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Dallas Good and Richard Reed Parry + Toronto live music listings

This week, a literally haunting record from two key characters in Hearts on Fire, an album that peeks through the haze of grief and skies filled with smoke:

Dallas Good and Richard Reed Parry – Were the Watchtowers

(Yep Roc)

“There’s time,” sing these two men in a song by the same name. Except often there is not. One of these men is dead. Time runs out.

Dallas Good of the Sadies and Richard Reed Parry of Arcade Fire and Bell Orchestre met at a Yukon festival in 2009. They were in a workshop together — the beauty of folk festivals! — and chose to do an Everly Brothers song. The chemistry, both musical and personal, was instant. Over the next 13 years, they worked on this album whenever their busy schedules allowed — which is to say: rarely. The album was mostly done when Good died in 2022, at age 48, except for a few songs without lyrics. Those were completed by Parry and his partner, Little Scream’s Laurel Sprengelmeyer.

On “Are You Gone,” Parry sings:

Writing this song in your living room / There was no such thing as time / Kicking our can down an endless road / And thinking it’ll all be fine / And we’re working like there ain’t no finish line / See the sun rise from the roof / Live like you’re dying tomorrow friend / And one day it will be true.

“The Hole in the Wall” fuses two elements. One is a traditional English folk song once played by Parry’s father’s band, the Friends of Fiddlers Green (who, by the way, are responsible for the Tranzac being a music venue since the early ’70s). The other is Neko Case singing a love letter to friendship and the bonds formed by musical connections, in lyrics about first meeting Dallas in Toronto in the days of being “high on ideas / and cigarettes and downstairs pizza,” and realizing “we had everything we needed / Which meant we had it all.”

Elsewhere, backing vocals are by Buffy Ste.-Marie and Margaret Atwood, because that’s just who comes out of the woodwork to pay tribute to Dallas Good. To say nothing of the hundreds of voices — maybe even yours? — that Parry patched together to create a choir on “Not in This World,” which closes the album as a guaranteed tearjerker:

Lyrics about loss and death run throughout — but then again, that was always true of both men’s work, including Parry’s Quiet River of Dust project. It’s not prescient as much as it is simply just their oeuvre. (See also: Funeral.)

“The Brighest Light” about losing someone intimate, perhaps a parent or a lover — or a close friend and collaborator. Musically, it’s the track here that owes the most obvious debt to the Everly Brothers. “Your Hand and Mine” has a prayerful quality — as, for that matter, does most of the album, which sounds like it was recorded by the shores of the River Styx.

Were the Watchtowers couldn’t be further from a posthumous patch-up job. It’s a true tribute to Good and to his friendship with Parry. It easily stands as some of the finest work either man has done in their extensive discographies, easily one of the best records of 2026, and an emotionally essential listen for… well, let’s just say everyone who’s not in denial about how important it is to seize the day.

My full interview with Dallas Good for my Hearts on Fire book is here.

All news no snooze

It’s Hillside weekend! And the entire weekend is now sold out, which is great news for a festival that faced extinction twice in the last decade: first from the big-money WayHome festival on the same weekend from 2015-17, and then Covid. If you’re going, my preview is here. If you’re not, Brad Wheeler at the Globe and Mail explains it all to you.

What are the best vinyl record stores in Toronto? Richie Assaly reports for the Toronto Star. And Jack White’s poster designer has some thoughts.

The Star also has the definitive report how on Sneaky Dee’s was saved.

Hearts on Fire readers: George Petit of Alexisonfire talks to Exclaim! about the 20th anniversary of Crisis, which they’ll be performing at Ontario Place next month.

I did not know that the male voice on the late Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” was from Ontario, or that Jim Steinman originally wrote the song for a Nosferatu musical. Related: I finally saw the dark comedy Bottoms, the 2023 Ayo Edebiri/Rachel Sennott movie by Toronto’s Emily Seligman — a mix of Heathers, Fight Club, and Booksmart, which features the song at an appropriately ridiculous moment. Highly recommended.

