All killer no filler (Lust for Live 2)
Just the highlights from today's Toronto live calendar
In case you find the big listings post overwhelming, here is a tight roundup of the highest highlights. (Apologies to non-Toronto-area subscribers.) These are the gigs I’m most apt to attend in the coming weeks. Your tastes may vary, in which case consult the full listings.
Tue May 20: Josh Cole Quartet + Strings (Aline Homzy, Lina Allemano, John Oswald, Nick Storring, Blake Howard, Josh Cole), Tranzac, 9:30 pm
Fri May 23: Eric Cheneaux Trio (w/ Ryan Driver, Phil Melanson) LP release (rare visit of local luminary now residing in Condat Sur Ganaveix, France), Cici Arthur, Tranzac Main Hall, doors 8 pm, show 8:30 pm
- Frog Eyes, Fortunato Durutti Marinetti, Mills Hardware, Hamilton
Sun May 25: Memorial for Al Miller feat. Change of Heart, the Sadies, Bruce McCulloch, Bunchofuckingoofs, John Borra Band, Phoenix
Mon May 26: Book launch—Cold Glitter: The Untold Story of Canadian Glam, by Robert Dayton (Canned Hamm)—w/ guests Edmund Pilling (Fludd), Robert Swartz (Lynx), Greg Godovitz (Fludd/Goddo), Robbie Rox, Toronto Reference Library (Beeton Hall), 6 pm
Tue May 27: The Wedding Present (playing 1989’s Bizarro), The Tubs, Great Hall
- Paul Simon (playing 2023’s Seven Psalms, plus), Massey Hall (also May 27, 30)
Wed May 28: Florist, Allegra Krieger, Longboat Hall
Thu May 29: Paul Simon (playing 2023’s Seven Psalms, plus), Massey Hall (also May 27, 30)
Fri May 30: Ryan Driver Sextet, Tranzac, 9:30 pm (monthly)
- Paul Simon (playing 2023’s Seven Psalms, plus), Massey Hall (also May 27, 30)
Sat May 31: Bruce Cockburn 80th Birthday Tribute w/ Ron Sexsmith, Hawksley Workman, Dala, Tom Wilson, Elizabeth Shepherd & Michael Occhipinti, more, Hugh’s Room
Mon Jun 2: Annie Dirusso, Daffo, Drake Velvet Underground
Wed Jun 4: Holy Oak Family Singers (monthly) present “Bad Songs Done Well”, Tranzac, 7 pm
- Carole Pope, Hugh’s Room, 8 pm (7 pm doors)
Thu Jun 5: No Hay Banda (Montreal), HxH (NYC), Music Gallery, 8 pm (doors 7:30)
Fri Jun 6: The Weather Station, Concert Hall, 7 pm
Sat Jun 7: Lori Yates (Hey Stella) & Soozi Schlanger (Swamparella), Tranzac, 7:30 pm (monthly)
- Do West Fest w/ Fucked Up, Prostitute, Shiv and the Carvers, Sam Jr., Tijuana Bibles, more (Dundas W. from Shaw St. to Lansdowne—main stage for this date in front of the Garrison), afternoon
Wed Jun 11: Brodie West Quintet, Tranzac, 7 pm (monthly)
Fri Jun 13: Robyn Hitchcock, Drake Underground, 7 pm doors (also Jun 14)
- Luminato presents A Glimpse of Quincy (Quincy Jones tribute) led by Larnell Lewis & a stellar cast, Harbourfront Stage, doors 7 pm, show 8 pm
Sat Jun 14 (crazy day!): The Bug Club, Omni, the Garrison, 6 pm doors
- Robyn Hitchcock, Drake Underground, 7 pm doors (also Jun 13)
- Perfume Genius, Concert Hall, 7 pm doors
- Marker Starling Band, Derrick Anthony Vella, BSMT 254, 7 pm show
Mon Jun 16: Blondshell, Meg Elsier, the Phoenix, 7 pm doors
Tue Jun 17: Wild Pink, Greg Mendez, the Monarch, 7 pm doors
Thu Jun 19-Sun Jun 22: Something Else! Festival, Hamilton
(but if I weren’t there…)
Thu Jun 19: Open Thread (AUS/CA, Peggy Lee/Julien Wilson/Theo Carbo/Dylan van der Schyff), Sellers & Newel, 8 pm show
Fri Jun 20: - Mestizx (NL/U.S.: Ibelisse Guardia Ferragutti/ Frank Rosaly/ James McClure/ Ben Boye/ Nate McBride), Mas Aya (Brandon Valdivia), Artu, Tranzac Main Hall, $20 adv, $25 door
- Rich Brown’s EartHeart, the Rex, 8:30 pm (also June 21) (Jazz Fest)
Sat Jun 21: - Farida Amadou (Belgium) w/ Karen Ng (Toronto), Chik White/Naomi McCarroll-Butler, Collective Arts (777 Dundas St W), $20 adv, $25 door
- Rich Brown’s EartHeart, the Rex, 8:30 pm (also June 20) (Jazz Fest)
- Jeremy Dutcher & Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Roy Thomson Hall, 8 pm
- Kevin Breit, Don Rooke (The Henrys), Tranzac, 7:30 pm (monthly)
Sun Jun 22: Deerhoof, Crabe, Kingdom of Birds, St. Ann’s Parish, 7 pm doors (also Jun 23)
Mon Jun 23 (another crazy day and it’s a Monday!): Deerhoof, Luge, Troglos, St. Ann’s Parish, 7 pm doors (also Jun 22)
- Sam Amidon (feat Thom Gill, Philippe Melanson), Great Hall, 7 pm doors
- Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog, Hugh’s Room, 7 pm doors, 8 pm show
- Mavis Staples, Winter Garden Theatre, 8 pm (Jazz Fest)
Tue Jun 24: Arooj Aftab, Koerner Hall, 8 pm (Jazz Fest)
Wed Jun 25: Makaya McCraven, Axis Club, 8 pm (Jazz Fest)
Fri Jun 27: Ryan Driver Sextet, Tranzac, 9:30 pm (monthly)
Sat Jun 28: Mount Eerie, matinee show, the Great Hall, doors 1 pm, show 1:30 pm, $48
Wed Jul 2: Allison Russell, Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington, doors 6:30 pm, show 8 pm
- Holy Oak Family Singers present TBA, Tranzac, 7 pm
Thu Jul 3: Rock Plaza Central (rare reunion show!), the Baby G, doors 7 pm
Fri Jul 4: Fievel is Glauque, Flanafi, the Dance Cave, 8 pm doors