Spring in your step
Carla dal Forno, Lykke Li, Ed O'Brien + Toronto live music listings
First, a final plug for Don Pyle’s book launch tonight (May 28) at Standard Time on Geary. [UPDATE: It’s sold out.]
Pyle’s memoir, Rough Description, is available now on ECW Press. The Shadowy Man, Kids in the Hall composer and Sadies whisperer has written a really lovely and excellent memoir about queer Toronto, punk rock, American indie rock, glam appreciation, being a barber, some really moving family stories and touching tributes to three of Pyle’s dear friends and collaborators: Reid Diamond, Dallas Good and Steve Albini.
Our mutual friend Patti Schmidt writes, “A big-city-art-punk-music-dream recounted from the first row, backstage, on stage, and under the carpets. A marvel of memory and identity entangled in sound and vision across decades, it's also an emotional and intimate travelogue of revelation, transformation, and the power of creativity and community.”
Ira Kaplan of Yo La Tengo blurbed the book like this: “You would think that Don Pyle has a lot of great stories to tell and insight to share. You are not wrong. Come for the Guelph Riot, and then see if you can guess which Shadowy Man tossed a lovingly compiled Grateful Dead cassette from a moving vehicle.”
Kaplan and YLT’s Georgia Hubley will be DJing this star-studded book launch. Advance tickets recommended. Don is also doing events all over southern Ontario and in Montreal. He talks to Josh O’Kane at the Globe here.
Carla dal Forno – Callista
(Kallista)
New wave music for May mornings when everything is in bloom, and the sounds of springtimes of your youth offer promises of new days. Or something like that. Carla dal Forno is Australian, but this music sounds like it emanates from an apartment above a café in the rainy streets of Paris, Dublin, Prague, Copenhagen, Glasgow — definitely not Melbourne.
Dal Forno is four albums deep into her solo career, and if earlier records were more nocturnal, this one mostly sounds like sunshine (the song “Nighttime” notwithstanding). With her sparse bass lines at the forefront and her wispy voice seducing the listener to draw closer, Callista recalls the soft-tone synths and wistful ’80s romanticism of Anna Domino, Young Marble Giants, or The The’s Soul Mining. There’s a dubby post-punk aesthetic throughout — total catnip for a certain niche of Gen X listeners. Not a lot of contemporaries come to mind, other than the ghostly American Lael Neale (reviewed here).
This is mixtape magic for your next makeout session. If you’re still into that kind of thing.
Lykke Li – The Afterparty
(Neon Gold)
“I’m going to a dark place — do you need anything?” asks a pitched-up voice in the middle of Lykke Li’s latest. The Swedish singer has frequented many dark places in her discography, and lyrically continues to do so here (“This life is a knife in the heart!”).
Yet it definitely sounds like some clouds have parted: “Not Gon Cry,” “Lucky Again” and others are downright buoyant and joyous, recalling my personal favourite Lykke Li record, 2011’s Wounded Rhymes (the one with the original version of her megahit remix, “I Follow Rivers.”
Since then there’s been some low-key acoustic records, some big-pop-bid records: this one, made again with longtime collaborator Bjorn Yttling (of Peter, Bjorn and John), strikes a perfect balance.
She’s said this is likely her last album. Never believe anyone who tells you that, but if it is in fact true, it’s a perfect swan song.
Ed O’Brien – Blue Morpho
(Transgressive)
If I’d known I’d love this record by Radiohead’s guitarist as much as I do, it would have made sense to review it alongside Jonny Greenwood’s album last week. But I came to this with low expectations, if any — and was pleasantly blown away.
Because Greenwood and Thom Yorke are often painted as Radiohead’s resident geniuses, it’s now clearly evident what O’Brien brings to the table: he’s obviously the resident Pink Floyd fan, for starters (closing track “Obrigado” owes obvious debts to “The Great Gig in the Sky”), and “Sweet Spot” is clearly the work of the guy who helped write “Street Spirit.” But throughout this second solo album, he weaves hypnotic guitar lines easily into lush Estonian string arrangements (title track) and British folk ragas (“Incantations”) and some icy German funk (“Teachers”).
The reason I dove into Blue Morpho in the first place was because of Chris DeVille’s excellent interview with O’Brien in Stereogum, about midlife crises, depression, Neil Finn, Radiohead’s SNL debut in 2000, Asian Dub Foundation and the Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame.
Also: the intriguing world of tuning everything to 432 hertz, as O’Brien does here, instead of the standard 440. The latter is a pretty big wormhole you can dive down if you choose, but there’s no doubt this record tickles my brain in ways other similar records don’t.
All news no snooze
The Hillside Festival’s schedule is now out. Looks like Sunday is the killer day, but of course all weekend is going to be fab.
Hearts on Fire readers: Wolf Parade’s Spencer Krug talks to Range magazine about his new solo album, his new home, and his “thick neck.”
Liz Worth rave reviews the new Nash the Slash documentary. Which I still haven’t seen: I’ve been busy for each of the three times I’m aware that it’s screened in Toronto.
