Monday, May 27, 2024

Monday Roundup #176

Concert announcements:

Parade [Lullabies After Storms and Floods LP release!] [Chris Pruden/Laura Swankey/Patrick O'Reilly/Stefan Hegerat] (Roula Said / Ky Band) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2024-06-07 (Friday). $22.63 advance, $25 or PWYC at the door. [FB event]

Flux Minstrels ["blending experimental psychedelic heavy rock, psychedelic free jazz, and ethereal melodies"] [Pierre Mongeon/Bryant Didier/Mark Hundevad/Glenn Fraser] / Array Space 2024-06-08 (Saturday). $10, all-ages/family friendly. [FB event]

You In Mind (feat. ÏÏÏ / Khôra) / The Music Gallery 2024-06-21 (Friday). $10 MG Members; Pay What You Can Afford $10-$20. [FB event]

Aline's Etoile Magique [Aline Homzy/Michael Davidson/Dan Fortin/Thom Gill/Fabio Ragnelli] / Hirut Café 2024-06-21 (Friday). $20. [more info]

The Knot [Tilman Lewis & Nick Storring] (future proof [Bea Labikova & Raphael Roter]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-07-03 (Wednesday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Is your show missing from this list? Submit it via this form!


Shows this week:

The Resolution Trio [Daniel Easty/Dan Fortin/Spencer Cole]) / The Emmet Ray 2024-05-27 (Monday – 6:00 p.m.). $10-$15. [more info]

Gentleman Reg (Kelly McMichael) / Burdock Music Hall 2024-05-28 (Tuesday). $15. [more info]

No Octopus Dancing [Allison Cameron/Stephen Parkinson/Germaine Liu/Mark Zurawinski] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-05-29 (Wednesday – early) [more info]

Dan Fortin [solo bass] / Sellers & Newel 2024-05-29 (Wednesday). $15 minimum donation. [more info]

John Kameel Farah & Nick Fraser [Farahser launch party!] / Monarch Tavern 2024-05-29 (Wednesday). $20 suggested donation; $30 will include a CD or LP. [FB event]

Hope Street [John Millard/Chris Pruden/Rob Clutton] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-05-29 (Wednesday) [more info]

Ladyfinger [Diane Roblin/Kayla Milmine] (Alex Fournier/Patrick O'Reilly/Michael Lynn/Ryan Kinney) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-05-30 (Thursday) [FB event]

All Set! Presents (feat. Tulle Time Trio [Tania Gill/Jake Oelrichs/Mike Smith]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-05-31 (Friday – early). $pwyc.

Exit Points #49 (feat. Essie Watts/Constant Yen/Wesley Shen/Hiroki Tanaka/Steven Noronha / Joel Ong/Katie Couchie/Diane Roblin/Erik Johnson-Scherger/Michael Palumbo / Switchemups!) / Array Space 2024-05-31 (Friday). $20 advance/$25 door. [FB event]

You In Mind ["a convergence of music and spatial audio—a lush improvisational score, with ethereal vocals, bass, and found sounds through MAX msp"] (feat. 1:11 moonwatching [Jenna Geen/Zoma Maduekwe]) / The Music Gallery 2024-05-31 (Friday). $10 MG Members; Pay What You Can Afford $10-$20. [FB event]

The Ryan Driver Sextet / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-05-31 (Friday). $pwyw. [more info]

Technicolor Blood (Zero Bars / Deposed) / The No-no Room @ Dock Ellis 2024-06-01 (Saturday). $10. [FB event]

Annual Hirut Residency (feat. Eucalyptus [Aidan McConnell/Aline Homzy/Blake Howard/Brodie West/Evan Cartwright/Kurt Newman/Mike Smith/Nick Fraser/Ryan Driver]) / Hirut Café 2024-06-02 (Sunday). $15, dining available, family-friendly. [more info]

TONE presents (feat. S* Glass / Sailor Beware / Paul Dutton / Fleshtone Aura) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2024-06-02 (Sunday). $15. [more info]


It happened this week...

  • ...on May 27, 2018 at Recorded at Hirut Restaurant.

Eucalyptus - Something Sparkly

  • ...on June 1, 2018 at Jam Factory (Venus Fest presents).

L CON - There Was a Glow

[Do remember that you can click on the tags below to go back and find the original posts (and often, more stuff) from these artists.]

