzac (Tiki Room + Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-08-17 (Saturday – 1 p.m. 'til midnight: afternoon in the Tiki Room, evening in the Southern Cross) [FB event]

Arts in the Park: Labyrinth Ontario (feat. Labyrinth Ensemble) / Flemingdon Park 2019-08-17 (Saturday – 3 to 5 p.m.! free! outdoors + family-friendly!) [FB event]

Audiopollination presents film and music (feat. Someone's Memory / Birth of Troubling Forms) / Array Space 2019-08-17 (Saturday) [FB event]

Jazz United Jam [live jazz + tap dancing!] / The Tranzac (Tiki Room) 2019-08-18 (Sunday)

JQXZ [George Koller/Diane Roblin] (Bruce Cassidy/Bill McBirnie) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-08-18 (Sunday – early!) [FB event]

Somewhere There presents (feat. Madeleine Ertel Quartet) / The Emmet Ray 2019-08-18 (Sunday – PWYC!) [FB event]

Devon Welsh (Scott Hardware / Evan Cartwright) / The Baby G 2019-08-18 (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!

Avesta Nakhaei / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-08-19 (Monday – extra-early set @ 6 p.m.!) [FB event]

Double Album Release Concert (feat. Jonathan Kay / Andrew Kay) / Burdock Music Hall 2019-08-19 (Monday) [FB event]

Music Hosted by Karen Ng (feat. Rob Clutton Trio [Rob Clutton/Nick Fraser/Karen Ng]) / Wenona Lodge 2019-08-20 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Sound For Silence III (feat. Omhouse / The Holy Oak Family Singers) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2019-08-23 (Friday) [FB event]

Carl Didur (Karen Ng / Slime) / Beguiling's Basement 2019-08-24 (Saturday – PWYC!) [FB event]

Intersection Day 2 (feat. Joan La Barbara / Eli Keszler / Germaine Liu) / Jam Factory 2019-08-30 (Friday – all ages!) [FB event]

Shabason/Gunning [Muldrew album release!] (Slow Attack Ensemble) / Dufferin Grove Park 2019-08-31 (Saturday – afternoon show @ 3 p.m.!) [FB event]

Subtle Blend (feat. Obuxum [album release!] / AstroMega / M.I. Blue / Kozue Sato) / Handlebar 2019-08-31 (Saturday) [FB event]

Intersection Day 4: Music Gallery's Departures Series (feat. Morton Subotnick / Leucrocuta) / Jam Factory 2019-09-01 (Sunday – all-ages!) [more info]

Luge (Real World / Slurry) / The Baby G 2019-09-04 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Fournier/Urquhart Duo Plus [Ashley Urquhart/Alex Fournier/Michael Davidson] / Alchemy Food & Drink 2019-09-08 (Sunday) [FB event]

Subtle Blend presents (feat. Elaquent / Pursuit Grooves / 2nd Son / CY) / Rivoli 2019-09-13 (Friday) [FB event]

Don't Speak (feat. Bonnetta/Huizinga / Carl Didur / Kat Estacio / Saturn City) / The Tranzac 2019-09-14 (Saturday) [FB event]

Mega Bog (Scott Hardware) / The Boat 2019-09-15 (Sunday) [FB event]

Not Dead Yet presents (feat. Rakta / Intensive Care / Pantayo /Exes) / The Baby G 2019-10-02 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Recording: Korea Town Acid

Artist: Korea Town Acid

Song: unknown excerpt^*

Recorded at Burdock Music Hall (TONE Festival 3.5), June 24, 2019.

Korea Town Acid - unknown excerpt

A night of avant-electronic sounds at the TONE Festival, with some locals interfacing with a pair of guests with fresh albums out on the Orange Milk label. The night proceeded from quiet drones to dancefloor grooves, with Jessica Cho providing the latter to close the night out. It's been a while since I'd seen her in action, but I'd been keeping an eye on her Korea Town Acid project, casrefully constructing dance grooves in realtime from a tableful of gear (and this was, it should be noted, the only set of the night that didn't use a laptop). Mostly aiming for dancefloor satisfaction, Cho's pieces found their groove and added subtle tweaks to maintain forward momentum — although this section, with everything getting filtered down to its static-y essence, shows there's an experimental urge powering the vibes.

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

Recording: CVN

Artist: CVN

Songs: two unknown tracks^*

Recorded at Burdock Music Hall (TONE Festival 3.5), June 24, 2019.

CVN - [unknown #1]

CVN - [unknown #2]

A night of avant-electronic sounds at the TONE Festival, with some locals interfacing with a pair of guests with fresh albums out on the Orange Milk label. Shifting the night from sitting-down innerspace sounds to a more driven stand-up energy, Japan's Nobuyuki Sakuma offered up beatscapes riven by a flurry of stop/start percussion, industrialized donuts that stripped away the popsong coating that's more prominent on his I​.​C. album.

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

Recording: Koeosaeme

Artist: Koeosaeme

Songs: Inverse + Meat Texture^*

Recorded at Burdock Music Hall (TONE Festival 3.5), June 24, 2019.

Koeosaeme - Inverse

Koeosaeme - Meat Texture

A night of avant-electronic sounds at the TONE Festival, with some locals interfacing with a pair of guests with fresh albums out on the Orange Milk label. Japanese artist Ryu Yoshizawa has just issued Obanikeshi, his second album for the label, and his set offered some advanced digital collages and ambient crunch-crackles, whispered voices and atonal string-stings adding some meat to the sonic gristle.

^* Each of these overlaps mostly-but-not-completely with these cuts from the Obanikeshi album. Please leave a comment if you can suggest a better breakdown!

Recording: Kat Estacio

Artist: Kat Estacio

Song: [excerpt]^*

Recorded at Burdock Music Hall (TONE Festival 3.5), June 24, 2019.

Kat Estacio - [excerpt]

A night of avant-electronic sounds at the TONE Festival, with some locals interfacing with a pair of guests with fresh albums out on the Orange Milk label. The night proceeded from quiet drones to dancefloor grooves, with Kat Estacio providing the former. Adding bells and gongs to background rumbles, with the earthy sounds of field recordings occasionally leaking through, this set made its impact by being the least busy of the night's varied soundscapes.

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