Hibernation is for critters

Turn up your pulse with hot live music in these cold months

Igloofest kicks off with hometown hero A-Trak tonight, Thursday, Jan. 12, bringing three consecutive weekends of outdoor dance party mayhem to the Jacques Cartier Pier (see story here).

If you’re in more of an indie pop mood, Toronto’s the Darcys play Casa del Popolo tonight, with strong support from Montreal’s Receivers and Belgrave. Also on the local front, Honheehonhee (see story here) play la Sala Rossa Jan. 14, and proud New Jerseyans Real Estate (see story here) hit the same venue Jan. 18.

Local transgendered artiste Rae Spoon launches a new indie electronic LP (I Can’t Keep All of Our Secrets) at Casa del Popolo Jan. 19. Fujiya & Miyagi headline at la Sala Rossa on Jan. 23, with support from locals Statue Park, playing their first gig in three years—they also headline at Casa del Popolo Feb. 7. John Peel-approved American folk-rocker Cass McCombs plays Il Motore Jan. 26, with Canadian country maverick Jennifer Castle opening, and shaggy glammy kids Smith Westerns return to Montreal to play the same venue Jan. 28.

That same night, Kurupt (of Dogg Pound/Death Row fame) returns to le Belmont, where he played a reportedly under-attended-but-awesome show in 2010. For a taste of newer-school hip hop, see NYC’s A$AP Rocky at Corona Jan. 29—he’s being hyped as the East Coast’s answer to Tyler, the Creator. But if girl-voiced balladry is more your speed, Toronto’s Great Aunt Ida plays Casa del Popo­lo the same night, while Montreal’s Beaver Sheppard brings his many talents (okay, probably not the cooking) to Casa del Popolo Jan. 30.

COMEBACKS, CAN-ROCK & STARS OF ALT

Fans of Chicago are in luck as the band play Théâtre St-Denis Feb. 1 & 5—note that the latter is already sold out. A heavier blast from the past blows into the Bell Centre on Feb. 3 in the form of Gigantour, with headliners Megadeth supported by Motörhead, Volbeat and Lacuna Coil.

Getting leaner, British duo the Kills come to Olympia Feb. 5, while Canadian songstress Kathleen Edwards drops into Cabaret Mile End Feb. 7, son-of-Leonard Adam Cohen plays Club Soda Feb. 9, and the Jim Cuddy Band (at Place des Arts) and the Sam Roberts Band (at Metropolis) compete for your Can-rock dollar on Feb. 10.

Mmmm, what? Hanson hit the Corona Theatre Feb. 11, while British indie kids Veronica Falls stop in at le Belmont Feb. 13. For a hip hop Valentine’s, 12th Planet play le Belmont Feb. 14, while local indie experimentalist/Portishead remixer Doldrums plays Casa del Popolo Feb. 16.

For the alt set, Thee Silver Mt. Zion should satiate the eardrums with a set at la Tulipe Feb. 19, while fellow Montrealers the Barr Brothers take the stage at Club Soda Feb. 22 and still-local pop-punk veterans Simple Plan enter the Bell Centre Feb. 23.

French chanteur/pianist Arthur H charms the Club Soda crowd Feb. 24 while the Twilight Sad trot out their not-at-all-teen-vampire-franchise-related tunes at Il Motore Feb. 28. One of the Mir­ror’s 2012 Noisemakers, the Hoof & the Heel headline at Il Motore March 3, the same night DJ Steve Aoki spins at Metropolis.

The Can-con rolls on with Toronto’s the Wooden Sky playing la Sala Rossa on March 5, former Weakerthans singer John K. Samson swingin’ solo, with sidemen the Provincial Band, at la Sala Rossa March 9 and our very own Plants and Animals launching their third album, The End of That, at Cabaret Mile End on March 10.

Corporate rockers (j/k) the Black Keys get all Bell Centre-ish March 13, the same night locals Elephant Stone deliver the psych-tinged classic pop goods at la Sala Rossa. The next night sees the gritty rock of ex-Gowns singer EMA at Il Motore, the Sup Pop folk-rock of the Head and the Heart at la Tulipe, as well as the first of five nights of Under the Snow, an eclectic festival of underground music taking place at various venues.

For something completely different, monsters of classic rock and classic funk Van Halen and Kool & the Gang join forces at the Bell Centre March 15, spoken-word artist/beatsmith Saul Williams plays a venue TBA March 24, Community star Donald Glover’s hip hop project Childish Gambino comes to Metropolis March 25 and Brit-rockers Kasabian slither into Corona March 28.

And to ride March out like a lion, Kelowna’s Yukon Blonde play Casa del Popolo March 30, the same night Youth Lagoon are across the street at la Sala Rossa, and indie saddo legend the Mag­netic Fields orate at le National March 31, the same night local star-in-the-making Grimes launches her latest record at Cabaret Mile End with Winnipeg’s Born Gold. ❉

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