Back to school special!
Dead, daddy, dead
RIP Tony DeWald, drummer of the ’80s duo Deja Voodoo (that headline is one of their songs, relax). He died of cancer, peacefully at his home, on August 29. That’s him on the cover of this Canadian classic:
DeWald and guitarist Gerard Van Herk were pioneers in Canada’s independent music scene of the primitivist variety. Deja Voodoo weren’t a garage band or a basement band—they were downright subterranean “sludgeabilly.”
That’s why they named their label Og Records, after Pierre Berton’s 1961 children’s bestseller The Secret World of Og (apparently the author’s favourite of his many books), about children who are kidnapped by underground creatures.
Og put out records not just by Deja Voodoo and Montreal brats the Gruesomes and the Asexuals, but by Edmontonian drunkards Jerry Jerry and the Sons of Rhythm Orchestra, Hamiltonian dorks the Dik Van Dykes and more. Most of all, Og is known for putting out five It Came From Canada compilations (ICFC, or “ickfuck”) featuring garage, punk and rockabilly bands from across the country—including Montreal acts Condition and Ray Condo’s Hardrock Goners, Vancouver’s Enigmas, New Brunswick’s Guilt Parade, Toronto’s Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet, and even, on Vol. 4, Cowboy Junkies.
The label folded in 1990 after both Deja Voodoo and the Gruesomes packed it in. But its influence loomed large—just ask Nardwuar. Or Grant Lawrence. Or Patti Schmidt.
Or anyone remotely involved in Canadian campus media in its nascent days of the mid-’80s. I’m told The Manitoban newspaper in Winnipeg once ran a cover headline: “Deja Voodoo on the fucking cover again!”
I’m not going to tell you Deja Voodoo made great music. It’s objectively terrible. But it was hella fun in the ’80s as an antidote to just about everything else around: it was beyond primitive, it was funny, it was goth but goofy, it sounded great loud, and it was designed for teenage brains drawn to cheap horror movies and cable-access TV.
It made the Cramps sound like Led Zeppelin. Compared to Deja Voodoo, the Ramones might as well have been Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers.
Most important: every single person who ever heard Deja Voodoo on record or on stage, whether intrigued or dismissive, thought to themselves, “I could do that.” And many did.
Not that Deja Voodoo were incompetent: far from it. They could both play, and had a deep musical connection with each other. DeWald was a primal force behind the kit—a kit notably devoid of cymbals or a hi-hat—howling and scowling while he beat the living shit out of his drums.
The first bar show I ever saw was a Deja Voodoo BBQ in 1988, featuring many Og acts, at the Siboney Club in Kensington Market. I was 16 and grew a beard so I wouldn’t get carded. I showed up way too early and slowly sipped a single cola for hours before the show began. Then my mind blew open.
Yes, dear reader, it did change my life. It’s why I worked at an alt-weekly. It’s definitely why I ended up working at Brave New Waves, hired by a fellow Og fan. It’s partly why I co-wrote Have Not Been the Same, which has a lot about Og in it (including the fact that a very young Tragically Hip wanted to be on Og—according to Tony). The book’s epigraph quotes the liner notes from ICFC Vol. 1.
The Gruesomes pay tribute here:
No exaggeration: Deja Voodoo built the Canadian underground scene.
Touring? Practically impossible back then. Records? Good luck! Media interest? Not a chance if you were a weird band with retro influences. But through heroic work and determination, Tony and Gerard Van Herk from Deja Voodoo put together all that stuff and more. They forged a workable tour route across the country, they started a record label based on bands’ coolness [as opposed to marketability], and they found a way to sell underground acts to the Canadian public with smart-ass and often ironic promotional angles.
The What Wave fanzine has some vintage pics here. And, believe it or not, Billboard has a tribute here (thanks, Kerry Doole).
Van Herk, now a retired linguistics professor, is playing the Horseshoe Tavern on Sept. 28 with Bloodshot Bill, opening for ex-Oglodytes U.I.C. If there’s going to be a Toronto wake for Tony, that’s where and when it will be. Also: U.I.C. are amazing, full-stop.
Don’t send flowers, send vegetables.
You know who definitely remembers Deja Voodoo? These next guys, because there’s a direct line from Og band Guilt Parade to the Sadies, which I explore in Hearts on Fire, and I would be shocked if Rick White didn’t have an ICFC in his teenage collection.
