Indie Pop artists breaking out

/// One of the reasons I enjoy attending jams and open stages like the Stir It Up Sundays sessions each week at Relish on Danforth Ave. in East York is that I get to discover first-hand and all in one night several talents I hadn’t been familiar with beforehand. Such were the circumstances under a year or so ago when I first heard two indie songwriters at the Relish event. Lilly Mason and Sam Taylor are each unique talents with their own gifts but often team up for sets during the jam. Tonight, however, they won’t be performing together since each is putting on a show in different downtown clubs.

Mason has a dynamic Pop presence and songs with message substance in the lyrics. One I particularly like is the anthemic yet catchy “We Don’t Need Money”, which I noticed is an easy one for almost everyone to sing along to. More than a songwriter, however, Mason is also a visual artist and promises “projections” as part of the 9 p.m. show with her full band at The Cavern at 76 Church St. just south of Adelaide East.

Taylor does high-powered original alt-Rock with a bit of 80s New Wave influence, similar to what you’ll hear from The Danger Bees, for example —and in fact Bees frontman David Macmichael, who also hosts the Sun. jam at Relish, is on bass as part of Taylor’s band The East End Love, with which he’s doing tonight’s show in the rear room at Cameron House on Queen W. near Spadina. (Also on that bill is The Dreadful Starlings, which we told you about a few weeks ago, along with another indie band.) -Gary 17, www.torontomoon.ca

LISTINGS:

Listings preceded by an asterisk (*) are repeating weekly events. Admission prices followed by a slash and minus (/-) after the amount indicates door charge with availability of cheaper rates for some purchases. /+ indicates stated price is minimum.

Names of subscribers appear in bold and include a live link to their websites where applicable. Advertisers’ listings are in larger type, include live link to website and also have ad icon included in listings.

1-5> Annual Good Friday jam with Michael Keys @ Black Bull Pub, 1124 Guelph Line, Burlington

*4-6> Hogtown Syncopators @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

*5-8> Kensington Kitchen Party with host Kevin Jollimore of Sin City Boys & guest musicians @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St., TO ~Pop Rock with heart

*5-7> open mic with The Foolish Things @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~original Pop

*5-7> Ronnie Hayward Trio @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E.. TO E. ~Blues/Roots

5-8> Whitney Ross Barris Band @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

5:30> Rick & Gailie @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

6> David Celia @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Pop

6:30> Artie Roth Quartet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

7-9> The New Mendicants @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West

7-9> The Knights Of Spring with Bruce Hunter, Rhonda Lucy; Tom Fischer; Nik Beat; Chelsea Scott; Michael Heyoka Ratt @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO ~poetry; $5

7:30> Dust: The Quietest Big Band in the Known World @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

8-12> David Bacha Band @ Wee Hidewaway, 361 Wilson Rd., S., Oshawa ~cover & original Heartland Rock

8> Patrick Brealey @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen Street West, TO

8-12> Kenny V @ Ember Hot Stove, 3039 Lakeshore Blvd. W., Etobicoke South ~acoustic Pop

*8-1> karaoke @ RCL #312, 112 Hunt St., Ajax

8> Sisters Euclid feat. Kevin Breit @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~Juno-winning Rock/Country/Jazz Fusion; $15

9> Honey Badger @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Hard Rock

9-2> Lilly Mason Band @ The Cavern, 76 Church St., TO ~indie Pop

9> Midnight Jewel feat. Julie McClean & Brian Potts @ Lionheart Pub, 3221 Derry Rd. W., Mississauga ~Pop Rock

9> The Dreadful Starlings; Sam Taylor & The East End Love; The Stormalongs @ Cameron House (rear), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Pop Rock

9> Jack Walker; Taylor Kurta; Chris Noble; Natalia Nardi @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO ~songwriters; $6

9> Shane Murphy @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West

9-1> Fraser Melvin Band @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Blues

9-1> Little White Lies @ Monarchs Pub in Eaton Chelsea Hotel, 33 Gerrard St. W., TO ~Country 5-piece

*9-1> Frank Cosentino Band @ Karla’s Roadhouse, 4630 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~rockin’ Blues

9-1> Tres Hombres @ Legends On The Queensway, 1184 The Queensway, Etobicoke South ~ZZ Top tribute; $5

9> Mucho de Naros @ Scruffy’s Irish Pub, 30 Eglinton Ave. W., Mississauga ~

9-1> Jabel @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St., Oshawa

9> Adam Knapp @ The Corral, 433 Simcoe St. S., Oshawa ~Country

9-1> Full Tilt @ Oscar’s Roadhouse, 1785 Queen St. E., Bramp. ~Top 40/Rock

9:15> Joonbugs; Three Seasons and the Move; Jessica Stuart Few; Qwyn Charter & The Five Aces @ The Central, 603 Markham St., TO ~indie

*9:30> Cardboard Crowns @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East

9:30> Freedom Train @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Pop Rock/Top 40

9:30> AC/DC tribute @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Blvd., TO North; $

9:30> Phil & John Show feat. Phil Naro @ Stone Cottage Pub, 3750 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~Pop Rock

9:30> Tom Barlow Band @ The Harp, 55 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock/Top 40

9:30> New Hollywood @ Jake’s Boathouse Brampton, 59 First Gulf Rd., Brampton ~Pop Rock

9:30> Matt & Chris Gormley @ Shakers, 580 Kerr St., Oakville ~

9:30> Hot Buttered Soul @ Gator Ted’s, 1505 Guelph Line, Burlington ~Soul/R&B

9:30> On A Roll @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington

9:30> Steel City @ Gladstone Tavern, 1385 Main St. E., Hamilton ~Country Rock

9:30> Art Lajambe Band @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

9:45> Tony Monaco Organ Trio @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~NY Jazz/R&B

10-2> Busted Again @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd. W., Etobicoke South ~classic Pop Rock

10-2> Steve Fever with special guest Deanna Fae @ The Queen’s Legs, 286 Eglinton Ave. West, TO North ~pretty Punk/indie Pop

10> Dave Murphy Band @ Orbit Room, 480 College St. TO ~Rock/R&B/Soul; $10

10> Freeman Dre @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen Street West, TO

10> St. Dirt Elementary School Seder with Myk Freedman (part 2) @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

10-2> The Better Half @ Fionn MacCool’s Ajax, 36 Kingston Rd., E., Ajax ~Pop Rock/Top 40

10-2> Topper @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~classic Rock

10:30> Thee Empty Hours @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Rock

10:30> The Down Lows @ The Dickens, 423 Elizabeth St., Burlington ~Pop Rock

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