by JOHNSON CUMMINS

This week, my inbox is filled to the gills with awesome wicked shows, so I'll spare you all my usual ramblings. So without further ado, ladies and germs... it's star time!

First up on the stacked Friday-night calendar is NYC's one-man-band sensation Radio Shock at Missy Bar. Also on hand will be those kooky funsters Cousins of Reggae and Please Don't Kill Me, who may or may not sacrifice a live didgeridoo to the gods of rock. With a ton of psychobilly and rockabilly shows taking a firm grasp on Montreal lately, the Matadors and Flesh continue the onslaught at Petit Campus on this busy Friday night. "Noisy pop fashionistas" Bad Flirt launch their CD Six Ways to Break Your Heart at Casa del Popolo on Friday with Mia Verko and the Akorn. The show is starting early and the admission is absolutely mothafuggin' free. Another launch going down on Friday night is at the new rock 'n' roll hot spot Quai des Brûmes when the Rocketeers release Aux petites heures du matin on the world. The sweat act will be les Fumants. The big show on Friday night, though, will probably be Priestess, hot off their tour with Motörhead, joining soul-slathered rockers Shikasta and the current kings of francophone rock Nitrosonique at the Main Hall. The current three-song Priestess sampler previewing their upcoming debut album, which is a serious monster, and the return of T-dot's Shikasta after the blistering show at Quai des Brûmes a couple of months back, make this a guaranteed sell-out, so show up early.

Saturday, Poxy pull all the best-looking Montrealers out to the Jupiter Room, while the ugly sorts make it down to l'Hémisphère Gauche to hear the romantic saxophone sounds of Flying Vomit and Dorothée est une salope. Hint: don't sit near the front of the stage, as there is a rumour that Flying Vomit isn't actually a band.

Sunday, ex-Kyuss/Fu Manchu stickman Brant Bjork pulls into town at the Main Hall with Dutch Oven and Césarienne pulling up the rear. Stoner dudes who are showing up for a smidgeon of Bjork's previous bands may be in for a shocker when they find out that what he's up to now is more about getting your backbone sliding than making you smoke bones, but if his last show at El Salon is any indication, this is a definite not-miss.

Tuesday marks yet another installment on the Mandatory Moustache local-band series, and this one proves to be one of their hottest bills yet. Montreal's best-kept secret, the Sunday Sinners, steam up the windows of Divan Orange with Demon's Claws, who are hot off a North American tour, and go toe to toe with the wizards of the tambourine, the Adam Brown. Again, get there early or forever be a chump - and fer Chris'sakes, bring a tambourine.

Finishing up the week is Darediablo and dark, psychedelic instrumental band Stinking Lizavetta, with local kings of instrumental heaviosity Squalor putting their new bass player through the paces on Wednesday at the Main Hall. Phew!

LET THERE BE TAMBOURINES! jonathan.cummins@gmail.com

>> Music Listings