Hello Forget The Box Readers, we are back again for another edition of Montreal Live Music Shows This Week.
It’s cloudy. It’s rainy. And there’s no sun. But there is hope that the grey skies will clear out for blue ones very soon. In the meantime, Spring Winds are blowing in some nice talent into Montreal, and some of that talent is homegrown as well.
So without further ado, lets see whats in store for you this week.
Pop Dance Anthems A La Violon – Aleksi Campagne
If you haven’t heard of Aleksi Campagne, you will soon enough. Hailing from Montreal, the 24 year old singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist has an impressive track record:
He’s played live for Radio Canada and TVA. He’s lent his violin skills to well known Canadian folk legends Heather Bishop and Connie Kaldor. He’s been on the bill at high profile Canadian festivals like the Vancouver Folk Festival. He’s performed in Paris at the famous bistro Le Petit Journal Montparnasse. He’s made appearances at private record label showcases like the International Folk Alliance Conference in Kansas City. He’s also sang backup vocals at for prominent artists at shows at Place Des Arts.
This week he is launching his debut album that combines a smooth mix of pop, folk and jazz. What’s exciting about his signature sound is the combination of distortion, normally reserved for heavy rock and metal, and violin. His songs have been described as “wickedly catchy dancing anthems.”
There is no evidence to suggest that his talent is in large part due to studying for two years under the wing of Parisian violin maestro Didier Lockwood. There is, however, some evidence showing that his sound is similar to violinist Andrew Bird, and R&B star Sam Cook.
And there is A LOT of circumstantial evidence pointing to the fact that his show will get sold out quickly. So, jump on this opportunity to catch an up and coming artist for an intimate album launch at Patro Vys.
Aleksi Campagne Band performs with Old Time Honey at O Patro Vys, 356 Mont-Royal Est, Thursday, April 5, 9:30pm. Tickets are $10 or $18 with a CD and available through AleksiCampagne.com
Moonfruits Comes To Charm Montreal At Place Des Arts
Ontario based folk duo Moonfruits, great band name by the way, are touring to support their sophomore album Ste Quequepart. But it is no ordinary album.
The concept album draws inspiration from the duo’s road stories- they have played over 100 shows just in Canada alone, and the rest from pure creative imagination. The songs lyrics tell stories about an imaginary village where love and a sense of community co-exists with the stark realities of poverty, prejudice and inequality.
Yet a sense of hope permeates their overall artistic message. For them, its all about celebrating common ground and walking in another’s shoes
The duo who sing in French and English are known to charm their audiences with their sincerity and humor and will be playing as a quartet to deliver a full band sound with drums, double bass, guitar, banjo and percussion. And Lots of Heart.
A great performance awaits you at Place des Arts this week, hope you can make it.
Moonfruits perform at Salle Claude-Léveillée – Place des Arts, 175 Sainte-Catherine Ouest, Friday, April 6, 8pm. Tickets are $20.25 and available through Place des Arts
The Soul Of Blue Rodeo Comes To Town
Jim Cuddy is back. If your a fan of country rock, especially of the Canadian variety, then this is a not to be missed opportunity. The 62 year old country rocker will be gracing the stage right here in Montreal with his heartfelt brand of country rock.
Cuddy released his latest album Constellations last January so you’ll be hearing some brand new music live this time. As always, songwriting is top notch and it’s no secret why Blue Rodeo was such a great Canadian success.
Corona Theatre will be generously offering a free copy of the album with the purchase of your ticket. In my book that’s a great two for one deal so grab it because it doesn’t happen often!
Jim Cuddy performs with Barney Bentall at Théâtre Corona, 2490 Notre-Dame Ouest, Friday, April 6 and Saturday, April 7 at 8pm. Tickets are $61.50 and available through Evenko
Canada’s Next Big Thing Arrives In Montreal
They are Canada’s next Sloan. The most exciting show this week is the arrival of Nova Scotia bred Hillsburn who will be playing an intimate album launch at Casa Del Popolo. The up and coming band has a busy month ahead; BOOKED SOLID everyday this month on tour across The Great White North.
They’ve got a fresh authentic sound that has got audiences dancing on their feet. They’ve hooked up with Classified for one of their singles off their new album. You won’t get this chance again to see them at such an intimate venue as Casa.
We covered the band in more detail for our contest post, so check it out for more details on why this is A MUST to check out.
Hillsburn perform at Casa del Popolo, 4873 boul St-Laurent, Sunday, April 8, 8pm. Tickets are $9.80 and available through Indie Montreal
A Dose Of Nu Gaze For Your Ears
Do you like bands like Blonde Redhead, My Vitrol, And Silversun Pickups? Do you miss the good old days of alternative rock that showcased droning riffs, messy non-linear distorted guitars, and gloomy vocals?
Look no further, Montreal’s own Paddle To The Sea will electrify the stage with their high energy hooks. The first time I heard their adrenaline fueled song, Moon, it blew me away. Like why aren’t these guys famous; seriously?!
Their chimmey shimmering guitars combined with dark vocal hooks are really comforting to the ears. Yet they don’t sound overproduced; instead the generate a raw and edgy authentic sound that is radio friendly. Hello CHOM, get with the times already.
Regardless, the power trio is currently in the studio recording their second LP, with seasoned go to producer Fern Bouie – who does sound for big bands that come to town like The Beach Boys and other high profile acts.
If you can’t make the show, listen to their song moon, its a killer track. Go share it with all your FB friends and help these guys get some visibility.
Thicke Sugar, Paddle to the Sea and Lost Acres perform at Petit Campus, 57 Prince Arthur Est, Saturday, April 7, 8pm. Tickets are $10 at the door
Throwback To MTV Unplugged
I love the vibe of high energy rock bands that strip everything down to cedar wood guitars, brush sticks, and acoustic bass guitars sans AMP. You can really hear the songwriting craft with no distortion and high volume to distract you from the essence of the song itself.
Nirvana, Alice In Chains and Pearl Jam in the 90s come to mind when thinking about such intimate music circles and an adoring crowd in the cozy New York City MTV unplugged studios of yesteryears.
Well, we are getting a little treat this week at our local watering hole Barfly. Hailing from neighboring Toronto, The Do Good Badlies, are in town but they won’t be plugging in. Instead it will be a wireless evening, with three of the four members going up on stage one at a time to showcase the songs they’ve written for the band with just acoustic guitars.
There will be whiskey. Lots of whiskey, mainly supplied by Sir Jack Himself, as the rockers are proudly influenced by the classic timeless sounds of the 60s garage rock, 70s classic rock, as well as more modern tinged sounds a la Arcade Fire.
It will be a feel good music night and PWYC makes it hard to say no to this unique night at Barfly.
The Do Good Badlies’ What Goes Around Songwriter’s Circle is at Barfly, 4062A St-Laurent, Thursday, April 5 at 10pm. PWYC
* Featured image of Moonfruits via Indie Montreal
* 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!
