Dishing out the dirt

Last Sunday at Cabaret was definitely the place to be for the rock ’n’ roll dance party that only Motor City’s finest, the Dirtbombs, can deliver. Mick Collins and company were near genius again, and as good as their new record, We Have You Surrounded, is, this hydra-headed beast of rock has to be witnessed live to get the whole deal. The Cabaret easily has the best sight lines of any mid-sized club in the city, but it sounded like the sound system could definitely use an overhaul. Some weird sonic poltergeists materialized mid-set, and a disproportionate mix favoured the Dirtbombs’ fuzz bass a bit too much.

Okay, enough whining. Starting off the night was my first glimpse of one of Montreal’s most unsung bands, Ashtray Heart, in their new incarnation as a two-piece. The streamlined guitar/drums duo is a good direction that trims the fat and goes for the throat, leaving no room for excess baggage. Despite some tuning issues and a slightly laissez-faire attitude, they definitely warmed up the sparse room. Next up was Kelley Stoltz, who was definitely the odd man out as his seven-piece band jangled away at some Ray Wonder/New Pornographers pop. Not bad by any stretch, but hardly death-defying. By the time the Dirtbombs took the stage, the crowd had swelled noticeably. Over their set, the band blitzed out the hits, with oddly limited nods to the new record. On the menu were “Motor City Baby,” “Ode to a Black Man,” “Underdog,” “Sherlock Holmes,” “Ever Lovin’ Man” and (gulp!) a cover of INXS’s “I Need You Tonight.” The highlight was easily the second encore, which had the drummer, Ben Blackwell, setting up his kit in the middle of the audience, scaling the balconies and destroying some chairs. The next time the pride of Detroit come to town, do not pass up the chance to see one of the best live bands currently stompin’ the pines.

If you shat the bed on that one, there are some great shows that you should definitely be checking out this week. The big ticket would have to be the return of Jay Reatard, who headlines a smokin’ bill with Montreal’s most dangerous, CPC Gangbangs, and the Pink Noise at la Sala Rossa on Friday night. Mr. Reatard’s near-perfect mix of pop and punk on 2006’s Blood Visions is as stellar as it gets, but in the live setting, the songs all get a crystal-meth makeover that threatens to careen off the rails at every turn. Expect a half-hour blitzkrieg of punk rock know-how that will make blinking impossible.

On Wednesday night at Lambi, all drug-o-nauts and knuckle-draggers are requested to show up for the psych-out of Dead Meadow with the new and improved High Dials. Also happening on Wednesday night is the first night of five of the Montreal Chose Benefit Festival. This benefit for the popular Montreal music forum at www.stillepost.ca features 20 bands over the week. Tonight, April 17, you have Parlovr, Flames!, Nightwood (who have a release coming out on long-dormant local label Grenadine Records) and Coeur de Pirate at le Divan Orange.

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JONATHAN.CUMMINS@GMAIL.COM