Do you ever reach Tuesday and have the most disturbing desire to buy a Toonie Tuesday meal at KFC? It’s terrible. I didn’t end up getting it but every so often, I just want to take a bite out of those artery-clogging goodness drumsticks. I’m glad I didn’t get it after all.

Okay, enough grossness for today. Here’s some news; that’s yummier than any kind of fast food!

According to Stillepost, Polaris Prize nominees (though I believe they should’ve won), Plants and Animals are back in town at the Mod Club on May 7th. Tickets are $15.00 and it’s an early show (doors 7:00 pm, show 8:00 pm). This show is 19+.

Bonnie Prince Billy will be at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on Thursday May 14th; tickets are $25.00 and will go on sale this Thursday (10:00 am). And yes, this is all-ages.

Maria Taylor is going to be at El Mocambo on April 17th, tickets will be $10 and will also go on sale this Thursday.

Although a venue hasn’t been announced yet, we do know that Depeche Mode will kick off their upcoming North American tour here in Toronto. Probable choices for venues at the moment are most likely the Air Canada Centre, Molson Amphitheatre or something big like. Read more about the band’s upcoming album (Sounds of the Universe, out April 21st) here!

Atmosphere and P.O.S. will stop by The Phoenix on May 6th.

Ladyhawk return to Toronto for a gig at the Horseshoe on April 23, tickets are $12.50 and are on sale this Thursday.

For those who are still relatively interested, British pop-rockers Keane are back and will be at the Sound Academy with Mat Kearney and The Helio Sequence on May 23rd. The show is 19+ and will cost you a hefty $39.50 ($100.00 if you fancy the VIP balcony seating). They go on sale this Friday.

Nine Inch Nails and the newly reunited Jane’s Addiction will be in town on June 23rd at the Molson Amphitheatre.

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs have not announced any North American dates yet (with the exception of selected music festivals coming up this summer) but they have announced a few UK dates. I’m only letting you guys know this as part of my relentless 24-hour Yeah Yeah Yeahs watch. I will not stop till they announce a Toronto date! Oh, but if you’re tired of waiting, word is that their new album It’s Blitz has finally leaked online. If you feel so inclined to do so, download now. The trio is also on the cover of this month’s Spin Magazine. Now that’s something you can legally pay for in stores right now.

NPR is currently streaming Neko Case’s new album, Middle Cyclone (out March 3rd). Click here to listen! I hope you have your tickets for her upcoming shows at Trinity-St. Paul’s (April 17-18) because it’s been sold out for quite some time now.

Speaking of sold-out gigs, just a reminder that the Born Ruffians and Akron/Family shows at Sneaky Dee’s (March 23-24) have also been sold-out for a while now too. So good luck trying to get tickets; chances are that there may be tickets at the door for these shows. May.

This show is not sold out (mainly because there are no advance tickets; you can only get in with a CMW wristband) but it will surely be insanely packed at the Chart CMW showcases at the Horseshoe. Added to the already fantastic line ups will be Black Hat Brigade on March 13th and Joel Plaskett bandmate, Dave Marsh on March 14th. Both acts will be added onto the end of the showcases, at 3:10 am. It’s going to be an all-nighter, folks.

Laura Barrett is currently spending the month up north, in Yukon. To follow her adventures, read here as she keeps an online account of what she does with Exclaim! Also click here to stream her recent cover of Harry Nilsson’s “Nobody Cares About The Railroads Anymore”!

Happy listening!

Musically,
Melody