The month will also see anticipated album releases by locals Timber Timbre as well as those from tUnE-yArDs, The Kills, Of Montreal and more.

In terms of more local acts, we have some fun highlights:

Neon Windbreaker – This five-piece has been racking up references for their jokes and lax business models (such as selling their music with food at a concert) and for some of their members’ other work (Eric Warner runs the We Are Busy Bodies label and is a popular promoter, Jonathan Dekel is a music journalist who’s been tagged as a gossip digger, etc.). I’ve heard stories of their crazy live shows and I’m impressed without even seeing or hearing for myself. As for what they sound like, from the two songs on their CBC Radio 3 page, I can tell you there are screams and pounding guitars.

Neon Windbreaker will play Parts and Labour on the 15^th with a band also called Parts and Labor and Child Bite.

Papermaps – Formerly known as EX~PO, this foursome have re-branded and will release their self-titled album on the 19^th. It’s clear pop rock, as most evident in their single “Reunion,” a contagious radio-ready ditty. I could see them opening for the Sam Roberts Band someday as they have a similar sound in their guitars and keyboards and, at least on record, a lot of energy.

Papermaps will play Sneaky Dee’s the 29^th with the Cheap Speakers and Ketch Harbour Wolves.

Sports – When I first heard the two new Sports singles “Slacking Scholar” and “Behind Me,” I thought it had to be two separate bands. While the first is beachy, nostalgic and light, the second is dark, heavy and has a bass line that makes me think of playing Rock Band. I still can’t quite wrap my head around it, but the difference has become a fun anecdote when thinking of this up-and-coming band. I like their 2009 EP and I’m interested in finding out how the rest of their debut full-length turns out.

Listen to the two singles and their EP at their Bandcamp page.

As for some other great concerts this month, check out:

• Local indie dreamers Heartbeat Hotel have a residency at the Magpie on the 9^th, 15^th, 22^nd and 29^th with some cool guests such as Foxes in Fiction.

• Psychedelics The Black Angels with dark and mysterious Suuns at Lee’s on the 14^th

• Party man Rich Aucoin and Gobble Gobble at the Kapisanan Cultural Centre on the 16^th

• Jose Gonzalez’s gorgeous band Junip at Lee’s on the 20^th

Check out more of my writing on music at RoundLetters and you can follow me on Twitter @roundletters, too.

If you’re interested in who to see at night though, I made up a list and check out the schedule.

Live Near Bellwoods: The Living Room Sessions

The Toronto Institute for the Enjoyment of Music is pairing up with the Musebox, Spinner, Humble Empire and Ta2 Sound & Music to bring us three full days of daytime music. There will be 6-7 bands Thursday, Friday and Saturday in a fake living room on Queen Street West for 30 minutes each. Some highlights include Allie Hughes and Rich Aucoin on Thursday, Olenka and the Autumn Lovers, Hooded Fang and Aidan Knight and the Wilderness of Manitoba on Friday.

Visit the Facebook event page here.

Sonic Boom’s In-store Performances

A few of our local record shops do in-stores on a regular basis, but festivals kick up the oomph a notch. Sonic Boom clearly does it the best (and not just because they have a built-in stage and equipment in the basement), they’ve been able to snag the big names (probably because of the $25 gift card), can fit the most people, offer custom-made posters for a $1 donation and have a food bank donation box. They’ve announced some big names for the in-stores Thursday, Friday and Saturday, including The Most Serene Republic, J Mascis and Karkwa respectively.

Check out the full lineup poster here.

Indie Love Radio’s VIP Lounge Performances and Interviews

Melissa DiMarco, known to most Canadians as Degrassi: TNG’s Principal Hatzilakos, is a big fan of doing celebrity interviews. She has a television show on CityTV for it, Out There with Melissa DiMarco, and now she’s paired with Indie Love Radio for Canadian Music Week interviews for the second year. The pairing will broadcast some interesting interviews and short performances at the Royal York’s VIP Lounge from Wednesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to midnight. Guests this year include Amos the Transparent, D-Sisive, The Ruby Spirit, Charlotte Cornfield and more.

Read more and listen in on Indie Love.

You can see more of my CMW predictions and general music fascinations on RoundLetters, and my excited live tweeting of the festival @roundletters.

