Post-pop hangover

Once again, this year’s Pop Montreal festival positively raged. If you truly did it up right, you are probably still in recovery mode, like I am.

My first Pop show on Thursday night was Aussie trio the Dirty Three at the perfect venue: Ukrainian Federation. The bar was set high here, as the Dirty Three was my projected Pop highlight. Violinist/keyboard player Warren Ellis remains everything I look for in a tried-and-true rock star. Punctuating his liquid violin lines with high kicks and jerking body movements, Ellis is simply untouchable. When things got a little too heavy and dark, Ellis was quick to add levity and regale the sold-out crowd with stream-of-conscious tales that involved Bono and whatever else his rambling mind could latch on to.

Afterwards, I hightailed it to a church basement to catch a rare gig by Hot Snakes, my instant second-favourite Pop act. Just watching John Reis commandeer a guitar while the band lunged with weighty propulsion was enough to reactivate my rock ’n’ roll heart. Ending their encore with Drive Like Jehu’s “Bullet Train to Vegas” was just stunning.

Saturday, I squeezed into Breakglass Studios to see the Besnard Lakes on their home turf, and despite having seen this band more times than I can count, I’m blown away by them every time. Their set was peppered with songs fresh off of their recently recorded album, and proved to be one of my favourite Lakers shows. Can’t wait for the new jams to drop.

Afterwards, I turned the corner on Jean-Talon and made it into Il Motore to catch Torontonians Metz devastate the room. If you missed Metz’s two shows during Pop, you can catch them this October when they return to town.

Thanks again to all the Pop crew and volunteers, with a special shout-out to Sarah Shoucri for taking me under her wing.

Before I get to the upcoming shows here, though, I would like to just take a moment to thank everybody who has been supporting Cult MTL so far — we are really overwhelmed. In the interest of giving back some of that love, this little website that can is giving away a pair of tickets for the upcoming Lee Fields show (at Cabaret Mile End on Wednesday, Oct. 3) every day, tomorrow through next Tuesday (Sept. 26–Oct. 2), not including the weekend. Keep an eye on Twitter (@CultMTL). If you haven’t seen Lee Fields yet, you can expect one of the most searing soul revues since the Godfather of Soul stomped the pines. Thanks again, folks. We love you.

Okay, enough with the sloppy shit. Here’s the gigs, Jim.

Tuesday – For those who like to pore over U.K. rags, you might want to make it down to Casa to catch U.K. duo Blood Red Shoes with DZ Deathrays. While you’re there, come see me at the DJ/kissing booth, as I’ll be getting sloppy drunk behind the turntables.

Wednesday – The action is once again at Casa when Parisian folky duo Arlt lay it down with Misr, featuring Jerusalem in My Heart’s Radwan Moumneh and A Silver Mt. Zion’s Jessica Moss.

Thursday – As we near the weekend, things heat up accordingly, starting at Il Motore with the return of trashy bluesman Bob Log III with B.A. Johnson. In the same neighbourhood is a set by Wolf Eyes’ Nate Young with support from Drainolith, Jean-Sebastian Truchy and Jean Bourbonnais at la Brique. If you go to either show, make sure to cap off your night at Notre Dame des Quilles when DJ Pascha feeds the tables with the best of soul, punk and old-school hip hop.

Friday – Friday is an easy choice, as punk/metal misanthropes Propaghandi play the very non-punk venue Metropolis with Comeback Kid and Dig It Up.

Saturday – My pick of the week is a long-awaited hometown show by Menace Ruine, at Casa with J. Hamilton. They’re easily one of the best Montreal bands going. Feel the darkness! If this wasn’t enough to drag you by the sleeve to Casa, my favourite DJ in town (Nao Identificato) will be spinning the best of prog, psych, minimal synth, droney soundscapes and Krautrock in the neighbouring room.

Sunday – Finally, the Sabbath becomes the ultimate dance party when the Gossip pulls into Olympia, with Magic Mouth. ■

Current obsession – James Brown, Star Time boxset
Jonathan.cummins@gmail.com