8 Montreal shows to shatter your mind this week

For vinyl fiends like me, who love digging into the crates for buried treasure as much as sticking the needle in, this weekend will be a Valhalla. Street sales usually only produce cheap tube socks and slightly overpriced road dogs but this weekend’s Mont-Royal street sale has two worthy stops, and one mandatory Mile End detour. First up is the Soundcentral sidewalk sale happening at Mont-Royal and St-Dominique on Friday and Saturday, featuring a ton of cheap treats that should appeal to the dyed in the wool collector as well as the throng of newbies just dipping their digits into the cool vinyl pool.

After scoring some finds there, you can make your way to the Aux 33 Tours’s street sale fare further east on Mont-Royal, but over at their Mile End warehouse, they’re selling off over 60,000 records for a buck a pop! That’s happening today and running until Saturday.

Thursday: If you want to see just how far punk rock can be pushed from its cookie cutter state, the fine peeps at Slut Island have carved out quite a bill with Providence’s Downtown Boys with Ballistic Queen Scream, les Temps Liquides, Sigh Down One and the new kids on the block Flat Teeth. La Vitrola (4602 St-Laurent), 9 p.m.

Friday: Stalwarts of the Montreal underground scene the Mighty Ffud get downright giggy, with Sunminds, fellow legends Sawtooth and Grand Splendid. Petit Campus (57 Prince-Arthur E.), 7:30 p.m., $7

For a night of searing punk rock, catch Chicago’s the Wrong with Oops and the Zigs. Ask a back packed punk for the location. 9 p.m., $5-$7/PWYC

There are two big picks this week and the first one definitely goes to Neil Hagerty with Drainolith and Fatter Dust at Casa. Hagerty should be considered indie royalty. He spun my noggin through his work with two of my faves, Pussy Galore and Royal Trux. Like all great artists though, Hagerty continues to evolve and has never stooped to play the nostalgia card, so best expect the unexpected. 4873 St-Laurent, 9 p.m., $10

Saturday: The World Provider has been playing a bit of possum lately but Cult MTL writer Malcolm Fraser & co. are back for the 10th anniversary of Hochelaga’s Atomic Café, with openers Mermaids. 3606 Ontario E., 9 p.m.

For something even darker, dig into the black metal of Sortilegia with Gevurah and Haven, just down the street at la Vitrola. 4602 St-Laurent, 9 p.m., $11

Wednesday: If you’re a person who used to sport hot-rod flames and are currently nursing a pronounced beer gut, you’re going to want to go to the psychobilly freakout of Reverend Horton Heat, with the perfect openers, Nekromantix and the Brains, at the perfect venue for the Rev: Foufs. 87 Ste-Catherine E., 8:30 p.m., $25

Finally my tie for big pick of the week goes to the massive collective Calexico, who combine post-rock with classic Americana twang and mariachi. Corona Theatre (2490 Notre-Dame W.), 8 p.m., $32
 
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