There’s a new reality show in Canada that doesn’t involve crazy club-hoppers, people who think they can host a proper dinner party (but really can’t) or those who think they can be the next Canadian Idol. What it does have are indie musicians trying to catch their big break from the industry professionals who get to travel across the country searching for new talent.

The name of the game is From Far and Wide. Musicians apply online for a slot and then, if chosen, they will duke it out with three other competitors on an episode for each Canadian province. The winner of the episode will go onto a final battle of all the provinces for the opportunity to record an EP, while the runner-up will get a three song demo.

Check out the trailer for the first episode (Ontario), which features previously Dork Shelf-mentioned artists Hands & Teeth. You can even see them play live tomorrow in Toronto at Parts & Labour with Heartbeat Hotel ($5 / Doors at 10 / 19+)

Artists interested in applying should email fromfarandwide@gmail.com.

Action Makes – This garage/psychedelic rock band has the ability to catch your attention and hold onto it with a tight grasp that will last quite some time. The band’s dedicated followers have waited for their debut self-titled album for years, but if you’re like me and are just getting to know them now, you’ll wish you’d heard of them sooner. With an oomph that it can knock you over and send you tumbling backwards and enough bad-ass attitude to draw you right back in, the album was hopefully well worth the wait for those early followers.

Listen to five songs from Action Makes.

Peter Elkas – If you like light-hearted country, classic rock melodies and dancing, Peter Elkas and his band have a new album that will be right up your alley. Elkas is back stronger than ever on Repeat Offender, his followup to 2007’s Wall of Fire. Full of warm guitars, a horn section and Elkas’ great voice, this album is definitely one to look forward to in these next few weeks. If you find yourself turning into a drooling fan, check the band out in March at the Dakota Tavern for a five week-long residency. They played the first night of Jason Collett’s Basement Revue in December and it was a performance I won’t be forgetting anytime soon.

Listen to three new songs off Repeat Offender. which sees a release on the 22^nd.

Sister – Formed by the two Gillis sisters of Plumtree fame (the band that inspired Scott Pilgrim), this new group has already had such a promising start. They rang in the New Year in Toronto at the Tranzac party where they captivated the room. Carla and Lynette, who alternate vocals, have come together in delicate folk-pop, that can elicit the most lucid dream state you can get to (if you try). Here’s hoping we start to see more of them around though, as right now Sister sightings are still pretty scarce.

Listen to five songs from their new EP (which Elkas produced).

Elk – Another Toronto garage/psychedelic band blazing a trail is this foursome based out of Toronto, St. Catherines and Welland. They’re the new to Action Makes’ older sound, which is not at all a bad thing. These guys will release their second album, Balm Beach, on the 17^th. It’s got that jumping packed-to-the-walls basement party feel, with hair in the air everywhere and sweaty realizations of rock’s future. The band will celebrate the release on the 21^st at the Horseshoe with Chang a Lang.

Listen to “Sheldon.”

Here are some shows you should check out this month:

Baths and Braids at the El Mocambo on Feb 19– Chillwave and avant-garde electro will bring the fans of bedroom-made music in.

Jenn Grant, Olenka and the Autumn Lovers and Rae Spoon at the Horseshoe on Feb 19 – So much folk to warm your heart you’ll be set until the end of winter.

Tennis and The Darcys at the Horseshoe on Feb 25 – More summery lo-fi with supporting act by local rockers.

Smith Westerns at the Horseshoe on Feb 28 – young psychedelic rock (in whatever context that exists), but it is quite fun.

As always, you can read more of my music musings at RoundLetters.

New Country Rehab – This quartet released their debut self-titled album on the 11^th, full of dark country twangs. They’ve got a lot to be discovered, especially for those who don’t usually find themselves drawn to country (like myself). Their music is clear, not full of fiddles every two seconds (but yes, there are fiddles!); it’s where instruments like the banjo and upright bass really come into strong play and the synergy between the four guys feels homey and familiar.

Download “Angel of Death.” – New Country Rehab on SoundCloud

Entire Cities – Here’s another country rock-styled pick, but this time it’s with at least seven members, who create a fun and textured atmosphere. They released their newest album, I Hope You Never Come Home, in December and recently celebrated with a concert. They’ll play Kingston and Ottawa soon. With Entire Cities, it’s the guitars, classic keyboards and group of voices that will catch you. But there’s so much more to pick apart between the bass, saxophone, drums and more. It’s a wild ride.

