Photo of Wintersleep by Emerging Design & Photography. Musicologist is a tad behind this week, so it's too late to list tonight's shows. Luckily, there's not much of anything happening music-wise tonight, except for Stevie Wonder at the ACC, and we suspect that if you didn't have tickets before today, you'd be out of luck. This week, our picks are Wintersleep at the Mod Club on Friday and the Horseshoe's awesome lineup of ladies... [continue]

Photo of Ani DiFranco by Maria Bree. This week, our must-see show is Ani DiFranco at Music Hall Theatre. Having seen her in concert multiple times, Musicologist can vouch for the fact that the Righteous Babe is an amazing live musician. There seems to be some stigma about liking Ani, but don't fall victim to that or you'll be missing out. If you're looking for something free, Ottawa's Melissa Laveaux plays Hart House's Arbor...... [continue]

Photo triptych of The Go! Team by cryptdang. This week, emo kids will have a tough choice as they decide between Dashboard Confessional and Jimmy Eat World on Thursday night. Despite our weakness for the genre (and its evil cousin, mall punk), Musicologist recommends The Go! Team that night—their single "Grip Like A Vice" is one of the most fun tracks of the year. As for other nights, we suggest checking out Josh Rouse... [continue]

Hip-hop blues music maker Buck 65 drops his new album Situation at the end of the month. The release is an ode to 1957, a time period the man born Richard Terfry considers world-changing in terms of pop culture (or, as he says in a video on his website, "the year all hell broke loose") thanks to events like Bettie Page going into self-imposed exile, those iconic plastic pink flamingoes appearing on lawns everywhere, and... [continue]

Photo of Architecture in Helsinki by Zach Klein. There are lots of great shows in Toronto this week—including a bunch of free ones. On Tuesday, Musicologist recommends checking out Sarah Melody at the Mod Club (where Snow of "Informer" fame will be making an on-stage appearance—YES!) and then running to the Horseshoe to see Wintersleep and A Northern Chorus. Spiral Beach, who also put on a great live show, have a free concert on... [continue]

This week Musicologist will be checking out Regina Spektor at the Kool Haus, thanks to the insistence of a friend who pretty much exclusively listens to hip hop. The fact the he loves Spektor means she's gotta be good. It's sold out, but Musicologist never shies away from listing sold out shows—we all know there's always an (expensive) last-ditch way to get in if you're desperate. (Why does that sound dirty? We mean scalpers,... [continue]

Photo of Smoosh by absolutwade. This week, Musicologist is a bit biased since we've been helping organize Ladyfest, taking place this weekend. Even if we weren't, we'd still recommend it. But this week we'd also suggest heading to the El Mocambo tonight to check out Donkey Punch, if you're not an indie rock snob and like classic rock/blues-influenced songs and catchy, catchy melodies. It's free, so you don't have anything to lose. Ulrich Schnauss... [continue]

Photo of Julie Doiron courtesy of Jagjaguwar. Feminism means different things to different people—and for many people it means something negative. From the angry feminist stereotypes to news outlets simply ignoring it, feminism is an important movement that's gotten a bad rap. Ladyfest Toronto is aiming to change that by throwing a festival that proves feminism can be both fun and political. The festival kicks off next Thursday (the 27th) with a party at... [continue]

Lovers of live music are in luck this week—there are a great deal of quality shows in the next seven days. Musicologist's number one choice this week is The Cinematic Orchestra (Sunday at the Phoenix), since we were utterly enchanted by their free outdoor show at Harbourfront earlier this summer. Head over to their MySpace and give the songs a listen. Just try to resist being won over. Another good bet is blues singer/guitarist... [continue]

Musicologist is Torontoist's weekly concert listings. Check back in every Monday for more. This week, Musicologist recommends Girl Talk at the Phoenix—if you can find a ticket—but with a couple of caveats. First, do not go expecting your typical live show, or even your typical DJ. The magic of Girl Talk is in the atmosphere he creates with his sample-crazy mash-ups, not in any sort of live technical impressiveness. Think of the $15 ticket price... [continue]

Musicologist is Torontoist's weekly concert listings. Check back in every Monday for more. This week, we suggest Land Of Talk and Thunderheist. Land Of Talk has put out some of the most addictive songs of the past year on their EP, Applause Cheer Boo Hiss. The stripped-down, guitar-driven pop of "All My Friends" and "Speak To Me Bones" will stick in your head and not come out, even after you've purchased the album and listened... [continue]

The late Paul Haines’ Secret Carnival Workers was launched at the end of last month, the occasion marked with a concert by his daughter, Emily (his other daughter is television journalist Avery Haines). Torontoist has been mulling over the book, comprised of poetry, fiction, jazz journalism and album liner notes, since then. This is not a book to be devoured quickly. It can be dense at times, but also immensely rewarding and full of... [continue]

Photo of My Chemical Romance in California by cantsaynotohope. Immediately upon entering the grounds of the Molson Amphitheatre Tuesday night, we realized that Projekt Revolution was not aimed at us, as we are no longer an awkward, alienated 14-year-old with oddly coloured hair (though we did see one lady who looked to be at least 55 wearing a Linkin Park shirt). We decided we would try to have a good time nonetheless. For the... [continue]

When Torontoist reader Maya Friedman posed the question, "If Torontoist were to get married (on a budget) where would the wedding be?" it got us thinking. Not only about where we’d get married, but how we’d do the rest on the cheap, too. Because if you’re like us, you feel a little sick when you’re watching Rich Bride, Poor Bride and the couple announces, “We spent $43,851 on our special day!” The actual ceremony is... [continue]

Generally, it’s not very nice to take advantage of the misfortune of others. Sometimes though, the deal is just too good to pass up. (Liquidation World has built a business out of it: “A hurricane came through and you reap the benefits!”) Local band Hotel has decided to call it quits. And since this means they don’t need their equipment anymore, they’re selling it all this weekend. The resulting list, itemized on their website,... [continue]

According to Doug Flavelle, "there are a lot of women with guitars in their closets." His studio, Guitar Girl, aims to get them out. The studio, which opened its doors in a loft-like space at Queen and Greenwood in September 2006, offers guitar lessons solely for girls and women. The focus is on six-week group courses, though they do some private lessons and have held Rock 'n' Roll camps during March Break and summer... [continue]

If you took a census of your musical instrument-playing friends, eight of them would probably be guitar players. Which is cool, but the laws of supply and demand mean that there just isn't going to be room in bands for all these guitarists. If, on the other hand, you decided to learn the theremin, you'd be pretty much guranteed to be the only kid on the block with that skill. The theremin resembles something... [continue]

Indie popsters Stars will be shooting a new video in Toronto tomorrow and Thursday and they want you to be in it. If you missed the Joel Plaskett shoot we told you about earlier this year, you've got another shot at your 15 minutes of fame (or at least becoming known among your acquaintances as "the one who was in a music video"). Aspiring extras should send photos and contact info to extras@blinkpictures.com for... [continue]

Cat Power hit the stage at the Phoenix last night for her third Toronto show in less than a year. It was Torontoist’s first time seeing her live and after having waited a few years for the privilege, and hearing wonderful things about her shows of late, we were slightly let down. But only slightly, and mostly for reasons beyond Chan Marshall’s control. With the Dirty Delta Blues Band, featuring Judah Bauer of Blues... [continue]

Just about everything is more fun when it happens outdoors and in public (and we didn't even mean for that to sound dirty). That's the first thing the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition has going for it. It takes place this weekend at Nathan Phillips Square, giving even those intimidated by art galleries the chance to peruse works of art. Other great things about the exhibition: it awards $30,000 in prize money to artists each year,... [continue]