Golden Tombs

ArtsMusic

So many shows this week! Get to it.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4

CKUT presents: Squalor + Cheap Wig + Balltripper @ Cabaret Playhouse

Squalor’s experimental noisy sludge + fuzzy lo-fi wailers Cheap Wig + the psychedelic stoner punk of Balltripper = a good time.

Show starts at 9 p.m., $7.

Skurge + Feefawfum @ Barfly

Do you like your thrash with a fair amount of free jazz thrown in? Yeah, that’s what I thought.

Show starts at 10 p.m., $7.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5

Castle + Buffalo Theory + Tunguska Mammoth + Abyssed + Near Grey + Watcher @ Foufounes Électriques

San Francisco’s Castle are great and all but there are some solid openers representing Montreal here. Get there early not to miss Watcher and Near Grey.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m., $10 via Xtrem Productions or at the door.

Golden Tombs + The Hydrothermal Vents @ Casa del Popolo

Man, Golden Tombs are such a trip to see live. Go get lost in their cinematic psych-influenced spaghetti western-meets-folk.

Show starts at 9 p.m., $6.

La Forêt rouge (cassette launch) + The Crib Death of the Un-Cool + Goddard x Pelchat @ 185 Van Horne

La Forêt rouge was formed in 2002 by Olivier D’Amours (GGRIL, Monocytes) and David Dugas Dion (ex-CRABE, David and the Woods, Gens Chrétiens) and made long improvisational compositions influenced by psychedelic post-rock. They were ahead of their time and then, after a brief existence, the band went on an indefinite hiatus. They are back and will be releasing a new cassette on Montreal label Cuchabata Records. Supporting them are The Crib Death of the Un-Cool — made up of Sam Shalabi and Chris Burns, two legends of the Montreal underground improv/experimental scene — and free jazz/noise duo made up of James Goddard (Public Transit, Skin Tone) and Alex Pelchat (Shining Wizard, Drøm Før Du Dør).

Show starts at 9 p.m.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 6

A Devil’s Din + Balltripper @ Barfly

Psych-rockers A Devil’s Din and Balltripper both lost their gear and jam space to a fire recently and are putting on this show (with borrowed gear) to help raise funds to replace what they’ve lost. For those who’d like to help out but can’t make it to the show, they are accepting donations through money transfer at adevilsdin@gmail.com.

Show starts at 6 p.m., PWYC.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7

Andrew Sisk presents The Passing of the Buffalo + Aim Low @ Casa del Popolo

I will let the event description speak for itself here: In the spring of 2011, Andrew Sisk scanned the stacks of a used bookstore and spotted the thin, aged spine of an antique book titled The Passing of the Buffalo. Published in 1916 in Vancouver, the prologue caught Sisk’s eye as it spoke of the fate of one of North America’s first natural resources, the wild buffalo. Through the book’s prologue, five acts and epilogue, the author details the rapid decline of the buffalo in a beautifully poetic and educated tone from behind the mysterious pen-name, Buckskin. Its verses reveal a warning for our time and a beauty long forgotten.

Sisk was inspired to spread the book’s message through music and pay homage to a great work.

Show starts at 8 p.m., $8.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8

Witching Hour Full Moon Halloween Party: Collision of Dimensions @ Theatre Rialto

This sounds like it’s going to be totally crazy. Witching Hour have made a name for themselves throwing parties that include many kinds of media and other more unconventional activities like yoga and meditation. There’s always a live music component — usually electronic DJs and bands — as well as live painting and film screenings. Marie Davidson headlines this edition curated by No Exist and QuebékisŤanz.

Doors open at 8:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10 in advance at Phonopolis, X20 and Cheap Thrills; $12 at the door.

ArtsMusic

Take your pick of these shows this week!

