Frigo trip

For music lovers, plenty of reasons
to brave the cold this winter

SWEDE DREAMS: Lykke Li

by RUPERT BOTTENBERG

If 2008 went out with a cash-strapped, Bush-burned whimper, 2009’s coming in with a roar. Meta-punks Fucked Up join AIDS Wolf and Red Mass at la Sala Rossa this Saturday, Jan. 17, for some serious loudness, same night you’ve got the charming melodies of Cradle of Filth and Satyricon at Metropolis. On a sunnier note, check the Montreal-style Afrobeat funk of Papa Groove at Divan Orange, also on Jan. 17, or dig the fun dancehall flavours of rising local star Empire Isis at her free, early-evening CD launch at Club Soda on Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 5:30 p.m.

Steve Bug bugs out at DJ Mini’s Overdose night at le Parking on Thursday, Jan. 22, while NYC’s icon of global house, Joe Claussell, is at the Cosmic Café party at Club Cherry the following night. Saturday, Jan. 24, has Basia Bulat at Il Motore, the same night celebrated Yoga chanter Krishna Das bends the crowd at St. James United Church to his will and Camaromance rev their engine at Centre St-Ambroise.

The next week is simply stacked, what with surly, burly Maritimers the Tom Fun Orchestra soaking up the sauce at Petit Campus on Jan. 28, the skank-and-file talent assembling at the same venue for the return of the Stomp All-Stars the night after, a DJ set by Béatrice Martin of Coeur de Pirate at Cherry Cola’s Big City Night at Foufounes Électriques on Jan. 30 and Team Canada rocking Tribe as they launch their anticipated mix, Classic Material Vol. 3, on Jan. 31, the same night the Dears get all endearing with their guests, the Every Kid Choir (awww!), again at St. James United Church.

DON’T CALL HER BABY: Kreesha Turner

Heart conditions

February 4 sees Swedish ingénue Lykke Li at Club Soda, while on Feb. 7, up the street at Cabaret, heed the call of the wild from the nightlife’s nature boys National Parcs. Alternately, Bruce Peninsula, the latest large-scale chamber pop contingent from Toronto, are at Il Motore that night.

Valentine’s Day weekend looks sweet, what with DJ sets from Hercules & Love Affair and fellow DFA disco darling Pat Mahoney at Cabaret on Feb. 13, the same night local pop-ska titans Planet Smashers and psychobilly crew the Creepshow are at Club Soda and huggable neo-hippie Mishka is at les Saints. The next night, Valentine’s proper, has France’s totally insane Kap Bambino back in town for another nutbar gig, possibly at Cabaret, and the return of local-done-good A-Trak, possibly next door at le Studio—watch the Mirror for deets. Also that night, Caracol (half of Dobacaracol, natch) is at Club Soda while B-more racket-raisers Thank You mind their Ps and Qs at Bar St-Laurent 2. The night after, by the way, you can catch Detroit devil-music-makers the Von Bondies at les Saints.

On Feb. 17 and 18, local export Malajube launch their new album, Labyrinthes, at la Tulipe. The first night’s sold out, but for the second, you’ll have to choose to pass up the might of Meshuggah at Club Soda. That venue sees the sharp, glammy pop of locals Creature, while Divine Brown and Sean Jones deliver quality R&B at Cabaret. Feb 21 is the night of the Neon party crew’s 10th anniversary (a decade, really?), with Boys Noize and more, at Metropolis, while at the same time, Witch (feat. J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr.) cast a spell at les Saints. Washington, D.C.’s elegant internationalists Thievery Corporation steal into Metropolis on Feb. 22, and on Feb. 27, local garage goons Demon’s Claws launch a new record at Divan Orange.

GLITTER AND GLOWER: Creature

March ahead

Another local record launch of note is that of brassy avant-popsters Torngat—signed to Alien8—at la Sala Rossa on March 5. March 7 has weird Frenchman Sébastien Tellier at Cabaret and bluesy bad girl Eleni Mandell at Divan Orange. Tindersticks spark a blaze at la Sala Rossa on March 9, and the following night, the same venue sees N.A.S.A., the DJ duo of Squeak E. Clean and Zegon busting out tunes from a debut album that boasts drops from Tom Waits, Karen O, David Byrne, Kool Keith and Chuck D. On March 12, you’ve got AC Newman (aka Carl Newman of the New Pornographers), plus Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele (it had better be), at Il Motore, while up-and-coming soul-pop diva Kreesha Turner charms ’em at le National. That same hall sees the mindless self-indulgence of Mindless Self Indulgence on March 14.

March 18 is the night the U.K.’s Bloc Party returns to Metropolis, while the following night offers a live set from Simian Mobile Disco at Club Soda. Dirty old men, if no one else, will be weeping wistfully as an embattled Britney Spears plays the Bell Centre on March 20, and the wistfulness continues when—no Rumours, just the facts!—Fleetwood Mac hit that same big venue. March 26 offers some quality CanCon with the potent double bill of Weakerthans and the Constantines at le National, while Tokyo Police Club kick ass and take names at la Sala Rossa the night after. On March 28, NYC’s electro-brat/glamour guerrilla girl Lady GaGa gets her Queen on at Metropolis, and while faux lesbianism will likely be plentiful there, cheap girl-on-girl displays will no doubt be about when Katy Perry hits the same hall on March 31.