BBQs and debts due

by JOHNSON CUMMINS

A bit of bad news this week—the Priestess show that was scheduled for this Friday was forced to cancel while the new live venue on Jean Talon, Il Motore, struggles with some temporary bureaucratic bullshit, so plans for the grand opening will be pushed back a bit. For those of us lucky enough to catch wind of the not-so-hush-hush Signed By Force barbeque at Barfly last Saturday, we were all able to get our Priestess fill when they did a surprise set, containing songs from their soon-to-be-recorded new album and a couple of old chestnuts thrown in at the end.

King Khan and members of Demon’s Claws also made a surprise appearance, improvising lyrics like “The bartender is a cocksucker” and “A-B-C-D-E fuck you!” Arish’s potty mouth was pure genius, I tells ya. Bloodshot Bill’s psychobilly stomp took us all on a trip to Dementia 13, while the Enjoyers, featuring Mikey Heppner from Priestess and “French” Mark from Wizardtron, just plain confused the people who were too pissed to the tits on free beer to make out the noisy space-rock jams. This was easily Priestess’ night though, with the new songs leaving me waiting for their sophomore record with baited breath. Hint: a catchier Mastodon.

BONG BUBBLERS: Fu Manchu

For riff hounds and people who can actually remember the late nineties, sludgemeisters and bong bubblers Fu Manchu return from the dead at Café Campus tonight, Thursday, August 28. I haven’t kept tabs on what Fu Manchu have done in the last 10 years, but I’ll bet dollars to donuts that if you like fuzz-fueled riffs served up big and dumb—and also have a penchant for wacky tabacky—this should be a safe bet. Opening will be hometown riff-slingers les Dales Hawerchuk.

Petit Campus remains the place to be on Saturday night with the return of prune-juice punkers Electric Frankenstein. Lead singer Steve Miller (no, not that one) has one of the best punk rock screams since Black Flag’s Dez Cadena stomped the boards, but seeing as these New Yawk goombahs have really fallen off the radar lately, this could be a serious coin toss—you have been warned. Opening will be the Grenades and special guests.

Also playing on Saturday night will be Misfits tribute band Bloodfeast, who will show off the results of their recent muscle-toning regimen and grown-out devil locks. Of course, the only fitting place for a Misfits tribute night would be down at Katacombes, so show up early to make sure you can get in. I guarantee this can only be light years better than Jerry Only’s current touring version of the Misfits.

In further cover band news, the fine folks from the departed Black Dot venue are putting out an open call for any bands that have ever wanted to do a cover set. It seems since the city put the kibosh on the club, they have been unable to pay back renovation costs, as well as debts incurred from the previous tenants as agreed upon in their sublease. If your band feels they have tribute band in ‘em, get hold of bridgethegap@cjlo.com or blackdotmtl@gmail.com. The benefit show will happen at Katacombes on Sept. 19, so start practicing.

GIVING YOU THE SCOOP ON THE MTL COVER BAND
SCENE SINCE 2004…JONATHAN.CUMMINS@GMAIL.COM