Tuesday, Sept. 12th - Metric front woman Emily Haines is embarking on a solo career - softly. Haines new solo work "Knives Don't Have Your Back" finds the normally ballsy flirtatious performer showing her softer, folksy-er side. The stripped-down songs let Haines' voice shine sans synth (whew), but will her fans still have her back? Emily Haines & the Soft Skeleton are playing 3 back-to-back shows Tuesday at the Gladstone (1214 Queen St. West), so we shall see. 7:30 (soldout); 9:30 (soldout); 11:30 (tickets still available at time of this posting). $20. -- Beth

Tuesday, Sept. 12th - The mix master himself DJ Krush brings his unique flavour of Japanese hip hop to the Mod Club (722 College) this Tuesday. Definitely music to get down to, if you can handle the mad scratching, broken beats, wild distortion and sick samples. Doors at 8 pm, $20. -- Mike

Friday, Sept. 15th - Junior Sanchez has amassed an impressive CV. Since making a name for himself through the glory days of house in Queens, he's collaboratored with or done remixes for Felix Da Housecat, Amand Van Helden. IMA ROBOT, The Bravery, Kill Hannah, Madonna and Shakira, to name a very diverse few. An even more eclectic mix? Well, perhaps his website puts it best: "How many other jocks would profess to a penchant for Brian Eno, ELO, Dave Clarke, Kate Bush and Radiohead while in the studio remixing an unreleased Bloc Party track?" Nice. This Friday, A.D/D throws another Return to New York party at State Theatre (69 Bathurst), featuring the pop-electro superstar. Doors at 10pm, $15 advance. -- Panthea

Saturday, Sept 16th - Parties, get-togethers, extravaganzas, shifting of the Earth's alignment: all of these must be combined to describe the business that will go down on Saturday, September 16th at The Palais Royale (1601 Lakeshore Blvd. W). The band that we all love to love and refuse to hate, Henri Faberge & The Adorables, are having their CD release party in the most exquisite of places with the most exquisite of best friends and lovers opening for them: The Barmitzvah Brothers, The Bicycles, Castlemusic, Ultra Magnus, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Gentlemen Reg, Spitfires & Mayflowers (their last show EVER), and more MORE MORE!! To fit all of this love into a few hours isn't time enough - the show commences at 2pm and will go long into the afternoon and deep into the night. Your main reason to stay after the main act has finished? The GOIN' STEADY dj's will be playing their 50's doowop/shanana ear-candy for the lot with relentless energy. This party also marks the print launch of local music 'zine The New Pollution. $10, doors @ 2pm, band listing and set times HERE. -- Garry