Today marks the one-month anniversary of this newsletter experiment. Thank you so much for subscribing and especially those who are paying to do so. It means a lot, all of it. I’d love to know what you think. Only one person has unsubscribed so far, citing “time.”
Are these too long? (Yes.) Too frequent? Should I partition off the listings to a separate email/section? Is there a day of the week you’d prefer to receive these? Are the links helpful at all? How about the reading list? Is Substack in general helping wean you off Twitter? Have I turned you on to anything new yet? Any/all comments are more than welcome.
Now that pretty much all the year-end lists have appeared, here is mine in one place and forever unpaywalled. If you’re new here, this is what I’m into.
Fave live shows:
Kikagayu Moyo at Lee’s Palace May 11
Orville Peck at Massey Hall Aug 9
Cuff the Duke at Dakota Tavern June 11
Nicolette and the Nobodies at Hillside Festival July 23
Gonzales at Berlin Philharmonie April 7
Allison Russell, Dominique Fils-Aimé at Koerner Hall Oct 28
Miranda Lambert at Ontario Place Ampitheatre June 2
Kid Koala’s Storyville Mosquito at Bluma Appel Theatre Oct 20
Delvon Lamarr Trio at Horseshoe Tavern July 4
Willie Nile at Horseshoe Tavern Dec 11
Biggest regret: having to miss the Low show in April.
Biggest, most complicated feelings: Arcade Fire at Osheaga and in Toronto
Fave music books of 2022:
Dilla Time by Dan Charnas. This is a multi-faceted wild ride through the music, life and times of J Dilla, with more music theory, Detroit history, family drama and surprising cultural ripples than one would ever expect for a guy whose main instrument was a drum machine. You don’t need to be a fan to love this book. Masterful.
Her Country by Marissa R. Moss. I have few, if any, feelings for the music of Kacey Musgraves, Maren Morris and Mickey Guyton, but this is a necessary history and examination about the ways in which these Texans may be rewriting the retrograde rules of Nashville forevermore, in much more inclusive directions. (Small complaint: Moss details the lineage of feminists and queers in country music, but writes k.d. lang out of history.)
The Longest Suicide by Jason Schneider. Bit biased here, having been involved in the genesis of this project 25 years ago, but Schneider doesn’t disappoint. Art Bergmann’s life and career is more than a bit colourful, and it’s captured beautifully here. (What do Kacey Musgraves and Art Bergmann have in common? I’d rather read about them than listen to them.) I can’t believe no one from Western Canada beat Schneider to this story. Oh, and by the way, that title? It was Art’s idea.
The Islander by Chris Blackwell. Sure, come for the Island Records tales of Bob Marley and U2 and Nick Drake and Grace Jones, and stay to be surprised by tales of Ian Fleming, Errol Flynn, Steve Winwood, Cat Stevens, Lee “Scratch” Perry, John Martyn, the B-52s and wildman Guy Stevens, who ended his career producing London Calling (until this book, that was the only thing I knew about him). Blackwell isn’t just dropping names: he’s lived more than a full life and is a breezy raconteur.
In the City of Pigs by Andre Forget. This is a sexually charged mystery novel set in Toronto’s avant-garde and classical music scenes, with nods to the Extermination Music Nights of the mid-aughts, Whole Note magazine and the toxic relationship between gentrification and arts patronage by condo developers. In other words: extremely niche! But very entertaining.
Also: Kelefa Sanneh’s 2021 book Major Labels is way, way, way better than I expected it to be, based on the terrible title and awful cover. But he’s great, and of course his book is as well. I was cocky and thought I wouldn’t learn much from such a general overview. Boy, was I wrong. Buy this especially for the younger music fanatic in your life, but make sure you read it as well.
Favourite non-music book:
Terrified that the culture wars are doing irreparable damage and that the forces of fascism are winning and that your racist coworker/neighbour/uncle is never going to come around and that we might never muster the political will to seriously tackle climate change? Does this shitstorm keep you up at night? Are you a fan of AOC and hope to see more people like her in public life? Then you absolutely need to read The Persuaders by Anand Giridharadas. It’s incredibly inspiring. And then buy copies for the people on your holiday gift list.
