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Saturday at Shazamfest 2024
From the moment I arrived at the nineteenth edition of Shazamfest, there was not a minute that passed without something exciting or, at the very least, interesting happening. As I approached the main site, following the decorated path from the car park, the Eastern Township fusion dance troupe Tribal Roses had just gotten underway. Led by Catherine De Sève, the troupe mixes eastern dance and western electronic music. It was punctuated with flamboyant costumes and a fair amount of audience participation, which at Shazamfest culminated in one big mass dance-a-thon to close out the show.
Without much downtime, Drummondville band Verre Moutarde took to the stage soon after Tribal Roses finished their performance. The quartet earned their spot at the festival by winning the Battle of Shazam contest held in Sherbrooke, Quebec earlier in the year, (an annual talent show of local performers with the winners earning a spot in the Shazamfest lineup.) Verre Moutarde got right down to business and didn’t stop till their hour or so show was over. One of the highlights from their concert was a rousing rendition of their song which is also a recent YouTube video, “Bucket Hat.”
The energy at the festival kicked into high gear when the band Rau_Ze took to the stage. The lead singer Rose Perron seemed possessed by the groves put down by guitar player Félix Paul and bassist Henri Bouchard. Inspiring her vocals to the next level on songs from their album Virer Nos Vies songs like “Montreal Chill” and “Sumerset.”
Aside from great music on Saturday, there was also the Shazamfest fashion show where the participants showed off their creations made earlier in the day during the costume creation workshop. As well, there was the always highly anticipated Ziv’s Freakshow. This year’s edition featured the antics of sword-swallowing clown Daddy Red. Éliane Bonin of Collectif Carmagnol bemused the audience with her blend of satire and burlesque while strongman the Mighty Leviticus, a long-time festival favourite, announced his retirement from the Shazamfest stage. But only after battling a yellow pages phone book and having darts thrown into his back by the one and only Bonbon Bombay; who performed earlier, with a whimsical take on classical burlesque.
Montreal band Kamendja closed out the evening with some members of the band, Alexandre Gauthier on bass and Pascal Per Veillette on harmonica, who first appeared on stage clad in Mexican wrestling masks. (Maybe a nod to the wrestling event by Lutte à l'Est that was happening the following day.) The rest of the band is Dominic Gamelin on guitar, and Pascal Lepage on drums. Their sound varies, drawing influence from metal, klezmer and jazz, making instrumental music that is both engaging and fun, with a ting edge as they played cuts from their two albums, Sans Queue Ni Tête and Sur La Route De Salem.
The slogan for Shazamfest is “Where the Misfits fit in.” One would be hard-pressed to find a more welcoming environment. From the volunteers working at the entrance to the many costumed ones greeting the kids of all ages as they first wander around the festival site. Everywhere there were smiling faces that were only replaced with those of shock and awe during Ziv’s Freakshow.
Clifton Hanger is the host of Brave New Jams, Saturdays 10PM-Midnight on CJLO
The Anti-Social Guide to Osheaga 2024
If you are a true Montrealer, you’re probably exhausted by the time you are reading this. Between the extremes of the seasons and non-stop access to shows, concerts, festivals, movies, it feels like we can just never stop. Living in this city sometimes feels like you have a shiny all-access pass to an amusement park. You want to make the most of everything so you try to cram all the fun into one day. And perhaps the most anticipated ride of them all? The dazzling, neon roller coaster Osheaga, complete with loops, dives and upside-down twists and turns. Ready and waiting for you at the end of the summer.
I was stunned when I got approved for the media coverage for this year’s edition. The last time I attended the festival was way back in 2013. What I remember mostly was first, being pure of heart and second, that The Cure and New Order were headlining. Since then, I have been living through other people’s experiences and watching from the outside how our collective definition of Osheaga has been evolving.
Because, whether you like it or not, Osheaga has become a cultural tower here in Montreal. Since it started in 2006, it seems to have no plans of slowing down, and at this point in the year, it’s starting to seem like it's everywhere. The first buzz from the festival always comes with the announcement of their lineup. That’s when everyone you know from your cool co-workers, to your not-so-cool bosses asks, “did you see who’s playing at Osheaga?”.
