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
Friday, March 26
Continuing on with their Bonfire Ball tour, Jason Collett, Zeus and Bahamas are finally hitting the coast. Get set for a serious rock'n'roll bromance.
Jason Collett
Zeus
Bahamas
$15 at Biltmore Cabaret
Saturday, March 27
Long-running Japanese psych legends Acid Mothers Temple return with their always-stellar live show. Trust us: this is one band you need to experience live to truly appreciate.
Acid Mothers Temple
Over-Gain Optimal Death
$20 at Biltmore Cabaret
Tuesday, March 30
Much buzzed-about glo-fi/dream-beat/chillwave dude Washed Out is trekking over the border for what marks one of his first Canadian shows ever. Openers Small Black are serving as his back-up band, and we're keeping our fingers crossed that this one is going to be killer.
Washed Out
Small Black
$13 at Media Club
Toronto
Friday, March 26
All right, it's finally Thrush Hermit reunion time. We're more than a little excited for this one and for good reason. Just wait until you hear Joel rip out classic lines like, "From the back of a film / He said shut up or I'll shoot you." It will be a magical moment.
Thrush Hermit
$17.50 (advance)/$20 (door) at Lee's Palace
Friday, March 26
Despite Thrush Hermit also playing tonight (and Saturday and Sunday), we have to agree with the press release that this other Friday night show is "an evening not to be missed." Mekons legend Jon Langford is swinging through town, and he's landed the Sadies for his backing band. Sweetening the deal even more, Langford is selling a collection of his painting at the show, and opening the whole thing up are the Good Brothers and the Burlington Welsh Choir. Yes, that's right: a Welsh choir.
Jon Langford & His Sadies
Burlington Welsh Choir
Good Brothers
$13.50 (advance)/$15 (door) at Horseshoe Tavern
Monday, March 29
In perhaps one of the best double bills in recent memory, Spoon are teaming up with Deerhunter for what looks like a hell of a night. The former's Transference is one of our favourite albums of the year so far, and we're just itching to see what the latter has up their sleeve.
Spoon
Deerhunter
$24.50-$38.50 at Sound Academy
Montreal
Friday, March 26
Get ready for sweaty, often-naked guys who aren't afraid to make out with each other: the Black Lips are coming to town. Guaranteed rock'n'roll shenanigans, folks.
The Black Lips
Demon's Claws
Box Elders
$18 at Studio Juste Pour Rire
Saturday, March 27
For a night of some of the most eccentric psych noise out there, just head down to Casa Del Popolo for Magik Markers. You might want to bring a few extra dollars in your pocket as well; dudes' merch table is always teeming with new audio.
Magik Markers
Disguises
Induced Labour
Toddler Baby
$10 (advance)/$12 (door) at Casa Del Popolo
Monday, March 29
Fresh off the release of their Exclaim!-approved Fight Softly, Kiwi poppers Ruby Suns are touching down to doll out their synth-loaded sound. Making things even better, chilled-out chillwaver Toro Y Moi is opening this one up.
Ruby Suns
Toro Y Moi
Freelove Fenner
$10 (advance)/$12 (door) at Il Motore
Calgary
Friday, March 26
Local garage punk purveyors Miesha and the Spanks will kick off their east-bound Canadian tour with a headlining set at the Palomino. Thanks to support from the Pine Tarts and Poly Shores, this will be a party for the ages.
Miesha and the Spanks
Pine Tarts
Poly Shores
$10 at the Palomino
Saturday, March 27
Long-running Calgary indie rock institution Beija Flor will bow out after an illustrious career bringing unique strokes of art rock to the city's music scene. Among the opening acts are the Dojo Workhorse, a side-project of the Dudes.
Beija Flor
The Dojo Workhorse
Axis of Conversation
$TBA at Local 522
Sunday, March 28
Long-running indie hip-hop icon Zion I will bring his Bay Area rhymes to Calgary as part of his Canadian tour. If you like your rap music to be thought-provoking and conscious, this is a quality way to spend your Sunday night.
Zion I
$TBA at Republik
Edmonton
Friday, March 26
Long-running and highly influential Vancouver band the Pointed Sticks will bring their timeless power-pop-influenced punk to Edmonton's New City lounge for a show that you'd be ridiculous to miss.
The Pointed Sticks
$TBA at New City
Saturday, March 27
Before heading to Calgary, Zion I will bring his Bay Area hip-hop to Edmonton's Pawn Shop. To have such a veteran of indie hip-hop show up on your doorstep doesn't happen too often, so don't miss this opportunity to see him perform.
