CONCERT SAMPLER
Fado star Mariza kicks off a week of local live music picks,
Live music highlights from Oct. 29 to Nov. 4:
Thursday Mariza, “Paixao” Portugal’s signature fado is minorkey high drama, best sampled over a glass of something sad at a cosy bar in Mouraria, the downtown Lisbon ’hood in which the Mozambiqueborn Mariza grew up. Given her robust vocals and willingness to range out into nearby territories, the more expansive Massey Hall fits equally well. It did, at least, in her venue debut 2- 1⁄2 years ago, and she returns with master Portuguese guitar man José Manuel Neto again among the four-piece backing. Off this single from new record Mundo, her first collection of songs in nearly five years, there would appear to be considerable drama in store. (Massey Hall, 8 p.m.)
Friday Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear, “Silent Movies” They have to be one of the more unlikely and cheery acts to be coming in for a local debut, literally a couple of lifetimes in the making — as a young adult, 63-year-old Ruth Ward played music in the clubs of Kansas City and beyond, then put it aside to raise a family including youngest son Madisen, a 26-year-old with a wellworn tenor that takes the vocal lead among their matching strum. Their acoustic country-blues has an honesty and immediacy from all those connections, and in the last few years they’ve grown from singing around the kitchen table to Kansas City coffeehouse faves to buzzy duo touring the world. (Church of the Holy Trinity, 7:30 p.m.)
Saturday Son Little, “Lay Down” Philadelphia soul man Aaron Livingston was tasked with opening the Mumford & Sons’ Niagara show over the summer, and though he’s no stranger to keeping heady company (collabs with the Roots and as half of psych-soul duo Icebird with RJD2, notably), this T.O. debut assignment in cozier surroundings should be a better fit for showing off his talents. A son of a preacher man from L.A., his stage name taking off from long-ago bluesman Son House, he draws on a myriad of strands, going way beyond retro and joining the likes of D’Angelo and Kendrick Lamar among the ranks of R&B reinventors. (Drake Underground, doors 8 p.m.)
Sunday Deafheaven, “Luna” With latest record New Bermuda, the San Francisco/L.A. fivesome face up to following up on Sunbather, which according to Metacritic’s algorithms was 2013’s top-reviewed album and ushered in a period of heavy touring that’s included five appearances here in less than two years. This cut from the new one (or at least, the half of it included in this live take) opens with an ominous chug and howl and does not let up, pummeling dark metal and wall-of-sound guitars into a fine mash. Local fans are obviously on board given the familiarity, and with Japan’s Envy and Swedish metal act Tribulation on the bill, there’s an international flavour as well. (Opera House, doors 7:30 p.m.)
Monday Marina & the Diamonds, “Froot” Marina Diamantis is just the sort of brainy dance floor igniter to liven up a quiet night in the middle of the fall. True, she was in for a Field Trip set in June, but this marks her first standalone show since the summer of 2013, with third LP Froot out since that pops and bops and cries out for a disco ball overhead. With French solo performer Christine and the Queens, who brings a pretty stylish synth-pop of her own. Sold out. (Sound Academy, 8 p.m.)
Tuesday The Weeknd, “Can’t Feel My Face” Opening night of a tour that’ll take Toronto star Abel Tesfaye across North America up to the week before Christmas, with an ACC date on Thursday as well, and you know this latest monster hit will feature heavily. Maybe Chilly Gonzalez said it best in a recent deconstruction: “The Weeknd kind of creates this sort of ambiguity where you don’t really know where you are.” No wonder the guy’s fans lead the league in swooning and spooning. With Travi$ Scott and Banks on the undercard to make for a long night. (Air Canada Centre, 7:30 p.m.)
Wednesday Polyphonic Spree, “Light and Day” Texas-based, near-Texas-sized choral-rock ensemble have lasted 15 robed years and this latest version led as ever by Tim DeLaughter comes here for their first Toronto show in eight years, on an anniversary tour built around a retelling of 2002 debut LP The Beginning Stages of the Polyphonic Spree. Having seen them open for Bowie way back in ’04 at the ACC, their sureness in handling that occasion was quite striking, including this show-stopping anthem — the only trouble might come in fitting all 18 on the stage at Lee’s, along with their usual wide-eyed spectacle and euphoric voices. (Lee’s Palace, doors 8 p.m.)