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 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!

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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]

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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.

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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.]

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!

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.]

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!

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 Roundup #173

Community notes:

• Synthesists take note, once more this week features meets ups on Thursday (DRONE:KLUB) and Saturday (Frequency Freaks).

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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!

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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]

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.]

Recording: Heraclitus Akimbo/Gabe Girard/mkl32

Artist: Heraclitus Akimbo/Gabe Girard/mkl32

Song: Muskox Problems (for Mike) [edit]

Recorded at Bar Orwell^* (Gabe Girard presents), March 31, 2024.

Heraclitus Akimbo/Gabe Girard/mkl32 - Muskox Problems (for Mike) [edit]

A cool'n'casual night of experimental sounds made for a pleasant Sunday evening. Curated by percussionist Gabe Girard, who also held down the drum chair for this set alongside double bassist Mike Smith. Heraclitus Akimbo, meanwhile, added some kaossilations, as well as a tape loop of Muskox's "Caveman Caveman Crystal Skulls" for this piece.

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

[Final details are being ironed out, but this group will be back will be playing once more — with a fourth member and a band name! Best you keep May 26th open — details to follow.]

^* Important reminder: "Bar Orwell has permanently closed its 1595 Dundas Street West location due to constructive eviction as of Thursday, April 11, 2024." Please support this "place for all the freaks and weirdos" at their gofundme.

Recording: Molehill

Artist: Molehill

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at Bar Orwell^* (Gabe Girard presents), March 31, 2024.

Molehill - [excerpt]

A cool'n'casual night of experimental sounds made for a pleasant Sunday evening. Curated by percussionist Gabe Girard, this show saw Molehill leaving their customary environs of the Southern Cross Lounge for the first time. There were some subtle evolutions from when I last saw them, including seeing the duty of sonic processing shifting more to drummer Jake Oelrichs, leaving Mike Smith with fewer distractions as he played bass.

^* Important reminder: "Bar Orwell has permanently closed its 1595 Dundas Street West location due to constructive eviction as of Thursday, April 11, 2024." Please support this "place for all the freaks and weirdos" at their gofundme.

Monday Roundup #172

Community notes:

• Bar Orwell — which has been a open-eared community hub for the past while now — has closed as a result of Severe Landlord Trouble. They're looking to re-establish the venue in a better space, which is no easy thing in this market and economy. The city's definitely a better place with community-focused venues that are willing to take risks on strange and/or abrasive sounds, so you should read their story and support their gofundme.

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Concert announcements:

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

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]

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]

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

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Shows this week:

Jon McKiel (Louie Short) / The Baby G 2024-04-29 (Monday). $29.98. [FB event]

Dan Pitt Quintet [Naomi McCarroll-Butler/Patrick Smith/Alex Fournier/Nick Fraser/Dan Pitt] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-29 (Monday) [FB event]

Solitary Shrew presents (feat. Dame Cook / Tumbling/Arrival) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-30 (Tuesday – early). $pwyc, 10 suggested donation. [more info]

Nick Fraser presents (feat. Pierre-Yves Martel Ephemera [solo modular synthesizer + harmonium] / Pierre-Yves Martel/Nick Fraser/Karen Ng) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-30 (Tuesday). $pwyc.

Holy Oak Family Singers present (feat. Holy Oak Family Singers & Veda Hille) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-05-01 (Wednesday – early!)

The Max Donaldson Quartet [Max Donaldson/Andrew Downing/Aline Homzy/Aidan McConnell] / Sellers & Newel 2024-05-02 (Thursday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]

CCMC with guest Nick Storring [John Kamevaar/John Oswald/Paul Dutton/Casey Sokol/Al Mattes] / Array Space 2024-05-02 (Thursday). $free, livestream available

The Tania Gill presents (feat. The Tania Gill Quartet [Brodie West/Rob Clutton/Nico Dann/Tania Gill]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-05-03 (Friday – early) [FB event]

Concrete Cabaret/OBJECTO Festival and Sensorium (York University) present: weave me too into the threads of your song ["a work-in-progress performance inspired by anarchist Yiddish poetry, made for the catastrophes and hopes of the present"] (feat. Jessica Moss/Erik Ruin/Gabriel Levine / Germaine Liu & Mark Zurawinski) / Array Space 2024-05-03 (Friday). Admission by donation; all proceeds go to MECA (Middle East Children's Alliance) for Gaza emergency aid. [FB event]

Glories of the German Romantic Era (feat. The Tallis Choir) / St. Patrick's Church 2024-05-04 (Saturday). $30 General, $25 Seniors, $10 Students. [FB event]

Mark Hundevad/Mike Gennaro/ Annette Studios 2024-05-04 (Saturday) [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 2024-05-05 (Sunday). $15, dining available, family-friendly. [more info]

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Bandcamp corner:

• Is it Bandcamp Friday? It is on Friday, May 3rd. Here's a couple things I'll be looking to grab:

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It happened this week...

• ...on April 29, 2018 at The Music Gallery.

Not The Music feat. Joe McPhee - [excerpt 1]

• ...on May 1, 2018 at Celestina (Track Could Bend #38).

Jen Wardle + John Mark Sherlock - [track 5]

[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.]