Matthew Good plays the NAC.
Before Christmas utterly takes over, there are some delightful bands to see in town this week.
Alt-rock icon Matthew Good is in town touring with his seventh solo album, Chaotic Neutral, and is giving away prizes — thinks like D&D starter sets, copies of Baldur’s gate and merchandise from tourmate Scott Helman, in each stop. (For those who do not know why this geeky theme, Chaotic Good is an alignment in Dungeons & Dragons. We hear the library and Fandom II are offering beginner D&D sessions, if anyone is interested.)
To win, visit matthewgood.org at 10 a.m. the day of the show, where a Google maps cordinate will be posted. Go there, take a selfie of yourself at that location, and post it to Twitter (tag @mattgood) or Instagram (tag @matthewgoodgram) with #chaoticneutraltour. We are aware it is shameless oscial-media number-grab, but the novelty of the prizes needed mentioning. Nov. 26, 8 p.m., National Arts Centre. Tickets: $20. nac-cna.ca / spectrasonic.com
Also tonight, working-class troubadour Bahamas — aka Alfie Jurvanen from Barrie, not the sunny clime — is back in Ottawa where he often sells out venues like the Bronson Centre, where he performs again, still on the strength of his spare yet orchestrally-lush, headphone album from 2014. Nov. 26, with The Weather Station, 8 p.m., 211 Bronson Ave. Tickets: $32.50. spectrasonic.com
Metal, party grind metal, black metal, tech and Canadian death metal are all on the menu tonight — someday we will learn the difference — as local grindcore/death metal group Killitorous headlines a show with Montreal’s Erimha, Windsor’s The Apex and A Scar for Wicked, Nov. 26, metal, 9 p.m., House of Targ, 1077 Bank St. Tickets: $8 in advance, $10 at the door. www.houseoftarg.com
There’s a three-day, folk event starting Friday just off River Road, in what may be a MMA studio, as a fundraising event for the non-profit Ottawa Community Music Venue as they try to found a new music and community venue. There are only 100 tickets being sold for each night, with Friday’s lineup including Jack Pine, Harea Band and The Split, and children’s activities during the day all weekend. Nov. 27-29, 7 p.m., 21 Selkirk St. Tickets: $20. www.folkrum.com
The Tenors, will amaze us all with how handsome they are, how their vocal and emotive ranges can handle pop to classical, and how well they wear suits on their Under One Sky tour, which warranted a PBS concert special that aired in the U.S. this past summer. Nov. 27, 8 p.m., National Arts Centre, Southam Hall, 53 Elgin St. Tickets: $60-$230. nac-cna.ca
Wracking our brains how to describe BA Johnston, we are left with this: He is the one-man, “singing” heir to the Kids in the Hall, who sports awesome sweaters and sings about forgetting trash day, uses IKEA hot dogs as an analogy and delves into other universal mundanities of (Canadian) existence (“Drinkin’ on My Mom’s Dime,” “No Frills,”). The show is irreverent, oddly earnest and, we’re told, very popular. You like Remi Royale? See this dude. Nov. 27, with Terrible Liars, The Lonely Parade, 10 p.m., House of Targ. Tickets: $5 before 10 p.m., $8 after 10 p.m. www.houseoftarg.com
Here are two very different “dance” bands for Saturday:
Tortured Soul takes the EDM out from behind the DJ booth to shake it with the crowd all over the dance floor as producer, songwriter, dance team and party patrol. The Brooklyn-based trio creates groove-pop electronica inspired by Prince and Chic but with modern flair, 10 p.m., Mercury Lounge. (We’re calling it neo-disco and advocating sequins.) Nov. 28, 10 p.m., Mercury Lounge. Tickets: $15 early bird, $18 in advance, more at the door. mercurylounge.com
My musical preference is already rather evident and Vancouver’s Gang Signs has been a popular find, with their first label-release, Geist, full of dark, new wave music they are labelling as #dance — albeit gentle dance, somewhere between the smooth tones of The XX and edge of She Wants Revenge, with trip-hop, call-and-answer. (Their press release describes their music as “noir wave,” though this terms usually refers to a certain African aesthetic have yet to find on the LP; let me know where I am wrong.) Interestingly, the majority of the lyrics on the forthcoming Geist began as adaptations of 1980s horror movie plots — but morphed into telling “dance floor romances.”
