Artist: DZ Deathrays
Song: Cops/Capacity
Recorded at El Mocambo (upstairs), March 23, 2012.
DZ Deathrays - Cops/CapacityFull review to follow, but my quick notes for this set can be found here
Founded as a blog about one curmudgeon's love affair with the em dash, Mechanical Forest Sound has grown to become a community-based archive of local musical culture. Assuming that "independent music" isn't just boys with guitars and "culture" isn't just some sort of pageant, MFS is an investigation of a wide range of artists, reflecting on concerts as shared experiences, acts of citizenship and a chance to get down — fuzzy photographs and clear-sounding original live recordings a specialty.
Current manifestations of this project include Track Could Bend, a monthly concert series featuring "improvised music and weird rock offshoots", presented in a casual environment.
At one point I wrote full-on concert reviews, and for longer I thought I would catch up and write about shows in the past. But these days, because of, y'know, life, do not expect much in the way of full show reviews — but live recordings with blurbs will be posted as quickly after the fact as is feasible.
Check out my original live recordings from many of the gigs discussed here.
You can also check out full sets uploaded to the Live Music Archive. [not currently active]
N.B.: All recordings should be available & playable. If you come across any broken links, invisible or non-functioning players, etc, please leave a comment and I will tend to it ASAP.
ALSO N.B.: I'm perpetually on the lookout for a new place to stash my MP3's online. If you know of any place that allows a couple gigs of stuff to be openly linked to for streaming, drop me a line!
All comments are welcome, or you can reach me at mechanicalforestsound@gmail.com.
All MP3's on this blog are audience recordings shared as a reminder of the excitement of seeing live music. If you are an artist who doesn't want their music shared in this way, please contact me and I shall remove it forthwith.
If you're so inclined, you can also follow me on Bluesky @mfs-toronto.bsky.social
Is your show missing from this list? Submit it via this form!
Solitary Shrew (feat. AMIE! / Grace Scheele) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-08-26 (Tuesday – early). $pwyc ($10 suggested). [more info]
Imaginary North presents (feat. Drones Over Dufferin [Grievous Landscapes album release] / Kilometre Club / Rosy Glow) / Burdock Music Hall 2025-08-26 (Tuesday). $16.95 (advance)/$20 (door). [more info]
Maggie Keogh [Maggie Keogh/Dylan Burchell/Ryan Driver/Blake Howard] / The Emmet Ray 2025-08-26 (Tuesday). $15. [FB event]
Nick Fraser presents: Berlin Meets Toronto (feat. Anna Kaluza/Lina Allemano/Rob Clutton / Henrik Walsdorff/Nick Fraser) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-08-26 (Tuesday) [FB event]
The Pieces of the Self: Musical Meditations on Human Experience (feat. Shannon Hoff with Aidan McConnell/Chris Banks/Don Scott/Tania Gill) / Burdock Music Hall 2025-08-27 (Wednesday). $16.95. [FB event]
The Rural Alberta Advantage / CNE Bandshell 2025-08-28 (Thursday). $free with admission to The Ex, outdoors, all ages. [more info]
Kurt Newman & The New Them of Grass [Kurt Newman/Andrew Vainio/Nate Davis/Alex Wagstaff] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-08-28 (Thursday)