Zion I
$TBA at the Pawn Shop
Vancouver
Friday, March 26
Continuing on with their Bonfire Ball tour, Jason Collett, Zeus and Bahamas are finally hitting the coast. Get set for a serious rock'n'roll bromance.
Jason Collett
Zeus
Bahamas
$15 at Biltmore Cabaret
Saturday, March 27
Long-running Japanese psych legends Acid Mothers Temple return with their always-stellar live show. Trust us: this is one band you need to experience live to truly appreciate.
Acid Mothers Temple
Over-Gain Optimal Death
$20 at Biltmore Cabaret
Tuesday, March 30
Much buzzed-about glo-fi/dream-beat/chillwave dude Washed Out is trekking over the border for what marks one of his first Canadian shows ever. Openers Small Black are serving as his back-up band, and we're keeping our fingers crossed that this one is going to be killer.
Washed Out
Small Black
$13 at Media Club
Toronto
Friday, March 26
All right, it's finally Thrush Hermit reunion time. We're more than a little excited for this one and for good reason. Just wait until you hear Joel rip out classic lines like, "From the back of a film / He said shut up or I'll shoot you." It will be a magical moment.
Thrush Hermit
$17.50 (advance)/$20 (door) at Lee's Palace
Friday, March 26
Despite Thrush Hermit also playing tonight (and Saturday and Sunday), we have to agree with the press release that this other Friday night show is "an evening not to be missed." Mekons legend Jon Langford is swinging through town, and he's landed the Sadies for his backing band. Sweetening the deal even more, Langford is selling a collection of his painting at the show, and opening the whole thing up are the Good Brothers and the Burlington Welsh Choir. Yes, that's right: a Welsh choir.
Jon Langford & His Sadies
Burlington Welsh Choir
Good Brothers
$13.50 (advance)/$15 (door) at Horseshoe Tavern
Monday, March 29
In perhaps one of the best double bills in recent memory, Spoon are teaming up with Deerhunter for what looks like a hell of a night. The former's Transference is one of our favourite albums of the year so far, and we're just itching to see what the latter has up their sleeve.
Spoon
Deerhunter
$24.50-$38.50 at Sound Academy
Montreal
Friday, March 26
Get ready for sweaty, often-naked guys who aren't afraid to make out with each other: the Black Lips are coming to town. Guaranteed rock'n'roll shenanigans, folks.
The Black Lips
Demon's Claws
Box Elders
$18 at Studio Juste Pour Rire
Saturday, March 27
For a night of some of the most eccentric psych noise out there, just head down to Casa Del Popolo for Magik Markers. You might want to bring a few extra dollars in your pocket as well; dudes' merch table is always teeming with new audio.
Magik Markers
Disguises
Induced Labour
Toddler Baby
$10 (advance)/$12 (door) at Casa Del Popolo
Monday, March 29
Fresh off the release of their Exclaim!-approved Fight Softly, Kiwi poppers Ruby Suns are touching down to doll out their synth-loaded sound. Making things even better, chilled-out chillwaver Toro Y Moi is opening this one up.
Ruby Suns
Toro Y Moi
Freelove Fenner
$10 (advance)/$12 (door) at Il Motore
Calgary
Friday, March 26
Local garage punk purveyors Miesha and the Spanks will kick off their east-bound Canadian tour with a headlining set at the Palomino. Thanks to support from the Pine Tarts and Poly Shores, this will be a party for the ages.
Miesha and the Spanks
Pine Tarts
Poly Shores
$10 at the Palomino
Saturday, March 27
Long-running Calgary indie rock institution Beija Flor will bow out after an illustrious career bringing unique strokes of art rock to the city's music scene. Among the opening acts are the Dojo Workhorse, a side-project of the Dudes.
Beija Flor
The Dojo Workhorse
Axis of Conversation
$TBA at Local 522
Sunday, March 28
Long-running indie hip-hop icon Zion I will bring his Bay Area rhymes to Calgary as part of his Canadian tour. If you like your rap music to be thought-provoking and conscious, this is a quality way to spend your Sunday night.
Zion I
$TBA at Republik
Edmonton
Friday, March 26
Long-running and highly influential Vancouver band the Pointed Sticks will bring their timeless power-pop-influenced punk to Edmonton's New City lounge for a show that you'd be ridiculous to miss.
The Pointed Sticks
$TBA at New City
Saturday, March 27
Before heading to Calgary, Zion I will bring his Bay Area hip-hop to Edmonton's Pawn Shop. To have such a veteran of indie hip-hop show up on your doorstep doesn't happen too often, so don't miss this opportunity to see him perform.
Zion I
$TBA at the Pawn Shop
