Kick off the first weekend of December by heading out to see some live music. Can't decide what to check out? Exclaim! has got you covered with the following picks with this week's Can't Miss Concerts in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal.
Vancouver
Thursday, December 1
New York City singer-songwriter Jeffrey Lewis and his band the Junkyard will be kicking off a West Coast tour in Vancouver this weekend. He's been credited as part of New York's original anti-folk scene and is an established comic book artist as well. His latest record A Turn in the Dream-Songs was also released in October. Definitely a creative guy, so you'd be wise to check out his show.
Jeffrey Lewis
$10 at the Biltmore Cabaret
Friday, December 2
Baltimore-based electronic crazy guy Dan Deacon will be bringing his renowned live show to Vancouver. Known for getting up close and personal with the audience at his concerts, the musician recently signed to Domino Records and is slated to put out a new record in 2012. Whether he'll be playing new material or old favourites, Dan Deacon is still worth checking out. Vancouver's Vincent Parker will open.
Dan Deacon
Vincent Parker
$15 at the Rickshaw Theatre
Tuesday, December 6
Wandering troubadour Cass McCombs released his latest album Humor Risk at the beginning of November and will be touring in support of it with a stop in Vancouver. Psychedelic folkies White Magic will be the opening act, promising a night of exciting -- but likely dour -- folk music.
Cass McCombs
White Magic
$15 at Electric Owl
Calgary
Thursday, December 1
Metal fans won't want to skip Thursday's headlining show from Raleigh, NC band Between the Buried and Me. After five studio albums, the group released their first EP The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues earlier this year. DC band Animals as Leaders, fronted by Tosin Abasi, released their second album Weightless recently and will be opening the show, in addition to a set from Tesseract.
Between the Buried and Me
Animals as Leaders
Tesseract
$23.50 at Republik
Friday, December 2
Folk and metal might not be the most commonly connected genres, but Finland's Korpiklaani manage to meld the two. Their seventh studio album Ukon Wacka dropped in early 2011, so they should be playing relatively new material for fans on Friday evening. Supporting slots will be filled by Arkona, Polkadot Cadaver and Forged in Flame.
Korpiklaani
Arkona
Polkadot
Forged in Flame
$25 at the Distillery
Toronto
Thursday, December 1
Canadian darling Feist will be promoting her latest record Metals with a stop at Massey Hall this weekend. With Broken Social Scene on an indefinite hiatus, fans will surely be flocking to see one of the collective's favourite success stories. Constantines frontman Bry Webb will be opening, which should be a treat for everyone in attendance if his debut solo effort Provider is any indication of what to expect.
Feist
Bry Webb
$35 to $55 at Massey Hall
Friday, December 2
Wu-Tang Clan alumnus and successful rapper in his own right Ghostface Killah has been hard at work delivering new material in the last couple years. Between collaboration efforts with Method Man and Raekwon, as well as MF Doom, plus 2010's solo offering Apollo Kids and a new one in the works for 2012, Ghostface will have tons to draw on for his live show. Peter Jackson, Sheek Louch and Killah Priest fill out the bill, promising an exciting night of hip-hop.
Ghostface Killah
Peter Jackson
Sheek Louch
Killah Priest
$44.50 advance, $49.50 door at Sound Academy
Tuesday, December 6
When he's not collaborating with names like Kanye West and James Blake, Justin Vernon is busy creating music under his Bon Iver moniker. He'll be rolling through Toronto with his live band on Tuesday night, still promoting this year's critically acclaimed self-titled album. Talented English singer-songwriter Lianne La Havas will be opening.
Bon Iver
Lianne La Havas
$35 to $55 at Massey Hall
Montreal
Thursday, December 1
Devon Williams got his start in Califronia punk band Osker, played guitar for Lavender Diamond and is now touring in support of his excellent solo effort Euphoria. If that's not enough to entice you, New Pornographers alumnus Kathryn Calder will also be playing a set, presumably featuring tunes from her latest record Bright and Vivid.
Devon Williams
Kathryn Calder
$10 advance, $12 door at Casa del Popolo
Friday, December 2
Canadian new wavers Austra have had a huge year, releasing their debut Feel It Break and subsequently getting a Polaris Music Prize nomination for it. Now they're closing out 2011 on tour, with a stop in Montreal this weekend. Young Galaxy and Tasseomancy (whose members also play in Austra's touring band) are also on the bill. This should be a great night for some dreamy, danceable pop music.
Austra
Young Galaxy
Tasseomancy
$12 advance, $15 door at Cabaret Mile End
Saturday, December 3
Closing out the weekend, Ontario folksters Timber Timbre will be performing in Montreal. Still riding the wave of acclaim from this year's Polaris-nominated Creep On Creepin' On, the trio are sure to enchant crowds with this performance, set in a church. Danish singer-songwriter Agnes Obel will be opening.
