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SHIMMER AND SHAKE: Leslie Hall of Leslie & the Ly’s

by RUPERT BOTTENBERG

Appropriately named for the time of year, B.C’s Lily Frost is at la Sala Rossa on Friday, Jan. 11 in the company of Julie Doiron, and that same night, Dim Mak’s commodore of cool Steve Aoki joins Ed Banger babe Uffie at Coda. No-frills rock rolls out when Three Days Grace, Seether and Econoline Crush hit Metropolis Jan. 14, while trio with brio Au Revoir Simone play la Tulipe Jan. 17.

California’s Homeless Royalty—hip hop with a Hebraic twist and a Montreal connection—are at House of Reggae on Friday, Jan. 18, same night Turbo’s Matt Walsh joins Thomas Von Party at Zoobizarre and, down at the Old Port, the 2008 edition of Igloofest kicks off. The deep-winter sister to summer’s outdoor Piknic Électronik sees Josh Wink and Misstress Barbara on its first night; the second, Jan.19, is MUTEK’s soirée. Ninja Tune brings out Ghislain Poirier, Devlin & Darko and more on Jan. 25, and closing night, Jan. 26, has a top-secret guest.

No secret, Jurassic 5’s Nu-Mark spins at Coda on Jan. 19, same night Rose Cousins strums at Main Hall, Raul Midón warms up Cabaret and CPC Gangbangs and the Nymphets rip it up at Théâtre Ste-Catherine. Hayden and Basia Bulat are at le National on Jan. 20, facing off against the triple threat of Editors, Hot Hot Heat and Louis XIV at Club Soda, where Peter Björn & John whistle while they work, with Young Galaxy in their orbit.

There won’t be a dry eye in the house for Norwegian goth-metalists Trail of Tears at Foufounes Électriques Jan. 23, while Philly dancefloor freaks Pink Skull let loose at Zoobizarre on Jan. 24. Toronto’s Kobo Town offer one spin on Afrobeat at Divan Orange, also on Jan. 24, and Ottawa’s Souljazz Orchestra offer another the next night—compare if you dare. If you aren’t catching Montreal’s Matt Fuzz rocking on his Gameboy and banjo, with guests les Handclaps, at Zoobizarre on Jan. 25, get your buttons pushed at the Distroboto seventh anniversary party with Exhaust, Gambletron and Giselle Numba One at la Sala Rossa, or butch it up for local newcomers FEMME at Coda.

ED CASE: Uffie

Reality check

Naughty French buzz band the Teenagers act their age at Studio Juste Pour Rire on Jan. 29, same night turntable titans DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist team up at Metropolis. On Jan. 30, Baltimore bad boy Dan Deacon returns as promised, two drummers in tow, to accompany a screening of the retina-blistering, Ahnuld-delic maxi-short Ultimate Reality at la Sala Rossa. What could possibly match it for hyperbolic intensity? That’s right, Michel Bublé at the Bell Centre the same night. Your call.

For hip hop with a distinctly French-Canadian flavour, check Gatineau at Divan Orange on Jan. 31, or Acadian electro-rappers Radio Radio at Petit Campus the next night. Spice Girls return despite popular demand on Jan. 31 at Bell Centre, where John Mellencamp croons for the cougars 24 hours later. Blue Rodeo have two nights at Théâtre St-Denis, on Jan. 31 and Feb. 2.

Ottawa rascals Jokers of the Scene transport their fabled Disorganized parties to Montreal with the debut session happening at Zoobizarre Feb. 2, same night that Toronto’s garage-rock ruffians the Midways join Shitt Hott and Walnut Kids at l’Escogriffe, and reggaeton stars Jowell & Randy fire up Club Soda. Hardcore mainstays Sick of It All and Madball pummel Studio Juste Pour Rire Feb. 3, and the Halifax hip hop of Classified is there for your ears only at Saints Showbar Feb. 4. Lil’ Andy & Karaoke Cowboy bring guest Matt Masters to l’Escogriffe Feb. 5, while Feb. 6 has Cancer Bats corrupting Foufounes Électriques and gem-sweater jezebels Leslie & the Ly’s with Donzelle at Zoobizarre.

