Briskography

>> Cool music for the forthcoming chilly months

by RUPERT BOTTENBERG

Time to shake off the torpor of a sweltering summer, because the fall frenzy of shows, parties and musical events is in full swing as of this weekend. This Friday, Sept. 13, are you gonna catch the mighty Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra at the Spectrum (with dub poetess Debbie Young and the scholarly Andy Williams assisting), or are you going to le Studio to get schooled by J-Live? Either way, save energy for the super-secret loft party with New Zealand post-hopper Recloose (ask around). The beats repeat the next day when the new Dynamite! monthly at Cabaret sees the launch of Jukebox 45s, the new Stones Throw comp from Peanut Butter Wolf, who’s joined by his pals Egon and Madlib. Later in the week, on Wednesday, Sept. 18, Greyboy returns to spin the rare groove and Latin funk he excels at, at la Sala Rossa.

Meanwhile, on the grinning-skull-with-mohawk-giving-the-world-the-finger tip, check the Sick & Twisted Extravaganza at Club Soda on Saturday, Sept. 14. Local label Sick & Twisted is showcasing several of its bands (Generatorz, Locos and Beauty Dropout), and giving equal time to like-minded acts Deadly Pale, Cynical Czardas, Suck la Marde and Vulgar Deli.

U.K. cowpunks the Mekons are still at it after some two decades—in fact, they’re at Cabaret on Tuesday, Sept. 17. The same night, local troublemakers Vaginal Croutons launch their new CD at Café Campus, which hosts the utterly unique trio Drums & Tuba the night after. Local digi-primitive abstractivists Wetfish reprise their signature efforts, accompanying silent-film classics Nosferatu and Metropolis, at the SAT on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 20–21.

Leftfield hip hop hits NDG’s Rainbow-Ites for some all-ages action on Sept. 20 when the Def Jux “Revenge of the Robots” tour rolls in, El-P, Mr. Lif, DJ Fakts One and RJD2 in tow. Deep-house aficionados will be at Illume the same night for Dennis Ferrer, a collaborator with Kerri Chandler, and at Stereo on Sept. 22 for a visit from Fabric resident Doc Martin. The glam kids come out on Saturday, Sept. 21, for the back-to-school Lipstick party at Jupiter Room, with a live set from the Cherry Persuasion. Jazz buffs will be at the Spectrum that night, though, when Patricia Barber sits down at the piano. Congolese star Lokua Kanza pulls a two-night stand at Kola Note on Sept. 20–21—take note, this guy’s worked with a panoply of African talent, from Ray Lema and Manu Dibango to Miriam Makeba and Papa Wemba. Sunday, Sept. 22, nifty new-wavers Nanobot Auxiliary Ballet pirouette into the Casa, while on Sept. 25, NYHC legends Cro-Mags curb-stomp the crowd at Foufounes Électriques.

Pop goes Montreal
The weekend after is nothing short of insane as the Pop Montreal fest makes its auspicious debut. Between Thursday and Sunday, Sept. 26–29, there’s something like a million bands rolling in to do their thing for pop. Locals lined up include “special friends” the Dears and Stars sharing a bill at the Rialto (ooooh, fancy), les Sequelles (at the Casa again on Sept. 6), Thomas Hellman, Martha Wainwright, the Datson Four (yes, the Montreal mods rechristened), Marlowe, Tremolo, the Whereabouts and more. From elsewhere there’s Blonde Redhead at Club Soda that’s got everyone talking, there’s Neko Case and the Sadies riding the Canadian alt-twang trail, sharp-dressed men from NYC Interpol (warning, spoiler: the next Strokes?), Hot Hot Heat and the exquisite Hylozoists, best described as the Haligonian High Llamas. On the e-pop oddity tip there’s prog-tronicizers Shy Child, funny French guy Toog, funny fake German lady Lederhosen Lucil, not-Russian-or-futuristic-or-plural guy the Russian Futurists and local synthmeister Montag, all on one bill. The jewel in Pop Montreal’s crown, though is Arthur H visiting the Spectrum for a solo set at the piano. Oh, and the Wilco flick I Am Trying to Break Your Heart will screen at Cinéma du Parc for the fest.

For some, however, the lah-jih-cool choice that weekend will be Roger Hodgson at the Spectrum on Sept. 26. You’re a “Dreamer” if you don’t think it’s the “Crime of the Century” to miss the former Supertramp frontman in action, so “Give a Little Bit” and get your tickets now!