If you were wondering about the name, no, they did not start as a hip hop nor rap act; the’ve always been a new wave band and just picked the name because “we like it,” said drummer Adam Fink, who added gang signs have lost all their meaning when boy bands are flashing them. Nov. 28, 8 p.m., Tickets: $10 in advance. zaphods.ca
A must-see show this week comes from Montreal’s Safia Nolin, who writes and sings baroque-pop for millennials about la vie quotidienne, in French. Her debut album, released in September, is a delight with spare songs that are at once familiar and yet surprising; Think Feist-light without all the Feistness. Nov. 28, 7:30 p.m., NAC Fourth Stage. Tickets: from $20. nac-cna.ca
On the same day, local singer-songwriter Jill Zmud will be covering other people’s songs for the first time in concert, and recording them, as requested by fans who donated to her last recording effort. She has been posting to social media about learning Bruce Springsteen and Tina Turner, so the show should be fun. Nov. 28, 6 to 8 p.m., The Record Centre, 1099 Wellington St.
Indie-rock duo The Town Heroes are at The Rainbow, making the “most noise two Cape Bretoners can make,” known for comedic, energetic performances of award-winning music influenced by their favourite 90’s rockers — but with surprisingly sweet vocals so they can also pull out some touching, East Coast-worthy ballads. Nov. 30, 9 p.m., The Rainbow, 76 Murray St. therainbow.ca
Photos: Gigs to see this week
Some of the concerts in Ottawa this week, Nov. 26 to Dec. 3, 2015.
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Are you a promoter, musician or venue? Send in your event information to kendemann@ottawacitizen.com, by 8 a.m. Monday, two weeks before the event. Photos and audio files are welcome.
@keendemann
kendemann@ottawacitizen.com
FULL LISTINGS
Thursday, Nov. 26
Bahamas, The Weather Station, 8 p.m., Bronson Centre Theatre, 211 Bronson Ave. Tickets: $32.50. spectrasonic.com
Killitorous, Erimha, The Apex, Here Comes Bigfoot, metal, 9 p.m., House of Targ, 1077 Bank St. Tickets: $8 in advance, $10 at the door. www.houseoftarg.com
Fuse!: Baobab Youth Performers, Carleton University West African Rhythm Ensemble, Roots and Jazz Ensemble, with Nani Agbeli, 7:30 p.m., Kailash Mitell Theatre, Carleton Univerity. Tickets: $20, $10 students/seniors. baobabtree.org
Irene’s All Stars Blues showcase with Drew Nelson, 9 p.m., Irene’s Pub, 885 Bank St. Tickets: No cover. irenespub.ca
Kaboom Open Mic & Jam with Fabien, 9 p.m., Atomic Rooster, 303 Bank St. atomicrooster.ca
Matthew Good, with Scott Helman, indie rock, 8 p.m., National Arts Centre, 53 Elgin St. Tickets: $20. nac-cna.ca / spectrasonic.com
Open Mic (acoustic, 4 p.m., free), Owen Brown & The Roots Movement (reggae, 9 p.m., $7), The Rainbow, 76 Murray St. therainbow.ca
University of Ottawa Wind Ensemble, program includes Alford, Bach, Whitacre, Widor, Hanson, Persichetti and Tull, 8 p.m., Huguette Labelle Hall, Room 112, Tabaret Hall, 550 Cumberland St. Tickets: Voluntary contribution at the door. www.music.uottawa.ca
Friday, Nov. 27
BA Johnston, Terrible Liars, The Lonely Parade, alt-punk, 10 p.m., House of Targ, 1077 Bank St. Tickets: $5 before 10 p.m., $8 after 10 p.m. www.houseoftarg.com
Bernard Adamus, 7 p.m., Le Petit Chicago, 50 Prom. du Portage, Gatineau.
Charlie Major, with Tyler Kealey, acoustic country/pop, 7:30 p.m., The Marshes, 320 Terry Fox Dr. Tickets: SOLD OUT www.tylerkealey.com/events
DJ Skratch Bastid, 45s of soul/funk/reggae, 10 p.m., Mercury Lounge, 56 ByWard Market Sq. Tickets:
DJ Sweetdrop, Fusion Fridays, Aléa, Casino du Lac-Leamy, 1 Casino Blvd., Gatineau. Tickets: $10. clubalea.ca
Folkrum Showcase: Jack Pine (7 p.m.), Harea Band (8 p.m.), The Split (9 p.m.), party/rock/soul, 21 Selkirk St. Tickets: $20. www.folkrum.com
The Frank James Band, classic rock covers, 4 p.m., The Rainbow, 76 Murray St. therainbow.ca
In Heat, rock/album release, 9 p.m., Zaphod Beeblebrox, 27 York St. Tickets: $7. zaphods.ca
Mallory (from Nightshades), Baked Goods, Bive Hills, punk/surf, 8 p.m., Pressed, 750 Gladstone Ave.
