1. MSTRKRFT’s mad scientist modular synths at the Horseshoe, Tuesday, June 14. Rating: NNNN
Jesse Keeler and Al-P have drastically switched up their approach to dance music since they ended MSTRKRFT’s hiatus, trading the big melodies of their earlier electro house work for a streamlined techno sound. At the Horseshoe on Tuesday, instead of a DJ set, they brought out a table covered in analog electronics, with modular synths playing a central role in the new material. While occasionally referencing bits of their old hits, for the most part they focused on dissonant, aggressive grooves that felt barely controlled and undeniably exciting. Benjamin Boles
2. TUNS’ toolbox of tricks at the Garrison, Wednesday, June 15. Rating: NNNN
TUNS have only played a dozen shows, but the Garrison was rammed on Wednesday, likely due to the trio’s supergroup status. Sloan’s Chris Murphy sings and drums a la Keith Moon, the Inbreds’ Mike O’Neill contributes a large number of songs (contemplative and somewhat melancholy) in addition to yearning vocals and bass groove, and Superfriendz/Flashing Lights’ Matt Murphy croons, songwrites (strong power-pop fare) and adds exceptional six-string sizzle. Between the layered and weaving voices, Matt’s quick-fingered licks that bring most songs to a bombastic close, and the light-hearted onstage chemistry of musicians who have been friends for a long time, an observer’s interest literally never wanes. Carla Gillis
3. AZIZI GIBSON’s disarmingly jovial set at Revival, Thursday, June 16. Rating: NNN
After three releases, Los Angeles-based rapper Azizi Gibson parted ways with Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder label last year to go indie. Instead, he wound up on Waka Flocka Flame’s 36Brickhouse and is touring in support his latest full-length, A New Life. Accordingly, the baritone-voiced MC has traded FlyLo’s weirdo sonics for hard-hitting trap drums. Although it’s a more obviously marketable sound, his headlining slot at hip-hop showcase The Academy showed his flows and rhymes are versatile and clever enough to make it work. While most of the local openers overly focused on getting arms in the air, Gibson wasn’t afraid to switch up the tempo or mood, and between songs he maintained a disarmingly jovial repartee with the small but rowdy crowd that kept goading him to do shots and snap selfies. Kevin Ritchie
4. COLD SPECKS and DIANA changed things up at Lee’s Palace, Friday, June 17. Rating: NNNN
DIANA took the stage with a new nine-piece lineup, including backup vocalists who increase the band’s soulful tendencies while still leaving plenty of room for lead singer/guitarist Carmen Elle. Cold Specks took the opposite approach, performing with only producer Jim Anderson on electronics, which lent an unexpected electro-blues flavour to her songs. The most powerful moments are still when it’s just her voice and her guitar, though. Benjamin Boles
5. KAMASI WASHINGTON kept it in the family at Danforth Music Hall, Friday, June 17. Rating: NNNN
Los Angeles jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington has become a star thanks to affiliations with Kendrick Lamar and Flying Lotus, whose Brainfeeder label released his album The Epic. Despite the pop connections, his music is very much jazz, and his debut Canadian concert with six-piece band The Next Steps attracted jazz fans old and new. He kicked off with The Epic opener Changing The Guard that featured a solo full of lightning quick staccato phrases. From there, each member took a turn, including his dad, flautist Ricky Washington, who joined for a tribute to Washington’s grandma. Many of the players are Washington’s childhood friends, and the familial rapport made for a feel-good set that had the crowd stubbornly demanding an encore long after the house lights came on. Kevin Ritchie
6. GHOSTFACE KILLAH got everyone to throw their W’s up at the Port Lands, Friday, June 17. Rating: NNNN
Chilled-out Vegas pop singer Shamir made the most of the powerful sunshine searing the Port Lands with his electro-funk R&B hybrid tunes and mesmerizing countertenor, and later, Toronto’s own ethereal soul merchant Daniel Caesar scored the sunset beautifully. But in between, energy levels rose as Wu-Tang legend Ghostface Killah delivered an explosive set with an assist from longtime collaborator Sheek Louch of the Lox. The wild-ly responsive crowd threw their W’s up dutifully at every mention of the Wu, and former NOW promotions manager Jules Hollett even got onstage to spit ODB’s Protect Ya Neck verse – and nail it.
