Noel Gallagher
November brings an eclectic and high-quality set of live shows to Toronto that’s definitely worth braving the cold winds for. Whether you like established bands or emerging artists, and whether you like rock, pop, dance, or rap, there’s something for you to enjoy this month. Here’s a sampling of upcoming concerts in Toronto for November.
Getting over the hurdle
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
Massey Hall
Monday, November 7th and Tuesday, November 8th
$51.89-$111.89 at Ticketmaster
The former main songwriter of Oasis, one of the biggest British rock bands of the ’90s, Noel Gallagher quit that band two years ago after a notoriously tumultuous relationship with lead singer and brother Liam. Noel released his first solo album this year to considerable sales and attention, and he’s touring internationally to support it. Fear not, Oasis fans: Noel plays classics like “Wonderwall” and “Don’t Look Back in Anger” during his set as well.
WU LYF
WU LYF
The Horseshoe Tavern
Saturday, November 12th
$16.88 at Ticketmaster
A new indie rock band from Manchester who were initially shrouded in mystery, WU LYF (an abbreviation for World Unite! Lucifer Youth Foundation) was very crafty in building hype with a band name that sounds like a cult, a strange and radical website, and by playing only in one small local club, obscuring their faces in photos, and refusing press interviews. Their debut album, Go Tell Fire to the Mountain, delivers rock anthems with tribal beats and church organs drowned in reverb, fronted by the yelping, often incomprehensible singer, Ellery Roberts. Catch them this month up close at the Horseshoe before the band blows up.
LMFAO
LMFAO
Air Canada Centre
Monday, November 14
$50.00-$62.50 at Ticketmaster
Riding high on smashes “I’m in Miami B**ch”, “Shots”, “Party Club Anthem,” and “Sexy and I Know It,” the uncle-and-nephew duo LMFAO have taken over the clubs and even the Billboard charts with their hedonistic, boozy, and undeniably catchy dance tunes. Over the course of only three years and a handful of singles, the group is now popular enough to fill the ACC with hard-partying fans. If you’ve raised your hands and wiggled it at the clubs to one of their tracks, get your tickets now!
Lykke Li
Lykke Li
Sound Academy
Tuesday, November 15
$38.00 at Ticketmaster
A relatively new singer/songwriter from Sweden, Lykke Li makes pop music that fuses electronic and rock elements to sound happy, pensive, melancholic, and menacing at will. Her latest album, Wounded Rhymes, received unanimous critical acclaim earlier this year for its compelling lyrics, atmospheric instrumentation, and Lykke’s distinctive voice, which nimbly alternates between tender fragility and steely aggressiveness. Her show at Sound Academy is highly recommended for fans of indie pop.
Jay Z
Watch the Throne: Jay-Z and Kanye West
Air Canada Centre
Wednesday, November 23rd and Thursday, November 24th
$77.25-$267.75 at Ticketmaster
Without a doubt a can’t-miss event for hip-hop fans, these two rap superstars are touring together for the first time, bringing a show packed with hits and laser lights to two nights at the ACC. The setlist will include cuts from their collaborative album, Watch the Throne, released this year, as well as classic singles from each artist such as “Big Pimpin’," “99 Problems,” “Gold Digger,” and “Heartless.”
Prince
Prince
Air Canada Centre
Friday, November 25th and Saturday, November 26th
$67.75-$268.25 at Ticketmaster
The genius behind undisputed rock/pop classics like “When Doves Cry,” “Purple Rain,” and “1999,” Prince’s illustrious career stretches all the way back to the ’70s. A trendsetting provocateur who uses sexually charged imagery and fancy costumes to catch the eye, Prince is also a highly accomplished musician who plays countless instruments and is known for putting on terrific live shows. For ’80s music fans, this show will definitely be a night to remember.
