Ex-X

Before I get to the week ahead, I’d like to take a moment to recall this past weekend, which hosted two shows that I just gotta gush about. Last Saturday I made tracks into Il Motore to catch the Sadies pulling double duty by performing a solo set and also backing legendary former X-man John Doe. Seeing Doe in such comfy confines was a pleasure and he packed his set with covers of Hank Snow, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash and others. The man leaves little doubt that he’s simply one of the best crooners currently stomping the pines. As good as Doe was, though, this was easily the Sadies’ night, with an opening set filled with country twang, ’60s garage and punk rock energy that actually eclipsed Doe’s set.

This past Sunday night had post-rock gods Mogwai melting faces at Metropolis with sheer volume before disassembling into breathless silence. With epics mainly pulled from their recent The Hawk Is Howling, highlights were definitely the 20-minute opus “My Father, My King” and a particularly devastating version of “Batcat.” Often imitated, Mogwai left all the other post-rock bands with Marshall-stack muscle choking on their dust. A dazzling tightrope walk betweeen brute force and delicate restraint.

This weekend should prove to be a busy one for fans of pure heaviosity, starting tonight with France’s tech-metallists and eco-warriors Gojira at Club Soda with the Chariot and Car Bomb. Toronto’s C’mon, meanwhile, are making their umpteenth trek across the tundra before finally recording their new record on the shores of Victoria, B.C. Featuring producer extraordinaire Ian Blurton (Weakerthans, Tricky Woo) and ex-Nashville Pussy bassist Katie-Lynn Campbell, this trio of sloppy drunks are guaranteed to level Il Motore on Friday night. The riff-o-rama starts off with one of my favourite new local bands, Mantle of Atlas (ex-Donkeys with Besnard Lakes’ Olga Goreas filling out the low-end rumble) and East Van’s Pride Tiger. Bring yer drinkin’ bib for this one.

For people more into the galloping chugs and falsetto vocals of the new wave of British heavy metal, Barfly proves to be the place to be on Friday when Summerhill and Metallian start screaming for vengeance. Also on Friday night, you can check out the benefit for homelessnation.org happening at Katacombes with Bludgeoned, Murder the Elite, Toronto’s Whiskey Shits and Hated. Homeless Nation was created by film director Daniel Cross (S.P.I.T., The Street) to give voice to the homeless community by providing them with training and education in digital tools, short-films and video production. The group put donated computers in shelters and drop-in centres but are currently coasting on no money. Unlike most outreach workers, Homeless Nation’s volunteers all walk the walk and have all at one time been homeless themselves. If you would like to contribute a dormant computer, make a donation or offer some volunteering time, peep their site and get in contact.

On Saturday, you can welcome back Montreal’s prodigal son King Khan and his Shrines, with Vivian Girls and Chocolat at la Sala Rossa, or check out the doom-and-gloom sludge and rawk riffage of Iron Fist, Dopethrone and Dutch Oven, alongside the thrash and bash of …And the Saga Continues, at Katacombes.

I AM AVAILABLE FOR PROM DATES…JONATHAN.CUMMINS@GMAIL.COM