FRIDAY, AUGUST 29

Fattal Fest 2014 @ Fattal

Nothing marks the end of summer like the outdoor barbecue crusty blowout party that is Fattal Fest. Now in its fifth year, the festival started as a block party of sorts for the residents of the Fattal lofts in St-Henri, a nice little community-oriented get-together with cheap food, beer and punk bands. As the neighbourhood has gentrified in the last few years, the party has become more popular and has grown to include non-St-Henri residents as well. This goes over pretty well with the people I have spoken to in the past who live there as it serves to raise awareness about the socio-political situation at Fattal.

Over the past couple of years, the residents of the Fattal lofts have been battling the city and their landlord, the notorious Sam Fattal – owner of many squalid, derelict buildings and shoddy new condo developments on the island – for their right to live there and not be forced out as the neighbourhood becomes more and more desirable to condo developers.

As the event description is quick to point out, the organizers of the party (mainly Fattal residents and others in the St-Henri punk scene) do not have permission from the city to host this event so they ask everyone to keep to the parking lot, not mill around in the streets, be respectful and pick up after themselves.

Event starts tonight at 7 p.m. and continues Saturday and possibly Sunday, free.

Rae Spoon + Elena Stoodley + Lady Sin Trayda @ La Sala Rossa

Dragonroot Media and The Centre for Gender Advocacy are presenting this show tonight featuring transgender musician and author Rae Spoon. All proceeds will go to fund Dragonroot, a fairly new feminist collective that supports anti-oppressive practices in the media. They have a weekly show on CKUT 90.3 FM Tuesdays from 8:30 to 9 a.m. Shoutout to fellow FTBers Hannah Besseau and Pamela Fillion, who are also behind Dragonroot.

Doors open at 8 p.m., $8 or PWYC.

Wings of Metal Festival: feat. The Skull + Blood Ceremony + Holocaust + ADX & more @ Katacombes

Wings of Metal is an underground metal festival put on by three promoters looking to emulate the style of underground metal festivals that take place in Europe. That means lots of quality bands for a fair price, many of whom are from out of town like Toronto’s Blood Ceremony, Bölzer from Zurich, Edinburgh’s Holocaust and Brooklyn’s Natur, just to name a very few. Many of these bands, even the ones from North America, have a huge following in Europe and rarely come play here so getting to see them all under one roof is pretty special.

Bands play Friday and Saturday and to close off the festival, on Sunday there’s a metal record market followed by a barbecue and a secret show.

Doors open at 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, $45 per day; Metal record market and BBQ Sunday from 2 p.m. followed by a secret show at 6 p.m., $5 entry for the market, $15 for the show.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 30

Piknic Électronik triple edition feat. Jamie XX + Misstress Barbara + Surfing Leons & more @ Parc Jean-Drapeau

The good people behind Piknic are hoping you’ll take advantage of the long weekend to check out at least one of the three editions of Montreal’s favourite summertime electronic party series. Saturday’s edition is a short one (it ends at 8:45 p.m.) with only one stage due to the Arcade Fire show that takes place that night ($10 entry to Piknic upon presentation of an Arcade Fire ticket). Their regular full programming continues on Sunday and Monday.

Shows start Saturday, Sunday and Monday at 2 p.m., $15 at the door.

Eddie Paul @ BBAM! Gallery

Show starts at 3 p.m., free (PWYC).

The 222s + Paddle to the Sea + Arbor Glades @ Piccolo Rialto

Show starts at 9 p.m., $14 at the door.

Elephant Stone + UUBBUURRUU @ l’Escogriffe

Montreal psych rockers Elephant Stone will be launching their third full-length album, The Three Poisons, which is available for streaming in full on their Soundcloud. Then they’re off on tour again (man, do these guys work hard).

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

SUNDAY, AUGUST 31

Golden Tombs + Slight + Old Haunt @ Divan Orange

Show starts at 9:30 p.m., $6.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

Future Islands + Operators + DJ Disco Phantom @ Metropolis

This show will mark the first time Dan Boeckner’s (Wolf Parade, Handsome Furs) new project Operators perform in Montreal. Go see what all the fuss is about and in the meantime, check out this review by Nameless Ponytail of their first release, EP1.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m., $18 in advance via Blue Skies Turn Black or $20 at the door.

