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......

On September 4, the The Misshapes released their style book, and the trio of trend-setting, New Wave rock-producing New Yorkers are hitting Toronto on Thursday, September 6 in celebration of its release. Who are The Misshapes? Known for their weekly Saturday night parties—the "best in hipster Manhattan" since February 2004—these musicians (and cutting-edge fashion influences) have established themselves as "an intersection of music, art, and fashion." The Misshapes are Greg Krelenstein, Leigh Lezark, and......

Photo by Carrie Musgrave. After a brief hiatus due to NxNE and Bonnaroo, Live Baby Live is back! You're excited, aren't you? Don't deny it. As always, lots of recently announced shows. Interestingly, you'll notice that all of the horse bands will be through town over the next few months. We wonder what animal trend will be next? Not only that, but The Black Lips and Bloc Party must really love Toronto, since both......

Unless you live under a rock, you know that the North by Northeast Music & Film Festival is currently underway...and if you've stayed out past two nights until almost 5 a.m. like some Torontoist staffers, you really know it's here. You'll be hard pressed to find very many other music events going on this week, since almost every venue being occupied by the festival, so we suggest you just go with it and take......

After a three week hiatus, the music listings are back! Hope everyone enjoyed the holidays. The year is still ramping up, so the list this week will be a bit quieter than usual. However, the good news is that this is already shaping up to be an amazing year, if the recent tour announcements are any indication. There are a ridiculous number of great bands coming through Toronto in the next few months, including......

Leeds, UK's ¡Forward, Russia! got The Horseshoe jumping on Friday night, with their "post-punk" numbered songs (all of their song titles are numbers), and a lead singer who would not stay still for a single second. Supporting their debut album 'Give Me A Wall', Tom Woodhead (singer) and company brought a bundle of energy to a venue that usually doesn't see much dancing, and kept the momentum going for the entirety of their short......

We're a little late with this week's music listing--blame the election! Er, okay, maybe someone just got immersed in learning a bit of Flash and let it slip. It won't happen again. If you're looking for some local flavour, you've got a few really good choices this week, including Melissa McClelland, Ohbijou, Elliott Brood, and the Great Lake Swimmers. All highly recommended, particularly Melissa--her voice is like honey. On the not-so-local side, Axl Rose......

It could be the abundance of shows announced over the past few weeks or possibly the kickoff of the fall concert season in September that's lending to the sparse choice of live music this week, because there are some slim pickins to be had. Unless you love the Marleys, in which case you hit the motherload! If anyone has word on some super secret underground shows happening between now and next Sunday, feel free......

Pants off, dance off. Indie exotic dancers (as opposed to exotic indie dancers) have probably been around for a while (didn't Nathalie Portman play one in Closer?), but it's still interesting to hear that dancers at the North Toronto boutique erotique Mystique Lounge are now entertaining to the sounds of Bloc Party, Arcade Fire and Franz Ferdinand. (Not all independent artists per se, but still falling under that catch-all phrase, "indie") And it's not Mystique......

Sorry, since there's such urgency to this post, we weren't able to throw out one of our always hilarious Bloc Party/Bloc Quebecois jokes in here. But feel free to think up one as you read and Torontoist will happily ammend the post. Here goes: Bloc Party are punching out a DJ set and possibly hooking up a live performance tonight at the Drake Hotel. This secret (shhhh!) information comes via a rumour via a......

The Resfest screening series kicks it back into play tonight "with a jam packed evening or shorts, music videos & motion graphics." Shorts by Canadians and people who come from other places, as well as music videos for the Bloc Party, The DItty Bops and Yuki. The organizers are also promising to announce some important CanCon news. And while the CEEB's on strike we'll take our 'CanCon news' wherever we can get it. Tix are......