Black on
black on black

by JOHNSON CUMMINS

Although most of us are bursting at the seams waiting for Pop Montreal to get underway, there is a ton of shows happening this week to get us there. Tonight, minimalist electro-punks We Are Wolves launch their new CD Total Magique at le National with Pas Chic Chic, while down at one of the best rock ’n’ roll bars in the city, l’Escogriffe, one of the hardest working bands in the city, the B-Sides, join Miss Fortune and Soki Soki.

Friday night is bittersweet as one of Montreal’s most beloved hardcore bands, Cobra Noir, are indeed finally hanging it up—their swan song happens at Divan Orange. If you missed out on witnessing the punishing power of Cobra Noir, consider this your last call. Acting as pallbearers will be the Expectorated Sequence and Saigon Distress Signal. Also on Friday night, Casa del Popolo features the horrendously underrated Crowface with Chris Corsano and Flames! If you dig the more rock moments of Sonic Youth, you are not to miss the ’face.

On Saturday night, unkempt Toronto punks Maximum RnR sear ears at Petit Campus, but show up early to catch ex-members of Ripcordz and the Brains in Rockets Away!, who launch their CD Blast Off, and Machine Gun Dolly. Power-pop enthusiasts are not to miss a rare appearance by former Rockpile member and living legend Nick Lowe—the guy wrote “What’s So Funny About Peace Love and Understanding,” for Christ’s sake. Opening for Lowe at Club Soda will be Teddy Thompson.

It has been brought to my attention that I got quite a number of hippies steamed a couple of columns ago, so I will offer an olive branch here and remind all my furry friends that

Devendra Banhart brings his positive vibes to le National on Saturday night, with Matteah Baim & Death’s Groove. Hopefully, he won’t unpack the reggae covers he yanked out at Sala a couple of years ago. Major buzz hassle, dude… major.

Easily one of the best live bands around, the Black Lips return to la Sala Rossa on Saturday, with Selmanaires and the Lips’ favourite local band, Demon’s Claws. If you think rock ’n’ roll has gotten boring and predictable these days, recharge your batteries here.

Speaking of rock ’n’ roll genius, Turbonegro are at le National on Sunday. Opening is none other than former Queens of the Stone Age bassist Nick Oliveri’s new joint, Mondo Generator. Their new record Dead Planet runs circles around QOTSA’s last release, so don’t miss out.

Finally, on Wednesday, Iron & Wine pour into Metropolis with Arthur & Yu, while Bob Log III drinks boob shots to the sounds of tit claps at la Sala Rossa, while Suicide member and alternative forefather Martin Rev rings in the second anniversary for Zoobizarre with les Enfants Sauvages and Black Alder.

My lipgloss is poppin’… Jonathan.cummins@gmail.com