If we’re all burned out, then the system isn’t working, is it? We exist beyond our ability to grind! Take an afternoon off, call in sick, go to a show, go look at art. Fuck the man: It’s your life, make it matter.

Like life before colour TVs

Opening this Thursday, the Duran Mashaal Gallery is presenting the exhibition B&W. Showcasing international artists using various modalities, the pieces will be connected by the minimalism of being black & white.

I’m not even playing when I say bring your colour blind friend: they dig it when the colours don’t muddy up their view.

B&W @ Duran Mashaal Gallery, 1300 Sherbrooke St W Suite 102B. Opening reception: Thursday, February 2, 4 – 8 pm, runs through March 1. Deets

Party like it’s the early aughts!

This Saturday at Bar Le Ritz, put on your icy blue eyeliner and dance your way back to 2007. CALL ME! Alternative & Indie Sleaze Dance Party presented by SUPER TASTE is promising a fierce playlist for those looking to dance their faces off to alt & indie hits. As a non-club kid, this sounds like a hot party.

CALL ME! Alternative & Indie Sleaze Dance Party @ Bar Le Ritz, 179 Rue Jean-Talon W., on Saturday, February 4, 11pm – 3am. Tix & Deets

Onomatopoeia, baby

Pkew Pkew Pkew is a punk group from T.O., playing Turbo Haüs this Sunday. They’re billing themselves as “good boys”, while the “punk rock weird boys” of Boids will be repping MTL at the show, and the “pop punk fun boys and girls” of FOMO are coming in from St. Henri, Quebec (no, not the one with the metro). Lace ’em up, and come on down.

Pkew Pkew Pkew @ Turbo Haüs, 2040 St. Denis, Sunday, February 5, Doors @ 7pm, Show @ 8pm. Tix

The apocalypse might be beautiful…

Painter Adam Gunn imagines what climate change might do to the colours we perceive (Google “why is the sky blue”, ‘cuz I don’t have time to get into it). The results are stunning, vibrant, space-scapes and landscapes of a future Earth you wouldn’t recognize. Dive into the technicolor future of an environmental catastrophe we’d be too dead to see!

Regretté de tous @ Art Mûr, 5826 St-Hubert. On now through February, 25. Deets


Featured image from Adam Gunn: Regretté de tous via Art Mûr on Facebook


If you know of an event that you feel should be covered, please contact arts@forgetthebox.net or music@forgetthebox.net

No promises but we’ll do our best

Look at all these shows this week! Wowee!

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5

Sir Richard Bishop + Tashi Dorji + Hellenica @ La Vitrola

Show starts at 8 p.m., $10 at the door or in advance via Suoni per il Popolo.

Res-erection: A Royal Phoenix Pop-Up Party @ Espace Reunion

Even though the Royal Phoenix closed its doors earlier this summer, the spirit of the Phoenix has emerged from the proverbial ashes in the form of a pop-up party at Espace Reunion (6600 Hutchison). The party, hosted by legendary queer drag artist Connie Lingua, will feature live performances until 11 p.m. by La Mécanique, Wiz Kilo, Charlie and Those Trees. DJs Sham, Maclean and JNNBNNRCK take over until 3 a.m.

Doors open at 8:30 p.m., $10.

Misery Loves Co. tape launch @ Drones Club

Montreal record label Misery Loves Co. is celebrating its second round of split cassettes since its inception earlier this year. Four cassettes are being released, each a split, that means eight bands for your listening pleasure. Each band will be performing a short set; they are: Alcrete, Nennen, Silk Statue, Quel Dragon?, Drøm Før Du Dør, Squalor, Blankets and Skin Tone. The tapes will be for sale for $7 each or $20 for all four.

Show starts at 9 p.m., $5-$8 sliding scale. 

Hashed Out + Animal Ethics + Ayazi @ Deathouse

Show starts at 10 p.m.

Mad June + Moosy @ l’Escogriffe

Show starts at 10 p.m., $10 at the door. 

MEG x 10th Anniversary of Divan Orange: Tommy Kruise + Kenlo Craqnuques + Melt MTL @ Divan Orange

Show starts at 10 p.m., $10 at the door.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16

Zammuto + Saxsyndrum @ Casa del Popolo

Doors open at 8 p.m., $10 in advance via Blue Skies Turn Black or $13 at the door.

The BCASA + BOIDS + Dead End Trends @ Turbo Haus

Show starts at 9 p.m.; free before 10 p.m., $10 after.

The FAPS + The Artsy Chicks + Ashleys @ l’Escogriffe

Doors open at 9 p.m., $7.

Do yourself a favour and go see some of these shows this week.

FRIDAY, APRIL 11

Les nuits psychédéliques de Québec: Odonis Odonis + Hellshovel @ Le Cercle

A sure sign that the psych genre is on the rise, Les nuits psychédéliques de Québec will have its first edition this weekend. The party actually kicks off tonight, April 10, with a psychedelic dance party at Le Cercle with Mr. Songbird.

Doors open at 8 p.m.; tickets cost $17.50 in advance at Le Cercle (228 St-Joseph e.), Le Knock-Out (832 St-Joseph e.) and online or $20 at the door. 

Po Lazarus + Zoë and the Lost Boys @ Grumpy’s Bar

Show starts at 10:30 p.m., free.

SATURDAY, APRIL 12

Les nuits psychédéliques de Québec: Tonstartssbandht + PyPy @ Le Cercle

Doors open at 8 p.m.; tickets cost $17.50 in advance at Le Cercle (228 St-Joseph e.), Le Knock-Out (832 St-Joseph e.) and online or $20 at the door.

BOIDS + Broadcaster + Panic Attack + The Penske File @ l’Escogriffe

Montreal punk band BOIDS are back in town from a west-coast tour with the Real McKenzies and are officially launching their new album We Stalk Each Other Like Animals.

Show starts at 9 p.m., $10.

TUESDAY, APRIL 15

Full Moon Total Eclipse of the Empire: The Shakewells + NooM + Skurge @ Kiss Lounge

This Tuesday, celebrate the copper full moon and one of the two lunar eclipses of the year. Witching Hour Events have built up a reputation for planning these fun parties based around the idea of promoting geopolitical change through open-mindedness. That’s a cool way of saying that their events always feature great music, film, art activities, trippy projections by local visual artists and some sort of unconventional entertainment (this time it’s live Kung Fu and something called the Space Unicorns Go Go Dancers).

Doors open at 9:30 p.m., $7.

THURSDAY, APRIL 17

Bad Uncle + Kids Eat Crayons @ Divan Orange

Show starts at 10 p.m., $10.