Feeling aught-y

Metric + Toronto live music listings

Metric, Broken Social Scene and Stars bring their All the Feelings tour home to Toronto this Friday, at Ontario Place. All three acts are central characters in my book Hearts on Fire, which was excerpted earlier this week here.

On the off chance you don’t have time to read my book before Friday’s show, you should really read colleague Tab Siddiqui’s oral history on that time and place in Toronto for the Star.

Metric – Romanticize the Dive

(Metric Music)

Ten albums and 25 years into their career — is this Metric’s best record?

That’s a question for the die-hard fans. I’ve been largely immune to this band since its inception, and so this is certainly the first time that I’ve had a Metric record on repeat for several months. Romanticize the Dive has maximum melody and stadium-size pop hooks spread across 11 tracks, with full-colour production that fully illuminates this band’s synth and rock sides. If Sleater-Kinney’s Depeche Mode makeover of 2019 had sounded more like this, maybe Janet Weiss would still be in that band. And I wish Robyn’s latest sounded more like “Crush Forever” does here.

Mostly, though, this just sounds like the distillation of everything Metric has ever done well.

Right from the opening track and first single, “Victim of Luck,” Metric are shooting for the moon — or Chappell Roan territory — with a killer pop song that reflects on their starving-artist days and midlife acceptance: “Never better, baby, at last I don't give a fuck.”

Except, of course, that Metric sound like they absolutely do give a fuck, with a song that sounds engineered to be a huge chart hit — and I do not at all mean that as a dis, because mission accomplished, right down to the playful countdown in the chorus (“five, four, three, two, one”). “Victim of Luck” is easily the best pop song I’ve heard in 2026 so far, and I’m not sure there’s even any competition.

The video certainly helps put you in an aught-y mood for this year’s tour with their peers, a package tour that could easily have been a nostalgic cash-grab if this new album wasn’t so strong:

What’s the secret to this album’s success? The answer is obvious: producer Gavin Brown, who also helmed 2009’s Fantasies and 2012’s Synthetica. (Readers of Never-Ending Present and Hearts on Fire will know him for his work on the Tragically Hip’s Now For Plan A and Billy Talent’s first two albums. His long and varied career dates back to Phleg Camp, Crash Vegas and many more.)

I was not at all a Metric fan before the albums they made with Brown. Those records not only boasted undeniable hits but, to me, sounded like what I wanted U2 to become post-Zooropa. The subsequent Metric records without him, between 2012 and now, did nothing for me — and, to my knowledge, didn’t yield any hits, either.

All Metric records sound great; it’s not like they need Brown as a sonic scupltor, because they can do that part on their own, at their own studio. But maybe they need someone like him to hone their writing: now, all but two songs on Romanticize the Dive feature Brown as a co-writer; the other two feature co-producer Liam O’Neil (the Stills) as co-writer. From what I can tell, this is the first time Emily Haines and James Shaw have shared songwriting credits with anyone else: no harm in asking for help or outside ears when building the best mid-career version of themselves.

On Fantasies, the closing track was the self-fulfilling prophecy “Stadium Love.” This time, the closing track is “Leave You on a High.” Are they trying to tell us something? Hopefully this is, instead, the beginning of a whole new chapter.

Metric, with Broken Social Scene and Stars, play Ontario Place on August 7; London on Oct 3; Ottawa on Oct 5; and Laval on Oct 7.

All news no snooze

It’s Rush week in Toronto, with the first of the hometown heroes’ four shows here starting tomorrow. On Saturday, Henderson Brewery, who brew the official Rush beers, hosts a Rush day with exclusive merch, Rush karaoke, and, uh, “very special guests.” At 4 p.m. the same day, new drummer Anika Nilles is hosting a sold-out in-store signing at Long & McQuade on Bloor West. That means stiff competition for the annual RushCon, happening at the El Mocambo.

