1. In the ADD/shuffle era, releasing a full-length divided into four
10-plus minute tracks is risky, but beloved local post-rockers Do Make
Say Think’s Other Truths keeps you hooked with flowing melodies and
upbeat percussion. The jazz/psych/electronica mini-orchestra saved the
best for last, returning home to wrap up their intercontinental tour with a special three-night stand (Dec. 12, 9pm; Dec. 13 & 14, 8:30pm) at Harbourfront's Enwave Theatre.
Do Makes members Charles Spearin and Ohad Benchitrit will be pulling double duty this weekend, opening the shows with their respective Happiness Project (Dec. 12 & 14) and Years (Dec. 13 & 14) vehicles. $18 from http://tickets.harbourfrontcentre.com/.
2. Brown Eyes
Entertainment presents The Big Three-0, a star-studded hip-hop biggie honouring the 30th
b-day of host Mista Jiggz on Saturday night (Dec. 12). The main attraction comes in the form of a
joint four-turntable set by New York’s Jazzy Jeff and T.O.’s Starting
From Scratch. Jazzy Jeff has remained a hip-hop household name ever
since storming the charts alongside The Fresh Prince a.k.a. Will Smith,
and going on to win DMC battles, release solo work and craft many a
tight mix-CD. FLOW 93.5 FM’s Scratch is a super-skilled decksman and
producer, winning crowds over with fun, tight mixes and production for
artists including John Legend and Faith Evans. They'll be joined by 4Korners, Agile, Dano, Soul and host Skillz. Sound Academy (11 Polson). $25 from Play de Record, Livestock, Rotate This, Broadway Fashion, Ticketmaster.
3. The Toronto Small Press Book Fair just got a whole lot cooler. Now in
its 22nd year, the biannual fair is being held at the Gladstone Hotel
instead of the Reference Library. With a wide selection of novels,
zines, audiobooks, magazines, comics and graphic novels, the event
gives you a chance to stock up on gifts for yourself and, if they were
good this year, your loved ones. There will also be a full day of
readings by poets and writers. Saturday (Dec. 12), 11am-5pm. Free. 1214 Queen W. .
4. The shuttering of Queen West venues is spreading like a cancer, so what
better way to mourn the looming end of Kathedral/The Big Bop/Reverb
with a show whose profits are going to The Princess Margaret Hospital’s
Cancer Research Center? You’ll see plenty of co-presenters Fuck Off
Cancer’s eponymous t-shirts (on sale at the gig) in the crowd for
high-energy bands including Niagara Falls punks The Legendary Klopeks. Now, can FOC start working on a Fuck Off Condos design? With
Burning Love, Bathurst Queens, Outbred Inlaws, Black Faxes and The Bag
Ladies. Sunday (Dec. 13). Kathedral (651 Queen W.). Doors 6:30pm. $7. All ages.
5. It may be the epoch of indie, but on Iron Age’s second album, The
Sleeping Eye, metal is awake, kicking and way louder than a blacksmith
with a hammer. With a hardcore alloy of hyperactive drums and getaway
guitar melodies, the Austin fivesome throw nods (er, headbangs) to
classic punk thunder. $12. The band returns to Toronto Sunday (Dec. 13) at Siesta Nouveaux (15 Lower Sherbourne). 8pm.