Top albums, one last time
I wrote about all these in newsletters of the last month. But here’s one list for easy reference (mostly mine).
#1 Tami Neilson – Kingmaker.
Tied for #2: Archers of Loaf – Reason in Decline; Sault – Today & Tomorrow / Earth / AIIR / 11 / Untitled (God); Angel Olsen – Big Time; Basia Bulat – The Garden
30 more in alphabetical order:
There are a couple of these I haven’t written about here yet (in bold), will do so shortly.
Horace Andy – Midnight Rocker
Anyway Gang – Still Anyways
Arcade Fire – We
Naujawanan Baidar – Khedmat Be Khalq
Belle & Sebastian – A Bit of Previous
Black Ox Orkestar – Everything Returns
Carolina Eyck – Thetis 2086
FemBots – Transfigurations
Fulu Miziki - Ngbaka EP
Gordon Grdina's Haram – Night's Quietest Hour
Ibibio Sound Machine – Electricity
Joyful Joyful – s/t
Kikagayu Moyo – Kumoyo Island
Miranda Lambert – Palomino
Abigail Lapell – Stolen Time
Lisa LeBlanc – Chiac Disco
Selina Martin – Time Spent Swimming
Nia Archives – Forbidden Feelings
Orville Peck – Bronco
Queen Kong – Fray
Santigold – Spirituals
The Sadies – Colder Streams
Snotty Nose Rez Kids – I’m Good, HBU?
Stars – From Capleton Hill
Stella – Up and Away
Tears For Fears – The Tipping Point
Various Artists – Dig Me In: A Dig Me Out Covers Album (Sleater-Kinney)
Various – Music from Saharan WhatsApp
Wet Leg – s/t
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Cool It Down
READING LIST
There is one big list that finally arrived, the one I anticipate the most, the one I usually spend most of January wading through. That would be Aquarium Drunkard’s. Canadians who made it this year: Badge Epoque Ensemble, Destroyer, Michael Rault, Yves Jarvis, Frog Eyes, Dumb, Isla Craig, Ayal Senior, The Weather Station
Stereogum put together an amusing Oscar-style “In Memoriam” reel of bands that broke up in 2022. I knew about Kikagayu Moyo, whose farewell tour I witnessed. But White Lung, the Polaris-shortlisted Vancouver punk act? They have a new album out, but I’ve learned they consciously intended it to be their last. Also: Sons of Kemet? How did I miss that news? I’m a huge fan, and was sad to miss their Toronto show in April (I’d seen them before, though: incredible). Not surprising, considering how busy they all are: drummer Tom Skinner is currently turning heads in Radiohead project The Smile.
Mary Dickie writes about the many worlds of violinist Jessica Moss (Black Ox Orkestar, A Silver Mt. Zion, solo records) in Musicworks.
The latest Toronto media scandal is about the incredibly messy moral morass of Leah McLaren’s memoir.
gets into it here:When Ken Whyte was my boss at Maclean’s, he (unsurprisingly) loved to cover books: specifically, the big-idea non-fiction books that either a) he could excerpt for a fraction of the price he’d have to pay a freelancer to write a major piece; or b) that a Maclean’s staffer could encapsulate in a large piece by basically penning a synopsis of the author’s research. This happens at a bunch of magazines, including, notoriously, The New Yorker. So while I was thrilled to see my friend Jason McBride’s new Kathy Acker biography (a decade in the making!) be the focus of a major New Yorker feature, the book itself gets about three lines of ink while the writer pens 2,000 words about Acker lifted largely — I’m going to have to assume — from McBride’s book, which gets only faint praise for existing. But hey! Great exposure! The best, really. I skimmed the article. Because I’m going to read the book.
UPCOMING SHOWS IN THE TOWN OF T.O. ABOUT WHICH ALL OF YOU SHOULD KNOW
An entirely subjective and by no means comprehensive look at Toronto’s concert calendar. My strong recommendations in bold.