Poster by Jamilya Low

This year’s Polaris Heritage Prize shortlist has been announced. (As seen above, Rush has won it twice, for 2112 and Moving Pictures.) You can vote for classic — or soon-to-be-recognized as classic — albums by Annihilator, Les Colocs, Richard Desjardins, Willie Dunn, Mort Garson, Sarah Harmer, k.d. lang & the Reclines, Joni Mitchell, Muzion, Rough Trade, the Watchmen, and the compilation Kwakiutl: Indian Music of the Pacific Northwest. Vote now! Vote often! (You can do so once a day until August 21.)

This year’s Afrofest, already bumped from July to August, has been cancelled, reports the Star, due to the rising cost of security in the wake of the Salsa on St. Clair shooting and new caps on numbers at Woodbine Park. Afrofest has been plagued with many organizational problems in the past, but part of the problem is also that, with 40,000 daily attendees, it’s grown far too large for almost any space in the city.

Project Nowhere has announced the schedule for its festival from October 1-3, featuring Death, Bibi Club, Ducks Ltd., U.S. Girls, and much more.

Jason Schneider, one of my Have Not Been the Same co-authors, talks to Nathan Whitlock for The Walrus’s podcast, about the two books he released in 2025: his recent novel, The City Knows, and That Gun In Your Hand, his book tracing the history of the song “Hey Joe.” I talked to Jason about the latter here.

Henry Rollins and Ian MacKaye are ensuring that the Cramps get their due in the wake of Wednesday, with new reissues and an official release of a long-buried bootleg. Only guitarist Poison Ivy is still alive; she’s 73 and reclusive.

Glen Hansard’s funeral was held this week, and broadcast on Irish television. This is the Irish obit I’d been waiting to read — though its headline, “A powerhouse of self-belief and passion,” takes on a different meaning while reading Neko Case’s decidedly different memories from a tour 24 years ago, and she sunk her teeth in deeper later this week. Meanwhile, the 17-year age gap between Hansard and his former Swell Season musical partner and lover Marketa Irglova, his teen co-star in the 2007 film Once, is being viewed much differently 20 years later, though Irglova sang with Eddie Vedder at the funeral and paid tribute online.

A reminder that TNIT pal Mike McCann continues to liquidate his entire vinyl collection, alongside thousands of CDs, concert shirts, music books and DVDs this weekend, from 10.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m., at 1 Woodfield Rd., which is a storage facility just west of Woodbine Park, near Lakeshore and Coxwell. Full details here. If you tell him you heard about this from me, he’ll offer a “mate’s rate” discount on your final bill. Act now before the collection gets marked up by your local store!

Why did every little thing have to be so political

IMAX is an Ontario invention. (Galt!) Which makes it all the more maddening that in the wake of Odyssey-inspired IMAX mania that the original IMAX theatre at Ontario Place is now shuttered with no clear reopening date, reports Barry Hertz at the Globe. And yes, it’s the provincial government’s fault.

Speaking of the Toronto waterfront, the Star’s Shawn Micallef thinks you should not throw out your NoJetsTO signs just yet. Apparently Mark Carney agrees.

Grace note

Jill Barber on playing the final gig of someone else’s life: at a MAID ceremony.

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)

Carsie Blanton, the Burning Hell: Sept 12 at Annabel’s (next door to Queen Elizabeth Theatre)

Charlie Angus and Liz Worth present a “Punk Rock Pizza Party”: Sept 13 at Peach Beserk. Details here. #HaveNotBeentheSame

Dany Laj, the Get-Alongs, Kewpie Dolls: Sept 17 at Horseshoe Tavern

Bobby Bare Jr.: Oct 14 at the Horseshoe

Reuben and the Dark: Oct 21 at Longboat Hall

Town of Hardcore festival: Oct 23-24 at Lithuanian Hall, featuring Fucked Up (playing 2004’s Epics In Minutes compilation), 100 Demons, more. Presented by Not Dead Yet. #HeartsOnFire

Beat (Adrian Belew, Tony Levin, Steve Vai, Terry Bozzio) play King Crimson: Nov 1 at Great Canadian Casino (Woodbine)

Hovvdy, Christian Lee Hutson: Nov 9 at the Horseshoe

Jorja Smith: Nov 18 at Massey Hall

Weird Nightmare, Dusted: Nov 18-19 at Osler Records

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:

Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age: Aug 6 at Downsview Stadium

Big Thief: Aug 6 at Meridian Hall. Sold out.

