Music this autumn from top to bottom

>> Sounds to thrill as warm turns to chill

by RUPERT BOTTENBERG

Okay, here we go. Friday, Sept. 21 sees Khaled, the reigning lord of raï, bringing the North African funk to Metropolis. The same night, Ann Savage, a U.K. hard house DJ who's rubbed shoulders with Carl Cox, Roger Sanchez and Goldie, works the main room at Sona. Maüs and Nivoc got her back. Of course, NYC techno big shot Joey Beltram's at Aria the same night, as is Kid Capri--take your pick

The following night, Sept. 22, is a doozy. David Byrne, one-time Talking Head and now globetrotting A&R guy for his own Luaka Bop label, brings material from his excellent new album Look Into the Eyeball to the Spectrum (Luaka signees Si Sé open). At the same time, the ancient Wheel Bar in NDG, on Cavendish just below Sherbrooke, hosts the first of Daisy Mae's Saturday Night Barn Dances. It's free, and it's a chance to see members of the Howlin' Hound Dogs, Rosekill, Flight 13 and the Honeymakers--Montreal neo-billy royalty all--unplug and kick back in a classic C&W style. The illustrious Sophia Wolff will be on hand to teach y'all a few steps and maybe belt out a number or two. Also, local polystylistic future-funk goth-rockin' comic-book band Beached Whale will be at la Sala Rossa with Icenine and Shadowboxerz.

Sunday, Sept. 23, is when Moog-o-nauts the Unireverse beam into Casa del Popolo, space-rock noiseboxes in tow. Later in the week, on Tuesday, Sept. 25, Mexican folk-rockers Saoco debunk the mariachi myth at Café Campus, and do so again on Sept. 29 at l'Alizé, in the company of local tribal-core mega-group Colectivo.

Strokes for the folks

On Thursday, Sept. 27, Club Soda shakes as local locos Loco Locass prove, in a most eloquent fashion, that there is more to québécois culture that felt fleur-de-lys jester caps--although than is apparently an important part of it. Their national boom-bap gets reprised at Soda on Oct. 5. Turbo launch Toronto Mix Sessions, from Hogtown hero Kenny Glasgow, at Sona on Friday, Sept. 28. The same night, the amazing, goosebump-inducing duo Goldfrapp repeat their blowout performance at the Spectrum. Don't miss it, unless you're at Cabaret for the 2 Wars and a Revolution label anniversary showcase. It features the U.K.'s formidable DJ Scissorkicks and T.O.'s Incredible Melting Man and Jelo--because you deserve some breaks that day.

Saturday, Sept. 29, offers four fun options. Montreal's naughty, noisy Da Bloody Gashes bring it back home, with interest, when they headline a benefit for CLAC at l'X. At the same time, an era ends as Jailhouse Rock, longstanding home to entry-level rock maniacs and countless memorable shows, hacks out its death rattle--sorry, hosts its closing party. While the Castelli brothers will remain in the show-biz game, it won't be at the donut shop said to be replacing the showbar. Feh! Britpop types will likely be at Metropolis for Travis, while the E nation will be on hand for Germany's Johannes Heil and others at the Rave or Die party, location tba.

If you haven't heard about the Strokes, you will soon. Everyone's freaking on this NYC outfit, maybe because they so perfectly synthesize elements of the Big Apple's best moments--the Velvet Underground, Patti Smith, Television etc. Find out what the fuss is about when they hit Cabaret on Sunday, Sept. 30.

The very next night, Monday, Oct. 1, is when creepy ol' Nick Cave slithers into Metropolis with his Bad Seeds. That ornery broad Neko Case opens. Murder ballads! We want murder ballads! Or at least gothic-industrial S&M performance art, which is to be found at Foufounes Électriques on Tuesday, Oct. 2, in the form of the Bozo Porno Circus (you don't want to know what happens in the backseat of the clown car).

Umlaut action

From sex offenders to sax defender, we move on to the scary-bari blowout of the Charles Papasoff Orchestra at la Sala Rossa on Wednesday, Oct. 3. The night after, the Spectrum hosts Scandinavian techno-jazzbo Nils Petter Molvaer along with Rhodes 'n' Rhythms (DJ Pocket et Denis Raoul). On Friday, Oct. 5, you can catch the Dutch treat DJ Tiësto at Sona, while the following night sees Moscow's Android, along with locals Mateo Murphy, Iznogood and Paratonerf (live set!), among others, at the Substance party. Also, somewhere around Oct. 8, expect a visit from Pork artists Baby Mammoth, and perhaps left-handed hip hopper Prefuse 73 (on the Warp label, no less).

