> CONCERT SAMPLER
Live music highlights, Nov. 24 to 30
Groenland “Immune” Fronted by the mighty voice of Sabrina Halde and with her creative partner/keyboardist Jean-Vivier Lévesque alongside, Groenland creates insistently graceful pop ’n’ soul music coated in a patina of jazz and folk, all within the confines of a six-piece orchestral outfit. A strictly Canadian 2013 tour led to 2015 European festival stops and now just-dropped sophomore album A Wider Space, a more electro-infused affair than its predecessor but akin to fellow Montrealers Arcade Fire. It showcases big songs saturated with drama and joie de vivre. (Thursday, Gladstone Hotel, doors 8 p.m.)
Slim Cessna’s Auto Club “Children of the Lord” This 20-plus-year-old slice of Americana is the brainchild of Denver native Slim Cessna, who co-sings warped country-gospel tunes with banjo-scraping pal Jay Munly backed by former members of doomsters 16 Horsepower and other alt-country miscreants. The group’s recorded output ranges from bluegrass-pop to upbeat gothabilly, as on 2016’s The Commandments According to SCAC, while live they bring a revival-tent level of rock ’n’ roll, psychedelically apocalyptic but with tongue planted firmly in cheek. Punk godfather Jello Biafra called them “the band that plays the bar at the end of the world.” Resurrected T.O. smut rockers Absolute Whores and country-bloozer Suitcase Sam open and add considerable layers to this pick of the week. (Friday, Silver Dollar, doors 9 p.m.)
Dune Rats “Bulls--t” High-energy, hirsute trio comes all the way from Brisbane, home of surfers, great white sharks and, in their example, 1-2-3-4 punk rock that celebrates the simple things in life: specifically, weed, beer and fourletter words. Last year they shook this same venue in their delayed first bows here; this time around they’ve double Down Under’d with fellow Aussie power-chorders DZ Deathrays sharing top o’ the bill. They’re calling this tour of North America the International Disaster and it’s closing night, so expect some serious wreckage. (Saturday, Silver Dollar, doors 9 p.m.)
Basia Bulat “In the Name Of” Amid the bummer that has been 2016, it’s been another pretty good year in the career of the now ex-Torontonian. Among the changes were a move to Montreal and a winter release ( Good Advice) following up her Juno Award-winning previous record landed her for a third time on the Polaris short list. Breakup records don’t usually yield such torchy, upbeat hymns, her fave autoharp stowed away somewhere, but longtime fans, fear not. The little extra oomph (and that autoharp) that this sold-out homecoming figures to bring should mean as many lumps in throats as there are cheers. (Saturday, Danforth Music Hall, doors 7:30 p.m.)
Pretenders “Holy Commotion” Stevie Nicks is the headliner, touring solo after making the rounds with Fleetwood Mac last year. But it’s the return of Chrissie Hynde that’s worth more than a footnote in support, making this one a match of two of the most potent female voices of rock. Hynde just released the aptly named new record Alone, her first under the mutable Pretenders banner in eight years and, with the help of Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach on production, appropriately vintage in its approach. Her touring four-piece band rocks along nicely and Hynde doesn’t forget the swaggering hits. They’re also in for a Dec. 9 show at the Rogers Centre so, all things being rela- tive, this counts as their “intimate” night. (Tuesday, Air Canada Centre, 7 p.m.)
Silver Hearts “One Kind Favour” If Slim Cessna’s Auto Club is the band playing at the end of the world, this whisky-soaked bunch is its distant Canadian cousin: Peterborough hometown on a Saturday night, hockey game playing on the TV over the bar, although Wednesday in Roncey stands in for this record release show. They don’t go much for the studio environment — Golden Favourites is their first recording in a decade, incubated over 16 years of southern Ontario gigs — but they do pack well, with theremin, Sousaphone and singing saw among their accessories, tossing hot jazz, swing, country and more into their rough-hewn mix. (Wednesday, Hugh’s Room, 8:30 p.m. )