Beat the mid-February blues by heading out to see some live music this weekend. Can't decide who to see? Don't worry, we've compiled a list of the best shows to check out across the country with our Can't Miss Concerts in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal.
Vancouver
Friday, February 24
British throwback act the Darkness recently reunited and are currently finishing up a brief North American tour, making a stop in Vancouver on Friday night. Although the band haven't announced any concrete details for an upcoming album, they've been treating crowds to some new material, while still churning out old favourites like "I Believe in a Thing Called Love." If you're on the West Coast and insane facial hair and assorted unitards are your cup of tea, you won't want to miss the Darkness at the Commodore Ballroom.
The Darkness
$36.50 at the Commodore Ballroom
Sunday, February 26
A hip-hop pioneer in his native country of Japan, DJ Krush has since become a huge name internationally, known for consistently delivering evolving and creative-sounding experimental electronic music. Last year, he started releasing tracks as part of his own Monthly Singles Series, with the most recent one dropping last month. Fans of Krush won't want to miss the trip-hopper at the Fortune Sound Club on Saturday night.
DJ Krush
Take 5
K-Rec
$25 at Fortune Sound Club
Wednesday, February 29
Atlas Sound is the moniker of Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox's more inward-looking side-project. He released Parallax last year to much critical acclaim and will be supporting the album with a date in Vancouver on Wednesday evening. Carnivores and Frank Broyles will be opening.
Atlas Sound
Carnivores
Frank Broyles
$15 at Biltmore Cabaret
Calgary
Thursday, February 23
Toronto duo Zeds Dead will be bringing their energetic live show out west and are sure to get the crowd going with their dubstep-influenced sound. They'll be accompanied by frequent collaborator Omar Linx, as well as Mat the Alien and Knight Riderz, promising a solid night for fans of electronic music.
Zeds Dead
Omar Linx
Mat the Alien
Knight Riderz
$35 at Flames Central
Friday, February 24
Hailing from Lethbridge, AB, garage rockers the Ketamines will be playing a show to celebrate their album release. Their new LP Spaced Out drops on March 1, but they'll surely be treating attendees to new material at the record release party. Indie rockers Korean Gut and Vancouver-based grunge ladies Mobina Galore will both be playing opening sets.
The Ketamines
Korean Gut
Mobina Galore
$TBA at Broken City
Saturday, February 25
Vancouver indie popsters Hey Ocean! are gearing up to release their third full-length album Is in March, but are taking their show on the road just before the album drops with an appearance in Canmore. Playing at the Communitea Cafe, this set is sure to be an intimate one, so fans won't want to skip out on this date.
Hey Ocean!
$16 advance, $20 door at Communitea Cafe
Toronto
Thursday, February 23
San Diego noise pop band Crocodiles just announced plans to release their third LP later this year. The announcement comes in the midst of the group's North American tour, which will see them play at Lee's Palace. With two full-length albums and an EP released in the last couple of years, Crocodiles will have no trouble filling the set list, but fans won't want to miss out on the chance to perhaps hear some new material as well. Bleeding Rainbow will open the show.
Crocodiles
Bleeding Rainbow
$13.50 advance at Lee's Palace
Friday, February 24
Toronto-based record label Daps has amassed quite the roster in the last little while and will be showcasing a number of their artists at the Great Hall this weekend. Hooded Fang and Phèdre are billed as the headliners, with local favourites like Doldrums, Moon King and L Con rounding out the exciting lineup.
Hooded Fang
Phèdre
Doldrums
Moon King
L Con
$10 advance, $12 door at the Great Hall
Monday, February 27
Alternative rockers Jane's Addiction returned last year with their new album The Great Escape Artist, and fans must be pleased to see the reformed group back on the road. They'll be at Massey Hall on Monday night, treating the audience to their new material, and hopefully some older favourites as well.
Jane's Addiction
$75 at Massey Hall
Montreal
Friday, February 24
Electro indie popsters YACHT are still out on the road promoting 2011's Shangri-La LP and will be making a stop at Il Motore on Friday. The Portland, OR-based group will be joined on the bill by Montreal's Marie-Helene L. Delorme, who makes fun electronic music under her Foxtrott moniker.
YACHT
Foxtrott
$15 advance, $17 door at Il Motore
Monday, February 27
If you're looking for some heavier live music, look no further than Monday night's show at Metropolis. Finnish death metal vets Children of Bodom will be headlinging the night, with supporting slots filled by Swiss folk metalers Eluveitie, Boston-based extreme metal band Revocation and Hamilton, ON's Threat Signal.
Children of Bodom
Eluveitie
Revocation
Threat Signal
$40 at Metropolis
Tuesday, February 28
Scotland's the Twilight Sad just released their third album No One Can Ever Know earlier this month and are currently supporting it on this side of the Atlantic. Known for their notoriously loud performances, this is a live show you won't want to miss (but might want to bring earplugs to). Genre-defying New York group Forest Fire will open with their unique blend of art punk, folk and experimental rock.