Download two songs from IHYNCH and stream the rest – Entire Cities on Bandcamp

The Ruby Spirit – Here comes a rock and rollin’ ladies and gents quintet who like to push their seams and buttons out, letting the music flow after them like squiggly, colourful yarn. They bring to mind a bit of Spiral Beach in their almost dark, surf-like rebellion, but with these guys and gals, it’s more like if you found yourself wandering into a basement that’s a theatre for a twisted puppet show full of games and mysteries. All of this can be imagined while listening to their new EP, Born Under a Veil.

Stream the EP – The Ruby Spirit on Bandcamp

Harlan Pepper – Hailing from Hamilton, these relatively young rockers (just out of high school) took me by surprise. You can be a little skeptical (or amused) when you see song titles “Reefer,” “Yeah” and “Burnout,” but by golly, these boys are a piece of work. Sure, their lyrics can be cheeky, but not in an immature way, especially when their music feels so grown-up (plus, the album is conveniently titled Young and Old). They also take part in those classic keyboards, which are fueled by some strong drumming, light, bluesy guitars and paired with a few great sets of vocal pipes.

Download “Great Lakes” and stream the album – Harlan Pepper on Bandcamp

Cheap Speakers – Let’s end this note with an energetic alternative rock band with a slight flair for pop. This quartet gets going on fast and pummeled guitar chords and joint man/lady vocals. They can be hard and soft between different songs, which can just let you choose which mood you’d like them to be for you that day. Their EP has been out for a while now, but they prove to be a consistent force around the local concert circuit. They’ll play the Piston January 28.

Stream three songs – The Cheap Speakers on Myspace

As always, you can read more of my music musings at RoundLetters.

But it’s not over yet. December offers a nice roster of concerts to see before the year is caput. So get out your winter dancing boots!

AUSTRA

This weekend, Toronto bands AUSTRA (enchanted, dark rock) and Little City (content folk-pop) both will be showing off some new sounds, with AUSTRA at the Bovine Sex Club on Friday and Little City at Velvet Underground on Saturday. Also, Halifax party man Rich Aucoin will be at the Supermarket on Friday, bringing the total count of times I’ve missed this man to somewhere around 20, I’m sure. He’s well-known for his colourful and crazy concert antics, so we have to see him before he gets even bigger!

Next weekend, Hooded Fang (happy pop!) are having their album release party at the Drake Underground, while British melancholic popster Badly Drawn Boy holds court at the Great Hall, both on the 9^th. Broken Social Scene and Superchunk take up residence at the Sound Academy on the 9^th and 10^th, though only the 10^th is still on sale at this point. Superchunk will play an in-store show at Sonic Boom on the 9^th, at 3 p.m.

Sandman Viper Command

Some holiday events will reign strong this month, with Audio Blood’s Two Night Stand at the Rivoli on the 10^th and 11^th. 10^th features Charlotte Cornfield, Sandman Viper Command, Make Your Exit and more, while the 11^th has Teenage Kicks, Clothes Make the Man, The Balconies and more. No Shame and The Singing Lamb will hold two holiday shows as well, with Germans, Bear Trees and Uncle Bad Touch on the 16^th at Garrison and The Magic, Everything All the Time, THOMAS and The Winks on the 17^th at the El Mocambo.

Before the month is up, there’s also The Darcys, Whale Tooth and Bravestation to catch at the Silver Dollar on the 18^th, My Chemical Romance at the Sound Academy the same evening, and Jason Collett’s Basement Revue series at the Dakota, with only the 28^th show with select tickets left (this is an ASAP matter).

Elliott Brood

This year, I’ll be bringing in 2011 musically, and I hope you will too. I’ll be at the Tranzac for their New Year’s Eve celebration, with Hooded Fang, Light Fires, Sister, The Wilderness of Manitoba, Dr. Ew, and more. Tickets are $15 in advance and doors are at 8. Other good NYE shows include Elliott Brood’s famously rockin’ show at Lee’s Palace and I know the Garrison has a show planned, but I’m not sure who will play yet.

Steve McKay

Here are some musician suggestions for December fun. Steven McKay (of Bruce Peninsula) released his self-titled solo album in the fall, but it deserves some wintery listens as he offers quite the pick-me-up attitude.

The Eatons, a fast-paced pop rock group actually make Scarborough sound kind of fun. They’ve just released their Handover EP.

