toronto music listings

Hot Ticket: The Growlers, Hot Water Music, Black Veil Brides, Hannah Georgas, Purity Ring

Live music picks for MONDAY JANUARY 28 through FRIDAY FEBRUARY 1, 2013.

MONDAY JANUARY 28 / THE GROWLERS / HORSESHOE TAVERN / 368 QUEEN W / $11.50 - $13 / 19+

Fans of psychedelic surf rock won't want to miss this one. The Growlers, out of California, have been perfecting and evolving their unique sound since bursting onto the scene in 2006. It can best be described as a mix of psychedelic, garage, and surf rock, with some lo-fi country elements thrown in for good measure. The group worked with The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach on its latest album, Hung at Heart, which came out just a week ago, so you can expect to hear plenty of material off of it at this show. The Breezes and Invasions will offer support.

TUESDAY JANUARY 29 / HOT WATER MUSIC / THE DANFORTH MUSIC HALL / 147 DANFORTH AVE / $33.50 / ALL AGES

While I can never attest to being a huge fan of punk rock, there's a lot to like about Hot Water Music. The group has been together since 1993, and while they've disbanded briefly on two separate occasions, they're back together and touring in support of their 2012 release Exister, which was their first album in eight years. Punk rock fans will obviously eat this one up. La Dispute and The Menzingers will open.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 30 / BLACK VEIL BRIDES / THE OPERA HOUSE / 735 QUEEN E / $10.50 / ALL AGES

Clearly inspired by bands like KISS (just check out their stage persona) and with a sound that's heavily influenced by the glam metal bands of the '80s, California's Black Veil Brides will never get any points for originality. But this shouldn't take away from the fact that they do have a pretty good sound, and their latest album, the recently released Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones, is a very well-done rock opera concept album. William Control will offer support.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 1 / HANNAH GEORGAS / THE MOD CLUB / 722 COLLEGE / $16 / ALL AGES

Since releasing her debut EP in 2008, Hannah Georgas has slowly become one of the more prolific names in the Canadian indie-pop scene. And it's really not difficult to see why - her songs are catchy, sweet, and wholly original. I've been a huge fan since I first heard her so-catchy-it-should-be-illegal tune "Bang Bang You're Dead" two years ago, so I'm giving this show my highest recommendation.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 1 / PURITY RING / THE PHOENIX / 410 SHERBOURNE / $19.75 / ALL AGES

If the beautiful indie-pop of Hannah Georgas doesn't do it for you on Friday night, the electronic mastery of Montreal-based duo Purity Ring is another option. The duo, comprised of Megan James and Corin Roddick, formed in 2010, and released their debut album, Shrines, last year. Young Magic will offer support.

For more music listings, check out our January concerts roundup.

Looking for tickets? Check out Rotate This or Soundscapes to avoid Ticketmaster robbery.

Have an event you'd like us to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO events calendar.

Photo of Hannah Georgas courtesy of Tabercil on Flickr.


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