by RUPERT BOTTENBERG

Hey, this is supposed to be the slow time of year for shows. If it is, nobody told the folks booking all the gigs and soirées around town. We should start with Mossman’s re-establishment of his Dub Lounge nights, now every Sunday at Mile End Club. With seven years of rockin’ steady under his belt, Moss can boast the longest-running club night currently happening in town. Ark of Infinity play this debut night (they also start a residency at le Swimming on Mar. 1), and future guests include Brooklyn’s Black Redemption Sound System in February.

On the house tip, the U.K.’s Tall Paul hits Aria this Friday, Jan. 17—as a megaclub DJ, hit-making producer and remixer for New Order, Duran Duran and Stone Roses, this guy’s sitting tall in the saddle.

Indie rockers will want to catch Toronto’s Britsy post-shoegazers Mellonova at Foufounes Électriques that same night, or maybe Tigersaw, Golden Famille and Beatboxy & Flack at Casa del Popolo on Saturday, Jan. 18. Rootsy types, meanwhile, have Blue Rodeo at Théâtre St-Denis for three nights (Jan. 16–18) and Lil’ Ed & the Imperials kicking off the new year for Café Campus’s longstanding Wednesday-night blues showcases on Jan. 22. The roots go deeper when insurgent-country gang the Waco Brothers drag their pals the Sadies into Cabaret on Wednesday, Jan. 29.

With a show from Bedouin Soundclash on Jan. 23, le Swimming starts a series of Thursday-night ska/reggae shows celebrating the eighth anniversary of Stomp Records and the release of the All-Skanadian Club 4 comp. General Rudie march in on Jan. 30 and King Kong Girio (and possibly Venice Shoreline Chris) plays the official launch party on Feb. 6. The Planet Smashers, by the way, will be at punk paradise l’X on Feb. 14 and 15.

Clicks and chords

Keep the mod gear out, because the Datson 4 (formerly just the Datsons) break out the windmills—and newly acquired beards—at la Sala Rossa on Jan. 26. Two other Sala Rossa shows of note: Jan. 25 sees Lederhosen Lucil launching a new, limited-edition CD in the company of Toronto’s Fembots and locals Parka 3, while on Jan. 30, the Shalabi Effect transmit a fresh dose of their space rock for grownups.

Jan. 25 is also the night that Moondata Productions start their four-concert Live Improvised Ambience and Beats Winter Series (oof, what a tag) at O Patro Vys. On board are characters like Jon Asencio, DJ P-Love, Leon Kingstone of the Smashers and like, all of Parkside Jones.

Hip hop heads rejoice, Philly’s the Roots return on the strength of their new CD Phrenology on Jan. 31. Metropolis is the venue, Skills, DJ Storm and Psychology the openers. That same night, clever neo-chansonnier Martin Léon plays the first of two consecutive nights at Cabaret. February starts strong with the launch of Fishingindeeparea from Sweden’s Hakan Lidbo at SAT. This purveyor of refined click-house has hooked up with local label Trigger—good for us! He’s joined by François LeBaron, Pfreud and Christelle.

Also on the smart-people electronica tip is the latest Clonk, the Winter Resound, event at SAT on Feb. 8. On the menu: Detroit’s Kero, Toronto’s Tinkertoy, Clonk founder Neil Wiernik (in his naw guise) and Force Inc. signee Mike Shannon.

Don’t whine, rock ’n’ rollers, there’s what for y’all too. The D4 and the Forty-Fives deliver some raucous garage-punk action at Jupiter Room on Feb. 1, while Montreal’s original garage-rock troglodytes the Gruesomes get all shaggy and snarly at la Sala Rossa on Feb. 6. Same place, the next night, it’s Toronto soul-riffage machine Shikasta in the company of locals Starvin Hungry. Feb. 6 also sees a sweet bill at Petit Campus in local new-wavers the Cherry Persuasion, joined by NYC rock-tarts Candy Ass.

Heart conditions

Starvin’ for love? St. Valentine’s Day looks busy this year—the Snitches warm things up with a Cabaret show on Feb. 13, while the night itself sees the incurably romantic Stars launching their new CD Heart (how perfect is that?), also at Cabaret. Who’s got some love for sweaty troublemaker Bloodshot Bill? He and his trusty Hubcaps do it up sweet at Foufounes’ St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. The whole St. Vee weekend, from Feb. 13 to 16, is the BBCM’s Red Weekend, with parties at le Spectrum, Stereo and all over the village. DJs popping up include Antoine 909, Escape, Jester and Gilles Jr.

Sunday, Feb. 15 is a night for, shall we say, unconventional percussion at Casa del Popolo and leftfield beatboxer Quadraceptor faces off against Scott “Bucket Boy” Russell. Big racket guaranteed!

The neo-electro show you’ve all been waiting for finally hits town when the synth-sational Ladytron hit Club Soda on Feb. 22, with Simian (another Brit e-folk wonk-rock act, comparable to the Beta Band) in tow. Britpoppers can further rejoice over the imminent arrival of Coldplay, with guests the Music, at the Bell Centre on Feb. 25.

Two sweet shows for jazz buffs right around then, both at Place des Arts: Ibrahim Ferrer, of Buena Vista Social Club fame, is there on Feb. 23, while Feb. 25 sees the whole Marsalis clan (Wynton, Branford, poppa Ellis, their dog, Cousin It, whoever) doing their slick Marsalis jazz thing.

Rumour has it, by the way, that no-bullshit neo-soul sister Ursula Rucker may well hit la Sala Rossa in late February. Keep those fingers crossed.

March promises local boy done good Sam Roberts at Club Soda (Mar. 1); the return of helmet-headed hermit Bob Log III, with the ridiculous and entertaining Bebe & Serge, at la Sala Rossa (Mar. 12); bordertown balladeers Calexico at Cabaret (Mar. 20) and Michael Gira of legendary heavy/scary band the Swans, at la Sala Rossa again (Mar. 28). Finally, spring will spring in early April with a visit from loveable new-age nutbar Yanni—there’s a thought to keep you warm! :

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