Allie Hughes, who offers the female vocals on McKay’s album, is also becoming quite well-known around the city for her quirky solo work. She’ll release an album in the upcoming year, but she has a show on the 17^th at the Mod Club with Sweet Thing, which is mysteriously titled as a Christmas Wedding on her website…

As always, for more music musings, visit my website, RoundLetters.

There are some great concerts this week: No Joy, a fierce lady shoegaze band from NYC comes to Parts & Labour’s Shop on Wednesday, and they’ll be joined by Metz; Spain’s techno gods Delorean hits the Mod Club on Thursday, bringing Class Actress, Small Black and Lemonade; and on Friday, the fun’s choice is between Woodhands, Bonjay and Graham Zilla at Lee’s Palace or Rich Aucoin and DVAs at the Steamwhistle Brewery.

If you’re looking for music a little more on the noise/punk/hip hop side, here are some suggestions. Californian noise duo No Age appears at the Great Hall on Thursday; the AP Fall Tour (including Bring Me the Horizon, August Burns Red, Emarosa, Polar Bear Club and This is Hell) rocks the Kool Haus on the 21^st; Montreal electro punks Suuns headline the Silver Dollar on the 26^th and the hip hopper once known as D-Sisive, now known as Derek from Northcliffe, brings his version of Vaudeville to the Horseshoe on the 27^th.

As for some up-and-coming bands who are bringing the heat, my recommendations this month are Olenka & the Autumn Lovers, Flowers of Hell and Hands & Teeth.

Olenka and the Autumn Lovers hail from London, Ontario but are frequent Toronto visitors. They’ve just released a new album, And Now We Sing, and it’s a gorgeous piece of work. Somewhere between folk and country, Olenka Krakus commandeers the group with her lusciously deep voice, which sounds like it’s been opened from a treasure chest of the past. There are a lot of songs on the album, with a good mix of slow and fast ones to keep you satisfied. The band plays the Horseshoe with the Wilderness of Manitoba and Leif Vollebekk on November 25.

Flowers of Hell are quite the interesting group – space rock shoegaze orchestra to be exact – formed between Toronto and London, UK. Greg Jarvis, front man, is a synaesthette, which means that when he hears sounds, he sees shapes. Their latest project, titled O, is a 45-minute long song that was recorded in one take. Impressive, right?

Hands & Teeth is a relatively new pop rock band formed from five people who used to be the heads of five separate bands. Now, as a strong unit together, the music they create is fun and carefree, placed on their new EP fittingly titled Enjoy Your Lifestyle. They’ll showcase the boy/girl vocals and heavy guitars a few times in the near future: at the Underground Cinema on the 27^th and the Supermarket on December 16.

As always, read more of my musical musings on RoundLetters.

Now, October is probably the last month of uber-fun and hectic times before musicians start to tuck into their homes they’re never in for the winter, enjoy the holidays with people they never see and then start working on new material that none of us will hear for at least a year. So we should make that our mission as well and hike up those leg warmers or long underwear and generally feel warmer, thus more motivated to go outside for a concert. (October’s been really cold so far here, okay?)

Some really great shows will be visiting us this month:

October 16 – There are plenty of shows to choose from on this particular Saturday night. You have your tough pickings of psychedelic rockers Dr. Dog (Phoenix, $20.50), Brooklyn hipsters The Drums (Mod Club, $16), CASBY 102.1 The Edge Favourite New Artist winners Hollerado (Horseshoe, $13.50) and Californian dance party/ DJ mad man Rusko (Opera House, $22.50).

October 13 – 17 – Indie Week. So Indie that I have only heard about it once and totally forgot about it until now. However, some artists taking part in this teeny Toronto festival are worth mentioning, and most of them are male singer/songwriters (ones I don’t actually find boring, so that’s a good start): Vancouver export Joel Battle, Torontonian Dan Kosub and Andy Brown from Fredericton, NB. Other notables: rockers Colors in the Air (note: no U as they are from Buffalo and shockingly still around since my high school days but seem to have come a long way), alternative folksters Old Crowns from Ottawa and cute Kitchener emo poppers Courage My Love. Find out more about the festival at indieweek.com.

Other artists coming to town that you should look into: Hot Hot Heat, Los Campesinos, Miike Snow, Neon Indian, The Dears, Crash Test Dummies, Avi Buffalo, Deerhunter, Four Tet, Gwar, Dan Mangan, Matt & Kim.

