ALLIE X
Dark currents pulsate beneath the shimmering rainbow that is CollXtion I, the debut album by Allie X.
The Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter is the pop persona of former Toronto indie rock scenester Allie Hughes, who made a beeline for the West Coast to realize a burning love of capital-P pop music, with help from producers Cirkut and Billboard.
Massive hooks and soaring emotions pack CollXtion I’s seven tracks. Hughes performs the material for the first time in Toronto on Wednesday (May 20) at Red Bull Sound Select, a showcase for emerging artists. The gig follows her April 30 live debut at Montreal’s Phi Centre, which was the culmination of an artist residency.
If the YouTube footage from that show is any indication, the hometown unveiling of Allie X will be a must-attend gig for pop fans.
With Animai and Animalia at the Drake Underground (1150 Queen West), Wednesday (May 20), 8 pm. redbullsoundselect.com. $3 with RSVP, $10 without.
THE WEATHER STATION The Great Hall (1087 Queen West), Thursday (May 14) See preview.
BRAIDS, NONI WO Horseshoe (370 Queen West), Thursday (May 14) Art-pop trio gets Deep In The Iris.
WILD NOTHING, LOOK VIBRANT Opera House (735 Queen East), Thursday (May 14) Free gig courtesy of Converse.
BIG TOBACCO & THE PICKERS, SAMANTHA MARTIN & DELTA SUGAR Cadillac Lounge (1296 Queen West), Thursday (May 14) See preview.
FAITH HEALER Cavern Bar (76 Church), Friday (May 15) See preview.
PRIMAL SCREAM Danforth Music Hall (147 Danforth), Friday (May 15) Get your leopard-print rocks off.
LOVING IN THE NAME OF Mod Club (722 College), Friday (May 15) Live covers with local indie-ratti.
DJ Z TRIP, DJ QBERT, KC ROBERTS & THE LIVE REVOLUTION, THE GAFF Phoenix Concert Theatre (410 Sherbourne), Saturday (May 16) Mashup champion.
MANO LE TOUGH, THE DRIFTER, NIGHT VISION Coda (794 Bathurst), Saturday (May 16) House music, Dublin via Berlin.
MELT BANANA Lee’s Palace (529 Bloor West), Sunday (May 17) Fast, loud, Japanese.
ELECTRIC ISLAND w/ Tuskegee (Seth Troxler & the Martinez Brothers), Art Department, Dennis Ferrer, Lee Burridge, Lee Foss, Tom Trago and others Centre Island (Toronto Islands), Monday (May 18) Get your day rave on.
TAME IMPALA Massey Hall (178 Victoria), Tuesday (May 19) Shoulder-length psych rock.
DAN DEACON Phoenix Concert Theatre (410 Sherbourne), Wednesday (May 20) Chipmunk voice effects: yea or nay?
