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, September 17
Marking the only Canadian date in Sunny Day Real Estate's reunion tour, this show is a definite can't miss. Or at least it is if you're up for some sweet mid-'90s emo nostalgia. Seriously, you'll be going in circles.
Sunny Day Real Estate
The Jealous Sound
$28.50 at Commodore Ballroom
Friday, September 18
Hometown punks B-Lines bring their poppy punk to one of our new favourite watering holes, Funky Winkerbean's. We recently wrote that these dudes have gone from "the city's best kept secret to their most exciting new band," and we're going to stand by that.
B-Lines
$TBA at Funky Winkerbean's
Saturday, September 19
They've played Montreal, they've played Toronto, and now it's Vancouver's time to get a taste of Pet Shop Boys.
Pet Shop Boys
$89.50, $65.50 and $45.50 at Centre for Performing Arts
Toronto
Thursday, September 17
Okay, yeah, big, massive stadium show by a big, massive band. But U2 are making the Rogers Centre open up its roof for the "claw." And you all want to see that thing for reals, right?
U2
Snow Patrol
$32-$252 at Rogers Centre
Friday, September 18
Down plus Voivod on the same bill - you know this is going to slay. In fact, Exclaim! caught the recent Vancouver show and it totally did.
Down
Voivod
$32.50 at Kool Haus
Saturday, September 19
It's no secret that Japandroids are favourites around our offices, so it's no surprise that we would once again recommend you catch them in real live action. Seriously, the guys are now a well-oiled garage pop machine and their sets have never sounded better.
Japandroids
Mount Saint Helens Vietnam Band
$10 at Horseshoe Tavern
Montreal
Thursday, September 17
Somali-Canadian hip-hopper K'naan is keeping his big success ball rolling with this return to Montreal. He's nominated for the Polaris Music Prize and there's a very good reason for that.
K'naan
$17.50 at Le Cabaret Juste Pour Rire
Friday, September 18
If you've been yearning for Magnetic Fields' early synth days, you better get yourself down to Zoobizarre for Silly Kissers. Plus, Vancouver garage pop duo Makeout Vidotape are on the bill, and so is DJ Cadence Weapon?!
Silly Kissers
Treasure Hunt
Makeout Videotape
Tonstartssbandht
Treasure Hunt
Pop Winds
Treasure Hunt
DJ Cadence Weapon
$TBA at Zoobizarre
Sunday, September 20
Yeah, HEALTH are all right on record, but these guys really make that noise sound sweet when they're on the stage. Seriously, we totally mean that.
HEALTH
Pictureplane
Black Feelings
$12 at La Sala Rossa
Calgary
Thursday, September 17
Celebrating their just-released Fortresses LP, ex-Vancouver Torontonian indie rockers Octoberman will make the Calgary stop on their Canadian tour.
Octoberman
The Dojo Workhorse
Extra Happy Ghost
$TBA at Broken City
Friday, September 18
Calgary indie rock institution Hot Little Rocket will be playing their last all-ages show ever. And it just happens to be at Tubby Dog, so you can nurse your broken heart with some sweet, deep-fried goodness.
Hot Little Rocket
DJ Fordhino
$5 at Tubby Dog
Saturday, September 19
Indie duo An Horse will bring their jams to the basement of Calgary BBQ joint the Palomino. A guest is yet to be announced, but the addictive pop of these Australians is worth entry alone.
An Horse
$12 at The Palomino
Edmonton
Friday, September 18
Come celebrate the fifth anniversary of Alberta rock'n'roll publication Beatroute with Oakland party-starters Wallpaper. Based on their irresistible electro jams, this comes with a good-time guarantee.
Wallpaper
$TBA at The Pawn Shop
Saturday, September 19
Rising Vancouver pop punks A Trophy Life bring their hyper energy to the Pawn Shop. With them are In Bear Country, the new band from Daggermouth's Stu McKillop. Wear your moshing shoes.
A Trophy Life
In Bear Country
$TBA at The Pawn Shop
Sunday, September 20
Following their Saturday show in Calgary, Australian indie duo An Horse will conclude the Alberta leg of their tour, bringing their catchy melodies to the Brixx Bar & Grill.