Rick White and the Sadies
(Blue Fog)
This was bound to happen.
In fact, it happened 20 years ago, when White (Eric’s Trip, Elevator) and the Sadies and Greg Keelor formed a band called the Unintended and put out a self-titled record in 2004, catnip for CanRock collector types (ahem).
That, of course, was when Dallas Good was still alive. He died in February 2022 of a heart attack, at 48. The Sadies’ final album with him, Colder Streams, was a triumph. White, who had been Dallas’s roommate and enlisted him into Elevator, recorded a personal Sadies tribute album to help process his grief.
But this: this is not the Unintended—which is more of a White record despite his star collaborators. This is very much a full collaboration.
White of course brings the Sadies’ psychedelic side to the fore, but this also sounds like a natural follow-up to Colder Streams. White, who has largely been making home recordings and (very good) covers albums in recent years, delivers a solid set of new songs—this is, depending on how you count (there’s a duo album with Eiyn Sof), only his second album or original material in 15 years. He sounds energized to be playing with a full band—and not just any band, of course, but his dear friends who just happen to be the mighty Sadies.
The music they make together may be rooted in darkness and grief, but it sounds very much alive and in vivid colours—just like White’s illustration on the album cover.
He writes:
The loss of our brother Dallas understandably focuses many of the lyrics on mortality. Of course we had him clearly on our minds while making this album. He may not have physically been here with us, but he is very much a part of it. The lyrics are about the loss of a loved one and the light and dark of life in general. We made this album to help lift us, an album we really like, an album we think Dallas would like too.
Rick White and the Sadies play a sold-out show at the Great Hall this Friday, with Eiyn Sof opening. There are no plans at this point for further dates.
All news no snooze
Congrats to reader Ellen, who won the second pair of tickets I was giving away to the Polaris Music Prize gala on September 17. See you there! For everyone else, you can buy tickets here and use the promo code POLARIS25 for 25% off.
It’s TIFF time in Toronto. Hearts on Fire readers might be interested in a new doc about Tegan and Sara’s recent experienced being catfished. Never-Ending Present readers will want to see the new Tragically Hip docuseries No Dress Rehearsal, and perhaps sing some Hip songs with Choir! Choir! Choir! today (Thursday) between 4.30 and 5.45 p.m. on John Street between King and Wellington. I can all but guarantee some “very special guests” will crash that party.
Hearts on Fire readers: If you know any twentysomethings in Montreal, let them know that writer/director Chandler Levack (I Like Movies) needs indie-sleazy extras for her new movie set in that city’s music scene in the late 2000s, being filmed this month. I’M VERY EXCITED.
Have Not Been the Same readers: Brad Wheeler celebrates the 35th anniversary of Roadkill, a.k.a. the first great Canadian rock’n’roll movie, in conversation with Bruce McDonald, Don McKellar and Valerie Buhagiar. In Have Not Been the Same, Jason Schneider wrote about A Neon Rome, the band who were supposed to be the subject of a McDonald documentary before dropping out and inspiring Roadkill.
Green Day paused their stadium show in Detroit for an awkward 10 minutes this week because of security concerns, when an unauthorized drone was spotted near the stage. The MAGA-baiting band (who have updated “American Idiot” to target Trump supporters) were playing for 40,000 people in a state where there was a very serious kidnapping plot against the Democratic governor. Terrorists don’t just target Taylor Swift. The show proceeded safely, but the question remains: how does one ID an “unauthorized” drone at a show?
If you enjoy reading about how hedge funds envision the future monetization of the music industry, then restrain yourself from gagging while reading this. Then again, I loved my experience with the ABBA-tars, so not sure why I’m complaining.
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. So are advertisers! Each post gets approximately 1K unique views. Drop me a line.
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):
Grlwood: Oct 17 at Horseshoe Tavern. Last seen in town opening for Man Man in 2019, highly recommended.
Scream of My Blood: A Gogol Bordello Story: Nov 5 at Royal Cinema, with Q&A and performance by Eugene Hütz and Sergey Ryabtsev
Sparta: Nov 17 at Axis Club
The Songs of Nick Drake: Nov 23 at Hugh’s Room
Bibi Club: Nov 28 at St. Anne’s Lower Hall. Wrote about them here.
Women’s Blues Revue: Nov 29 at Massey Hall. Featuring Diana Braithwaite, Tanika Charles, Kellylee Evans, Rebecca Hennessy, Meghan Parnell, Crystal Shawanda, more.
