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, February 4
Experimental noisemakers and, as they're so often called, "the best live band ever," HEALTH, pay Vancouver a visit. Out lending an opening hand are also Exclaim! faves MYTHS, as well as voodoo punks Nu Sensae.
HEALTH
Nu Sensae
MYTHS
$20 at Biltmore Cabaret
Friday, February 5
Out supporting last year's By the Throat, longstanding Rhymesayers hip-hop duo Eyedea & Abilities team up with Dosh for a night of lyrical science-dropping. We're guessing there will be a bit of turntable goodness in there as well.
Eyedea & Abilities
Dosh
DJ Sage
Astronautalis
$15 at Biltmore Cabaret
Saturday, February 6
Before trekking off to Asia, beloved Toronto post-rockers Do Make Say Think are paying a little love to their home and native land. Pulling double duty as openers will be DMST offshoots the Happiness Project and Years.
Do Make Say Think
The Happiness Project
Years
$20 at Biltmore Cabaret
Toronto
Thursday, February 4
Out playing their third Toronto show in three days, Blue Rodeo set out to prove just why they're a Canadian roots rock institution. As we once wrote, "It's hard to conceive of where Canadian rock would be without them."
Blue Rodeo
The Dustin Bentall Outfit
$50.50-$70.50 at Massey Hall
Friday, February 5
If you're not heading out to Great Lake Swimmers' Saturday night show at Trinity St. Paul's, you might want to catch this one at Sonic Boom. After all, it's free!
Great Lake Swimmers
Free starting at 6:30 p.m. at Sonic Boom
Monday, February 8
With Realism now finally out for all the hear, Stephin Merritt and his Magnetic Fields will give it the live treatment. Chances are he'll also unload one hefty dose of dry humour in the process.
The Magnetic Fields
$30.50 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Montreal
Thursday, February 4
Montreal's own Misstress Barbara gives her big-beat-loving fans a taste of her three-piece band Girls on a Ducati. Yeah, you can expect some more traditional instrumentation, but there's still sure to be some four-on-the-floor beats and stock house effects.
Misstress Barbara
$20 at Club Soda
Friday, February 5
Fresh off some live dates with Julie Doiron, Welland, ON's Attack in Black break out their hard-workin' rock'n'roll at the Green Room. Sweetening the deal are the Hoof and the Heel and $100.
Attack in Black
The Hoof and the Heel
$100
$12 at Green Room
Saturday, February 6
All right, Montreal, here is your first Magnetic Fields show ever. Enjoy it.
The Magnetic Fields
$35 at Théâtre Corona
Calgary
Thursday, February 4
Calgary garage pop trio Pinetarts are celebrating the release of their brand new ten-inch record. They'll be joined by Myelin Sheaths, Miesha & the Spanks, Psychic Alliance and Fist City for a night chock full of that Alberta garage punk that's so hot right now.
Pinetarts
Myelin Sheaths
Miesha & the Spanks
Psychic Alliance
Fist City
$TBA at Broken City
Saturday, February 6
L.A. post-punks HEALTH are such a big deal in Calgary that they've decided to play two headlining shows in a row. Saturday's show is especially exciting, because it features support from local indie trio Friendo. Don't sleep on this!
HEALTH
Friendo
$TBA at Broken City
Sunday, February 7
Wu-Tang legend Raekwon is coming to Calgary to promote his beloved Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II album. With support from locals Rasul Syed and InfiniteP, and considering the fact that this show is taking place at a punk bar, expect complete mayhem in the best possible way.
Raekwon
Rasul Syed
InfiniteP
$TBA at the Distillery
Edmonton
Friday, February 5
Vancouver-based singer-songwriter Dan Mangan is bringing his fantastic album Nice, Nice, Very Nice to Edmonton's Haven Social Club. With a full band in tow, the niceness of the evening is pretty much guaranteed.
Dan Mangan
$TBA at the Haven Social Club
Saturday, February 6
The night before he lands in Calgary, Wu-Tang's Raekwon will bring cuts from his fantastic Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II to Edmonton. At the Starlite Room, expect things to be intimate and epic.
Raekwon
$TBA at the Starlite Room
Sunday, February 7
Rock legend Elvis Costello is taking a break from hosting his TV show to grace Edmonton with a rare live appearance. With such an illustrious career behind him, nearly everyone could take something from this show.
