Concert Reviews

On November 11th, 2019, I was sneaking my way into a sold out Sala Rossa to catch the launch of Sam Shalabi’s Montreal-based big band Land of Kush and their newest work entitled Sand Enigma. I was led to the very back of the room, weaving and cautiously stepping between the mush of people. In through the green room, and on to what is usually the stage, there are chairs set up for an additional audience perched above and behind the massive setup of instruments and chairs on the ground. Taking my seat in the dark, I look out into the room. People sitting, standing shoulder to shoulder, all anticipating what is to come.

On November 12th, thousands of young Canadians trekked through the cold and filled Laval’s Place Bell to see Daniel Caesar. 
 
Unfortunately, the opening act did not perform, so the audience anxiously waited for Daniel Caesar - and it was definitely worth the wait. The roaring audience was thrilled to see Daniel. The stage set, complete with the silhouette of the band displayed upon a huge canvas while Daniel stood centre stage with four divine back-up vocalists accompanying him, made for an incredible show. 

The stage at MTELUS had been transformed into a queer rockstar fairytale. Various instruments lay scattered around, framed by a giant golden picture frame held aloft by four bleeding hands with 'Cheap Queen' monogrammed behind on an enchanted forest painting. Literally a dream.

An all-star lineup of Montreal female music artists gathered together to raise money for Chez Doris, a women’s shelter here in Montreal, at Casa Del Popolo on October 10th. Flying under the banner of Grrls Groove, the evening was hosted by famed CBC broadcaster Emily Brass and CJLO’s own Krystal St. John. Also in the house providing some great beats were CJLO DJs SugarFace Nene and Lady Oracle.

What better way to stave off the increasingly colder weather for a night than with not one, but two fiery experimental rock sets? Le National was treated to an evening of heat on Oct. 15th, as long-running garage punk outfit Oh Sees (formerly Thee Oh Sees) brought their colossal 2019 tour to town. A crowd made up of both newcomers and die-hard Oh Sees followers transformed into a sea of moshers and crowdsurfers amid an explosion of synths and thunderous bass – enough to test the boundaries of your favourite concert earplugs.

The night at The Diving Bell Social Club was set to be a big deal, it was Montreal’s very own Look Vibrant’s last show during the POP Montreal International Music Festival. A funky weird strange and transformative band that was constantly changing its skin, released their new album, Cherish Everything; a cumulative album of all the human stories and souls that inspired the band members. While this was Look Vibrant’s last show, they promised to be back with new music in the future.