But as concerts can only entertain us for so long, we also need motivation we can keep right in our pockets via iPods or other mp3 devices. Of course I’d take carrying a musician in my pocket over that any day, but we all need to make sacrifices. So here are some of the most anticipated albums to be released over the month and proudly from Toronto (or close-by):

PS I Love You – October 5 is finally here for what seems like a lot of really enthused music critics out there. People have been praising the Kitchener duo’s newest, Meet Me at the Muster Station for months already. It’s full of heavy, fuzzed-out guitar pushes and solos, with equally strong drumming. It’s passionate in the way that you know it means something even though you have no idea what they’re singing. There are tender moments and then there are ones that make you want to mosh. It’s a great addition to Canadian music this year, and if you want to see them play it live, you better get tickets to their October 26th show at the Garrison with Diamond Rings fast.

Hooded Fang – Come mid-month, after Thanksgiving, you’re going to need a pick-me-up, let’s face it. And I’ve already got you covered: Hooded Fang’s new self-titled album. It’s a glorious collection of soft and cheery indie rock, basking in youth and feeling. With silky boy/girl vocals, happy instruments like synths, accordions and bells. But once you get through the bountiful 12 tracks, you’ll be left with this full warmth that you’ll just want to keep playing over and over. Basically, they’re what you want out of boy/girl melodies and happy tunes in indie rock that so many bands try for but end up being too overwhelming. The group’s known for some lively concerts and will play on November 5 at the Horseshoe.

Dora Alexander – Now, let’s cap off the month moody. C’mon, let’s just do it. It will happen eventually and sometimes, if you have the right music, it’s best to just bask in the dark glow for a while. A very promising new band who is releasing a new ep, Travelers, on October 22nd, will take your mind off things with their occasional Radiohead-like aura of slow, ethereal altogether movement. They’ll leave an impact by how careful everything is set, from vocals to the use of horns to the quick switches of tempo. Plus, there’s still a lot to be discovered. The band’s EP release show will be a big one; they’ll be joined by Bravestation, First Rate People and Volcano Playground at the Piston, and last time those bands got together, that venue sold out.

That should be enough to keep you satisfied this month. For more, visit my website, RoundLetters.

And as always, you can find my music writing and pondering as well as (likely) extended thoughts on the bands I mention over at RoundLetters.

Three Toronto bands you should know by now:

Jason Collett – Practically a veteran of Toronto’s indie rock scene by now, Collett has released six albums, been a part of Broken Social Scene and helped raise up the platforms for Zeus and Bahamas (as I’ve mentioned here in the past). I can’t be immune to his charm, especially on his most recent album, Rat a Tat Tat. It’s a great summer album because it not only captures the influence of some ’60s and ’70s sounds (*cough* David Bowie *cough*), but it still keeps up his clear production sound. It’s one of those albums that’s hard to not dance to as you walk down the street with your headphones on.

Peter Katz – Katz has been making a go at the solo work for quite some time. He started out playing open mics at Ryerson University’s pub the Ram in the Rye, went on to win a CBC Galaxie Rising Star award and has worked up a steady career to be playing alongside the Swell Season. He recently opened for and played with them in Toronto, and put on a fantastic show. He’ll blow you away with how brave he is on stage, even if you can also tell he’s pretty nervous. His lyrics are often about people and their inspiring stories. He’s just released his second album, First of the Last to Know.

Holy Fuck – Basically well-known just because of their name, this four-piece have come to really boast their name proudly, especially as they get better and better with each release. Alongside Collett, they were nominated for this year’s Polaris Music Prize, and both made it onto the Long List. Their album, Latin, is stunning experimental and electronic music. I remember seeing them about three years ago or so in a dingy venue in Buffalo opening for electro-party dudes !!! (pronounced Chk Chk Chk), to almost no-one. Now, they’ve solidified their line-up (including Brian Borcherdt, who has also gone on to do solo work and with Fields of Fur), gaining huge crowds and more.

Three up-and-coming Toronto bands:

Mathemagic – Technically from Guelph, this new trio have somehow caught the eyes and ears of plenty of top critics (Pitchfork) with only a small EP release under their belts. Their blend of electro and surf rock is like a really appealing (and not at all gross) summer haze. They used to be a duo of brothers, but since they’ve added a female singer (not related), their sound has expanded, but it’s pushed back the recording of their debut full-length.