On Canada Day, the Globe and Mail’s Barry Hertz assembled a clickbait list of the 100 best Canadian films, including many recent ones. Did they learn nothing from the NYT songwriters’ list debacle? No matter. This is Canadian film, which means there’s only about 100 people in the world who have opinions about it. Hey, all you newbies with your Elbows Up: how many of these have you seen? Naturally I’ll quibble with some of Hertz’s choices/exclusions, but I’ve seen 55/100, 23 of the top 30, and all of the top 12. It’s interesting how many are unavailable anywhere online: Go to the library! A week later, the Globe ran reader’s responses, which expands the canon (somewhat). Judging by the URLs, it’s interesting that Hertz’s picks are “films” and the readers’ are “movies.”

I caught the new Carole Pope documentary, Antidiva, recently at the Paradise Theatre, with the legend herself in attendance. Later that week, TNIT pal Stuart Berman hosted a similar event in Hamilton, and posted his Q&A here. Michelle Mama’s film is excellent, and brings to life Toronto of the 1970s — a time of Second City, TIFF, City-TV, Cronenberg, the CN Tower, punk rock, Rush, gay rights, and the unsigned Rough Trade singing about being a “Dyke by Default” on national television. It also has the luxury of interviewing Kevan Staples before his death, and offers a candid portrait of an icon and innovator humbled by age.

See it in a theatre if possible, but Antidiva comes to CBC Gem on July 24.

Why did every little thing have to be so political

Were you sweating in 45-degree heat at the Jack White show this week? Liz Worth writes in Exclaim! about the effect of climate change on Canadian concert culture.

The news about the Toronto Island airport expansion gets increasingly shittier, reports CBC.

Torontonians have reason lately to wonder what they should do during an active shooting incident — say, at a street festival. For starters, always plan your exits. Which, of course, concertgoers should be doing ever since Bataclan.

The NYT has an excellent piece on the death cycle of (North?) American EV production.

Grace note

I know the world doesn’t need any more Angine de Poitrine online content, but who says you can’t dance to them? Not this lady, who heard the Québécois prog rockers’s twisty time signatures and said to herself, “I’d tap that”:

T.O. SHOWS YOU SHOULD KNOW

An entirely subjective and by no means comprehensive look at Toronto’s concert calendar, tailored to musically curious people who are probably (but not necessarily) over 40. My strong recommendations in bold. Suggestions welcome.

Don’t live in Toronto? Most of these artists are on tour, so check your local listings. Just kidding! There are no local listings anymore. Check the artists’ websites.

JUST ANNOUNCED (mark your calendars)

MixTo: July 25-26 at Trillium Park (Ontario Place) featuring Scientist, Orbital Ensemble + Friends, Raf Reza (live), Lavender Town, more.

Danny Elfman: Sept 10 at History

L’Rain: Sept 16 at the Garrison

Eric Bachmann: Sept 20 at private Etobicoke location. My favourite living American songwriter is playing a house show that I assumed would sell out immediately, but hasn’t yet. (His show at the House of Miracles in Cambridge has, however.) Details here. I reviewed his excellent new record here.

Liturgy (solo): Sept 22 at Dance Cave (Lee’s)

Lucinda Williams: Oct 11-12 at the Horseshoe

The Linda Lindas: Oct 12 at Danforth Music Hall

The Tallest Man on Earth, Gwenifer Raymond: Oct 23 at Massey Hall

Jessica Lea Mayfield, Rachel Bobbitt: Nov 6 at Sound Garage

Adam Cohen: Nov 7 at Meridian Hall

Charlotte Cornfield, Friendship: Dec 3 at Lee’s Palace

Tonight and ev-er-y night!:

The Tranzac, Drom Taberna, Cameron House and the Rex Hotel all have several great acts a night — just go! JazzInToronto.ca’s Instagram page has essential daily jazz listings at various venues. East-enders: always something on at Castro’s or Sauce on the Danforth or jazz at Hirut. Latin and Caribbean scene: Lula Lounge. Check out the eclectic lineup at the micro-intimate Sellers & Newel bookstore. The Whole Note lists classical events and more. Fans of experimental music, report to Earlobe. Hamiltonians need HamOntLive.