The Twilight Sad
Forest Fire
$13 advance, $15 door at Il Motore
Vancouver
Friday, February 24
British throwback act the Darkness recently reunited and are currently finishing up a brief North American tour, making a stop in Vancouver on Friday night. Although the band haven't announced any concrete details for an upcoming album, they've been treating crowds to some new material, while still churning out old favourites like "I Believe in a Thing Called Love." If you're on the West Coast and insane facial hair and assorted unitards are your cup of tea, you won't want to miss the Darkness at the Commodore Ballroom.
The Darkness
$36.50 at the Commodore Ballroom
Sunday, February 26
A hip-hop pioneer in his native country of Japan, DJ Krush has since become a huge name internationally, known for consistently delivering evolving and creative-sounding experimental electronic music. Last year, he started releasing tracks as part of his own Monthly Singles Series, with the most recent one dropping last month. Fans of Krush won't want to miss the trip-hopper at the Fortune Sound Club on Saturday night.
DJ Krush
Take 5
K-Rec
$25 at Fortune Sound Club
Wednesday, February 29
Atlas Sound is the moniker of Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox's more inward-looking side-project. He released Parallax last year to much critical acclaim and will be supporting the album with a date in Vancouver on Wednesday evening. Carnivores and Frank Broyles will be opening.
Atlas Sound
Carnivores
Frank Broyles
$15 at Biltmore Cabaret
Calgary
Thursday, February 23
Toronto duo Zeds Dead will be bringing their energetic live show out west and are sure to get the crowd going with their dubstep-influenced sound. They'll be accompanied by frequent collaborator Omar Linx, as well as Mat the Alien and Knight Riderz, promising a solid night for fans of electronic music.
Zeds Dead
Omar Linx
Mat the Alien
Knight Riderz
$35 at Flames Central
Friday, February 24
Hailing from Lethbridge, AB, garage rockers the Ketamines will be playing a show to celebrate their album release. Their new LP Spaced Out drops on March 1, but they'll surely be treating attendees to new material at the record release party. Indie rockers Korean Gut and Vancouver-based grunge ladies Mobina Galore will both be playing opening sets.
The Ketamines
Korean Gut
Mobina Galore
$TBA at Broken City
Saturday, February 25
Vancouver indie popsters Hey Ocean! are gearing up to release their third full-length album Is in March, but are taking their show on the road just before the album drops with an appearance in Canmore. Playing at the Communitea Cafe, this set is sure to be an intimate one, so fans won't want to skip out on this date.
Hey Ocean!
$16 advance, $20 door at Communitea Cafe
Toronto
Thursday, February 23
San Diego noise pop band Crocodiles just announced plans to release their third LP later this year. The announcement comes in the midst of the group's North American tour, which will see them play at Lee's Palace. With two full-length albums and an EP released in the last couple of years, Crocodiles will have no trouble filling the set list, but fans won't want to miss out on the chance to perhaps hear some new material as well. Bleeding Rainbow will open the show.
Crocodiles
Bleeding Rainbow
$13.50 advance at Lee's Palace
Friday, February 24
Toronto-based record label Daps has amassed quite the roster in the last little while and will be showcasing a number of their artists at the Great Hall this weekend. Hooded Fang and Phèdre are billed as the headliners, with local favourites like Doldrums, Moon King and L Con rounding out the exciting lineup.
Hooded Fang
Phèdre
Doldrums
Moon King
L Con
$10 advance, $12 door at the Great Hall
Monday, February 27
Alternative rockers Jane's Addiction returned last year with their new album The Great Escape Artist, and fans must be pleased to see the reformed group back on the road. They'll be at Massey Hall on Monday night, treating the audience to their new material, and hopefully some older favourites as well.
Jane's Addiction
$75 at Massey Hall
Montreal
Friday, February 24
Electro indie popsters YACHT are still out on the road promoting 2011's Shangri-La LP and will be making a stop at Il Motore on Friday. The Portland, OR-based group will be joined on the bill by Montreal's Marie-Helene L. Delorme, who makes fun electronic music under her Foxtrott moniker.
YACHT
Foxtrott
$15 advance, $17 door at Il Motore
Monday, February 27
If you're looking for some heavier live music, look no further than Monday night's show at Metropolis. Finnish death metal vets Children of Bodom will be headlinging the night, with supporting slots filled by Swiss folk metalers Eluveitie, Boston-based extreme metal band Revocation and Hamilton, ON's Threat Signal.
Children of Bodom
Eluveitie
Revocation
Threat Signal
$40 at Metropolis
Tuesday, February 28
Scotland's the Twilight Sad just released their third album No One Can Ever Know earlier this month and are currently supporting it on this side of the Atlantic. Known for their notoriously loud performances, this is a live show you won't want to miss (but might want to bring earplugs to). Genre-defying New York group Forest Fire will open with their unique blend of art punk, folk and experimental rock.
The Twilight Sad
Forest Fire
$13 advance, $15 door at Il Motore