Monday, May 20, 2024

Monday Roundup #175

Concert announcements:

TONE presents (feat. S* Glass / Sailor Beware / Paul Dutton / Fleshtone Aura) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2024-06-02 (Sunday). $15. [more info]

Track Could Bend #92 (feat. Duo Cichorium [Jasmine Tsui/Louis Pino] / Tom Richards) / Wenona Lodge 2024-06-04 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Helpless Helpless Helpless Game Score Recording (feat. Erin Corbett/Naomi McCarroll-Butler/Marilyn Yogayrajah) / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2024-06-06 (Friday). $pwyc

Miserable Weekend (FORMING [debut show]) / Houndstooth 2024-06-06 (Thursday). $free/pwyc. [FB event]

Tania Gill Presents (feat. Lina Allemano Four / Tania Gill Quartet) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-06-07 (Friday – early!) [FB event]

Transmit presents @ Do West Fest (feat. The Crime Family / Sap / Hobby / Julianna Riolino) / The Garrison Stage 2024-06-07 (Friday). $free, outdoors/all-ages/family-friendly. [FB event]

Transmit presents @ Do West Fest (feat. So Tired / Your Grandad / Accelerant / Pleasure Craft / Kali Horse / Silks / Night Lunch / Thermal / Teknicolor Raincoats / Annie-Claude Deschênes / Pixel Grip) / The Garrison Stage 2024-06-08 (Saturday). $free, outdoors/all-ages/family-friendly. [FB event]

Ghostlight Residency: Solstice (feat. Ghostlight) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-06-08 (Saturday – early). $10 suggested. [FB event]

Transmit presents @ Do West Fest (feat. Hieronymous Harry / Catholic Wilt / Rogue Tenant / Falcon Jane / Little Kid / Nora Kelly Band) / The Garrison Stage 2024-06-09 (Sunday). $free, outdoors/all-ages/family-friendly. [FB event]

Audiopollination (Diane Roblin/Jamie Eriksen/Anne Amores / Laura Swankey/Nilan Perera/Tliman Lewis / Patrick O’Reilly/Connor Bennett/Afraaz Adam Mulji/Patrick Booth / Stik Sharpi/Uisill Galar/Bri Clarke) / Array Space 2024-06-14 (Friday). $10 or PWYC (cash or card). [FB event]

Not Dead Yet presents (feat. Tyvek / XV) / Monarch Tavern 2024-06-14 (Friday). $21.41, 19+. [more info]

Batuki Music Society presents Alkebulan: A Musical African Tale (feat. Djely Tapa/Seydina Ndiaye/Mambo Chivero/Memory Makuri/Fantahun Shewankochew/Melat Mengesha/Adama Daou/Aboulaye Koné/Salif Lasso/Zal Sissokho) / Theatre Passe Muraille 2024-06-22 (Saturday). $23 advance / $25 door. [FB event]

Brian Ruryk (Super Kill Me Now / Plastic Heart Surgery) / See-Scape 2024-06-25 (Tuesday). $pwyc

Is your show missing from this list? Submit it via this form!


Shows this week:

Marker Starling Euroband [Marker Starling/Jay Anderson/Andrew Scott/Dorothea Paas plus special guest Eliza Niemi] / Houndstooth 2024-05-21 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [FB event]

People Soup, Flavor: Alphabet Soup ["4 sets of poetry simmered amidst improvised music"] (feat. Nevada-Jane Arlow/The Small Poet/Nicci Pryce/Aiden Cotnam / teething / Trevor Flemings / Duo Cichorium) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-05-21 (Tuesday) [more info]

Secret Sign (Science International) / Ted's Collision 2024-05-23 (Thursday). $free/pwyc. [FB event]

Grocer (Heaven for Real / Triples) / Monarch Tavern 2024-05-23 (Thursday). $20, 19+. [FB event]

TONE presents (feat. Brodie West Quintet / Mira Martin-Gray) / Canadian Music Centre 2024-05-24 (Friday). $20, $15 students/arts workers. [more info]

L CON (James Irwin) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-05-24 (Friday) [FB event]

The AMBiENT PiNG presents Drone Day 2024: Afternoon Drones (feat. dreamSTATE / DRONE:KLUB:44 [live community drone session]) / Trinity St-Paul's Centre 2024-05-25 (Saturday – 2:00 p.m.). $free, family-friendly. [FB event]

Batuki Music Society presents (feat. Zale Seck) / Alliance Française Toronto – Spadina Theatre 2024-05-25 (Saturday). $18. [info/tickets]

TONE presents (feat. Brodie West Quintet / Steven Noronha) / Canadian Music Centre 2024-05-25 (Saturday). $20, $15 students/arts workers. [more info]

Sounds of the Shadows ["a narrative force of resistance directed by Aliyah Aziz that takes the form of an audio reactive projected shadow play, accompanied by experimental live looping soundscapes and compiled field recordings. Sets will integrate different compositions from a variety of work, both improvised and incorporating written poetry, as a response to the attempted privatization of Ontario Place"] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-05-25 (Saturday) [more info]

Annual Hirut Residency (feat. Eucalyptus [Aidan McConnell/Aline Homzy/Blake Howard/Brodie West/Evan Cartwright/Kurt Newman/Mike Smith/Nick Fraser/Ryan Driver]) / Hirut Café 2024-05-26 (Sunday). $15, dining available, family-friendly. [more info]

Gabe Girard presents (feat. The Jake Laur Trio [Ezra Schell/Yoshi Wall/Jake Laur] / Nobody Waved Goodbye [Joe Strutt/Mike Lynn/Marilyn Yogarajah/Gabe Girard] / D.B. Buxton with Special Guests) / The Dock Ellis 2024-05-26 (Sunday). $pwyc. [FB event]


It happened this week...

