by JOHNSON CUMMINS

Once again, there are so many shows happening this week, I can’t possibly waste space with my usual ramblings about my deep-rooted hatred of Dave Navarro or the absolute joy of collecting macrame owls. Total fucking bummer! Okay, I’ve already blathered on long enough, so on with the shows!

Tonight, Thursday, April 27 at Quai des Brumes, it’s Demon’s Claws and Turpentine Brothers. Most of you are probably already hip to the Gun Club/Cramps garage sounds of “the Claw,” but you really shouldn’t miss the out-of-towners Turpentine Brothers. Their record We Don’t Care About Your Good Times, out on Alive, is some fierce rock ’n’ roll done right. Also happening tonight, just like the last Thursday of every month, is the second installment of Montreal’s premier heavy psych night at Zoobizarre, Come Together, hosted by DJ Transpleasantexpress. Expect psych garage like the 13th Floor Elevators and the Velvet Underground, the krautrock of Can and Kraftwerk, the minimalist electronics of Suicide and freak-out stuff like Japan’s Acid Mothers Temple and Ghost. To enhance the trip, DJ Transpleasantexpress will also project films by Kenneth Anger, Andy Warhol, Jordan Belson and Jack Smith for you to get your freak on.

Friday night is of course packed as usual, but a hot one would be at le Va et Vient with the Hot Springs as they break in their new replacement drummer, Ann from Kickers. The not-so-typical surf sounds of Surferigno and the psychobilly stomp of Bloodshot Bill take up residence at the Playhouse, while the Murray Street Band lay down some skronk and freak-out jams up the street at Toc Toc. Finally, Arch Enemy, Chimaira, God Forbid and Hate Eternal play the ultimate ska fest at le Medley on Friday.

Acoustic punks from Vancouver the Doers (Mike Watt recorded with them!) make a triumphant return to town and meet up with the best no-wave electronic band from Sudbury, Varge!, at le Divan Orange on Saturday night, with Thundra and Whitewine rounding off the bill. Also happening on Saturday is Starvin Hungry playing directly down the street at Barfly (the best I have ever seen SH is at Barfly—and I’ve seen them a lot). If you haven’t seen this ridiculously underrated band, check them out tonight, as this should prove to be awesome.

On Sunday, check out some gas-guzzling rock with Rat Traps, the Guilty Hearts and Go Go Teasers at the current rock ’n’ roll hotspot, l’Escogriffe.

One last thing. The venue for the A Life Once Lost, Cephalic Carnage, Gorgeous, Through the Eyes of the Dead and Cancer Bats on Monday has changed from El Salon to Foufounes, so finally, here’s your excuse to go back there.

NEXT WEEK: THE WORST MOVIE EVER MADE… jonathan.cummins@gmail.com

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