AN ODE TO BILLIE
Joey Arias’s Billie Holiday tribute is just one of this week’s concert offerings,
Thursday
Joey Arias, “You’ve Changed.” With links back to a vanished New York of Warhol, the Kitchen and Soho before it turned into a mall, Arias’s tribute show honouring Billie Holiday’s 100th birthday year is no mere drag imitation but a well-mounted reinterpretation of Lady Day that in 20-plus years has gone from small clubs to Lincoln Center and helped vault Arias to Vegas star. It helps that he’s equal parts performance artist, chansonnier and storyteller. Add to the Luminato offering Friday night’s Wannabe return at Adelaide Hall and you’re sorted ahead of this weekend’s Pride parties. (David Pecaut Square, Festival Shed, 7 p.m.)
Friday
Steven Wilson, “Perfect Life.” Porcupine Tree founder’s solo LP Hand Cannot Erase hits its most concentrated emotional moment on this slice of airy electronica, so laced with melancholy it positively aches. Prog-rock isn’t normally this sweet, is it? Given the polished virtuosity of his touring band this makes for a very good live bet, hence a house that sold out a long time ago. (Danforth Music Hall, doors 7 p.m.)
Saturday
Freddy Cole Quartet, “On the South Side of Chicago.” Nat King Cole’s youngest brother, at 83, has a voice that remains the gold standard for warmth, swing and supper-club charm. The man could open the phone book and find a story and a song around it. He handles piano chores as well with expert accompaniment from Randy Napoleon on guitar, bassist Elias Bailey and relative newcomer Quentin Baxter on drums. The jazz fest winds down this weekend and among the contenders this is the classiest classicists’ choice and plays Friday night as well. Pick of the week. (Jazz Bistro, 8 p.m.)
Sunday
New Kids on the Block, “Hangin’ Tough.” Michael Buffer provides the intros for the “Main Event” tour, which has the Kids arriving in hooded robes, five would-be prizefighters punching their way through the playbook, including, of course, this late-set staple. Not much has changed from their last visit nearly two years ago, apart from a few more etched lines in everyone’s faces — this is one of those gathering of the clan nights for moms, their old pals and maybe their kids to share swoons and screams. It’s a long night, though, with a four-hour run time including openers Nelly and TLC. (Air Canada Centre, 7 p.m.)
Monday
Banda Magda, “Karotseri.” Greeceborn Magda Giannikou writes her songs in French, sings in any one of six languages and relies on her five United Nations bandmates (Argentina, Colombia, Japan all repped) for the background: in this case, a horned, percussive Latin punch to accent her easy, breezy take on a Hellenic pop classic. They’ll throw a lot of those stylistic bits into their pot, with a widescreen approach that’s understandable given Giannikou’s also a film scorer. She brings an accordion to the party as well, which always helps. (The Rex, 9:30 p.m.)
Tuesday
Anklepants, “(speak you little facehead).” Hands-down strangest debut visitor of the year arrives in mad scientist Dr. Reecard Farche. The Aussie native wears a custom mask with an animatronic phallus for a nose and, via a sensored uniform and various sources digital and homemade, wander the floor dispensing glitchy, restless electro-step. This “ongoing mutation” reflects his background in latex, servo motors (as a film effects guy, his credits include robotic creations for films like Prometheus and Where the Wild Things Are) and Berlin’s underground clubs. With T.O. duo bossFYTE, who will appear almost normal next to the headliner. (Gladstone Ballroom, 9 p.m.)
Wednesday
The Tragically Hip, “Bobcaygeon.” Sure, they were here a couple of times over the winter and last fall. And no, there’s no new record to perform. But this is the Hip and few bands could be more fitting on our national birthday. Consider it a sort of cottage holiday vacation on the waterfront for one mid-week night. Everyone’s invited around the campfire to sing along. Like the New Kids earlier in the week, it’s all about clan and community. (Molson Amphitheatre, 8 p.m.)