Deal with it!

by JOHNSON CUMMINS

Has it really been 20 years already? One of the Montreal music scene’s main arteries, CKUT 90.3FM, has made it past its difficult teen years and is celebrating its 20th anniversary tonight, Thursday, Nov. 15. The little McGill radio station on the left of the dial proudly announced their presence with the not-so-subtle introductory tag line “Deal with it!” 20 years ago and since then, the importance of the station’s eclectic voice in the arts, political and musical communities has been immeasurable. You can celebrate CKUT’s launch into adulthood tonight at la Sala Rossa with DJ Tashish, Microtone Kitchen, WeFunk, Tony Ezzy, Andy Williams and a special, 20-piece big band led by David Ryshpan and Sean Winters.

Also happening tonight is the Exclaim! Aggressive Tendencies tour, pulling into le Studio. The Aggressive Tendencies tour has always pushed the envelope for heaviosity and this year is no exception, with the spastic grind/art/noise of the Locust, Despised Icon, Child Abuse and Montreal’s math-rock kings, Discord of a

Forgotten Sketch. This should be an early starter with an early ending, so if you want to make tonight a double header of aggression, you can also catch the noise of O (featuring Martin Tétrault) and Monday Morning Erection at Casa del Popolo afterwards.

On Friday night, Montreal experimental artist Alexandre St- Onge launches his new label Oral Oral with his first release, Joseph Carey Merrick, recorded live earlier this year at SAT. St-Onge should need no introduction as he’s one of Montreal’s busiest musicians, packing in a ton of solo shows as well as performing in Shalabi Effect and Et Sans, to name just two. Check out his tribute to the Elephant Man at la Brique (6545 Durocher, #402)—helping out with the launch will be les Momies de Palerme, Pacpac and Fanny.

Saturday night is stacked as usual, but if you really want to see something off the beaten path, do not miss wrestling rocker and all-around freak Corpusse on Saturday night in the tiny confines of Barfly. His last attempt to play Montreal, at Casa, was thwarted due to a stomach flu, but the hefty fella with the gravity-defying “hair-don’t” promises to make up for the missed date with added blood, gore and probably a healthy measure of self-inflicted damage. Extra points for Corpusse sending me “VIP backstage passes” with the Barfly date marked on them. Pure fuggin’ genius! Making this extra fucking amazing will be the awesome, galloping metal of Mad Parish, who have just increased their Maiden-esque allure by adding another guitarist, for a triple guitar onslaught.

Also happening on Saturday night is the heavy punk blues of Ashtray Heart at l’Escogriffe, while the thinking man’s rock of Wintersleep packs up Club Lambi with Ottawa’s indie legends the Wooden Stars. At Casa del Popolo, you can check out an evening of improvisational electronic blips and bleeps with the harsh, droning, electronic ambient sounds of Aun, with guests Freida Abtan, Turner of Wheels and DE.I.TE

Sunday, you can atone for your sins on the Sabbath when one of Canada’s most beloved bunch of lummoxes, Dayglo Abortions, return to Montreal for a show at Foufounes. Will Dayglo’s singer leave Foufounes in an ambulance again? Go down and find out.

Next week: A young person’s guide to touring! Jonathan.cummins@gmail.com