Active Bird Community at The Mod Club - Concert Pictures

Brooklyn, New York's Active Bird Community celebrated their first visit to Canada with a show at The Mod Club opening for Maxïmo Park. I liked the loud alternative-grunge-punk-indie rock tunes with cool dual-guitar work and vocal trade offs. Really good stuff from a band that I'd definitely check out again.

Give them a listen.

"Pick Me Apart"

"Dead Legs"

"After Party"

Wild Nothing at The Great Hall - Concert Photos

American artists doing shows in Toronto have been apologizing for the political insanity taking place in their home country for a while now. They talk about Toronto's diversity and accepting nature. They talk about our Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and how lucky we are. Once the worst of all possible outcomes came to be about a year ago, they seemed even more appreciative about what we have here in Canada and are filled with uncertainty for the future of the USA.

When I caught Wild Nothing last year, they shared these feelings and I sympathized. Torontonians remember all too vividly the way things were under our own right wing lunatic with a glancing relationship with facts and the truth. And the closest to an international audience that guy got was his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel.

At least I can look back on Wild Nothing's beautiful music at their Great Hall appearance. Give them a listen:

"Paradise"

"To Know You" and "TV Queen"

"Only Heather"

"A Dancing Shell"

Small Black at The Great Hall - Concert Photos

Stepping on the wayback machine, we have some photos from when Small Black appeared at The Great Hall in Toronto back in 2016. I enjoyed the Brooklyn band's chill melodic waves of danceable sound that washed over the crowd.

Give them a listen:

"Between Leos"

"Breathless"

"No Stranger"

"Boys Life"

"Free At Dawn"

Pale Waves at The Baby G - Concert Pictures

Hotly tipped Manchester band Pale Waves haven't put out an album yet, have three songs out on the web, and are on tour of North America, making their first stop in Toronto for a packed show at The Baby G. Not too shabby.

I jumped at the chance to see them since I was already addicted to the blend of influences and originality in their tunes. They opened the show with "Television Romance" before moving on to more unfamiliar tunes. The song "Heavenly" instantly caught my ear and I can't wait to hear this one on record. They closed with more familiar tunes "New Year's Eve" and the first tune I ever heard from them and a perfect bookend for their show, "There's a Honey".

I loved the music, Heather Baron-Gracie's marionette moves, the sugary sweet melodies and the bouncing beats. If you haven't heard Pale Waves, listen below and go see them live next time you have the chance.

"Television Romance"

"There's a Honey"

"New Year's Eve"

The Candescents at The Baby G - Concert Pictures

Columbus Ohio band The Candescents took to the stage at The Baby G second and were the band standing between the crowd and Pale Waves. A somewhat enviable position as they had all eyeballs on them, but everyone wanted to see and hear Manchester's newest export.

On this first trip outside of the U.S.A. for the band's singer, they engaged with indie-alt-rock sounds that veered from heavier sounds to 50s-influenced structures and Police-style chorused riffs. Unfortunately, I can't find any music from the band to share with you.