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Amplified autumn

Highlights of a lively musical
season in Montreal

FOR GOOD MEASURE: Metric

Tomorrow is Sept. 11, but if there’s a superstitious jinx attached to that ill-starred date, nobody told the heap of musicians playing shows on Friday night. Folk icon Peggy Seeger is at Petit Campus, locals Valleys launch a disc at Casa del Popolo, elder U.K. punks the Varukers kick off a two-day run at Katacombes and Smiths bassist Andy Rourke takes to the turntables at Foufounes Électriques.

Guttermouth hit the same venue the next night, and Sept. 12 also sees the Sounds at Metropolis. On Sept. 15, you’ve got the Cave Singers with Lightning Dust at Divan Orange, Sondre Lerche at Petit Campus and Jolie Holland over at la Sala Rossa.

Thursday, Sept. 17 is another busy one, what with a Juan McLean DJ set at la Panthère Noire, A Hawk and a Hacksaw joining Damon and Naomi at Il Motore, the Unsettlers at Divan Orange, Regina Spektor and Strokes offshoot Little Joy at Metropolis and Somali-Canadian rapper K’naan at Studio Juste pour rire. The following night’s a doozy for the hip hop crowd when the Reebok Classics party with DJ Premier and Rahzel hits Théâtre Telus.

On Sept. 19, there’s Sean Kingston at Metropolis, controversial dancehall character Beenie Man out at NDG’s EB Lounge or, alternately, the first of Metallica’s two nights with Lamb of God at the Bell Centre. Sept. 22 is hopping with aging love goblin Marilyn Manson and guests Die Mannequin at the Bell Centre, the amazing Hypnotic Brass Ensemble at l’Astral and Swedish buzz magnet Miike Snow at Petit Campus. Bouncing Souls and not-so-young punks Youth Brigade are at Foufounes Électriques Sept. 23, same night Wavves roll into Friendship Cove.

MAGNETIC PERSONALITIES: Metallica

Pop is packed

German techno act Alter Ego joins Jordan Dare for some bashing, black-on-black beats at SAT on Sept. 24, same night jazz legend McCoy Tyner opens his three-night run at l’Astral. The following night has puppet-headed trance dude Deadmau5 at Metropolis and klez-hop kingpin Socalled at Divan Orange—which celebrates its fifth anniversary the next night with one of their notorious boat cruises featuring the Royal Air Togo and Sonido Nordico DJ teams, leaving from the Old Port. Also on Sept. 26, Moby rages against encroaching irrelevance with a gig at Metropolis.

On Sept. 28, your prayers are answered as reunited (resurrected?) Christian metalheads Stryper rise again at Club Soda. Alternately that night, there’s a pro-Palestinian rap showcase with Dam and the Narcicyst at Petit Campus.

The indie hipster meltdown that is Pop Montreal busts open on Sept. 30 with Amy Millan at the Ukranian Federation, Matt & Kim at Club Lambi, Jay Reatard at la Sala Rossa and Bruce Peninsula at Il Motore. Further Pop goodies between then and wrap-up on Oct. 4 include krautrock legends Faust, Brazilian psych-pop pioneers Os Mutantes, no-wave notables Teenage Jesus & the Jerks (with Duchess Says and AIDS Wolf!), Roxanne Shante, Buffy Ste-Marie, Yo La Tengo and Kid Koala’s eagerly anticipated project The Slew.

If that’s all too new, obscure or bloggy for you, well, Kiss return for an encore of their 35 Alive show at Bell Centre on Oct. 1. Neo-prog nutters the Mars Volta are at Metropolis on Oct. 5. On Oct. 8, knock back a shot of Moskovskaya in honour of leading Russian rockers Mumiy Troll at les Saints. The night after sees club controllers Crookers with current Diplo/Switch project Major Lazer at Metropolis.

SWEET DREAMS: Asobi Seksu

Madchester and Metric

On Oct. 11, industrial punks RevCo (who some will remember as Revolting Cocks) join self-abusing sideshow titan Jim Rose at Foufounes Électriques. The honey-coated shoegazing of Asobi Seksu is at Il Motore on Oct. 13, while at la Sala Rossa that night, it’s Gossip with Le Tigre offshoot Men, or irritating pop gremlin Mika getting all fancy at Place des Arts.

