by JOHNSON CUMMINS

This week, all of the really good shows are of course smack dab in the middle of the weekend, but there are a couple of good ones starting up tonight to get you ready.

Sure, tribute bands are weaker than wet Kleenex, but when it’s a tribute to da brudders from Queens—the fucking Ramones—then, gabba gabba, we accept you. Shock Treatment started up at the Missy Bar a couple of weeks back and will prove they’re not just a one-off tonight at the Barfly. Best of all, it’ll only cost you a toonie.

Over at the Casa tonight, you can check out the ultra-violent noise of Dead Bush. Sometimes shearing your head off with high frequencies and no hint of standard form, Dead Bush are definitely out to disturb and provoke, but will occasionally take it down a couple of notches with some heady experimental interludes. Also helping to bring the noise will be Green Mist and Metis Yeti. Hopefully they will get a bit of spill-over from the Chinese Stars, Foreign Islands and Montreal’s newest hype, Think About Life, a show guaranteed to be packed to the tits across the street at Sala. Decisions, decisions—what’s a hipster to do?

Once again, Barfly is three for three this weekend when Montreal thrash/power metal overlords Metallian will shred the twin guitar leads mercilessly while letting the walls of the ’fly echo with King Diamond/Bruce Dickinson falsetto vocals on Friday night. If you’re lucky, maybe they will even kick out Maiden’s “Two Minutes to Midnight” or some other gems from the NWOBHM era.

Club Lambi is the place to be for me on Friday, when Toronto’s always amazing prog/boogie rock band the Illuminati breeze through town. This trio of über-musicians prove that they never fall under the weight of their own heaviosity and deliver some serious melodies, feel-good riffs with proggy moments never overstaying their welcome. Tipping the scales will be the second-ever show from Montreal supergroup the Mongrels, featuring members of Tricky Woo, Soft Canyon, Blood Sausage, Bionic and the Local Rabbits. You’ll come for the two drummers but you’ll stay for the soulful Bel Rays/Detroit Cobras vocals. Check out why they gave Witch and Blue Cheer a good run for the money at their first show a couple of months back.

Saturday, you can check out tttttttttttt at the Barfly when they completely bum out the staff and regular clientele with teeth-gnashing and repetitive noise with the occasional freak-out weirdness. Also playing is DCO.

For gas-guzzling rock ’n’ roll on Saturday night, head down to l’Hémisphère Gauche for les Prostiputes, the Shifters and the Commandos.

Finally, on Monday, don’t miss one of Montreal’s best live bands, les Breastfeeders, when they launch their brilliant new record at le National.

I’M STILL GELLIN’ jonathan.cummins@gmail.com

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