Timber Timbre
Agnes Obel
$20 at Eglise St. Jean Baptiste
Vancouver
Thursday, December 1
New York City singer-songwriter Jeffrey Lewis and his band the Junkyard will be kicking off a West Coast tour in Vancouver this weekend. He's been credited as part of New York's original anti-folk scene and is an established comic book artist as well. His latest record A Turn in the Dream-Songs was also released in October. Definitely a creative guy, so you'd be wise to check out his show.
Jeffrey Lewis
$10 at the Biltmore Cabaret
Friday, December 2
Baltimore-based electronic crazy guy Dan Deacon will be bringing his renowned live show to Vancouver. Known for getting up close and personal with the audience at his concerts, the musician recently signed to Domino Records and is slated to put out a new record in 2012. Whether he'll be playing new material or old favourites, Dan Deacon is still worth checking out. Vancouver's Vincent Parker will open.
Dan Deacon
Vincent Parker
$15 at the Rickshaw Theatre
Tuesday, December 6
Wandering troubadour Cass McCombs released his latest album Humor Risk at the beginning of November and will be touring in support of it with a stop in Vancouver. Psychedelic folkies White Magic will be the opening act, promising a night of exciting -- but likely dour -- folk music.
Cass McCombs
White Magic
$15 at Electric Owl
Calgary
Thursday, December 1
Metal fans won't want to skip Thursday's headlining show from Raleigh, NC band Between the Buried and Me. After five studio albums, the group released their first EP The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues earlier this year. DC band Animals as Leaders, fronted by Tosin Abasi, released their second album Weightless recently and will be opening the show, in addition to a set from Tesseract.
Between the Buried and Me
Animals as Leaders
Tesseract
$23.50 at Republik
Friday, December 2
Folk and metal might not be the most commonly connected genres, but Finland's Korpiklaani manage to meld the two. Their seventh studio album Ukon Wacka dropped in early 2011, so they should be playing relatively new material for fans on Friday evening. Supporting slots will be filled by Arkona, Polkadot Cadaver and Forged in Flame.
Korpiklaani
Arkona
Polkadot
Forged in Flame
$25 at the Distillery
Toronto
Thursday, December 1
Canadian darling Feist will be promoting her latest record Metals with a stop at Massey Hall this weekend. With Broken Social Scene on an indefinite hiatus, fans will surely be flocking to see one of the collective's favourite success stories. Constantines frontman Bry Webb will be opening, which should be a treat for everyone in attendance if his debut solo effort Provider is any indication of what to expect.
Feist
Bry Webb
$35 to $55 at Massey Hall
Friday, December 2
Wu-Tang Clan alumnus and successful rapper in his own right Ghostface Killah has been hard at work delivering new material in the last couple years. Between collaboration efforts with Method Man and Raekwon, as well as MF Doom, plus 2010's solo offering Apollo Kids and a new one in the works for 2012, Ghostface will have tons to draw on for his live show. Peter Jackson, Sheek Louch and Killah Priest fill out the bill, promising an exciting night of hip-hop.
Ghostface Killah
Peter Jackson
Sheek Louch
Killah Priest
$44.50 advance, $49.50 door at Sound Academy
Tuesday, December 6
When he's not collaborating with names like Kanye West and James Blake, Justin Vernon is busy creating music under his Bon Iver moniker. He'll be rolling through Toronto with his live band on Tuesday night, still promoting this year's critically acclaimed self-titled album. Talented English singer-songwriter Lianne La Havas will be opening.
Bon Iver
Lianne La Havas
$35 to $55 at Massey Hall
Montreal
Thursday, December 1
Devon Williams got his start in Califronia punk band Osker, played guitar for Lavender Diamond and is now touring in support of his excellent solo effort Euphoria. If that's not enough to entice you, New Pornographers alumnus Kathryn Calder will also be playing a set, presumably featuring tunes from her latest record Bright and Vivid.
Devon Williams
Kathryn Calder
$10 advance, $12 door at Casa del Popolo
Friday, December 2
Canadian new wavers Austra have had a huge year, releasing their debut Feel It Break and subsequently getting a Polaris Music Prize nomination for it. Now they're closing out 2011 on tour, with a stop in Montreal this weekend. Young Galaxy and Tasseomancy (whose members also play in Austra's touring band) are also on the bill. This should be a great night for some dreamy, danceable pop music.
Austra
Young Galaxy
Tasseomancy
$12 advance, $15 door at Cabaret Mile End
Saturday, December 3
Closing out the weekend, Ontario folksters Timber Timbre will be performing in Montreal. Still riding the wave of acclaim from this year's Polaris-nominated Creep On Creepin' On, the trio are sure to enchant crowds with this performance, set in a church. Danish singer-songwriter Agnes Obel will be opening.
Timber Timbre
Agnes Obel
$20 at Eglise St. Jean Baptiste
