Rock around the glock

As we careen into our second decade of the new millennium, I’m just bursting at the seams with hope (which is a lot to ask when yer a fresh-faced fella who happens to draw his paycheques from print media). No, really, I’m kissing-babies, skipping-while-whistling, wake-the-neighbours gleeful for 2010.

First, pardon me as I get a bit weepy-eyed here, but Oh Nine was easily one of the best years I can remember. Truly amazing shows, not to mention off-the-beaten-path venues swinging their doors open to live shows, adding even more vibrancy in the city while local bands continued to blow minds live and squeeze out killer product. Now that’s nothing to sneeze at, Jack, but the real reason I’m so annoyingly positive about this upcoming year is this: It seems that Montreal is finally free from the scourge of fey and twee indie pop that has cast such a dark cloud on our city for so long. By the time I nailed down real estate in this fishwrap with this handsome little column a half-decade ago, the local live scene was deep in the Doctor Doom-like grasp of Gloomy Guses sawing away on violins and Sad Sues plunking away at pawnshop guitars while rewriting Joy Division and Smiths songs with open-diary lyrics. Jeez, can you believe that not even that long ago, some people actually thought disco punk was something new? I swear it’s true. Alright, it was still better than the umpteenth-wave Montreal ska revival in ’96, but you get the point.

I don’t know what happened to those little Bonos and Lisa Loebs who polluted our stages in 2008 but one can assume that they just got their poli-sci degrees, didn’t get a deal with Arts & Crafts and got the hell out of Dodge.

In 2009, the local bands took back the night (clubs) and actually reacquainted audiences with danger, sex, fun and all the other nifty accoutrements that come with real rock ’n’ roll (I’m getting lazy by using the R&R tag here, but you get the drift) and instead of just sleepwalking through the classic, cliché rock-by-the-numbers book, actually breathed new life into the lumbering beast. Heck, I don’t think I saw one single glockenspiel or V-neck sweater slither up on stage all last year.

Montreal isn’t the only place that’s breaking out in hives at the croon of indie pop drivel. The last Polaris prize shindig is probably the most indicative of this new wind, when Canada’s astute rock hacks and the music industry’s last stragglers decided to scrawl Fucked Up’s name on the novelty-sized cheque. A gosh-darned punk band, by gummy! Rejoice, people, freedom is in the air for 2010 so open up yer snoots and take a big whiff.

Proving that I’m not blowing a gust of hot air is the recent opening of Casa del Popolo’s new, amazing live music venue, located directly next door in the former wood shop. Boasting the same capacity as its former digs, this should prove to be one of the best places in the city to see shows. Duck yer head in for some suds and sweetened psych tonight at Casa with Buddy McNeil and the Magic Mirrors, Green Cup & the Dudes and les Revenants.

NEVER GAVE A DAMN ABOUT THE METER MAN…JONATHAN.CUMMINS@GMAIL.COM