THE DIRTMITTS (1 am) with the Greatest Thief (9 pm), Winston (10 pm), Turn Off The Stars (11 pm) and Jets Overhead (midnight) at the 360, tonight (Thursday, March 4). $8. 416-593-0840 Natasha Thirsk (9:40 pm) with Emily Jordan (8:20 pm), Reverie Sound Revue (9 pm), Kevin Kane (10:20 pm), Girl Nobody (11 pm), Sekidan (11:40 pm), the Salteens (12:20 am) and Billy & The Lost Boys (1 am) at the 360 (326 Queen West), Friday (March 5). $8.
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Is natasha thirsk splitting her focus? The vocalist/guitarist/songwriter is playing two gigs, one by herself and one with her band, the Dirtmitts. The Dirtmitts, including Thirsk and bassist Jennifer Deon, have been bringing a pure breed of power pop to international stages for years. They’ve released two albums, 01’s The Dirtmitts and 02’s Get On, hooky hard stuff with lyrics ranging from chilling to quixotic.
The band New Order inspired Thirsk, who’s played piano since she was young, to self-catapult into the rock world. She also cites Liz Phair as a big influence.
“I’m performing solo mainly because I’m a songwriter,” explains Thirsk from her home in Vancouver. “I write way too many songs for anybody to keep up with, and I needed another outlet to get them out. I don’t have enough people to play with, considering how many songs I write in a week.”
Critics have likened the Dirtmitts’ performances to Veruca Salt and Indigo Girls. Now that Natasha’s breaking out at CMW with a set of her own, those blithe comparisons may be harder to make.
“This time I just wanted to take some of my really pop songs and let them go and not be ashamed of that.”
Thirsk is producing the Dirtmitts’ as-yet-untitled third record (from which they’ll be performing seven songs) herself.
Expect that album in August or September.
