Finally, Satan comes to Montreal

The NWOBHM band descends upon Katacombes + more metal, droners, crooners & rock ‘n’ rollers to see in the coming week.

facebookEasily the biggest news this week is the hush hush opening of new venue la Vitrola on St-Laurent last night. The Donald Trumps of indie rock and owners of such hallowed halls as Casa del Popolo and la Sala Rossa, Mauro Pezzente and Kiva Stimac, launched the new space just a stone’s throw away from Casa/Sala. (See photos of the space from last night, and an interview with Pezzente here.)

Although Montreal has never been more blessed with small/mid-capacity venues, it’s these tiny clubs that provide the stages for up and coming bands that dare to colour outside of the lines and continue to fuel this city’s music community. Being both a musician and a rabid live-music fan, I am fucking stoked – and you should be too! Once again the hats are off for Pezzente and Stimac! What a couple of champs!

Here’s the gigs, kids:

Friday: The fine furry folks behind local label l’Oeil du Tigre and Lifers Records are presenting a night of musical fuckery at the God-lovin’ Turbohaus, with Wrong Hands, Nuke Apes and Rope. 1180 St-Antoine W., #408, 9 p.m., $10

Also happening on Friday is the sweet swoon ‘n’ croon of slinger-of-Casa suds and all-around lovely lass Molly Sweeney with Daniel Isaiah Schacter and Winter Family, at Casa. 4873 St-Laurent, 8:30 p.m., $10

Saturday: My pick of the week is the OGs of NWOBHM band Satan with the pummelling power of T-dot’s Skull Fist and the d-beat-infused metal of Abyssed. This is all happening at Katacombes, natch. 1635 St-Laurent, 9 p.m., $20

Monday: If you have gotten over your bangover at the Satan gig, you’ll probably want to keep the metal molten-hot for thrash legends Destruction, bursting through the speed limit with Krisium and Exmortus at Foufounes. 87 Ste-Catherine E., 8 p.m., $25

If drone and noise is how you like it, see a host of sonic saboteurs including Echo Beach, YY, JLK and Ghost Taco at Sala. 4848 St-Laurent, 9 p.m.

Across the street at Casa, there’s the savage prog pop of Wake Island, opening for Bantam Wing. 4873 St-Laurent, 9 p.m.

Wednesday: Finally, all those who showed up for the Hellshovel show are invited back to the scene of the crime at Divan Orange to catch the garage bite of ATL’s the Coathangers with the Audacity. Bring lots of merch money to snag up some sweet Coathanger seven-inches. 4234 St-Laurent, 9:30 p.m., $12

Current obsession: Rufus Thomas, The Funkiest Man Alive

jonathan.cummins@gmail.com