Concert BReak: May 22 - May 29

With The Cure, M.I.A., R.E.M, The Foals, and Taj Mahal in town there's something for everyone in this week's Concert BReak! As usual, I'd love to hear your ideas and opinions on CB and the shows you go to; share them with me through comments and email! You can email me at ami [at] beyondrobson [dot] com.

Thursday, May 22
Here are tonight's concerts.

Friday, May 23
♦ R.E.M. @ Deer Lake: It looks like it's going to be a good day for a concert at Deer Lake! Modest Mouse will join these 90's-rock pioneers.
♦ The Breeders @ Richard's: Meet LA's The Breeders as they let loose with tripped-out alternative rock.
♦ Nas @ Plush: Nasir Jones is hitting Vancouver before the album release of his "Untitled" album, so I'm sure his setlist will be full of new tunes. Due out July 1, "Untitled" was going to be named "N**ger" before Nas changed his mind.
♦ Ladytron @ Commodore: These electric pop-rockers from Liverpool will also be playing new songs from their recently released album, "Velocifero". Datarock will be starting the fun.
♦ Sleepercar @ Media Club: This band is the sideproject of Jim Ward from the band Sparta. They'll be joined by Arkells
♦ Young and Sexy @ Biltmore: Join this local alt-pop group for their CD release with the Alchemists.

Saturday, May 24
♦ The Mars Volta @ PNE Forum: These guys can get pretty creative with their experimental progressive rock song-structures. They're known for impressive live performances and improvisations.
♦ The Presents @ :
♦ The Kooks @ Commodore: These naive lads from the UK are always where I need to be. They're getting set to play the Commodore 'til it's inside out. They'll be off to Sasquatch on Saturday. The Morning Benders open.
♦ M83 @ Richard's: Gonzalez Anthony is a French synth-pop soloist. He'll be joined by The Berg Sans Nipples.
♦ Bison @ Astoria: These local thrashers will be joined by Spread Eagle and The Death Rays.
♦ Elephant @ The Sweatshop: Elephant are four guys based out of Toronto who play alt-rock.
♦ Language-Arts @ Rime: Kristen Cudmore and company are set to get their creative indie juices flowing with Quest Poetics.

Sunday, May 25
♦ M.I.A. @ PNE Forum (All Ages): Jagged beats and blunt lyrics are who this Sri Lankan-British rapper is. I don't know what she was thinking when she designed her Myspace page, but it won't stop her from the house dancing up a storm this Sunday!

Monday, May 26
♦ The Cure @ GM Place: Dust off your tickets, after a seven month delay, The Cure are finally ready to play! 65 Days of Static open.
♦ Kathleen Edwards @ Richard's: Edward's is a Canadian artist who plays with blends of folk and pop. Her latest album "Asking For Flowers" was released in March. Justin Rutledge is to open.

Tuesday, May 27
♦ Ghostland Observatory @ Richard's: This electro-dance duo describes their sound as "A robot making love to a tree!!". You may not like their look, but you may like their style.

Balloons - Foals

Thursday, May 29
♦ Killswitch Engage @ Croatian Cultural: Metalcore out of Boston.
♦ Rush @ GM Place: If you've turned on 101.1 in the last 3 months, you've probably heard that Rush is coming to town. They'll be playing songs off their 2007 album "Snakes & Arrows" as well as some of their classic rock oldies.
♦ Foals @ Richard's: If you haven't heard of UK's Foals, you may have happened on some indie-rock gold. Check them out.
♦ Taj Mahal @ The Centre of Performing Arts: In addition to influencing generations of musicians, Taj Mahal is the "Official Blues Artist of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts". This will be a show to remember, and I know that The Blind Boy's of Alabama will also put on an amazing opening set.
♦ Teenage Head @ Plaza Nightclub: Punk out of Hamilton, Ontario.

Photo courtesy of M.I.A.'s Myspace.