by JOHNSON CUMMINS

The real fruits of this column are the e-mails from you, my adoring readership. First off, I would like to thank the overwhelming response to last week's Daughters show review, which hipped me to the definition of "expectorated." For all the people who managed to find time in their hectic D&D schedules to actually thumb through their dictionaries and then selflessly e-mail this poor old simp who writes a rock 'n' roll column in a weekly newspaper, I thank you. You have truly made my vocabulary that much richer, so give yourselves a well-deserved pat on the back.

I would also like to thank rocket scientist "Nic," who e-mailed me and thought I was a bit (ahem) off the mark in my "speed reggae" description of AIDS Wolf last week. Check this out - according to Nic, their style is actually called "noise" and not speed reggae at all. What the hell was I thinking? Thanks for the tip off there, buckaroo. Hey Nic, have you "dropped it like it's hot" with musique actuelle artist Steve Vai or the king of crunk Sam Shalabi yet? If not, you have to check them out and send me some more e-mails. But seriously, folks...

The big ticket this week is tonight, Thursday, May 19, when art-damaged noise pop (not speed reggae, I repeat, not speed reggae) band Deerhoof pull into town with Nedelle and Dead Bush at la Sala Rossa. Prepare to have your cranium crushed. Another big ticket would be Blood Brothers, The Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower and Big Business (featuring ex-members of Karp and Murder City Devils) tomorrow night at El Salon. Blood Brothers' record Crimes is a barnstormer of noise, demented falsetto screaming and some of the most fucked-up arrangements you'll ever hear. Do not miss this!

Post-punkers Pawa Up First mark Dare To Care's 20th release when they launch their debut with Ottawa's My Dad Vs. Yours at the Main Hall on Saturday night. Imagine Thinking Fellers Union with a bit of electronics and surfy lounge mixed in. Also on Saturday night, blues-punkers Jiangxi Brule will go toe to toe with Psycho Riders at the Barfly. Psycho Riders now feature Le Nombre's Nicotine behind the traps, so if you dig Nicotine's main gig, as well as the cream of the crop of Scandinavian rock, you're guaranteed to dig the PRs.

Sunday night has Kill Rock Stars recording artists The Decembrists at la Sala Rossa with Willy Mason, while Vancouver's psychobilly legends Deadcats duke it out with The Alley Dukes at Café Chaos. Hint: Deadcats have a gutbucket bass!

How's my driving? jonathan.cummins@gmail.com

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