14 Montreal shows that’ll put some spring in your step

As I’m typing this I’m shaken to the core by the recent passing of two musical giants in my world: genius producer Sir George Martin and Dead Moon drummer Andrew Loomis. Martin looms large in my book as I am a lifelong Beatles fanatic, and hence a massive fan of Sir Martin’s completely innovative production. If you doubt his powers behind the board, give “Tomorrow Never Knows” or “It’s All Too Much” a listen. Martin could accentuate a hook with a string section like nobody’s business, but he didn’t elbow in on the artists’ signature, instead allowing the character of the artist shine – and all on four fucking tracks!!!!!

Loomis will also be missed, as his commitment to the DIY community while thumping the tubs for Dead Moon is undeniable. If you want to see how the DIY ethos ages gracefully, search for the amazing 2006 Dead Moon doc Unknown Passage: The Dead Moon Story.

Thursday: A night called Fight Like a Grrrl is happening at Katacombes, featuring a collection of anarcho-, crust- and post-punk bands, namely Riot Porn, Offensive Mindset, Nightmare Collective and Chârogne. 1635 St-Laurent, 9 p.m., $6

At Casa, you can catch the band with my favourite band name — Smokes — with Year of Glad and the Yips. 4873 St-Laurent, doors at 9 p.m., $10

Turbo Haus’s Blatant Localism is in their seventh edition and has got a doozy this time around. Tonight you can catch the doomy duo Nightwitches with post-hardcore band Fatigue Kills. 5011 Notre-Dame W., 9 p.m., PWYC

If you were tardy picking up tix for Majical Cloudz at Sala, better choose one of the shows listed above as it is long sold out.

Friday: Technical Kidman launch their latest album — Something Strange Coming On the Horizon — at Casa with Scattered Clouds. 4873 St-Laurent, 9 p.m., $8/$10

Katacombes is hosting a benefit show to fight police brutality with Quebec City’s Peroxide, Montreal punk rock stalwarts Ripcordz, Blame the Name, Rat Patrol and Idiocrates. 1635 St-Laurent, 8 p.m., $8

At Turbo Haus, can catch Maxxpower, Godbless America, Gazm and White Liars. 5011 Notre-Dame W., 9 p.m., $10 (no one turned away for lack of funds)

Saturday: Start your Saturday at Sound Central to catch a show presented by l’Oeil du Tigre, which finds Toronto’s Worst Gift launching their new jammer Shitty Loser Riffs with Albatros and Glowworms. 4486 Coloniale, 4-7 p.m., $7 suggested donation

Suoni and CKUT are presenting the maelstrom of noise of Baltimore’s TRNSGNDR/VHS with Blankets, La Llorona and Urlapse at Casa. 4873 St-Laurent, 10 p.m., $6-$10/PWYC

If you haven’t been in on l’Esco’s 16-year anniversary festivities this month, you can cross that off your list tonight when Automelodi, Void Republik and Ambrose play the great Plateau bar. It’s gonna be hotsy totsy as the folks from Analogue Addiction are throwing this bash. 4467 St-Denis, 9 p.m., $8

If you missed Chârogne on Thursday for the Fight Like a Girl night, you can get a second crack at ‘em when they take up the middle slot before Bats in the Belfry at la Vitrola. The other reason you should make this Candy Crush “50s battle of the bands” event is the opening band Crimson Queens, who will be doing a tribute to the Runaways (!!!!). 4602 St-Laurent, doors at 9 p.m., $10

Sunday: Turbo Haus’s Turbo Talk series continues with Protect Yo’ Neck: Self Defense for the Art Industry featuring speakers Dave “Mr. Sign” Arnold, Kerry Williams and Amy Blackmore. 5011 Notre-Dame W., 6:30-9:30 p.m., $6

Although there is definitely a heavy-hitting show happening on Tuesday, my big pick of the week would go to post-rock legends Tortoise, who will no doubt continue to thrill at Théâtre Fairmount with Mind Over Mirrors and Last Ex. Sadly this show is for ticket-holders only — it’s totally sold out.

Tuesday: The other awesome show this week is the happy guitar-led jams of Earthless, who will channel their inner Dead with one of the best bands in the city — Christ — at le Ritz. 179 Jean-Talon W., 9 p.m., $17/$20

Finally, the Deadly Mardi weekly DIY series at Rockette continues with Fuzzy Undertones. 4479 St-Denis, 10 p.m., $5/PWYC

Current Obsession: The Beatles, Yellow Submarine (side two)
jonathan.cummins@gmail.com