Sloan plays Smeared: Nov 30 at Concert Hall #HaveNotBeentheSame
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas: Feb 14 at Koerner Hall
Rosanne Cash: March 7 at Koerner Hall
Angélique Kidjo: March 25 at Koerner Hall
Joseph Arthur: April 23 at Horseshoe
Tonight and every night!:
The Tranzac and Drom Taberna, the two venues closest to my heart, boast several acts a night and have the most eclectic lineups — just go! The equally busy Cameron House has mostly roots vibes; jazz is always happening at the Rex Hotel. Jazzintoronto.ca’s Instagram page has daily jazz listings at various venues. For the best in Toronto’s Latin and Caribbean scene, check Lula Lounge. Live in the east end? Always something on at Castro’s or Sauce on the Danforth.
Coming this week:
Michael Feuerstack, Paul Linklater: Sept 5 at the Piston. Fun fact: Feuerstack (Snailhouse, Wooden Stars) played in a teenage hardcore band with Rick White.
Marika Hackman: Sept 5 at Drake Underground Longboat Hall
Anderson.Paak: Sept 5 at History
Heather Morgan’s annual Patsy Cline tribute: Sept 5 at Lula Lounge. Featuring Kathryn Rose, Lori Yates, Laura Hubert, Russell deCarle, Michelle Rumball, Samantha Windover, more.
Rick White & the Sadies, Eiyn Sof: Sept 6 at Great Hall. #HaveNotBeentheSame #HeartsOnFire This show is sold out! If you don’t have tickets, may I suggest… (see below)
Richard Laviolette tribute and album release: Sept 6 at Tranzac feat. Terra Lightfoot, José Contreras, Geordie Gordon, Tamara Lindeman, Abigail Lapell, more. Be sure to read this excellent piece by Matt Horseman.
The Cult: Sept 6 at History
Mike Evin: Sept 7 at Small World Music Centre. CD release.
West End Phoenix fundraiser: Sept 7 at 1655 Dupont. Featuring Julian Taylor, Shakura S’Aida, Terra Lightfoot, Lucas Silveira, Charlotte Cornfield, Gentleman Reg, Dave Wall, Tom Wilson, Andy Maize, Daniel Greaves, Sameer and Andrew Cash, Jason Collett, Lee Rose, Jim Bryson and more. Info and tickets here.
Squeeze, the English Beat: Sept 7 at Massey Hall
Weezer, Flaming Lips, Dinosaur Jr.: Sept 8 at Raptors/Leafs Arena. The dream of the ’90s is alive!
Stone Temple Pilots, Live, Soul Asylum, Our Lady Peace: Sept 8 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre. The dream of the ’90s is alive! I can’t believe this and the Weezer bill hit town on the same day. Choose your team.
Jeff Lynne’s ELO: Sept 9 at Raptors/Leafs Arena. Farewell tour (apparently).
Spoon: Sept 10 at Danforth Music Hall. U.S. politicos, have you ever seen this?
Sierra Ferrell: Sept 10 at Massey Hall
Andy Stochansky: Sept 10 at Cameron House 6 p.m.
The Killers: Sept 10-11 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Pulp: Sept 10-11 at History. Help the aged!
Kehlani: Sept 11 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
High on Fire, Sons of Otis: Sept 11 at Axis Club
Dave Bidini: Sept 11 at Sellers & Newel. They say it’s his birthday. #HaveNotBeentheSame #TheNeverEndingPresent
Dave Clark’s Western Slang: Sept 12 at Sellers & Newel. Two Rheostatics in a row at this venue: maybe they should expand this into a new Green Sprouts Music Week. #HaveNotBeentheSame #TheNeverEndingPresent
Jim White: Sept 12 at Hugh’s Room. The singer-songwriter, not the Dirty Three drummer.
Nicolette & the Nobodies, Falcon Jane: Sept 12 at Monarch Tavern. Wrote about them here.
Coming sooner than later
Paul Weller: Sept 13 at History
Spookey Ruben: Sept 13 at Bsmt254
Buzzcocks: Sept 13 at Opera House
Darius Jones’s fLuXkit Vancouver: Sept 13 at Guelph Jazz Festival
Supercrawl Hamilton: Sept 13-15. Featuring Explosions in the Sky, Matt Andersen, Danko Jones, the Sadies, Rich Aucoin, the Dears, Kaia Kater, Moonriivr, Peter Dreams, Charlotte Cornfield, much more. Details here.
