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We Just Wanna Have Some Fun, Down At The Rock And Roll Club

To say that the first month of 2015 has been a little rough for Prince Palu would be an understatement. Having his car broken into, with the bandits running off with his beloved iPod and his daughter's car seat (WTF!?), combined with his ever growing contempt for the frigid temperatures and the lack of good snowman-making snow, all culminated in an epic case of the January blahs. Luckily for him this first month has also seen the return of three comic icons to Canadian television - The Kids in the Hall's Bruce McCulloch in "Young Drunk Punk" and SCTV legends Catherine O'Hara and Eugene Levy in "Schitt's Creek". In addition to that, the January blahs have never gotten the better of our fair city's ability to deliver great live music. So say goodbye to the January blahs with some hilarious new TV shows and these amazing live music options.

Thursday, January 29, 2015

There is going to be an independent rock 'n' roll explosion tonight at Casa del Popolo (4873 St-Laurent) when the triple bill of Ohara, Child Actor, and DirtyOrgans commandeer the stage and whip the crowd into a frenzy. Ok, maybe that is slightly overstating it a bit, but I am just so happy that January is almost done and that Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara are back on the CBC. However, it is not overstating that this show will be a great night for music lovers. Incorporating folk and pop elements into her upbeat brand of indie rock, Ohara (one third of the fabulous local band Nancy Pants) will be the perfect balancing spice for the sombre dream pop songs of Child Actor and the eerie post-punk electronic experimentation of Toronto's DirtyOrgans. The combination of all three is sure to warm your frozen bits and make it so worth you going out into the cold, cold night. It is going to be total nancy pants!

Friday, January 30, 2015

One of the big ticket shows this week is already sold out, so if you were hoping to see Viet Cong, Crosss, and Unblonde at Bar "Le Ritz" PDB (179 Jean Talon W.), but didn't heed Oncle Ian's warnings to buy your ticket early, then you are S.O.L. my friend. Next time listen to Ian, he mostly knows what he is talking about.

Another great show that you could try and get into, but it will probably sell out too, is the album launch of Bud Rice at Le Divan Orange (4234 St-Laurent). His debut album, Belfast, is getting so much buzz that this might be your last chance to see him in such an intimate setting. Blending folk, soul and rock, the NDG raised Rice is drawing comparisons to another singer with ties to Belfast, the one and only Van Morrison, but this is no copycat situation. Rice adds enough other ingredients to make it his own, while still staying true to so many of the styles that he tackles. You know what I mean? He ain't re-inventing the wheel, but it is so good that it doesn't matter, and when it comes to music that is all that matters, right? $10 at the door or $15 with a copy of the album. Show starts at 9:30 sharp.

Looking for something a little weirder and/or noisier? Then maybe you'd want to head over to Quai des Brumes (4481 St-Denis) and check out the the space punk of Alparchie, the strange ambient pop of Fet.Nat, and the experimental post-punk brilliance of Crabe.

This Friday is also the kickoff for the 14th edition of Buckfest - 30 nights, 100 bands - happening all throughout the month of February at L'Escogriffe (4467 St-Denis). The link above gives you all the dates and bands.

Saturday, January 31, 2015

Montreal's feminist/queer party throwers Slut Island cordially invite you to their night of "overwhelming bad assery" with "your wildest dream punk bands" at La Vitrola (4602 St-Laurent). It will be a super-charged quadruple bill consisting of Providence, Rhode Island's Downtown Boys, Vibewrecker, Pretty Boys, and Oops, who are "too massive for the interwebz."  Be ready for it to get loud, sweaty and sexy.

Up the street at Casa del Popolo is the first show of 2015 for Montreal's Archery Guild, who have been busy in recent months working and creating in all their side projects. For this evening they promise a slew of new songs and added musical textures to their revamped sound. Joining in the fun will be the tingling pop psychedelia of Slight and the weird pop of the punk-jazz trio Feefawfum.

Sunday, February 1, 2015

I'm not sure if it is the recent SCTV and The Kids in the Hall YouTube fixation that I have been going through as a result of the return of Levy, O'Hara, and McCulloch to CBC and City TV, respectively, but I feel that I should let you know about some of the sketch comedy that is happening live around Montreal. Over at Theatre Sainte Catherine (264 Ste-Catherine E.) you can find one of the longest running free improv workshops with the Sunday Night Improv event. From 5:00 - 7:00 is the workshop, open to everyone, and then at 8:00 some of the workshop participants will be chosen to put on a show with a group of the Montreal improv veterans. Based on audience voting it becomes a comedy elimination program until only one performer is left standing. And that performer could be you! Or you could just go to be part of the audience and live out all those Caesar at the gladiators fantasies you've had.

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Has it really been 15 years since The New Pornographers released Mass Romantic? Wow, how time flies! While they have been pretty regular with releasing another five albums since that brilliant debut, it must be getting harder for them to get everyone together to hit the road, what with them all having other bands and projects. That is what makes this chance to see them at Théâtre Corona (2490 Notre-Dame W.) that much more important. To be honest, I'm not even sure who all is touring behind their latest album, Brill Bruisers, but I am sure that whoever hits the stage Wednesday night, they are gonna know what they're doing. Yes the $32 ticket is a little bit steep, but not ridiculous when you consider that is about the same as you'd pay for a few pints at most of the pubs down in St-Henri now. At least here you get to see one of the finest pop bands this country has ever produced. Throw in Dan Boeckner's new band Operators and the price becomes worth every penny.

If you are in the need of a more economically friendly show there is another option for this hump day. As part of Buckfest 14, Analogue Addiction present a great night of rock 'n' roll down at L'Esco with Mikey Heppner's latest band, Beat Cops, headlining a night that also includes the one-man-band psychedelic garage wizard Paul Jacobs and the shambolic garage rock of Pale Lips. Three great bands for the price of $5! Doors at 8:00.

 

--Prince Palu hosts The Go-Go Radio Magic Show, every Friday night from 6 to 8 PM. Tune in. Turn on. Freak OUT! Only on CJLO.