CRITIC’S PICKS
COMEDY
What: Jon Dore Where: Hecklers Bar and Grill, 123 Gorge Road E. When: Friday (9 p.m.) and Saturday (7 p.m. and 10 p.m.) Tickets: Sold out (information 250-381-1312) Why: Ottawa-raised comedian Jon Dore has parlayed his laid-back shtick into a series of career wins, from guest spots on How I Met Your Mother to a new Comedy Central special, Big Questions, Huge Answers with Jon Dore. His three shows at Hecklers Bar and Grill on Gorge Road East this week are sold out, but fans on the outside looking in might want to poke around and see if they can score a ticket. Dore is popular for good reason, and his trio of shows this weekend are expected to be riotous events.
HIP-HOP
What: Rich Homie Quan with Konfidential, D-Lay, Reyes and DJ B-Dilla Where: The Queen’s, 34 Victoria Cres., Nanaimo When: Saturday, 10 p.m. Tickets: $35 at ticketzone.com Why: Depending on your musical tastes, Atlanta rapper Rich Homie Quan can either be credited with or blamed for the popularity of mumble rap. His earliest hit, Some Type of Way, arrived in 2013, when the genre now dominating the pop charts was getting its start, but Quan fell behind as Post Malone and Lil’ Yachty began to make their millions. He’s still a fan favourite, and with more than 700 million views on YouTube, the sound he pioneered through singles such as Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh) remains as omnipresent and incomprehensible as ever. His first Vancouver Island appearance at The Queen’s on Saturday will be well worth the effort.
ROCK
What: Canadian Beauty Where: Rubber Boot Club, 1605 Store St. (under Swan’s Hotel and Brewpub) When: Friday, 9 p.m. (doors at 8) Tickets: $15 in advance at brownpapertickets.com or at the door Why: Victoria’s Canadian Beauty — whose name is a nod to the Grateful Dead’s 1970 album American Beauty — offers an intriguing take on the music of the jam-band legends, and has infused its sets over the years with inventive approaches to the Dead’s catalogue. The band will play two sets on Friday, so fans can expect to hear a mix of favourites and deep cuts, accented by the top-tier playing of singer-guitarists Marc Jenkins and Lucky Budd, singer-keyboardist Chris Van Sickle, drummer Damian Graham and singer-bassist Geoff Howe. Highly recommended.