Recent and decent

New clubs and concert venues worth checking out

by RUPERT BOTTENBERG, JOHNSON CUMMINS and JACK OATMON photos by Rachel Granofsky

Balroom 3643 St-Laurent, 282-7665, www.balroombar.com

The sign hasn’t changed too much since le Swimming became Balroom. The resemblance ends, however, at the old marquee and its blinking bulbs. Inside, the space has been transformed into a loft-style nightclub with an impressive sound system and too much leather and stainless steel to shake a stick at. The three-tiered wooden dancefloor features a suspicious amount of dancing poles and a raised booth that puts the DJ in clear command over his audience. Moody spot lighting, sturdy faux-marble tables surrounded by couches and a bottle-service clientele give the place a seedy charm à la Eyes Wide Shut. House, electro and hip hop music combined with chic bar staff earmark Balroom as a service to Montreal’s young professionals and music fanatics. Balroom is open on the weekend and generally charges $5 cover, including coat check.

B-Side 3616 St-Laurent, 844-8883

Open for just five months, B-Side is something of an aspiring rock ’n roll lounge—the classic-rock LPs and chromed low-rider bicycles on display purport a very particular punk-ish aesthetic. Large glass display cases yearn to be filled with ’80s kitsch and classic rock paraphernalia to match the music selection that, according to staff and patrons, never strays into the realms of hip hop or house. One of the best features of the bar is the fabulous rooftop terrasse, laden with wicker furniture out of Country Home and Garden and a façade front wall, giving it an installation feel. Overall, B-Side is a quaint spot that brings nouveau rebel chic to all the McGill students in Chuck Taylor All-Stars and rock-loving yuppies of lower St-Laurent.

Katacombes 1222 St-Laurent, 866-9317, www.myspace.com/katacombes

Montreal’s newest punk-rock/metal bar will officially open its doors on Nov. 3. With the closing of famous punk venue l’X, owners Janick Langlais and Claudie Boulet quickly picked up the pieces and immediately began planning a new space that would fill the void for small venues specializing in underground music. Little did the pair know that their dream of running a punk rock club would take a full two years to materialize. “A lot of the neighbours in the area were worried about a punk rock bar in the neighbourhood, and I guess got worried about the way we look,” explains Langlais. “It was kind of the same treatment when we started l’X 10 years ago. I can’t believe it’s been 10 years and we’re still dealing with the same shit.”

Katacombes is being run as a co-op, with a second floor available for welding, rehearsal spaces for bands and screenprinting, as well as plans for classes in live sound engineering and more. A relatively small room with a 165-person capacity, Katacombes is open to outside promoters, but mainly leans towards in-house booking and promotion. Bands taking the stage at the club will generally stick to the underground—punk, metal and psychobilly—and, when not hosting a live show, Katacombes will also feature different DJ nights.

Olympia 1004 Ste-Catherine E., 845-3524, www.olympiademontreal.com

The directors of the newly redone Olympia have in mind a place that can house all manner of cultural events, in a building that gracefully combines the modern and the classic. They sure as heck picked the right spot, for starters.

Upon entering the venerable venue, patrons are immediately greeted by retro chandeliers with carved wooden medallions and plaster-cast mouldings. The foyer is flanked by two newly-installed bars that fit with the symmetrical style of the vintage theatre. To the side of the entrance is a large space strewn with construction materials, which will eventually constitute a fully functional lounge. The idea is that, after a show, you’ll be able to hang out at the venue and party, unlike many other large venues where the event ends after the headlining act.

The salon is grandiose and absolutely stunning. The theatre pews have been freshly torn out, soon to be replaced by removable furniture. The slightly sloping floor and curving amphitheatre direct all attention toward the oversized stage, which is clad in beautiful art deco design that dates the theatre to the pre-war era. The spectacular view is supported by several LCD projectors and six brand new murals, which add contrast to the space without disturbing the gorgeous decoration.

With two floors and a capacity of 2,000, the Olympia is ripe for a variety of events. Future programming includes everything from hip hop, electronica, punk and rock to jazz, corporate conferences and gospel choirs. Renovation of the theatre will continue toward the New Year.

Les Saints 30 Ste-Catherine W., 875-5757, www.saintsmontreal.com

Les Saints is part of the recent rash of live venues opening up in Montreal, and although it’s only been in existence for a few short months, it’s proven to be one of the best mid-size venues around. The room is able to lend an air of intimacy to smaller shows while also providing adequate elbow room when it gets closer to its 500-person capacity. Flatscreen TVs cover the action on a stage with great sight lines, sound and lighting are state of the art and five bars are set up to avoid lengthy lines. No in-house promoters here, but les Saints has already been a favourite venue choice for local promoters Greenland and Blue Skies Turn Black.

Tribe Hyperclub 390 St-Jacques W., www.tribehyperclub.com

Stately old pubs, boxy little bistros and even banging loft parties are nothing new to Old Montreal, but with the recent, splashy arrival of Tribe, the district can now boast a spacious, exciting disco. The lighting and décor are anything but understated, but maintain a certain frosty chic nonetheless, perhaps best soaked in from the lofty mezzanine at the back. Given its location, you can be sure Tribe caters to an upscale clientele, offering sets from big-name DJs—Steve Lawler and Seb Fontaine are recent visitors. Tribe is open Thursday to Saturday, with Thursdays presently standing out as particularly happening.

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