Former Ghosts, featuring Xiu Xiu’s Jamie Stewart, haunt Il Motore on Oct. 15, the same night that We Are Wolves launch their new CD at le National and Madchester maniacs Happy Mondays pair up with elegant post-punkers Psychedelic Furs at l’Olympia. Black-clad buzz band the Horrors are at Petit Campus that night, though alternately, you can check out the twin-cello action of locals worth watching Sweet Mother Logic at la Sala Rossa. The troubling Daniel Johnston is at the Ukrainian Federation on Oct. 16, same night Metric and support act the Stills play the first of their two nights at Metropolis. Oct. 17, you can grow a pair and check out the racket of locals Nutsak at Casa del Popolo.

Country queen Emmylou Harris is at Theatre St-Denis on Oct. 18, same night as Celt-punks Flogging Molly at Metropolis.

Oct. 20 offers Corb Lund at la Sala Rossa, Montreal jazz icon Oliver Jones at l’Astral and the Used (see CD review this week) at Metropolis. The Raveonettes rave on it at Club Soda on Oct. 21, which also has Yann Perreau at la Tulipe and local roots-meister Michael Jerome Brown at la Sala Rossa.

Hootenanny on Halloween

A cappella sensation Naturally 7 are at Club Soda on Oct. 22, while the next night has Stereolab understudies Broadcast at le National. Thievery Corporation steal into Metropolis on Oct 24, the same night Shout Out Out Out Out make some noise at Il Motore and electro darlings La Roux are at Studio Juste pour rire. Oct. 26 has Icelandic art elves múm at le National, while on Oct. 28, Gov’t Mule unload the Southern blues-rock jams at the same venue. On Oct. 29, Federico Aubele is at la Sala Rossa while Boys Noize bring it at SAT, cool ghouls the Brains rock Petit Campus and second-generation protest folkie Arlo Guthrie ambles into Théâtre Outremont. Oct. 30 has Afro-Cuban Allstars at l’Astral, though the big deal that night is his highness Jay-Z at the Bell Centre.

Oct. 31 is Halloween, and options that night include the Bloody Beetroots at Théâtre Telus, MTLHC originals Fair Warning at Katacombes and big gay alterna-hootenanny band the Hidden Cameras with Gentleman Reg at Il Motore. If more gory costumed antics are in order, the next night witnesses Gwar at Club Soda.

Nov. 5 is a nice one with Ohbijou at Club Lambi and Dan Deacon at Il Motore. The Baltimore synth wizard is back the night after at Eastern Bloc, the same date as Elliott Brood at la Sala Rossa and Islands at Théâtre Plaza. On Nov. 7, options include Suzanne Vega at l’Astral, Simian Mobile Disco (venue TBA) and Derek Trucks Band at Metropolis.

Magic pipes and G-strings

On Nov. 11, remember to consider checking out the charming Genitorturers at Foufounes Électriques, or catch oddball That 1 Guy and his “magic pipe” presenting his special “Moustaches and Laserbeams” show at l’Astral. Ancient Canadian outfit Downchild Blues Band, with special guest Dan Aykroyd are at Metropolis Nov. 12, if you must, but a step up would be Montrealer Susie Arioli, back in jazz mode, at l’Astral.

The terrifying precision-punk of Jesus Lizard is at le National Nov. 13, same night as Jean Leloup at Metropolis, Elephant Stone at la Sala Rossa and the Most Serene Republic at Il Motore, while Skinny Puppy make a mess at Club Soda on Nov. 14. Potty-mouthed Peaches talks dirty at Metropolis on Nov. 17, and Cowboy Junkies lock down two nights at l’Astral, Nov. 18-19.

Also on Nov. 19, the mighty Champion et ses G-Strings unpack their new material at Metropolis, which welcomes John Mayall on Nov. 22. Nov. 24 has Fuck Buttons at Il Motore and Amanda Mabro with Elsiane at Cabaret, while Do Make Say Think, the Happiness Project and Years settle into la Sala Rossa Nov. 25-26.