Kill me, I’m Irish

Being of Irish decent, St. Paddy’s Day is a weird one. I avoid it at all costs as it’s a rookie night littered with village idiots and weekend warriors, but perhaps your skin is thicker than mine and you can deal with the drunken louts. For such a booze-fuelled weekend though things remain oddly a little sparse this week. A calm before the storm?

Thursday: If you’re putting yer feet up in Hochelaga, you won’t have very far to travel to catch la Querelle at Bistro Ste-Cath tonight. Best of all, it’s free! 4264 Ste-Catherine E., 8 p.m., free

Friday: Fans of street punk should heel their cherry red docs over to Katacombes for a St. Paddy’s Day Weekend blowout presented by Baldy Soundsystem. Beantown’s Reagan-era, hockey-lovin’ punks Slapshot will headline with NYC’s 45 Adapters, Get the Shot, True North Strong and Strong As One at Katacombes. 1635 St-Laurent, 9 p.m., $20 (or $35 for Fri. & Sat. shows)

You should definitely head down to l’Esco during the venue’s month-long birthday celebration. This Friday, catch the Count Ferrara and Docteur Couleur Band with the Castagnes, the sleazy punk rawk ‘n’ roll of the Sangomas and the psych/garage/hip hop of Fuzzy and the Boys. 4467 St-Denis, 9 p.m., $5, BYO costumes

Saturday: The St. Paddy’s Day Weekend continues its reign at Katacombes with Komintern Sect, the Prowlers, Union Made (last show!), Out Rigger and Justice Civile. 1635 St-Laurent, 9 p.m., $20 (or $35 for Fri. & Sat. shows)

For a night of cold wave and minimal synth, head to Casa for Violence, William Crop and Napollon. 4873 St-Laurent, 9 p.m., $5

While it’s true that Katacombes has street punk tied down this week, local street punx Out of Order will get you swinging pints at Barfly, where they’re playing with support from blues-tinged rawk band Ashtray Heart. 4062 St-Laurent, 9:30 p.m., $5

Sunday: If you’re looking for a night of brutal sonic attack on the Sabbath, check out Secret Boyfriend with Cheri Love, the electronic dreamscapes of Ylang Ylang and the noisey bash and no wave/post-punk leanings of Gashrat at la Vitrola. 4602 St-Laurent, 9 p.m.

Wednesday: My big pick of the week would go to the bludgeoning fuckery of Italy’s Father Murphy, who make a triumphant return (they played the Suoni per il Popolo festival a couple of years back) with Perverted Justice and Flesh Entry at Casa. 4873 St-Laurent, 9 p.m., $8/$10

Current Obsession: The Entrance Band, Face the Sun

jonathan.cummins@gmail.com