Neko Case and Dallas Good at the recording of The Sadies' live album at Lee's Palace, Friday February 3, 2006.... [continue]

When Rogue Wave's first album Out Of The Shadow came out in 2004, it was nigh impossible to read a review or article that didn't reference SubPop's other acoustic-y 60s-ish folk pop band... you know, the one that will change your life. And they were fair comparisons - the sonic and stylistic similarities were undeniable, though Rogue Wave's record didn't quite possess the quiet confidence that The Shins' output did. It sounded more tenative, unsure... [continue]

Starting next Tuesday and running for five nights, The Hidden Cameras will be putting on a special series of shows in conjunction with the Toronto Dance Theatre at Harbourfront, entitled "In The Boneyard". Head Camera Joel Gibb gave Pitchfork a sneak preview of what to expect from the performances, which will begin with the Cameras providing musical accompaniment for the dancers but trading places as the show progresses. All new music was written especially for... [continue]

Austin's American Analog Set have been turning out gorgeously hushed and hypnotic drone pop for a decade now, but with their latest album Set Free, they've now got a local connection - it's been released in North America by Toronto's own Arts & Crafts label. AmAnSet found themselves homeless when Tiger Style went out of business following the release of their 2003 album Promise Of Love, but that timing was fortuitous as frontman Andrew Kenny... [continue]

Austin, Texas' Okkervil River are currently on their first major North American tour, a tour which brings them to Lee's Palace on Monday night. Even without intensive touring, Okkervil River have built a very devoted cult following through the strength of their three albums of literate folk-punk, including this year's brilliant Black Sheep Boy. The lyrical mastermind behind Okkervil River (named for a short story by Leo Tolstoy's granddaughter - told you they were literate)... [continue]

Rocktober is winding down to a close, but November, while not quite as wordlplay-friendly, isn't letting up one bit with the shows of rock. And while it's early, it's hard to imagine that the month will offer any bills quite as exhilarating as The Constantines and The Hold Steady at the Opera House on November 2. Guelph's Constantines shouldn't need an introduction to anyone who's reading Torontoist - since forming in 1999, they've established themselves... [continue]

This Thursday night sees Toronto being graced with a performance at Trinity-St Paul's Centre by one of the finest singer/songwriter/guitarists on the face of the earth, Mr Richard Thompson. Since emerging onto the scene in the 1960s with British folk revivalists Fairport Convention, Thompson has consistently turned out masterful and wholly underrated albums of dark, character-driven songwriting and inhumanly good (but never ostentatious) acoustic and electric guitar work. Practically the very definition of a cult... [continue]

When is a reunion not a reunion? When there's only one returning member of the band, even if it is the singer, songwriter and most recognizable face. After doing the solo thing for a few years, Jay Farrar decided to try and put back together Son Volt, the alt.country legend he disbanded after 1998's Wide Swing Tremolo. The other original members were initially interested but negotiations fell apart after lawyers and agents got involved, and... [continue]

Funny how quickly a show can go from pariah to the hot ticket in town. Sunday's New Pornographers show created a dilemma for fans who didn't want to miss seeing the full-roster band including Destroyer's Dan Bejar (also opening the show) and Neko Case (whose own skyrocketing fame all but ensures this is the last time she'll be able to tour with the band), but on the other hand, didn't want to make the trek... [continue]

With so much going on in town this week, it's hard to pick just one show to put the spotlight on, but it must be done and so Torontoist declares Bob Mould's show at the Mod Club this Sunday, October 2 to be the hot ticket for the weekend. An alternative rock legend for both his tenure with 80s Minneapolis punk rock gods Husker Du as well as 90s alt.rock outfit Sugar, Mould is thankfully... [continue]