  • ...on May 25, 2017 at Array Space (Premieres VI – Keys Wind and Strings Edition).

Thin Edge New Music Collective - Puddles

  • ... on May 26, 2017 at The Horseshoe Tavern (Spring Nationals 2017 – Night 3).

Rheostatics - Saskatchewan

[Do remember that you can click on the tags below to go back and find the original posts (and often, more stuff) from these artists.]

Sunday, May 19, 2024

Recording: Wenderly Park

Artist: Wenderly Park

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at 918 Bathurst (The Sun Room), April 23, 2024.

Wenderly Park - [excerpt]

Celebrating the release of their dubut album, the members of Wenderly Park joined forces to buzz and hum, sing and resonate.

You can check out the full set over on youtube:

Recording: Friends of Wenderly Park

Artist: Friends of Wenderly Park

Song: [first piece]

Recorded at 918 Bathurst (The Sun Room), April 23, 2024.

Friends of Wenderly Park - [first piece]

Having considered the options, the members of Wenderly Park figured that the best way to open up their album release celebration would be to invite some of the folks who'd shared the stage with them previously to come together and create some sympathetic sounds. The call was answered by a quartet of former collaborators (Bea Labikova on winds, Allison Cameron on laptop, Marilyn Yogarajah on trumpet, and Mike Lynn on double bass) as well as engineer Jason Doell, who had put the bow on the album with his principal mix. The resulting set was an on-point electroacoustic journey, from quieter rustles to input-jamming outbursts.

You can check out the full set over on youtube:

Thursday, May 16, 2024

Recording: Blake Howard

Artist: Blake Howard

Song: Tranzac Raffle Draw

Recorded at The Tranzac's Main Hall (Tranzac Fundraiser I), April 20, 2024.

Blake Howard - Tranzac Raffle Draw

As part of an effort to find and maintain a stable financial footing, The Tranzac has announced a series of quarterly fundraising concerts, drawing on the starpower of some its regular denizens to fill the Main Hall. A bit of a curiousity at hand here, but this presentation was so wonderfully "Blake" that it merits preservation. Well-known in certain circles for his off-the-cuff comments that can send the listener's perceptions on unsuspected perpendicular paths, Blake Howard is a wonderfully-witty wordsmith, and it was a canny choice to have him as MC of the evening's raffle draw while Sandro Perri and bandmates vamped behind him.

[The second Tranzac fundraiser will be taking place on Friday, June 14th with sets from U.S. Girls, Eucalyptus, and Cots.]

Recording: Sandro Perri

Artist: Sandro Perri

Song: Elegant Solution

Recorded at The Tranzac's Main Hall (Tranzac Fundraiser I), April 20, 2024.

Sandro Perri - Elegant Solution

As part of an effort to find and maintain a stable financial footing, The Tranzac has announced a series of quarterly fundraising concerts, drawing on the starpower of some its regular denizens to fill the Main Hall. Previewing some songs from his next album, Sandro Perri showed off further expansions in his mellow, gently-funky zone, with mildly-expansive songs such as this one (is an "Elegant Solution" the antipode of Ryan Driver's "Fruitless Endeavour"? In any case, this one contains a vocal bridge from Driver) as well as a major new exercise in "infinite songwriting", which like "In Another Life", stretched out for well over twenty minutes and required a trio of additional musicians.

[The second Tranzac fundraiser will be taking place on Friday, June 14th with sets from U.S. Girls, Eucalyptus, and Cots.]

Recording: Masahiro Takahashi

Artist: Masahiro Takahashi

Song: unknown*

Recorded at The Tranzac's Main Hall (Tranzac Fundraiser I), April 20, 2024.

Masahiro Takahashi - unknown

As part of an effort to find and maintain a stable financial footing, The Tranzac has announced a series of quarterly fundraising concerts, drawing on the starpower of some its regular denizens to fill the Main Hall. Leading off this first event, producer/electronicist Masahiro Takahashi took the opportunity to draw on the Tranzac community to expand his sounds with a backing trio that included Kurt Newman (lap steel), Ryan Driver (piano) and Michael Davidson (vibes). That put his "bedroom producer" aesthetic on a bigger canvas, with mostly-gentle grooves that moved somewhere in cozy amble-along/bubble bath sonic zones.

