The greatest
show on Earth

by JOHNSON CUMMINS

I’ll be brief here, but kudos to locals the Besnard Lakes for killing it on their recent appearance on Jimmy Fallon last Tuesday, March 23. It’s nice to finally see what I consider a “real” band receiving worldwide recognition instead of the usual suspects of pop fluff that we’ve been exporting over the past five years.

Okay, this week is abso-muthafuckin’-lutely b-a-n-a-n-a-s for shows, so buckle up, fuckos. Starting things off on Friday night is none other than political provocateur and hardcore troubadour Jello Biafra, returning to music once again with his merry band, the Guantanamo School of Medicine, and local support from Slobs and Crabe, at Studio Juste Pour Rire. At the comfy new confines of Casa del Popolo, you can check out Past Lives, the new joint from ex-members of the Blood Brothers, with Zeroes and the awesome math rock of Hey Predator! If you dig Drive Like Jehu’s Yank Crime and other abacus rock of that era, then do yourself a favour and get there early to check out Hey Predator!, and pick up their awesome demo, Spit Smoke, Black Factories, while you’re there. Down at l’Escogriffe on Friday night, you can check out the muscular power pop of Dead Messenger with Bad Uncle.

Saturday night is unusually quiet compared to Friday and the rest of the week, but a sure bet would be local Signed by Force signees Nutsak and Crabe at Casa. At Foufounes Électriques, you can check out the punk rock answer to Frank Sinatra Jr. when CJ Ramone plays all of the classic “bruthas” songs, with openers the Hypnophonics and Chix ’n’ Dix. The show starts at 7 p.m. so don’t be tardy.

On Monday, you can watch a grizzled, saucer-eyed music hack (uh, that would be me, natch) actually leave his body while watching one of my favourite bands of all time, Japan’s Acid Mothers Temple, with Over-Gain Optimal Death at la Sala Rossa. If you want to find out just how heavy psyched-out jams can get, this would be the show to see. Also, bring a wallet full of sawbucks as their merch table will be filled with rare treats.

Classic thrash is definitely having a rebirth right now and you don’t get much more classic than Overkill with Vader, God Dethroned, Warbringer and Evile at Foufounes on Monday night. On Tuesday, don’t miss the minimalist post-punk of Blank Dogs with the U.K.’s Wetdog, loaded psych lords Awesome Color and Black Feelings at Il Motore. On Wednesday, head over to Casa for the glammy garage of the Smith Westerns with NYC’s Acrylics and Primitive Hands.

The Acid Mothers Temple show this week is nothing to guffaw about, but probably the greatest show of the year, or perhaps that you will ever see, is happening at the Bell Centre on Wednesday. Check it, the impeccable Hedley join forces with the equally innovative and mesmerizing Stereos, and not to be outshined by this utter brilliance is 2004’s answer to Joni Mitchell, Lydia Lunch and Laurie Anderson, Fefe Dobson, giving the big boys a run for their money. This could very well be the greatest concert in human existence so for the love of Allah please hurry up and grab tickets while you still can.

SUMMER GIRL…JONATHAN.CUMMINS@GMAIL.COM