Summer trippin'

Upupayāma, Pigeon, Little Barrie, Dinner is Ruined + Toronto live music listings

Take a little trip with me:

Upupayāma – Honesty Flowers

(Fuzz Club)

Psychedelic musician Alessio Ferrari lives in a mountain village outside Parma, between Milan and Bologna, and he describes his music as: “Kikagaku Moyo drinking tea in an Italian forest discussing Träd Gräs Och Stenar with an elf while he plays a flute.”

If you’re still reading, then this is the album for you. Even if, like me, you didn’t get the umlaut-heavy reference to a Swedish prog band of the late ’60s, but perhaps you’re into Goat or Dungen. Maybe you’re tuned into the late great Kikagaku Moyo, the Japanese band who put on one of the best live shows I’ve seen in the last decade. Or maybe you’re just looking to soundtrack your next psilocybin session.

Ferrari drives a one-man band in his home studio, though he adds five people to his live lineup. The band name comes from a colourfully crowned bird of Asia, Africa and Europe, and he has song titles like “Gilded Meditations” and “In the Solstice Sun.” At 70+ minutes, Honesty Flowers may overstay its welcome a bit, but it’s never anything less than lovely and exploratory, with some searing guitar work throughout.

Pigeon – Outtanational

(Memphis Industries)

Did William Onyeabor play Manchester’s Factory club in 1983? If he did, it might sound something like Pigeon, a British band fronted by a Guinean singer. Pigeon alternate between Joy Division’s peers and more modern Afropop à la Ibibio Sound Machine, with occasionally deadpan vocals that recall American anti-fascist garage band Des Demonas. “Mirror Test” is particularly dark and funky, riding a Bowie-esque “Fashion” groove — plus, this video is ridiculous and awesome:

Little Barrie – Gravity Freeze

(Easy Eye Sound)

What if the Stone Roses had a jazzier rhythm section and a bluesier guitarist?

Dinner is Ruined – Like a Tree, Heroic

(independent)

“The older I get, the more I need rock’n’roll,” sings Dale Morningstar, on his band’s first album in over 20 years. But what rock’n’roll has meant to Morningstar since this band’s debut 35 years ago is quite different than what it does to most other people.

For the Dinner is Ruined, it means a liberating force of abandon, of primitive garage rock, free association, soundscapes, childlike play and general tomfuckery. Somewhere in there are more conventional songs (“All Just Children,” “Cryin Birds”); sometimes an operatic sample or a horse’s neigh pops up out of nowhere.

Much like the world itself, everything is broken, nothing makes sense, might as well plug in and enjoy the ride.

This summer marks the 10th anniversary of Gord Downie’s final performances. Dinner is Ruined were key collaborators, making three albums with him as the County of Miracles, and recording one final freeform album with him shortly before he passed (it’s the one remaining Downie project I’m aware of that has yet to be released). There are at least two songs here about him, “Look at You, Gord” and “Yellowknife Open Mic”; the stories behind both are told in The Never-Ending Present.

“If you find a place safe n warm / Try to hold on for all your worth / Even if it’s nothing / Even if it’s something.”

The Dinner is Ruined play the Cameron this Friday, July 24 at 6 p.m.

All news no snooze

RIP Jennifer Finch, the bassist in L7, a key American band for the Lollapalooza generation (they were on the 1994 tour). She died of an aggressive form of brain cancer, which forced her to bow out of the band’s final tour this year. Can’t help but wonder how “Pretend We’re Dead” will go over live when they play the Danforth on November 29. Here they are doing a staple of my ’90s campus radio show, at a 2015 reunion featuring Finch:

Lido Pimienta talks to the Guardian and the NYT about her new record, Caribenya, and Colombia’s recent right-wing shift. Has the album had any Canadian press yet? I haven’t seen any.

Polaris Music Prize director Amber Still talks to Billboard about changes to the prize’s process this year, and its expansion into a song award and a festival. Meanwhile, this year’s shortlist has been announced. I predicted 6/10.

Guitar World has everything you wanted to know about the new custom-built guitar for Khn of Angine de Poitrine, but were not musically knowledgeable enough to ask.

Pitchfork’s Sunday Review took a look at Rush’s 1985 album Power Windows, a favourite of mine that I assumed had everything to do with the fact that I was 14 when it came out. But Andrew Ryce compares it to 1985 classics by Kate Bush and Prefab Sprout and calls it “an unlikely pinnacle in the band’s catalogue, arguably the last front-to-back great Rush record where all members were firing on all cylinders—even Alex Lifeson” — who generally hated the band’s ’80s albums.

Texas guitarist Hayden Pedigo has had to cancel his second Toronto show in a row, this time because his infant daughter was born with a heart defect and he needs to stay close.

