The greatest living live band is coming to town

With Montreal’s vanguard music festival Suoni per il Popolo closing out the second week of its 14th edition, they’re about to prove that there’s no fat around its middle. Of course there is plenty to do off the Suoni path as well, promising plenty for all fans of underground music:
 

Off Suoni

 
Friday: Do not miss tonight’s edition of BBAM! Gallery’s amazing Mr. Ralph’s Record Player series, when BBAM! owner and former owner of seminal Toronto ’77 punk club Crash ‘N Burn — Ralph Alfonso — gets up and personal with one of my favourite records of all time, Teenage Head’s eponymous 1979 debut. Celebrating the recent release of Teenage Head biography Gods of the Hammer, author Geoff Pevere will also be in attendance to field questions from Alfonso and sign copies of the book. Expect a full-fledged review of Pevere’s tome to one of Canada’s most important bands in the July print edition of Hammer of the Mods. 3255 St-Jacques, 7 p.m., $15/$20 (includes drinks, records, book)

With it being Friday the 13th AND a full moon, don’t miss a chance to see one of Montreal’s fiercest bands, the Great Sabatini, who are launching their new jammer Dog Years at Turbo Haus with stellar support from Relapse recording artists Fuck the Facts, Rhino and Animal Ethics. I have always said that the Great Sabatini are easily one of the most unsung, brilliant bands in the Montreal music scene, but you’ve gotta see them for yourself. (You’ll fully agree with me.) 1180 St-Antoine, #408, 8 p.m.

Saturday: The folks at Analogue Addiction have cooked up a fine bill, with Sackville’s Astral Gunk, the many splendored talents of the young and well-hung Taylor Hoodlum Stevenson and Sackville’s Kappa Chow at Bistro de Paris. 4536 St-Denis, 9 p.m., $7

One of the Montreal’s most vicious bands, featuring alumni from MTL institutions such as Dig It Up, Bionic and Barnburner, is Hashed Out, who launch their debut 12” on local label l’Oeil du Tigre with Hopeless Youth, Stone Titan and Wind Pisser at, where else, Turbo Haus. If you dig your grind as much as your sludge, you’re not going to want to miss this. 1180 St-Antoine, #408, 9 p.m., $5

Down at the Drones Club, you can catch ex-FNU Ronnies new jam the Abandos with a rare appearance by local fucked up psych punkers Ultrathin and the scuzz punk of Dead Future. Secret location, 9 p.m., $6

Monday: The hesher crew are definitely expected to darken the door of Il Motore to catch the sludgey metal and weed friendly riffs of Vancouver’s Bison. Also, if you missed the Hashed Out launch, you can catch them here tonight when they take up the middle slot with Biipiigwan opening. 179 Jean-Talon W., 9 p.m., $10/$13
 

On Suoni

 
Friday: Recent Constellation Records signees and earnest post punkers Ought make a well-deserved Suoni appearance with the prog/psych of Avec le Soleil Sortant de sa Bouche and the brutal noise of Harsh Reality at Casa. 4873 St-Laurent, 8:30 p.m., $8/$10

Across the street at Sala you can catch minimal electronic duo Xeno and Oaklander, with the noise of Pharmakon, the electro chill of Automelodi and guitar/electronic duo Essaie Pas, featuring Pierre Guerineau and Marie Davidson. 4848 St-Laurent, 8:30 p.m., $10/$12

Saturday: Maica Mia invites all of you to Breakglass Studios for a live off the floor recording. Maica remains one of Montreal’s brightest so smile and nod along to her new tunes (in person or at home). 7250 Clark, 6 p.m., $15

This stacked Suoni night continues with prolific sonic saboteurs Excepter with Chicken Pet at Casa. 4873 St-Laurent, 9:30 p.m., $10/$12

Across the street at Sala, all modern psychonauts will have their minds liquefied when the almighty space rock warlords Bardo Pond set the dial for the heart of the sun. Make it down early to catch the epic ballast and massive cinematic scope of locals Near Grey. 4848 St-Laurent, 8 p.m., $15/$18

Monday: This would’ve been my big pick of the week if not for the fact that one of the most important bands ever to stomp the pines is playing on Wednesday. Definitely don’t miss Low at Sala, a great opportunity to marvel at the incredible songwriting of the band’s power couple Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker, with opener Big Brave. I will be there with bells on so please turn yer fuggin’ cell phones off and keep yer chatter out of the building. Quiet still is the new loud. 4848 St-Laurent, 8:30 p.m., $20/$22

Tuesday: Sala should get packed up quick when British duo Fuck Buttons invite you into their electronic glide with NYC’s Young Magic opening. 4848 St-Laurent, 8:30 p.m., $20/$25

Wednesday: I’m still reeling from Omar Souleyman’s past two Montreal visits at Il Motore and Sala and would highly recommend his fourth visit to Sala with D’Eon and Nouveau Zodiaque (4848 St-Laurent, 8:30 p.m., $22/$25) if not for…….

……Swans mighty return to le National with Xiu Xiu. I’ll try and keep my blithering short but know this, Dorothy: Swans has just released the best record of the past five years and are easily one of the best bands I have ever had a chance to witness. They only get better with each successive gig. DO NOT MISS THIS DEEPLY PERSONAL, LIFE-CHANGING SHOW!!!!!!! 1220 Ste-Catherine E., 7:30 p.m., $22/$25
 
Current obsession: Low, The Great Destroyer

jonathan.cummins@gmail.com