'Sup In August

Well, July didn't go quite as planned with regards to the concert goings. I attended a very small ratio of the shows that I had planned to, due to the fact that I was busy with other stuff and, for some reason, reedonkulously tired. I know everybody in the whole world thinks that they suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but sometimes I wonder if I actually do. Anyways, I did go see a couple of bands on Saturday night and I'll tell you about them as soon as I can, but in the meantime, let's look at the what ups for the month of August, k?

On Friday August 1st, Clouds That Look Like Things are playing at the Rancho Relaxo. I've heard so many great things about this local Toronto band, who have a very hip indie collective sound that would fit in nicely with all of the Arts and Crafts bands that I love so. This is a TWM show with Skip Jensen, The Superstitions and The Wilderness. $6.

I have absolutely no free weekends in August. I'm not sure when I managed to get a social life but somewhere along the way I did. This means that I am missing not one, but two great shows on Saturday August 2nd. The first one is Tilly and the Wall at The Mod Club. They were one of the first bands that I saw upon moving to Toronto, and they put on one outstandingly fun show. The Ruby Suns are opening for them. $14.50

Myspace: Tilly and the Wall
Myspace: The Ruby Suns
Download: Pot Kettle Black by Tilly and the Wall mp3


Also on Saturday night (Aug 2) is the monthly Girls! Girls! Girls! night at The Cameron House. Melanie Peterson hosts an evening of high quality acoustic music featuring performances by Kim Jarrett, Rayna and my friend Laura Jaded-Smith, whose music I had reviewed in the past over here. She's simply amazing and the sincerity in her voice is breathtaking. $6.

Myspace: Melanie Peterson
Myspace: Kim Jarrett
Myspace: Rayna
Myspace: Jaded

I won't be able to attend this one either, but Tuesday August 5th sees The Go Team performing with my guiltiest of guilty pleasures in the name of CSS, and they're bringing their dancey electro punk to The Phoenix. I know not everybody feels that CSS is a guilty pleasure, but I can't help but feel a little guilty listening to them anyways. $23.50.

Myspace: The Go Team
Myspace: CSS

I'm really looking forward to being at The Horseshoe on Wednesday August 6th as I finally get to see Margot and the Nuclear So and So's after several years of avoiding them. This was not on purpose; that's just the way it goes sometimes. I remember hearing their song Quiet As A Mouse all over the podcast-o-sphere a few years back and thinking that it was such a great song. Well, their music has only grown richer with time, and it's an absolute delight to finally get to witness their live show. To sweeten the pot, our own Ruby Coast is opening; another band that every single one of my blogger compadres has seen that I, so far, have not been able to catch as of yet. It's bound to be a solid show. $10.50

Myspace: Margot and the Nuclear So and So's
Myspace: Ruby Coast
Download: Brittle Bones by Ruby Coast mp3


I'm still looking into the logistics of making it out to this next one, due to the fact that I don't have a car. You see, the Festival of Friends is being held in Gage Park in Hamilton from August 8th to 10th. There are some lame acts as well as many other acts that I have never heard of but on Friday August 8th, Danny Michel will be followed by Allison Moorer, who will be followed by Steve Earle. That's quite the triple bill. But wait! there's more! Have I mentioned that it's free? Steve freakin' Earle for free!!! Passing that up is going to be very difficult for a guy like me to accept. I'm in the process of checking out Go Transit schedules and so on, or perhaps I'll have the opportunity to rent a car or something but either way, this is too good to be true. I'm really hoping to catch this one. Free.

Myspace: Danny Michel
Myspace: Allison Moorer
Myspace: Steve Earle
Download: White Lightning by Danny Michel mp3


August 9th is another Saturday, with another couple of options. The Collingwood Elvis Festival may have already come and gone, but Toronto gets its turn when El Vez, the Mexican Elvis, is performing at The Horseshoe. Admit it, there's a part of you that wants to go. $17.50 adv or $20 at the door.

Myspace: El Vez

The show that I'm most bummed about having to miss is The Golden Hands Before God Conducts Incredible Magic Band & The Spirits at The Silver Dollar, also on August 9th. I was absolutely blown away at their sixties tinged rock and roll edge when I saw them perform at Rancho last year. But I've heard from several sources that they were by far the break out act of NXNE, putting on a rock show that is unrivaled in the city. If you actually have a Saturday night open, then I cannot recommend enough that you make sure you check this one out. They'll be performing with The Speaking Tongues and The Schomberg Fair. (BTW, I've also heard that their debut EP Here is equally mind blowing.) Not sure about the cost; can't find it anywhere.

On Wednesday August 13th, I'm going to be checking out Olenka and the Autumn Lovers at Rancho Relaxo. I can't say that I know very much about them but they were Mike's pick for the best of NXNE, and I have to say that I trust his taste. A quick listen to their music reminds me of an amalgamation of Basia Bulat, Beirut and Gillian Welch. Sounds interesting. They're performing with the awesome Secret Japanese Girlfriend and Sleep For The Nightlife. PWYC.

Myspace: Olenka and the Autumn Lovers
Myspace: Secret Japanese Girlfriend
Myspace: Sleep For The Nightlife

One of my top ten CD's of the year so far is Dog Day's Night Group CD. I had to miss their show the last time they were in town, but thankfully I get another chance when they play Dave Bookman's Nu Music Nite at The Horseshoe on Tuesday August 19th. The rest of the evening's lineup currently seems to be a mystery of sorts, as we have surprise guests at 10:20 to be followed by guests at 11:40. Not sure why, but surprise guests sounds more intriguing than just guests to me. Free.

Myspace: Dog Day
Video: Oh Dead Life on youtube

And finally, the show I'm looking forward to the most gives me the opportunity to show some love for my Oshawa roots as Cuff The Duke plays a couple of shows at The Horseshoe. I'm hopefully going to be attending the one on Friday August 22nd, since they will be accompanied by a couple of bands that I truly adore. They are Bruce Peninsula and Oshawa's The Stables. Should be a pretty exciting lineup. What's interesting is the fact that I've seen the two opening acts before but still have never seen Cuff The Duke. I realize that there is no excuse for that, and this is why I must be there. They'll also be performing the next night with Fembots and Steamboat. $12 adv or $15 door, both shows.

Myspace: Cuff The Duke
Myspace: Bruce Peninsula
Myspace: The Stables
Myspace: Steamboat
Myspace: Fembots
Download: Rossland Square (live at Massey Hall) by Cuff The Duke mp3

(Incidentally Rossland Square takes me back to my 13 year old self as I used to walk there every single day to get candy at Beckers or Fish 'n Chips at PB's Fish and Chips. Ahhh, memories.)

As per usual, there are many many more great shows in Toronto for the month of August, but those were some of my picks. Feel free to comment on any other choices that I may have forgotten.

Oh yah, and I think Radiohead is in town. (Molson Amphitheatre, August 15th if you've been living under a rock. It sold out in about 2 seconds but I'm sure you can get some scalped tix for about fifty bajillion dollars.)

Photo of Cuff The Duke by Brad Ferguson.