The return of Broken Social Scene seems to have also brought back all the bands within its orbit: Feist, Land Of Talk and Do Make Say Think. Now you can add Emily Haines & the Soft Skeleton to that list.
The Metric frontwoman has brought back her Soft Skeleton solo project for the upcoming Choir Of The Mind (out September 15 on Last Gang), her first album under the name since 2006’s Knives Don’t Have Your Back.
That makes sense, considering Broken Social Scene’s signature spirit of we’re-all-in-this-togetherness has Toronto feeling like 2006 again. While Haines’s performance of her gorgeous BSS lead turn Anthems For A Seventeen Year Old Girl went re-viral as a resilience hymn in the wake of the recent Manchester terrorist attack, it reminded us how expressive and vulnerable her vocals can sound in contexts softer than the sequined synths of Metric.
The songs on Choir Of The Mind are minimalist and piano-based, hypnotic and cinematic as Haines (who co-produced the album with bandmate Jimmy Shaw) dizzily layers her vocals to create a sound she’s described as “a lullaby over a panic attack.” She told Rolling Stone she was trying to express “the sound of femininity as a strength that’s not in relation to men… a pure feminine spirit.”
Haines brings the Soft Skeleton project to Massey Hall on December 5 for a Live At Massey Hall performance that will give the songs the intimacy they’re begging for. One dollar from every ticket goes to She Decides, a campaign launched to support young women around the world.
December 5 at Massey Hall (178 Victoria), 8 pm. $18.95-$95. masseyhall.com.
Subtle Blend Producer Showcase: Rennie B. Williams, Pursuit Grooves, The Kount Handlebar 9 pm. $5. July 27.
Rory Taillon & Brooklyn Doran Gladstone Hotel 8 pm. Free. July 29.
Dragged In, Rules, Burning Springs, Grievances Bovine Sex Club doors 9 pm. $10. July 29.
Extinction AD, Sago, Mourn Bovine Sex Club doors 9 pm. $10. July 30.
Triples, Ducks Unlimited, Champion Ski, Beige Monarch Tavern 9 pm. $10. August 3.
FRIGS, Dri Hiev, New Positions The Baby G doors 9 pm. August 3.
Mark Brathwaite Gladstone Hotel 8 pm. No cover. August 4.
Blockobana – Black August: Osunlade Regent Park Noon-11 pm. Free. facebook.com/blacknessyes. August 6.
40oz Bounce Tour: KillaKels, JayemKayem, YungShrimpTempura, Freeza Chin Cube 2-8 pm. $20, adv. $15. eventbrite.ca. August 7.
FOONYAP, Omhouse Burdock doors 8:30 pm. burdock.com. August 7.
Baby Cages, Johnny de Courcy Burdock doors 8:30 pm. burdock.com. August 8.
The Fuzzy Undertones, Pink Acid Wash, Jean Daddy The Baby G 8 pm. $8. August 13.
Cureapalooza: Birds Of Bellwoods, Arkells Phoenix Concert Theatre 7 pm. $100. ticketweb.ca. August 24.
Jorja Smith Velvet Underground doors 8 pm, all ages. $22.50. On sale July 28. ticketmaster.ca, livenation.com. August 24.
Black Motion, DJ Yogi, David James Opera House 10 pm. $25-$35. destinyevents.electrostub.com. August 26.
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie Rebel doors 7 pm, all ages. $35-$50. On sale July 28. ticketmaster.ca, livenation.com. August 27.
Julian Taylor Band David Pecaut Square Noon, all ages. Free. August 31.
Hernan Cattaneo CODA 10 pm. $30 adv. ozmozis.electrostub.com. September 1.
Giuda Lee’s Palace doors 8 pm. $15. ticketfly.com. September 10.
Beach Slang, repeat repeat Lee’s Palace doors 7 pm. $15.50. rotate.com, soundscapesmusic.com, ticketfly.com. September 14.
Secret Chiefs 3 The Great Hall doors 8 pm. $20. ticketfly.com. September 14.
Fleece, ART The Band, Funny Funk, Little Boxer Lee’s Palace Doors 8:30 pm. $10. ticketfly.com. September 15.
Ivory Hours, Eleven North Rivoli doors 8 pm. $15-$20. ticketfly.com. September 16.
Royal Canoe, Little Scream The Great Hall doors 7 pm. $17-$22. ticketfly.com. September 17.
Flesh World, New Fries, Sahara, Josephine The Baby G 8 pm. $10. ticketfly.com. September 19.
Goldie, Lush, Gremlinz CODA 10 pm. $28. destinyevents.electrostub.com. September 23.
Cayetana, Hemming Smiling Buddha doors 8 pm. $11.50. ticketfly.com. September 24.
Leroy Sanchez Mod Club doors 7 pm, all ages. $23.50-$42. On sale July 26. ticketfly.com. September 29.
The M Machine Velvet Underground doors 11 pm. $16. ticketweb.ca. September 30.
Avey Tare Lee’s Palace doors 8 pm. $15. On sale July 28. rotate.com, soundscapesmusic.com, ticketfly.com. October 4.
†‡† (aka Ritualz), SINS The Garrison 9 pm. $11-$13. ticketfly.com. October 6.
Secondhand Serenade Mod Club doors 6 pm. $26.50. soundscapesmusic.com, rotate.com, ticketfly.com. October 12.
Wolf Parade, Charly Bliss Phoenix Concert Theatre doors 8 pm. $35. On sale July 28. rotate.com, soundscapesmusic.com, ticketfly.com. October 13.
The Glorious Sons Phoenix Concert Theatre 9 pm. $25-$50. ticketfly.com. October 20.
Nothing But Thieves, Airways Mod Club 6:30 pm, all ages. ticketweb.ca. October 27.
Festival Of Arabic Music And Arts: Ilham Al Madfai, Sultans Of String, Naseer Shamma, Faia Younan & others Various venues Free and ticketed events, festival pass $350. canadianarabicorchestra.ca/fama. October 28-November 12.
Lee Ranaldo The Great Hall doors 8 pm. $17.50. rotate.com, soundscapesmusic.com, ticketfly.com. November 3.
Susanne Sundfør Adelaide Hall doors 7 pm. $17.50-$20. On sale July 28. ticketfly.com. November 4.
Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band Opera House doors 7 pm, all ages. $32. ticketmaster.ca, rotate.com, soundscapesmusic.com. November 8.
All Them Witches Lee’s Palace doors 8:30 pm. $17.50. On sale July 28. rotate.com, soundscapesmusic.com, ticketfly.com. November 11.
Silversun Pickups, Minus The Bear Rebel doors 7 pm. $38-$48. On sale July 28. ticketmaster.ca, livenation.com. November 12.
Poppy Velvet Underground doors 8 pm, all ages. $21. ticketweb.ca. November 18.
The Barr Brothers Danforth Music Hall doors 7 pm. $20-$30. ticketmaster.ca, November 20.
Busty and the Bass Danforth Music Hall doors 7 pm. $22.50-$25. ticketmaster.ca, November 22.
The Weather Station The Great Hall doors 8 pm. $17.50. soundscapesmusic.com, rotate.com, ticketfly.com. November 24.
Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton Massey Hall 8 pm. $18.95-$95. masseyhall.com. December 5.
Peter Hook & The Light Danforth Music Hall 8 pm. $22-$29.50. ticketmaster.ca, May 1, 2018.
