Live music picks for WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 24 through TUESDAY MARCH 2, 2010.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 24 / TWM's AUGHTS (00-2010) TRIBUTE NIGHT / RANCHO RELAXO / 300 COLLEGE ST / $5 / 19+
Rancho Relaxo hosts another tribute night, this time paying homage to the decade that just passed with Santa With Muscles, The Good Times, Blood Rexdale, Jeff Geady and Jay Sparrow. Before the covers start rolling out, Newfoundland's Dan Trouble will play a set of her own compositions.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 25 / DOOM & DEF / KOOL HAUS / 132 QUEENS QUAY E / $39.50 / ALL AGES
Mos Def and DOOM released two of my favourite hip-hop albums of 2009 -- The Ecstatic and Born Like This, respectively. The two will pair up for a show at the Kool Haus on Thursday, with tickets from the original date of January 27 still being honoured at the doors. Award-winning Toronto rapper D-Sisive and local turntablists The Mixtape Massacre will open. Even if it isn't the real DOOM behind the mask, this tremendously solid line-up will make for a great evening regardless.

UPDATE: Mos Def will no longer be playing on Thursday night. REMG has also addressed the issue of DOOM actually showing up: "We are taking every precaution necessary to ensure that the performer on stage is in fact DOOM (Daniel Dumile). The artist has agreed to produce proper identification to us prior to performing to confirm his identity. We will not allow a substitute to perform in his place."

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 25 / PEASANT / RANCHO RELAXO / 300 COLLEGE ST / $5 / 19+
Peasant (aka Damien DeRose) plays the first of two Toronto dates in as many nights at Ranch Relaxo as the middle act in between sets from The Dildoniks and You Handsome Devil. Peasant crafts unassuming lo-fi folk pop songs that are bathed in richly layered harmonies, and his wallet-friendly show on Thursday night will make for a great warm-up for his opening slot at Friday night's Fucked Up concert at the Opera House.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 26 / KURT VILE IN-STORE / CRIMINAL RECORDS / 493 QUEEN ST W / FREE / ALL AGES
Criminal Records hosts Kurt Vile just a few hours before he takes the stage at the Opera House to open up for Fucked Up. Vile is the lead guitarist in The War On Drugs, but his blossoming solo career may soon eclipse his band commitments. He signed to Matador Records in 2009, who released his third solo effort Childish Prodigy last October to rave reviews. The free in-store set starts at 6:30 sharp, but get there early if you want to get inside.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 26 / FUCKED UP / OPERA HOUSE / 735 QUEEN ST E / $17.50 / ALL AGES
Fucked Up will play their Polaris winning album The Chemistry of Common Life in its entirety at the Opera House on Friday night, with the band promising to bring a few special guests along to re-create intricately the modern hardcore classic. The opening acts are Kurt Vile, The D'Urbervilles, Peasant and Give. Blue Moon Bar at Broadview and Queen will host the afterparty, where Molested Youth and Total Trash will keep things going until last call. Contrary to internet rumours this show is not sold out, and tickets are still available.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 27 / LOTUS / OPERA HOUSE / 735 QUEEN ST E / $18.50 / ALL AGES
Saturday night marks the debut Toronto appearance from Lotus, a five-piece instrumental rock band formed over a decade ago in Indiana. Evading any sort of singular genre classification, Lotus fuse elements of indie rock, electronic, jazz, funk and psychedelic experimentation into their jams. Known for bringing an epic light show to each concert they play, Lotus' live performance promises to deliver both sonically and visually. Chameleon Project is the sole opening act, with doors for the all ages event opening up at 8pm.

MONDAY MARCH 1 / PATTERN IN MOVEMENT & VIA AUDIO / THE DRAKE HOTEL / 1150 QUEEN ST W / $10 / 19+
The Drake Underground hosts Philadelphia's Pattern is Movement and indie-pop dreamers Via Audio for a co-headlining show on Monday night. The concert comes eight days before Via Audio release their sophomore effort Animalore, which boasts production from Spoon's Jim Eno. Orangeville, Ontario folk rockers Devin and the Dark Light will kick the evening off.

TUESDAY MARCH 2 / NU MUSIC NIGHT / HORSESHOE TAVERN / 368 QUEEN ST W / FREE / 19+
This week, Dave Bookman's weekly Nu Music Night at the Shoe features sets from Dirty Analogue, Outernational, People in Grey and The Stiff Wires. Show starts at 9:10 and, as always, there is no cover.

CONTEST: Courtesy of Embrace, we'll be giving away two tickets to the Rodrigo y Gabriela show at the Phoenix on March 5.

Having played together for over 15 years, Mexican guitar virtuosos Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintero are renowned around the world for their intricate and experimental work with acoustic guitars. Their Friday evening concert at the Phoenix marks their first ever performance in Toronto, and they'll be joined by the Alex Skolnick Trio - the jazz project of famed Testament guitarist Alex Skolnick.

The first person to post a comment with the title of their favourite song off of RYG's latest album 11:11 will win a pair of guestlist spots for the show.

Rodrigo y Gabriela
with Alex Skolnick Trio (Testament guitarist)
The Phoenix - 410 Sherbourne St.
19+ / Doors 7:30
Tickets: $29.50 advance at Rotate This, Soundscapes, Play De Record and through Ticketweb.ca.

For more music listings, head on over to our events calendar.

Have an event you'd like us to plug? Submit your own listing to the BlogTO calendar, contact us directly or use our handy facebook app.

Lead photo: 'Fucked Up' by flickr user Shawn Pepin.