This week features a pretty packed schedule of excellent shows for your club-hopping pleasure, all no doubt hoping to take a bite out of the back-to-school entertainment budget of returning students. One of the most anticipated of which is the arrival of Sufjan Stevens and his band of Illinoisemakers, at Trinity-St Paul's Centre on Saturday September 10 with their tribute to the Prairie State. The second entry in his ambitious plan to salute all fifty... [continue]

The ridiculously busy Fall concert season is getting underway, and first up is the hype band du jour, New York's Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. The hype machine began chugging this past Spring when the five-piece was annointed as the next greatest band in the world by the Brooklyn blogerati and confirmed as such with a 9.0 review that ensured that the initial run of CYHSY's self-titled, completely independent debut was sold out coast to... [continue]

It must be tough having famous parents, especially if you choose to follow in their footsteps, professionally. Consider a case like Los Angeles' The Like, three girls in a rock band whose fathers include Attractions drummer Pete Thomas, highly-regarded producer Mitchell Froom and producer/exec Tony Berg. While inheriting ridiculously musical genes can only be considered a plus, you can bet that critics will be watching extra-carefully, ready to trot out the n-word (that's "nepotism", folks)... [continue]

This Saturday marks the fifth and final annual Three Gut Records anniversary party. The Guelph-spawned label will cease putting out new records after the release of the new Constantines album Tournament Of Hearts on September 27. To call Three Gut important in the creation of Toronto's vibrant independent music scene as it stands today is a gross understatement. This Exclaim retrospective offers some insight into how a small group of friends, musicians and artists opened... [continue]

A relatively light upcoming week in shows still has some fine musical happenings to help you kill time while waiting for the apocalypse. And curiously, all on the waterfront. Harbourfront's excellent summer festival schedule continues Friday through Sunday with T.O. Twang, billed as "Toronto's first and only alt.country festival". In addition to musical performances from such excellent acts as The Sadies, Carolyn Mark, Billy Joe Shaver, Elliot Brood, Luther Wright & the Wrongs and The... [continue]

Okay, so Sweden's Shout Out Louds are, like, the worst KISS tribute act EVER. Firstly, they got the name wrong - they should be called the Shout IT Out Louds. IT. Secondly, their uptempo, sugary indie pop doesn't sound ANYTHING like KISS. I mean, what are those - handclaps? Keyboards? Boy-girl vocals? And don't even get me started on the fact that there's five of them, they don't wear the makeup or the costumes, and... [continue]

Selling out a show is pretty impressive. Selling out four shows is definitely a sign you've arrived. Granted, local two-piece Death From Above 1979 did it in a smallish venue in their hometown, but it's still a feat. Starting tonight, DFA1979 will be taking over the Horseshoe for four shows in three nights, each show featuring a different formidable opening bill. Tonight, controller.controller and From Fiction lead things off, Friday night belongs to C'mon and... [continue]

Bar none, the most anticipated show of the coming week, at least to this Torontoist-er, is the return of eternally youthful Scotsmen Teenage Fanclub to Hogtown on Monday night for a show at the Mod Club. Anyone who was at their last show at the Opera House four years ago knows what a treat they were - you'll not hear more note-perfect harmonies anywhere, guaranteed. They're touring in support of Man-Made, their first album since... [continue]

Of all the 80s reunions littering the concert circuit these days, the one featuring the original Dinosaur Jr lineup has to rank as one of the unlikeliest. Anyone who's read Michael Azerrad's tome on the 80s underground scene, Our Band Could Be Your Life, knows that the acrimony between J Mascis and Lou Barlow was legendary. The fact that they were able to record three albums before fracturing (in a famously jerk-eriffic move, Mascis told... [continue]

Things have been quiet of late at Lee's Palace, which has been closed since the start of July for renovations. The venue will remain dark for the next week, but will reopen next Wednesday the 13th just in time to host the Toronto debut of The Go! Team, also this week's NOW cover story. With their 2004 debut album Thunder, Lightning, Strike, the Brighton UK outfit has been creating huge buzz with their addictive blend... [continue]