Heartstrings
and 12-strings

by JOHNSON CUMMINS

After being strapped in for the two-hour car crash known as the Grammys this past Sunday, I really needed some serious soul cleansing. I mean, I laughed as much as the next Joe at the ridiculous spectacle that was the 3D Michael Jackson tribute, the nonstop head-bashing bullshit that were the nominees for the Best Rock category and Taylor Swift actually winning album of the year, but for the love of bacon and all other things holy, please cut me a pair of slacks over here.

Thankfully, master guitarist James Blackshaw was playing at Casa del Popolo immediately afterwards, providing the perfect counterbalance to the industry’s current shade of beige. Blackshaw has obviously learned well from finger-picking legend John Fahey, but while Fahey blew minds with sheer power and fearless emotional depth, Blackshaw has cut his own path with some serious finesses and a sense of dynamic drama that was simply breathtaking. Amid a setlist that picked equally from O True Believers and last year’s stellar The Glass Bead Game, the highlight would go to set ender “Transient Life in Twilight.” The all too brief show made the supposed Grammy highlight of Lady Gaga riding on Elton John’s glittery coattails that much more ridiculous and shallow. If you really want to hear music bursting with soul, throw Blackshaw’s epic “Arc” in your favourite search engine and learn to love again.

This week should definitely be worth battling the February chill for, starting tonight with Madlove, featuring Trevor Dunn, with Gutstrings at Casa del Popolo. Warning for those who are expecting the styles Dunn contributed to Mr. Bungle, Melvins, Fantomas, John Zorn etc.—this is easily his most traditional and poppy moment.

Friday night is suspiciously quiet, but two sure bets would be the sweet, quirky pop of Land of Talk, who are performing as part of the Musée d’art contemporain Friday Nocturnes nights. Those who are digging the recent flood of roots-oriented punk rock should check out an early show featuring Hot Water Music’s Chuck Ragan strumming and crooning at l’Escogriffe and then make it over to the Green Room to catch Attack in Black, Toronto’s always awesome $100 and the Hoof and the Heel. If you aren’t nimble enough to catch Ragan’s early show, you can also catch his later set with Avail’s Tim Barry when he moves next door to Quai des Brumes.

On Saturday night, you can check out Hollerado, who start their month-long Saturday-night residency at Divan Orange with equally solid openers Sonic Avenues and Rome Romeo. Up Parc at Playhouse, you can catch Tam, Rape Faction, the Postcards and David and the Woods, while those who have more of a need for speed can check out Abyssed, Violentada, the Diskonected and Unleash the Beast DJs at Barfly.

On Sunday night, Queens of the Stone Age fans are going to want to pile into Petit Campus for QOTSA bassist Michael Shuman’s Mini Mansions with the High Dials, and finally, on Monday, you can check out the demented sounds of Half Baked with Bonjour Afrique at l’Escogriffe.

GTL, BABY! JONATHAN.CUMMINS@GMAIL.COM