Concert Reviews

The 1990s and early 2000s were a heady time for us all. It was the last time where radio ruled supreme, and as such, a band was made or broken whether they could get a coveted rotation slot on stations. This also was an interesting time for bands in North America, as what became popular in Canada due to Canadian Content requirements and what the United States pushed could sometimes make for a situation where an immensely popular band in Canada was scarcely heard of in the US. Case in point: Matthew Good Band, a group of British Columbians whose albums netted them 14 Juno nominations which include two wins for "Best Group" and "Best Rock Album" for Beautiful Midnight in 2000.

Back at it here again with another concert review! Monday, March 20 welcomed Alestorm at the Corona Theater, and man was I excited to get my pirate mood on. Upon arriving, I checked at the back of the venue hoping to meet the band but, sadly, none of the members were there. 

Once I managed to get inside, I ran for the front as fast as possible and secured my spot and land ho!

On March 15th, KANPE held it’s 5th annual Karnaval, with the one and only Arcade Fire headlining the event. Co-founded by Regine Chassagne, principal member of Arcade Fire, KANPE is an organization that works in Haïti to help those who are facing extreme financial poverty. Meaning “Stand Up,” KANPE helps vulnerable families to reach financial autonomy.

Even though faint rumblings of the band’s reunion had been creeping down the grapevine from Hamilton, never did I think I would be fortunate enough to see Simply Saucer LIVE in concert. So many proto-punk heroes and trailblazers from the golden age of wild and weird rock ‘n roll are either six feet under, or scattered ashes. Lou Reed is dead. Jimi Hendrix is dead. The Asheton brothers are dead. Rob Tyner, Fred ‘Sonic’ smith, and Michael Davis—all dead. But Edgar Breau and Simply Saucer are very much alive, and after their performance at Le Ritz PDB back in February, I can personally attest to this fact.

The increasingly upward trajectory of the duo known as Run The Jewels has been an absolute joy to watch through the last few short years. Bad timing and bad luck in the past had robbed me of the chance to see them live—including one rescheduled Montreal show due to a truck fire that destroyed some of their gear and merchandise—but finally, I found myself with a ticket to the hottest show in town.

Image credit: CBC

Last weekend saw a benefit concert at the Rialto Theatre for the families of the victims of the Quebec City mosque shooting, where a group of Canadian DJs, singers, and rappers came together in support of a very good cause. The audience raised nearly $5,000 through tickets, donations, and merchandise according to Dan Seligman, the creator-director of Pop Montreal.   

January 31st, 2017 was already going to be an eventful day before it was announced that, prior to the Neal Morse show that night, Mike Portnoy would be doing a meet and greet at Steve's Music Store on St. Antoine. I have been following Dream Theater since I discovered the Six Degrees of Inner Turbulene album and got hooked by the song “The Glass Prison”, which blew my mind completely. I finally got the meet Mike Portney, the man behind the giant kit.