The light at the end of the tunnel is near! It is almost spring time which gets us that much closer to not having to use coat check to go to shows! Glory! Glory! This month in my list of the ten most exciting shows, are some legends, some indie heavy weights and some great Canadian acts that will make the ice melt in your heart. There is a little something for everyone so get out and have some fun. What shows are you most excited for? Let me know on Twitter at @dgapa!
The Who @ Air Canada Centre
March 1st, 2016
$51.45-$166.95 | All Ages
The Who are nice enough to play two shows in Toronto on their farewell tour, this one then a second a month later in April. While the group never was the same after the passing of Keith Moon back in 1978, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t see them tear the roof off the ACC with their greatest hits package. Expect lots of windmill guitar solos and lots of dads reliving their youth.
Julia Holter @ The Great Hall
March 4th, 2016
$16.50 | 19+
I feel like I am late to the Julia Holter party only learning about her after her excellent 4th album Have You in My Wilderness came out last year and ended up as Pitchfork’s 18th best album of 2015. Her show is ridiculously cheap so of course it is already sold out. Maybe next time she will play a bigger venue that is more suited to her stature.
Wintersleep @ Lee’s Palace
March 4th, 2016
$18.50 | 19+
Wintersleep seems to finally be making a name for themselves after toiling away in seedy clubs for the past decade and a half. All it took was a really catchy single in Amerika to get them constant radio airplay; Lee’s Palace will be rocking hard filled with their hardcore fans so you should join them.
Beach House @ Danforth Music Hall
March 5th, 2016
$28.50-$33.50 | 19+
After the band decided to play two beyond sold out shows at Lee’s Palace last year, the band smartly moved up to the Danforth Music Hall, and surprise, surprise it is also sold out! Beach House must love intimate shows because they sure don’t book appropriate sized venues for their popularity. The duo released two critically acclaimed albums last year (Depression Cherry and Thank Your Lucky Stars) so there is plenty of new material to hear if you managed to be one of the lucky few who snagged tickets to their last shows and this one.
Leon Bridges @ Massey Hall
March 10th, 2016
$29.50-$39.50 | All Ages
Bridges is getting insanely popular these days with appearances this summer scheduled for Bonnaroo, Hangout, Osheaga and The Roots Picnic and potentially more to come. Seeing him at a venue like Massey Hall (already sold out sadly) will transport you back in time further than his music already does. If you close your eyes you will swear you are listening to Sam Cooke or Otis Redding back in their prime.
Oneohtrix Point Never @ The Hoxton
March 11th, 2016
$15.00 | 19+
Glitch brrrr zzzzzap clap clip clap whir zip pop. Sorry I was trying to translate Oneohtrix Point Never’s music and ended up sounding like a broken computer, a description that would suit him. The Hoxton normally hosts drug infused raves but the clientele will be slightly different when he breaks up The Matrix and reveals the truth to everyone.
BadBadNotGood @ Danforth Music Hall
March 12th, 2016
$25.00-$29.50 | All Ages
Your favourite rapper’s favourite band is growing bigger and bigger every year and frankly The Danforth Music Hall may be too small for them. If you aren’t going to Wayhome you should check them out because it will be a crazy party. Is it wild to suggest that some guests might show up? Probably, but you never know!
Metric and Death Cab for Cutie @ Air Canada Centre
March 23rd, 2016
$30.50-$60.50 | All Ages
Metric is still banging out indie rock hits 13 years after Combat Baby first came out and while I would find it questionable that they are headlining the ACC, pairing them up with Death Cab makes for a potent 1-2 punch of indie darlings of yesteryear. I’m not sure who will be opening for whom, but it should be a fun night of remembering your high school days of discovering indie music.
Pokey Lafarge @ Lee’s Palace
March 31st, 2016
$21.50 | 19+
Not many people know about Pokey, and if you listen to his music he sounds like an aw-shucks throwback to the 1940’s and frankly he is. If you aren’t turned off by his overly folksy demeanor you see he has a real love for really old school AM style music. Drink some Jack Daniels and dance like you have an angel and a devil on your shoulder battling for your soul.
David Gilmour @ Air Canada Centre
March 31st, 2016
$70.00-$160.00 | All Ages
The legendary front man from Pink Floyd is back and after the massive spectacle of his The Wall tour, which makes seeing him a top priority if you missed him last time. He is still doing plenty of Floyd songs mixed in with a few solo cuts, so be prepared to hold your lighter up high during Shine on You Crazy Diamond.