Intersection 2025: Day 1 (feat. Alex Raja Ven / Bilal Nasser) / Sonic Boom Records 2025-08-29 (Friday). $free, all-ages. [FB event]
All-Set! presents (feat. Molehill) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-08-29 (Friday – early) [more info]
Exit Points #63 (feat. Michael Askill/Stone He/Diane Roblin/Greta Kelly/Michael Palumbo / Elaine Lau/Scott McGregor-Moore/WHAIA Sonic Weaver/Corinna Bonshek/Sonia Leung) / Array Space 2024-08-29 (Friday). $23.08/$28.08. [tickets/more info]
Triples (Wordsew / Lawngirl) / Monarch Tavern 2025-08-29 (Friday). $16 (advance), 19+. [more info]
The Ryan Driver Sextet [Ryan Driver/Martin Arnold/Rob Clutton/Michael Davidson/Blake Howard/Doug Tielli] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-08-29 (Friday) [FB event]
Intersection 2025: Day 2: All Day Music Marathon (feat. Arkose / Anthéne / Khôra / Bilal Nasser / Alex Raja Ven & Heart Map Ambient Ensemble / Temporal Waves / David and Sydney Dacks / Lavender Town) / Sankofa Square 2025-08-30 (Saturday – 2 p.m.). $free, outside, all-ages. [FB event]
Sonomadic Improv presents (feat. Ladyfinger [Diane Roblin & Kayla Milmine] / Hidemi Akaiwa/Rob Clutton/Bob Vespaziani / The Wrinkles Experiment) / Annette Studios 2025-08-30 (Saturday)
Cosmic Homeostasis XXIX / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-08-31 (Sunday – 2:30 p.m.). $pwyc. [FB event]
the grandson ["anchor" album release] [Yoshi Maclear Wall/Ben Rositsan/Marilyn Yogarajah/Mark Gerlai/Owen Kurtz] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-08-31 (Sunday – early) [more info]
DIVKA / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-09-02 (Tuesday – early) [more info]
Track Could Bend #108 (feat. Brian Abbott / Allison Cameron) / Wenona Lodge 2025-09-02 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [FB event]
Money House [Patrick O’Reilly/Alex Fournier/Stefan Hegerat] / The Emmet Ray 2024-09-02 (Tuesday). $12. [more info]
Holy Oak Family Singers presents: The Music of Ryuichi Sakamoto (feat. Thom Gill/Robin Dann/Carlyn Bezic/Tiffany Wu/Justin Orok/Luka Kuplowsky/Mira Martin-Gray/Josh Cole/Stefana Fratila/Respectfulchild/Joseph Shabason) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-09-03 (Wednesday – early) [more info]
Equinox and Solstice Residency (feat. Ghostlight) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-09-03 (Wednesday). $pwyc. [FB event]
George Koller/Kayla Milmine/Diane Roblin / The Emmet Ray 2025-09-04 (Thursday – 6:30 p.m.). $15. [more info]
Ministry of Phonic Services presents Back to School Field Trip (feat. Wilderness Adventure Ride / Important Hair / Kahraba / Del Stephen Plays Cut Rock Canyon Poem and Other Works) / "ask for location" 2025-09-05 (Friday). $pwyc, outdoors. [more info]
Diane Roblin's Life Force [Diane Roblin/George Koller/Tim Shia/Colleen Allen/John Johnson/Kevin Turcotte] / The Pilot 2025-09-06 (Saturday – 2 p.m.) [FB event]
Ministry of Phonic Services presents Back to School Field Trip (feat. Scrape Collective) / "ask for location" 2025-09-06 (Saturday – 2:30 p.m.). $pwyc, outdoors. [more info]
Ministry of Phonic Services presents Back to School Field Trip (feat. Render File / Owen Kurtz & Callon Murphy) / "ask for location" 2025-09-07 (Sunday). $pwyc, outdoors. [more info]
Mike DeiCont Trio [Mike DeiCont/Eric West/Leland Whitty] / The Emmet Ray 2025-09-08 (Monday – 6:30 p.m.). $15. [more info]