Freedom or Death – This duo makes some really interesting slow grooves that are able to catch you up in a moment and also push you right back into another one. Freedom or Death is Fernandez, a classically trained pianist and veteran DJ and Sway, a singer who’s been making his way through bands for quite some time as well. Together, they are imaginative, dreamy and also ready for battle. Their self titled EP can be streamed on their MySpace.

The Schomberg Fair – I’ll be honest, I was skeptical as I started to listen to this Toronto trio. I mean, speed-gospel? What is that? But boy, I was knocked over by just listening to it on my computer. It is for sure quick, references angels and devils and the like, but it also is hardcore blues, country and everything they’re going for. And if the banjo and train-track like beats aren’t the things to catch your attention, it will be Nathan Sidon’s really really low voice.

Three Toronto concerts you shouldn’t miss:

Interpol at the Kool Haus, August 10 – Their trademark moody rock is back, as the guys will likely be performing songs off their upcoming self-titled album, which comes out September 7.

METZ at Parts & Labour, August 13 – The loud earphone splitting aura that is METZ plays Toronto’s newest venue. This will be the release party for their latest 7-inch, Negative Space/Automat.

Arcade Fire, Janelle Monae and the Sadies at Olympic Island, August 14 – This epic Toronto Island show is selling tickets like hot cakes, and it’s guaranteed to be that one show this year that people will look at you and ask if you’re crazy if you don’t go (don’t worry, I don’t think I’ll be going, but I wish I could!)

Three Toronto bands you should know by now:

Bishop Morocco – This new-wave rock duo are something of a musical life wonder: two friends who discussed forming a band years ago meet up in a random town in the Netherlands and decide to move back home and give it a go. They released their self titled full-length last month. They’ll take you back closer to the ‘80s, but I keep getting this mental image every time I listen to the album of a bunch of hipsters dancing nonchalantly at a laundromat or something. Don’t ask.

The Burning Hell – Ah, quirky melodramatic pop from Peterborough. It’s like if the Decemberists decided to get really happy! Baby was a fun hit of 2009, but these guys keep coming back to my attention. Their hilarious lyrics and fun stage antics will always put a smile on your face. They’re currently doing a pretty big tour of Canada, and will play a show early next month in Toronto.

Flash Lightnin’ – Sometimes, you just have to get gritty in a bar. Part hard rock, part country, it’s like Toronto’s gone through a badass time warp. Flash Lightnin’ are energizing and head-bang worthy, perfect for a raucous-old-time on the town.

Three up-and-coming Toronto bands:

Bravestation – I am really digging this new band. They make some dramatic shimmering tunes in a fluent wave that’s fascinating to listen to as it contracts and expands. They released a new EP recently, and it’s available to stream on their MySpace now. They’ll be playing a show at the El Mocambo with Old World Vulture and some other bands on July 17. Don’t miss it!

Shawn Clarke – Craving some soothing hometown country-folk? It’s a wonder Clarke isn’t that well-known yet like his musical companions Olenka and the Autumn Lovers and the Wilderness of Manitoba, but he’s definitely getting up there. His album Like Birds, Too Tired to Fly, is impressive and relatable.

DVAS – Dance, dance, they say! This group’s new song, “Society,” is incredibly fun and party-worthy. So much so that you may want to just keep it on repeat and the party in your living room. The new album of the same name will be released on July 27, which pretty much means there goes the rest of your summer.

Three Toronto concerts you shouldn’t miss:

We Were Promised Jetpacks / The Coast at Lee’s Palace, July 3 – WWPJ are another one of those Scottish rock bands who play sadness with power and I think it will translate really well on stage. The Coast is a rising Toronto pop-rock band who just recently played a few gigs during NXNE.

Bent By Elephants / Charlotte Cornfield at Cameron House, July 15 – Beautiful indie rock via Montreal will come and fill up this little venue with incredible warmth. They’re not here often, so you better catch them!

Hercules and Love Affair at the Mod Club, July 26 – This is bound to be an epic dance party and probably close to selling out already if it hasn’t yet. The electro-funk is gripping and colourful, and the Toronto indie rock music scene is pretty much ecstatic that they’ll be visiting.

