Pop Montreal

Preview: Pop Montreal [Sept. 29 - Oct. 3, 2010]

Posted on September 29, 2010 by Paul in Pop Montreal | 4 Comments

So it’s that time of year again – time for Pop Montreal, now in it’s 9th year and still bringing you a fine selection of bands old and new.  The Panic Manual will be there and as a service to those of you who will also be attending, here are the bands that I think are worth seeing.  Perhaps you will agree.

Wednesday, Sept. 29

Menomena/Suckers/Tu Fawning @ Sala Rossa:  Ricky’s a big fan of  Suckers and I’ve heard a bit of buzz about Menomena.

Glen Matlock @ Divan Orange:  The original bassist for the Sex Pistols will be playing tunes from his latest album Born Running.  Who knows, maybe he’ll throw in a Sex Pistols or Rich Kids tune along the way.

Gigi French @ Quai des Brunes:  This woman has been through 1000 musical identities before stopping at her current incarnation as a jazzy French pop singer.  Her song Jardinier is kind of catchy.  Check her out before she changes genres again.

Look At What The Light Did Now @ Ukranian Federation: Or if you’re in the mood to sit back and enjoy a film, why not check out Anthony Seck’s documentary about the making of Feist’s The Reminder?

Thursday, October 30

Karkwa @ Metropolis:  If you’re an anglophone from outside Quebec, you’re probably wondering who the hell those guys were who won the Polaris Prize this year.  Well, it’s these guys.  Check them out to see if they’ve got the goods live.

SappyFest Suitcase @ Cagibi: So many great performers in this showcase presented by the Sackville, NB based Sappyfest, mostly of the solo singer/songwriter variety.  Shotgun Jimmie, Dan Romano, Fred Squire and Snailhouse are all great. 

The Hoa Hoa’s @ L’Abreuvoir:  The Toronto band plays a sort of shoegazey, melodic brand of psych rock that draws from a wide range of influences spanning from the ’60s to the ’80s and ’90s and beyond.  They’re part of a pretty interesting bill featuring among others Turbogeist (featuring the son of a Rolling Stone) and a band called USA Out Of Vietnam, who are worth seeing for their retro-protesty name alone and for the fact that they have no website or Myspace or anything.  Perhaps they are luddites.  Or time-travelling 1960s war protesters who don’t understand what this “internet” thing is all about.

Municipal Waste @ Club Soda: I can’t let a festival like this go by without checking out just a little bit of metal and these guys seem like just what the doctor ordered.  The Richmond, Virginia based band’s form of retro-thrash has been dubbed “party metal,” their press photo has them all wearing bathrobes for some reason, and drummer Dave Witte is pretty much amazing.  Joining them will be Detroit hardcore legends Negative Approach, who are also worth a looksee.

Bear In Heaven @ La Sala Rossa:  An indie rock band from Brooklyn is not such a rare thing these days, but they’ve got a pretty interesting sound and they’re proof that bands haven’t run out of animal based names yet.

Van Dyke Parks/Clare and the Reasons @ Ukranian Federation:  This guy has worked with Brian Wilson (and had his lyrics poo pooed by Mike Love, perhaps the douchiest of The Beach Boys), arranged for Joanna Newsom, and cowrote the songs for the Popeye movie (which is kind of an odd film, but totally worth watching).  He’s a pop legend of sorts and well worth checking out.

Friday, Oct 1

Danielson/Deerhoof @ La Tulipe:  Two bands that are definitely originals.  Expect some interesting stuff sonically.

The xx @ Place des Arts:  If you can show me photographic evidence of this band smiling at their show even once, I will totally buy you a beer. 

Swans @ Le National:  These guys are legends.  Their new album, My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky is really good too.  I expect  this one to get pretty noisy.  Get there early for opener Lily Fawn, who usually wears antlers when she performs.  Strangely, she’ll also be opening for Fred Penner on Sunday.  That shows she’s diverse.

Technical Kidman @ 3 Minots:  For the name alone.

Saturday, Oct. 2

Marnie Stern @ Cabaret Juste Pour Rire:  Marnie Stern is a ridiculously good guitar player.  One might even say she shreds.  And her songs are quite good too – quirky and noisy, yet kind of poppy too.  Parlovr are on this bill as well and they put on a great show.

Atari Teenage Riot @ Foufounes Electriques:  I haven’t listened to Alec Empire’s insanely over the top digital hardcore band in a long time but I recall liking their stuff quite a bit back in the day.  Hopefully they play “Deutchland (Has Gotta Die).”  Opening for them will be Montreal Nintendo Orkestar.  They make music using two Nintendo DS units. 

Light Fires @ Divan Orange: Gentleman Reg and Ohbijou’s James Bunton play electro-pop.

Solange: Sadly, what would have been one of the highlights is just not gonna happen.  Beyonce’s less famous yet arguably more interesting sister has cancelled her appearance at Pop Montreal.  Too bad.

Sunday, Oct. 3

Sacred Sunday @ Ukranian Federation:  Yes, Patrick Watson and friends will be playing gospel music.  This should prove to be interesting, especially since one of these friends is Klezmer/Hip Hop guy Socalled.

Immolation/Vader @ Foufounes Electriques:  Or if your Sunday music tastes veer less toward the heavenly and more towards the blasphemous, check out some old school death metal.