This year there are, of course, the usual big draws with artists who are no stranger to Virgin Radio’s Top 40. But whether you're an indie kid or a normie, everyone is talking about Chappell Roan. Although. there is some concern - first off, why her name is so far down on the bill and also why she’s playing at sunny 3:30PM? Ticket holders ask these questions, but can’t really complain too much. This is an amazing opportunity to catch the newly crowned princess of pop and is one of the most anticipated events at the festival. People are also excited about the 90s rock throwback on Saturday with Smashing Pumpkins, Green Day and Rancid amongst others performing. Allowing the kids to check their favourite bands they grew up with off their concert bucket list.
But what about college radio weirdos like you or me? Don’t you fret! There are some really cool emerging and independent artists at the festival as well. Personally, I am really excited to see Arlo Parks bring her quiet sensitivity to the big stage. I am ready to rock with Mannequin Pussy, Blonde Redhead, Alvvays and DIIV. And to dance solo to Romy, Sofia Kourtesis and The Japanese House. It’s also great to see so many talented Canadian artists up there on the bill, such as Myst Milano, Cadence Weapon, and DVTR, who by the way, have a great following here at CJLO. Maybe, just maybe I will also attend Sleater-Kinney, but not without my hand-made sign saying “Where’s Janet?”
I will be heading to the festival solo as they only gave us one media pass. It will definitely be an interesting experience to be a lone fish in a sea of people. Who knows, maybe I’ll latch on to other people’s plans and become a third, fifth or even seventh wheel. Maybe I will buy my friends tickets as early birthday presents to avoid loneliness. Or maybe I will lean into it completely and go in disguise to avoid any social interactions.
If you want to find out more, you’re going to have to stay tuned for my review post-festival. If you gare heading out there, hope you enjoy your time!
Lisa Rupnik is the station manager at CJLO and co-host of The Last Stop. She is also an avid record collector, a “no nonsense” film lover and feels that her personality can be best defined by her two favourite bands: YMO and Sparks.
At The Movies: Must See Films at This Year’s Fantasia Film Festival
*Reader discretion is advised for the films mentioned in this article*
The Fantasia Film Festival is back at Concordia University’s Hall Building and surrounding area for the 28th edition, which runs from July 18th - August 4th. The premier genre film festival gives the excuse to beat the heat and grab a seat for a film that will surely entertain. Before we get to our top film picks curated by us, Remi and Danny of At The Movies, here are some things to look forward to at this year's edition.
Opening the festival (July 18th 18H30 SGW Hall Building) Bookworm from director Ant Timpson, sees a washed-up illusionist (Elijah Wood) and his estranged daughter (Nell Fisher) venture into the New Zealand wilderness in search of the mythical black panther. Closing the festival (August 4th 18H30 SGW Hall Building), Ababouiné from director André Forcier, set in Quebec in the 1950s starring Rémy Girard. In the film set when the Catholic Church ruled, the clergy are confronted by the people they mean to oppress. However what I am looking forward to the most would be the recipient of the prestigious Cheval Noir Award that highlights a lifetime commitment to the world of genre cinema being presented to Mike Flanagan (Oculus, Hush, Doctor Sleep and numerous Netflix Anthology shows). Join Mike Flanagan in conversation at Artist Talk (Sunday July 21st Cinema Du Musée) moderated by author and critic Michael Gingold. Alright, with the basics out of the way let’s get to our picks.
Remi (Host of At The Movies)
Every year at Fantasia the first section of films that I can’t wait to see is the lineup from the Documentaries From The Edge category. As the editions progress, I feel that there is less love for this category, only three choices this year, and I want Fantasia programmers to note that this category needs a revamp and needs more films. It is both beloved by me and the Fantasia audience members I speak with. Of the three selections this year, the one that interests me the most is From My Cold Dead Hands (Saturday July 27th 15H00 Salle J.A. De Sève//Sunday August 4th 21H20 Salle J.A. De Sève). From director Javier Horcajada, the film explores the unhealthy fascination of gun culture in the United States compiled from thousands of hours of YouTube footage.