P.S.: Toronto’s Harbourfront puts on some great events during the summer for free, like concerts! Check out The Slew on the 9, Rich Aucoin on the 10, Rah Rah on the 23 and Library Voices on the 25.

Three Toronto bands you should know:

Broken Social Scene – Well, let’s be honest. Even my friends who don’t pay attention to music know who Broken Social Scene are. Though this Toronto indie rock collective has been around for a while now, they’ve just released their first album in five years. Forgiveness Rock Record is out, and fans of the group have been rejoicing for weeks. The sound hasn’t really changed much, and I don’t think there are any immediate catchy singles like “7/4 Shoreline” or “Anthems For a 17-Year-Old Girl.”

The Most Serene Republic – Like BSS, this band is also a staple of the Arts & Crafts label. They released the album …And the Ever Expanding Universe this year and it was much better than what they’ve done in the past. Think along the lines of the kind of harmonies you’d hear from Stars but with a full orchestra and thought out band behind it rather than the same guitar-based melodies.

Tokyo Police Club – These guys struck gold a couple years ago before even releasing a full-length album. Once they did, they were successful for a while, but they’ve kind of disappeared since then. Fans will be pleased to know that they’re back with their second album, Champ, due out June 8. Their jaunty pop rock is refreshed and much cleaner. Not that I want to make them sound like laundry detergent or anything…

Three up-and-coming Toronto bands:

Wilderness of Manitoba – Craving some harmonious folk music? Well, you’ll find it in this band. Though they may love Manitoba enough to put it in their band name, they are in fact based in Toronto. Their 2009 EP Hymns of Love and Spirits is out, but pretty hard to find. They’re currently touring around the UK, which is pretty impressive, and when they come back, they’ll open for Julie Doiron and Basia Bulat at the Phoenix on June 4. They’ve just announced that their next album, When You Left the Fire, is finished and awaiting a release date.

The Darcys – This indie-rock quartet is rising slowly, but I have a feeling they’ll see more attention (for good reason) once their album comes out in the fall. It was produced by Murray Lightburn, the singer from The Dears, and features members of Broken Social Scene, Stars and Islands. They have a free 7” available to download, so I suggest you grab those two cool guitar-driven songs as teasers before the album comes out.

Heartbeat Hotel – Though this young band started out in Peterborough as Mariposa, they’re now what we can proudly call a Toronto band. They bring us blissful psychedelic tunes to lay our heads on. That sentence may sound a little awkward once you hear the title of their debut album, Fetus Dreams (which came out in March), but give it a listen and you’ll understand, believe me. You can download the entire album for free here. Keep an eye out, they tend to play quite a few shows around the city.

Three Toronto concerts that you shouldn’t miss:

Tim Fite at the Drake Hotel on May 20 – Tim is a very strange character. You’ve got to be the right mindset to get into his music (and have a huge sense of humour) but it’s well worth it. He’s really entertaining in concert as he adopts a persona that might drive you crazy or might make you laugh. Last time I saw him, he had a chorus of three Tims singing backup, filmed beforehand to play off a projector. There’s oh so much more, but I think you should see it for yourself. Download his newest album on May 18, Under the Table Tennis, for free.

LCD Soundsystem at the Kool Haus on May 25 – Electronic dance, electronic rock, electronic whatever you want to call it, James Murphy is back as LCD Soundsystem and he’s bringing the party to Toronto, and there will be a live band presumably. This is bound to be another tripped-out colourful crazy hipster show, and therefore a pretty interesting experience. Though it might be a good idea to see it before Murphy finally loses it on his fans and quits music.

Wintersleep at the Mod Club on May 26 – One of my favourite East Coast Canadian bands, Wintersleep is coming to celebrate the release of their latest album, New Inheritors. It’s a bit of a change for them, a step backwards to their older sound after the more up-beat album Welcome to the Night Sky, but it’s still well done. They put on a powerful show, and expect some jam tangents to make it even better.

This month I’ve worked up a list for you that is perfect for your spring cleaning. From psychedelic rock to funk and pop, you’ll be moving and grooving straight into May. While some of us are cramming work and exams in to the last moments of the school year, others might be looking forlornly out of their window at the rain, waiting for something new to come along. Another great thing about this time of year is that concert season is kicking into high gear – bands are stretching their hibernated legs out and running to and from Toronto, so keep your eyes peeled and your ears close to the soundboard (not really)!

