02.20YYZMUSICThe Cheat Sheet BR PICKS THE 5 ESSENTIAL LIVE MUSIC SHOWS1 WHITNEYFri, Feb. 14 at The PhoenixConcert HallOne reminder when you come seethe always-exquisite, honey-soakedindie rock outfit: make sure youbring your friend, and make sure youhold their hand.2U.S. GIRLSSat, Feb. 15 at ParadiseTwo years ago Meg Ryan put heruniversally, critically-acclaimed, nearperfectCanadian disco on the map.Now, she has her sights set on therest of the world.3BAT FOR LASHESSat, Feb. 22 at The PhoenixConcert HallBack by popular demand, NatashaKhan makes a break for boldfluorescent 80s pop, held togetherby her haunting vocals.4BLACK LIPSSat, Feb. 29 at Lee’s PalaceWith over 2 decades in the game(what?!) Atlanta’s very own southernart punks have still got it. Duh!5 DESTROYERWed, Mar. 4 at The Opera HouseAlready receiving widespreadcritical acclaim, Dan Bejar’s eagerlyanticipatedreturn is it’s own sellingpoint. Don’t forget your beret!1 GORODSun, Feb, 9 at Hard LuckAh! Nothing quite like taking a big,sloppy bite of some wild, wanky,progressive technical death metal(delivered at breakneck speed) towarm the winter heart.2 WARKRUSHERAND ABSOLUTSat, Feb, 15 at See-ScapeVery good, very new, baked, boiled,and burned Montreal crust punk withsome local boys on support.3OPETH ANDGRAVEYARDWed, Feb. 19 at REBELThirty years later, a generationalcollision pretty enough for a bouquetof flowers, but frightening enough towant to sever them at the root.4GOTH GIRLFri, Feb.21 at Sneaky Dee’sMassive, acetic, anti-music, andrelentlessly grating, electronicpower violence from Scarbouroughexecuted without prisoners. Batterdown the hatches!5CULT OF LUNA &EMMA RUTH RUNDLETue, Mar. 3 at The Opera HouseThe big, beautiful, prolific Swedishpost-metal band are only made morepowerful with support from EmmaRuth Rundle, the most arrestingloaded gun.1TOVE LOSun, Feb. 16 at QueenElizabeth TheatreOne of the most underratedsongwriters in the world(responsible for hits from Lorde andEllie Goulding) presents her darkyet catching Scandinavian pop withguest ALMA.2TORY LANEZSun, Feb. 23 at Coca-ColaColiseumThe hometown hero is back inToronto to perform his smash-hit, 90’sand 2000’s sample extravaganzaChixtape 5 in its entirety.3EMILY KINGMon and Tues, Feb. 17 and 18at The Drake UndergroundThis rising R&B star was justnominated for two Grammys, andnow brings her emotive vocals toToronto for two, back-to-back, soldout shows.4 ILESun, Feb. 9 at Adelaide HallGrammy-award winning singer/songwriter known for her addictivebrand of boleros and folk-inspiredretro-pop.5TAYLA PARXSat, Feb. 8 at The Baby GA co-writer on some of the biggestpop hits of the last few years(including Ariana Grande’s “Thank UNext”) is now forging her own pathof irresistible pop-leaning R&B andhip-hop.1 TCHAMIFri, Feb. 28 at RebelFuture house pioneer brings his“Confession” tour to Toronto as ameans to promote his new label ofthe same name.2COM TRUISEFri, Feb. 14 at Velvet UndergroundThis American electronic musiciandraws influence from synth-heavy1980s musical styles, so you canexpect the same of this DJ set.Dancing shoes are a must.3SETH TROXLERSat, Feb. 8 at CODACODA is celebrating their sixthbirthday in style with Troxler—whocut his teeth in Detroit before movingto Berlin in the mid-2000s—on thedecks delivering everything fromminimal techno to classic Chicagohouse.4TELEFON TEL AVIVSat, Feb. 22 at The DrakeUndergroundExperimental electronic duo whosemusic filters a wide variety of intenseemotions through highly advancedsound design.5 MIJAWed, Mar. 4 at The DrakeUndergroundShe made her name as an EDMproducer and festival DJ but herlatest EP, How To Measure TheDistance Between Lovers, provesher artistic depth runs deep.1RODDY RICCHThurs, Feb. 6 at The PhoenixThe Grammy-winning and oft-Tiktok’d rapper has taken theworld—and the charts—by stormin the past year, and now comes toToronto for the first time.2KOJEY RADICALFri, Feb. 21 at The DrakeUndergroundGhanain-British rapper who startedhis creative career as a spokenword artist before expanding intoAfroswing hip-hop that is fastbecoming the definitive sound ofcontemporary Black Britain.3 RAPSODYThurs, Feb. 13 at TOYBOXOne of Roc Nation’s finest hip-hopacts brings her talents to Toronto,so get ready to be wowed by herintricate rhyme patterns, metaphors,and wordplay.4JASIAH & $NOTSun, Feb. 16 at Velvet UndergroundThese tourmates represent thenew crop of SoundCloud artistswho blend elements of punk, emo,hip-hop and trap for a high-octanesound—and stage show thatreflects it.5 CAM’RONFri, Feb. 28 at Velvet UndergroundCalling all early-2000’s rapenthusiasts! Dipset head honcho iscelebrating 15 years of his classic,Purple Haze, with a very special tour.38 BEATROUTE FEBRUARY 2020
Loving“..a mix of pop, folk andlo-fi with a hint of nostalgiathat Paul McCartneyin his heyday wouldn’thave refused.”“Mellow, folky indie rockwith a twist of psychedelica.”“They strive when it comesto making beautiful,indie rock lullabies.”“Reminiscent of aslightly darker Whitney.Nostalgic and lovely”C 2020 L AST GANG RECORDS INC.If I am onlymy thoughtsTHE DEBUT ALBUM FROM VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA GROUP LOVINGAVAIL ABLE NOW ON ALL STREAMING SERVICES, AND IN RECORD SHOPS.EXCLUSIVELY FROM L AST GANG RECORDS, WORLD WIDE.