Walrus

ArtsMusic

It’s Saturday, it’s beautiful outside and you’re sitting there trying to figure out what to do tonight. The Habs are out of the playoff, there aren’t any festivals going on and getting into a twitter war with climate change deniers is just not as much fun as it used to be.

Well as luck would have it there is still a world that exists outside your front door and in it there are live bands who will perform for you at very reasonable prices. Here’s are two such options for you to consider.

 

Goldfish

One of the most interesting stories I’ve read in a long time is that of mid-nineties Montreal based indie-rock band Goldfish who broke up back in 1996 right before releasing their debut album. As someone who is too young to have ever heard them live, the only frame of reference I have are the few tracks I can find online.

From this handful of recordings one question immediately comes to mind. Why the hell did you break up? Everything about their sound still holds up now and would have spoken right to the heart of all those disillusioned Gen X-ers.

Well as it turns out, 21 years later they’ve decided to reunite to finish what they started. Their “debut album” Predictions Of The Future will be released on May 21st.

If you want an early listen you can head over to Bar Le Ritz PDB tonight for a live performance and album launch party. This might be your only chance to hear them live since none of the band live in the same city anymore and getting together probably won’t be a regular thing.

 

Goldfish plays Bar Le Ritz PDB, 179 Rue Jean-Talon-Ouest, Saturday, April 29th, 8:00pm, $12-14 available through tixza.

Walrus + Miesha & The Spanks + HotKid

You can get you indie rock fix over at L’espace des Mêmes where Walrus, Miesha & The Spanks and HotKid will be playing as part of an Analogue Addiction and CJLO showcase. All three of these Canadian bands are currently on spring tours through the nation with fresh albums either just released or set to come out very soon.

Calgary based duo (and coolest band name of the week winners) Miesha & The Spanks are garage rock heaven, the perfect mix of grit, riffs and raw vocals. So what are you waiting for my friend? Put some damn pants on, text up some friends and head on out.

Walrus, Miesha & The Spanks and HotKid play L’espace des Mêmes, 6464 Boulevard St Laurent, Saturday, April 29th, 9:00pm, $8.

* Featured image of Miesha & The Spanks by Trevor Hatter

* 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!

ArtsMusic

This week we’ve got an exclusive video launch with Psychocide to preview and some great bands to take a look at. So if you’ve managed to dig yourself out from under all the snow then we’ve got a few suggestions for some shows to check out this weekend.

Psychocide + Young Critters + Call Me Steve

On Saturday Barfly will be hosting an evening of “punk n’ roll” featuring Psychocide, who will also be using this event to celebrate the release of their new video for the track Mr. Suit. On a completely related note: FTB, in conjunction with IndieMontreal, has secured the rights to the exclusive video premier tomorrow (Friday). So be sure to come back and check that out!

Also set to take the stage on Saturday will be Young Critters and Call Me Steve making this a full evening of music for a highly reasonable price of only five bucks. They’re selling tickets in advance so you might want to get right on that considering Barfly isn’t the biggest of venues and this show is guaranteed to draw some attention.

Psychocide, Young Critters and Call Me Steve play Barfly, 4062A boul. Saint-Laurent, Saturday, February 18th, 8:00pm (Doors at 7:00), $5 in advance through box office or $8 at the door.

 

Elephant Stone + Walrus + Wizaard

With four albums under their belt, Montreal based Elephant Stone have really hit their stride fusing traditional Indian music with pschedelic rock and pop. The results can be seen on their numerous releases and most recently on their album Ship of Fools which came out in 2016.

They’re really worth a listen and if you like what you hear then you’re in luck because they’re playing at Théâtre Fairmount this Saturday accompanied by Walrus and Wizaard. Both these acts are a perfect fit for an evening psych rock. If that’s your thing then we’ll see you there!

Elephant Stone, Walrus and Wizaard play Théâtre Fairmount, 5240 Avenue du Parc, Saturday, February 18th, 8:30pm (Doors at 7:30), $15 in advance through box office or $20 at the door.

 

SonReal + Clairmont The Second

SonReal is returning to Montreal. The Vancouver-based hip hop artist is currently on the No Warm Up Tour in support of his EP The Name.

After playing the Fairmount last September, the Can I Get A Witness artist is heading to La Sala Rossa. He will be joined by Toronto-based artist and producer Clairmont the Second. There is also a VIP option for people interested in meeting SonReal and getting a pre-show warmup concert.

Greenland Productions and Evenko present SonReal with Clairmont the Second at La Sala Rossa, 4848 Boulevard St-Laurent, Tuesday, February 21st, 9:30pm (doors at 8:30pm), $20 in advance, $23.75 at the door ($65 VIP tickets).

* Featured image courtesy of Psychcide

* 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. We can’t be everywhere and can’t write about everything, but we do our best!

AllFestivalsMusic

This week the very unsurprising theme will be what to go see at Osheaga. There’s this little known group from England you might have heard of called Radiohead that I think you might enjoy… who am kidding, this preview will talk about none of the well known acts you already know you’re going to see.

So have fun checking out the Chili Peppers, Death Cab for Cutie, The Lumineers, Cypress Hill, Bloc Party and Lana Del Ray (to name a few) but earlier in the day your plan might be a little less set, so here are some options.

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats

While this is hardly an obscure act, I couldn’t help myself but put Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats in this preview mostly because this is the group I most want to see, period. Nathaniel’s been around for quite a while now but only started to get “playing at Osheaga” type attention once he formed the Night Sweats.

This new project is a more upbeat, big band, electric guitar style of bluesy soul music than what Rateliff has done in the past and the results have been a positive reaction that has put the singer/songwriter on the mainstream map. Most people’s introduction to the Night Sweats is through the hit S.O.B but I encourage everyone to dig a little deeper in the band’s self titled debut album which is solid top to bottom with well crafted tunes.


Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats plays Scène Verte Sonnet, Sunday, July 31st, 6:25 PM.

Elle King

For those heading down early on Friday be sure not to miss Elle King who’s so-oh-oh-oh-oh fun and upbeat blues/soul/rock/country style will be a great early day choice. We’re hoping Elle breaks out the banjo and tries to make hipsters ho-down.

Elle King plays Scène de la Montagne Molson Canadian, Friday, July 29th, 3:10 PM.

Kaleo

Also on Friday afternoon I would recommend checking out Icelandic four piece volcano rockers Kaleo who have got some of the most beautiful, summery tunes you’ll hear at this year’s fest. Having released their second album A/B earlier this year and getting their songs featured in TV shows and video games these guys are starting to reach a bigger audience and that should include you.

While bands have being playing in odd places to gain attention ever since the Beatles took to the rooftops, these guys took it to a new (and uniquely Icelandic) level. Here they are rockin’ the volcano.

Kaleo plays Scène de la Rivière Virgin Mobile, Friday, July 29th, 2:25 PM.

Official Pre-Party with Elephant Stone + Walrus + Pif Paf

If you’re looking to start your Osheaging (pronuonced oh/sheeeee/age/ ing) off early then head over to Divan Orange on Thursday night for the official Pre-Party which feature Indie rockers Elephant Stone. The local trio are set to release their new album in September and will be (hopefully) playing some of the new tracks.

Here’s their latest music video which, talk about current, features a bit of Pokemon Go.

Joining them on stage will be Halifax natives Walrus and Pif Paf who we have already featured in a previous post.

Elephant Stone, Walrus and Pif Paf play Le Divan Orange, 4234 Boulevard Saint-Laurent, Thursday, July 28th, 9:30pm (Doors 8:30pm), tickets $13.90 through indiemontreal.

* Featured image by Chris Zacchia