Pouzza Fest remains punk as fug

You would think there would be one week during the warmer months when there are no festivals, but NO. This week is no exception with not one but two major festivals happening within our burg and just a short jaunt away.

First off is the Pouzza fest, which seems to be growing exponentially with every passing year but is still keeping the tradition of choosing small venues within a short walk from each other and remaining punk as fug.

The second festival happening just a short distance from our backyard is the elder statesmen of local area festivals, the musique actuelle fest in Victoriaville, which has been pushing the boundaries of experimental music for 32 years and is still able to curate a program that is more than worth the drive.

Friday: Pouzza gets underway with plenty happening in the lower St-Laurent (do people still call it “the Main”?). The definite gigger though would be at Katacombes for Boids, who will destroy at 12:30 a.m. 87 Ste-Catherine E., 12:30 a.m., $20

Off of the well-beaten festival path will be Analogue Addiction’s night at l’Esco with the stomping ooze of Blue Cheese, the Hazy Tones, Lake Saint-Jean and Power Cie. 4461 St-Denis, 9 p.m., $10

Saturday: If you consider Analogue Addiction a truly trustworthy promoter, you will want to go to their second show this weekend at l’Esco to see Silver Dapple, who launch their new jammer with Moody Boots and the gigginest DJ in town, Mathieu Beauséjour. 4461 St-Denis, 9 p.m., $10

Although Pouzza definitely have things locked down in the punk department, record collectors who have paid a pretty penny for the This Is Boston Not L.A. comp will definitely want to check hardcore/post-punk legends the Proletariat, who make a quick return to town with ODD, the Repulsives, Body Break and Vitex at la Vitrola. Guaranteed this crowd will not give a toss who Face to Face is. 4602 St-Laurent, 9 p.m., $12

Pouzza really kicks into high gear over the next couple of days so I’ll just list my picks in one sudden surge. Ready? You will definitely want to get down to the Beer Garden at de Maisonneuve and Clark to check out indie Can-con legends Duotang at the ungodly hour of 3:30 p.m. Afterwards you can continue to drain some cold ones until Chixdiggit at 7:45 p.m. The real deal of the festival though is that local riff hounds Barn Burner will reunite for one last local show at Foufs followed shortly by Dead Fucking Last, also at Foufs.

This punk thing is all well and good but my big pick of the week (one that will have older people with Throbbing Gristle tattoos jumping in their car) is Merzbow with Mats Gutstafsson and Blasz Bandi at Colisée Desjardins in Victoriaville. This will be some Grade A noise and skronk and will make your friend who sings through a Fisher Price mic into some guitar pedals over a “drone” look like a chump.

Sunday: This is the final day of Pouzza and they are definitely saving their best for last, starting at Foufs with the fuzzed out drive of Colonel Sun at 5:45 p.m. You can then make the short skip over to the Beer Garden for Wear Wolves at 7 p.m. or stay put at Foufs to catch Laval at 7:15 p.m. Foufs is definitely the place to be when Dig It Up reunites for one last blast at their expert pop punk before Cancer Bats put some gnashing in yer teeth.

Monday: Although Pouzza is officially done they will serve up one more gig at Barfly for the scrambled out of towners with the Newmans, Analeptics and Planter. This will be hungover as fug. 4062 St-Laurent, 9 p.m., $5

Those who know space is the place will definitely want to show up for the new joint by ex-members of Disappears, Facs, with opener Yoo Doo Right at Casa. This should be packed despite it being a Monday, and the real reason this should be all asses and elbows is that the middle slot is being taken up by Jessica Moss, who is straight-up killing it these days. 4873 St-Laurent, 8 p.m. $10/$13

Wednesday: If you thought all good shoegaze came from Creation Records, you really missed out, as some of the best shoegaze called Hamilton, Ontario’s Sonic Unyon home. Don’t miss the tripped out gaze of Sianspheric when they do battle with Pia Fraus and Tiajuna Taxi at l’Esco. 4461 St-Denis, 9 p.m., $9/$12

 

Current Obsession: Calexico, Garden Ruin

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