There’s yet another new festival in town — not only that, it’s yet another new festival along the Dundas West strip that’s home to Wavelength and DoWest. The Second Summer will take place Sept 24-26 at various venues, and features ZamRock legends W.I.T.C.H., Art d’Ecco (British Columbian who made one of best records of 2025), Mike (the rapper), Adrian Younge (JazzIsDead), Folk Bitch Trio, Charlie Houston, Bells Larsen, Cootie Catcher, Elephant Stone, JayWood, Kiwi Jr., Motorists, Ribbon Skirt, Softcult, Truck Violence and a lot more. It takes place one week before the much weirder Project Nowhere, which will use all the same venues (and booked some of the same acts last year; they announce their 2026 lineup soon). Second Summer details are here.
There is no shortage of fine obits this week for the late, great saxophone colossus Sonny Rollins, who died at 95 — the last man standing from the famous Great Day in Harlem photo of 1958. But my favourite Rollins story I heard this week was from journalist Rafi Zabor via Michelle Mercer:
"Sonny, in one of his fairly strange years in the ’60s, was playing a gig in Queens and walking around the club as he played, as was his wont in those days. On a well-witnessed night, Sonny marched around the club and then up the stairs to the street, playing all the while. About ten people from the club followed him as he played to the traffic and kept walking, taking a turn into a residential neighborhood, keeping the tune going and himself on the march until he came to a regulation-looking house, came to a halt and played to the house until John and Alice Coltrane came out, waved, and called, ‘Hello, Sonny.’ Mr. Rollins serenaded them for a few minutes, then about-faced and marched back into the club—he'd been away for maybe twenty minutes—where something extraordinary finally happened: Sonny Rollins lost his temper … because the rhythm section had stopped playing the tune. I'm not making this up."
A plug for TNIT friend Mike McCann, a self-described “former industry weasel and veteran alternative DJ,” who invites you to help him liquidate his entire vinyl collection, alongside thousands of CDs, concert shirts, music books and DVDs. The contents are heavily curated — if you heard it during the golden age of CFNY or on Brave New Waves, he probably has a copy for you (he has many doubles and triples). This has been a long process, with several previous sales, at which I bought CD copies of long-gone cassette faves, scored some offline CanCon gems, 4AD stuff, and some rare early Kraftwerk. He’s itching to wind it up sooner than later, starting on June 6-7, 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.
Why did every little thing have to be so political
Some good news from Be Giant on the most obvious green energy project: solar carports. “In the race for Canada to be carbon neutral by 2050, experts say, solar carports are the cheapest, most pragmatic and handsomest next frontier.”
And from the usual rogues’ gallery of bad news, these are not very smart people:
Grace note
You likely know that, not by choice, Stephen Colbert wrapped up his late-night show last week with a seemingly endless parade of celebrity cameos, including an Obama interview. That was all well and good. But much funnier and weirder and more satisfying was that the day after his final show, Colbert guest-hosted a local public-access cable show in Monroe, Michigan, where he covered local news and his musical director was a beyond-deadpan Detroit native Jack White with a tape deck. Seriously, who needs CBS anyway?
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)
Socalled: June 11 at Al Green Theatre 1.30 p.m.
Dan Bern and Orit Shimoni: June 12 at Amelia’s Market (Westmoreland/Geary). Presented by West End Phoenix.
I Am Trying To Break Your Heart: A Film About Wilco: June 18 at Hot Docs 6.30 p.m.
Birthday Squirrel, Analogue Sympathizer: June 18 at the the Bell & Beacon. Headliner features Yawd Sylvester (Wayne Omaha) and my old Exclaim! pal Chuck Molgat; opener features former Now columnist Graham Duncan.
Roddy Bottum: June 18 at Standard Time (Geary). Book launch for San Francisco keyboardist of Faith No More and Imperial Teen, a queer punk history.
Don Kerr’s Communism: June 18 at Cameron House 10 p.m.
Sook-Yin Lee, Kali Horse, Bridge of Sand, Karen Ng: June 26 at Baby G. Album release, with poetry, dance, DJs, more. Also, reminder: Paying For It is streaming on Crave, and it’s one of my favourites of the current Canadian film renaissance.
Yoo Doo II avec Nolan Potter, Colin Fisher: July 9 at the Garrison
Bob Wiseman: July 10 at Sellers & Newel #HaveNotBeentheSame
Summerfolk (Owen Sound): Aug 21-23. Featuring Dan Mangan, Jane Siberry, Tom Wilson, Empanadas Illegales, Julian Taylor, Good Lovelies, more. Details here.
Blue Moon Marquee: Sept 10 at Horseshoe Tavern
Roxette, Taylor Dayne, Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets: Sept 11 at Ontario Place Amphitheatre. Really curious about that first opener’s role on this bill.
Second Summer Festival: Sept 24-26 along Dundas West. Featuring W.I.T.C.H., Adrian Younge, Art d’Ecco, Folk Bitch Trio, Kiwi Jr., much more.
Pat Metheny’s Side-Eye: Oct 9 at Massey Hall
Pinhead Gunpowder (feat. Billie Joe Armstrong): Oct 11 at Danforth Music Hall
The Tallest Man on Earth: Oct 23 at Massey Hall
Dream Serenade: Oct 24 at Massey Hall. Artists TBA.
