Torche!

by JOHNSON CUMMINS

In true Montreal tradition, things heat up in the local clubs towards the end of July, so this week delivers the rock ’n’ roll goods in spades, starting tonight, July 23, at the Barfly with the return of Los Angeles transplants Burning Brides who bring the rock along with co-conspirators les Guenilles. Also happening tonight, at the Green Room, is the greasy rock ’n’ roll of Bloodshot Bill with his Handcuffs and the debut of (get this) Rock Hard. The garage heads, fans of In the Red’s raucous rawk and people who just like to drink copious amounts of booze and dance will want to check out Tonitix with the always affable Starvin’ Hungry and Corona Ferox at L’Escogriffe.

Friday night’s line-up is sure to give any self-respecting rocker a brain hemorrhage while trying to decide which show to go to. Check it, new sludge masters in town Tiny Empire play Barfly with Sebastian Hell while down the street at Divan Orange is the pride of Providence, the Chinese Stars (with members of Arab on Radar!) along with Sonic Avenues and Providence’s Tinsel Teeth. Also on Friday night, Katacombes gets ready to put the wraps on their old venue, with Preying Hands launching their record Through the Dark with the Castevets, Illegal and Ensorcelor. If your head isn’t spinning yet, one of Canada’s best live bands, Brutal Knights, crush Underworld on Friday with their Reagan-era hardcore, along with local beer-bong enthusiasts Barn Burner. Stacked night for sure, but if that wasn’t enough, my pick for the show of the week has to go to the killer double bill of Torche and Harvey Milk on Friday at la Sala Rossa. If you were fortunate enough to watch Torche pull the rug out from under Boris last year (!), you know this is sure to be a contender for the heavy show of the year. Torche are sure to obliterate but do not, I repeat do not, miss Harvey Milk as their Melvins-style pounding and oozing sludge is some of the most demented and punishing music happening in rock. Hit up YouTube right now and punch in either band’s name for a taste of true heaviosity, if you think I’m talkin’ fool nonsense here.

After the headache of trying to figure out which show to go to on Friday, Saturday offers an easy decision with Lovvers, Grand Trine and Dead Wife at Divan Orange. On Sunday, don’t miss the chance to catch indie legend Calvin Johnson (K Records owner, of Dub Narcotic and Beat Happening fame) with Bad Flirt and Adam and the Amethysts at Friendship Cove. Finally, Wednesday gives Friday some competition in the stacked-night department, with Priestess and Burning Brides playing a free show at Foufounes Électriques while Relapse duo Jucifer help wave goodbye to the old Katacombes with a 20-amp salute (I’m not kidding—they use 20 amps) and the Country Kicks Cancer benefit with Notre Dame de Grass, Ladies of the Canyon, Yonderhill, Lake of Stew and many more happens at Café Campus, with all proceeds going towards the Team in Training program. If you can’t make it down for this wingding, you can still make a contribution through their donation portal, at my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?SID=2194899.

BUCKLE UP THIS WEEK…JONATHAN.CUMMINS@GMAIL.COM