Concert Listings Roundup #311

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:

Noah Franche-Nolan Trio / The Emmet Ray 2019-07-22 (Monday – early! PWYC!) [more info]

Chris Pruden/Julian Anderson-Bowes/Mark Ballyk / The Emmet Ray 2019-07-22 (Monday – PWYC!) [more info]

Simultaneous Cassette Release (feat. C.R. Gillespie / Edmund Stay) / Grossman's Tavern 2019-07-22 (Monday) [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]

Alex Whyte/Jonathan Luke/David Sait [improvisations revolving around Pauline Oliveros’ text scores] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-07-23 (Tuesday)

Music by Harry and Furlong S1E10 (feat. Andrew Furlong & Kurt Newman / Mike DeiCont/Alexei Orechin/Emily Steinwall/Eric West) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-07-24 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Summer Music in the Garden: Inner Journey V (feat. Rumi Canada) ["sacred music rooted in Sufi and Dervish traditions, using the poetry of Rumi and Hafiz as lyrics"] / Toronto Music Garden 2019-07-25 (Thursday – free! all-ages + family-friendly!) [more info]

Tara Kannangara (Omhouse / Illyin Pipes) / The Baby G 2019-07-25 (Thursday) [FB event]

Ryōkan Band [Luke Kuplowsky/Alex Lukashevsky/Josh Cole/Felicity Williams] / Josh Cole [solo bass] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-07-25 (Thursday) [FB event]

Aurochs / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-07-26 (Friday – early!)

The Ryan Driver Sextet / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-07-26 (Friday)

Context, NA (Mum's Garden ft. Night Choir / J. Pederson) / White House 2019-07-26 (Friday) [FB event]

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

Pixel Grip (Poster Boy / Gaura Sange) / Handlebar 2019-07-27 (Saturday) [FB event]

DUST, the quietest big band in the known world / Oculus Pavillion 2019-07-28 (Sunday – special outdoor afternoon event, 3 to 4:30 p.m.!) [FB event]

Jazz United Jam [live jazz + tap dancing!] / The Tranzac (Tiki Room) 2019-07-28 (Sunday)

Mark Hundevad/Daniel Pencer/Colin Fisher / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-07-28 (Sunday – early!)

Alexei Orechin/Brandon Davis/Rob Grieve/Nick Fraser / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-07-28 (Sunday)

Harriet Brown (New Chance / SWANES / Blip†or) / The Baby G 2018-07-28 (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!

In-Between Sounds #100 (feat. Lorde Awesome) / The Only Café 2019-08-01 (Thursday) [FB event]

Venus Fest presents (feat. Ada Lea / Pantayo / Blunt Chunks) / The Drake Underground 2019-08-01 (Thursday) [FB event]

Nite Comfort 70 (feat. Laura Swankey / Blunt Chunks) / Handlebar 2019-08-04 (Sunday – PWYC!) [FB event]

Not Dead Yet presents (feat. Truth Cult / Best Wishes / Hesitate) / See-Scape 2019-08-06 (Tuesday) [FB event]

The Peanut Gallery Inaugural Ball (feat. Future Machines / Animatist / Yumster / DustBin) / Junction City Music Hall 2019-08-08 (Thursday) [FB event]

Ayal Senior Presents (feat. Stargoon) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2019-08-11 (Sunday – family-friendly afternoon show, 3 to 5 p.m.!) [FB event]

Summer Music in the Garden: Raags of Love and Devotion (feat. Ramneek Singh/Ravi Naimpally/Hardeep Chana) ["mesmerizing improvisations on afternoon raags from the Hindustani classical tradition"] / Toronto Music Garden 2019-08-11 (Sunday – afternoon show @ 4 p.m.! free! all-ages + family-friendly!) [more info]

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

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

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]

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

Moor Mother (Jerusalem In My Heart) / The Music Gallery @ 918 Bathurst 2019-09-27 (Friday) [FB event]

Recording: Kerhachne

Artist: Kerhachne

Songs: [1st piece, in two parts]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #50), May 7, 2019.

