Written and compiled by Karen R.
The main focus in concerts this week is Osheaga, so in true CKUT fashion we thought we’d bring some of the smaller, local acts on the bill that we think are worth checking out to your attention. And don’t think we’ve forgotten about the before and after. You’re going to need some pre and post festival music to transition you in and out of the big weekend in style, right? Well, we’ve got that covered too. No need to thank us, it’s just what we do.
Thursday July 28
Photo by Emily Kai Bock
Why not start off your long weekend of music with Grimes @ The Sala Rossa (4848 Boulevard Saint-Laurent)
If haunting vocals, loop pedals and drum machines are your thing then let Claire Boucher aka Grimes, ghost-child songstress of Mile End and Arbutus Records fame spook and entertain you tonight with fellow hipster darlings Gobble Gobble (Edmonton, AB) and Pat Jordache (Montreal). Tickets $8. Doors 8:30pm.
OSHEAGA PICKS:
Friday July 29
Photo by Greg Abramowitz
The Barr Brothers (Scene des Arbres) 9:10 – 9:55 pm
Recently signed to Secret City Records, the Barr Brothers are joining the ranks of Montreal independent music scene royalty (Patrick Watson, Miracle Fortress) with a self titled album of their deliciously raw and raspy blues meets experimental folk rock set to release on September 27th. But don’t worry if you can’t catch them at Osheaga, because they’ll be touring Québec with Polaris Prize shortlisters Timber Timbre (Toronto) throughout the month of October. Or, if you just can’t wait, you can see them BOTH THIS WEEKEND, as Timber Timbre are also hitting up Osheaga this Friday at the Scene Verte at 8:45pm.
Saturday July 30
Jesuslesfilles. Photo courtesy of the artist
Sex drugs and rock n’ roll en francais s’il vous plait. Montreal’s Jesuslesfilles will be serving up their co-ed style rock n’ roll in all of its jangly and raucous goodness at one hour and ten minutes past high noon, get it? Seam ripping and teeth knashing likely. Get ready to sweat. Scene des Arbres 1:10-1:40
BRAIDS. Photo courtesy of the artist.
Braids are annoyingly cool. The kind of annoying that makes you hate them because you secretly want in the band and so you can’t hate them, because their perfectly layered rhythms, glittering textures and alternatingly ambient / anxious get –under- your- skin- melodies are impossible to resist. So get your love-hate on while you dance (and resist the urge to dance out of jealous spite) at the Scene Verte 3:10 – 3:50
SUUNS. Photo courtesy of the artist.
Pitchfork likes to call what Suuns do a marriage of space prog and krautrock and NME hailed them as the #1 Best New Band New Band of 2011. Journalistic labels and critical acclaim aside, word on the street is these locals puts on one hell of a live show. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to have a nervous alien sing quietly in your ear over a hearty dose of sub bass, hand claps, distortion and glitch, head over to the Scene des Arbres at 5:20-5:55 and check them out.
Sunday July 31
ELEPHANT STONE. Photo courtesy of the artist.
Elephant Stone is psyche pop at its purest. Feel good melodies? Check. Sunshine harmonies? Check. Compelling basslines and crystal clear guitar riffs? Check and check. Oh yeah, and infectious sitar runs feature prominently. That’s right, I said sitar. Need I say more? They’re the perfect outdoor festival band. Positive vibes and flashbacks to eras you never lived through guaranteed. Scene des Arbres 1:10-1:30
THE LUYAS. Photo courtesy of the artist.
The Luyas are former/current members of Torngat, Miracle Fortress, Bell Orchestre, Arcade Fire, and SS Cardiacs aka a veritable arsenal of Montreal indie music heavyweights. But that’s no reason to be intimated. Check out their quirky, multi-instrumental folk rock at the Scene des Arbres 4:00 – 4:30
Monday August 1
GARDENS AND VILLA
Ease the Osheaga comedown with Gardens and Villa Monday night @ Casa del Popolo (4873 Boulevard Saint-Laurent). Their self-titled debut is anchored in heavy synths, drums machines and electronic beats as these Santa Barbara natives offer up a solid take on 80’s synth pop, 90’s Britpop and R&B, with a liberal injection of the wooden flute. Sound good? Sounds gooooood.
Tuesday August 2
KALMUNITY. Photo courtesy of the artist.
Improv Tuesday! Your Tuesdays are about to get a lot cooler and a lot more spontaneous. Check out Mardi Spaghetti Jazz Improv, at Le Cagibi 9pm. FREE Or head over to Les Bobards for Kalmunity Live Organic Improv Tuedays, 8pm, $8
Wednesday August 3
All Star Tour with Emmure and guests
Wednesday looks like it’s going to be a day for metal, screamo and hardcore fans at the Theatre Olympia, courtesy of the All Star Tour with Emmure and guests. After perusing many a terrifying myspace page, it is safe to say that this extensive lineup will rot your soul and make your grandmother cry. A lot. So I’m pretty sure that means it’s going to be good. $37.18 1:00 pm. (Guess Satan likes to get an early start).
Concert Listings
The main focus in concerts this week is Osheaga, so in true CKUT fashion we thought we’d bring some of the smaller, local acts on the bill that we think are worth checking out to your attention. And don’t think we’ve forgotten about the before and after. You’re going to need some pre and post festival music to transition you in and out of the big weekend in style, right? Well, we’ve got that covered too. No need to thank us, it’s just what we do.