[Masahiro Takahashi's Cha-no-yu residency ("a gathering of music producers, improvisers, and listeners") begins on Friday (May 17th) with performances from C.R. Gillespie and Nick Storring & Masahiro Takahashi — and will continue on every third Friday of the month. The second Tranzac fundraiser will be taking place on Friday, June 14th with sets from U.S. Girls, Eucalyptus, and Cots.]

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

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

Recording: Nobuo Kubota

Artist: Nobuo Kubota

Song: [last section]

Recorded at The Music Gallery, April 19, 2024.

Nobuo Kubota - [last section]

There was some savvy programming in choosing the openers for two nights of absurdist, polymorphously-perverse puppeteering duo Poncili Creacion. (I heard that the second night's performance from Brian Ruryk was a cracker, too.) Music Gallery O.G. Nobuo Kubota, who's been improvising joyfully in this city for over half a century, was on point with his mix of percussion, giddy babble, and crackle synth. Now in his nineties, it was clear he'd won over a room with a younger-skewing crowd, most of whom probably didn't know anything about his history, but connected with his energy.

Monday, May 13, 2024

Monday Roundup #174

Concert announcements:

The AMBiENT PiNG presents Drone Day 2024: Afternoon Drones (feat. dreamSTATE / DRONE:KLUB:44 [live community drone session]) / Trinity St-Paul's Centre 2024-05-25 (Saturday – 2:00 p.m.). $free, family-friendly. [FB event]

Exit Points #49 (feat. Essie Watts/Constant Yen/Wesley Shen/Hiroki Tanaka/Steven Noronha / Joel Ong/Katie Couchie/Diane Roblin/Erik Johnson-Scherger/Michael Palumbo / Switchemups!) / Array Space 2024-05-31 (Friday). $20 advance/$25 door. [FB event]

Technicolor Blood (Zero Bars / Deposed) / The Nono Room @ Dock Ellis 2024-06-01 (Saturday). $10. [FB event]

Liquid Architecture Turns 1! (feat. Nilan Perera / Alex Fournier / James Bailey / Ryan Kinney) / Mischief Makers 2024-06-08 (Saturday). $10 cash or advance ticket / $12 card at the door. [FB event]

Save Bar Orwell fundraiser (feat. Sundowner / DENISE / Ancient Greece / cute) / The Baby G 2024-06-09 (Sunday). $17.31, 19+. [more info / tickets]

TONE Festival (feat. Fred Moten & Brandon Lopez / Lee & Gamble Unlimited / Roa Lee) / The Music Gallery 2024-06-13 (Thursday). $20 advance, all ages. [FB event]

TONE Festival (feat. Mas Aya [Coming And Going record release] / Colin Fisher [Suns of the Heart record release) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2024-06-16 (Sunday). $20 advance, $25 door, all ages. [FB event]

Chris Brokaw (Picastro) / The Baby G 2024-06-17 (Monday). $23.57, 19+. [FB event]

Luka Kuplowsky & The Ryōkan Band [How Can I Possibly Sleep When There Is Music double LP release celebration!] (The Heart of Going La [Fan Wu & Thom Gill]) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2024-06-18 (Tuesday). $22.63 advance/$25 door. [FB event]

TONE Festival (feat. Wolf Eyes with Anthony Braxton) / The Great Hall 2024-06-26 (Wednesday). $35 advance. [FB event]

Is your show missing from this list? Submit it via this form!


Shows this week:

Toronto Electronic Music Open Mic (feat. Ross Edmonds / Paul Hilllier / Bradburn Williams / Gary Duke / MIke Murphy / dreamSTATE / Diyonisos / Phurniture / Fantastical Realms / Time God Uly / Heiki / Ben Shannon / Spectral Eyes / Eugene Huo / Gruve Collective) / Handlebar 2024-05-13 (Monday) [more info]

Ghostgirl residency ["original compositions and ghost stories"] (feat. Aline Homzy/Allan Mackie/Michael Davidson/Steven Noronha) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-05-14 (Tuesday – early) [more info]

Not Dead Yet presents (The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis / Fortunato Durutti Marinetti / Daydream Plus) / The Velvet Underground 2024-05-14 (Tuesday). $27.58. [FB event]

The Brandon Davis Trio [Brandon Davis/Naomi McCarroll-Butler/Joe Sorbara] [album release celebration!] (Brandon Davis [solo]) / Sellers & Newel 2024-05-14 (Tuesday). $15 minimum donation. [more info]

Josh Cole presents (feat. Kind Mind [Josh Cole/Ted Crosby/ Michael Davidson]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-05-14 (Tuesday). $10/pwyc. [FB event]

