Stella Ella Ola at The Silver Dollar

Stella Ella Ola are most often billed as a Hollerado side-project, which, while not untrue, is hardly fair. Don’t see them because of brothers Nixon and Jake Boyd, see them because alongside Vince Rice and Anne Douris they help complete a sing-happy circle that thrives playing a style of hook-heavy power pop rock that while often inexplicably billed as surf rock, succeeds because it sounds nothing like it. And that’s a good thing: surf rock sucks. 9 p.m., at The Silver Dollar. 486 Spadina Ave. (TM)

Merchandise at The Horseshoe

Tonight’s Horshoe’s showcase might be dominated by Toronto dream pop act DIANA—who recently cut a deal with Jagjaguwar in the U.S.—but, like their bill-mates, Merchandise are also backed by roaring hype. The city already adores them: Last year, these Tampa, Fla. genre alchemists packed hundreds onto Soybomb’s way-over-capacity rooftop, and last night, they played an awe-inspiring secret set at Parts & Labour. But the adulation is justified—their 2013 LP, Total Nite, expanded their already challenging sound, adding kraut, Americana, and free-form jazz tinges to their brand of sinewy post-punk. Then, there’s the latent violence in Carson Cox’s songwriting: The antisocial aggression of his lyrics—and Merchandise’s incendiary live show—indicate that the band hasn’t quite outgrown their blackened hardcore roots.  11:00 p.m. at the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W. (MT)

US Girls at The Garrison

U.S. Girls (aka Meghan Remy) may have released the best album of her career so far with last year’s Gem, so this show on her adopted hometurf is sure to be gold. She’s been touring both solo and with a full band on this record, with the former best augmenting some of the strange experimental stuff that suits her so well, so we wouldn’t mind her pulling that gear out. As if Remy wasn’t enough, Roomrunner and Milk Music are also on this bill, and they’re also two of our most anticipated of the festival. Make sure to drop by the Garrison on Thursday night. 10:00 at The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. W. (NV)

Sean Nicholas Savage at the Comfort Zone

Montreal’s Arbutus Records has been putting out some hot shit in the last little while. Their showcase at Comfort Zone (!!!) will feature a few of label’s stand-outs, including Sean Nicholas Savage, the lanky Edmonton native (based in Montreal now, duh) whose prolific spat of R&B tinged pop has sent him on a recent heart-stealing rampage. Even though it’s still early, Savage has a garnered a healthy, die-hard following. Witnessing the impassioned connection between him and his fanbase will be a magical sight. 12:oo am at the Comfort Zone, 480 Spadina Ave.