Did you happen to watch the Country Music Awards the other night? I will admit I flipped to it for a second… and I’m a bit confused because there wasn’t any country music, not sure what you call that stuff. However there’s an Ontario fella making his rounds these days that makes REAL country music. His name is Daniel Romano and he hails from Welland, Ontario. He used to play punk rock but now has settled on making old time western tunes. He has a number of releases including 2011’s "Sleep Beneath the Willow," which has a very soothing folk feel to it. 2013’s "Come Cry With Me" sounds like your grandparents’ country music and before you turn your nose up just have a listen and enjoy the wonderful melodies – they might make you cry though. This year he released his latest album "If I’ve Only One Time Asking" and with this album he really comes into his own making the same old time country with a more original feel to it. Many of the songs seamlessly blend into the following track which makes for a very pleasureable listen. The best example of this is tracks 2 and 3 "Old Fires Die" and "Strange Faces". Both great tunes, definite highlights of the album. Daniel spends a lot of time touring through the USA but we’re lucky enough to have him right here in Toronto tomorrow night at the Mod Club. Take it from a rocker… this is bad ass music. Enjoy. – Kris  Gies

Providence duo INFJ calls its music "mom rock" and its January-released EP ‘s/t’ provides the sublime consolation of that parent. Mostly Americana-twanged folk with a splendidly poppy number ("Best Laid Plans," streaming below), the five-song album gracefully explores such common feelings as longing and loneliness with compassion, Scott Thompson’s patient guitars and Hayley Simmons’ gliding voice providing angelic warmth. The creaky elegance of early Sharon Van Etten and Grizzly Bear is a possible influence on these songs but, largely due to Thompson’s pining lyrics, they sound remarkably fresh. INFJ plays at Machines With Magnets on 11.20.- Photo by Matthew Clowney Zach Weg 

Shades of classic ’90s era dreamgaze can be found woven through the music of Brooklyn’s No Honeymoon (not to be confused with shoegazing colleagues ohnomoon – there’s almost an anagram there!). Their sophomore EP “Together Alone” (the second one in quick succession after debut "I Wanna See Everything") presents three well produced tracks recorded at Converse Rubber Tracks studio. Lead cut “Yes/No” (streaming) opens with Slowdive/Souvlaki-style looping, which soon gives way to a fuller band sound. Fuzz-buzz guitars and fluid drum fills echo the band Ride, and are complemented with a female voice. Melodic guitar lines emerge between vocal segments, further enhancing the songs overall charm. Unlike role-model band of the shoegazer sound My Bloody Valentine, the vocals presented here aren’t buried under deep layers in the mix, but rather quite clear, and vocalist/guitarist Cait Smith exudes a level of passion and appeal with her semi-distressed delivery. The band has been playing a number of shows around town lately and this EP can be had at their bandcamp page at the always popular name-your-own-price. – Dave Cromwell

They’re from Baltimore and they know how to rock. The Milestones just put out a new EP, Honey, and it rocks. Flat out, the music rocks and knows it. The band’s shows makes for great dance parties and they exude a solid confidence and love for the music. The EP has a deep spread, touching on different emotions and diverse rhythms, making it a great addition to a road trip playlist. Give it a listen or, better yet, step over to The Black Cat tomorrow, 11/10, and catch The Milestones open for Moving Units! -Jonathan Goodwin