Atsuko Chiba + Set and Setting + Christ @ Casa del Popolo

Doors open at 8:30 p.m.; $8 before the end of the first band’s set, $10 after (I can get behind this; support opening bands!).

ArtsMusic

Quit fucking around and go see these shows this week.

FRIDAY, JULY 4

Putamen Insula + Hellenica + Existe @ Deathouse

Show starts at 9 p.m.

SATURDAY, JULY 5

Tasty Fest: Like Animals + Adrenechrome + Watcher + Chronolith + Disaster Horse + The Slums & more

So there’s this guy who lives in Brossard who takes it upon himself to organize Tasty Fest, an annual backyard BBQ party featuring bands, food and wholesome activities like oil wrestling (prize: a bottle of Jagermeister) and punk haircuts.

Show starts at 3 p.m., $10 at the door.

Po Lazarus @ Grumpy’s

Show starts at 10 p.m., free.

SUNDAY, JULY 6

The Artsy Chicks + Golden Tombs @ La Vitrola

Montreal band The Artsy Chicks have been on tour for the past three weeks and will be officially launching their sophomore album at a homecoming show on Sunday. This album will draw more heavily on surf rock than their previous release but we can expect an incredible diversity of influences nonetheless from this five-piece.

Doors open at 8 p.m., PWYC.

Venomenon + Adrenechrome + Cromagnum + Watcher @ Piranha Bar

Show starts at 8:30 p.m., $10 at the door.

TUESDAY, JULY 8

Hundred Waters + Mas Ysa @ Il Motore

Doors open at 8 p.m., $12 in advance via Blue Skies Turn Black or $14 at the door.

THURSDAY, JULY 10

Slight + Big Brave + Harsh Reality @ Casa del Popolo

Show starts at 9 p.m., $8/PWYC.

Light Bulb Alley + The Sangomas + After Party Acid People @ L’Escogriffe

Show starts at 10 p.m., $5.

ArtsMusic

Go see these shows this week, get to it.

THURSDAY, APRIL 24

SMOSAN #11: Avec le Soleil Sortant de sa Bouche + Femme Accident + Golden Tombs @ Le Cagibi

It is the one year anniversary of the monthly audio/visual performance series known as the Secret Museum of Sound and Nature. The series brings together people who share a common interest in new, innovative and experimental music. Read our interview with Jim Demos, founder and main organizer of the series.

Show starts at 9:15 p.m. (for real), $8.

Justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women w/ Odaya + Beatrice Deer + Sarah Pagé + AroarA @ La Vitrola

HOWL, a Montreal collective promoting social justice through the arts, organized this event in collaboration with Missing Justice, a grassroots campaign, to draw attention to the large number of missing and murdered indigenous women. The event features performances by aboriginal artists Odaya and Beatrice Deer, as well as experimental harpist Sarah Pagé (The Barr Brothers) and Montreal duo AroarA.

Show starts at 8:30 p.m., $8.

Po Lazarus @ Honey Martin

Show starts at 10 p.m., free.

FRIDAY, APRIL 25

Life in Vacuum + Atsuko Chiba + Obstcls @ L’Escogriffe

Show starts at 9 p.m., $7.

Mystik Motorcycles + Melted Faces + Ultrapterodactyle @ Divan Orange

Show starts at 9:30 p.m., $7.

SATURDAY, APRIL 26

Montreal Psych Fest presents Elephant Stone + The Vacant Lots + Pachyderm @ Quai des Brumes

Montreal psychedelic powerhouse Elephant Stone are kicking off a summer of touring here in Montreal by performing all the tracks off their new album, the self-titled follow-up to their 2009 success The Seven Seas.

Doors open at 9 p.m., tickets cost $8 in advance online via Elephant Stone or $10 at the door.

