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.