Christina Petrowska Quilico [Games of the Night Wind album release, featuring nocturnes by David Jaeger] / Canadian Music Centre 2024-05-15 (Wednesday). $free with RSVP. [more info]

TONE presents (feat. Lea Bertucci / Germaine Liu / Black Galaxie) / Standard Time 2024-05-15 (Wednesday). $17.52, all-ages. [FB event]

Dun-Dun Band [Pita Parka Pt. I: Xam Egdub LP release show!] (Allison Cameron/Mira Martin-Gray/Josh Cole) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2024-05-16 (Thursday). $25. [FB event]

Makam Nights (feat. Behnoosh Behnamnia [kamanche and violin] / Rob Simms [tanbour]) / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2024-05-16 (Thursday). $pwyc. [FB event]

TONE presents (feat. Nate Wooley's Columbia Icefield [Nate Wooley/Susan Alcorn/Ava Mendoza/Ryan Sawyer] / Rob Clutton Trio with Kurt Newman [Rob Clutton/Karen Ng/Nick Fraser]) / Standard Time 2024-05-17 (Friday). $22.89, all-ages. [FB event]

Masahiro Takahashi presents Cha-no-yu (feat. C.R. Gillespie / Nick Storring & Masahiro Takahashi) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-05-17 (Friday). $pwyc. [more info]

Opa Yallah / Burdock Music Hall 2024-05-18 (Saturday – early show @ 6 p.m.). $15. [FB event]

catl. / Castro's Lounge 2024-05-18 (Saturday). $pwyc. [FB event]


In the mix:

  • New ambient mix! Drone and drone-adjacent music by: Mind over MIDI, Sarah Peebles, Aidan Baker, Robert Rich, anthène & stijn hüwels, Klaus Schulze, saltmarsh + Boards of Canada.

It happened this week...

  • ...on May 15, 2014 at The Music Gallery (Emergents IV) [composer: Liz Hysen].

Thin Edge New Music Collective - Doors

  • ...on May 18, 2014 at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge).

Colin Fisher + Jesse Laderoute - [first part of an improvisation]

[Do remember that you can click on the tags below to go back and find the original posts (and often, more stuff) from these artists.]

Saturday, May 11, 2024

Recording: Ayal Senior & Kurt Newman

Artist: Ayal Senior & Kurt Newman

Song: E is for Ear

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Ayal Senior & Friends), April 14, 2024.

Ayal Senior & Kurt Newman - E is for Ear

You might have heard that Ayal Senior's Ora album is going to be making its way into the world next month, but frequenters of his monthly Tranzac residency know that the songbook is already being worked out for the next one. Grab ahold of the future!

[Ayal Senior & Friends returns to the Southern Cross tomorrow (May 10th) with sets from Ayal Senior & Kurt Newman, William Davison, Karsten Stryker, and Nick Flanagan.]

Recording: Marilyn Yogarajah & Co.

Artist: Marilyn Yogarajah & Co.

Song: [1st piece, last section]

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Ayal Senior & Friends), April 14, 2024.

Marilyn Yogarajah & Co. - [1st piece, last section]

There'd be no gentle soundbath from Marilyn Yogarajah this time out — instead, a crew of frequent collaborators (Roya Biazar, synth and kazoo; Nilan Perera, guitar; Victor O, percussion) brought some spiky clatter. Host Ayal Senior dubbed the band "Hectic Space", which captures the vibe pretty well.

You can check out the full set over on youtube:

[Ayal Senior & Friends returns to the Southern Cross tomorrow (May 10th) with sets from Ayal Senior & Kurt Newman, William Davison, Karsten Stryker, and Nick Flanagan.]

Recording: Tzevi Sherman

Artist: Tzevi Sherman

Song: unknown*

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Ayal Senior & Friends), April 14, 2024.

Tzevi Sherman - unknown

Ayal Senior's monthly Sunday afternoon showcase opened with some singer-songwriter action. Tzevi Sherman's music was abstracted a bit from his previously-released "nice songs", here coming almost as a suite with linking ambient passages, which often leaned heavily on some POG-enabled organ-y tones for extra atmosphere.

[Ayal Senior & Friends returns to the Southern Cross tomorrow (May 10th) with sets from Ayal Senior & Kurt Newman, William Davison, Karsten Stryker, and Nick Flanagan.]

* One might guess this one is called "Needle and Thread" — please leave a comment if you can confirm!

Thursday, May 9, 2024

Recording: Clutton/Cole/Fraser/Fisher

Artist: Rob Clutton/Josh Cole/Nick Fraser/Colin Fisher

Song: [improvisation]

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Josh Cole presents), April 9, 2024.

