Sunstrokes and bottle-tokes

>> >> The music scene heats up for Montreal's brief stretch of unwinter

by RUPERT BOTTENBERG

The first summer of the new millennium, and it just won't be the same somehow. That's because we've lost Latin legend Tito Puente, the tiny terror of the timbales who departed for the big Nuyorican mambo lounge in the sky on June 1, aged 77. He will be sorely missed--proof being the Tribute to Tito Puente edition of the revived Oyé! soirées at Metropolis, on Thursday, June 22. Montreal's own top timbalero, Joé Armando, will be directing 25 musicians through the tribute, supplemented by a salsa band, DJs, dance lessons and a slide show recalling Tito's life.

Latin vibes of a different stripe go down at Café Chaos on Thursday, June 17, when Mi Santa Sangre take the stage. Taking their name from a Jodorowsky film, the band delivers metal rage with a groove and heapin' Catholic angst en Espanol. They're taking part in the Café's ongoing battle of the bands, vying for recording time and a press run of resultant CDs. By the way, it's their last show 'til fall, so catch 'em now.

Final Latin note: it's Brazil's 500th anniversary, so count on the Jazz Fest (more on that below) to pay hommage with a Carnival blowout for their big outdoor show. Also, they've got such Braziluminaries as Bebel Gilberto (daughter of Joao and Astrud) and Lenine (the Beck of Brazil--sort of) on deck, as well as French sambatronicos BossaTrèsJazz closing the midnight DJ series.

Old school and new

From Latino to retro we go, checking in on new local band the Del Gators. Featuring members of the Spaceshits, Scat Rag Boosters and the Daylight Lovers, the band dishes out raunchy R&B shakers in the grand ol' style. Catch them at Casa del Popolo (formerly Artishow, 4873 St-Laurent) this Saturday, June 17. Bring three bucks and your own damn beer. Also retro and old enough to have been there are Ray Condo and his Ricochets, bringing their hillbilly hootenanny to the Jello Bar on July 10. Oh, and French yéyé legend Johnny Hallyday has added a third show to his run at Théatre St-Denis at the end of August.

Not so much retro as timeless is the soft touch of ueberwuss Jonathan Richman, bringing his stripped-down modern lovin' to Cabaret on June 24. The Mirror encourages one and all to come get shitfaced and demand Sabbath covers at the top of your voices. Also soft, folksy and acousticy are locals Pigeon-Hole, who launch their new CD at Cabaret on June 22. Speaking of local CD launches (but not folk, unless you somehow see rock-o-tronic breakbeat fun as fitting in that category), Urbanauts also have a lil' number on the way. Watch these pages for details.

The season really starts on June 26 at Parc Jean-Drapeau when post-ska popsters No Doubt, featuring Gwen Stefani's rock-hard tummy, roll in with guests Lit and Black Eyed Peas. A month later at the same location, on July 21, the Warped Tour attacks. Standout surprises include the Planet Smashers, Save Ferris and the amazing reggae-punk-hop of the Long Beach Dub All Stars. If that sounds good, wait'll August 19, when the Red Hot Chili Peppers hit the Molson Centre with the reggae-punk-hop originals themselves, Fishbone, in tow. The 'bone is back in the running these days, so expect one of the best jams of the summer.

Festi d'tabernac!

Oh, but that's all so mainstream, you say? Here's a little wierdness for you: Uz Jsme Doma, from the Czech Republic, crank out the progadelic pub-rockers at Jailhouse on June 29. Another thing you'll want to check out is Interchill's launch for their latest release, by the legendary Suns of Arqa. The Suns won't be on hand, but Interchill mainstay Adam Shaikh and guests including Ganesh Anandan, Shankar and bansuri player Catherine Potter will provide a traditional Indian concert at Lion d'Or on June 24 (just in time for St-Jean-Baptiste! What?!).

On to the fests. The Jazz Fest has its best line-up in years, including the "fake Cubanismo" of Marc Ribot, reggae hero Jimmy Cliff and organ god Booker T. Jones, jazz legends Max Roach, Sonny Rollins and Herbie Hancock and Louisiana's Wild Magnolias, the very soul of Mardi Gras (imagine the Meters on acid). The outdoor spread is nuts, too: mambo cowboy Ned Sublette rides into town, as do Cuban roots-rappers los Orishas, Cali low-riders los Moscosos, First Nation blues-rockers Indigenous and Breton raga-mixers Mukta. It all starts June 29.

Then there's FrancoFolies; Sacré bleu, c'est formidable! Starting July 27, you can catch ultra-Parisian Arthur H as he channels the spirit of Gainsbourg, as well as Belgium's foxy Axelle Red, les Rita Mitsouko, Katerine, Mano Solo and that funny little figure named M. Beatheads will appreciate the inclusion of folks like les Jardiniers, le Tone, Mr. Oizo and Scan X, while throwbacks will be stifling tears during the Salut Gerry! tribute with Offenbach and Éric Lapointe. Nanette Workman figures into all this as well.

One thing not to be missed at the Francos is the Latin triple bill of Sergeant Garcia, Overbass and Fermin Muguruza, a burly Basque whose excellent new album has been licensed by Overbass' label Discos del Toro (see Disc Reviews). That's about that, except for one thing: Britney, Britney, Britney! August 23 at the Molson Centre. Be there. :