by JOHNSON CUMMINS

A lot of Montrealers start to batten down the hatches at the first sign of November frost—up until about halfway through December, when the cabin fever takes hold. To see you through the first flush of cold, here are a couple of amazing rockumentaries and concert DVDs for the frostbitten rocker to curl up in front of.

End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones: One of the best rockumentaries ever made—period. I always knew these guys weren’t the brightest bulbs on the marquee, but jeez Louise. Marky is bordering on retarded, Johnny is a right-wing Republican who thought Ronald Reagan was America’s greatest president, Joey has severe OCD and Dee Dee… oh, Dee Dee. This makes Marky’s own documentary Ramones Raw seem just moronic. The definitive documentary on one of rock ’n’ roll’s best and most influential bands.

Slayer: Still Reigning: Okay, here’s the dealy-o. Slayer revisit the ultimate speed-metal record, 1986’s Rain in Blood, in 1994, and actually manage to play the whole record, from “Angel of Death” to “Raining Blood,” five minutes faster than the original 30-minute masterpiece. How heavy is it? Well, guess what stage prop they use for “Raining Blood.” Extras include Araya and co. talking about the band, with extra footage of “War Ensemble” etc. It just doesn’t get any heavier than “It’s raining blood from a laceration in the sky.”

Other hot DVDs worth a peep are Turbonegro, the Movie: You See Me Laughin’, featuring R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough and more of the Fat Possum posse, and Just an American Boy: A Film About Steve Earle.

If you are able to pull yourself away from the tube, there are some shows this week that are essential. For those who like it hard and heavy, Black Dahlia Murder, the End and Life Once Lost are at El Salon tonight. Make sure you get there in time for Ottawa’s the End, as their last record of epic tech-metal is one of the finest things to come out on the Relapse label.

Foufounes Électriques’s Dans le Garage series continues with the estrogen-fueled rock ’n’ roll of Comme un Homme Libre on Friday. Psychedelic band the Modey Lemon successfully marries Sabbath riffs and Suicide static—what more do you need? Check them out Tuesday at the newly renovated Petit Campus, with the Apes opening up. Also happening on Tuesday night is the triumphant return of Dillinger Escape Plan, still touring on the strength of the awesome Miss Machine. Dillinger’s style has often been imitated but you have to check out why they are still the kings of extreme technical metal. Along for the ride are Hella, Between the Buried and Me and Horse the Band at la Tulipe.

Wednesday is a big day as one of the most influential improv bands around right now, No Neck Blues Band, play la Sala Rossa with Michael Chapman and Rivers and Mountains. Better get tickets for this early, if you don’t want to risk missing this legendary psychedelic freak-out band.

HOTCHA! jonathan.cummins@gmail.com

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