Rob Clutton/Josh Cole/Nick Fraser/Colin Fisher - [improvisation]

With John Oswald needing to depart a little early after the main part of this set, the remaining musicians decided they had a little left in the tank and called up Colin Fisher (who had played in the earlier set) from the audience. Bringing his customary energy, it was intruiging to note how much different this sounded from what had become before in a delightful ten-minute rager.

You can check out footage of the full piece over on youtube:

[Josh Cole will be presenting his trio Kind Mind — this version with Ted Crosby on sax — in his residency slot next week (Tuesday, May 14th) in the Southern Cross.]

Recording: Clutton/Cole/Fraser/Oswald

Artist: Rob Clutton/Josh Cole/Nick Fraser/John Oswald

Song: [2nd piece]

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Josh Cole presents), April 9, 2024.

Rob Clutton/Josh Cole/Nick Fraser/John Oswald - [2nd piece]

No string section this time for Josh Cole's double double bass band. Three pieces went to all the places you'd expect from this combo — offset bowing and plucking alongside Rob Clutton, squawktalking sax from John Oswald and rattleburst percussion from Nick Fraser (who got sputtery himself with some froglike vocal gargles).

You can check out the full set over on youtube:

[Josh Cole will be presenting his trio Kind Mind — this version with Ted Crosby on sax — in his residency slot next week (Tuesday, May 14th) in the Southern Cross.]

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Recording: Dun-Dun Band

Artist: Dun-Dun Band

Song: Pandemo 3*

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Dun-Dun Land: Slight Return), April 9, 2024.

Dun-Dun Band - unknown

Essentially a warm-up show for the forthcoming full-on album release celebration (see details below), this night saw most of the Dun-Dun Band gathered together (but with "only" two sax players). Digging into tracks from Pita Parka, Pt. I (as well as its in-the-can sequel) the players were in sync through Craig Dunsmuir's fragment-suites, moving from rollicking lockgroove tumbles to some considered stately rumbles.

[That release celebration will be happening in The Tranzac's Main Hall next week (Thursday, May 16th), with an opening set from Allison Cameron, Mira Martin-Gray and Josh Cole.]

* Thanks to Josh for passing along the title to this one!

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Recording: Cosmic Homeostasis

Artist: Cosmic Homeostasis

Song: Eclipse Drone [excerpt]

Recorded at Christie Pits, April 8, 2024.

Cosmic Homeostasis - Eclipse Drone [excerpt]

Well, a total solar eclipse isn't something that happens every day, and even if Toronto was limited to a mere 99.9% of totality this was an event worth getting outside for. So, returning to the scene of previous park gatherings, a robust crew gathered to experience the unsettling gloom that manifested even under cloudy skies. There was a visual score offered as a suggestion at structure, but as is usual with this ensemble, the sounds were satisfactorily self-regulating. And even with such a large group, it was still an intensely quiet experience — the zone of sounding attracted some notice from passers-by, but wasn't disruptive outside its bubble.

What an amazing turnout! The full ensemble consisted of:

  • Ian McPhedran - prepared guitar
  • Kai Schmidt - child's keyboard
  • Helen Lhazan - monotron synth
  • Elka Cruz - wrist bell + cyborg pancreas + kalimba
  • styrofoamNosebleedPrincess - wrist bell, jaw harp, flexitone
  • Mira Martin-Gray - synth, harmonica
  • Simon Webb - tambourine + bell
  • Eric Cinnsealach - bass clarinet
  • Dame Cook - haunted laptop
  • Alex Simons - harmonicas, bell
  • Chris Price - voice
  • Max Donaldson - voice
  • Ivy Carroll - voice
  • Daisy Betlej - bowed flexitone
  • Kaya McGregor - tongue drum (soprano)
  • Marius / Lenny / Adriano - stuff & vibes
  • Naomi McCarroll-Butler - jaw harp
  • Matthew + Anna - harmonica, whistle, thumb piano, pistachios
  • Sara Constant - flute
  • Kat Estacio - cymbal, Tibetan singing bowl
  • Abigail Trotsky + Chris Trotter - DIY resonance box + bow w/ reverb + multi-effect
  • Erin Corbett - cello + mandolin
  • Mickle32 - bass
  • Heraclitus Akimbo - synths, Zoia

You can listen to a (lightly-edited) version of the full experience over on bandcamp:

Monday, May 6, 2024

Monday Roundup #173

Community notes:


Concert announcements:

The Brandon Davis Trio [Brandon Davis/Naomi McCarroll-Butler/Joe Sorbara] [album release celebration!] (Brandon Davis [solo]) / Sellers & Newel 2024-05-14 (Tuesday). $15 minimum donation. [more info]

catl. / Castro's Lounge 2024-05-18 (Saturday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Secret Sign (Science International) / Ted's Collision 2024-05-23 (Thursday). $free/pwyc. [FB event]