Manitoba Hal, 9 p.m., The Branch, 15 Clothier St. E., Kemptville. Tickets: $10. thebranchrestaurant.ca
The Mayhemingways, Cousin John, country/folk, 9 p.m., Irene’s Pub, 885 Bank St. Tickets: $10. irenespub.ca
The Micronite Filters, Amalgamation, The Dead Bees, southern rock/blues, 10 p.m., The Dominion Tavern, 33 York St. Tickets: $8 at the door. spectrasonic.com
NQ Arbuckle, 8:30 p.m., The Black Sheep Inn, 753 Riverside Dr., Wakefield. Tickets: $15 in advance. www.theblacksheepinn.com
The Peptides — unplugged, 9 p.m., LIVE on Elgin, 220 Elgin St. Tickets: $15 in advance, $20 at the door. www.liveonelgin.com
The Stairwell Carollers, 7:30 p.m., St. Thomas Anglican Church, 1619 Stittsville Main St., Stittsville. Ticket info: 613-836-5741 or stthoms@magma.ca. www.stairwellcarollers.com
The Tenors, pop/classical, 8 p.m., National Arts Centre, Southam Hall, 53 Elgin St. Tickets: $60-$230. nac-cna.ca
Saturday, Nov. 28
Annual Xmas Bash for the Ottawa Food Bank: Good2Go, The Bushpilots, The Ya-Ya’s, Road Haus, a celebration of Jay Mantha, 9 p.m., The Rainbow, 76 Murray St. facebook.com
Brothers Chaffey (4 to 8 p.m.), Sugar and Fats (10 p.m.), Atomic Rooster, 303 Bank St. atomicrooster.ca
Bruce Enloe and the Burning Sensations, 8 p.m,. Kaffé 1870, 715 Riversidr Dr., Wakefield. kaffe1870.com
Cash for Nash: hosted by Slo’ Tom, Hilotrons (12:15 a.m.), Andrew V (11:45 p.m.)_, Garaga (11:15 p.m.), Banditas (10:45 p.m.), Camp Radio (10:15 p.m.), fundraiser for Johnny Nash, 9 p.m., Dominion Tavern, 33 York St. Tickets: Donations at the door or www.gofundme.com/d4aex74k.
Christmas in the Village, The Greely Players’ annual musical, variety Christmas celebration, including silent auction and refreshments, 2 and 7 p.m., Parkway Road Pentecostal Church, 2775 Parkway Rd., Greely. Admission: $10, free for children 10 years and under, at 613-821-1756 or 613-821-2306.
DJ Mike Robia, Dynamik Saturdays, Aléa, Casino du Lac-Leamy, 1 Casino Blvd., Gatineau. Tickets: $10. clubalea.ca
Deck the Halls: Joseph Cull and Jill Hardy’s 2nd Annual Christmas Concert with The Ottawa Police Chorus, 7 p.m., followed by a cocktail reception, MacKay United Church, 255 MacKay St. Tickets: $15, free for children. Info: info@nectarcentre.com
Eddy and the Stingrays, 9 p.m., The Branch, 15 Clothier St. E., Kemptville. Tickets: $20. thebranchrestaurant.ca
Folkrum Showcase: Children’s performances (5 to 7 p.m., free), Kristine St. Pierre & Wen (7 p.m.), Al Wood & the Woodsmen (8 p.m.), Big Balade (9 p.m.), folk/blues/pop/groove, 21 Selkirk St. Tickets: $20. www.folkrum.com
Jill Zmud, cover songs requests and recording session, 6 to 8 p.m., The Record Centre, 1099 Wellington St.
Gang Signs, 8 p.m., Zaphod Beeblebrox, 27 York St. Tickets: $10 for a limited time. zaphods.ca
The Mere Humans, The Barrel Heads, Josephine Leone, The Costanzas, rock/soul/punk, 7 p.m., Avant-Garde Bar, 135 1/2 Besserer St. Tickets: $5 or PWYC.
Mudpuppies, Shaz, Amanda Lowe, 8 p.m., Flapjack’s, 354A Preston St. Tickets: $5 in advance, $8 at the door.
Open Mic (full band, 4 p.m., free), The Bush Pilot’s Last Waltz (benefit for the Food Bank, 9 p,.m., $15), The Rainbow, 76 Murray St. therainbow.ca
Safia Nolin, folk-pop/French, 7:30 p.m., NAC Fourth Stage, 53 Elgin St. Tickets: from $20. nac-cna.ca
A Swinging Shepherd Concert with Gabriel’s Men’s Chorus and Harp Triangle, includes silent auction and goodies, 3 p.m., Britannia United Church, 985 Pinecrest Rd. Tickets: Free-will donation gladly accepted.