Suggestions welcome. So are advertisers!
If you’re selling tickets for face value or less, feel free to post in the comments.
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.
Coming this week:
Jason Collett’s Basement Revue: Dec 15 (every Thurs in Dec) at Paradise Theatre
Wax Mannequin: Dec 15 at the Piston
Dana Gavanski: Dec 15 at Baby G
Alvvays: Dec 15-16 at History
The Titillators w/ Mary Margaret O’Hara: Dec 16 at Tranzac. I have no idea what this means.
Communism (Don Kerr, Kurt Swinghammer, Kevin Lacroix): Dec 16 at Cameron House 6pm
Freeman Dre: Dec 16 at Cameron House 10pm
Junia T opening for Nate Husser: Dec 16 at Drake Hotel
Broken Social Scene, Status/Non-Status: Dec 17 at History. I saw one of the Massey Hall shows earlier this year, and it was fantastic. Their most recent record, 2019’s Let’s Try the After, is their best since You Forgot It In People, the anniversary of which this is celebrating.
Songbird North feat. Jane Siberry (!), Lily Frost, etc.: Dec 17 at Koerner Hall
Jim Cuddy & many, many friends Daily Bread Food Bank benefit: Dec 18 at Horseshoe
Jennifer Castle Solstice Show: Dec 21 at Great Hall
The Strictly Hip: Dec 21 at Horseshoe. Of all the Hip cover bands I became aware of while researching The Never-Ending Present, this Buffalo group is perhaps the most successful and respectable. Good guys, too.
Jason Collett’s Basement Revue: Dec 22 (every Thurs in Dec) at Paradise Theatre
Barenaked Ladies: Dec 22 at Massey Hall
Headstones: Dec 22 at Phoenix
Coming soon:
Skydiggers: Dec 23 at Danforth
Jason Collett’s Basement Revue: Dec 29 (every Thurs in Dec) at Paradise Theatre
Ombiigizi: Dec 28 at the Garrison
Yoo Doo Right: Dec 30 at the Garrison
Terrell Morris: Dec 30 at the Baby G
The Sadies w/ Jon Langford and Sally Timms: Dec 30-31 at Horseshoe
Owen Pallett, Brodie West’s Eucalyptus, LAL, chiquitamagic, Bernice, Phèdre, José Contreras: Dec 31 at Tranzac
Catl: Dec 31 at Dakota
Read all about Exclaim!’s Class of 2023 shows throughout January here.
Kali Horse (formerly Kaleidoscope Horse), Crasher (feat. Airick Woodhead of Spiral Beach, Doldrums): Jan 7 at the Horseshoe (Exclaim! Class of 2023 series)
Dun-Dun Land, Jesse Levine, Robin Buckley: Jan 10 at Tranzac
Archers of Loaf: Jan 11 at Lee’s. O HELL YES. I would say you’ll see me there, except that I’ll be hard to spot among 500 other BaldWhiteMenTM in their 50s.
Brodie West Quintet: Jan 11 at Tranzac
Dry Cleaning: Jan 11 at Phoenix
Charles Spearin, Michael Olsen: Jan 14 at Tranzac
Kevin Breit, Dave Clark, Dale Morningstar, Davide Direnzo: Jan 14 at Tranzac
Dan Mangan: Jan 19 at Longboat Hall
Cass McCombs: Jan 20 at Great Hall
Jean-Michel Blais: Jan 20 at Koerner Hall
Nyssa, Max (feat. Dave Monks of Anyway Gang): Jan 21 at Horseshoe (Exclaim! Class of 2023 series)
Looking ahead:
Lina Allemano, Karen Ng: Jan 26 at Tranzac
Vag Halen: Jan 26 at Baby G. (Jan 27 at Garrison sold out).
