Total bullshit

by JOHNSON CUMMINS

Sadly, I spill far too much ink in this little space reporting on touring bands that have had their gear ripped off in our fair town, and it seems things aren’t getting any better. After the Black Halos show on March 17 at Foufounes Électriques, the band woke up to find their van and all of their gear inside stolen. I won’t get started on the disgrace of having to buy back your gear from a pawn shop, even though you have reported the serial numbers to the authorities, but keep your peepers locked in pawn shops around town, as well as Craigslist, Dejavu and other Internet spots. The contents of the van included 400 CDs (for which the band will have to pay back the label), a Ludwig four-piece red-glitter drum kit, a Dunnet custom snare (signed by Dunnet on the inner shell), five Zildjian and Paiste cymbals, a 1960 Gibson Les Paul and a Sparrow Rat Rod (Les Paul style) guitar, both in aluminum road cases, a Bogner Ecstasy amp, a Fender DeVille amp, 15 assorted guitar pedals, two black Sparrow Primitive guitars (335 style), a Peavey 100-watt Classic amp, a Traynor 4X12 speaker cabinet, a Sunburst Fender Precision bass, a black Rickenbacker bass, a Gallien Krueger 800RB bass amp and a Traynor TC 8 bass cabinet. If you see any of these items, please contact dannycameo@shaw.ca or call Danny at (604) 781-2075.

On to more positive notes. There are a ton of shows happening to help alleviate the cabin fever that seems to set in just before the spring thaw. Tonight, Chocolat launch their new Grosse Boîte release Piano Élégant at Lion d’Or with Alexandre Farina. At Divan Orange, you can check out Vancouverites Ladyhawk with Immaculate Machine and the Winks. Also happening tonight is Shortpants Romance and Sonic Avenues at Casa del Popolo—Sonic Avenues just got out of Breakglass Studios and the smidgen of the upcoming record I heard was fucking great, so definitely show up early for this one.

On Saturday night, one of Montreal’s hardest working bands, rockabilly hoods the Cockroaches, play Quai des Brumes with Gogo Pleasers (think really early Redd Kross), Montreal music-forum legends the Walnut Kids and platters spun by CPC Gangbangs’ DJ Choyce. Down at Katacombes, all stoner rock and sludgy metal types are required to show up for Moncton, NB legends Iron Giant with Montreal bad boys Trigger Effect and Elektrik Bones. Iron Giant are one of the heaviest bands (both sonically and physically) going in Canada, and Trigger Effect are always a sure bet for pure mayhem, so this show is mandatory for the heaviosity fiend.

In more punk rock cover-band news (recall please last week’s mention of Charged GBH cover band GHB), on Sunday night at l’Escogriffe, legendary (i.e. old) members of Montreal institution Alternative Inuit reassemble for a tribute to Minor Threat called Play It Faster. Pints of Boreal Blonde and blistering straight-edge tunes have never gone down so well together. Also happening on the Sabbath day is the fierce death/grind of Fuck the Facts, Relapse Records legends Today Is the Day and the debut of Survivors Will Be Shot Again, featuring members of Blood Sausage, once again at the true home of heavy, Katacombes.

CUT OFF THEIR HANDS…JONATHAN.CUMMINS@GMAIL.COM