Elvis Costello
$TBA at Winspear Centre
Vancouver
Thursday, February 4
Experimental noisemakers and, as they're so often called, "the best live band ever," HEALTH, pay Vancouver a visit. Out lending an opening hand are also Exclaim! faves MYTHS, as well as voodoo punks Nu Sensae.
HEALTH
Nu Sensae
MYTHS
$20 at Biltmore Cabaret
Friday, February 5
Out supporting last year's By the Throat, longstanding Rhymesayers hip-hop duo Eyedea & Abilities team up with Dosh for a night of lyrical science-dropping. We're guessing there will be a bit of turntable goodness in there as well.
Eyedea & Abilities
Dosh
DJ Sage
Astronautalis
$15 at Biltmore Cabaret
Saturday, February 6
Before trekking off to Asia, beloved Toronto post-rockers Do Make Say Think are paying a little love to their home and native land. Pulling double duty as openers will be DMST offshoots the Happiness Project and Years.
Do Make Say Think
The Happiness Project
Years
$20 at Biltmore Cabaret
Toronto
Thursday, February 4
Out playing their third Toronto show in three days, Blue Rodeo set out to prove just why they're a Canadian roots rock institution. As we once wrote, "It's hard to conceive of where Canadian rock would be without them."
Blue Rodeo
The Dustin Bentall Outfit
$50.50-$70.50 at Massey Hall
Friday, February 5
If you're not heading out to Great Lake Swimmers' Saturday night show at Trinity St. Paul's, you might want to catch this one at Sonic Boom. After all, it's free!
Great Lake Swimmers
Free starting at 6:30 p.m. at Sonic Boom
Monday, February 8
With Realism now finally out for all the hear, Stephin Merritt and his Magnetic Fields will give it the live treatment. Chances are he'll also unload one hefty dose of dry humour in the process.
The Magnetic Fields
$30.50 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Montreal
Thursday, February 4
Montreal's own Misstress Barbara gives her big-beat-loving fans a taste of her three-piece band Girls on a Ducati. Yeah, you can expect some more traditional instrumentation, but there's still sure to be some four-on-the-floor beats and stock house effects.
Misstress Barbara
$20 at Club Soda
Friday, February 5
Fresh off some live dates with Julie Doiron, Welland, ON's Attack in Black break out their hard-workin' rock'n'roll at the Green Room. Sweetening the deal are the Hoof and the Heel and $100.
Attack in Black
The Hoof and the Heel
$100
$12 at Green Room
Saturday, February 6
All right, Montreal, here is your first Magnetic Fields show ever. Enjoy it.
The Magnetic Fields
$35 at Théâtre Corona
Calgary
Thursday, February 4
Calgary garage pop trio Pinetarts are celebrating the release of their brand new ten-inch record. They'll be joined by Myelin Sheaths, Miesha & the Spanks, Psychic Alliance and Fist City for a night chock full of that Alberta garage punk that's so hot right now.
Pinetarts
Myelin Sheaths
Miesha & the Spanks
Psychic Alliance
Fist City
$TBA at Broken City
Saturday, February 6
L.A. post-punks HEALTH are such a big deal in Calgary that they've decided to play two headlining shows in a row. Saturday's show is especially exciting, because it features support from local indie trio Friendo. Don't sleep on this!
HEALTH
Friendo
$TBA at Broken City
Sunday, February 7
Wu-Tang legend Raekwon is coming to Calgary to promote his beloved Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II album. With support from locals Rasul Syed and InfiniteP, and considering the fact that this show is taking place at a punk bar, expect complete mayhem in the best possible way.
Raekwon
Rasul Syed
InfiniteP
$TBA at the Distillery
Edmonton
Friday, February 5
Vancouver-based singer-songwriter Dan Mangan is bringing his fantastic album Nice, Nice, Very Nice to Edmonton's Haven Social Club. With a full band in tow, the niceness of the evening is pretty much guaranteed.
Dan Mangan
$TBA at the Haven Social Club
Saturday, February 6
The night before he lands in Calgary, Wu-Tang's Raekwon will bring cuts from his fantastic Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II to Edmonton. At the Starlite Room, expect things to be intimate and epic.
Raekwon
$TBA at the Starlite Room
Sunday, February 7
Rock legend Elvis Costello is taking a break from hosting his TV show to grace Edmonton with a rare live appearance. With such an illustrious career behind him, nearly everyone could take something from this show.
Elvis Costello
$TBA at Winspear Centre