Patrick Smith’s 30th Birthday Show! (feat. Patrick Smith/Mike Murley/Bob Brough/Chris Banks/Lowell Whitty) / The Emmet Ray 2025-09-08 (Monday). $10. [FB event]
Lori Freedman (Marc Couroux) / Sellers and Newel 2025-09-11 (Thursday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]
Noah Franche-Nolan & Dan Pitt [Arid Landscapes record release] / Sellers and Newel 2024-09-12 (Friday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]
The Harry Vetro Quartet [Harrison Argatoff/Jay Yoo/Andrew Furlong/Harry Vetro] / The Emmet Ray 2025-09-13 (Saturday – 6 p.m.). $12. [more info]
Max Donaldson [solo piano live recording] / Sellers and Newel 2025-09-13 (Saturday). $15 minimum donation. [more info]
TONE presents (feat. Tara Clerkin Trio / Slow Attack Ensemble / Potions) / Collective Arts 2025-09-13 (Saturday). $22.89, 19+. [FB event]
Imaginary North presents: Ambient Afternoon (feat. anthéne / Gollden / Arie Verheul van de Ven / Siren) / Standard Time 2025-09-14 (Sunday – 4 p.m.). $10/PWYC. [more info]
More Noise Please Presents: An Evening of Ear Shattering & Heart-wrenchiing Sounds (feat. Knifedoutofexistence / Primitive Isolation Tactics / Jute / Daylight Inferno / Pequephone) / BSMT 254 2025-09-18 (Thursday). $15/pwyc. [FB event]
Justin Karas (Geordie Gordon) / Burdock Music Hall 2025-09-18 (Thursday). $16.95 (advance)/$20 (door). [tickets + more info]
Kid Congo & The Pink Monkey Birds (Harmony on Mars) / Monarch Tavern 2025-09-18 (Thursday). $27.96, 19+. [FB event]
Liquid Architecture (feat. Nathan Yell / Marlena Pellegrino / Del Stephen & the Picture Plane Preservation Group / Ryan Kinney) / St. Matthew’s Clubhouse 2025-09-20 (Saturday). $10 at the door (cash or e-transfer). [FB event]
Dun-Dun Band [Pita Parka, Pt. II: Nim Egduf record release show] (Thom Gill) / Collective Arts 2025-09-27 (Saturday). $25. [FB event]
K2 [record release] [Kayla Milmine & Jonathan Kay] / Sellers and Newel 2025-10-01 (Wednesday) [more info]
Not Dead Yet presents (feat. One Leg One Eye) / BSMT254 2025-10-01 (Wednesday). $19.13, 19+. [tickets/more info]
Fembots / Sellers and Newel 2025-10-03 (Friday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]
Patrick O'Reilly & Phil Albert [record release] / Sellers and Newel 2025-10-08 (Wednesday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]
Ace Of Wands (Praises / Flake) / Monarch Tavern 2025-10-09 (Thursday). $16 (advance), 19+. [more info]
Money House [Alex Fournier/Stefan Hegerat/Patrick O’Reilly] / Sellers and Newel 2024-10-22 (Wednesday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]
Emily Klassen/Ben Stein/Amahl Arulanandam / Sellers and Newel 2024-10-23 (Thursday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]
Dan Pitt/Brittany Pitt/Evan Tighe / Sellers and Newel 2024-10-24 (Friday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]
The Patrick Smith Trio [Patrick Smith/Lowell Whitty/Dan Pitt] / Sellers and Newel 2024-11-07 (Friday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]
Brittany Pitt/Dan Pitt/Laura Swankey / Sellers and Newel 2024-11-21 (Friday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]
Bitchin Bajas / Monarch Tavern 2025-12-07 (Sunday). $27.96, 19+. [tickets + more info]
Soundstreams presents: Arvo Pärt at 90 (feat. Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir) / Yorkminster Park Baptist Chuch 2026-02-14 (Saturday). $33.25 to $89.75. [more info]
