NXNE 2015: Hot Picks
It’s North by Northeast decision time and, given the volume of next-wave talent coming Wednesday to June 21, some of those decisions ain’t gonna be easy. We’re here to help, though. Take a deep breath and let us sift through the hundreds of acts on offer across Toronto so you don’t have to.
A Place to Bury Strangers: The infamously eardrum-shedding New York noiseniks are one of the most caustic and volatile live bands on the planet with just the right amount of grim and “Goth” on top of it. Bring earplugs. Opera House (735 Queen St. E.), Thursday, 9 p.m.
Atlas Sound: The unpredictable solo project of Deerhunter’s restlessly creative and heroically prolific Bradford Cox, one of the most fascinating figures in contemporary American indie-rock. Lee’s Palace (529 Bloor St. W.), Friday, midnight.
Chastity Belt: Scrappy, ill-tempered girly-punk from Seattle. A breakout act at South by Southwest in March. Horseshoe Tavern (370 Queen St. W.), Friday, 10 p.m.; Smiling Buddha (961 College St.), Friday, 1 a.m.
Cold Cave: This slightly melodramatic Los Angeles synth-pop outfit has been silent for some time, so its last-minute addition to the NXNE program was a pleasant surprise. Adelaide Hall (250 Adelaide St. W.), Saturday, midnight.
Doomsquad: This creepy/dance-y Toronto/Montreal sibling trio is one of the most unique and exciting young bands in Canada. Live show is bonkers these days. Lee’s Palace, Wednesday, 11 p.m.; the Garrison (1197 Dundas St. W.), Saturday, 2 a.m.
Fresh Snow: Another must-see Toronto act relatively new to the scene. Total instrumental Krautrock devastation! Lee’s Palace, Friday, 10 p.m.
Jacco Gardner: A one-man baroque-psychedelic army from the Netherlands. Horseshoe Tavern, Wednesday, 10 p.m.; the Garrison, Thursday, 11 p.m.
Grey Lands: Cuff the Duke’s Wayne Petti gets loud like you always knew he could with a hot-to-trot new power trio signed to Paper Bag Records. Rivoli (334 Queen St. W.), Wednesday, midnight
Ibeyi: Deux soeurs Parisiennes make enchanting late-night soul coloured by trip-hop, jazz and traditional Yoruba folk music. Mod Club (722 College St.), Wednesday, 10 p.m.
K.Flay: Youthful rapper Kristine Flaherty has an ear for tuneful electro-pop that has rightly drawn comparisons to Lorde. On her way up. Mod Club, Thursday, 7:30 p.m.
Terra Lightfoot: Every Time My Mind Runs Wild, the new album by this eminently likeable singer/songwriter, guitar heroine and sometime Dinner Belles member, is the hottest thing to come out of Hamilton in a while. Rivoli, Wednesday, 11 p.m.
Moon King: Daniel Woodhead and Maddy Wilde were in heart-bursting form before they left on tour in April so look out, Toronto. The homecoming’s gonna be a banger. Horseshoe Tavern, Wednesday, 11 p.m.
No Joy: Shoegaze-y guitar terrorists Jasmine White-Gluz and Laura Lloyd have a sweet, sweet new album, More Faithful, to show off in Toronto for the first time since its release last week. Silver Dollar (486 Spadina Ave.), Friday through Saturday at midnight.
Kate Tempest: A tart-tongued U.K. rapper/poetess who can hold her own on the mike. Another SXSW breakout act. Adelaide Hall, Wednesday, 11 p.m.
Vogue Dots: Dour Haligonian synthpop duo known to cover Cousins from time to time. Handlebar (159 Augusta Ave.), Thursday, 11 p.m.
Warpaint: Slinkily supernatural Goth-pop that’ll have you digging out all your old 4AD favourites. Boffo live act. Adelaide Hall, Friday, midnight.
Zola Jesus: Operatic, windblown art-pop weirdness from big-lunged singer Nika Roza Danilova. Lee’s Palace, Wednesday, midnight. Ben Rayner