by JOHNSON CUMMINS

Tonight is a big night as local pottymouths Launie Anderssohn launch their big debut The Big Awesome Vietnam Party. Croon along to the tender musical missives that are “Homo Milk,” “Leper Love” and their trilogy dedicated to dick jokes, “I Ruined My Dick,” “Cockstand” and “Mister Lee Has to Pee.” They will be playing (oddly enough, just a stone’s throw away from fellow poet Leonard Cohen’s old digs) at Divan Orange.

Tonight, Arcade Fire fans will be doing cartwheels over Bell Orchestre with Clogs and Snailhouse at Théâtre Plaza, while people who want to maim and kill Arcade Fire fans will more then likely be catching Children of Bodom, Trivium and Amon Amarth at Medley. This is a stacked Thursday to be sure, but for my money, the big show tonight would have to be River City Tanlines (with Alicja from the Lost Sounds) and one of Montreal’s finest bands, the Sunday Sinners, in the tiny confines of Casa del Popolo. Show up early to guarantee entry, and while you early birds are biding your time, check out Rheostatic Dave Bidini as he does his version of Farley Mowat for hip people and gives a book reading on hockey, being Canadian and how he spent his grant money—or something like that—between 5 and 7 p.m.

Friday is a big one as Islands are doing another one of their “super-terrific-secret shows” at Zoobizarre (either that or they are just really bad at booking shows in advance). Bring your Peruvian hat and any type of percussion instrument you can lay your grubby mitts on, and jam along with the worldbeat sounds of ex-Wikkid Lixx members Nick Diamonds and Jaime Thompson. Avid Sting fan Diamonds insists that nothing would tickle him more than to see dreadlocked Sublime fans try and keep time to his Afro-Cuban “riddims” with homespun percussion instruments, so grab an egg beater and get in the groove. Will Diamond slip into his Fela Kuti trance as he’s wigging out on a talking drum in 6/8 time? Show up and find out.

Saturday, Comme un Homme Libre play with Call Me Poupée (whose new record is produced by DJ Ram) and France’s Suprêmes Dindes at Club Soda. Sunday, the amazing Immortal Lee County Killers return to town, with a new B3 player joining their ranks, at l’Hemisphère Gauche. Opening will be Thee Shams and Brian Seeger. Don’t miss!

The next installment of the Mandatory Moustache local series on Tuesday features Kickers, hallucinogenic advocates the Besnard Lakes and my grunge band—the Canadian Music Makers (we’ll be launching our new record Makin’ Music). That’s happening at Divan Orange, and jumpin’ Jiminy, bring earplugs!

Wednesday night is Shalabi Effect’s first of a two-night stint at the newly hatched hip venue Friendship Cove. “The Cove” takes over where the Electric Tractor left off and, despite being run by a couple of drunks, should prove to be one of the hottest joints in town. Opening for Shalabi Effect will be Dreamcatcher and the Unireverse. Alternately, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings are at la Sala Rossa the same night.

DIAMONDS ON THE SOLES OF HER SHOES… jonathan.cummins@gmail.com

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