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North by Northeast 2010 is upon us! That means I have ringing ears and a sore ass ahead of me, thanks to the over 600 live music acts and an ample assortment of music themed documentaries that are taking Toronto by storm this week. This is simply a list of things I plan on checking out during Nxne, things that I think my fellow dorks will appreciate. I’ll admit that I’m not as up on new music as some, if you want the real scoop on up-and-coming bands at Nxne then be sure to read Jessica’s Nxne 2010 picks.

We’re barely scratching the surface here though, there is so much to see and do at North by Northeast. Be sure to check out the official Nxne 2010 website for ticket info and the full schedule or just go buy a wristband and get out there and see what you can!

So, you haven’t had your Monthly Music fill in what, two months now! How does it feel? Did anyone go to Canadian Music Week?

This month I’ve worked up a list for you that is perfect for your spring cleaning. From psychedelic rock to funk and pop, you’ll be moving and grooving straight into May. While some of us are cramming work and exams in to the last moments of the school year, others might be looking forlornly out of their window at the rain, waiting for something new to come along. Another great thing about this time of year is that concert season is kicking into high gear – bands are stretching their hibernated legs out and running to and from Toronto, so keep your eyes peeled and your ears close to the soundboard (not really)!

Three Toronto bands you should know:

Zeus – This band has been all over the place lately,...

“I’m just runnin’ a temperature / Happiness is for amateurs,” Jason Collett drawls on Rat A Tat Tat’s first track, “Rave On Sad Songs,” perhaps mocking the role of a self-pitying folkie, embracing it, or more slyly, both. Collett’s twists of phrase bring character without too much figurative baggage: His burden on “Winnipeg Winds” is “heavy as the King James version.” Even though the part-time Broken Social Scenester borrows some dust and part of his vocal style from Blonde On Blonde, that doesn’t account for the swaying grooves of “Lake Superior” or the tense piano-plodder “High Summer ...

My column for this month is a special edition in honour of the upcoming Canadian Music Week: a five-day festival showcasing great Canadian music acts as well as conferences, lectures, award shows and films. It’s going to be a wild ride, and I want to show you which events will make you lean forward, flail your arms and smile.

Cmw runs March 10-14, with events during the days and concerts/films in the evenings.

Canadian Music Week (and Fest – the music portion) require that you purchase passes to attend events (obviously). You can purchase weekly or daily passes. For more information, go here. However, if you want to go to just one concert, tickets can be purchased here.

This is the second part in a trio of articles in preparation for Cmw. Today, I’ll point out a number of bands that are more than worth just checking out.

Fans of Sloan and New Pornographers should warm immediately to Zeus, a Toronto rock quartet featuring multiple singer-songwriters, each with a facility for grand-sounding songs and long-line melodies. Moonlighting from their gig as Jason Collett’s backing band, Zeus’ members use their debut LP Say Us to show off their chops and their musical interests, producing an eclectic set of songs unified mainly by brisk tempos, tinny piano, cooing harmonies, and guitars that shift easily from deep twang to dreamy slide. Say Us wears its influences openly—it’s a blend of The Beatles, Harry Nilsson, E.L.O., Big ...