Three Toronto bands you should know:

Zeus – This band has been all over the place lately, and not just as songs stuck in my head. They used to be Jason Collett’s backing band, but they’ve since gone their own way. Every guy in Zeus (except for the drummer) takes turns singing. Though they are actually currently supporting Collett on the Bonfire Ball tour across Canada (I saw it during Canadian Music Week – watch a video of everyone plus Bahamas covering the Kylie Minogue song “Can’t Get You Out of My Head”) the material off of their first album, Say Us, shows that they can survive on their own. At first listen, the most obvious comparison is The Beatles. Even I can’t get away from that one. But they’re still fresh, groovy and uniquely talented.

Julie Fader – Julie’s been around for a while, heck, even her album, Outside In, has been out since last year. But it still has that fresh charm for whenever you find it. She’s played with many of the Canadian indie kings as of late – Chad VanGaalen, Postdata, as part of Great Lake Swimmers, etc, and now they play with her. I believe that Julie is a visual artist in her spare time; you can almost feel her art in her music, it’s one of those great chameleon-like albums. Outside In is soothing and haunting – everything builds up from a simple guitar line or two. You can hear the similarities of her work to what she’s done in the past, but this is ultimately a new venture.

Born Ruffians – This trio will be releasing their sophomore album in early May, but the buzz is already running back to them. They headlined the biggest show of the last night of CMW, they’ve given away two songs for download/listen already and they’ve been working on a new video. They’re known as these three free-spirited guys who make music that sounds chunky and unusual. Born Ruffians still have that charm, but they’ve grown up; there is a distinct mature sense of funk to them now. I don’t think this will set them back, though, it’s more refreshing.

Three up-and-coming Toronto bands:

Private Life – Katie Stelmanis has been playing solo for a while now, but she’s decided to form a band and give it a name. Stelmanis is now joined by Maya Postepski (Princess Century), Carmen Elle (solo) and Dorian Wolf (Spiral Beach). They’re rising incredibly fast – they played SXSW before they even announced the new band name. Private Life’s album debut will not be until the fall, but keep an eye out for any small city appearances. Here’s one: They will open for tUnE-yArDs at the Horseshoe on June 13.

The Elwins – These guys make Toronto feel like Halifax – sunny pop/rock with jaunty guitar chords and cute choruses. It’s perfect for this strange springtime we’re having. This band is very chill but in a playful way. They’ve recently released an EP and will start to work on a full-length soon. They’re playing the Silver Dollar with another Monthly Music featured artist, Whale Tooth, this coming Saturday.

Maylee Todd & Pegwee Power – If you’ve taken the TTC at all in the last month, you’ve seen those Virgin Mobile ads with all the hipsters having a party for phones. One of those partygoers is Maylee Todd, probably best known for her singing on a couple Woodhands singles. But Todd is really starting to shine on her own. Maylee played CMW and a show or two after around the city. She has at least three set up in the coming weeks – April 8 at the Tattoo Rock Parlour, April 10 at Bread & Circus and April 15 at the Great Hall. She blends jazz, pop and funk into a colourful array – it’s clear that she has a love for the 70’s, but it’s when you feel that aliens are starting to descend upon you that you know she’s onto something.

Three Toronto concerts that you shouldn’t miss:

The Runaway Catholics at the Horseshoe on April 10 – This previously Monthly Music-featured band is finally back on stage and this show is kind of like their big comeback. Stop by to hear sunny psychedelic tunes on a small stage, sure to give the venue an even more relaxed feel.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at the Phoenix on April 11 – Time to rally the troops and head bang! These guys (and now gal as well) rocked the same venue the other day, so I’m excited to be seeing them on the second date. Their new album isn’t as good as the others, but I’m hoping they will spend a lot of time on the older classics.

Plants & Animals at the Horseshoe on April 20 – This Montreal trio will be using the Horseshoe as their album release party for La La Land, a great psychedelic rock release of this year. The new album blends the good things going they had in the past, but there are a lot of new things going on. They tested out the new sounds here during CMW and the audience reaction was great.

Other noteworthy Toronto concerts worth checking out:

Gogol Bordello at Sound Academy on April 20

Dan Mangan and Aidan Knight at the Horseshoe on April 22

OK Go at the Mod Club on April 23

As always, you can read more of my musical musings at RoundLetters.