Gabe Girard presents (feat. The Jake Laur Trio [Ezra Schell/Yoshi Wall/Jake Laur] / Nobody Waved Goodbye (Joe Strutt/Mike Lynn/Marilyn Yogarajah/Gabe Girard] / D.B. Buxton with Special Guests) / The Dock Ellis 2024-05-26 (Sunday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Gentleman Reg (Kelly McMichael) / Burdock Music Hall 2024-05-28 (Tuesday). $15. [more info]

Dan Fortin [solo bass] / Sellers & Newel 2024-05-29 (Wednesday). $15 minimum donation. [more info]

John Kameel Farah & Nick Fraser [Farahser launch party!] / Monarch Tavern 2024-05-29 (Wednesday). $20 suggested donation; $30 will include a CD or LP. [FB event]

Coward Patrol & More Noise Please! present (feat. Never Sorry / Battle Milk / Black Galaxie / A Useless Mass) / Penny's Dive Bar 2024-06-08 (Saturday). $pwyc. [FB event]

A-Minor Presents (feat. Rituals / Fires of Cheektowaga / The Lee Majors / Memorex) / Hard Luck Bar 2024-06-08 (Saturday). $16.48, 19+. [FB event]

Tranzac Fundraiser II (feat. US Girls / Eucalyptus / Cots) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2024-06-14 (Friday). $20 adv, $25 door, 19+

Andy Haas & Mike Milligan / Sellers & Newel 2024-06-26 (Wednesday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]

Ducks Ltd. / Longboat Hall 2024-08-22 (Thursday). $29.10, 19+. [FB event]

Is your show missing from this list? Submit it via this form!


Shows this week:

Camille Léon presents: Agave (feat. The John Denver Airport Conspiracy /Wedding) / Burdock Music Hall 2024-05-06 (Monday). $15. [more info]

Spruce Needles (Jenny Omnichord / Heather Mariko / Todd Graham) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-05-06 (Monday) [more info]

Track Could Bend #91 (feat. TH6Ø [debut live performance!] / Olivia Shortt / Brian Abbott) / Wenona Lodge 2024-05-07 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [FB event]

ChamberDestroy [premieres of works by Nicole Lizee and Yaz Lancaster alongside pieces by Louis Andriessen and Julius Eastman] (feat. Ensemble Paramirabo & Thin Edge New Music Collective) / The Music Gallery 2024-05-07 (Tuesday). $tba. [more info]

Peripheral Vision with special guest Joe Sorbara (Joe Sorbara Sextet [Rebecca Hennessy/Ted Crosby/Aline Homzy/Tania Gill/Michael Herring/Joe Sorbara]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-05-07 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Brodie West presents (feat. The Donna Lee Quartet [Brodie West/Reg Schwager/Josh Cole/Nick Fraser]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-05-08 (Wednesday – early)

Westelaken / Bar Orwell Owl's Club 2024-05-08 (Wednesday)

People places records presents (feat. Yaz Lancaster [solo] / Yaz Lancaster/Andrew Noseworthy/Sara Constant) / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2024-05-08 (Wednesday). $22.89. [FB event]

Troglos (Drew Smith) / Houndstooth 2024-05-08 (Wednesday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Never Was [Brandon Davis/Racha Moukalled/Patrick O'Reilly/Adrian Russouw/Joe Sorbara] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-05-08 (Wednesday)

CMC Presents (feat. tUkU x bUdi) / Canadian Music Centre 2024-05-09 (Thursday). $15 Advance, $20 at the door; CMC Members and Arts Workers: $12 Advance, $15 at the door; Students. $10 anytime. [more info]

What Is: Spirituality (As Connection) [vibrotactile sound installation, ASMR and hypnosis + neurological-centered, psychoacoustic performance] (feat. Amma Ateria / Erin Gee / Leon Louder) / The Music Gallery 2024-05-09 (Thursday). $10-20 PWYCA [Pay What You Can Afford], all ages. [more info]

Beams [Requiem for a Planet album release show] (Pelican Movement / Zinnia) / The Garrison 2024-05-09 (Thursday). $18.86, 19+. [FB event]

What Is: Spirituality (As Laughter) – Sound Bath (feat. Laraaji & Arji OceAnanda / New Chance Peaceful Mind) / The Music Gallery 2024-05-10 (Friday). $10-20 PWYCA [Pay What You Can Afford], all ages. [more info]

Batuki Music Society presents (feat. Okavango African Orchestra) / Hugh's Room 2024-05-10 (Friday). $32.73. [FB event]

