'Sup In September?

Before I lunge into the insanely jam packed month of music that is September, I'll just briefly hop ahead to what I would refer to as the biggest concert announcement of the year, that is, Neil Young and Wilco's show at Air Canada Centre on December 4th. IMO, this one trumps the Radiohead show by far, and this is why I stewed over whether or not I should set aside other financial responsibilities to make sure that I attend this one. Ironically, just as I convinced myself that cheap seats were the way to go, I realized that I was not available on that night anyways. It hurt a bit, but at the same time, knowing that I couldn't attend anyways somehow made me feel a little bit at peace with the whole thing. Looks like I'm going to have to live vicariously through some of the other bloggers out there. Ah well...

Now that that's out of the way, let's talk about September. This is probably the most musically full month of the year so far. Most of the draws are larger bands however, and we all know where I stand when it comes to paying for stuff, so I'll likely be checking out some of the smaller shows, while I would recommend going to Chromewaves and For The Records for reviews on some of the bigger ones. As of today, I haven't really decided which ones I'll be at, so the following list is of all the shows I'd like to attend if money, time, responsibility and the trials that come with not being able to clone myself were not an issue.

Silver Jews from New Jersey are playing Lee's Palace on Tuesday, Sept 2nd in support of their sixth album, Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea. I haven't taken the time to listen to it yet, but I'm sure it's quite good. They've always been very reliable. $15.

Myspace: Silver Jews

Although I'm not sure how much I respected myself in the morning, funky hip hop troupe God Made Me Funky rocked my socks off at this year's NXNE. I just might check out their show at The Opera House on Thursday Sept 4th to see if my funkiness is still in tact, or if it was just a one shot deal. If not, then I can still get down with openers William The Conquerer that night, who are a deliciously varied indie folk rock 6 piece. Price TBA.

Myspace: God Made Me Funky
Myspace: William The Conqueror

So far, it's looking like I will not be attending this year's Olympic Island V-Fest on Sept 6th and 7th. I have to say that the lineup is not really making me feel envious of those who will be there. I like (but don't love) Foo Fighters and I pretty much mostly hate Oasis. Admittedly, the rest of the bands taking the main stage on Sunday would be fun to see, but not $87 worth of fun. It is however getting a bit tiring missing The Weakerthans as often as I do, but mark my words, I will get out to see them eventually. Someday.

Myspaces: Foo Fighters / Bloc Party / The Kooks / The Fratellis / Against Me! / MGMT / Oasis / Paul Weller / Silversun Pickups / The Weakerthans / Stereophonics / The Cribs / Moby / Paper Lions/ Matt Costa / Mark Robertson / Sebastian Granger / Songs From A Room / Shad / The Waking Eyes / Saint Alvia Cartel / Lights / Flash Lightnin / Bad Flirt / We Are The Take / Arkells / Rock Plaza Central / Opopo / Winter Gloves / Secret Broadcast / Mardeen

I know that I don't spend a lot time talking about my love of world music, mostly because I'm not much of an authority on the subject. I don't really know what's good and what isn't good, all I know is that I like what I like, and probably my favourite artist of the genre is Senegal's Youssou N'Dour. Like most people in this part of the world, I was introduced to his music through Peter Gabriel, but I've grown to really respect and admire his musical versatility in his own right. He's in town for the Toronto International Film Festival to promote a film entitled Youssou Ndour: I Bring What I Love, and in support of this, he's playing a free show at Yonge and Dundas Square on Saturday Sept 6th at 8:30pm.

Myspace: Youssou N'Dour

I can't say that Patrick Krief's Black Diamond Bay CD is completely blowing my mind. There are some very interesting ideas on there, but it's a case of just way too much packed onto one disc. My attention span struggles to accept that. However, I do know that Patrick Krief is impossible to ignore on the live stage, and because of that, I'm pretty sure that I'll be attending his show at The Drake on Wednesday September 10th. The man is a guitar virtuoso, and I guarantee that you will not keep your eyes off of him if you're in attendance. Also on the Bearsuit Publishing party bill is: Lily Frost, Mardeen, the Ghost Is Dancing and Emma Lee. $8 adv; $12 door.

