Toronto Star

> CONCERT SAMPLER

Live music highlights from July 2 to 8

- Chris Young

Thursday Snowday, “Walk Along These Rocks With Me.” T.O. duo of Cam Sloan and Chad Skinner is well named, their processed ambient pop providing a blissful soundtrack to your everyday nordic reverie, even in summer. This tune samples an old friend’s studio message from long ago which, according to Sloan, reflects the true meaning behind the band name: “to live each day carefree and enjoy the moment.” They bring a little more heft to this show, which will serve as the jumping-off point for a Canadian tour, with a couple of extra band members. (Coalition, doors 8:30 p.m.)

Friday Dick Diver, “Year in Pictures.” Melbourne, Australia, is fertile musical ground, yielding a line from Nick Cave and Olivia to Courtney Barnett. Now this foursome shows off their golf swings and cool way with a tune that sounds a bit like something from Robyn Hitchcock’s back catalogue. Don’t let the name fool you: their clever guitar pop has more going on than suggested by the sniggering punnery. This T.O. debut should be a fun night. (Silver Dollar, doors 9 p.m.)

Saturday Brian Wilson, “God Only Knows.” Of all the killer tunes that Wilson has written, this is his pick for the best — not his favourite, mind. On this tour, with a band that includes ex-Beach Boys Blondie Chaplin and original Al Jardine, the setlist samples all over the Wilson songbook. Reviewers have noted Wilson’s bonhomie, which hasn’t always been a feature since his comeback at the turn of the century. He’s even been taking the stage early, so late-coming is discourage­d. This one’s been moved from the Sony Centre, with all tickets honoured. (Danforth Music Hall, doors 7 p.m.)

Sunday Kassav, “Pie? Mwen.” It’s not every day that the inventors of a branch of the pop tree drop by, but here they are, the originator­s and masters of zouk, the exuberant Antillean soul they took out of Guadeloupe via Paris to the world in the late ’70s and early ’80s, and have managed to keep it going. This set finishes off closing day of the weekend’s Afrofest, ahead of a couple of dates next week around the Pan Am Games. (Woodbine Park, gates noon)

Monday U2, “The Miracle (of Joey Ramone).” The Irishmen can still touch a nerve, the latest example being this single off last year’s Songs of Innocence release. The last year hasn’t been kind to them, actually, culminatin­g in their tour manager’s sudden death in May just as this continenta­l leg of the Innocence + Experience Tour started. They remain a potent boxoffice force and, as ever, bring it big live. First of two nights. (Air Canada Centre, 7:30 p.m.) Le Révélateur, “Afterimage Selves.” Roger Tellier-Craig has post-rock pedigree (Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Fly Pan Am) and when his synth-jams are wedded to the visuals of video artist Sabrina Ratte? the union seems like transmissi­ons from another planet. They make their Toronto debut. (Drake Undergroun­d, 7:30 p.m.)

Wednesday Circuit des Yeux, “Do the Dishes.” It’s not one of her full-band shows, but Haley Fohr’s rich baritone is a powerful instrument on its own. Matched with her 12-string, shapeshift­ing pedals and a tour mate’s percussion, the Chicago artist should dominate this basement spot performing a set drawn from latest LP In

Plain Speech, an arresting collection of art-folk. Xylouris White, the lute-and-drums duo who were here over the winter opening for Swans, get a considerab­ly easier assignment here as co-headliners, which will make for a top-drawer double bill. (Drake Undergroun­d, doors 8:30 p.m.) Foo Fighters, “Something From Nothing.” The question surroundin­g this return two-night visit through Thursday concerns the health of Dave Grohl, who as of this writing hadn’t altered plans for the band’s North American tour (beginning July 4) after a broken leg resulted in the cancellati­on of seven Euro dates in June, including a headline spot at Glastonbur­y. With U.K. rockers Royal Blood, who have a show scheduled for Tattoo the following night. (Molson Amphitheat­re, 7 p.m.)

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