Coming this week:

Beaches Jazz Festival: until July 26. Details here.

Sate presents The Listening: July 15-18 at the Vault (2076 Danforth). A memoir/play directed by Djanet Sears.

Aziz Ansari (comedy): July 16 at Great Canadian Casino

Cypress Hill: July 16 at Fallsview Casino

Valerie June: July 16 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre Allied Music Centre (Massey Hall)

Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears: July 16 at Longboat Hall. Come to his party!

Molly Johnson: July 16 at El Mocambo. Album release.

Petunia and the Vipers: July 16 at the Horseshoe

Butthole Surfers: The Hole Truth and Nothing Butt: July 16 at Revue Cinema 9.30 p.m.

L’Éclair: July 17 at Lee’s Palace. Bulgarian/Swiss psych jam band who tore the roof off the Monarch last time they were here.

Birthday Squirrel, Matthew Holtby: July 17 at Bell & Beacon

Kyp Harness, Scott B.: July 17 at Lola (Kensington) 8 p.m.

Hillside Festival: July 17-19 at Guelph Lake. Full preview here. Completely sold out! For first time since 2012.

Josh Johnson (comedy): July 17-19 at Massey Hall

Goldfinger: July 17 at History

Billy Talent, Death From Above 1979, Hollerado: July 18 at Ontario Place Amphitheatre. Playing Billy Talent II for its 20th anniversary. #HeartsOnFire

Souls of Mischief: July 18 at the Phoenix

Kevin Breit and Don Rooke: July 18 at the Tranzac 7.30 p.m.

The Decline of Western Civilization: July 18 at Hot Docs Cinema 7 p.m. This is the first of the series, not the metal one but the 1981 L.A. punk chronicle, the one that rarely ever gets screened.

An American in Paris: July 19 at Hot Docs Cinema 4 p.m.

Nadjiwan: July 19 at Trillium Park (Ontario Place), part of Indigenous Sound festival

Death Cab for Cutie, Japanese Breakfast: July 19 at Ontario Place Amphitheatre

Rebecca Hennessy presents Felicity Williams, Patrick O’Reilly, Michael Herring: July 19 at the Tranzac 7:30 p.m.

Heavy on the Willie: July 20 at the Cameron 6 p.m.

The Black Crowes, Whiskey Myers: July 21 at Ontario Place Amphitheatre

Fruit Bats: July 21 at Concert Hall

Hustler White: July 21 at Paradise Theatre 8 p.m.

Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets: July 21 at Mod Club. Maybe they went to Black Joe Lewis’s party!

Chris Acker, Creekbed Carter Hogan: July 22 at Monarch Tavern

PARC benefit with 9 Million, S.H.I.T., Siyahkal, Duchess, DJ Meg Remy: July 23 at Parkdale Hall. Details here. Proceeds to assist the most vulnerable residents of Parkdale.

Key summer dates

Herbie Hancock: July 26 at Massey Hall. Lots of tickets still available; the 86-year-old was amazing last time.

Festival of Friends: July 31 to Aug 2 in Gage Park, Hamilton. Headliners, in order, are Feist, Dallas Smith, and Blackie and the Rodeo Kings backing up a bevy of stars, including Hawksley Workman, Maestro Fresh Wes, Dan Hill, Andy Kim, Ashley MacIsaac, Chantal Kreviazuk, Teenage Head, more. Free. Details here.

Metric, Broken Social Scene, Stars: Aug 7 at Ontario Place Amphitheatre. #HeartsOnFire #HeartsOnFire #HeartsOnFire

Wolfe Island Music Festival: Aug 7-8, a ferry ride away from Kingston. With Shad, Ken Yates, Georgia Harmer, Rachel Bobbitt, more.