A pair of local disc-launches coming up the week after at Café Campus—Thursday, Oct. 3, dub-rockers Trip the Off get it on, and the night after, Paul Cargnello of the Vendettas inaugurates the new Stand Alone solo-artist label. Also on Oct. 4, France’s most prominent synth-wavers Indochine make up for bailing on les Francofolies this past summer by playing the Spectrum. Bob Morane! Japanese squall-flowers Melt Banana bring the noise to l’X on Oct. 4, and on Oct. 6, punk legends the Damned (including legendary embarrassment Capt. Sensible) swoop into Cabaret, psychobilly upstarts Tiger Army in tow.

Rocktober crisis
The week after is another nutty one. Oompah-punks the Subumlauts have la Sala Rossa locked down on Oct. 10 for an Oktoberfest—sounds beer-o-licious! The Tragically Hip, with local roqueur Sam Roberts, get all black tie and la-di-da at Place des Arts for two nights, Oct. 11–12. Party-animal dance-metalist Andrew WK, with equally obtuse opener Danko Jones, is at the Spectrum on Oct. 12, the same night Amon Tobin returns to Club Soda with Ninja Tune cohort Bonobo. Don’t you want new-wave icons Human League, baby? They’ll be at the Black & Blue party on Oct. 13. The current face of synth-pop turns up at the SAT on Oct. 14 in the form of Larry Tee and his Electroclash circus—Chicks on Speed, Peaches, Tracy & the Plastics and W.I.T. That night is also the first of two consecutive appearances at la Sala Rossa by Japanese neo-psychedelicists Acid Mothers Temple. Don’t eat the brown sushi!

Oct. 17 sees a blues-punk triple play from the Bell-Rays, Shikasta and locals Hyena at Café Campus, as well as the return of African AOR figure Salif Keita to the Spectrum. That same night, working-class hero Billy Bragg strikes a chord at Club Soda. The night after, chilly and meticulous Austrians Radian bring their abstract grooves to la Sala Rossa. Oct. 20 sees MIchael Franti and Spearhead at Club Soda. On Oct. 21, mummified kitsch-bitch Cher cranks up the bad taste at the Molson Centre, but not before ’80s imp Cyndi Lauper, who is as cool as Cher is not, opens. Following that, the Montreal Electronic Groove fest returns, Sept. 23–26. No word yet—that I can spill, anyway—but keep an eye peeled, should be good.

Girly trouble
Ladies, keep your knickers on—word is, sadcore indie icon Lou Barlow (at la Sala Rossa, Oct. 28) has been working out! New-jack popcore act New Found Glory, along with piano punks Something Corporate, glorify Metropolis on Oct. 30. The night after, indie hip hop upsetter Slug, with buddies Mr. Dibbs and Blueprint, do their Atmosphere thing at la Sala Rossa—Brother Ali, Dee Jay Bird and Sixtoo are in on this as well. Oct. 31 sees Mísia, prime proponent of the Portuguese blues they call fado, at Centre Pierre-Péladeau. T-dot IDM guy Manitoba, with Four Tet, is at la Sala Rossa on Nov. 1.

Fresh off the opening slots for a leg of the last Elton John (excuse me, Sir Elton John) tour, Aussie impersonatrixes Supergirly join the Just for Laughs comedy tour at Club Soda on Nov. 2. They take the piss out of Cher, Britney and the rest—kinda like drag queens, only really ladies and funnier. Sweden’s much-hyped Soundtrack of Our Lives hit Café Campus on Nov. 8, while Kentucky disco-rockers VHS or Beta return to Casa del Popolo the night after. On Nov. 10, or maybe 11 (not confirmed), electro-punx Add N to (X) return to la Sala Rossa.

Promising a six-hour DJ set and an expo of his visual art, Ninja Tune’s nutty Mr. Scruff gets a move on at the SAT on Nov. 16. The next night, Brazilian smoothie Caetano Veloso breaks some hearts at Place des Arts. Nov. 28 sees French techno-jazz figure Laurent Garnier in DJ mode at the SAT, as well as unpredictable art-poppers Stereo Total and the illustrious Mr. Quintron at the lovely Lion d’Or. The night after that, Epsilonlab celebrate their second anniversary with a showcase at the SAT. :

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