> CONCERT SAMPLER
Live music highlights from March 10 to 16: Thursday Radio Radio, “My Dance Floor” Acadian pair appears ready to rule the country with latest Light the Sky, which as their first fully Englishlanguage LP might well be termed their coming-out party in these parts. And we mean party, this cheeky, rabble-rousing anthem but one of many. It should translate well to a live stage, or at least as well as possible in the less than ideal surroundings of this cagelike place; just the ticket to start the weekend early. (Adelaide Hall, doors 8 p.m.) Friday Jay Prince, “1993” To the long list of young, buzzy Brits here for local debuts over the last year or so, add this 22-year-old East Londoner. He’s overdue after a February date at the same place was scrubbed. A quick and complimentary flow over warm, nostalgic beats, and a wary positivity — “City full of dreams, city full of vultures, I do it for the culture” — have earned him a few lofty comparisons to American hip- hop lords. (Drake Underground, doors 7:30 p.m.) Saturday Lemon Bucket Orkestra, “Niska Banja” Having started as buskers working around the downtown, the Toronto group remains close to those anarchic street roots, but they have earned some acclaim as they make their way into new worlds, with LP Moorka earning them a Juno nomination and “Ukrainian folk opera” Counting Sheep at last year’s Summer-Works festival. Live, they remain a sweaty, satisfying workout. This inaugural two-night brass band festival will provide a month’s worth of cardio as they’re joined on the bill by fellow hell-raisers Gipsy Kumbia Orchestra (from Montreal), Toronto’s Rambunctious and the Detroit Party Marching Band. (Opera House, doors 9 p.m.) Sunday RNDM, “Ghost Riding” When visual artist and songwriter Joseph Arthur was asked to sing a track he co-wrote on Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament’s solo album, While My
Heart Beats, he probably didn’t think he’d soon be called upon to front Ament’s new band. An informal invitation in 2012 to an Ament house jam unexpectedly birthed a full album, Acts, and sophomore LP Ghost Riding brings them here and continues the mostly aggressive, intelligent rock ’n’ pop vibe, this title track taking a reflective look at childhood play. With drummer Richard Stuverud rounding out the threesome, they do love the colour orange, so expect to see orange jumpsuits, instruments, balaclavas . . . (Mod Club, doors 8 p.m.) Monday David Simard, “Good Clean Water” Montreal, northern B.C. and Paris are among the base stickers on the guitar case of this troubadour, though he seems to have been all over: a songsmith, performer and collaborator with the gravitas of a seasoned baritone to bring it all back home. Protest songs like the one linked here evoke Pete Seeger, and his 2015 EP with Théo Lawrence was a smoky country-blues delight. For this particular show he’s flying solo. While he sometimes gets yoked with the alt-folk moniker, he sounds more like the real trad deal. (Burdock, doors 8:30 p.m.) Tuesday Bonnie Raitt, “Gypsy in Me” Raitt is 66 and with 20 LPs in the bank following the latest, Dig in Deep, her biggest problem is coming up with a setlist that’ll avoid leaving out any essentials while allowing her to explore these new songs. On that count she makes the trip worthwhile, balancing balladry and four-on-the-floor rockers with the guitar and warm, world-weary vocals getting bluesier and more knowing as time passes. Add her longtime touring band, who are a tight bunch, and Oakland funk fivesome California Honeydrops opening, and a hot time is pretty much assured in this pick of the week. (Sony Centre, 8 p.m.) Wednesday Mike Janzen Trio, “Nudge” T.O. keyboard man leads the most talented group of instrumentalists playing this evening — most any evening they play, actually. Janzen’s an expressive, exuberant player, as at home slyly reinventing standards as pitching his own compositions, whether arranged for larger orchestral settings or the trio: longtime pal George Koller on bass, his steady companion in lyrical arms and Davide Direnzo returning on drums for Larnell Lewis and bringing his own unique edge. “They’re both amazing drummers: Larnell’s more of a technician, while Davide’s so excellent at the rock-jazz thing,” says Janzen. In this comfy, unpretentious venue, that’ll do nicely. (The Rex, 9:30 p.m.)