7. KEVIN MORBY showed his sensitive side at the Great Hall, Friday, June 17. Rating: NNNN
Confession: at concerts, my favourite songs are the slow songs, the ones that sometimes trigger other concertgoers to start chatting or go get a drink at the bar. Yet when L.A.-based Kevin Morby (formerly of Woods and the Babies) played the down-tempo All Of My Life, his Bob Dylanesque country drawl atop a meandering guitar, the audience at the Great Hall was hooked. And though his most rollicking tunes from latest album Singing Saw sounded grandiose (even with fewer players), the most enthralling moments were when it was just Morby alone with his guitar, singing from his heart. Samantha Edwards
Matt Williams
8. BRY WEBB & THE TIMS threw a swingin’ party at Adelaide Hall, Friday, June 17. Rating: NNNN
For a nearly full house of Replacements fans, Constantines frontman Bry Webb and his band The Tims did their best ’Mats impersonations, minus the notorious drunken devilry of the Minnesota punk heroes. But loads of liquor weren’t necessary for them to capture the same loose, ramshackle energy from certified classic records like Tim and Let It Be. NOW’s own Vish Khanna nailed a righteous drum solo on Bastards Of Young (dedicating the song to his son), and Webb came out solo for the first encore tune: a poignant ver-sion of Here Comes A Regular, prompting a melancholy singalong from the rapt crowd. Matt Williams
Matt Williams
9. FATHER JOHN MISTY’s bad mood at the Port Lands, Saturday, June 18. Rating: NNN
“How y’all doing?” asked Father John Misty to the evening Port Lands crowd. “Well, if you don’t enjoy standing in a parking lot next to a freeway, then I don’t know what’s wrong with you,” he answered. The musician born Joshua Tillman also snarked about the giant Budweiser tent/truck and Taco Bell before saying, “That’s enough of my Gen X contempt.” While amusing, the conflicted-artist negativity (he must know to expect some corporate sponsorship when agreeing to play summer music fests) dampened a powerful set of songs largely from his acclaimed I Love You, Honeybear – his smooth voice reached all the highest notes, his slithering, Jim Morrison-like moves kept us transfixed. By the end, all was apparently forgiven. He told us he loved Toronto, and the crowd gave him an encore. Carla Gillis
Matt Williams
10. BIG THIEF hushed the Drake Hotel, Sunday, June 19. Rating: NNNN
In May, Brooklyn’s Big Thief released their debut, Masterpiece, an emotionally challenging and often devastating collection of earthy alt rock. Their first set in the 6ix since it dropped reinforced that gentle melodrama, with a small but deeply engaged crowd hanging on singer/guitarist Adrianne Lenker’s every word. Things got particularly heavy with a folksy a cappella tune about best friend betrayal from guitarist Buck Meek, and some levity came later with the intro of their tour oregano plant Martha. But their dreamy heaviness hit its greatest heights during the encore with reckless love song Paul. Matt Williams
Matt Williams
11. A-WA closed NXNE with a full-out dance party at the Mod Club, Sunday, June 19. Rating: NNNN
With their band A-Wa, Tel Aviv-based Tair, Liron and Tagel Haim (no, not those Haim sisters) blend the Yemenite folk music of their grandparents with dance, electronica and hip-hop into an unlikely and completely electrifying fusion. Backed by a full band (that includes a keytarist!), the three sisters sang in Arabic, their distinct melodies swirling around each other and gaining momentum in the theatrical call-and-response sections. The small crowd was energetic throughout, but the show reached its peak when A-Wa played their first single, Habib Galbi. Everyone, including the sisters in traditional dresses paired with sneakers, were dancing by the end. Samantha Edwards
