The Kat’s out of the bag

by JOHNSON CUMMINS

As the lower Main between Ste-Catherine and René-Lévesque braces itself for a facelift, most of the shops, clubs and bars will of course be forced to uproot themselves in the name of (ahem) “progress.” One of the clubs being elbowed out is the punk and metal venue Katacombes.

Katacombes has provided a stage and legitimate hangout for the unwashed to congregate for the past two years, but thankfully the collective has already secured new digs—with a capacity of a whopping 400—that are sure to add to the local Montreal live music scene. Currently up to their elbows in drywall dust from renovating the new space at 1635 St-Laurent, the Katacombes crew will say goodbye to the old venue, with Relapse Records’ Jucifer, on July 29. The grand opening of the new venue is slated for Aug. 1. Although August is a ways away, their grand opening is definitely worth marking down on your calendar. Christening the new room will be a monster blowout with the reunions of legendary first-wave Montreal hardcore band Unruled, Manic Manon, les Stups and the Diskonected. A tip of the proverbial cap to everybody at Katacombes for never giving up!

In the more immediate future, tonight, July 16, you can check out the galloping old-school metal of Metalian and Mad Parish at Green Room, starting at 10 p.m. sharp. Also happening tonight at Zoobizarre is Shortpants Romance, who release their new cassette EP with the always awesome Starvin’ Hungry. Due to “the Man” making sure Shortpants got the shaft at Cagibi’s CBGB tribute night last Sunday, the band promises that they will squeeze in their thwarted Teenage Jesus and the Jerks cover tonight, so don’t snooze on this one.

Friday night at Friendship Cove, you can check out the heavy-handed hardcore of Baltimore’s Pulling Teeth with fellow Baltimoreans Pala, T-dot’s Eating Glass and locals Kraken. Midnight curfew will be observed, so make it down at 8 p.m. to catch all four bands. This is also all-ages friendly.

Oddly enough, Sunday proves to be the big night of the week, starting off in the afternoon with the almighty Barn Burner, who return from their cross-Canada tour and give their new record, Bangers, a proper launch at Foufounes Électriques starting at the ungodly hour of 3:30 p.m. with the Castevets, and Barn Burner reeling out the riffs at 4:30 p.m. Once the sun goes down, head over to Saphir for the launch of the Motion Picture Purgatory Vol. 2. book by the Mirror’s Rick Trembles. Helping out on the launch will be Trembles’ own American Devices, Futensil, Yamantaka//Sonic Titan and DJ Blamderson on the decks.

In yet more old-school metal news, Barfly is the only place to be to catch Summerhill on Monday night, and finally, my pick of the week would have to go to Obits (featuring Rick Froberg from Drive Like Jehu and Hot Snakes) playing at Il Motore on Wednesday. If Froberg’s C.V. is not enough to drag your ass off of the couch, local buzz band Red Mass and the debut of Rome Romeo will help provide the pokin’ stick.

RIP LEN DOBBIN, YOUR UNBRIDLED PASSION WAS A
TRUE INSPIRATION…JONATHAN.CUMMINS@GMAIL.COM