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, December 2
Back in November, pop punk legends the Queers announced that, along with dropping their newest record Back to the Basement, they would be embarking upon a massive world tour. Now you can catch the 28-year music veterans live, along with punk rockers and Ottawa natives the Riptides.
The Queers
The Riptides
Kepi Ghoulie
DJ Mikey Screwdriver
$15 at the Red Room UltraBar
Friday, December 3
How early is too early for a Christmas party? If you ask Mint Records, never. Mint Records' Ridiculously Early Xmas Party is always a blast with an endless amount of quality acts, door prizes and treats, which, yes, include those delicious Pocky sticks. As previously reported, this year the lineup will include performances from the Evaporators, Carolyn Mark, Fanshaw, Hot Panda, Kellarissa, Geoff Berner and Laura Barrett. The event will also serve as the vinyl release party for Fanshaw's Dark Eyes record. All proceeds for the event will go to Senior Animals in Need Today Society (SAINTS).
The Evaporators
Carolyn Mark
Fanshaw
Hot Panda
Kellarissa
Geoff Berner
Laura Barrett
$12 advance / $14 door at the Biltmore Cabaret
Sunday, December 5
Hailing from New York, the Books give new meaning to "genre-bending act." Check out their "collage music" as they perform in support of 2010's The Way Out, with the Black Heart Procession opening, at the Vogue Theatre.
The Books
The Black Heart Procession
$25 at the Vogue Theatre
Calgary
Friday, December 3
Christmas is coming early for metal fans, that's because Blind Guardian are coming to town! One of the most influential power metal acts around will play Calgary as part of their Sacred Worlds and Songs Divine 2010 world tour. The tour is in support of their latest and ninth studio album, At the Edge of Time.
Blind Guardian
Holy Grail
Seven Kingdoms
$36.50 at MacEwan Hall
Saturday, December 4
One of Canada's premier and hardest working DJs, Skratch Bastid will bring his Intercontinental World Champion Tour to Calgary.
Skratch Bastid
DJ Pump
$TBD at HiFi Club
Sunday, December 5
If you're up for the drive, Bahamas's cross-Canada tour will be coming to Canmore's Communitae Cafe this Sunday, along with opening support by Doug Paisley. Bahamas, who has worked with the likes of Hayden and Feist, will make you boogy with his cool folk rock sounds.
Bahamas
Doug Paisley
$TBD at the Communitea Cafe
Edmonton
Friday, December 3
Afie Jurvanen (aka Bahamas) is a mysterious sort of fellow. PasoMino, Great Lake Swimmers, the Stills and many other recognizable artists have all claimed to play music with him, yet Bahamas remains an enigma. Check out his folk rock sounds as Bahamas will bring his cross-Canada tour to Edmonton Friday night with the help of Doug Paisley.
Bahamas
Doug Paisley
$12 at the Artery
Saturday, December 4
German speed/power metal legends, Blind Guardian will play a special Edmonton show at the Starlite Room. Ticketless fans of one of the most influential metal acts around will have to hope for a Christmas miracle, though, as this sought-after show is sold out. The concert is part of Blind Guardian's Sacred Worlds and Songs Divine 2010 world tour promoting their latest release, At the Edge of Time.
Blind Guardian
Holy Grail
Seven Kingdoms
$36.50 at the Starlite Room
Toronto
Thursday, December 2
Despised Icon announced earlier this year that they will be disbanding to focus on other projects. Catch the deathcore Montreal rockers play what may be their last Toronto show ever tonight at the Rock Pile. One has to wonder if the band had fans in mind when they named their latest album, Day of Mourning, as their break-up is surely a loss to the world of underground music.
Despised Icon
The Acacia Strain
Ion Dissonance
Mychildren Mybride
$25 at the Rock Pile
Friday, December 3
Rollin & Scratchin always bring the party, this year they'll be celebrating their third anniversary in style, bringing some of the best DJs to the Supermarket. The party is sure to be a good time, as they will also have confetti, glow sticks, balloons, surf boards and plenty of blow-up dolls. Check out Rich Aucoin all the way from Halifax, along with the Makeover.
