Sign, sign,
everywhere a sign

by JOHNSON CUMMINS

Alright, before I list all the happening shindigs in town this week, please let me blow off a bit of steam here. Riddle me this—why is it that putting up posters that directly contribute to the culture of the city and provide a medium for Montreal’s incredibly talented artists, not to mention the music the posters directly promote, is considered an offence while putting up giant posters of Jack Layton’s smug mug is all copasetic-like? If you are lucky enough to beat the fines from pasting up posters promoting your band, art show or whatever, the city has now been threatening the clubs that put on these shows with lofty fines. I admit that voting Harper out is of utmost importance, but what kind of person makes a decision based on staring at Layton’s pearly whites? Now, I would never recommend packing a Sharpie with you next time you stroll down the Main and getting downright deviant with some of these massive placards as that would be illegal, so, uh, good luck out there.

ARCTIC MONKEY BUSINESS: Mogwai

Phew, I already feel better, so enough of my pissing and moaning—let’s get on with the show(s).

If you were a tardy sort and missed Shellac last night, you can get a second crack at some Albini crash-and-slash action when the band crown their two-night stand tonight, Thursday, Sept. 18 at la Sala Rossa with Chris Brokaw. Also happening tonight, at Casa del Popolo, is those young whippersnappers American Devices, who have been really on a tear of live shows lately. Trying to steal their lunch money will be openers Barbe Blondes.

D.I.Y. venue the Black Dot, which was shut down by the city a couple of months back, is staging a benefit show on Friday night at Katacombes to try to pay off the debts incurred while they were getting the small-capacity venue off of the ground. This should be a fun one as it’s an all-cover-band night (save Ottawa’s Critical Convictions, who apparently didn’t get the memo and will play an original set). Buckle up for Malcolm Bauld’s tribute to Billy Bragg, a Blondie tribute (!), Party Enema’s tribute to NOFX, a tribute to the Circle Jerks (!), Ramonettes’ tribute to (you guessed it, Poindexter) the Ramones, Team Canada’s tribute to the Bad Brains (ballsy, I tells ya!), the Negative Creeps’ tribute to Nirvana and Montreal’s sexiest band, the Sandwiches, doing an homage to hometown heroes Mobile and former Can-con rash Hot Hot Heat. Suggested donation is $6 but for those who can dig deeper, do it!

Oddly enough, Tuesday is the best night of the week with three, count ’em, three killer shows. Scotland’s finest and arguably loudest, Mogwai, finally return to town for a Metropolis show with openers Fuck Buttons, so prepare to have your cranium crushed. After the Aggressive Tendencies show (Baroness, Genghis Tron, Bison B.C.), you can head over to l’Escogriffe with what’s left of your hearing to check out Trigger Effect, who will provide the dulcet soundtrack for the official afterparty.

IT’S GOT TO BE DOOM METAL MUSIC IF YOU WANT TO
DANCE WITH ME…JONATHAN.CUMMINS@GMAIL.COM