Mia Sheard sings Joni Mitchell: Sept 13 at Hugh’s Room. Sept 14 show cancelled.
Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story: Sept 14 at Barbara Hall Park (Church/Gloucester streets), 7 p.m., free outdoor screening.
St. Vincent: Sept 14 at Massey Hall
D.O.A.: Sept 14 at Horseshoe #HaveNotBeentheSame
New Future City Radio (Rob Mazurek, Damon Locks): Sept 14 at Guelph Jazz Festival
Boy Golden: Sept 14 at Opera House
Explosions in the Sky: Sept 14 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Cat Power: Sept 14 at Fallsview Casino. That’s right, ’90s weirdos, you’re in your casino years now.
The Dears: Sept 15 at Great Hall. #HeartsOnFire
The Hives: Sept 16 at History.
Polaris Prize Gala: Sept 17 at Massey Hall. Featuring 8/10 of these people.
Jessica Pratt: Sept 17 at Great Hall the Phoenix
Amen Dunes: Sept 17 at Concert Hall Great Hall
Mo Kenney: Sept 17 at Baby G
El Khat: Sept 17 at the Burdock. Yemeni band who was in town for Ashkenaz, back for an encore. I heard very good things.
Charlie XCX, Troye Sivan: Sept 18 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
Phosphorescent: Sept 18 at Great Hall
Jane’s Addiction, Love and Rockets: Sept 18 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Hans Zimmer: Sept 19 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
Carole Pope: Sept 19 at Hugh’s Room
Too Many Zooz: Sept 19 at Lee’s Palace
Feist: Sept 19 at Royal Botanical Gardens, Hamilton #HeartsOnFire
Frank Turner: Sept 19-22 at Great Canadian Casino (Woodbine Racetrack). Support acts: Henry Rollins on Sept 19, Nobro on Sept 20, the Dirty Nil on Sept 21 and Bedouin Soundclash on Sept 22.
Tom Wilson’s TEHÅHÀHAKE Trio: Sept 20 at Hugh’s Room
Shovels & Rope: Sept 20 at Lee’s Palace
The National, War on Drugs, Lucius: Sept 20 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Wanda Sykes: Sept 20 at Meridian Hall
Keane: Sept 20 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Idles: Sept 20 at CNE Coliseum
Blue Hawaii: Sept 20 at Drake Underground
Big Sugar: Sept 21 at Concert Hall
Mr. Pharmacist (Fall cover band), Psychic Weapons: Sept 21 at Linsmore Tavern
Ladom Ensemble: Sept 21 at Hugh’s Room. Klezmer/tango/Persian chamber group.
Pansy Division: Sept 21 at Monarch Tavern.
Sting: Sept 20-22 & 24-25 at Massey Hall.
Peaches: Sept 22 at the Phoenix #HeartsOnFire
Princess Superstar: Sept 22 at Horseshoe Tavern
Micah Barnes sings Leonard Cohen: Sept 22 at Hugh’s Room
Vampire Weekend, Cults: Sept 24 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Bad Religion: Sept 24 at Danforth Music Hall. Cancelled.
Korn: Sept 25 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Petunia & the Vipers: Sept 25 at Horseshoe Tavern
Michael Kiwanuka, Basia Bulat: Sept 25 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre
PJ Harvey: Sept 25-26 at History
Dropkick Murphys: Sept 26 at Great Canadian Casino (Woodbine Racetrack)
Claire Rousay, Rempitt Goddess, Karen Ng: Sept 26 at Monarch Tavern. Part of Venus Fest.
Evicshen, Ahya Simone, Kat Estacio: Sept 27 at It’s OK Studio (Queen & Augusta). Part of Venus Fest.
Neko Case: Sept 27 at Danforth Music Hall.
Kaytranada: Sept 27 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
U.I.C., the Wabi Sabis, Bloodshot Bill with Gerard Van Herk (Deja Voodoo): Sept 28 at Horseshoe #HaveNotBeentheSame
Isabella Lovestory, Rempitt Goddess, We Turn to Red: Sept 28 at It’s OK Studio. (Queen & Augusta). Part of Venus Fest. Lovestory is the Montreal reggaeton artist long-listed for the Polaris prize in 2023.
Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame: Sept 28 at Massey Hall, featuring Sarah McLachlan, Tom Cochrane, Keelor/Cuddy, Diane Tell.
Luna Li, Mother Tongues: September 28 at Danforth Music Hall
Daniel Lanois: Sept 28 at the Phoenix #HaveNotBeentheSame
Homeshake, Freak Heat Waves: Sept 28-29 at Lee’s Palace
The Way We Feel: annual Gordon Lightfoot tribute: Sept 28-29 at Hugh’s Room. Final shows for this long-running concept.
The Marley Brothers (including Ziggy, Damian and Stephen): Sept 29 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Herbie Hancock: Oct 1 at Massey Hall
Kings of Leon, Phantogram: Oct 1 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Mk.Gee: Oct 1 at History
Julien Baker: Oct 1-2 at Concert Hall
Billie Eilish: Oct 1-2 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
Marcos Valle: Oct 2 at Opera House. Exceedingly rare appearance by this now-80-year-old bossa nova legend.
David Sedaris: Oct 2 at Massey Hall (in addition to sold-out April 7, 2024 date)
Tegan and Sara: Oct 3 at OCAD Auditorium #HeartsOnFire
Project Nowhere festival feat. Lightning Bolt, Frankie and the Witch Fingers, Lee Ranaldo, Population II, La Sécurité, Pelada, Yoo Doo Right, Badge Époque Ensemble, Sam Jr., Zoon, Bambara, Luge, Motherhood, Patriarchy, more: Oct 3-5. Holy shit, psychedelic weirdos, look at this lineup. Looks like Motherhood and Patriarchy do not share the same bill—go figure.
Stars: Oct 3-5 at Concert Hall. #HeartsOnFire 20th anniversary of Set Yourself on Fire. First two shows sold out.
Fred Again: Oct 3-4 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
David Wilcox: Oct 4 at the Phoenix
Death From Above 1979: Oct 4 at History
Ron Hawkins: Oct 4 at Rivoli. #HaveNotBeentheSame
Get Up Kids, Smoking Popes: Oct 4 at Danforth Music Hall
Nilüfer Yanya: Oct 5 at Phoenix
The Surfrajettes: Oct 5 at the Horseshoe. Album release.
Raffi: Oct 5 (2 shows) at Massey Hall
Lemon Twigs: Oct 5 at Lee’s Palace
Social Distortion, the Bellrays: October 5 at History
Kelly McMichael: Oct 6 at the Burdock
Atarashii Gakko: Oct 6 at History
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World tribute concert: Oct 6 at Lee’s Palace
Yard Act: Oct 7 at Axis Club Concert Hall
Fidlar: Oct 7 at Phoenix
Rex Orange County: Oct 7-9 at Massey Hall
The Supersuckers: Oct 8 at the Horseshoe
Nada Surf: Oct 8 at Great Hall
JD McPherson: Oct 8 at Concert Hall. Last seen in town opening for Robert Plant and Alison Krauss.
The Psychedelic Furs, The Jesus and Mary Chain: Oct 9 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Chromeo: Oct 9 at History
Sepultura: Oct 9 at Rebel. Farewell tour (apparently).
Mdou Moctar, James Brandon Lewis & Messthetics: Oct 9 at Concert Hall
The Black Keys, the Head and the Heart: Oct 11 at Raptors/Leafs Arena Cancelled
Nia Archives: Oct 10 at Danforth Music Hall
Roger Clark Miller (Mission of Burma): Oct 10 at Horseshoe Tavern
Billy Bragg: Oct 11 at Massey Hall
Fontaines DC: Oct 11 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Illuminati Hotties: Oct 12 at Longboat Hall
La Luz: Oct 12 at Horseshoe Adelaide Hall
Air: Oct 12 at Massey Hall. Playing Moon Safari. And completely sold out.
Looking ahead
Hanson: Oct 13-14 at Danforth Music Hall. Oct 13 with Matthew Sweet, Oct 14 with Phantom Planet.
Johnny Marr w/ James (the band, you know, “Laid”): Oct 14 at History. In the words of one friend, “Marr plays a pile of Smiths songs in his set, sounds great, won’t cancel at random, and won’t make you feel like you’re supporting fascists if you go to his show.”
Low Cut Connie: Oct 14-15 at Horseshoe Tavern
Anohni and the Johnsons: Oct 15 at Massey Hall. This artist never tours. Their last record was one of their best. This will be a treat.
