Hello dear FTB readers and welcome to another edition of Montreal Live Music Shows This Week.
We have an eclectic mix of recommendations for you, from avant-guard progressive metal to authentic electro-pop. We also have some great local alt country/bluegrass as well as maritime acoustic folk rock coming your way.
Since there’s nothing positive to say about the rain and snow on its way to Montreal, let’s keep things on the up and up and focus on the live music!
Come See What the Maritimes Are Blowing In
Nova Scotian Jesse Potter brings his heartfelt solo act to Barfly to showcase his latest songs filled with creativity.
Hailing from an ocean side town in Annapolis Valley, Potter draws inspiration from the crashing waves of his hometown, and the awe-spiring nature that surrounded him growing up.
Inspired by jazz, gypsy music, folk, and pop, he brings his unique brand of adult contemporary acoustic jazz to Montreal on his first cross Canada tour. But make no mistake, he’s been grinding away at developing his sound for several years; he has a full LP out produced by Scott Hupman of The Hupman Brothers, and has played well known festivals back home like Lunenburg’s Folk Harbour Festival and Wolfville’s Deep Roots Music Festival.
Musical inspirations include Andy And Ariana, Micah O’connell, Adam Bazinet, and Chris Robison.
“Everything is constantly influencing my music. When I’m writing a song, my environment, the people around me, what sounds I heard throughout the day, and even the way I’m positioned affect how the song turns out in the end.”
Potter has a great uplifting and positive vibe on stage so come show your support for this very special artist:
Montreal’s own folk rock outfit Temporary Flings open the show. It is the brainchild of two songsmiths Shawn Thicke and Jean-Marc Grenier. Both had a hard time finding the right musicians to work with, but once they met, the chemistry sparked immediately and they came up with four songs right off the bat the first time they jammed.
Influenced by classic bands like Led Zeppelin, The Hip, and Dave Matthews Band, the misfits teamed up with rockers Zacharie Robert on bass and Jas Bat on drums to complete the lineup.
“Our songs tell stories of outcasts, underdogs, criminals, dreamers, and romantics in search of redemption”
Jesse Potter performs with Temporary Flings at Barfly, 4062A St-Laurent, Friday, March 30, 8pm
El Coyote: A Happy Accident
Alt country folk outfit El Coyote will be launching their first album of all original material at Casa this week. It was recorded, mixed and mastered by Gilles Castilloux at The Treatment Room; the go to studio for big names like Plants & Animals, Stars, Wintersleep, and We Are Wolves.
The band was a happy accident resulting from casual Friday night jams for local musicians with busy careers to let loose, have some fun, and get through the winter. But as the weeks went by, everyone around the table started to realize that there was something more to this. Originals started to appear and by springtime, a full album worth of material was ready.
El Coyote is a great blend of country, americana and bluegrass that comes with a lot of heart and soul. And the vocal harmonies are stellar.
El Coyote perform at Casa del Popolo, 4873 St-Laurent, Tuesday April 3, 8pm. Tickets $13/$15 available through Casa del Popolo
March Is For Metal
Indiana progressive metal band The Contortionist come to Montreal to rock the stage and promote their latest album Clairvoyant. The band has been part of over 22 concert tours so far. The hardworking metallers, influenced by bands like Deftones, Meshuggah and Dream Theatre, have four studio albums and three EPs so far.
Lyrically, The Clairvoyant album has a melancholy vibe. Unlike their their previous album Language, which was more upbeat, this time around the lyrics focus on death and the darker side of that.
The Contortionist is one of those bands that is the opposite of bands like Slayer, Killswitch Engage, or AC/DC who do the same thing album after album. Instead, they are taking the route of bands like Pink Floyd and Mastodon and experimenting with new ideas and sounds each album.
The band started off releasing their first album of typical heaviness: down tuned guitars, with big riffs and lots of chugging. Solid album but nothing that set them apart from the dozens of other bands doing the exact same thing.
Three albums later, with a new vocalist, the band is coming into their own. The atmospheric vibe gives their single Reimagned a dreamy feel, and you can hear pop influences within.
The Contortionists perform at Théâtre Fairmount, 5240 Ave du Parc, Saturday, March 31st at 7pm. Tickets are $28 and available through Théâtre Fairmount
Riding The Electropop Wave
Hailing from North Carolina, Grammy nominated duo Sylvan Esso have been working the circuit since 2013 with their brand of indie-electro pop. Their first album reached No. 39 on The Billboard 200, and they’ve played The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
The band has come a long way. Both musicians were in bands that never went anywhere. But a chance encounter at The Cactus Club in Milwaukee changed their destinies forever.
They recorded their self titled debut album in an apartment bedroom and started touring in a Toyota Prius, the band having to do their own light show. 12 months later, they were headlining theatres and playing big festivals.
Their second album garnished positive reviews. Geena Kloeppel of Spin wrote:
“What Now finds the band questioning the confines of electronic pop music, deconstructing traditional notions of beat and melody with intricacy and ingenuity.”
What Now includes the single Coffee which has streamed 47 million times on spotify.
Sylvain Esso perform at Théâtre Corona, 2490 Notre-Dame Ouest, Tuesday, April 3, 8pm. Tickets available through Evenko
And For Those Who Like Things A Little More Polished
M bar is hosting an interesting evening Friday; distinguishing themselves from the rock, pop and metal going on this week, we have a special show that is swinging with jazz, lounge, and art rock.
The all star lineup of The Firing Squad consists of Alex Lepanto, drums, Gideon Yellin, guitar, and Lloyd White, bass. This professional backing band will be supplying the tunes for inspiring singer Enzo S, as he brings his version of jazz, funk and rhythm and blues to the stage.
Incredibly, this show is absolutely FREE. Plus, happy hour is happening LATE, so you’ll have from 10pm-12pm to fill up on cheap drinks and enjoy some TOP NOTCH musicians grace the stage.
The Firing Squad & Enzo S perform at M Montreal, 1245 rue Saint-André, Friday, March 31, 10pm, FREE
* Featured image of The Firing Squad via Facebook
* Know a band or an artist that should be featured in Shows This Week? Maybe a show FTB should cover, too? Let us know at music@forgetthebox.net. Our week goes from Thursday to Wednesday, so let us know by the preceding Sunday, though not too much in advance, or you may get lost in the shuffle. We can’t be everywhere and can’t write about everything, but we do our best!