An Horse
$TBA at Brixx Bar & Grill
Vancouver
Thursday, September 17
Marking the only Canadian date in Sunny Day Real Estate's reunion tour, this show is a definite can't miss. Or at least it is if you're up for some sweet mid-'90s emo nostalgia. Seriously, you'll be going in circles.
Sunny Day Real Estate
The Jealous Sound
$28.50 at Commodore Ballroom
Friday, September 18
Hometown punks B-Lines bring their poppy punk to one of our new favourite watering holes, Funky Winkerbean's. We recently wrote that these dudes have gone from "the city's best kept secret to their most exciting new band," and we're going to stand by that.
B-Lines
$TBA at Funky Winkerbean's
Saturday, September 19
They've played Montreal, they've played Toronto, and now it's Vancouver's time to get a taste of Pet Shop Boys.
Pet Shop Boys
$89.50, $65.50 and $45.50 at Centre for Performing Arts
Toronto
Thursday, September 17
Okay, yeah, big, massive stadium show by a big, massive band. But U2 are making the Rogers Centre open up its roof for the "claw." And you all want to see that thing for reals, right?
U2
Snow Patrol
$32-$252 at Rogers Centre
Friday, September 18
Down plus Voivod on the same bill - you know this is going to slay. In fact, Exclaim! caught the recent Vancouver show and it totally did.
Down
Voivod
$32.50 at Kool Haus
Saturday, September 19
It's no secret that Japandroids are favourites around our offices, so it's no surprise that we would once again recommend you catch them in real live action. Seriously, the guys are now a well-oiled garage pop machine and their sets have never sounded better.
Japandroids
Mount Saint Helens Vietnam Band
$10 at Horseshoe Tavern
Montreal
Thursday, September 17
Somali-Canadian hip-hopper K'naan is keeping his big success ball rolling with this return to Montreal. He's nominated for the Polaris Music Prize and there's a very good reason for that.
K'naan
$17.50 at Le Cabaret Juste Pour Rire
Friday, September 18
If you've been yearning for Magnetic Fields' early synth days, you better get yourself down to Zoobizarre for Silly Kissers. Plus, Vancouver garage pop duo Makeout Vidotape are on the bill, and so is DJ Cadence Weapon?!
Silly Kissers
Treasure Hunt
Makeout Videotape
Tonstartssbandht
Treasure Hunt
Pop Winds
Treasure Hunt
DJ Cadence Weapon
$TBA at Zoobizarre
Sunday, September 20
Yeah, HEALTH are all right on record, but these guys really make that noise sound sweet when they're on the stage. Seriously, we totally mean that.
HEALTH
Pictureplane
Black Feelings
$12 at La Sala Rossa
Calgary
Thursday, September 17
Celebrating their just-released Fortresses LP, ex-Vancouver Torontonian indie rockers Octoberman will make the Calgary stop on their Canadian tour.
Octoberman
The Dojo Workhorse
Extra Happy Ghost
$TBA at Broken City
Friday, September 18
Calgary indie rock institution Hot Little Rocket will be playing their last all-ages show ever. And it just happens to be at Tubby Dog, so you can nurse your broken heart with some sweet, deep-fried goodness.
Hot Little Rocket
DJ Fordhino
$5 at Tubby Dog
Saturday, September 19
Indie duo An Horse will bring their jams to the basement of Calgary BBQ joint the Palomino. A guest is yet to be announced, but the addictive pop of these Australians is worth entry alone.
An Horse
$12 at The Palomino
Edmonton
Friday, September 18
Come celebrate the fifth anniversary of Alberta rock'n'roll publication Beatroute with Oakland party-starters Wallpaper. Based on their irresistible electro jams, this comes with a good-time guarantee.
Wallpaper
$TBA at The Pawn Shop
Saturday, September 19
Rising Vancouver pop punks A Trophy Life bring their hyper energy to the Pawn Shop. With them are In Bear Country, the new band from Daggermouth's Stu McKillop. Wear your moshing shoes.
A Trophy Life
In Bear Country
$TBA at The Pawn Shop
Sunday, September 20
Following their Saturday show in Calgary, Australian indie duo An Horse will conclude the Alberta leg of their tour, bringing their catchy melodies to the Brixx Bar & Grill.
An Horse
$TBA at Brixx Bar & Grill