Peterborough Folk Festival: Aug 13-16. Featuring Bahamas, Shad, Begonia, Georgia Harmer, Kelly McMichael, Slow Leaves, Burs, more. Details here.

Alexisonfire, Underoath: Aug 14-15 at Ontario Place Amphitheatre. Performing Crisis for its 20th anniversary. #HeartsOnFire

Wavelength Summer Thing with Shad, Bells Larsen, Janette King, Absolute Treat, Tauro, CJ Wiley, more: Aug 16 at Trillium Park (Ontario Place)

Summerfolk (Owen Sound): Aug 21-23. Featuring Dan Mangan, Jane Siberry, Tom Wilson, Empanadas Illegales, Julian Taylor, Good Lovelies, more. Details here.

Toronto Folk Festival: Aug 21-23 on Ward’s Island. Featuring Abigail Lapell, Ahmed Moneka, Bobby Dove, Burs, Kobo Town, Meredith Moon, Mia Kelly, Divka, Jadea Kelly, more.

Blue Rodeo, William Prince, Billiane: Aug 29 at Ontario Place Amphitheatre #HaveNotBeentheSame

Iron Maiden, Megadeth: Aug 29-30 at Raptors/Leafs Arena. 50th anniversary tour.

Wu-Tang Clan, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony: Sept 8 at Ontario Place Amphitheatre

Kim Gordon, Voyeur: Sept 11 at Opera House

Great Outdoors Comedy Festival: Sept 11-13 at Erindale Park, Mississauga. Featuring John Mulaney, Mike Birbiglia, Fred Armisen, Nick Kroll, Hasan Minhaj, Ronny Chieng, more. Details here.

Supercrawl: Sept 11-13 in downtown Hamilton, featuring Population II, Aysanabee, Mariel Buckley, Grapes of Wrath, William Prince, Reuben & Bullhorn Singers, Gizmo, Golden Feather, Chore, more.

Guelph Jazz Festival: Sept 11-13. Featuring Francois Houle, Gord Grdina, Gerry Hemingway, Joëlle Léandre, Myra Melford, more.

Turnstile, Saya Gray, Yves Tumour: Sept 12 at Woodbine Park

Erykah Badu, the Alchemist, De La Soul: Sept 13 at Ontario Place Amphitheatre

Robyn, Grace Ives: Sept 15 at Raptors/Leafs Arena

Tinariwen: Sept 17 at Concert Hall

Altin Gün, Alex Maas: Sept 18 at Danforth Music Hall

More Toronto concert listings until May 2027 are here and updated weekly for paid subscribers.

Here come the regulars

Every Monday: Tranzac open stage, 6.30 p.m. (Sign up at 6 p.m.)

Every Monday: Sean McCarthy’s Taproom Gang (trad jazz) at Steadfast Brewing 7 p.m.

Every Tuesday: Julian Fauth at Sauce on the Danforth 6.30 p.m.

Every Tuesday: swing night at Drom Taberna

Every Thursday: Strangetooth (bluegrass) at Tranzac 7 p.m.

Every Thursday: Good Enough Karaoke (live band) at Wheat Sheaf Tavern

Every Thursday: Corin Raymond at Cameron House, 6 p.m.

Every Saturday: The Happy Pals at Grossman’s, 3.30 p.m. 56 years strong!

Every Saturday: Michael Louis Johnson and the Red Rhythm at Communist’s Daughter 4 p.m.

Every Saturday: Robertson & Kerr at Cameron House 8.30 p.m.

Every Sunday: Eastern European Brunch at Drom Taberna 1-4 p.m.

Every Sunday: John Borra at Communist’s Daughter 5 p.m.

Every Sunday: Colonel Tom at Cameron House 6 p.m.

Every Sunday: Doghouse Orchestra at Cameron House, 10 p.m.

Are you over 40 and/or did you grow up with freeform radio?

If so, curated Toronto concert listings from now until May 2027—are here for paid subscribers, and updated weekly.

Be kind to each other.

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