Rich Aucoin
The Makeover
$10 at the Supermarket
Saturday, December 4
Earlier this year, drummer Natty Brooker was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Brooker was the original drummer for UK space rockers Spaceman 3 and was also a frequent Spiritualized album art creator. The tragic news has brought together many of Brooker's friends along the years to organize a benefit show in which all proceeds will be donated towards Brooker's medical costs. The show will feature Toronto bands such as Flowers of Hell, the Pow Wows, the Blooming Rosebuds and Speedway, who are reuniting especially for the show. For more details and to check out the full lineup of performers, click here.
Flowers of Hell
Speedway
$5 at the Piston
Montreal
Friday, December 3
Montreal indie fans, get ready. Ra Ra Riot will play Il Motore Friday night, along with the Most Serene Republic and Imaginary Cities. The majority of tracks on Ra Ra Riot's latest effort, The Orchard, were produced by Chris Walla of Death Cab for Cutie.
Ra Ra Riot
The Most Serene Republic
Imaginary Cities
$15 at Il Motore
Saturday, December 4
Earlier this year, Stars released their fifth studio album, The Five Ghosts, and they are still out on the road working the record hard. Check them out as they play the Metropolis with opening support from Young Galaxy.
Stars
Young Galaxy
$28 at Metropolis
Sunday, December 5
With the announcement of their disbandment earlier this year, Despised Icon have set upon a large tour to say goodbye to the road and to their fans. The deathcore rockers latest release, Day of Mourning, was released back in September 2009. Catch them as they play Montreal this coming Sunday with opening support from the Acacia Strain and Ion Dissonance.
Despised Icon
The Acacia Strain
Ion Dissonance
$22.50 advance/$28.25 door at Club Soda
Vancouver
Thursday, December 2
Back in November, pop punk legends the Queers announced that, along with dropping their newest record Back to the Basement, they would be embarking upon a massive world tour. Now you can catch the 28-year music veterans live, along with punk rockers and Ottawa natives the Riptides.
The Queers
The Riptides
Kepi Ghoulie
DJ Mikey Screwdriver
$15 at the Red Room UltraBar
Friday, December 3
How early is too early for a Christmas party? If you ask Mint Records, never. Mint Records' Ridiculously Early Xmas Party is always a blast with an endless amount of quality acts, door prizes and treats, which, yes, include those delicious Pocky sticks. As previously reported, this year the lineup will include performances from the Evaporators, Carolyn Mark, Fanshaw, Hot Panda, Kellarissa, Geoff Berner and Laura Barrett. The event will also serve as the vinyl release party for Fanshaw's Dark Eyes record. All proceeds for the event will go to Senior Animals in Need Today Society (SAINTS).
The Evaporators
Carolyn Mark
Fanshaw
Hot Panda
Kellarissa
Geoff Berner
Laura Barrett
$12 advance / $14 door at the Biltmore Cabaret
Sunday, December 5
Hailing from New York, the Books give new meaning to "genre-bending act." Check out their "collage music" as they perform in support of 2010's The Way Out, with the Black Heart Procession opening, at the Vogue Theatre.
The Books
The Black Heart Procession
$25 at the Vogue Theatre
Calgary
Friday, December 3
Christmas is coming early for metal fans, that's because Blind Guardian are coming to town! One of the most influential power metal acts around will play Calgary as part of their Sacred Worlds and Songs Divine 2010 world tour. The tour is in support of their latest and ninth studio album, At the Edge of Time.
Blind Guardian
Holy Grail
Seven Kingdoms
$36.50 at MacEwan Hall
Saturday, December 4
One of Canada's premier and hardest working DJs, Skratch Bastid will bring his Intercontinental World Champion Tour to Calgary.
