The best music fest in town is here

Alright you puds, I’m gonna put a sock in it here as our best fest — Suoni per il Popolo — is already underway and I don’t want to waste too much bandwidth blithering on. Suoni remains one of the most progressive and eclectic festivals happening anywhere and we should be pinching ourselves that it happens annually right in our own backyard. Although Suoni definitely rules the roost this week, and for the rest of the month, there is also plenty happening off the beaten path.

Thursday: Sala will be packed to the tits when legendary Belgian punks the Kids unleash their bratty and catchy kid noise with Proxy, Pale Lips and Torment. 4848 St-Laurent, 8:30 p.m., $12

For an indier night, you can catch Crocodiles, Shark Week and Sunfields at Brasserie Beaubien, which will forever be known as the Brass from this moment forward. 73 Beaubien E., 9 p.m., $10/$13

Easily the heaviest gig of the week will go to New York’s Profound Lore recording artists Psalm Zero with Hellenica (which is the evilest of all fonts), Jugurtha and Night Time at the always-sketchy Playhouse. 5656 Parc, 9 p.m.

Local shoegazers who have done quite well outside of our burg, No Joy, release their new pedal-pushing jammer at le Ritz with Beaver’s joint Country and Night Squirts. 179 Jean-Talon W., 9:30 p.m., $10/$13

Friday: Get an early start to the weekend at BBAM when the Poptones Vocal Ensemble get downright rock and rolly with their harmonies. They’re named after a P.I.L. jam, by gummy! (Don’t be late, as the start time is 8 p.m. sharp.) 3250 St-Jacques W., 8 p.m., pass-the-hat

A night of indie rock and good ol’ fashioned psych like Momma used to bake will be served up piping hot with Notta Comet, Odd Limbs and Tonnes, but you’ll have to ask a fixed bike enthusiast for the location. 9 p.m., $5

A guaranteed rager is sure to happen at Casa with Un Blonde, HFX/T.O. CROSSS, Toronto’s Ice Cream and DJ Honest Lake keeping you on the straight and narrow. 4873 St-Laurent, 9 p.m., $6

Saturday: Now here’s a jewel in Suoni’s crown: a solo performance from Dinosaur Jr. shredder J. Mascis with help from his heavy friends Matt Valentine and Birds of Paradise. La Sala Rossa (4848 St-Laurent), 8:30 p.m., $23

For a night of meat and potatoes punk and rawk, can catch Guttrot, Devora and Scud and the Grimes at Piranha Bar. 680 Ste-Catherine W., 9:30 p.m., $5

J Mascis continues to ring Suoni’s bell when he teams up with members of godspeed you! black emperor at la Vitrola under his occasional moniker Heavy Blanket with ex-Quest for Fire psychonauts Comet Control and Slow Dawn. Expect guitar leads galore. 4602 St-Laurent, 8:30 p.m., $13

For a night that probably best describes what Suoni is really all about, you can catch the free jazz of Italy’s Jooklo Duo with Shining Wizard, featuring Suoni stalwarts Alex St. Onge and St-Leonard underwear model Sam Shalabi. Casa del Popolo (4873 St-Laurent), 8:30 p.m., $10

Local band the Hazelles come out of hiding just long enough to put on one more show before calling it quits. You can wave goodbye at (ahem) the Brass with the Brabazons and a rare appearance from local collective We R Dying to Kill U. 73 Beaubien E.

The Hazelles has one ex-Starvin’ Hungry member behind the traps, but the rest of them are part of Half Measures, playing the Barfly with Kensico. 4062 St-Laurent, 10 p.m.

Monday: Oddly enough my big pick of the Suoni fest this week is a local trio that flipped my wig when I checked them out on the Internet machine. Don’t miss a chance to catch the ultra heavy and inventive Big Brave with Jessica Moss and the always-awesome Christ. I foresee great things for this trio of fuzzy faces. Casa del Popolo (4873 St-Laurent), 8 p.m., $8

Tuesday: You might want to call the babysitter in as the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion returns to Montreal at Fairmount Theatre with We Are Hex. 5240 Parc, 9 p.m., $23

Easily one of the most unsung bands in the city is the fugged up racket from Crabe who will fry your frontal lobes with Night Mom and Harsh Reality. Casa del Popolo (4873 St-Laurent), 8 p.m., $6

Wednesday: A great start to this packed hump night would be to catch the screening of Salad Days: A Decade of Punk in Washington. Foufounes Electriques (87 Ste-Catherine E.), 7:30 p.m., $8

Local musical giant Colin Stetson will get reedy with his partner in crime Sarah Neufeld on their first night of their two nighter with Ryan Sawyer at Sala. This is sure to be a Suoni highlight. 4848 St-Laurent, 8:30 p.m., $15

Speaking of local bands that have been laying low lately Dead Wife are back from hiatus, and this time it’s personal. Opening will be Ursula, Gashrat and Cave Girl. La Vitrola (4602 St-Laurent), 9 p.m., $7

Finally, my big pick of the week isn’t a rock band at all but stand-up comedian and libertarian Doug Stanhope, who will have us rolling in the aisles at Club Soda. If you dig the brilliant and sidesplitting observations of the late, great Bill Hicks you cannot miss this!!!! 1225 St-Laurent, 7:30 p.m., $45

 

Current Obsession: Pink Floyd, Obscured by Clouds

jonathan.cummins@gmail.com