Live music picks for WEDNESDAY JULY 28 through WEDNESDAY AUGUST 4, 2010.

WEDNESDAY JULY 28 / THE CAT EMPIRE / PHOENIX / 410 SHERBOURNE ST / $27.50 / 19+
Australia's The Cat Empire have been releasing their own eclectic brand of infectious alt-pop for over a decade, and their fifth (and most recent) release Cinema has critics praising the band for their continued fearlessness and sense of musical adventure. They're songs are undeniably catchy and feature diverse instrumentation that allows the group to draw from ska, jazz, indie rock, reggae and Latin influences. BC songwriter Daniel Wesley is the lone opening act.

CONTEST ALERT: Follow BlogTO on twitter for your chance to win a pair of guestlist spots for tonight's show, or a copy of The Cat Empire's latest album Cinema on CD.

THURSDAY JULY 29 / BRASSTRONAUT / THE GARRISON / 1197 DUNDAS ST W / $8 / 19+
Thursday is a packed night for shows this week, but my top pick goes to the Unfamiliar Records showcase at The Garrison, where Little Girls and Rat Tail will open up for Brasstronaut, whose Polaris long-listed debut album Mt. Chimarea was one of my favourite releases of 2009.

FRIDAY JULY 30 / DAPS ALL AGES: MAYLEE TODD & MORE / MEL LASTMAN SQUARE / 5100 YONGE ST / FREE / ALL AGES
Daps shift their all ages concert series to Mel Lastman Square as part of the Cultura Friday Night Summer Series, which brings local musicians Maylee Todd, Tanika Charles and Times Neue Roman together for an evening of free music starting at 5pm.

SATURDAY JULY 31 / ROCK & ROLL RECESSION PARTY / STAND ONE RECORDS LOFT / 452 RICHMOND ST W / $10 /
The Rock & Roll Recession Loft Party returns this weekend at Stand One Records, where $10 gets you live sets from four bands and $2.50 drinks all night long. The all-local line-up features The Ruby Spirit (formerly known as Sadie May Crash), People in Grey, The Wilderness and The Johnson Report.

MONDAY AUGUST 2 / THE AVENGERS / HORSESHOE TAVERN / 368 QUEEN ST W / $16 / 19+
San Francisco punk legends The Avengers headline the Horseshoe on Monday night with a recently reformed line-up, featuring two members of their original 1977 crew: vocalist Penelope Houston and guitarist Greg Ingraham. Last year their self-titled 1983 LP (also known as The Pink Album was re-issued with a second disc of added live cuts and studio songs, prompting Houston to put her solo career on hold to tour for an Avengers reunion. Opening act TBA.

TUESDAY AUGUST 3 & WEDNESDAY AUGUST 4 / THE BLACK KEYS / KOOL HAUS / 132 QUEENS QUAY E / SOLD OUT / ALL AGES
After an appearance at Osheaga 2010 in Montreal this weekend, Ohio blues rock legends The Black Keys will head to Toronto to headline a pair of dates at the Kool Haus early next week in support of their brand new album Brothers. California indie rockers The Morning Benders will open up for The Black Keys at both of the sold out gigs.

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

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Lead photo of Dan Auerbach & the Fast Five by Matthew McAndrew.