A riff on l’Escogriffe

by JOHNSON CUMMINS

First off, I would like to hand out a hearty, hungover congrats to the fine folks at Montreal’s tiniest club with the biggest heart, l’Escogriffe. They’re smack dab in the middle of celebrating their seventh year of holding down the fort on St-Denis. A host of local bands are helping to ring in their lucky seventh until the end of the month. If you’ve missed out on the festivities so far, Friday night would be a good place to start as one of Montreal’s heaviest punk bands, Inepsy, will liquefy the tiny room with their brutal, crusty-style hardcore. L’Esco steps it up towards the end of the month with further stellar nights, including shows from les Psycho Riders, Fat Maggots, the Confusers, the B Sides, CPC Gangbangs, the Riff Randells, the Nymphets and what will prove to be one of their most packed shows ever, les Breastfeeders. Keep your eyes peeled here for dates in the coming weeks.

Saturday night is of course the celebration of the patron saint of slurred speech and hair-trigger tempers, St. Patrick—the one day of the year alcoholics the world over can truly call their own. If you plan on celebrating Saint Paddy’s in true Irish fashion, by drinking to the hilt, there’s no better place to be than Foufounes Électriques on Saturday night. The punk country of Yesterday’s Ring (featuring members of Sainte Catherines and Jesus and the Headliners) and binge drinking go together like Mom and apple pie. Setting the stage for debauchery will be the Celtic crooning of Farler’s Fury and the punk rock of Whiskey Trench. May your Sunday be obliterated.

For my money, the big ticket this week is when Isis, Jesu and Zozobra pull into town. Isis hardly need any introduction, and those of you who have been lucky enough to see their past two shows at la Sala Rossa will attest to their being one of the heaviest bands you could ever see live. Not to be outdone, Jesu is the moniker that Justin Broadrick (Godflesh, Napalm Death) goes under. His recent masterpiece Conqueror probably has more in common with My Bloody Valentine than any of his past associations, but the infectious melodies clinging to his chugging guitars will literally take your breath away. Making this the perfect triple threat is ex-Cave In and Old Man Gloom guy Caleb Scofield’s new band Zozobra. Anybody who was literally torn apart at the seams by last week’s amazing Red Sparowes show at Sala should show up for this with bells on. Don’t be tardy though, as all of these bands demand your presence.

Finally, on Monday, fans of Royal Trux are not going to want to miss RTX mastermind Neil Hagerty when he pulls into the tiny Green Room with his new band the Howling Hex. If any of you were lucky enough to catch Hagerty at the long-gone Jailhouse years ago, you won’t doubt the man knows how to wield an axe, but the Howling Hex sidesteps his past and concentrates on delivering songs sung in the key of Captain Beefheart. If you want to get pumped and primed for what stacks up to be an amazing show, pick up his new record 1-2-3, which compiles the best moments from the Howling Hex’s first three vinyl-only records.

Happy B-day, l’Esco! Jonathan.cummins@gmail.com