Kokoroko: Oct 16 at Opera House
Fake Fruit: Oct 16 at Baby G
Pokey Lafarge: Oct 17 at Great Hall
Justin Timberlake: Oct 17-18 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
Beat: (’80s King Crimson performed by Adrian Belew, Tony Levin, Steve Vai, Danny Carey): Oct 18 at Massey Hall
Jake Xerxes Fussell: Oct 18 at Longboat Hall
MJ Lenderman: Oct 19 at Lee’s Palace
Xiu Xiu: Oct 19 at the Velvet Underground
Dream Serenade (10th anniversary): Oct 19 at Massey Hall. Tickets here. Artists TBA.
Cyndi Lauper: Oct 20 at Raptors/Leafs Arena. Farewell tour (apparently).
Slift: Oct 20 at Lee’s Palace. Super heavy French psych rock band who make King Gizzard look like lightweights. Can we get Montreal’s Population II on this bill?
Maggie Rogers: Oct 22 at CNE Coliseum
The The: Oct 22 at Massey Hall. First album in a quarter-century out this fall.
Drive-By Truckers: Oct 22 at Danforth Music Hall. Playing Southern Rock Opera.
Richard Thompson (full band), Kacy & Clayton: Oct 22 at Concert Hall.
Tokimonsta: Oct 23 at Opera House
Vince Staples, Baby Rose: Oct 23 at History. Do not miss the opener! Maybe she’ll have locals BadBadNotGood in tow, as they just released an amazing EP together.
Clairo, Alice Phoebe Lou: Oct 23-24 at Massey Hall
Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets: Oct 24-25 at Allied Music Centre (Massey Hall)
David Cross: Oct 25 at Danforth Music Hall
Tom Rush: Oct 25-26 at Hugh’s Room
Sisters of Mercy: Oct 26 at History. Yes, five days before Hallowe’en, and no, Public Enemy will not be opening.
Dwayne Gretzky: Oct 26 at Massey Hall
Iron Maiden: Oct 26 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
Tenille Townes: Oct 26 at Danforth Music Hall
Arc du Soleil: Oct 27 at Great Hall Phoenix
Jon Langford: Oct 27 at Horseshoe Tavern
Dawn Richard and Spencer Zahn: Oct 27 at Lula Lounge
Leon Bridges, Hermanos Gutiérrez: Oct 27-28 at Massey Hall
Ben Caplan: Oct 29 at Allied Music Centre (inside Massey Hall)
Carolyn Mark: Oct 29 at Sellers & Newel
Sunset Rubdown: Oct 30 at Concert Hall. New album coming. #HeartsOnFire
Fucked Up: Oct 31 at Great Hall #HeartsOnFire
Thee Sacred Souls: Oct 31 at History
Devonté Hynes with Toronto Symphony Orchestra: Nov 1 at Roy Thomson Hall
Patrick Watson with Orchestre FILMharmonique: Nov 2 at Meridian Hall
Mickey Guyton: Nov 2 at… the Velvet Underground? That’s an odd choice for an Opry artist.
James Vincent McMorrow: Nov 3 at Danforth Music Hall
Carsie Blanton: Nov 3 at Hugh’s Room
Destroyer (solo): Nov 3 at the Casbah in Hamilton #HeartsOnFire
King Diamond, Overkill: Nov 3 at Great Canadian Casino (Woodbine, in Rexdale)
Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band: Nov 3 & 6 at Raptors/Leafs Arena. Rescheduled from Nov 14 & 16, 2023.
Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Kee Avil: Nov 5 at Concert Hall History. #HeartsOnFire
Engelbert Humperdinck: Nov 6 at Massey Hall. FWIW this is “The Last Waltz” for Mr. Humperdinck (not his real name).
Kacey Musgraves, Lord Huron, Nickel Creek: Nov 7 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
Jerry Leger, Lori Yates: Nov 7 at Hugh’s Room
Jayhawks: Nov 7-8 at Great Hall
Ducks Ltd., Ratboys: Nov 8 at Lee’s Palace
Elisapie: Nov 8 at Opera House
Ratboys: Nov 8 at Lee’s Palace
Chantal Kreviazuk: Nov 9 at Massey Hall. Celebrating 25 years of her second album, Colour Moving and Still, to be re-released on vinyl.
