Live music picks for WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 16 through TUESDAY DECEMBER 22, 2009.
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 16 / 4TH ANNUAL JESUS & MARY CHAINMAS / VELVET UNDERGROUND / 510 QUEEN ST W / $5 / 19+
Similar to last week's tribute to THE BAND, a collection of local musicians will gather tonight to perform a not-so-silent tribute to THE JESUS & MARY CHAIN, who reformed in 2007 after a lengthy hiatus. The songs of the Scottish alternative rock band will be covered by THE HOA HOA'S, MOTHER MURDER, THE DISRAELIS, IN SUPPORT OF LIVING, PARTY WALLET and THE EASY TARGETS in the fourth annual Chainmas event.
myspace.com/thedisraelis
myspace.com/thehoahoas
myspace.com/mothermurderband
myspace.com/insupportofliving
myspace.com/theeasytargets

THURSDAY DECEMBER 17 / LULLABYE ARKESTRA & TROPICS / THE GARRISON / 1197 DUNDAS ST W / $10 / 19+
Fresh off of being named the best punk/metal act of 2009 by NOW, the husband-and-wife duo LULLABYE ARKESTRA headline the Garrison on Thursday night. They'll be joined by TROPICS as well as a pair of special surprise guests. As for the unknown guests, TROPICS myspace page tells fans to "piece it together yo" -- half of LA has been touring heavily with DO MAKE SAY THINK in the past few weeks, while TROPICS are coming off of a pair of dates with THE CONSTANTINES as part of their anniversary tour. On the event's facebook page Chris Slorach is listed as the creator, so perhaps his band METZ will make an appearance. As a full-time member of TROPICS, SLIM TWIG is another possibility. Please keep in mind these predictions are wishful thinking on my part, and shouldn't be considered anything more than hopeful, semi-educated guesses.
myspace.com/lullabyearkestra
myspace.com/topofthetropics

FRIDAY DECEMBER 18 / VERGE XM CHRISTMAS PARTY / VELVET UNDERGROUND / 510 QUEEN ST W / FREE / 19+
The Verge XM Satellite Radio hosts a free Christmas show featuring a wealth of local indie rock talent. The night starts at 9pm with DINOSAUR BONES, followed by Arts & Crafts rockers STILL LIFE STILL, the now H1N1-free MELIGROVE BAND and Brampton, Ontario's THE JUNCTION. RSVP here to get your name on the guest list, but make sure to show up early because responding does not guarantee admission.
meligroveband.com
myspace.com/dinosaurbonesband
stilllifestill.com
thejunction.ca

FRIDAY DECEMBER 18 / WHITE COWBELL OKLAHOMA / LEE'S PALACE / 529 BLOOR ST W / $15 / 19+
While WHITE COWBELL OKLAHOMA have released a total of five studio albums, their notoriety is largely the product of their inventive, chaotic and raging live shows. Last time I witnessed the mayhem of WCO, rolls of toilet paper were shredded on stage with a live chainsaw, shortly after a pair of exotic dancers circled around the good Sheriff Horton for a couple of tracks. The majority of their songs are rooted in classic and Southern rock - the perfect soundtrack for a night of drinking, debauchery and destruction. Don't miss the opportunity to witness the sheer sonic force that is WHITE COWBELL. Seriously, it's unreal.
whitecowbell.com

FRIDAY DECEMBER 18 & SATURDAY DECEMBER 19 / SARAH SLEAN / ENWAVE THEATRE / 231 QUEENS QUAY W / $32.50 / ALL AGES
Pickering's SARAH SLEAN continues her annual holiday tradition, headlining the Enwave Theatre on Friday and Saturday night and calling upon a number of guest contributors, including BUCK 65, ROYAL WOOD and DIVINE BROWN. Slean has been in Africa for the past several weeks as part of Song for Africa, a non-profit organization also referred to as Canadian Artists for African Aid.
sarahslean.com
buck65.com
divinebrown.ca

SATURDAY DECEMBER 19 / CONSTANTINES / LEE'S PALACE / 529 BLOOR ST W / $20 / 19+
THE CONSTANTINES wrap up their provincial anniversary tour with their third date at Lee's in the past week. For their final birthday celebration, they'll be joined by scrappy Vancouver rockers LADYHAWK and Acadian singer-songwriter JULIE DOIRON. Much to the delight of their fans, THE CONS have opened up the vault for this tour to break out songs that haven't been played live in years. Grab your tickets while you still can, as both shows last week sold out well in advance.
arts-crafts.ca/constantines
myspace.com/ladyhawk
juliedoiron.com

SATURDAY DECEMBER 19 / SPIRAL BEACH / THE GARRISON / 1197 DUNDAS ST W / $12 / 19+
You'll frequently find SPIRAL BEACH rehearsing on the streets of Kensington Market, but on Friday they'll move it indoors for a holiday show at the Garrison with ROMO ROTO, BOYS WHO SAY NO and THE HEARTBEAT HOTEL. Openers ROMO ROTO are the spastic duo of Alexandra Mackenzie and Tomas Del Balso, better known for his role in DD/MM/YYYY.
spiralbeach.com
myspace.com/romoroto
myspace.com/boyswhosayno
myspace.com/theheartbeathotel

SUNDAY DECEMBER 20 / WAVELENGTH 494: GERMANS / THE GARRISON / 1197 DUNDAS ST W / PWYC / 19+
GERMANS headline this week's edition of Wavelength, bringing their dance-infused indie rock sound to the Garrison alongside Montreal's MURDER FORD MONUMENT and Kingston's PS I LOVE YOU, who recently released a limited edition split 7" with DIAMOND RINGS. GERMANS are still putting the final touches on Club Tan, their long anticipated follow-up to 2007's Cape Fear.
myspace.com/germans
myspace.com/psiloveyouband
myspace.com/murderfordmonument

TUESDAY DECEMBER 22 / HORSESHOE TAVERN / 368 QUEEN ST W / FREE / 19+
BOOKIES 2009 Annual Holiday Bash at the Shoe features EDGE 102 favourites ARKELLS and Toronto's THE ORDER OF GOOD CHEER, whose acclaimed performances tend to feature elaborate costumes, props, lights and projections. Sandwiched in between are HOLLERADO, returning from a trip to China over the weekend, after walking away with Live 88.5's $250,000 Big Money Shot in Ottawa just a few weeks ago. Last time I caught them live, they were walking around handing out pwyc copies of their Demo in a Bag (Ziploc, to be specific). It's safe to say that 2009 has been an incredible year for the Manotick quartet.
myspace.com/arkellsmusic
myspace.com/hollerado
myspace.com/theorderofgoodcheer

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Photo of White Cowbell Oklahoma by Roger Cullman.