2025 Gigs
Track Could Bend #99 (feat. Lostworldsounds / future proof) / Wenona Lodge 2025-01-07 (Tuesday)
Ayal Senior & Friends (feat. Ayal Senior & Kurt Newman / Michelle Breslin / David Sait / Nick Flanagan) 2025-01-12 (Sunday)
Isla Craig (A L M A) / 918 Bathurst (Sun Room) 2025-02-02 (Sunday)
Track Could Bend #101 (feat. Kayla Milmine/Bob Vespaziani/Michael Lynn / Colin Fisher) / Wenona Lodge 2025-02-04 (Tuesday)
Track Could Bend #100 (feat. Isla Craig/Fahmid Nibesh/Michelangelo / Del Stephen/Danny Sheehan/Phil Hamilton / Ian McPhedran/James Bailey/Tom Richards / Raphael Roter/Sara Constant/Bill Gilliam / Bea Labikova/Mira Martin-Gray/Heather Saumer / Sarah Peebles/Kat Estacio/Danny Alexander / Luka Kuplowsky/Karen Ng/William Davison) / 918 Bathurst 2025-02-16 (Sunday)
Music Hosted by Karen Ng: A fundraiser show for Earlobe (feat. Holger Schrool & Mark Zurawinski / Many People) / Wenona Lodge 2024-02-18 (Tuesday)
Patrick O'Reilly presents: Carded! (feat. Patrick O'Reilly/Samuel Little/amiel ang/Samuel Laramee/Omar Yazaw/Leah Reavster/%%30%30/Annie Elgie) / Walter Hall 2025-02-24 (Monday)
Track Could Bend #102 (feat. M.D.N.R. / Del Stephen's Totoloto)
Women From Space Festival 2025 (feat. Erin Poole & Rosina Kazi/Chantelle Mostacho & shn shn / Yuniya Edi Kwon / Azumi OE/Eukademix) / 918 Bathurst 2025-03-08 (Saturday)
Women From Space Festival 2025 (feat. Mingjia Chen + Linnea Sablosky / Arushi Jain / Myra Melford's Fire and Water Trio) / 918 Bathurst 2025-03-09 (Sunday)
Nolan Hildebrand’s DMA Recital (feat. Colin Fisher/Roan Ma/Patrick O'Reilly/Chris Weins/Veronica Zupanic/Hirad Moradi/Louis Pino/Nikki Huang/Hoi-Tong Keung/Bevis NG/Jasmine Tsui/Thomas Li) / Walter Hall 2025-03-11 (Tuesday)
Cosmic Homeostasis XXVII / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-03-23 (Sunday)
Clue Note presents (feat. Rob Clutton/Bea Labikova/Doug Tielli/Kevin Turcotte/Mark Zurawinski) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-03-25 (Tuesday)
Nick Fraser presents (feat. Nick Fraser's Special Topics) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-03-25 (Tuesday)
The Music Gallery presents (feat. Turntable Trio [Maria Chavez/Evicshen/Mariam Rezaei] / Kristina Guison) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2024-03-31 (Monday)
Track Could Bend #103 [Co-presented with Ministry of Phonic Services] (feat. Maebh Clark & Lucas Dvorsky / %%30%30) / Wenona Lodge 2025-04-01 (Tuesday)
Ambient soundscapes for babies to adults (feat. LordAUK / A L M A / Jessica Deutsch) / 918 Bathurst (Sun Room) 2025-04-06 (Sunday)
Kurt Newman presents: Newman Guitars (feat. Kurt Newman / Harris Newman) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-10 (Thursday)
SaltChunkJerry (Man Made Hill / Greydini / Shaaane) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2025-04-12 (Saturday)
Stranger Still / 918 Bathurst (Sun Room) 2025-04-13 (Sunday)
Labyrinth Ensemble with Âriâ Mohâfez / Aga Khan Museum 2025-05-03 (Saturday)
Track Could Bend #104 (feat. Caleb Klager / Hex-A-Decimal / Allemano/Driver/Klager) / Wenona Lodge 2025-05-06 (Tuesday)
Audiopollination (feat. Pierre Mongeon/Michael Palumbo/Diane Roblin / mkl32 / Mira Martin-Gray / Holger Schoorl & Mark Zurawinski) / Array Space 2025-05-09 (Friday)
