16 shows that’ll flip yer lid this week

Holy mack, it seems that half the time I tap out these little missives, I’m pimpin’ another festival in town. Just as RIDM starts to wrap things up, M for Montreal is already underway with their 10th edition happening over the next three days. There’s tons of great stuff to catch here, so if you can ignore the glitterati with the passes dangling from their necks, there are some definite jewels sticking out from M4M’s eclectic roster.

Thursday: Ex-Hot Spring, one-time rapper Gigi French will exercise her chanteuse side with Bobby Dove at l’Esco. 4467 St-Denis, 9:30 p.m., $8

POP Montreal and RIDM join forces for a party at Ancienne Ecole des Beaux-Arts de Montreal with Nancy Pants, Cheap Wig and Tess Roby. 3450 St-Urbain, 10 p.m., free

Down at the good ol’ Turbo Haus, you can catch Yardlets, the Dying Arts, the Motorleague and Dead Messenger. Hey, hold the phone Mabel. Dead Messenger is playing twice on Thursday night? These guys are going to have to dash quickly to make both of these gigs. 5011 Notre-Dame W., 9:30 p.m., $10

Friday: M4M keeps things popping at Divan Orange with a Greenland/Evenko showcase featuring the OBGMs, le Trouble, Sate, Dead Messenger and Modern Space. 4234 St-Laurent, 8:30 p.m., $13

All Ramones fans are to report to the Piranha Club for Quebec rock City’s Ramones tribute band Blitzkrieg Boys with Sade Slavey, the Bombs and Chucky Macdonald. 680 Ste-Catherine W., 8:30 p.m., $10/$12

One of the busiest bands in the city, Birds of Paradise, launch a seven-inch and cassette with their M4M show at l’Esco. Opening is Surf Dad’s, Oh No Yoko and Night Beats (killer name!) 4467 St-Denis, 9 p.m.

Another M4M rager is We Are Wolves at Sala, but you definitely don’t want to miss Yonatan Gat, who may or may not set up in front of Sala’s bar. Also playing is Idalg and Corridor. 4848 St-Laurent, 9 p.m., $15

If you remember bands from the ’90s and the aughts who remember the ’80s, you’ll want to catch local dandies the Dears with We Are Monroe at Fairmount. It will be a night to remember! 5240 Parc, 8:30 p.m., $25/$28

Local promoters with heart, Blue Skies Turn Black, announce their class of ’15, including Hua Li, Technical Kidman, Look Vibrant, Nancy Pants, Gulfer and Po Lazarus, at le Ritz (natch). 179 Jean-Talon W., 8:30 p.m., $10

Saturday: All of this festival business is important indeed, but the most important gig happens on Saturday night: the annual birthday gig for Half Measures’ lead singer Amanda, who asked her buds Vulgar Deli, the Adhaeros and Ashtray Heart to help come and blow out her candles at Barfly (where else?!). 4062 St-Laurent, 9 p.m.

For some molten metal, you can catch Exes for Eyes with Bornbroken, Distort Head and Graveyard Strippers at Turbo Haus. 5011 Notre-Dame W., 9 p.m., $10

Probably Montreal’s longest-in-the-tooth band, American Devices, celebrate 35 years of fuggin’ up your skull at Brasserie Beaubien with some help by young and ornery types Crabe (who learned well sitting on the laps of the Devices), Harsh Reality and Pretty Boys. 73 Beaubien E., 9 p.m., $7/PWYC

Sheer Agony launches their debut LP with openers Homeshake, Un Blonde and Potion at Sala. 4848 St-Laurent, 8 p.m., $7

It just wouldn’t be M4M if Duchess Says weren’t making an appearance, so rest assured they’re slotted to play Club Soda with Chocolat, Beaver’s joint Country and Organ Mood. 1225 St-Laurent, 8 p.m., $15/$18

For a bit of Montreal old-school, you can catch the reheated version of the Nils with Barrasso and Death Proof at Katacombes. 1635 St-Laurent, 10 p.m., $5/$10

Wednesday: If you ever wanted to see a room of people who still take Pitchfork seriously and still think Coachella is cool, you can catch ’80s revivalists Health as they shake and saunter to their tired hits with Picture Plane at le Ritz. Sadly this will probably be packed. 179 Jean-Talon W., 9:30 p.m., $15/$18

Current Obsession: Big Black, Atomizer

Jonathan.cummins@gmail.com