ROCK CONCERTS
SOUND ACADEMY
Sonar Tour: Nov. 1, $36.50. Barcelona’s Sonar festival is one of the planet’s premiere electronic-music events, so it’s only natural that it wants to spread the love to North America.
The Weeknd: Nov. 2-4, $46. Enigmatic Toronto future-R&B anti-choirboy Abel Tesfaye is one of the most sought-after and influential rising stars on the planet.
Alexisonfire: Dec. 26-29, $52-$64. St. Catharines screamo sensations play.
LEE’S PALACE
A.C. Newman: Oct. 21, $16.50. The expat Vancouverite, sometime New Pornographer, and all-around erudite pop craftsman is in town.
Swans: Oct. 25, $26.50. This one should be pretty freakin’ loud. Bring earplugs and a black heart.
The Darcys: Nov. 10, $10. Ambitious Toronto rockers swiftly followed up their sophomore album with an interpretation of Steely Dan’s 1977 classic Aja. A brash move indeed, but they got away with it.
HORSESHOE TAVERN
Metz: Oct. 12, $12. A brutalist semisecret tucked into Toronto indiedom’s back pocket will be a secret no more.
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion: Oct. 18, $21.50. Never pass up the opportunity to experience Jon Spencer, Judah Bauer and Russell Simins laying waste to a small, low-ceilinged space. Never!
King Cobb Steelie: Nov. 29, $10. Pheromone is reissuing beloved Guelph spacedub crew’s 1994 slayer Project Twinkle.