As is our Thursday tradition, we have dug through the mass of Canadian concert listings to give you Exclaim!'s Can't Miss Concerts, our weekly concert guide for Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Edmonton. Here's what we deem your best concert bets.
Vancouver
Thursday, June 24
All right, heshers, time to run tothe hills GM Place: Iron Maiden are coming. The metal grandfathers will presumably be rocking their upcoming The Final Frontier LP, as well as dipping back into that nostalgia well. So get flexing those horns, dudes.
Iron Maiden
Dream Theater
$39.50, $65 and $89.50 at GM Place
Friday, June 25
Canadian avant hip-hop don Buck 65 is bringing his gift of gab back to Vancouver for this Commodore Ballroom jam session. Norwegian all-female foursome Katzenjammer lend some weird and wild opening support.
Buck 65
Katzenjammer
$30 at Commodore Ballroom
Saturday, June 26
At long last, White Lung are ready to unleash their upcoming album It's the Evil, and here's a party to celebrate.
White Lung
$10 at Biltmore Cabaret (11 p.m. to 2 a.m.)
Calgary
Thursday, June 24
With their anticipated Wilderness Heart LP just around the corner, Black Mountain are returning to Calgary with their face-meltingly heavy stoner jams. Along with the new material, they'll bring supporting act Lord Beginner for the best Thursday you've had since the 30 Rock season finale.
Black Mountain
Lord Beginner
$20 at Republik
Saturday, June 26
Vancouver-based indie rock/folk hybrid Minto will bring cuts from their Steve Albini-produced Lay It On Me full-length to Calgary's Hi-Fi Club, with guests the Greff Band. It might be a good time to catch them before they blow up.
Minto
The Greff Band
$TBA at Hi-Fi Club
Sunday, June 27
This Sunday is one of the busiest this city has seen in a while, with shows from the Roots, Iron Maiden and even the reinstated Lilith Fair tour. Your safest bet for a good time, however, would be guitar-heavy Seattle indie rockers Minus the Bear, who are in town to promote their recent Omni record.
Minus the Bear
$20 at Republik
Edmonton
Friday, June 25 and Saturday, June 26
For its second year, Edmonton's beloved Ghost Throats festival brings some of Canada's best DIY post-hardcore bands together for a two-day all ages extravaganza. With acts like Brain Fever, French Friar, Todos Caeran, Damages, Stalwart Sons and many others. Check the event link for more details.
Ghost Throats with:
Cope
Brain Fever
Stalwart Sons
Damages
$TBA at Allendale Hall
Monday, June 28
After they play Calgary, Minus the Bear will once again be sharing the population of a city with those wanting to attend Lilith Fair. Fortunately, we don't think too many Sarah McLachlan fans are also into progressive indie rock complete with tapping guitar solos. We could be wrong, but probably not.
Minus the Bear
$TBA at Starlite Room
Toronto
Thursday, June 24
Once again, rock'n'rollin' indie pop guys Plants and Animals are back with a real live taste of their La La Land. It's one of their last Canadian shows in a while, so you may want to hit this one up.
Plants and Animals
$18 at the Opera House
Friday, June 25
Much-loved Ontario songwritin' genius Jim Guthrie leads this pretty stellar bill, which features the Minotaurs, Tusks and Steven McKay. Definitely a good way to spend a Friday night.
Jim Guthrie
The Minotaurs
Tusks
Steven McKay
$10 at Horseshoe Tavern
Saturday, June 26
Now that his The Brutalist Bricks is all out and stuff, Ted Leo and his Pharmacists are making the rounds showing it off. Here, they team up with Screaming Females, who provide the opening entertainment.
Ted Leo & the Pharmacists
Screaming Females
$15 (advance)/$18 (door) at Lee's Palace
Montreal
Thursday, June 24
Get set for a lot of loud: tough-as-nails hardcore band Terror lead this bill featuring Grave Maker, Foundation and Naysayer. You also might want to get practising your kick-boxing dance moves.
Terror
Grave Maker
Foundation
Naysayer
$TBA at Underworld
Friday, June 25
All right, this anticipated double bill is finally making it to Montreal, with both Thao and Mirah joining forces for what's sure to be a stellar night.