Myspace: Black Diamond Bay
Myspace: Lily Frost
Myspace: Mardeen
Myspace: The Ghost Is Dancing
Myspace: Emma Lee

I've heard that The Pack A.D.'s live performance is a throat tearing force to be reckoned with, and Torontonians will get the chance to experience this first hand as the girls have a CD release party for Funeral Mixtape at The Horseshoe on Thursday September 11th. Price TBA. If you can't make it out to this, then the next best thing to do would be to crash Criminal Records for a free instore performance at 5pm on Friday Sept 12th.

Myspace: The Pack A.D.

Another local band that I've gotten pretty good at consistently missing is We Are The Take. They play around town constantly and I've heard that they're great. Hopefully I'll get to finally see them when they play The Horseshoe on Saturday Sept 13th. $8. They're also playing V-Fest and The Mod Club on Sept 6th. The Mod show is free if you email them ahead of time.

Myspace: We Are The Take

Apparently Alison Goldfrapp is embracing her warm and gentle side on her latest release entitled Seventh Tree. From what I've heard, she sounds just as vibrant and fresh as she ever has and it is an absolute drag that I won't be there to hear her perform at Danforth Music Hall on Sunday September 14th. Would've been a good one. $32.50.

Myspace: Goldfrapp

Polaris Prize nominee Shad is playing at The Mod Club with Vancouver's Hey Ocean! on Wednesday Sept 17th. One is a hip hop artist and the other is a fairly mainstream sounding pop band. So why is an indie snob like me recommending such a show? 'Cuz I kinda like both of them. Can't help it, I just do. $12.

Myspace: Shad
Myspace: Hey Ocean!
Video: Shad's The Old Prince Still Lives At Home on pitchfork tv.

Also on Sept 17th is an awesome bill at The Horseshoe featuring two bands that are tailor made to be touring together, namely The Broken West and French Kicks. Both bands have recently released some very solid discs this year. French Kicks are touring to support Swimming, which came out in March; while Broken West's Now Or Heaven will be out on Sept 9th. I'm pretty sure that I'll be at this one. $11.50.

Myspace: The Broken West
Myspace: French Kicks
Download: Auctioneer by The Broken West mp3


From time to time, The Opera House holds an Underdogs Showcase that allows up and comers the opportunity to have their music heard by industry type people. My friend Jaded is on the bill on Thursday Sept 18th, along with a whole whack of other bands. Check out the full lineup over here. $15 adv; $20 door.

Myspace: Jaded

On Friday Sept 19th, I plan to rock out like it's 1989 when Sub Pop-ers Mudhoney bring their garage meets grunge rock to The Horseshoe. To be honest, part of the draw was the fact that locallers Quest For Fire would be opening the show. Can't wait. $25.50

Myspace: Mudhoney
Myspace: Quest For Fire

There are two great shows to choose from on Saturday Sept 20th, both of which I will not be able to attend. Southern fried rockers The Supersuckers are playing The Horseshoe for $20; and Swell Season are playing their songs from the movie Once to Massey Hall. The prices for that range from $25.50 to $39.50.

Myspace: The Supersuckers
Myspace: Swell Season

Two more big shows that I won't be going to are Sigur Ros at Massey Hall on Monday Sept 22nd ($39.50 - $49.50) and My Bloody Valentine at The Ricoh on Thursday Sept 25th ($47.50). My guess is that they're both sold out, but don't quote me on that. They're both a little bit out of my price range, and although there's no doubt that they'd be great shows, I'm not that depressed about not going. Honestly.

Myspace: Sigur Ros
Myspace: My Bloody Valentine

Although Black Mountain is playing The Opera House on Saturday Sept 27th ($18.50), I'm opting to go see Land Of Talk with The D'Ubervilles at Lee's Palace instead. The simple reason is that I like them better and it's cheaper. ($10) It's as simple as that.

Myspace: Black Mountain
Myspace: Land Of Talk
Myspace: The D'Ubervilles
Download: Dragnet by The D'Ubervilles mp3


I may or may not squeeze in another smaller show or two, but if I do, it'll be very spur of the moment. I also hope I get to say something about some of the CD's I've been listening to lately, because there's been a couple of really good ones. I just haven't had time to blog about them. Anyways, I'll talk to ya laterz.