Skratch Bastid
DJ Pump
$TBD at HiFi Club
Sunday, December 5
If you're up for the drive, Bahamas's cross-Canada tour will be coming to Canmore's Communitae Cafe this Sunday, along with opening support by Doug Paisley. Bahamas, who has worked with the likes of Hayden and Feist, will make you boogy with his cool folk rock sounds.
Bahamas
Doug Paisley
$TBD at the Communitea Cafe
Edmonton
Friday, December 3
Afie Jurvanen (aka Bahamas) is a mysterious sort of fellow. PasoMino, Great Lake Swimmers, the Stills and many other recognizable artists have all claimed to play music with him, yet Bahamas remains an enigma. Check out his folk rock sounds as Bahamas will bring his cross-Canada tour to Edmonton Friday night with the help of Doug Paisley.
Bahamas
Doug Paisley
$12 at the Artery
Saturday, December 4
German speed/power metal legends, Blind Guardian will play a special Edmonton show at the Starlite Room. Ticketless fans of one of the most influential metal acts around will have to hope for a Christmas miracle, though, as this sought-after show is sold out. The concert is part of Blind Guardian's Sacred Worlds and Songs Divine 2010 world tour promoting their latest release, At the Edge of Time.
Blind Guardian
Holy Grail
Seven Kingdoms
$36.50 at the Starlite Room
Toronto
Thursday, December 2
Despised Icon announced earlier this year that they will be disbanding to focus on other projects. Catch the deathcore Montreal rockers play what may be their last Toronto show ever tonight at the Rock Pile. One has to wonder if the band had fans in mind when they named their latest album, Day of Mourning, as their break-up is surely a loss to the world of underground music.
Despised Icon
The Acacia Strain
Ion Dissonance
Mychildren Mybride
$25 at the Rock Pile
Friday, December 3
Rollin & Scratchin always bring the party, this year they'll be celebrating their third anniversary in style, bringing some of the best DJs to the Supermarket. The party is sure to be a good time, as they will also have confetti, glow sticks, balloons, surf boards and plenty of blow-up dolls. Check out Rich Aucoin all the way from Halifax, along with the Makeover.
Rich Aucoin
The Makeover
$10 at the Supermarket
Saturday, December 4
Earlier this year, drummer Natty Brooker was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Brooker was the original drummer for UK space rockers Spaceman 3 and was also a frequent Spiritualized album art creator. The tragic news has brought together many of Brooker's friends along the years to organize a benefit show in which all proceeds will be donated towards Brooker's medical costs. The show will feature Toronto bands such as Flowers of Hell, the Pow Wows, the Blooming Rosebuds and Speedway, who are reuniting especially for the show. For more details and to check out the full lineup of performers, click here.
Flowers of Hell
Speedway
$5 at the Piston
Montreal
Friday, December 3
Montreal indie fans, get ready. Ra Ra Riot will play Il Motore Friday night, along with the Most Serene Republic and Imaginary Cities. The majority of tracks on Ra Ra Riot's latest effort, The Orchard, were produced by Chris Walla of Death Cab for Cutie.
Ra Ra Riot
The Most Serene Republic
Imaginary Cities
$15 at Il Motore
Saturday, December 4
Earlier this year, Stars released their fifth studio album, The Five Ghosts, and they are still out on the road working the record hard. Check them out as they play the Metropolis with opening support from Young Galaxy.
Stars
Young Galaxy
$28 at Metropolis
Sunday, December 5
With the announcement of their disbandment earlier this year, Despised Icon have set upon a large tour to say goodbye to the road and to their fans. The deathcore rockers latest release, Day of Mourning, was released back in September 2009. Catch them as they play Montreal this coming Sunday with opening support from the Acacia Strain and Ion Dissonance.
Despised Icon
The Acacia Strain
Ion Dissonance
$22.50 advance/$28.25 door at Club Soda