Enjoy.

Pop Montreal Preview – Friday October 2

Posted on October 2, 2009 by Ricky in Everything, Pop Montreal | Leave a comment

Montreal – Here are some primers for Friday. Wade is currently in Montreal, Pop Montrealing it up..so jealous.

8:35 – Cryptacize, Cabaret Juste Pour Rire – Cryptacize are opening for Sufjan Stevens on his tour, and they are good. Lead vocalist Nedelle Torrisi will remind you of Feist in both appearance and voice.

9:00 – Yo La Tengo, Club Soda – If you haven’t got tickets to this show already, you might be out of luck. The Hoboken band is in Montreal to promote their excellent 12th album – Popular Songs.

9:30 – Duchess Says, Le National – Hometown heroes Duchess Says will definitely bring out the energy for this show. We saw them at Canadian Music Week, review here

9:45 – Sufjan Stevens, Cabaret Juste Pour Rire – If you don’t know where Sufjan Stevens is playing in Montreal, just look for a 3 or 4 block lineup. Tickets for this will be scarce. If the show was anything like last nights show here in Toronto..well, it’ll be great.

10:30 – Random Recipe, Théâtre Plaza – Two French rapper ladies I stumbled upon last year when in Pop Montreal, they bring out some funky beats and it’s always interesting to hear rap in another language.

1 AM – Glass Candy, Studio Just For Laughs – I can’t think of a better way to end off a solid Friday night then to go see Portland’s new wave dance act Glass Candy. Their 2008 album Deep Gems just screams late night concert and will put you in a great mood as you leave the venue in search for that ever elusive after party.

Pop Montreal Preview – Thursday Oct 1

Posted on October 1, 2009 by Ricky in Everything, Pop Montreal | 1 Comment

Montreal – Here are some suggestions for day 2 of Pop Montreal.

8:00 PM – Todor Kopakov, O Patro Vys – NO. He is not the new Montreal Canadiens Russian winger, even though the Habs have enough of those already. Todor Kopakov is a pianist. This artist will have his arrangements accompanied by the vocal talents of one Emily Haines.

9:00 PM – Joel Plaskett, Club Soda – Yes, this show will probably be sold out, but you should try anyway. Joel Plaskett has definitely reached “must see” status these days amongst Canadian indie music fans. He’ll be playing here in support of his recent triple disc – Three. Read our review of his Massey Hall show here.

Alternatively, you can also see Dinosaur Bones or Paint Movement, both of which will guarantee a good time.

10:30 PM – Micachu & The Shapes, Cabaret Juste Pour Rire – Everybody’s favorite indie blogger (besides Chromewaves) Brooklyn Vegan will be hosting English band Micachu & the Shapes. The Rough Trade artists uses a variety of non-conventional items to create music, so it should definitely be interesting.

Midnight – DJ Jonathan Toubin’s Soul Clap Dance-Off, Green Room – No idea who this guy is, but this sounds fun, read the description:

Jonathan Toubin has forged a new recipe for punk-paced funk. Exclusively spinning 45s, his Soul Clap Dance-Off parties have become a huge hit on both American coasts. This show ends with a dance competition, straight up. Bring/shake your moneymaker.

1:00 AM – Princess Leah Poppinz, Club Lambi – French Quebec rapper that I would go to based on her band name alone. Sometimes, you just gotta have some faith.

Pop Montreal Preview – Wednesday September 28

Posted on September 30, 2009 by Ricky in Everything, Pop Montreal | 2 Comments

popmontreal

Montreal – Here are some ideas for Pop Montreal for Wednesday September 28.

8:00 PM – The Phenomenal Handclap Band, Le National – How can you not check out a band thats responsible for a video this cute:

9:00 PM – Bear Claps, Cagibis – I’m not really sure who Bear Claps is, however, they play Cagibi’s aka Mark’s favorite bar ever in the whole wide world. Talk to Mark, mention Montreal and count the number of words he says before he brings it up. I bet its under 50. Anyways, the bar is quite cool and we saw Sunparlour Players there last year. Bear Claps list themselves as “Electroacoustic / Pop / Indie “. You can’t go wrong with that.

10:00 PM – Amy Millan, Ukranian Federation – Check out the Stars/BSS singer as she tries out her new material on the Pop Montreal crowd. Amy Millan, for my vote, has one of the best voices in the business. The new album – Masters of the Burial – has a walrus on the front. That’s pretty darn cool.

11:00 PM – Elephant Stone, O Patros Vys – Saw these guys at NXNE and was very impressed. A bit psychedelic, a bit brit pop, and a friggin sitar. Check out Elephant Stone if you have the time.

Midnight – Matt & Kim, McAuslan Venue: Club Lambi – What can you say about Matt and Kim? I’ve seen them three times this year, and it easily would have been a fourth, if Sufjan Stevens wasn’t playing the same night. Highly, highly recommended. I can’t say enough good things about their live show.

3:00 AM – POUTINE! – Is there a better way to finish off the first night of Pop Montreal with POUTINE! Piles of squeaky cheese curds drizzled with the finest gravy on top of crispy fries. MMmmm. Notice how we have 3:00 am here, because that’s when last call is.

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