Sure, vinyl records have been cool again for the last 15 years, but prohibitive pricing might make them yesterday’s news — so bring on the CD renaissance! Especially at the merch table. Exclaim reports.

CBC reports that StubHub’s CEO is also the site’s biggest scalper.

Joel Gouveia writes about how Qobuz seduced him away from Spotify. I concur.

In a month when Jonathan Franzen has an excellent new short story in the New Yorker, his reputation as a crank gets a spirited defence in Non Grata magazine. Remember when people declared him irrelevant for not embracing Twitter? How’d that work out for everyone?

Why did every little thing have to be so political

Paul Krugman on how Brazil’s official government “digital dollar” threatens to topple cryptocurrency’s house of cards. Meanwhile in Canada, Fintrac made the unsurprising discovery that crypto is mostly used to launder funds for organized crime and terror groups.

Natural gas is the “clean” gas, right? The “green” alternative to the other fossil fuels? That’s what the LNG lobby has been saying for years — especially in B.C. lately — but the truth is that “methane is roughly 80 times more potent at trapping the sun’s heat over a 20-year period than carbon dioxide, making it a particularly intense short-term driver of climate change,” reports the New York Times. Culprits include your gas stove. That means the phrase “now we’re cooking with gas” is now toxic.

There are 63,000 unused dams in Canada, leftovers from a bygone era of micro-energy generation for sawmills, local agriculture, etc. One PEI company is betting that they could become essential parts of the country’s energy grid, and has developed modern, modular turbine technology that doesn’t even have to be submerged in water. Be Giant reports.

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)

Daphni: Aug 1 at Standard Time #HeartsOnFire

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 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.

Kiwi Jr.: Aug 12 at Sonic Boom 6 p.m.

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.

Antidiva: The Carole Pope Confessions: Aug 16 at Hot Docs Cinema 7 p.m. Liz Worth reviews it here. See it on a screen! If you can’t, it debuts on CBC Gem this weekend.

Venusfest: Sept 15-20 at Allan Gardens. 10th anniversary, details here.

Labyrinth presents Toronto Makam Music Forum: September 15-19 at East End United Church and East End Arts.

Basic (feat. Doug McCombs of Tortoise): Oct 2 at Monarch Tavern

The Residents: Oct 11 at Opera House

Mike D: Oct 20 at History. The Beastie Boy is touring behind his first solo album, out August 28.

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.

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.

It Was Just An Accident: July 23 at Corktown Commons. One of my favourites from last year, this Iranian film is screening free as part of Toronto Outdoor Picture Show.

Finn Wolfhard: July 24 at Opera House

Pond, Ace of Wands: July 24 at Concert Hall

Kingdom Of Birds, Slack!, High Tea: July 24 at Monarch Tavern

Dinner is Ruined: July 24 at Cameron House 6 p.m. See above. #HaveNotBeentheSame #NeverEndingPresent

Fiver, Isla and the Sorry Brothers: July 24 at Dina’s Tavern (fka Silver Dollar). Album release for Simone Schmidt’s Fiver.

Jennifer Castle, Potions: July 25 at Garrison

Luka Kuplowsky, the Letdowns, secret guest: July 25 at Carlton Park, 20 Edith Ave., 4 p.m.

OssFest: July 25 on Ossington b/w Queen and Dundas, featuring Carole Pope, Violet Archers, Chris Bottomley’s Brainfudge, Reposadists, more.

Tame Impala, Djo: July 25-26 at Raptors/Leafs Arena

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

Glenn Gould: On and Off the Record: July 26 at Hot Docs Cinema 7 p.m.

O Brother, Where Art Thou?: July 26 at Christie Pits, part of Toronto Outdoor Picture Show. This Odyssey is way more fun!

Big Smoke Brass: July 26 at Union Station, noon

Lori Yates: July 26 at Cameron House 6 p.m.

Woodshed Orchestra: July 26 at Jazz Bistro 6 p.m.

Sympathetic String Band and friends with Colin Fisher: July 26 at Tranzac 7.30 p.m.

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

Mike Murley: July 26-27 at Rex Hotel 8 p.m.

Colin Fisher / George Koller / Jeff Luciani / Diane Roblin: July 27 at Tranzac 9.30 p.m.

Agnes (Clutton / Labikova / Gray / Tielli / Turcotte / Zurawinski): July 28 at Annette Studios (at Runnymede), 8 p.m.

Moonbean, Secret Sign, Different Dream: July 29 at Bsmt254

Test Dept.: July 30 at Lee’s Palace

Cory Hanson (of Wand), Little Kid: July 30 at Baby G

Key summer dates

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.

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