No cars go

by JOHNSON CUMMINS

I guess the big event for some this week would be the Arcade Fire’s string of five shows in the comfy confines of Ukrainian Federation between Tuesday and Saturday. Many of you out there are probably wetting yourselves over this rare opportunity to see Montreal’s biggest band ever since April Wine but, well, I just ain’t feelin’ it. Now, understand that I like my pop music as much as the next guy, maybe even more, but the Arcade Fire just seem to strike me as this generation’s James Taylor, and like Mr. Taylor, are about as exciting to me as the colour beige.

Before their entire fan base of condo dwellers and hip, urbane iPod people start flooding my inbox with venom, I will extend this olive branch. For you slowpokes out there who didn’t grab tickets while the gettin’ was good, there’s still hope for you. Although these shows have been sold out for weeks, there will be 50 tickets released the day of each show at l’Oblique Records on Rivard. For those lucky few who did manage to scoop up tickets, as well as you people who will be quick enough on the trigger to pick up the straggler tickets at l’Oblique, you are reminded that “no cars go” for this night, as there will be no adequate parking and the fine, furry folks at Blue Skies would like to keep the peace with the neighbours. Take the bus or a taxi instead.

Speaking of Blue Skies Turn Black, Andre of Mandatory Moustache has folded his promotion team after two years, and has joined forces with Blue Skies, and promises more shows than ever. First up on his plate is the awesome boogie rock of Vancouver’s Pride Tiger (with former 3 Inches of Blood members) and Lesbo Vrouven at Zoobizarre tonight, Thursday, Feb. 1. On Friday, Feb. 2, the new merger presents an evening of rock that exemplifies Andre’s talent for putting together great, eclectic bills, which made the Mandatory Moustache nights at le Divan Orange so fucking rad. Check this out: the hyper psych-punk of CPC Gangbangs, the bipolar pop of the Hot Springs, Thundrah and the new band on the scene that are making one hell of a splash, Crowface. This show is guaranteed to have something for everyone, so show up at Sala Rossa and pay what you can at the door.

For all of you Zappa heads out there who don’t mind a touch of over-the-top Steely Dan arrangements mixed with that Mike Patton-esque flavour of dementia, get your asses down to the Barfly on Saturday night and check out Kids Eat Crayons with Frootfly and Super Automatica.

Finally, what better way to celebrate the sabbath than to go to Café Chaos and check out two of Montreal’s best punk bands, Trigger Effect and Jerk Appeal. Just to raise the stakes a bit, New York’s all-girl rockers Bettie After Midnight will be taking the middle slot.

I like him just fine—but he’s a mouth breather…jonathan.cummins@gmail.com

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