Kevin Breit and the Holy Men: Aug 6 at the Bell & Beacon

Metric, Broken Social Scene, Stars: Aug 7 at Ontario Place Amphitheatre. #HeartsOnFire #HeartsOnFire #HeartsOnFire. Read more here. See you on the lawn!

Boxcutter: Aug 7 at Canoe Landing Park, as part of It’s OK* festival. Details here. This is one of the great Toronto films of the decade, and one of the only movies I’m aware of ever set in the city’s hip-hop community. It is also available on Crave, but why not see it in the open air with a crowd for free? Starts at sundown.

Zoh Amba, Picastro: Aug 7 at Sound Garage. Can’t get a ticket to the sold-out Big Thief show? Check out this Tennesseean transplant to NYC, whose career to date has been built on free jazz and high-profile collaborations (with Jim White, Shahzad Ismaily and Steve Gunn), but is now shifting into singer-songwriter mode for their Matador debut:

Tania Gill, Victor Bateman and Lina Allemano: Aug 7 at Tranzac 7 p.m.

Freeman Dre and the Kitchen Party: Aug 7 at the Cameron 10 p.m.

Rush: August 7, 9, 11 & 13 Raptors/Leafs Arena

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

Habari Africa Festival feat. Lorraine Klassen, Maryem Tollar, Hassan El Hadi, Fethi Nadjem, Naghmeh Farahmand, Girma Woldemichael ft Melat Mengesha, more: Aug 7-9 at Harbourfront

Boots and Hearts festival: Aug 7-9 at Burl’s Creek (Medonte). Friday night headliner is the (fka Dixie) Chicks.

American Football, Afternoon Bike Ride: Aug 8 at Concert Hall

Kevin Breit and Don Rooke: Aug 8 at Tranzac 7.30 p.m.

Ethio-Jazz!: Aug 8 at Hirut

It’s OK* World Festival: Aug 8 at Trillium Park (Ontario Place), featuring Gena (Live.e + Karriem Riggins), KeiyaA, Clairmont the Second, more.

Cabaret: Aug 9 at Revue Cinema 4 p.m. Seems timely.

Sonido Torontonico’s Cumbia Lab: Aug 9 at Tranzac 10 p.m.

Dimmu Borgir: Aug 10 at History

Martin Loomer and his Orange Devils Orchestra: Aug 10 at Monarch Tavern 7.30 p.m.

Pecker: Aug 10 at Paradise Theatre 8.30 p.m. To me, John Waters’s masterpiece. It works on so many levels as a statement about “folk art,” “selling out,” and elite fetishization of working-class culture. Also: Lily Taylor has never been more radiant, which no other director ever allowed her to be.

Kiwi Jr.: Aug 12 at Sonic Boom 6 p.m. New album out Aug 7 on K Records.

The Brodie West Quintet: Aug 12 at Tranzac 7 p.m.

Artie Roth Quartet: Aug 12-13 at the Rex. Album release.

Cut Flowers, Long Branch: Aug 13 at Bsmt254. Cut Flowers features ex-King Cobb Steelie members; Long Branch has members of Shadowy Men and Venus Cures All.

Roni Size, Raf Reza: Aug 13 at Standard Time (Geary)

Daughters of Donbas: Aug 13 at Harbourfront Centre, 7 p.m.

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

Key summer dates

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

UpFront Festival: Aug 14-16 at Berczy Park, free. Featuring Tom Wilson’s Tehohàhake Trio, Adrian Sutherland, Electric Religious, Quique Escamilla, Mimi O'Bonsawin, Drezus, more. Details here.

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.

Ashkenaz Festival: Aug 30–Sept 6. Featuring the Klezmatics, Dobranotch, Queen Kong, Jaffa Road, Kallisto, Ventanas, Michael Winograd, more. Details here.

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.

If you value this work, please consider a paid subscription (monthly or annually), or drop something in the tip jar.