Audiopollination (feat. Dave Nelson/Paul Newman/Piers Oolvai / David MacDonald/Isabelle Méline/Saba Saneinejad / Michael Palumbo/Arnd Jurgensen/Stone He / Kayla Milmine/Anita Katakka/Isiah Naveed Farabakhsh) / Array Space 2024-05-10 (Friday). $10 [cash or card] (or PWYC/ free if you are lacking funds). [FB event]

PDA & More Noise Please present (feat. Jute / God of Gaps / Stashole / Murmur / Trauma Dump) / Bar Orwell Penny's 2024-05-10 (Friday) [more info]

Musica Universalis (feat. Colin Fisher Quartet [Colin Fisher/Aline Homzy/Jeff Luciani/Josh Cole]) / Derrick Vella [solo acoustic guitar) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-05-10 (Friday). $pwyc, $10 suggested donation

Blunt Object [performing the weird and wonderful music of Carla Bley, featuring Jay Hay/Ben Dietschi/Gordon Hyland/Jesse Malone/Teppei Kamei/Josh Bird/Robin Jessome/Zach Smith/Tania Gill/Phil Albert/Matthew Pullicino] / The Rex 2024-05-11 (Saturday – 2 p.m.). $10/$15. [FB event]

Welcome to Hipsville (feat. Ichi-Bons / The Kewpie Dolls / The Slow Drags / Fuzz Vultures / Thee Rogue Telstars) / Owl's Club 2024-05-11 (Saturday). $25. [FB event]

What Is: Spirituality (As Sharing) ["The beloved album 10 Ragas to a Disco Beat is reimagined"] (feat. Gurpreet Chana / Granny Smith / Anuja Panditrao / Marilyn Yogarajah / David Psutka / Nilan Perera / Hardeep Chana / Naomi McCarroll-Butler / Araz Salek / Peter Rahul / Enzo Sun / Lian McMillan / Rajvi Dedhia / Bhavajan Kumar / Dainty Smith) / The Music Gallery 2024-05-11 (Saturday). $15-25 PWYCA [Pay What You Can Afford], all ages. [more info]

Folly Group (Uh Huh) / Monarch Tavern 2024-05-11 (Saturday). $27.96, 19+. [FB event]

Michael Palumbo & Friends #5 [tUkU/Sara Constant/Pursuit Grooves/Pouya Hamidi/Steven Webb/Bea Labikova/Michael Palumbo] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-05-11 (Saturday)

Ayal Senior & Friends (feat. Ayal Senior & Kurt Newman / William Davison / Karsten Stryker / Nick Flanagan) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-05-12 (Sunday – 2:30 p.m.). $pwyc. [FB event]

Annual Hirut Residency (feat. Eucalyptus [Aidan McConnell/Aline Homzy/Blake Howard/Brodie West/Evan Cartwright/Kurt Newman/Mike Smith/Nick Fraser/Ryan Driver]) / Hirut Café 2024-05-12 (Sunday). $15, dining available, family-friendly. [more info]

Sunday, May 5, 2024

Recording: Voidfemmes & Erin Corbett

Artist: Voidfemmes & Erin Corbett

Songs: [two excerpts]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #90), April 2, 2024.

Voidfemmes & Erin Corbett - [excerpt 1]

Voidfemmes & Erin Corbett - [excerpt 2]

Quite by accident, this edition of TCB contained two duos, each comprised of a guitarist and a synthesist — but ultimately that served to show how much terrain could be encompassed in that alignment. This pairing saw Lex Feathers (modular synth) and Erin Corbett (guitar) taking turns swelling above the haze with sympathetic textures. The set ended with an electro-folk-y take on Portishead's "The Rip", which both sounded like an extension of the abstractions that had come before it as well as a nod to the more pop-oriented directions these musicians also explore.

You can check out some more from this set (including that cover) over on youtube:

[Track Could Bend is back at Wenona on Tuesday (May 7th) with sets from Olivia Shortt and Brian Abbott, plus the debut live performance of harsh abstract electronics project TH6Ø.]

Recording: Allison Cameron & Stephen Parkinson

Artist: Allison Cameron & Stephen Parkinson

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #90), April 2, 2024.

Allison Cameron & Stephen Parkinson - [excerpt]

Quite by accident, this edition of TCB contained two duos, each comprised of a guitarist and a synthesist — but ultimately that served to show how much terrain could be encompassed in that alignment. Leading off the evening, Allison Cameron provided laptop manipulations and crackle synth crunches, while Stephen Parkinson, guitar mostly on lap and preparations in hand, provided a masterclass in listening and restraint. Call it quiet noise — the deliberate, slow accretion of sounds provided many aural riches for those willing to lean forward and listen closely.

You can check out some more from this set over on youtube:

[Track Could Bend is back at Wenona on Tuesday (May 7th) with sets from Olivia Shortt and Brian Abbott, plus the debut live performance of harsh abstract electronics project TH6Ø.]