Kerhachne - [1st piece, part 1]

Kerhachne - [1st piece, part 2]

I was adequately moved by this ensemble the first time I saw them to book 'em on the spot for TCB. Somewhere on the way to the basement, they acquired a name, but otherwise the mix of strings (from Nelson Moneo's viola and Cheryl O's cello) and interference (Kristian Fourier's piano and electronics), held together by Harry Vetro's percussion, continued the spell of swells and crashes that convinced me the first time.

[Track Could Bend is back in Wenona's basement on Tuesday, August 6th with performances from Hiroki Tanaka, Del Stephen's Today Versions and Liz Lima.]

Recording: Reknee Harrett + Josh Sinclair

Artist: Reknee Harrett + Josh Sinclair

Song: Grief Cycle

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #50), May 7, 2019.

Reknee Harrett + Josh Sinclair - Grief Cycle

Always radiating a deep sense of empathy and a dry sense of humour on stage, this piece (plus a couple covers) saw double bassist/composer Reknee Harrett joined by Josh Sinclair on piano. Harrett can add some pedal-based manipulations to her sound when called for, but with a rental bass and this brand-new composition in hand, things were stripped back for a raw and honest encounter with this "song for the dying and those who were left behind".

[Track Could Bend is back in Wenona's basement on Tuesday, August 6th with performances from Hiroki Tanaka, Del Stephen's Today Versions and Liz Lima.]

Recording: Primate Pyramid

Artist: Primate Pyramid

Songs: two unknown pieces^*

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #50), May 7, 2019.

Primate Pyramid - [track 4]

Primate Pyramid - [track 7]

Making music, and then performing it in front of other people, are two really different things. Sounds that are lithe and genteel in headphones or monitors at home become weirdly distorted in a random venue's PA, and carefully-constructed tracks become Frankenstein's monsters taking on lives of their own. It's a weird thing to navigate, and kudos to Paul M. for taking the plunge and bringing the live debut of his longstanding project to TCB. Collaging found sounds in both audio and visual forms, PP is most active on instagram right now, with new miniatures appearing regularly. This live set included some of those visuals, enhancing sounds that ranged from healing drones to mystery radio broadcasts.

[Track Could Bend is back in Wenona's basement on Tuesday, August 6th with performances from Hiroki Tanaka, Del Stephen's Today Versions and Liz Lima.]

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

Recording: Yoshimoto-Cameron-Lima

Artist: Yumiko Yoshimoto/Allison Cameron/Elizabeth Lima

Songs: [excerpt, in two parts]

Recorded at Array Space (Audiopollination 71), May 5, 2019.

Yumiko Yoshimoto/Allison Cameron/Elizabeth Lima - [excerpt, part 1]

Yumiko Yoshimoto/Allison Cameron/Elizabeth Lima - [excerpt, part 2]

The night concluded with this trio, Yoshimoto's daxophone and guitar matching well with Liz Lima's voice and clarinet and Allison Cameron's crackle synth/keyboard/string-plinking.

You can watch this whole set over on Audiopollination's youtube channel:

[Audiopollination returns to Array tonight (Saturday, July 20th) to introduce visiting Australian vocalist Sonya Holowell to some local musicians; there will also a night of randomly-drawn small groups live-soundtracking short films on Saturday, August 3rd.]

Recording: Pederson-styrofoamNosebleedPrincess-Maraj

Artist: Craig Pederson/styrofoamNosebleedPrincess/Kieran Maraj

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at Array Space (Audiopollination 71), May 5, 2019.

Craig Pederson/styrofoamNosebleedPrincess/Kieran Maraj - [excerpt]

An intriguing mix here of styrofoamNosebleedPrincess' percussive micro-samples (something like a digitized version of popping bubble wrap), Maraj's laptop manipulations and Pederson's trumpet. The tableau looked a bit like a strange sci-fi trial scene, with styrofoamNosebleedPrincess as the court reporter, fingers hovering over dictaphone keys, Maraj the courtroom artist, light pen in hand, and the be-hatted Pederson perhaps the accused trying to play his way out of a not-fully-understood charge.

