Magazine

Independent, provocative, now! The CJLO Magazine is the resource for features, reviews, and interviews. Established in 2004, and run by dedicated CJLO volunteers, the magazine covers the latest and best in local and international music, art, theatre, film, festivals, and more!


Friendly Fires + White Lies

Late March is always a time for Montreal to shrug off the last of its winter blues, but this is always signaled by the odd day or two of freakishly cold weather…winter’s final death rattle.  So it was in a cumbersome winter jacket, layered with a sweater and t-shirt for good measure that I bustled my way down into the hot, crowded depths of Les Saints on March 30th to catch Friendly Fires playing their first show in Montreal.


Mates of State / Black Kids + Sunbirds

April 9th was a night of firsts for me. I went to Cabaret Du Musee to see Mates of State and Black Kids, two acts that I had never heard music from. I got to the venue early enough to be surprised by Sunbears' performance. They were the opening act for the Mates and Kids. The Florida duo had an interesting set and prepared the audience for the night.
 


Murder by Death

Oh Murder by Death, I don’t get to see you that often but when I do it’s just like coming home (or it would be if my father was a bootlegger during prohibition and my mother worked at a bordello…which is decidedly NOT the case… but you catch my meaning.) A good friend of mine once described the band as incredibly competent musicians who are obsessively engrossed in a very specific genre fiction (in this case the classic western but if John Wayne fought zombies instead of stereotyped Native Americans.) While I completely


Peter, Bjorn * John + Chairlift

In 1999, a very trendy, easy to listen to and easy to look at group was born. They even had a member named Bjorn…and Peter and John. On Monday, April 28th they came to Montreal with openers Chairlift.


The Presets + Golden Filter

This was the third time The Presets hit Montreal, after two albums and two previous shows it was nice to see how many people were lined up for the show. When I go to a concert, the first thing I always take note of is the crowd. Though it may sound strange it really does help you figure out what to expect for the rest of the night.  Everyone is there for the same reason; to see a band they like perform live.  For the Presets and The Golden Filter, the crowd was a mesh made up of all types of people.


Gavin Rossdale + Suzy McNeir

You may not remember MTV's Spring Break 1996, but I do. I remember it because it happened back when every CD I owned was a favourite, and I knew all their track lists by heart. The moments that sunk in during this time will stay with me forever. Like sitting in front of the TV watching the live performance of "Glycerin" on MTV, with a rain-soaked Gavin Rossdale heroically standing strumming his Fender Jazzmaster in the middle of a monsoon.


Late of the Pier + The Whip

I can easily say that this was by far the best concert I have been to in quite some time. The show was an overall hit. Though the crowd was fairly small, more people showed up than I expected. I really was convinced it was going to be a dead night due to the fact that Black Kids where playing with Mates of State that very same night. In the end it looks like I made the right choice by going to Late of the Pier and The Whip instead.


Andrew Bird + A Hawk and a Hacksaw

Some people have a way of making you feel like an asshole - people who seem to use every ounce of their energy radiating good vibes and generally make every effort to be singularly awesome. Andrew Bird is one of those people. While his idiosyncratic brand of string-laden, densely layered indie-pop surely isn't to everyone's liking, his instrumental prowess, boundless energy and lyrical dexterity are, at the very least, noteworthy. By comparison, even impressive performers can seem ordinary.


Osheaga Festival

This year's Osheaga music festival went off without a hitch.... well, with the exception of a headlining act cancelation, torrential rain and ankle deep mud. This didn’t stop concert goers from flocking to the island however, with Saturday night capping at a whopping 30,000 spectators.  Having Coldplay round out the evening will have that effect.


Cradle of Filth + Satyricon

On Saturday, January 17th, I took the 55 bus through the frigid, negative-something weather, and wound up in front of Metropolis to be greeted by a swarm of black t-shirted, long haired fans -the tell tale signs of any self-respecting metal show.


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