Now I can die

You might just roll your eyes, but last week the planets aligned and the Police rolled into town for two nights of classics at the Bell Centre. Despite an excited phone call to all the members of my high school band about four months ago to coordinate ticket-buying and reuniting at one of the Montreal shows, we never actually got around to buying tickets in the end. As the shows quickly approached, I had convinced myself that a little journalistic needling in the right places would unearth at least a pair of complimentary tix. Nice try, buddy. On the night of the first show, last Wednesday, I still had no tickets. Thanks to a little help from my friend Ms. B, a last-minute nugget from CJAD’s master of disaster Mike Babins and a generous nod from CJAD bossman Rob Braide, I was able to enjoy the Police live. I sang all night, and kept my eyes on Stewart Copeland behind the drum kit. It was over way too soon, and they seemed to stick to the hits, but I was there, man. From there, we managed to make a move and catch all of Ice-T’s show over at Foufounes, where this man entertained the amped crowd with lots of shit-talkin’, all the hits and the occasional Law & Order: SVU joke for good measure. Many of you who were there will remember the guy in the Public Enemy t-shirt who Ice pulled out of the front row and, within minutes, was spitting Moet on the crowd and trading bars with Ice-T on “Original Gangster.” Truly one of the funniest things I have ever witnessed at a live show, ever!

Nothing funny about the fact that two shows are falling on the same night tonight, Thursday, Aug. 2, with East Coast MC Classified coming to town for a show at Saints Showbar. He’s joined by J-Bru, Jordan Croucher, DJ IV, Mike Boyd and FAMN, with your hosts MC Smooth and DJ Critical Hype. Fourteen bucks gets you in. On the same night, just around the corner at Jello, West Island crew Velvet Trench Vibes take the stage with decided lyricism and style, but what does that have to do with the Sex, Drugs and Rocketships Tour, you ask? You’ll have to ask them. That show starts at 10 p.m.

This is also the weekend that New York disco god Nicky Siano steps down off his cloud to rock the party in Montreal, this Saturday, Aug. 4, at Academy. Compact Disco hosts this nod to the days of the Gallery and Studio 54, and it should be one to remember.

Seven reasons this is time for burning:
1. Rugged Intellect Renaissance Music:The Introduction (Expertism)
2. Arabian Prince “Strange Life” (Stones Throw)
3. Common “Break My Heart” (Geffen)
4. The Politik “Moonlight” feat. Blu (Antipodean)
5. Recloose “I Can’t Take It” (Planet E)
6. Kamaal the Abstract “Barely in Love” (Arista)
7. Moonstarr “Lovecall” (CDR)

Best Drummer Ever... fathead@videotron.ca