Montreal psych fest Distorsion rules the weekend

Before I get to the upcoming shows this week, the real big news for slumming psych heads is the ultra rad Distorsion psych fest, which will take over the Entrepot 77 spot over the weekend, and even slide in a killer bill at Casa on Saturday night. If you would like to save some bux, you can buy a three-day pass for $40, while tickets for individual days are only $20. 

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Last week I had to announce the cancellation of a Montreal makeup show by the almighty Bikini Kill, and unfortunately the cancellations and postponements just keep coming. Japanese Breakfast had to cancel their Montreal date on Wednesday this week and now tonight’s Young Guv show with Seed Toss and Pantie Wilson at l’Esco has also been scrapped. It’s a bummer, but fear not, there are still some killer Montreal shows happening as things get sweltering in the local watering holes. 

Thursday: Tonight is a complete no-brainer as the awesome synth-driven punk of ex-Coliseum singer Ryan Patterson gets the new wavers jumpin’ with his new project Fotocrime at Bar le Ritz PDB, with solid support from Pop. 1280 — nice Jim Thompson grab! If you want to really be a trainspotting Fotocrime fan, check out their killer cover of the Government Issue’s “Jaded Eyes” and really freak out. (Punks vs. cops Montreal moment #60089: Were you at the Coliseum gig in Griffintown when the pigs shut it down?) 179 Jean-Talon W., 7 p.m., $20

If you miss the days of knapsacks, kids leaning over the stage and taking photos of guitar pedal boards and time signatures that can turn on a dime all willy-nilly like, you will want to make the nerd scene at Turbo Haüs to catch abacus rockers and touring warriors Life in a Vacuum with support from Mexico City’s Joliette with Fomo and the Last Mile. 2040 St-Denis, 8 p.m., $10/$15

Friday: I’m going to start things off for the weekend with an absolute banger that remains easy on the pocket book. If you like your heaviosity and have been looking for a good excuse to darken Foufs’ door, you can check out the Prowl record release with the guttural death grunts of Scorching Tomb, Cohesion, Scaramanaga and Shut Away. Five bands for $10! What is this, 2019? 87 Ste-Catherine E., 7 p.m., $10

If the death-grunt crunch of the aforementioned gigger is a bit much for you pencil necks, you can drown in the sea of reverberated twang for a great night of surf music going under the banner of Sizzlin’ Summer Surfaganza. There’s another cancellation due to illness: whammy bar-benders the Men in Grey Suits will not be able to make their marquee slot. In their place will be the surf and turf sounds of the Waveyard with East Coaster duo the Green Reflectors. It’s all happening at l’Esco, natch. 4461 St-Denis, 9 p.m., $10

Distorsion starts off with a bang with potty-mouthed former grant recipients Holy Fuck headlining with Grim Streaker, Crasher and Petra Glynt. This gets going at 5 p.m. 77 Bernard E., $20/$40 for a three-day pass

Happening over both Friday and Saturday nights at Sala is the Noise Not Borders Fest, featuring some international punk that is brimming with piss and vinegar. There are waaaay too many bands to mention here but the two headliners on each respective night are coming all the way from Columbia, with Lupus on Friday night and Caverna on Saturday night. This is guaranteed real-deal punk fucking rawk here folks. Also, you may want to crush your cans of PBR in the park earlier than usual as this a really early starter to try accommodate the stacked bill. 4848 St-Laurent, 5 p.m., $36 per night/$64 for a two-night pass

Saturday: If the Noise Not Borders fest is a bit too rough around the edges for you and you just want a lot less punk in your, uh, punk, you’ll want to make it down to former punk hotspot Foufs to catch pop punkin’ fart smellers Teenage Bottlerocket with Jen Razavi of the Bombpops. To be honest, Teenage Bottlerocket make the mall punk of Sum 41 sound like Darkthrone, but whatevs. 87 Ste-Catherine E., 7 p.m., $24

At Distorsion, Golden Dawn Arkestra will bring the Crowley vibe with openers Gus Englehorn, Hot Garbage, Zoon and Karma Glider all starting at the early hour of 3 p.m. (77 Bernard E.). If you’re still tripping balls by 10 p.m., head to Casa to catch the official afterparty with the always crucial Priors and Psychic Void. This gig cost around $15 at the door. (4873 St-Laurent)

Now you should definitely be stoked to catch the ultra death-beatdown of Wake, who will be headlining at Turbo Haüs, but you really, really need to get there in time to catch the first band of the night, the Great Sabatini. The “other Sabs” have jumped on the bill last-minute and this may be your only chance to see ‘em for a long-ass time. Trust me, they fucking slay, so show up early. Takin’ up the middle slots will be Executioner’s Mask and Bleeding Out. 2040 St-Denis, 8 p.m., $10/$15 

Sunday: Serious psych heads only will be primed and ready at 3 p.m. for the final day of Distorsion, featuring Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp, la Securité, Motherhood, N Nao and Larynx opening up the room. Might as well call in sick to work for next week right now. 77 Bernard E., $20/$40 for a three-day pass

Current Obsession: Elvis Presley, Elvis at Sun

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