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Music

This week’s must-see Toronto shows

Lorde

Sixteen-year-old Ella Yelich-O’Connor, aka Lorde, doesn’t sing about boys all the time, or partying. The New Zealand teen doesn’t twerk. You won’t find the word “molly” in her lyrics. Her videos zero in on the more mundane aspects of teenagedom. She doesn’t do press, at least not at the moment, and she tightly controls her image. Best, she calls herself a feminist.

The songwriter’s music, meanwhile, has the deep-bass, anthemic earmarks of contemporary radio pop. Her vibrant voice sparkles. Lead single Royals, from debut album Pure Heroine, is everywhere. Recently it topped Billboard’s alternative charts, making her the first female artist to do so in 17 years. Keep rockin’ our world, Lorde.

Sunday (October 6) at the Danforth Music Hall (147 Danforth), 7 pm. $20-$25. RT, SS, TW.

Kid Cudi, Big Sean, Logic

Air Canada Centre (40 Bay), tonight (Thursday, October 3)

See preview.

Nine Inch Nails, Explosions in the Sky, Tension 2013

Air Canada Centre (40 Bay), Friday (October 4)

Industrial music hit-makers reunite.

Our Founders, Heartbeat hotel, Bad Channels

The Piston (937 Bloor West), tonight (Thursday, October 3)

Dream pop LP release via Wavelength.

Obits, Heavy Times, Practice Wife

Horseshoe (370 Queen West), Friday (October 4)

Former Hot Snakes/Drive Like Jehu garage punks.

Atlas Genius, Family of the Year, Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr

Danforth Music Hall (Danforth), Friday (October 4)

Aussie indie pop duo.

The Souljazz Orchestra, DJ Jason Palma

The Garrison (1197 Dundas West), Friday (October 4)

Ottawa polyrhythmic funk unit.

Cyril Hahn, Ryan Hemsworth, Henry Krinkle

The Hoxton (69 Bathurst), Friday (October 4)

Remix boy wonders.

San Fermin

Drake Hotel (1150 Queen West), Friday (October 4)

Chamber pop group with three singers.

Andrew Lochhead’s Goth Heritage Tour Launch

280 Queen West, Saturday (October 5)

See preview.

Hanni El Khatib, Bass Drum of Death

Horseshoe (370 Queen West), Sunday (October 6)

See preview.

Hawkwind, Perhaps

Virgin Mobile Mob Club (722 College), Monday (October 7)

Space rock vets play classic 1975 album.

J. Cole, Wale

Massey Hall (178 Victoria), Tuesday and Wednesday (October 8 and 9)

See preview.

Crystal Stilts, Zachary CAle

Horseshoe (370 Queen West), Tuesday (October 8)

Thunderous post-punk.

Surfer Blood

Lee’s Palace (529 Bloor West), Wednesday (October 9)

Palm Beach summer-fun rockers.

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