Thursday July 28
Photo by Emily Kai Bock
Why not start off your long weekend of music with Grimes @ The Sala Rossa (4848 Boulevard Saint-Laurent)
If haunting vocals, loop pedals and drum machines are your thing then let Claire Boucher aka Grimes, ghost-child songstress of Mile End and Arbutus Records fame spook and entertain you tonight with fellow hipster darlings Gobble Gobble (Edmonton, AB) and Pat Jordache (Montreal). Tickets $8. Doors 8:30pm.
http://www.myspace.com/boucherville
http://www.myspace.com/leatherjowels
http://www.myspace.com/mountainmanpatjordache
OSHEAGA PICKS:
Friday July 29
Photo by Greg Abramowitz
The Barr Brothers (Scene des Arbres) 9:10 – 9:55 pm
Recently signed to Secret City Records, the Barr Brothers are joining the ranks of Montreal independent music scene royalty (Patrick Watson, Miracle Fortress) with a self titled album of their deliciously raw and raspy blues meets experimental folk rock featuring the stylings of local harpist extraordinaire Sara Page, set to release on September 27th. But don’t worry if you can’t catch them at Osheaga, because they’ll be touring Québec with Polaris Prize shortlisters Timber Timbre (Toronto) throughout the month of October. Or, if you just can’t wait, you can see them BOTH THIS WEEKEND, as Timber Timbre are also hitting up Osheaga this Friday at the Scene Verte at 8:45pm.
http://www.youtube.com/barrbrother
Saturday July 30
Photo courtesy of the artist
Jesuslesfilles
Sex drugs and rock n’ roll en francais s’il vous plait. Montreal’s Jesuslesfilles will be serving up their co-ed style rock n’ roll in all of its jangly and raucous goodness at one hour and ten minutes past high noon, get it? Seam ripping and teeth knashing likely. Get ready to sweat. Scene des Arbres 1:10-1:40
http://www.myspace.com/jesuslesfilles
Photo courtesy of the artist
Braids
Braids are annoyingly cool. The kind of annoying that makes you hate them because you secretly want in the band and so you can’t hate them, because their perfectly layered rhythms, glittering textures and alternatingly ambient / anxious get –under- your- skin- melodies are impossible to resist. So get your love-hate on while you dance (and resist the urge to dance out of jealous spite) at the Scene Verte 3:10 – 3:50
http://www.myspace.com/braidsmusic
Photo courtesy of the artist
Suuns
Pitchfork likes to call what Suuns do a marriage of space prog and krautrock and NME hailed them as the #1 Best New Band New Band of 2011. Journalistic labels and critical acclaim aside, word on the street is these locals puts on one hell of a live show. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to have a nervous alien sing quietly in your ear over a hearty dose of sub bass, hand claps, distortion and glitch, head over to the Scene des Arbres at 5:20-5:55 and check them out.
http://www.myspace.com/suuns_
Sunday July 31
Photo courtesy of the artist
Elephant Stone
Elephant Stone is psyche pop at its purest. Feel good melodies? Check. Sunshine harmonies? Check. Compelling basslines and crystal clear guitar riffs? Check and check. Oh yeah, and infectious sitar runs feature prominently. That’s right, I said sitar. Need I say more? They’re the perfect outdoor festival band. Positive vibes and flashbacks to eras you never lived through guaranteed. Scene des Arbres 1:10-1:30
http://www.myspace.com/elephantstoneonline
Photo courtesy of the artist
The Luyas
The Luyas are former/current members of Torngat, Miracle Fortress, Bell Orchestre, Arcade Fire, and SS Cardiacs aka a veritable arsenal of Montreal indie music heavyweights. But that’s no reason to be intimated. Check out their quirky, multi-instrumental folk rock at the Scene des Arbres 4:00 – 4:30
http://www.myspace.com/theluyas
Monday August 1
Ease the Osheaga comedown with Gardens and Villa Monday night @ Casa del Popolo (4873 Boulevard Saint-Laurent). Their self-titled debut is anchored in heavy synths, drums machines and electronic beats as these Santa Barbara natives offer up a solid take on 80’s synth pop, 90’s Britpop and R&B, with a liberal injection of the wooden flute. Sound good? Sounds gooooood.
http://www.myspace.com/gardensandvilla
Tuesday August 2
Kalmunity Collective Photo courtesy of artist
Improv Tuesday! Your Tuesdays are about to get a lot cooler and a lot more spontaneous. Check out Mardi Spaghetti Jazz Improv, at Le Cagibi 9pm. FREE Or head over to Les Bobards for Kalmunity Live Organic Improv Tuedays, 8pm, $8
http://www.myspace.com/mardispaghetti
http://www.myspace.com/kalmunity
Wednesday August 3
Wednesday looks like it’s going to be a day for metal, screamo and hardcore fans at the Theatre Olympia, courtesy of the All Star Tour with Emmure and guests. After perusing many a terrifying myspace page, it is safe to say that this extensive lineup will rot your soul and make your grandmother cry. A lot. So I’m pretty sure that means it’s going to be good. $37.18 1:00 pm. (Guess Satan likes to get an early start).
http://www.myspace.com/emmure
http://www.olympiademontreal.com/en/
On their new album, Hold/Still, Suuns take darkness as their muse, filtering their post-punk creations through a dimly-lit room with industrial electronics and distorted rock grooves delivering heavy punches on the listener. The whole album finds uniqueness in its ability to combine dense production tactics with unpredictable songwriting. Certain moments value building tension as synthesizers crackle with distortion highlighting the driving beats. Rather than sending the subdued tension into the territory of raging, guitar-heavy choruses, the band seeks contrast in their ability to create visceral atmospheres for their lead singer’s enlightening falsetto. The band effortlessly combines guitar-based rock music with sounds of Montreal’s underground resulting in one of the most interesting contemporary releases of the first half of the year.