The other films also up for the prestigious Cheval Noir award at this year’s festival see a good variety of national and international films. My second pick is an international film from Guatemala called Rita (Thursday July 25th 18H50 SGWU Hall Building) from director Jay Bustamante. Fleeing an abusive household, Rita (Giuliana Santa Cruz) finds herself incarcerated at an all-girls protective custody facility. There is a prophecy of the warrior angel that will free them all, and when Rita is given a pair of wings of her own she questions if she will be the one to fulfill the prophecy. Following up with his success with La Llorona, director Jay Bustamante plunges his audience into a world with notes of mythical fantasies with themes of childhood innocence under the dark undertones of reality reminiscent of the early works of director Guillermo Del Toro.
My next pick is a recommendation from a friend who donated to the GoFundMe, which exceeded its original goal making it a successful funding campaign, and it makes its premiere at this year’s Fantasia Film Festival Shelby Oaks (Saturday July 20th 2024 21H45 SGW Hall) from director Chris Stuckman. When Riley Bennet (Sarah Durn) disappears, her fans of the popular YouTube Series ‘Paranormal Paranoids’ wonder who took her and her three co-hosts in 2008 near the deserted town of Shelby Oaks, Ohio. Through all the conspiracy theories, Mia (Camille Sullivan), Shelby’s sister, is determined to get to the truth by telling Shelby’s story to a documentary film crew. However closer may come at a price of confronting the road of her ghost-hunting sister, Mia and the documentary crew must face the dark demons that lurk in the woods of Shelby Oaks. Being hailed as a creepy supernatural shocker, this film delivers in all departments as a character-oriented horror film with strong performances making this a well-crafted debut feature from a veteran YouTube creator that will set Chris Stuckman on the horror genre map. Also, it can’t hurt to have Mike Flanagan as an executive producer on your debut project.
My final pick will be coming to theatres later in August but will be screening at Fantasia before its theatrical release window. Cuckoo (Tuesday July 30th 21H30 SGWU Hall) from director Tilman Singer sees Gretchen (Hunter Schafer) moved to the German Alps with her father and his new wife who reside at a local hotel resort working for Herr König (Dan Stevens). Mr. König gives Gretchen a desk job at the hotel, however there is something sinister happening around the hotel as Gretchen soon discovers after a random attack by a screaming woman late at night. Things are about to get more bazaar and dangerous in this body-horror genre film. Even though my colleague at work says that the trailer is too long, I very much appreciated the viewing, as it gave me a sense it will be a psychological thriller that works on par with the aesthetics of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. Maybe it’s the committed performances alone from both Schafer and Stevens that seal the deal to make this my final pick.
As always, wishing you Bon Cinema from the At The Movies Team.
Danny Auberys Picks (Co-Host At The Movies)
Hey, guess what everybody? It's that time of the year again. No, I am not referring to Christmas, however, I am referring to something which is almost as, or just as exciting. The Fantasia Film Festival can be Christmas in July for the genre cinephiles. Remi and I once again could not resist the chance to partake in this spectacular event. We recently met up downtown to take care of our accreditation for the occasion. And now that we’re all set and done, I will gladly commence my work in regards to Fantasia with a list of the top five films which I am most excited to see. As I name the films of my choosing, I will also provide a synopsis for each film, and then conclude with the reasons why I am excited to see these ones, hoping that I may be successful in convincing you to check these films out for yourselves.
1.Bookworm (Thursday July 18th 18H30 SGWU Hall)- Genre: Comedy, Family, Adventure. New Zealand. Directed by Ant Timpson.
The film focuses on an 11-year-old girl named Mildred who is wise beyond her years and lacks patience for ignorance. Despite living in New Zealand, she is oftentimes bored with her life and reads books as a mechanism to cope with her boredom. Her life takes a very interesting turn when she goes on a camping trip with her estranged father. Once they go camping, they embark on an adventure to search for a mythical beast.
