Features

CJLO @ JFL: Matteo Lane presents: Streisand at the Bon Soir

Matteo Lane presents: Streisand at the Bon Soir is a comedy cabaret show you’ll never forget! Comedian and opera singer Matteo Lane and pianist Henry Koperski transformed Cafe Cleopatra into a swanky jazz club on July 23rd and 24th. Together, the two channeled their inner Barbra Streisand, playing some of her greatest hits as well as songs by other iconic women, like Liza Minnelli and Mariah Carey.


CJLO is going to Heavy Montreal!

We at CJLO are always stoked for Heavy Montreal to come around and rock out in a style befitting Montreal's connection to the loudest, heaviest acts, and this year is no different. To help you to decide what you need to see this year, some of our DJs have compiled a list of bands they're looking forward to seeing. Also, if you have some time in between bands, or if you are sitting at home during the weekend, why not tune into our live broadcast (which we'll be posting times for on our social media accounts) for live interviews with bands and music from this year’s groups and past.


CJLO @ JFL: Jimmy Carr: He'll Make You Cry

Although his last name is Carr, his comedy is more comparable to a monster truck. Jimmy Carr is one of Britain’s top comedic exports, and Montrealers found out why last night. The 45-year-old Londoner presented us with Jimmy Carr: The Best Of, Ultimate, Gold, Greatest Hits World Tour at Le Gesù. Before the show even began, a slideshow on the projection screen invited audience members to text in questions, heckles, jokes, or tell Jimmy about a special occasion happening that night. Already, you could feel that this 425-seat theater was going to host a very intimate and interactive show. The crowd got warmed up with an array of short jokes and comical warning messages sliding through the big screen.


CJLO @ JFL: Hot Raw Fire: All You Can Eat

Hot Raw Fire: All You Can Eat was a smorgasbord of the sketch comedy troupe’s best skits! Paul Naimon, Jacob Greco, Lise Vigneault, Deirdre Trudeau and Danny Belair made their third and triumphant return to Off Just for Laughs this year with their exciting '


FANTASIA 2018: Remi's Top 3 Picks

With the summer heatwave in full blast, I can’t wait to beat the heat and see some films at this year’s Fantasia Film Festival

 

Under The Silver Lake


ComicCon 2018: Two Main Highlights for Avid Geeks

Montréal's 10th annual ComicCon ended on Sunday after a three-day celebration of geek culture. This being my first Comic-Con, I wasn't really sure of what to expect, but I was still pleasantly surprised. I attended a variety of events, but I'm going to talk about the two I enjoyed the most: BattleCOM and the DreakHacks Gaming Zone.


Fringe Review: Sex, But I’m Canadian

Growing up, on Sunday car trips from Ottawa to Montreal to visit family, we would put on CBC and listen an iconic voice narrate the lives of a family and their every-day adventures together. This family was a part of my childhood, and it wasn’t until I was embarrassingly old that I learned that they were fictional and that the stories were all written by the creative genius with the distinguished voice.

In February of 2017, this beloved radio host lost his battle with cancer and I, along with countless other Canadians, was heartbroken. It wasn’t just the comfortingly familiar voice that we lost, but also the family that he brought to life. 


Lisbon Lux Records Celebrates Five Years of Local Electronic Pop

When trying to get a record label off the ground, patience really is a virtue.

That’s the belief at least of Julien Manaud, co-founder of local independent label Lisbon Lux Records, which has made a name for itself in Montreal for the past five years, serving up some of the best in electronic pop in both of Canada’s official languages.

Patience is such a hallmark for Manaud that albums delivered by the label’s artists require months of preparation for choreographing their launch to ensure maximum exposure. Quite a few album release dates have been pushed back to achieve this goal.


FRINGE 2018: 25

25 is an exploration of how feelings are dealt with at different levels of maturity throughout one’s life. This is done through different characters reacting to various scenarios, as independent yet intertwining stories are told. The assumption we are led towards is that each of the characters are approximately 25 years old; some of whom act like mature, well-adjusted adults, and some of whom have yet to grow up.


FRINGE 2018: Non.Sense

Contemporary dance is a language that most people don’t realize they can speak. It can be uncomfortable to watch strangers use their bodies in unfamiliar ways to communicate ideas and stories, and the result is a certain degree of reluctance to seek out contemporary dance as a form of entertainment. If this sounds familiar to you, then I encourage you to expand your horizons and attend Non.Sense. It was a powerful exploration of emotional connections and the concept of creating and understanding tension. It is an ideal piece to see whether you are only entering the sphere of movement art or if you are a seasoned dancer or choreographer.


FRINGE 2018: Short Reviews for Fringe-Packed Days

I was going to start off this article by saying that Montreal’s Fringe Fest can “be hectic at times,” until I realized I used those same exact words last year. I suppose that’s the case every year. The sheer amount of shows to see can be overwhelming, not to mention other events like the Tunes at the Fringe Park and the 13th Hour. Sometimes, you will be forced to make last-minute decisions, especially in the event where a show is sold out.

Here are some short reviews of shows I managed to catch in the span of one day.

 

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FRINGE 2018: What the Hell Happened to my Patio Furniture?!

What the Hell Happened to My Patio Furniture?! is improviser and storyteller Joshua Budman’s first Fringe show! After years of performing improv and volunteering at the festival, Budman created a hilarious and incredibly charming one-person show about the real life disappearance of his patio furniture from his 16th floor apartment.


FRINGE 2018: Slaying in Suburbia

Project AlienCat’s student-made Slaying in Suburbia: An Interactive Murder Mystery is an exciting, satirical drama you’ll never forget! Venture off into a sunny, early 2000’s family-friendly PTA barbeque to discover the darkest secrets of these suburban families. Slaying in Suburbia is unlike any Fringe show I’ve ever seen and it was so much fun to experience!


Qui voir aux Francos: CJLO's (Free!) Guide to the Festival

The 30th edition of the Francofolies de Montréal festival—now called the Francos de Montréal—is upon us. From June 8th to June 17th, the Quartier des Spectacles will be filled with the cream of the crop of Quebec’s Francophone music scene and artists from the international Francophonie. As an Anglophone, puzzlement may be the reaction to most if not all of the acts on the bill at this year’s Francos. Have no fear though, because CJLO has got you covered on the most worthwhile shows to catch during the festival. The best part? All the below recommendations are free to see!

Paupière (Friday, June 8 @ 8 PM, corner of de Maisonneuve and Clark)


CJLO's Top Picks at Fringe Fest 2018

Montreal's St-Ambroise Fringe Festival is finally here! For nearly three weeks, be ready to watch and hear the best and weirdest of local and international culture, both in English et en français. CJLO will be covering the best of Fringe, and to launch our series of articles, here are our Fringe Team's top picks for this year's Fringe festival. 

 

Erica’s picks


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