Death From Above 1979: Nov 27 at History
Shakey Graves: Dec 14 at History
Yamato Drummers of Japan: Feb 5 at Massey Hall
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:
Don Pyle (book launch): May 28 at Standard Time.
Danny Michel: May 28 at the Rivoli
Bruno Mars, Anderson Paak, Leon Thomas: May 28, 30, 31 at Downsview Stadium. The 31st is a rescheduled rain date.
Cake: May 28 at Ontario Place Amphitheatre
Polky, Syrenka: May 28 at Small World Music Centre
CCMC: May 28 at Arrayspace 7.30 p.m.
Whitehorse, Chloe Doucet: May 29 at Danforth Music Hall
Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar: May 29 at Horseshoe Tavern. Live album release.
Matthew Good Band, I Mother Earth: May 29 at Casino Rama
The Blind Couple from Mali: May 29 at Hot Docs Cinema, 7 p.m. Doc about Amadou & Mariam.
David Occhipinti & Christine Bougie: May 29 at Sellers & Newel
Prepare the Ground festival: May 29-31 at various venues. Featuring And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, Pallbearer, more.
JazzInToronto Community Celebration: May 29-31 at various venues. Festival of local artists, put on by the team behind the daily listings site. Details here.
The Guess Who: May 30 at Raptors/Leafs Arena; June 1 at Copps Coliseum.
Brownman Ali’s 5 Weeks of Miles: May 30 at Contxt by Trane. This week: “Doo-Bop and beyond.”
Cat Clyde: May 30 at Horseshoe Tavern
Sloan garage sale: May 30 at annual location, in an alley behind Margueretta Street, west of Dufferin Grove. You’ll see the signs — and the lineup. #HaveNotBeentheSame
Big Smoke Brass: May 30 at Drom Taberna
Ethio-Jazz: May 30 at Hirut Café 8 p.m.
Ann Wilson (Heart): May 30 at Opera House. This is a documentary premiere and a Q&A, not a show.
Lori Yates and the Velvetinas: May 30 at the Cameron House 6 p.m.
William Basinski: May 31 at Trinity-St. Paul’s for Prepare the Ground Festival
Diljit Dosanjh: May 31 at Skydome
Long Live the New Flesh: a David Cronenberg Burlesque Show: June 1 at the Burdock. Only in Toronto, you say? Details here. Sexy Brundlefly, perhaps? Please, no Brood.
Napalm Death: June 2 at Lee’s Palace
TsuShiMaMiRe: June 2 at the Garrison
Hemlocke Springs: June 2 at Mod Club.
James Gordon: June 2 at Hugh’s Room
Kyp Harness: June 2 at Tranzac 7 p.m.
Nick Fraser’s Peripheral Vision: June 2 at Tranzac 9.30 p.m.
Answering Machines, Automania: June 3 at Cameron House. A reader recommended this Chicago band who are “touring the continent on the strength of a self-released seven-song cassette. Remember when bands did that? Kinda angular post punk as defined by a few 22-year-olds.”
Holy Oak Family Singers: June 3 at Tranzac 7 p.m.
Josh Groban, Jennifer Hudson: June 4 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
Amyl & the Sniffers, L7: June 4 at Ontario Place Amphitheatre
Glissandro 70 (Sandro Perri, Craig Dunsmuir), Mas Aya & Khôra, Sweet Lips: June 4 at Standard Time. Presented by Tone Festival. Release show for first album in 20 years! An extremely rare sighting:
Key spring dates
Skydiggers’ 40th anniversary: June 5 at Hugh’s Room #HaveNotBeentheSame
DoWest Fest: June 5-7. Stage outside the Garrison features Holy Fuck, Bonnie Trash, Kiwi Jr., Ian Blurton’s Future Now, Lavender Town, Phèdre, much more. Details here.
Feist, Broken Social Scene, Alessia Cara, Paul Langlois Band: June 6 at Nathan Phillips Square. Free, fundraiser for UHN Foundation. Details here. #HeartsOnFire #NeverEndingPresent
James Blake: June 6 at History
All Things Go festival (a.k.a. Lilith 2026): June 6-7 at Ontario Place Amphitheatre. June 6 has Kesha, the Beaches and more; June 7 has Lorde, Wet Leg and more.
Fiery Furnaces: June 7 at Hugh’s Room
Black Country New Road, Horsegirl: June 17 at History
Toronto Jazz Festival: June 19-28. Many free shows! Schedule here.
David Murray and Kahil El Zabar Duo: June 19-20 at Contxt by Trane
Wavelength Block Party with Ahmed Moneka, High Alpine Hut Network, Grdina/Lillinger, MMXKLS (Mark Marczyk and Kristi Lane Sinclair), more: June 20-21 in parking lot of St. Anne’s Parish. Details here.
Lambrini Girls, Big Special, Big Girl: June 20 at Concert Hall. Postponed from April 28.
More Toronto concert listings until April 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.
Mondays in June (but not June 1): Meredith Moon at the Horseshoe
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.
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 March 2027—are here for paid subscribers, and updated weekly.
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