You can watch this whole set over on Audiopollination's youtube channel:

[Audiopollination returns to Array tonight (Saturday, July 20th) to introduce visiting Australian vocalist Sonya Holowell to some local musicians; there will also a night of randomly-drawn small groups live-soundtracking short films on Saturday, August 3rd.]

Recording: Elizabeth Millar & Mira Martin-Gray

Artist: Elizabeth Millar & Mira Martin-Gray

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at Array Space (Audiopollination 71), May 5, 2019.

Elizabeth Millar & Mira Martin-Gray - [excerpt]

This set matched Montréal's Elizabeth Millar (who brought some small fans and other implements of her "no instrument machines") with Mira Martin-Gray, who forewent her usual no-input mixer explorations for some small-scale synthesis. The upshot was something like the sound of a fax coming in, slowed down to a soothing hum.

You can watch this whole set over on Audiopollination's youtube channel:

[Audiopollination returns to Array tonight (Saturday, July 20th) to introduce visiting Australian vocalist Sonya Holowell to some local musicians; there will also a night of randomly-drawn small groups live-soundtracking short films on Saturday, August 3rd.]

Recording: Yumiko Yoshimoto

Artist: Yumiko Yoshimoto

Songs: [two excerpts]

Recorded at Array Space (Audiopollination 71), May 5, 2019.

Yumiko Yoshimoto - [excerpt 1]

Yumiko Yoshimoto - [excerpt 2]

This evening of creative sounds was curated to introduce Japanese performer Yumiko Yoshimoto to a local crowd, and to give her a chance to have some musical encounters with Toronto sound-makers. Yoshimoto played some atmospheric guitar as well as the daxophone, a bowed instrument with a much closer relationship to the singing saw than the horn its name rhymes with. She opened the night with a solo set that was as striking as it was succinct, drawing animal sounds and otherwordly singing from the daxophone's tongues.

You can watch this whole set over on Audiopollination's youtube channel:

[Audiopollination returns to Array tonight (Saturday, July 20th) to introduce visiting Australian vocalist Sonya Holowell to some local musicians; there will also a night of randomly-drawn small groups live-soundtracking short films on Saturday, August 3rd.]

Recording: The Cosmic Range

Artist: The Cosmic Range

Songs: The Observers + Let the Sunshine In [from the musical "Hair"]

Recorded at The Garrison, May 3, 2019.

The Cosmic Range - The Observers

The Cosmic Range - Let the Sunshine In

Celebrating the release of The Gratitude Principle, Doc Dunn and The Cosmic Range filled the stage at the Big G with the usual large complement (including Mike Smith providing all the basslines this time 'round on Moog rather than four-string). Moving from spiritual planetarium drift to full-on wah-wah soul funk, the night ended in a familiar place, with a cover that used to show up quite frequently in Isla Craig's solo repertoire.

Recording: Man Made Hill

Artist: Man Made Hill

Song: Sick Rock

Recorded at The Garrison, May 3, 2019.

Man Made Hill - Sick Rock

Sporting some tape copies of his new "library music" collection, Randy Gagne brought a set of old songs, brand new songs, facepaint and drippin' sweat. Plus this observation on megalithic structures. Let's rock!

Recording: Brian Abbott & Leslie Ting

Artist: Brian Abbott & Leslie Ting

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Audiopollination 70.3), April 30, 2019.

Brian Abbott & Leslie Ting - [excerpt]

A fifth Tuesday of the month brought an extra slot for creative music in the basement at Wenona Lodge, with Audiopollination's Mike Lynn curating a night of exploratory sounds. The night closed out with this drone-zone juxtaposition of e-bow and violin bow.

[Brian Abbott will be back in Wenona's basement on the next fifth Tuesday (July 30th) performing and presenting as part of a "Faster Presents" evening. Meanwhile, there are a pair of equally intriguing and distinct Audiopollination events coming up: on Saturday (July 20th), Australian improvising vocalist Sonya Holowell pays a visit, where she'll play with s series of locals (including Tiina Kiik, Paul Newman, Laura Swankey, Alison Keery, Tomasz Krakowiak, Brian Abbott, Elizabeth Lima and Patrick O'Reilly) across four sets, while on Saturday, August 3rd, The Infinite Monotremes and special guests will be forming random small groups to play to short films by Curtis Whittaker.]