Thao and Mirah with the Most of All
Theses United States
$15 at La Sala Rossa
Saturday, June 26
Canadian turntabin' hero Kid Koala and his decks are setting up at Metropolis for a scratchy good time. Guaranteed smiles, guys.
Kid Koala
$TBA at Metropolis
Vancouver
Thursday, June 24
All right, heshers, time to run to
Iron Maiden
Dream Theater
$39.50, $65 and $89.50 at GM Place
Friday, June 25
Canadian avant hip-hop don Buck 65 is bringing his gift of gab back to Vancouver for this Commodore Ballroom jam session. Norwegian all-female foursome Katzenjammer lend some weird and wild opening support.
Buck 65
Katzenjammer
$30 at Commodore Ballroom
Saturday, June 26
At long last, White Lung are ready to unleash their upcoming album It's the Evil, and here's a party to celebrate.
White Lung
$10 at Biltmore Cabaret (11 p.m. to 2 a.m.)
Calgary
Thursday, June 24
With their anticipated Wilderness Heart LP just around the corner, Black Mountain are returning to Calgary with their face-meltingly heavy stoner jams. Along with the new material, they'll bring supporting act Lord Beginner for the best Thursday you've had since the 30 Rock season finale.
Black Mountain
Lord Beginner
$20 at Republik
Saturday, June 26
Vancouver-based indie rock/folk hybrid Minto will bring cuts from their Steve Albini-produced Lay It On Me full-length to Calgary's Hi-Fi Club, with guests the Greff Band. It might be a good time to catch them before they blow up.
Minto
The Greff Band
$TBA at Hi-Fi Club
Sunday, June 27
This Sunday is one of the busiest this city has seen in a while, with shows from the Roots, Iron Maiden and even the reinstated Lilith Fair tour. Your safest bet for a good time, however, would be guitar-heavy Seattle indie rockers Minus the Bear, who are in town to promote their recent Omni record.
Minus the Bear
$20 at Republik
Edmonton
Friday, June 25 and Saturday, June 26
For its second year, Edmonton's beloved Ghost Throats festival brings some of Canada's best DIY post-hardcore bands together for a two-day all ages extravaganza. With acts like Brain Fever, French Friar, Todos Caeran, Damages, Stalwart Sons and many others. Check the event link for more details.
Ghost Throats with:
Cope
Brain Fever
Stalwart Sons
Damages
$TBA at Allendale Hall
Monday, June 28
After they play Calgary, Minus the Bear will once again be sharing the population of a city with those wanting to attend Lilith Fair. Fortunately, we don't think too many Sarah McLachlan fans are also into progressive indie rock complete with tapping guitar solos. We could be wrong, but probably not.
Minus the Bear
$TBA at Starlite Room
Toronto
Thursday, June 24
Once again, rock'n'rollin' indie pop guys Plants and Animals are back with a real live taste of their La La Land. It's one of their last Canadian shows in a while, so you may want to hit this one up.
Plants and Animals
$18 at the Opera House
Friday, June 25
Much-loved Ontario songwritin' genius Jim Guthrie leads this pretty stellar bill, which features the Minotaurs, Tusks and Steven McKay. Definitely a good way to spend a Friday night.
Jim Guthrie
The Minotaurs
Tusks
Steven McKay
$10 at Horseshoe Tavern
Saturday, June 26
Now that his The Brutalist Bricks is all out and stuff, Ted Leo and his Pharmacists are making the rounds showing it off. Here, they team up with Screaming Females, who provide the opening entertainment.
Ted Leo & the Pharmacists
Screaming Females
$15 (advance)/$18 (door) at Lee's Palace
Montreal
Thursday, June 24
Get set for a lot of loud: tough-as-nails hardcore band Terror lead this bill featuring Grave Maker, Foundation and Naysayer. You also might want to get practising your kick-boxing dance moves.
Terror
Grave Maker
Foundation
Naysayer
$TBA at Underworld
Friday, June 25
All right, this anticipated double bill is finally making it to Montreal, with both Thao and Mirah joining forces for what's sure to be a stellar night.
Thao and Mirah with the Most of All
Theses United States
$15 at La Sala Rossa
Saturday, June 26
Canadian turntabin' hero Kid Koala and his decks are setting up at Metropolis for a scratchy good time. Guaranteed smiles, guys.
Kid Koala
$TBA at Metropolis