Haley Fohr (Circuit des Yeux), Bill Nace: Nov 11 at Standard Time
Danny Michel, Steve Poltz: Nov 11 at Great Hall. Together again—they’re the new Steve Martin and Martin Short!
John Francis Flynn: Nov 12 at Monarch Tavern
La Femme: Nov 13 at Opera House
Suzie Ungerleider & friends: Nov 14 at Hugh’s Room
Tycho: Nov 14 at History
Joel Plaskett: Nov 14-15 at Great Hall #HeartsOnFire
Taylor Swift, Gracie Abrams: November 14-16, 21-23, 2024 at Skydome. Good luck! Death to Ticketmaster!
Menno Versteeg (Hollerado, Anyway Gang): Nov 16 at Monarch Tavern
Life is a Carnival: Last Waltz feat. Mike Campbell, John Medeski, Don Was, Benmont Tench, more: Nov 16 at Meridian Hall
Rich Aucoin: Nov 16 at Longboat Hall
Adrianne Lenker (Big Thief): Nov 16 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Modest Mouse, Black Heart Procession: Nov 17 at History
Pond: Nov 19 at Danforth Music Hall
Morrissey: Nov 19 at Fallsview Casino
Rufus Wainwright: Nov 20 at Koerner Hall
Reuben & the Dark, Housewife: Nov 20 at Great Hall. Presented by No Music on a Dead Planet campaign.
Sturgill Simpson: Nov 20-21 at Massey Hall
Geoffroy: Nov 20-21 at Drake Underground
The Watchmen, Kane/Potvin (Grapes of Wrath, Northern Pikes): Nov 23 at Danforth Music Hall #HaveNotBeentheSame
Caribou: Nov 23 at Massey Hall. Never underestimate how good Dan Snaith’s Caribou band is live. #HeartsOnFire
Caribou: Nov 24 at History #HeartsOnFire.
Jane Siberry: Nov 26-27 at Hugh’s Room #HaveNotBeentheSame
Jim Cuddy: Nov 27 at Massey Hall. Non-Torontonians: He’s also playing every possible town in Ontario this year, to promote sixth solo album. #HaveNotBeentheSame
Tokyo Police Club: Nov 27-29 at History. Final shows.
Women’s Blues Revue: Nov 29 at Massey Hall
Le Couleur: Nov 29 at Velvet Underground
Cuff the Duke: Nov 30 at Longboat Hall. New album in September, their first in 10 years. #HeartsOnFire
Shakira: Nov 30 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
54-40, Limblifter: Nov 30 at Danforth Music Hall #HaveNotBeentheSame
Sister Sledge: Nov 30 at Living Arts Centre, Mississauga
Donovan Woods: Dec 5 at Massey Hall
Alvvays: Dec 5-7 at Concert Hall
Snotty Nose Rez Kids: Dec 6 at Opera House
The Dead South: Dec 7 at Massey Hall
Dead Letter Office: Dec 13 at Horseshoe Tavern. R.E.M. tribute band celebrates 40 years of Reckoning.
Choir! Choir! Choir!: Unsilent Night: Dec 21 at Massey Hall (2 p.m. & 8 p.m.)
Sum 41: Jan 28 & 30 at Raptors/Leafs Arena. Final shows of final tour.
Porridge Radio: Jan 28 at the Garrison
Frank Black: Jan 29 at History. Celebrating 30 years of solo debut Teenager of the Year.
Branford Marsalis: Feb 8 at Koerner Hall
Travis: Feb 12 at Concert Hall
Apocalyptica (Metallica string quartet): Feb 13 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Molchat Doma: Feb 19 at History. Big in Belarus!
Los Lobos (acoustic): March 8 at Koerner Hall
Big Smoke Brass: March 11 at Allied Music Centre (Massey Hall)
Anoushka Shankar: March 25 at Massey Hall
Bright Eyes: April 10 at History
Chilly Gonzales: April 22 at Massey Hall. #HeartsOnFire
Max Richter: April 29 at Massey Hall
Talib Kweli: May 2 at Living Arts Centre, Mississauga
Bruce Hornsby with yMusic: May 3 at Koerner Hall
Oscar Peterson at 100: feat. Joe Sealy, Thompson Egbo-Egbo, Robi Botos, Caity Gyorgy, Colleen Allen, much more: June 14 at Massey Hall
July 3: OMD at History (postponed from Oct 8)
Be kind to each other.
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