MUSIC

April Music & Concert Tip Sheet

Winter is over which means we can say goodbye to overpriced coat check and sayonara to having to stuff our bags with scarfs, mitts and hats! While we probably still need to rock a sweater and a light jacket to a sweaty club, it is far more manageable, and before we know it Echo Beach, Molson Amp, Fort York, Downsview and other outdoor venues will be open to enjoy the best out music in the sun and moon light!  April is a killer month for shows; you have great up and comers for dirt cheap and some classic acts that are modestly (and not so modestly) priced! Leave your house and remember why going to shows is the best night of your week (or month)! You’ll be seeing me at a ton this month, so please say hi if you spot me dancing along to Moon King, Porches or Father John Misty (I might even have some LiL pins to give away)!

Kool Keith @ House of Vans

April 2nd, 2016

Free with RSVP| 19+

Kool Keith is a real old school hip-hop legend, and you can actually see him for free like all the other shows House of Vans hosts, just by RSVPing! He might not have the huge line of top 40 hits, but almost every MC working since the mid-80’s owes their career to people like him. He can be pretty crazy, so expect a wild show from him. 

Pusha T @ Danforth Music Hall

April 2nd, 2016

$35.00-$49.50 | 19+

Last LiL Coverage

King Push keeps getting better and better with age. As we eagerly await his next album (called King Push) the follow up to his 2013 massive solo debut My Name is My Name he was kind enough to tide us over with an EP. His show will most likely include songs off solo works, and hopefully some deep The Clipse cuts as well. 

Savages @ Danforth Music Hall

April 4th, 2016

$26.00-$30.00 | 19+

This four-piece all girl punk-group from England have already released on of the best albums of the year in Adore Life back in January. They are going to playing in Wayhome in July, but if you can’t wait to see them then catch them with all the intense fiery passion they bring to their live shows at The Danforth. 

Moon King @ Horseshoe Tavern

April 8th, 2016

$10.50 | 19+

Last LiL Coverage

I predicted 2 years ago that Moon King would be the next big thing after the release of their last album Secret Life, but it didn’t quite happen that way. Now they are playing the last show before they go into exile to record their newest album. If you haven’t seen them before, come out as Daniel Woodhead is one of the most energetic front men in the Toronto scene and each show is one of a kind. 

Iggy Pop @ Sony Centre

April 9th, 2016

$78.39-$128.39 | 19+

Last LiL Coverage

The man, the myth, the legend himself comes back to Toronto in the very weirdly booked Sony Centre (it’s not a very punk rock venue when you have to sit down) along with his new BFF Josh Homme. Iggy has said he doesn’t know how much longer he will be touring, so if you have never seen him, you probably should get on it. Also you might catch a rare siting of Pop performing with a shirt on if his Colbert performance is any indication! Make sure you check out Gilles LeBlanc’s album review of Post Pop Depression.

Sarah Neufeld @ Rivoli

April 9th, 2016

$15.00 | 19+

Last LiL Coverage

Arcade Fire’s resident violinist just released a fantastic solo album that worth everyone’s time. I’m not sure how her solo shows work, I’m guessing a lot like fellow band mate Owen Pallett’s show with lots of looping pedals to accommodate both singing and playing. 

Porches with Alex G @ Horseshoe Tavern

April 11th, 2016

$15.00 | 19+

Last LiL Coverage of Porches

Last LiL Coverage of Alex G

Pitchfork deemed Porches new album Pools a Best New Music and with it comes fame and fortune, or at least it used to. While you might quibble with the site bias’s at times, they are great at introducing new music to the masses and with bedroom crooner Alex G in tow, this double billing will bring back the intimacy to The Shoe.

Smashing Pumpkins @ Massey Hall

April 12, 2016

$72.50-$82.50 | All Ages

Last LiL Coverage

I am not much of a Pumpkins fan and I wouldn’t normally include them in my monthly tip sheet because several other high profile acts don’t make the cut each month, but the fact that James Iha the band’s original guitarist has just resurfaced and played shows with Billy Corgan and company. That is very much news worthy and makes this show one to watch to see if he plays more with the group and what their future holds.

Aurora @ Velvet Underground

April 15th, 2016

$15.00 | 19+

Aurora is definetly on the rise and is having tons of push behind her already. You will never be able to see an act likeher at a venue so small again, so if it isn’t already sold out get your ticket now. Make sure you check out Gemma Mastroinni’s album review of All My Demons are Greeting Me as a Friend!  

Father John Misty @ Massey Hall

April 20th, 2016

$39.50-$59.50 | All Ages

Last LiL Coverage

Oh J. Tillman you elusive crazy bastard. I’ve been trying to see your show for years now and I’ve never had the stars line up right and I probably won’t be able to see this one as it is already sold out. He’s unhinged and you never know what to expect from his shows, but damn his 2 FJM albums are masterpieces. 

Parquet Courts @ Phoenix Concert Theatre 

April 22nd, 2016

$20.50 | 19+

Last LiL Coverage

The stoner indie rock kings move up a venue size as they play tunes of their soon to be released 30th album in 3 years Human Performance (it just seems like 30 as they have put out several albums and Eps very quickly in their young life), which comes out on April 8th. The band seems to have even more fun than the audience does, and the audiences are already pretty fantastic for them. They love music. You should write lead singer Andrew Savage a letter, I guarantee he will write you back. 

Hedley with Carly Rae Jepsen @ Air Canada Centre

April 29th, 2016

$39.50-$79.50 | All Ages

Last LiL Coverage for Hedley

Last LiL Coverage for Carly Rae Jepsen

This show is noteworthy, not because of Hedley themselves, but their opener Carly Rae Jepsen who released on of the best pop albums in recent years in E•MO•TION deserves to be recognized on the same level that Taylor Swift and other pop stars are getting. Although there is an interesting connection as both Jepsen and Hedley lead singer Jacob Hoggard were both on Canadian Idol, with neither of them winning but having far more success than the actual Idol’s.  

About author

Music Editor at Live in Limbo and Host of Contra Zoom podcast. Dakota is a graduate of Humber College's Acting for Film and Television. He now specializes in knowing all random trivia. He writes about music, sports and film. Dakota's life goal is visit all baseball stadiums, he's at 7.