Class is in session

by JOHNSON CUMMINS

Now that the students are back in full force and littering the Main with puke and two-dollar chow mein containers, the local haunts are once again only too happy to sponge up some of that fresh student-loan lettuce before they become broke little bookworms come October.

The one place to be tonight is the Green Room when post-punk/punk rockers (think Wipers) Complications lay down their fiery fury with Ilegal and Panty Hos. While you’re there, try to pick up their debut seven-inch on Feral Ward if it hasn’t sold out, as it’s a barnstormer.

Friday night, things pick up accordingly, starting with the whispered tones of Valleys, who launch their album, Sometimes Water Kills People, on local label Semprini. This is going down at Casa del Popolo, with Cottonmouth and New York City’s the Shivers adding support. Down at Katacombes, booker and co-owner Janick celebrates her birthday in style with the first of a two-nighter with the Varukers. Friday night will have Diskonected, Ilegal (workin’ hard!) and Reject backing up the U.K. punk legends, and Saturday night it’s Connecticut’s Hymen Holocaust and Hold a Grudge as the sweat acts. Happy Birthday, Janick!

On Saturday, you can help celebrate Eastern Bloc’s two-year anniversary with Yamantaka/Sonic Titan, Alchymists, Devil Eyes (who launch their new seven-inch on Signed By Force), Meat Parade, PCP Saved My Life (boss name!) and Christophe Jordache (not-so-boss name). Down at the Friendship Cove, those drug creeps from the Pirates of the Lachine Canal have cooked up quite a night with the return of Nebraska’s Box Elders, the Facials and Interracial Love Triangle. For the denim set, don’t miss les Psycho Riders laying down ten tons of Hellacopters/Turbonegro riffs on Saturday night at Divan Orange when they warm up the stage for Half Baked.

On Sunday, Cagibi hosts a tribute to U.K. folk under the banner of John Barleycorn Must Die, with strummers and crooners Katie Moore, Rob Lutes, John Kerkhoven, Alan Lento, an extended set by Patrick Hutchinson and more. There’s a strict start time of 8 p.m., and all proceeds go to the Mile End Mission.

Oddly enough, my picks of the week are stacked at the end, starting on Monday with the first of a two-night stint (the second is Wednesday) by the Ex with Ethiopian sax giant Getatchew Mekuria at la Sala Rossa. If you have ever felt the glory the Ex in a live setting, take that up a couple of notches, check Mekuria on YouTube and set either night aside for one of the best shows you’ll see this year.

Tuesday should be the night of the week for bespectacled knapsack nerds when the Cave Singers roll into Divan Orange with Black Mountain offshoot Lightning Dust. Finally, don’t miss the doom and drone of one of Canada’s best current bands, Nadja, when they share the stage with fellow dark ambient artists Aun and thisquietarmy at the always-amazing Casa del Popolo. The Ex/Getatchew Mekuria and Nadja in the same week? Pinch me!

GONNA ROB THE SPERM BANK… JONATHAN.CUMMINS@GMAIL.COM