Live music picks for WEDNESDAY JANUARY 9 through SATURDAY JANUARY 12, 2013.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 9 / QUICKSAND / THE PHOENIX / 410 SHERBOURNE / $37.50 / 19+

New York post-hardcore band Quicksand should serve as a cautionary tale as to what can happen to a group if they fail to live up to a label's expectations. Formed in 1990, the band released two albums before in-fighting and stress stemming from underachieving led to the band's breakup. Now, they've reunited and embarked on a North American tour, which should please the cult following that they've amassed over the years. Post-hardcore fans will eat this one up.

THURSDAY JANUARY 10 / HOPSIN / THE PHOENIX / 410 SHERBOURNE / $27 / 19+

I don't often include hip-hop shows in the Hot Ticket, but I think this one will be better than most. Hopsin is an MC from Los Angeles, and since bursting onto the scene in 2003, he's established himself as a talent worth watching. His music can best be described as "conscious rap," and one of his gimmicks is the white contact lenses he wears during his live performances and music videos. If you're a hip-hop head, you'll definitely want to check this show out.

FRIDAY JANUARY 11 / DATSIK / THE GUVERNMENT / 132 QUEENS QUAY E / $20 / 19+

While I can't profess to being a fan of what dubstep has become, there's no denying that it still appeals to a large audience. Datsik is a dubstep producer from B.C., and at the young age of 24 he's become one of the biggest names on the scene. The Guvernment is a great venue for a rave, and you can be sure that a large percentage of the crowd is going to be rolling - but if you can look past that, and enjoy the music for what it is (if you're a fan of that sort of thing), you might want to check it out.

SATURDAY JANUARY 12 / JOANNA CHAPMAN-SMITH / HUGH'S ROOM / 2261 DUNDAS W / $17 - $20 / ALL AGES

I can't recommend this show highly enough. Local girl Joanna Chapman-Smith is, quite simply, one of the most talented singer/songwriters that I've come across in some time. She has a unique talent for alternating between multiple genres, including jazz, Flamenco, and folk. She can also play several different instruments, such as the guitar, clarinet, and piano. This promises to be a great show, and for such a low price, there's really no excuse to miss it.

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Photo of Joanna Chapman-Smith courtesy of nous.davidse on Flickr.