David Wilcox: Jan 27-28 at Horseshoe
Ride, the Charlatans UK: Feb 4 at History
Choir! Choir! Choir!: Feb 4 at Massey Hall
Lydia Lunch: Feb 9 at the Garrison
Christian McBride’s Movement Revisited: Feb 17 at Meridian Hall
Yemen Blues: Feb 18 at Koerner Hall
Viagra Boys: Feb 21 at Phoenix
Bedouin Soundclash: Feb 24 at Danforth
Margo Price: Feb 24 at Phoenix
SZA, Omar Apollo: Feb 24 at Leafs/Raptors Arena
Begonia: Feb 24 at Great Hall
Mingus Dynasty Band, Monk’estra Quartet: Feb 25 at Koerner Hall
Blue Rodeo: Feb 25 at Massey Hall.
The Beths: Feb 26 at Phoenix
Busty and the Bass: March 1-4 at Drake Hotel
Digging Roots, Amanda Rheaume, Aysanabee: March 2 at Axis
Regina Spektor: March 2 at Massey Hall
Jerry Harrison & Adrian Belew perform Remain in Light: March 2 at Danforth
Dakha Brakha: March 3 at Koerner Hall
Clan of Xymox: March 4 at Velvet Underground
Junior Boys: March 4 at Danforth
Loud (QuebRap): March 4 at Axis
Weyes Blood: March 8-9 at Danforth
July Talk: March 10-11 at Massey Hall
Yngwie Malmsteen (!): March 11 at Rockpile
James Brandon Lewis Trio, the Messthetics (ex-Fugazi): March 13 at Drake Hotel
Lisa LeBlanc: March 16 at Horseshoe
Junoon (superstar sufi rock band from Pakistan): March 18 at CAA Centre in Brampton
Classic Albums Live do Dark Side of the Moon: March 24 at Massey Hall
Sunset Rubdown: March 24 at Horseshoe
Do Make Say Think: March 25 at Danforth
Chiiild: March 30 at Axis Club
Buddy Guy (farewell tour): March 30-31 at Massey Hall
Lemonheads performing It’s a Shame About Ray, with Rusty and the Nils (!): March 31 at Phoenix (rescheduled date after November show got buried under six feet of Buffalo snow)
Ezra Collective: April 3 at Horseshoe
DVSN: April 6-7 at History
Depeche Mode: April 7 at Leafs/Raptors Arena
Zakir Hussain’s Masters of Percussion: April 7 at Massey Hall
Caroline Rose: April 8 at Horseshoe
Andrew Bird: April 9 at History
Unknown Mortal Orchestra: April 11 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Bikini Kill: April 13-14 at Danforth Music Hall. This gig has been delayed for no fewer than three years now. This will be the most explosive, joyous, pent-up audience anywhere in Toronto in 2023.
Black Flag: April 17 at Rockpile
Mountain Goats: April 17 at Phoenix
Fruit Bats: April 18 at Phoenix
Serena Ryder, KT Tunstall: April 21 at Massey Hall
Nils Frahm: April 22 at Massey Hall
Joshua Redman: April 22 at Koerner Hall
Raffi: April 30 at Massey Hall
Belle & Sebastian: May 2 at History
Frank Turner, the Interrupters: May 3 at History
Andy Shauf: May 5 at Massey Hall
Shuffle Demons: May 6 at Koerner Hall
Classic Albums Live do Synchronicity: May 12 at Massey Hall
Madeleine Peyroux, Martha Wainwright: May 18 at Danforth
Janet Jackson, Ludacris: May 23 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Crowded House: May 27 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Death Cab For Cutie: June 2-3 at Massey Hall
Classic Albums Live do Purple Rain: June 9 at Massey Hall
John Mellencamp: June 19 at Massey Hall
First Aid Kit, The Weather Station: July 20 at History
ZZ Top: Aug 27 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Arctic Monkeys: Aug 30, Sept 1 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Death Grips: Sept 18 at Danforth
Chilly Gonzales: Oct 18 at Massey Hall
Gowan: Nov 3 at Massey Hall
Or just go and hang out any night of the week at the Tranzac or Drom Taberna, the two venues closest to my heart. Check jazzintoronto.ca’s Instagram page for daily jazz listings at various venues. For the best in Toronto’s Latin scene, check Lula Lounge.
Be kind to each other.
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