Big K.R.I.T. reigns

by Darcy MacDonald

K.R.I.T has been no stranger to Montreal, having visited several times since the release of his first free tape, K.R.I.T. Wuz Here, through two more free insta-indie rap classics. He now celebrates his Def Jam debut, Live From the Underground. Dropping by Pop for a show with Southern contemporary Slim Thug and his hype man Big Sant, the insightful, often oracle-like MC/producer, literally one of the biggest names in underground hip hop today, took time out to call in from an NYC tour stop yesterday and chop it up about playin’ in the majors, seeing the world, making his mark in it, and recording with living legend B.B. King

Pushing for Parc Lhasa de Sela

by LUCAS WISENTHAL

On Sunday, as Pop Montreal winds down, Plants and Animals, the Barr Brothers and Arthur H., among others, will perform at Dans la parc avec Lhasa, a concert paying tribute to late singer-songwriter Lhasa de Sela. In addition to celebrating her music, the show will raise awareness of one local citizens’ group’s continued effort to rename the park at the corner of Clark and Van Horne in her honour.

Today’s Sounds: Brother Ali

by Darcy MacDonald

First off, I gotta come clean and say that I’m just about the biggest Brother Ali fan around. He is my favourite contemporary rapper and has been since the first time I dropped the needle on his debut, Shadows on the Sun. If the Brotha’ decided to record himself singing in the shower, I would pre-order the autographed limited edition soap-shaped vinyl.

Pop Montreal day 2

by The Music Team

Pop Montreal’s second day came in like a lamb, with some sparsely attended afternoon showcases, peaked with spectacular sets by some of this city’s hottest acts, and went out like a lion with the cops busting the Grimes afterparty before the little lady could even hit play. Here’s what Lorraine Carpenter, Brian Hastie, Erik Leijon and Emily Raine witnessed.

The Politics of canned laughter

by Screen Team

With the Emmys coming up this Sunday, writers Brian Hastie and Kristen Theodore analyze the mysterious persistence of the laugh track in TV comedy.

The Rising Sun Follies Brings in the Clowns

by RACHEL LEVINE

The Rising Sun Follies is an annual fundraiser created by Montreal burlesque artists Holly Gauthier-Frankel (Miss Sugarpuss) and Cherry Typhoon. Although not necessarily Japanese in its content, the Follies raises funds for Japan and Japanese artists. This year, the show is helping Japanese director, writer, and performer Yanomi of Shoshinz (aka Miss Hiccup) come to Montreal in January.

KIDS POP: NO SLEEP TILL BEDTIME

by Darcy MacDonald

Is your little critter already getting sick of being passed from family members to babysitters and back again while Ma and/or Pa go on their annual show-hopping jaunt? Or are you just looking for something cool and cost-efficient to do with the family this weekend?

Get excited, because Kids Pop has you covered either way, inviting the short-pants set to get hip to the Pop Montreal mood.

The House at the End of the Street

by Alex Rose

The good news is there’s slightly more going on in the impossibly generic-looking thriller The House at the End of the Street than you’d expect from the trailer. The bad news is that despite throwing about half-a-dozen potential potboiler concepts at the wall, what sticks is little more than a sampler menu of horror/suspense clichés for unassuming 14-year-old girls.

Yamantaka//Sonic Titan: Behind the Scenes of 33

by EMILY RAINE

You might know Yamantaka//Sonic Titan’s much-hyped eponymous 2011 YT//ST. But if you haven’t seen them onstage, you don’t know shit. Lucky for you, Pop’s presenting a their new rock opera 33 at the Rialto tomorrow night. Here’s a preview.