2. The Chapel (Tuesday July 23rd 21H20 SGWU Hall)- Genre: Drama, Fantasy. Spain. Directed by Carlota Pereda.
The film focuses on Carol Peralta, who despite her disbelief in the supernatural, decides to become a medium in order to make ends meet. Her mother who is responsible for her disbelief in the supernatural, dies around the same time that a festival involving opening a sealed chapel said to be haunted by a young girl takes place. Carol later meets Emma, a little girl who not only believes in the afterlife, but also believes that she can save the souls that dwell within the chapel.
3. The Avenging Eagle (Sunday July 21st 12H00 Salle J.A. De Sève) - Genre: Classique, Action, Martial Arts. Hong Kong. Directed by Sun Chung.
The film focuses on an individual named Black Eagle. Black Eagle was once a member of a killer group known as the Iron Boat Clan, however, a change of conscience leads him to flee from this group. As he flees, he drifts off to the desert where he meets an individual with a vast knowledge of Martial Arts. Together they decide to team up against the Iron Boat Clan.
4. Out of the Shadow (Saturday July 27th 17H05 Salle J.A. De Sève//Tuesday July 30th 12H30 Salle J.A. De Sève) - Genre: Drama, Comedy, Action, Martial Arts. Hong Kong. Directed by Ricky Ko.
The film focuses on Chu Po, a young woman who becomes a masked vigilante to fight the injustices occurring in her town of Shek O. Things become quite interesting when she finds out that a church involved in drug dealing activities is linked to her family's past.
5. The Count of Monte Cristo (Friday July 19th 20H00 SGWU Hall)- Genre: Thriller, Action. France. Directed by Alexandre De la Patelliere, and Matthieu Delaporte.
The film takes place in Marseille France in 1815 and focuses on Edmond Dantes. Dantes's promotion to captain and his engagement to be wed lead jealous rivals to lock him up in the dungeon of Chateau d'if for 14 years. Throughout his duration in prison, he is educated by an individual named Abbe Faria who helps him increase his knowledge in languages, sciences, and weaponry. This is all done in order to prepare him to seek revenge on those who wronged him.
I am excited to catch all of these films for different reasons. For the film Bookworm, I feel that Mildred is in many respects a relatable character, and of course, I am in the mood for adventure as well. The Chapel is a reflection of my fascination with the supernatural and the afterlife. My interest in Martial Arts drew me to The Avenging Eagle and Out of the Shadow. For The Avenging Eagle, I like the idea of a bad guy who seeks redemption, and for Out of the Shadow, I like the idea of a vigilante hero. The Count of Monte Cristo is a film that I am excited to see because I've always been fascinated with its story, the acting looked remarkable within the trailer, and although I would never exact revenge, I do confess that I like a good revenge film. I can't wait to catch these films, and I look forward to seeing some of you guys at the festival. Bon Cinema!
Remi is the host alongside regular co-host Danny of At The Movies heard every Tuesday Morning from 8-9 AM only on CJLO 1690 AM. When they are not on air they are normally covering the latest film festivals happening in Montreal.
Butterfly In The Sky: The Story of Reading Rainbow
The childhood trips with my family I remember the most were our annual summer outings to Cape Cod. One of the things that this provided me was access to American cable television which our family did not have back home. We were still with our old antenna, picking up signals and hoping for the best. Cable would only come to our household at the start of the millennium. One of the blocks of television that I watched in the afternoon was the PBS hour of kids programming. One of the shows that stuck out to me the most was Reading Rainbow hosted by LeVar Burton, with its catchy synth hook theme song open. Simply put, the show was promoting reading as a fun adventure that the reader takes upon reading a book, rather than seeing reading as an academic test to set standards. It showcased the importance and wonder that books hold. As well, it showed how book readers can connect through a shared interest, where kids were often featured recommending their book selections. When LeVar Burton spoke to the audience, normally children, he delivered his tone in a friendly manner that was direct and non-patronizing.
