by JOHNSON CUMMINS

To paraphrase a Charles Bukowski quote, I don’t hate McGill students, it’s just that I feel a whole lot better when they are not around. This weekend should see the collegiate crowd swarming at Parc Jean-Drapeau when the student loan sponge known as the Osheaga fest pulls into town on Saturday and Sunday.

Worried that I may become violent if subjected to any songs by Metric, as well as a general fear of over-soused McGill hipsters, I am going to opt out. Not to say that there aren’t a host of great bands off-setting the filler (Ben Harper?). On Saturday, headliners Sonic Youth are obviously not to be missed, with a set list apparently leaning heavily on the new Rather Ripped record (their best in years). Dinosaur Jr. would be nice despite their live show proving to be as exciting as watching golf or peeling paint, but if they serve up the blast of “The Lung,” then all is forgiven.

Montreal stars Malajube will easily impress, as will the Hot Snake-y sounds of Dirty Tricks and Halifax’s Wintersleep, a welcome addition to the bill. Probably the most exciting will be James Chance and the Contortions, who make an appearance in the middle of the day. Chance was pretty much the first person to put the shake in punk’s hips, long before the Rapture were even in short pants, so don’t miss him. Sunday is a bit more lacklustre, but the Flaming Lips still prove to be one of the best live bands out there and Thee Goblins-esque instrumentals of Zombie should prove to be interesting in a festival setting.

If festivals scare you as much as they do me, there are still some great shows happening this week. Did you meet new friends at the Chinese Stars show last week? Well, I’ll bet dollars to donuts it will be the exact same crowd at Friendship Cove tonight when Providence’s the White Mice and Montreal favourites Athletic Automaton play with Hamborghini (Aids Wolf side project). Also happening tonight is the screening I Know I’m Not Alone, as filmed by Beatnigs, Spearhead and Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy singer Michael Franti. Franti travels to Iraq, Palestine and Israel armed with only a video camera and guitar while doing his best Anderson Cooper. I Know I’m Not Alone is being shown at 7 p.m. at Esperenza. On Sunday, go down to Sala to check out Dopamine, who push their music to epic proportions that are sure to appeal to fans of Isis and Explosions in the Sky. They even had the balls to cover Pink Floyd’s “Echoes” on their debut record. Along for the ride is the Black Cannons.

An Albatross put in one of the best shows of last year when they obliterated Electric Tractor during their “freedom summer,” and will once again prove why they’re one of the best live bands going with young upstarts American Devices, the Expectorated Sequence and the Nervous Sleepers at Sala on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Comets on Fire will be another hot ticket, but it’s the local support of the Donkeys and Panopticon Eyelids that make this a do-not-miss.

DAVE NAVARRO MUST DIE! jonathan.cummins@gmail.com

>> Music Listings