The Music Gallery presents What Is: heart(break) – Rebound (feat. Sarah Hennies & Tristan-Kasten Krause / Imaginary Percussion Ensemble) / East End United Church (Gymnasium) 2025-05-16 (Friday)
Not The Wind, Not the Flag / Le Monde 2025-05-17 (Saturday)
an action committee / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-05-18 (Sunday)
Music Hosted by Karen Ng (feat. Brodie West / Karen Ng/Leslie Ting/Germaine Liu) / Wenona Lodge 2025-05-20 (Tuesday)
TONE presents (feat. Eric Chenaux Trio / Cici Arthur) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2025-05-23 (Friday)
Ben Mike & The Beatles (Carolina Lopez) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2024-05-25 (Sunday)
Heraclitus Akimbo / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-05-29 (Thursday)
Prepare the Ground – Night 2 (feat. Raphael Weinroth-Browne / Jay Jayle / Ora Cogan & Ester Thunander / Oldest Sea) / 918 Bathurst 2025-05-31 (Saturday)
Prepare the Ground – Night 3 (feat. Harvestman / John Wiese / Lana Del Rabies / The Rita) / 918 Bathurst 2025-06-01 (Sunday)
Track Could Bend #105 (feat. Determinist? / Aliyah Aziz) / Wenona Lodge 2025-06-03 (Tuesday)
NO HAY BANDA (HxH) / The Music Gallery 2025-06-05 (Thursday)
Open Tuning Festival (feat. Cosmic Homeostasis) / Karma Co-op's parking lot 2025-06-07 (Saturday)
Prince Nifty & Colin Fisher / Le Monde 2025-06-07 (Saturday)
Araz Salek & Friends / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2025-06-08 (Sunday)
Audiopollination (feat. David Sait/James Bailey/Eunoia Jean Close / cheryl o/Neil Wiernik/Del Stephen / Heraclitus Akimbo/Laura Swankey/Judy Zhu / Mickle32 & Rod Campbell) / Array Space 2025-06-13 (Friday)
New Chance (Bile Sister) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2025-06-14 (Saturday)
South by South East International Festival (feat. Yani Borrell) / Harbourfront Centre (Concert Stage) 2025-06-28 (Saturday)
Cosmic Homeostasis XXVIII / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-06-29 (Sunday)
Track Could Bend #106 (feat. Cudmore/Perera Duo / Ariadna Ortega / Grace Scheele) / Wenona Lodge 2025-07-01 (Tuesday)
Rock Plaza Central (Neil Haverty) / The Baby G 2025-07-03 (Thursday)
Ayal Senior and Friends (feat. anthéne / Del Stephen / Nick Flanagan) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2025-07-13
Ministry of Phonic Services presents (feat. Brian Ruryk & %%30%30 / Fossils / Xodkaar × Auto Feeder / Battle Milk) / under Hogg's Hollow Bridge 2025-07-19 (Saturday)
Ministry of Phonic Services presents (feat. Fron Reilly & Stephen Vickery / Joyce To / Nilan Perera) / 918 Bathurst (Sun Room) 2025-07-27 (Sunday)
Track Could Bend #107 (feat. Poached Roses / Tom Richards) / Wenona Lodge 2024-08-05 (Tuesday)
Mechanical Forest Sound presents (feat. The Davison Auger / Wenderly Park / Murmur) / 918 Bathurst (The Sun Room) 2025-08-06 (Wednesday)
Within (Heraclitus Akimbo & Marilyn Yogarajah) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-08-09 (Saturday – early)
About this, It Was Not Yet Written (feat. Myk Freedman/Dave Clark/Ronley Teper) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-08-09 (Saturday)
Our Way to Fall (Sarah Greene Preservation Society Trio) / 918 Bathurst (The Sun Room) 2025-08-14 (Thursday)
Music Hosted by Karen Ng (feat. Mustafa Rafiq/ Sara Constant/Marilyn Yogayrajah/Karen Ng/Lenny) / Wenona Lodge 2025-08-19 (Tuesday)
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