Tortured Soul, with DJs Trevor walker, visuals by Matt Cameron, 10 p.m., Mercury Lounge, 56 ByWard Market Sq. Tickets: $15 early bird, $18in advance, more at the door. mercurylounge.com
A Traditional Choral Christmas II with the North Grenville Concert Choir, 7:30 p.m., St. Daniel’s Church, 10606 Maple St., South Mountain. Ticket info: 613-258-9978 or www.ngcc.net.
Valley Vic and the Christmas Temptations, new musical comedy from Stone Fence Theatre, Killaloe Public School. Info and tickets:1-866-310-1004; stonefence.ca.
Wicked Grin, roots/blues, CD release party, 9 p.m., Irene’s Pub, 885 Bank St. Tickets: $10. irenespub.ca
Sunday, Nov. 29
Advent Carol Service, 7 p.m., St. Matthew’s Anglican Church in the Glebe, 130 Glebe Ave. Tickets: Free-will offerings accepted. Info: 613-234-4024. www.stmatthewsottawa.ca.
Angels and Demons: University of Ottawa professors and guests, including Yuval Herz, Yosuka Kawasaki, Carissa Klopoushak, Jessica Linnebach, Jethro Marks, Rennie Regehr, Roland Gjernes, Paul Marleyn, classical, including Mozart and Mendelssohn, 2 p.m., Huguette Labelle Hall, Room 112, Tabaret Hall, 550 Cumberland St. Tickets: $16.95, $5.65 for students in advance; $20 and $10 for students at the door. www.music.uottawa.ca
Barrhaven Community Band Holiday Concert with Chorale Castenchel Choir, 3 p.m., Ottawa Torah Centre, 111 Lamplighters Dr. Tickets: $10, free for children aged 5 years and under, available at the door. Info: Lisa at 613-823-2061; www.barrhavenband.com.
Carol Goodman, Joni Mitchell covers and originals, 4:20 p.m., The Black Sheep Inn, 753 Riverside Dr., Wakefield. Tickets: $10 in advance. www.theblacksheepinn.com
A Down East Christmas with The Ennis Sisters, folk songs with a Newfoundland twist, 8 p.m., Our Lady of the Visitation, 5338 Bank St. Tickets: $25 at 613-822-1777 or www.olvis.ca
Erin Saoirse Adair
Eru-Era, funk/jazz, 9 p.m., Irene’s Pub, 885 Bank St. Tickets: No cover. irenespub.ca
Folkrum Showcase: Ryoko Itabashi (noon), Circle dance and music (2:45 p.m.), Capital Strings Collective (3:45 p.m.), Suzuki kids (4:15 p.m.), Acacia Lyra and Erin Saoirse Adair (5 to 7 p.m., free), John Geggie and Roddy Ellias (7 p.m.), René Lavoie and Miguel de Armas (8 p.m.), Alex Moxon, The Four Heavies (9 p.m.), jazz/world/classical, 21 Selkirk St. Tickets: $20. www.folkrum.com
Gianna Lauren, Jonathan Pearce, 8 p.m., Raw Sugar Café, 692 Somerset St. W. Tickets: $8.
Gloria! Seasonal works for choir and brass by the University of Ottawa Choir, 3 p.m., St. Joseph’s Church (Wilbrod & Cumberland). Tickets: $20 in advance (tix@uottawachoir.ca); $25 at the door; 10$ students. Info: www.uottawachoir.ca
Monkey Rock Kid’s Concert, children’s concert and fundraiser for Syrian refugee resettlement, 3:30 to 5 p.m., Pressed, 750 Gladstone Ave. Tickets: $15 a the door, free for children aged 5 years and under. INfo: rebeccadavids@gmail.com.
A New Christmas Angel with The Carleton Place Town Singers, a holiday story performed between a selection of Christmas music, 7 p.m., St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, 39 Bridge St., Carleton Place. Tickets: $10, available at the door or at cptownsingers@gmail.com.