Festival season returns for an encore when the New Cinema and New Media fest kicks off on Thursday, Oct. 11, including musical sets at the MCA and SAT. Anticipated is the return of Germany's Rechenzentrum, as well as Force Inc. artists Kid 606, Twerk, Safety Scissors and Sutekh. Also slated are, at long last, the launch of Jerôme Minière's incredible Herri Kopter project and a first-time visit from the prolific Hakan Lidbo, a leading figure in tech-house.

Also on Thursday, Oct. 11, is the Molson Centre appearance of none other than the delightful Snoop Dogg & tha Eastsidaz. Better sniff out one of those $45 tickets but fast. The same night, there's a soirée of Indian classical stylings at Centre Pierre-Péladeau, with the celebrated Shankar and Zakir Hussain front and centre.

Saturday, Oct. 13, is another of those frustrating nights of indecision. Punk rock elder statesman Joe Strummer, once the frontman of the Clash, is at the Spectrum, while Canada's premier shoegazer band, Sianspheric, is at la Sala Rossa with the Fridge from England. Meanwhile, that odd little fellow Hawksley Workman is at Cabaret, and Junior Sanchez is at Sona.

Since the subject of elder punks has come up, take note that the Damned are at Club Soda on Wednesday, Oct. 17, in the company of Swingin' Utters and locals Cafeïne. The following night, Basement Jaxx bring their fucked-up take on the U.K. garage sound to the Spectrum, with Ugly Duckling in tow. Saturday, Oct. 20, sees local laid-back popsters Fidget launching a new CD at la Sala Rossa, while Club Soda plays host to the hilarious Björn Again, the ultimate ABBA tribute from Australia. Dancing queens, report to the floor.

Everything's included

Sunday, Oct. 21, is the date for the return of Eleni Mandell, the feminine answer to Tom Waits, at Café Campus this time. Rumour has it that the Beta Band, following their spot opening for Radiohead this summer, are slated for Club Soda on Oct. 22. A definite yes, though, are Germany's polyglot pop unit Stereo Total and elegant digi-folk weirdo Momus, with local Fräulein Lederhosen Lucil, at the classy Lion d'Or on Wednesday, Oct. 24.

That Wednesday also marks the kick-off of this year's edition of the Montreal Electronic Groove mini-fest. Bouncing around several venues, the line-up includes Llorca, Switzerland's Rollercone, Mateo Murphy and--hope against hope--the return of rinôçérôse, the guitaristic house-music band from France who are one of the best live acts in pop today.

Coming up on Halloween, the parties start popping up like ghosts in a boneyard. 514's annual Freaky boasts Seb Fontaine, while Gloom will have Chris Liebling, among others. There's also the Paradise party, which features tech-trance from the U.K.'s Binary Finary in a live set, Texas boy Chris Fisher and G in the Box, and hardcore techno from Holland's Neophite, Chicago's Delta 9 and locals like Psyko le Punk and Thor (hammer time!).

The fright show continues when the hoary Andre Williams, R&B's dirty old rachi-papa, sidles into Café Campus on Friday, Nov. 2, and then yet more frights are augured for Sunday, Nov. 4, when Marduk and Kataklysm unleash the beast at Foufounes. Monday, Oct. 5, is a date for Pavement fans to note, as Preston School of Industry (Pavement founder Spiral Stairs's new band) teach you all a lesson at Café Campus. On Friday, Nov. 9, you can choose between NYC neo-funkateers Sugarman 3 (venue tba) and Toronto's surly Exploders (see disc review this week), who are at Casa del Popolo. Then there's massive samba mama Virginia Rodrigues belting it out at Centre Pierre-Péladeau on Sunday, Nov. 11.

To wrap things up, some rumours for November: Marco Carolla at Sona, Body & Soul's François K at Stereo and a night with Fred Everything, celebrating the launch of his forthcoming disc on Bombay. Finally, there's something in the air about a Ninja Tune power alliance, as Bonobo, Mr. Scruff and DJ Food are expected to converge here for a November night that promises to be hot enough to keep winter at bay, for a few weeks anyway.