by JOHNSON CUMMINS

If you’re a rocker, you’re going to have a hard time deciding which place to drain your pints at on Friday night, Jan. 27. In the always friendly but tiny confines of l’Escogriffe, you can check out the hardcore of Cobra Noir, Whiskey Trench and Jesus Mullet, and if you’re extra nice, Cobra Noir may treat you to their Venom cover. In keeping with most l’Esco shows, this will be packed to the gills, so show up early.

Another Friday show that’s guaranteed to squeeze them in is Toronto’s C’mon, who will rock your faces off with the hugely underrated and highly oversexed Starvin’ Hungry at Casa del Popolo. C’mon features producer and guitar god Ian Blurton and Nashville Pussy’s Katie Lynn Campbell, and if their recent shows at l’Hémisphère Gauche were any indication, this is going to sell out fast, so again, get there early.

Of course, if you can’t get into either of these shows, you can always come see my grunge band Bionic with the Scandinavian rock sounds of les Psycho Riders and the punk rock stylings of Jesus and the Headliners at Petit Campus, where adequate elbow room is a given.

Wow, Jesus is rocking out at two places at the same time in one night. Nobody rocks harder than you, Jesus!

Of course, if you hate loud rock but love blogging and watching The O.C. ironically, you can meet up with all of your myspace friends Friday night when the Walkmen play at la Tulipe. Saturday night is owned by ex-Kingpins Lo and the Magnetics when they play with Synthetic Folk Hero, with DJ Amyl Nitrate swinging on the decks, at Petit Campus.

Not to be missed on Sunday is Edgar Breau, once of Hamilton, ON’s proto-punks Simply Saucer, who strips it down with Harris Newman and Hunter Eves at Casa. Across the street at la Sala Rossa, Vandermark 5 prove why they are one of the best units out there for improvised music and contemporary composition. The leader of the quintet, Ken Vandermark, has played with the very grumpy and eccentric (remember his last show with Sam Shalabi?) Peter Brotzmann in his Chicago Tentet, alongside William Parker, and proves to be one of the busiest players in the improv scene, so expect some solid skronk.

If you’re just looking to drown some tears in your beer on Sunday, head down to one of my favourite nights in the city, when Hugo Mudie from the Sainte Catherines and Yesterday’s Ring spins the best in country and Americana roots at l’Escogriffe. Hint: expect to use up a sick day on Monday morning.

Tuesday will give you something more to blog about when Say Hi to Your Mom and Bad Flirt play at Zoobizarre. If you’re lucky, you can meet up with the same geek-chic friends you met at the Walkmen show on Friday. Just imagine—real life people, just like you and me!

PUTTING THE BUSTLE IN YOUR HEDGEROW EVERY WEEK jonathan.cummins@gmail.com

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