Recording: Lîla Fragments

Artist: Lîla Fragments

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Audiopollination 70.3), April 30, 2019.

Lîla Fragments - [excerpt]

A fifth Tuesday of the month brought an extra slot for creative music in the basement at Wenona Lodge, with Audiopollination's Mike Lynn curating a night of exploratory sounds. I've heard plenty of amazing rampaging roars from this mind-meld trio of Bea Labikova (sax), Raphael Roter (percussion), and Chris Adriaanse (double bass), but this spare end-game to their set was perhaps even more overflowing with quietly-surging potential, especially with Roter adding some cicada-buzzes on a pair of slide whistles.

[There are a pair of equally intriguing and distinct Audiopollination events coming up: on Saturday (July 20th), Australian improvising vocalist Sonya Holowell pays a visit, where she'll play with s series of locals (including Tiina Kiik, Paul Newman, Laura Swankey, Alison Keery, Tomasz Krakowiak, Brian Abbott, Elizabeth Lima and Patrick O'Reilly) across four sets, while on Saturday, August 3rd, The Infinite Monotremes and special guests will be forming random small groups to play to short films by Curtis Whittaker.]

Recording: Heraclitus Akimbo & mkl32

Artist: Heraclitus Akimbo & mkl32

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Audiopollination 70.3), April 30, 2019.

Heraclitus Akimbo & mkl32 - [excerpt]

A fifth Tuesday of the month brought an extra slot for creative music in the basement at Wenona Lodge, with Audiopollination's Mike Lynn curating a night of exploratory sounds. He also opened the night, playing double bass with Heraclitus Akimbo running pedal knob-twists and other manipulations on his signals.

[There are a pair of equally intriguing and distinct Audiopollination events coming up: on Saturday (July 20th), Australian improvising vocalist Sonya Holowell pays a visit, where she'll play with s series of locals (including Tiina Kiik, Paul Newman, Laura Swankey, Alison Keery, Tomasz Krakowiak, Brian Abbott, Elizabeth Lima and Patrick O'Reilly) across four sets, while on Saturday, August 3rd, The Infinite Monotremes and special guests will be forming random small groups to play to short films by Curtis Whittaker.]

Recording: Stranger Still

Artist: Stranger Still

Songs: The Drunken Poet + Looking For Nancy [based on poems by Alden Nowlan]

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (All-Set! Editions Double Release Celebration), April 27, 2019.

Stranger Still - The Drunken Poet

Stranger Still - Looking For Nancy

This dual release celebration ran with the double-up concept, putting both bands on stage simultaneously, each taking a couple songs at a time before flipping things over. This project from Pete Johnston saw him exploring the work of Alden Nowlan — a poet who, like Johnston, emerged from Hants County, Nova Scotia. The poems are constructed from ingredients close at hand (cold Canadian weather, gossip about the neighbours, another drunken night out) and were largely set to be sung by Mim Adams and Randi Helmers, backed by Rob Clutton's bass and Johnston's guitar. (The exception was the delightful "Looking For Nancy", transformed into a slightly quavery country tune and sung by Johnston himself.)

Recording: The Mike Smith Company

Artist: The Mike Smith Company

Song: This Widowed Hoard

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (All-Set! Editions Double Release Celebration), April 27, 2019.

The Mike Smith Company - This Widowed Hoard

This dual release celebration ran with the double-up concept, putting both bands on stage simultaneously, each taking a couple songs at a time before flipping things over. Mike Smith (on synth and backing vox) was celebrating the long-gestating Songs of The Mike Smith Company alongside Robin Dann (vox), Rebecca Hennessy (trumpet) and Jonathan Adjemian (synth). Popsongs with prog ruffles and little sonic complications throughout, the tunes addressed a number of contemporary problems, from data forms with forced false settings to concerns about "what happens to your record collection when you die", as heard on this number.