Open Blues Jam with River City Junction (4 p.m., $3), Voltang, Goat, Holy Chistopher, Slumlord (9 p.m., $7), The Rainbow, 76 Murray St. therainbow.ca
Public Drum and Dance Workshops with Nani Agbell and Baobab Drum Dance Community, 1:30 p.m.,
A Traditional Choral Christmas II with the North Grenville Concert Choir, 7:30 p.m., Holy Trinity Church, 2372 Church, North Gower. Ticket info: 613-258-9978
Ringing in Christmas: five handbell and chimes choirs from Rideau Park, including Touch of Brass, Grace Notes, La Bell Ensemble, Note-Able Sound, and Ringing Praise, 7 p.m., Rideau Park United Church, 2203 Alta Vista Dr. Tickets: Free, but free-will offerinsg accepted. Info: 613-733-3156 ext. 229; www.rideaupark.ca.
Shepherds’ Christmas’ concert: Ottawa Brahms Choir, 35th anniversary season celebration, 3 p.m., St. Thomas the Apostle Church, at 2345 Alta Vista Dr. Tickets: $19 in advance at Compact Music and Leading Note; $20 at the door, $10 students. free for children 12 and under. Info: 613-749-2391 or 819-568-8169, or www.ottawabrahmschoir.ca.
Zydeco Loco (6 to 9 p.m.), Al Wood (10 p.m.), Atomic Rooster, 303 Bank St. atomicrooster.ca
Monday, Nov. 30
Open Mic Monday (full band, 8 p.m.), The Town Heroes (9 p.m.), The Rainbow, 76 Murray St. therainbow.ca
The Telgrams, country/swing, 8 p.m., Irene’s Pub, 885 Bank St. Tickets: No cover. irenespub.ca
Showcase Mondays: The Burning Tide, Dream, Social Butterfly, Kevin Mac, 9 p.m., Zaphod Beeblebrox, 27 York St. Tickets: No cover. zaphods.ca
Tuesday, Dec. 1
Bodh’aktan, celtic punk/polka/traditional/rock, 8 p.m., Salle Odyssée, 844 boul. de la Gappe, Gatineau. Tickets: $25-$29. www.salleodyssee.ca
Concession 23, bluegrass/CD release, 7:30 p.m., NAC Fourth Stage, 53 Elgin St. Tickets: $15. nac-cna.ca
Gloucester Community Concert Band, musical memories of the season, 7:30 p.m., Beatrice Desloges Catholic High School, 1999 Provence Ave., Orléans. Tickets: $5, children under two years free. Door prize available for those making dry-food donations. www.gloucesterband.ca
A New Christmas Angel with The Carleton Place Town Singers, a holiday story performed between a selection of Christmas music, 7 p.m., St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, 39 Bridge St., Carleton Place. Tickets: $10, available at the door or at cptownsingers@gmail.com.
Twin Flames: Jaaji and Chelsey June, folk/indigenous/album release show, noon, Cabaret La Basoche, Culture Centre of Vieux Aylmer, 120 Rue Principal. Tickets: Free at 819-243-8000. gatineau.ca/vivezlexperience
Wednesday, Dec. 2
Cameron Highlanders Pipes and Drums, bagpipes, drums and more at this crowd-pleasing free concert, 7:30 p.m., St. Giles Church, 729 Bank St. Tickets: Free, but donations of non-perishable food or money for the Centretown Emergency Food Centre are welcome. Info: 613-235-2551; office@stgilesottawa.org
A Musical offering for Christmas from the University of Ottawa Choral Ensemble, Calixa Lavallée Choir, and other ensembles of the School of Music, traditional carols and other holiday music with opportunities to sing along, noon, Huguette Labelle Hall, Tabaret Hall, 550 Cumberland St. Tickets: Free admissions, voluntary contributions to the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa Food Bank are welcome. Info: 613-562-5733; www.music.uottawa.ca.
Rob Frayne Dream Combo, jazz octet, 7:30 p.m., NAC Fourth Stage, 53 Elgin St. Tickets: $25. nac-cna.ca
Slim Jesus, A-Dub, Ceerhouse, Kleffy Le Wave, Phantom Caine, rap/16+, 8 p.m., Ritual, 137 Besserer St. Tickets: $15 in advance.
Thursday, Dec. 3
80’s dance party with Remi Royale, eclectic songs and videos with audience participation and sing-a-longs, 10 p.m., House of Targ, 1077 Bank St. Tickets: $2 at the door. www.houseoftarg.com
The Bros. Landreth, with Ballroom Thieves, roots-rock, 7:30 p.m., NAC Fourth Stage, 53 Elgin St. Tickets: from $25. nac-cna.ca
Great Lake Swimmers, Art Bergmann, 8 p.m., Bronson Centre Theatre, 211 Bronson Ave. Tickets: $25. spectrasonic.com
Heartwood House Benefit Evening with the Ottawa Police Chorus, seasonal celebration including silent auction, gifts for families and friends, festive foods, 7:30 p.m.