Mechanical Forest Sound: Monday Roundup #58

Monday, February 21, 2022

Monday Roundup #58

Someday this space might be mostly concert listings again, but for now Monday roundups might include a romp through the MFS archives, some bandcamp suggestions, nods to a few livestreams, and sundry community notes (email me if you have anything that needs broadcast in the latter category!).

Community notes:

Big news from The Tranzac this week, not only with announcements regarding their long-awaited reopening (including a couple ace shows listed below) but also announcing the hiring of Matthew Fava as their new (and first) Executive Director. Full disclosure: Matthew is a friend and a bandmate, but I'm super-pleased that my favourite spot in town will be stewarded by someone who cares deeply about fostering community (and who has also sat in the Southern Cross making weird blippy noises).

Meanwhile, with the acceleration of Ontario's reopening plans, gigs are happening, and happening at full capacity in venues that feel comfortable with that. Just a reminder that it's okay to be someone who wants to get out and go to gigs, and it's okay to be someone who still feels a little trepadacious. If the improving trends hold, it looks like there'll be an increasing number of listings in this space once again.

Video hits:

A nicely-executed — and eminently instagrammable — new video from Omhouse:

Livestream nation:

Kudos to Exit Points on reaching their second anniversary, which will be celebrated on their monthly livestream Wednesday (February 23rd) with two sets by Eden Grey/Marc-Alexandre Chan/Kabelsalat/James Bailey and Yang Chen/Maysun/Thispatcher as well as the usual regroupings and open-call performers.

Concert listings:

The Ryan Driver Quintet / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2022-02-25 (Friday). $11.62, advance tickets available. [FB event]

Pukeylips / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2022-03-01 (Tuesday). $pwyc, no advance tickets. (Tranzac reopening event. "Pukeylips is a new band including members of Toronto's own Eucalyptus plus special guests. The members are Naomi McCarroll-Butler, Ryan Driver, Blake Howard, Kurt Newman, Mike Smith, Nick Fraser, and Brodie West. Pukeylips plays the music of Eucalyptus but in an entirely original way, a way that only Pukeylips can.") [more info]

We Are Time showcase (fea. Chandra / New Chance / Motorists) / The Tranzac Main Hall 2022-03-05 (Saturday). $16.93. (also free/PWYC livestream on The Tranzac's YouTube channel) [FB event]

HAPPY SUNDAYS (feat. Blonde Elvis / Rapport / PONY) / The Baby G 2022-03-13 (Sunday). $free, 19+. [FB event]

HAPPY SUNDAYS (feat. Seulement / Luge / LAL) / The Baby G 2022-03-27 (Sunday). $free, 19+. [FB event]

Shabason, Krgovich & Harris (Bernice / Jaunt) / Longboat Hall 2021-05-27 (Friday) [rescheduled, new venue]. $18.35. [FB event]

In the mix:

New drone mix! Astral Winter sounds for a a soft long weekend afternoon. Sourced from a folder of New Age albums I'd downloaded years ago and set aside, plus some more recent fellow travellers. Music by Beverly Glenn-Copeland, Luka Kuplowsky, x.y.r., Barry Cleveland, Ray Lynch, Erik Wøllo, agate, Carincur, BRR, Kevin Braheny, anthéne, and Jonn Serrie.

From the archives/in memoriam:

Like many this week I was struck with shock and sadness at the sudden passing of Dallas Good. At the heart of The Sadies' twang-rock extravaganza, he was always an uncanny combination of showman and craftsman — and for all that, seemingly always willing to step back and work as a sideman for the parade of musicians eager for The Sadies' collaborative spark. I recall him gracing the stage with so many musicians, including Neko Case, Jon Langford, Andre Williams, Robyn Hitchcock and — unexpectedly — Margaret Atwood. (And that's not even mentioning the very special guests you might see stepping onstage at a Sadies show!) Digging through the archives, here's a sampling of sounds — may his music be remembered.