This is the best week for Montreal shows since the weather was balmy

Hotcha! With the winter freeze still upon us, this is a time when things tend to be a little lean in the clubs. But this week is different — it’s probably one of the best weeks for shows since things were balmy. Usually I have a big pick of the week but I’m getting a brain hemorrhage just trying to pick one. Dig in kids, and say goodbye to Netflix this week.

Thursday: You will not want to miss Disappears, with heavy support of Big/Brave, once again accompanied by the über-talented Jessica Moss. Warming up the room is the debut of Voizes. Bar le Ritz PDB (179 Jean-Talon W.), 9:30 p.m., $12/$15

Friday: Okay, buckle up fuckos, ’cause this Friday is utterly packed to the tits with solid jammers:

One of my local faves, psych/shoegazers the Besnard Lakes, are launching their glimmering new piece o’ platter A Coliseum Complex Museum with Heat opening the night at Théâtre Plaza. If you want to dig a little deeper, you can click here to read the new Cult MTL interview with them. 6505 St-Hubert, 9 p.m., $17/$20

For some solid street punk in the heart of Mile Ex, head to l’Hemisphère Gauche for la Gachette, Subsistance, Uncivilized and Afre. 221 Beaubien E., 8 p.m., $7

My DJ partner Joey Napoleon will be taking the night off at Perfecto and leaving me all alone as he crushes some craniums with his fellow psychonauts in Uubbuurruu, alongside IDALG celebrating their recent debut release, as well as Beechwood Park. This is an M for Montreal co-presentation that’s part of the RVCQ film fest, which would explain why it’s happening at the Cinémathèque Québécois. 335 de Maisonneuve E., 8:30 p.m., free

The kings of punk Poison Idea are coming to town, and they’re back to slaying. Recent tours have been dodgy at best, but having checked out their latest shows on the Internets — and heard people raving about the current tour — I can safely say that this can not be missed. If you ever wondered what punk rock was supposed to sound like, it’s Poison Idea. Opening up the room at le Ritz is Child Bite, No Negative, Cleveland’s Fuck You Pay Me and DJ Hot Carl playing all the punk classics. 179 Jean-Talon W., 9:30 p.m., $15/$20

Afterwards you might want to hike it down to Katacombes for the afterparty featuring another performance from Fuck You Pay Me and Parasytes, and — best of all — Poison Idea’s Jerry A. will crawl behind the decks and do a special DJ night. 1635 St-Laurent, doors 10 p.m., show 12:30 a.m., $5/PWYC

The beautiful people at Analogue Addiction have cooked up a night at Matahari Loft to help out a courageous young lady named Jenny Lou who is going through a rough time right now and could use your help. Appearing tonight is the stacked bill of Duchess Says, Red Mass, Hellshovel, Corridor and DJ Pierre Pressure. If you would like to know more and help Jenny Lou, please peep the Facebook event here. 1673 Mont-Royal E., 9 p.m., $10 donations at your discretion

Saturday: All attendees of Poison Idea shows are requested at Katacombes at 1 p.m. for the Punk Rock Record Swap. You don’t have to be a serious vinyl nerd to enjoy these things – promise. 1635 St-Laurent, 1-5 p.m., free

While you’re Katacombes, why not hang out for the evening’s festivities, with one of the best thrash metal bands in town — Metalian — with openers Squalor, Bludgeoned and more. 1635 St-Laurent, 9 p.m., $6

Giving Metalian some serious competition is the return of the almighty Vulgar Deli as they appear at the 15th Buckfest at l’Esco with Ultravedge, Rattitude and Lysergic. This will get messy so don’t make any plans for Sunday. 4467 St-Denis, 8 p.m., $10

Montreal fave Kurt Vile and the Violaters return to the Corona with Xylouris White. Hint: grab tickets ASAP! 2490 Notre-Dame W., p.m., $29/$31

Sunday: If you can’t wait until Heavy Montreal to see Nightwish, you can catch them on the Sabbath with like-minded operatic keyboard metallists Sonata Arctica and Delain at Metropolis. 59 Ste-Catherine E., 7:30 p.m., $68/$72

Tuesday: The Deadly Mardi DIY shows series keeps kicking at Rockette with Blue Cheese and Luger. 4479 St-Denis, 10 p.m., $5/PWYC

The almighty Black Sabbath make their final stand in Montreal, but I will give it a pass and plug “Paris 1970” into my YouTube search engine for the umpteenth time and watch them when their bludgeon pulled no punches. If you’re prepared to see them without Bill Ward behind the tubs as Ozzy warbles like a pitch-corrected R2D2 while reading the lyrics from a teleprompter, then knock yourself out. The Sabs shelf life is well overdue but that does not change the fact that Black Sabbath remain one of rock ‘n’ roll’s biggest influences, and without a doubt these Brummies singlehandedly invented heavy metal. Even if Ozzy hits a few bum notes on Tuesday night, nothing can take away the massive amount of influence this band has had on music. Bell Centre (1909 Avenue des Canadiens de Montréal), 7:30 p.m., $52–$169

Current Obsession: Brian Eno, Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy

jonathan.cummins@gmail.com