news
It’s Like, You Know
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) at the first hint that any success isn’t honestly earned.
Luckily for The Like, they can deliver the goods no matter what their surnames might be. Serving up guitar-driven, indie-friendly rock that equal parts tough and tender and with a songwriting sophistication that belies their ages (barely 20 if even that), their first album Are You Thinking What I’m Thinking? (out September 13) could well be one of the debuts of the year (tracks available to preview at MySpace. To promote, The Like are on the road for their first national tour opening for Tori Amos (and with The Ditty Bops) including a stop at the Molson Amphitheatre on Saturday, August 27 (tickets $29.75 to $59.25). One can only hope that they’ll be touring this record into the ground and will be back sooner rather than later to play a more proper club show.
A bit of a quiet week on the concert circuit – see what’s happening after the jump.
Thursday, August 25:
Pretty Girls Make Graves, Tangiers and The Sour Keys bring the rock at the Mod Club. Tickets $12.50 and it’s an early show (7PM). Meanwhile Clay Aiken brings the suck at the Molson Amphitheatre ($42.50 to $55.50) and Cowboy Junkies bring the snoozy to the Waterside Theatre at the Toronto Zoo ($30).
Friday, August 26:
Jon-Rae Fletcher & The River hold a CD release party/old time revival for their new album Old Songs For The New Town at the Horseshoe, tickets $8. Also testifying will be Great Lake Swimmers, The Lullabye Arkestra and Akron/Family. Blue Rodeo hold their annual Summer party at the Molson Amphitheatre with Matt Mays & El Torpedo ($22.50-$65.50) and Tracy Bonham is at the El Mocambo, hoping against hope that people have forgotten that it’s not 1996 anymore ($10).
Saturday, August 27:
Carolyn Mark throws a CD release party for Just Married: An Album of Duets at the Horseshoe ($8). NQ Arbuckle is bringing the cake.
Sunday, August 28:
Wavelength hopes that the combined powers of The Postage Stamps and The Ghost Is Dancing (Sneaky Dee’s, PWYC) can counter the freaky draw of the after-party for Crispin Glover’s new film, What Is It? (Drake Hotel, $10). Gooood luck.
Monday, August 29:
Zzzz.
Tuesday, August 30:
Of Montreal, who play here so often they should call themselves Of Toronto, are back at Lee’s Palace with The Management ($11) while local space-rockers Bluescreen play the always-free Nu Music Nite at the Horseshoe. And if you’re looking for something completely different, Billy Idol and Bif Naked compare tattoos at the Molson Amphitheatre ($33.25 to $53.25)
Wednesday, August 31:
King of the blues (it says so in his name!) BB King continues a touring schedule that’d make a man half his age blanch with a show at the Molson Amphitheatre accompanied by one-time blues wunderkind Kenny Wayne Sheppard ($32.50 to $69.50). Meanwhile, Dr Hook wanted to be on the cover of Rolling Stone but had to settle for a show at Lee’s Palace ($25). And not a show, but Spin writer and general pop culture pundit Chuck Klosterman is at the Horseshoe at 6pm to do a reading for his new book, Killing Yourself To Live: 85% Of A True Story.