This weekend’s stacked with heavy shows

From National Drone Day (today!) to spin-offs of Starvin’ Hungry, Wolf Parade and Quest for Fire to album launches & cult-movie screenings — see Johnson’s recommendations here.

facebook Admittedly, last week was a bit sparse and spotty for shows but this weekend alone makes up the difference and slugs right out of the gate:

Tonight: Montreal events affiliated with Canada’s first National Drone Day hits the Plant with a whole host of local minimalists contributing their single-digit ode to the key of E. You guessed it Poindexter, this would definitely be a drug-friendly event.

Dudes from defunct local band Starvin’ Hungry — Half Measures — will play their favourite watering hole, Barfly, but the real reason you should be making it down to God’s favourite bar is to check out the soul-slathered rock of Toronto’s the Mercy Now. Do it! 4062 St-Laurent, 9 p.m.

For a night of pounding heaviosity, get to the new venue in town — la Vitrola — for Deathhammer, Occult Burial and Abyssed. 4602 St-Laurent, 9 p.m., $15

Burger Records signees and local garage/psych warlords les Marinellis launch their new jammer at Divan Orange. Garage heads and other fans of raunch will not want to miss this. 4234 St-Laurent, 9 p.m., $10

There are two big picks of the weekend, and the first is tonight, when true psychonauts White Hills will cave in craniums with the This Many Boyfriends Club. I saw them last time they conquered Casa, and if you’re into heavy psych, this should be as good as it gets. 4873 St-Laurent, 9 p.m., $10

It will be all asses and elbows when former Spaceshits members the King Khan & BBQ Show shake it like a bowl of soup at Petit Campus, with the Rejecters. 57 Prince-Arthur E., 9:30 p.m., $20

Sunday: It’s an oddly stacked Sunday, but a great start would be to head by Cagibi for their Cult Movie night featuring two of John Waters’ Z-grade classics: Female Trouble and Desperate Living. 5490 St-Laurent, 8 p.m.

Fans of the recently departed Quest for Fire are going to want to make it down to Playhouse to catch their newest formation: Comet Control, with King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard and UUBBUURRUU. I am no betting man but I’m guessing that Comet Control & co. might be heavy, heavy psych? 5656 Parc, 9 p.m., $10/$13

Fans of Dan Boeckner’s previous outings with Wolf Parade, Divine Fits etc. are going to want to check out his more electronic side, Operators, playing Il Motore with Country (that being Beaver from Bethlehem, natch). You can also check out Cult MTL’s interview with the man here, where he gives this grizzled ol’ coot a shout-out. Aw shucks Dan — but you still owe me money for the phone bill. 179 Jean-Talon W., 9 p.m., $10/$13

If you’re looking for a night of free-music fuckery, check out the, uh, badly named the Artsy Chicks at Piccolo Rialto with Feefawfum and Palm Trees. 5723 Parc, 8:30 p.m., $5

Finally, my tie for big pick of the week (with White Hills) would go to the recent return of the almighty Mogwai, who will turn it up way past 11 at Metropolis, with openers Majeure. Wear ear plugs! 59 Ste-Catherine E., 9 p.m. ■

 

Current obsession: White Hills, Frying On This Rock

jonathan.cummins@gmail.com