This Week in Music: Neutral Milk Hotel, Backstreet Boys hit Molson Amphitheatre, local music at the Shoe

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This Week in Music rounds up the latest news, releases and concerts coming to Toronto.

IN THE NEWS

Neutral Milk Hotel announces Toronto shows

When beloved indie-pop quartet Neutral Milk Hotel broke up in 1999 due to frontman Jeff Magnum's nervous breakdown, fans were understandably disappointed. The band is, after all, one of the most beloved groups of their generation. Back in May, when Magnum announced on his website that the band was getting back together for a reunion tour, there was much rejoicing - and, perhaps, a little skepticism. Well, you can now toss that skepticism aside, as an extensive list of tour dates have officially been announced. These dates include not one, but two Toronto dates - January 18 and 19 at the Kool Haus. Tickets went on sale last Friday (August 2), and my advice would be to get them as soon as possible. If they're not sold out already, they will be very, very soon. Head on over to Magnum's official site for a complete list of dates and further information.

THIS WEEK'S HOT TICKETS

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 7 / THE OLD SALTS / HORSESHOE TAVERN / 370 QUEEN W / $5 / 19+

Local blues/folk outfit Addington County Review, Evan Malach, and Red White Heat for a local music night at the legendary Horseshoe Tavern. Comprised of James da Mota, Darren Eedens, Matthew Karas, and Devin Staple, The Old Salts are unquestionably one of the more talented local groups that I've come across in recent memory. I predict that some major success will be coming their way in the coming months and years. Don't take my word for it, though - head on down to the Horseshoe on Wednesday and take in a night of awesome music for a very reasonable price.

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 7 / BACKSTREET BOYS / MOLSON AMPHITHEATRE / 909 LAKESHORE W / $35.50 - $120.75 / ALL AGES

I'm fully expecting to get a lot of hate for including this show as a Hot Ticket, but hear me out. Whether you're a fan of the Backstreet Boys or not (and, let's face it, most of you reading this probably aren't), there's no denying that this was one of the biggest pop acts of the 90s. It's really quite remarkable that they're still touring in 2013, and even though boy bands aren't nearly as popular as they once were, there's still an audience who will absolutely eat this show up. While I highly recommend spending your Wednesday night at the Horseshoe, this is an alternative. Whether it's a good or bad alternative depends entirely on your taste. Jesse McCartney and the incomparable DJ Pauly D (heh) will offer support.

RECENTLY ANNOUNCED CONCERTS