Angels, animals and arcade sounds

Grab your joystick, because Video Games Live bring their orchestral renditions of beloved game themes (yes, Tetris is in there) to Théâtre St-Denis on Feb. 7-8, complete with projections and a volunteer Frogger challenge. French chanteuse Keren Ann follows Dean & Britta at Cabaret on Feb. 8, same night street-punks the Saint Alvia Cartel join the Reason at Saints Showbar.

If you crave more loud and rude in your life, you deserve and earful of locals Vulgar Deli at Petit Campus on Feb. 8, and Feb. 9, a toss-up between sleazy greasers the Alley Dukes, same joint, or Toronto’s Brutal Knights at Katacombes. On a positive note, Yeasayer are at la Sala Rossa on Feb. 10. Jazz dame Dorothée Berryman charms la Tulipe Jan. 12 and Dears offshoot Krief rock Quai des Brumes Jan. 13, the same night Ethnic Heritage Ensemble return to la Sala Rossa.

Hinterland homeboys the National Parcs park themselves at le National on Feb. 15, same night Ghettonuns and Diamond Sea set sail at la Sala Rossa, and Turbo/Output artist Sweetlight brightens Zoobizarre. Feb. 16’s heavy on heavy, with Thrice and Attack in Black at Metropolis, and Moshcore 2008 hosting Ion Dissonance, Incision and more at Club Soda. Word is there will be dance lessons at the Old-Tyme Square Dance with Stobbe, Trottier and Simm at Sala Rossa on Feb. 17 (bring your own hayseed stalk). Feel free to try those steps out at the metal meltdown with 3 Inches of Blood, Rammer and Snake Master at Studio Juste Pour Rire the following night.

Welsh weirdoes Super Furry Animals do the wild thing at Cabaret Feb. 21, same night Blink 182 offshoot Angels & Airwaves drag along Meg & Dia and others to Metropolis, and Manic Manon & the Guestlist raise a racket at l’Escogriffe. Eleni Mandell’s at Lion d’Or, and Linkin Park at Bell Centre, on Feb. 22, while Most Serene Republic are at Club Lambi on Feb. 23. That’s the same night Jane Birkin seduces Place des Arts, where—don’t worry—you’ll find Bobby McFerrin & Voicestra the night after. Both are Festival Montréal en Lumière events, as is Hawksley Workman at Club Soda, Feb. 29. Meanwhile, Montreal’s Plants & Animals, who are super and furry, launch their EP with/avec on Feb. 26 at la Sala Rossa, same venue where you’ll find B.C.’s Black Mountain Feb. 29.

Gipsies and Jamaicans

March 1 sees subversive country legend Steve Earle raising a righteous stink at Théâtre Outremont, as well as the return of the Jamaica to Toronto reggae revival at Club Soda, Matt Lipscombe down at Centre St-Ambroise and the hype duo Thunderheist at Petit Campus. Thick-necked punk icon Henry Rollins unleashes his spoken-word show Provoked at le National March 2, the same night Bonobo spins at Lambi and the Boss and the boys, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, play Bell Centre.

Classy Scandinavian punks the Hives break out March 4 at Club Soda, while idiosyncratic local dance-punks Creature launch their CD No Sleep at All at le National on March 5. March 7, the Baile MTL nights get rebooted with a focus on events and guests—the first, at Lambi, is NYC’s rani of bhangra, DJ Rekha. Sassy French soubrette Yelle joins Gildas, Masaya and Autocratz at Cabaret March 8.

Sum 41 add it up at Metropolis on March 12, right before the St. Patrick’s Day madness—count on locals Corrigan Fest at Café Campus, for instance. March 17, you’ve got Gipsy Kings at Metropolis and Foo Fighters at Bell Centre, while March 19 sees indie darlings Xiu Xiu at la Sala Rossa. Rob Lutes, for his part, hold down two nights at Centre St-Ambroise, March 20–21.

Danish duo the Raveonettes roar into Saints Showbar March 22, the same night the ninth anniversary of the I Love Neon parties goes down at Metropolis with MSTRKRFT, Boys Noize and Modeselektor. Japanese psych wizards Acid Mothers Temple melt minds again at la Sala Rossa on March 27, which brings us right to the edge of spring, welcomed by Joe Jackson’s seated show at Metropolis on April 2.

SUSPENDED ANIMATION: The Hives