Photo by Võ Thiên Việt via tumblr.

ArtsMusic

The secret’s out. What started as a small gathering meant primarily for musicians to share their work and ideas with one another is now a full-blown monthly series showcasing some of the best local bands operating within the genres of experimental, psychedelic, shoegaze, stoner, ambient, noise and post-rock.

The monthly concert series, called the Secret Museum of Sound and Nature (SMOSAN) will be marking its one year of existence this Thursday, April 24 at Le Cagibi. Over the past year, the series has played host to boundary-pushing bands, including Dam Ships, UUBBUURRUU, Atsuko Chiba, El Salvador, The Walls are Blonde, Smokes, Silver Dapple and so many more.

When SMOSAN founder and main organizer Jim Demos started the series, he envisioned a collaborative space where music makers and lovers alike could discuss each other’s work with a big emphasis on the community aspect of the whole thing.

“In the music scene [in Montreal], as good as it is, I felt it would be nice to have one kind of place,” Demos said, “people would eventually get together and watch each other’s music being made and perform. People can talk about ideas, get things going. Even if they don’t come through, even if they never pan out, it’s just a good idea to get people talking.”

What really sets this series apart from others is the presence of some phenomenally good-quality live visuals provided by renowned VJs Zef and Santoz, who also perform together under the moniker Zef&Santoz. Together, they recently performed with Ghyslain Poirier at the Jutra awards after-party at the Société des Arts Technologiques [SAT]. They’ve also provided visuals individually and collectively for Igloofest, MUTEK and for Montreal electronic music duo Beat Market.

Providing a strong visual element, according to Demos, is a major part of the series’ raison d’être.

“Most of the bands who play the series are very underground,” he said. “it can be hard to get gigs that are a little more serious, have the visuals and have a really great spectacle. The bands that are just starting out, who maybe don’t have the resources, it gives them that opportunity.”

As someone who makes music for more than one project, Demos knows all about wanting to create that perfect atmosphere in a live music setting. He’s taking the opportunity this Thursday to perform some new music with composer Alex Janusz as Golden Tombs. He described Golden Tombs as in the same vein as his solo project Hellenica but more focused and meticulously structured.

“I never usually play gigs at the series because I run it. So I feel a little weird about it but I figured for the anniversary, it was ok,” Demos said.

Golden Tombs is a reincarnation of sorts of Janusz’s and Demos’ band The Dead Letters and Thursday they’ll play their first gig. They have a full record in the works, something Demos is really excited about since the project was “a huge undertaking” due to one member living in Winnipeg.

“We changed the name because we wanted a fresh start, we hadn’t done anything in a while and it felt like the right thing to do,” Demos said. “Plus there are like 30 000 bands called The Dead Letters around the world and new ones pop up every year [laughs].”

Golden Tombs will be followed by Montreal shoegaze nostalgia trip Femme Accident and avant-garde electro-rhythm quintet Avec le Soleil Sortant de sa Bouche, two bands that have been making waves in the underground music scene. Femme Accident has played POP Montreal and Montreal Psych Fest and will be playing at Canadian Music Week in Toronto in May. Avec le Soleil Sortant de sa Bouche have performed at Suoni Per Il Popolo and M for Montreal.

Booking quality live acts and providing stunning visuals has built SMOSAN’s reputation and the series’ popularity has experienced a healthy, steady growth in the past year. But Demos is not concerned with numbers nor with the competitiveness that can come with putting on shows in a city as bustling as this one.

“If you have a series or if you do shows or stuff like that [in Montreal], there’s so much going on that it takes time for people to remember that something is going on and to put in the time to follow and find out about the next one,” he said. “We’ll probably be good at Le Cagibi for a while.”

The Secret Museum of Sound and Nature one-year anniversary party takes place Thursday, April 24 at Le Cagibi (5490 boul. Saint-Laurent). The show starts at 9:15 p.m. and tickets cost $8 at the door.

Photo by Jessica Hébert for SMOSAN.