Unsound of mind

by JOHNSON CUMMINS

As mentioned in this column a couple of weeks back, Mile End venue the Green Room has indeed emerged out of their court trial and earned the right to once again host live shows. You can get your rock on tonight at the Green Room with the Swamp Sex Robots and Super Fossil Power. Be prepared to dance! If you don’t feel like shakin’ it like a bowl of soup, check out the shoegaze/hip hop-via-DJ Spooky/cinematic sounds of Pawa Up First at Cabaret with aKido.

On Friday, the first Unsound MTL show happens at Katacombes. Inspired by the Unsound shows in New York, this Montreal version concentrates on bills with bands from the dark ambient, industrial, power electronics, doom, drone and post-metal fields. Friday’s show is curated by New York labels Annihilvs Power Electronix and THTFL, Montreal’s kindred spirits Aun and Kali, and labels Cyclic Law and Angle.rec. Performing will be the duo of Christian Corvellec and Martin Dumais (Aun) under the moniker Skinwell, who coincidentally launch their new CD Tunnels. Expect a scorching display of dark ambient and power drone. Taking the middle slot is Toronto’s Sleep Research Facility, featuring Kevin Doherty, whose dark ambience is born from unlikely source material. Taking the opening slot will be locals Visions, with DJ sets from Angle.rec owner Zeit and Kali.

FOR COLD, DARK NIGHTS: The Schomberg Fair

If dark and droning isn’t your bag, local rawk rag Bang Bang hosts a party at l’Escogriffe on Friday with the greased-up, dumbed-down sounds of Sonic Avenues and Holy Cobras. Next door at one of the best small venues in the city, Quai des Brumes, are locals the Unsettlers with the punk-and-roots sound of Toronto’s the Schomberg Fair and the In and Outs. While you’re there, pick up a copy of the Schomberg Fair’s CD, Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground, and thank me later—Gun Club fans, take special note. Also on Friday, the downtown venue Grumpy’s opens up its roots-music stage to the post-punk pop of the Angry Parrots. Peep the Parrots’ MySpace page for a spot-on homage to Hanna-Barbera cartoons in their genius lo-tech video, “Disaster.”

On Saturday, you are asked to dig deep for local promoter Man in Anger, who lost his shirt when overblown cover band the Misfit$ pulled out of their Montreal date. Down for the cause will be Ab Irato, the Horny Bitches, Barricade Mentale and potty-mouths Diarhée Bucale at Katacombes. Surf band Tabarnacos Surfers bring their reverb-drenched twang to l’Escogriffe on Saturday night with 350 Quatre Barils in tow. If you dig Link Wray, the Ventures, Ennio Morricone and Dick Dale, you can order the Surfers’ first two CDs from their MySpace page.

Finally, the big show this week is sitting pretty in the middle of the Punkusraucousrex week, on Monday. Don’t miss a rare chance to see Mercury Rev when they reduce the Cabaret to rubble, with guests Dean & Britta.

IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE? JONATHAN.CUMMINS@GMAIL.COM