Promoting a reading show amongst children was what the Public Broadcasting Service was looking for in the 1980’s. Educators were tasked with developing a show that promoted reading as a fun activity that was also educational. The idea for Reading Rainbow was developed and LeVar Burton was tapped as the host, only his second role after his big break in the mini-series Roots as the character Kunta Knight. The standard format of the episode was simple, Burton would introduce a theme around the episode and that theme was adapted into an adventure outing that normally Burton would participate in. Nothing was off limits, besides the adventure in the Bat Cave that he passed on. Books would be selected around the theme or adventure of the day that was animated by animators and would have a guest voice actor to narrate the books. Some of these voice actors included Angelica Bassett, Regina King and Nathan Lane. There was even an instance when James Earl Jones came in to read, however, he apologized for being unprepared and asked if he could come back the day after when he got the essence of the book he was going to be narrating. As well, there would be a section of the episodes where kids were given the opportunity to promote a book that they read with their own review. The first send-off of the series was done next to a great calypso cover of the theme song in the Season 5 episode "My Little Island," as Burton would be going on to working on Star Trek The Next Generation.
There was still some more reading to do when the show relaunched in the late 80’s early 90’s. I would have tuned in around the mid to late 90’s when the opportunity was there. The premiere took place on the Star Trek Enterprise where Burton introduced the children to the television show he had been working on. The 90’s also saw the first wave and fight to keep Public Broadcasting Services alive through funding that the government wanted to cut. Burton even went to Congress himself to make statements on how it was important to keep PBS alive for future generations of children, including his own. The next adventures of Reading Rainbow in the series revival dealt more with the real world and more serious topics including birth (the episode would not air in one southern state), living with an incarcerated family member, homelessness and even a post-9/11 episode where Burton meet with a group of children at a school that was near the world trade center. What was most important was how Burton spoke about those themes and his style of caring about people’s emotions.
This is what made Reading Rainbow so special, like Mr. Rogers, the host LeVar Burton and how he communicated the ideas and themes for reading in a manner that was direct, honest, sincere and most importantly non-patronizing that the educational system was developing in contrast towards reading. He took a fun approach to the adventure but was never shy about talking about life, emotions or even death from a kid’s point of view. Later on in the 90’s there would be heavier topics but LeVar knew that listening held more power than speaking at important moments when it came to interacting with kids. He wanted to be the contrast to the educational system of conformity. Speaking about conformity he always changed his appearance as the seasons went on to reflect his identity, which did not sit well with the show's producers, but it represented his individuality. Some statistics showed that boys were reading less than girls, so developing a show that cast an African American male lead as a host would make reading appealing to the male demographic. Burton as the host left an everlasting impact as a role model for reading that Reading Rainbow led to a dramatic 800 percent rise in reading amongst youth. Every book publisher wanted their book selected for an episode of Reading Rainbow.
Even though Reading Rainbow is off the air, LeVar Burton is still working in the spotlight guest starring on an episode of Community where Troy (Donald Glover) is a huge fan and too starstruck to talk to him, or even hosting a podcast where he still reads books to his listeners. My love for reading is still there though my parents who encourage it, but also through my early years of watching Reading Rainbow. Most of the time, books had important messages of tolerance, fighting against injustice, or even being true to yourself. In today’s climate of censorship and book banning it’s important to remember the fundamentals that Reading Rainbow and host LeVar Burton championed while they were on the air.
Butterfly in The Sky is currently streaming on Netflix. As much as Remi is an avid reader and movie watcher, he hosts At The Movies (With Iconic Sounds) alongside co-host Danny Aubry every Tuesday Morning from 8-9 AM only on CJLO 1690 AM.
Shazamfest 2024 Preview
as edited from press release
ShazamFest, the much-beloved carnival of music, circus and burlesque returns for the nineteenth year, hosted in an angelic site nestled in Quebec’s Eastern townships that’s set in and around lush riverside woods and a natural amphitheatre. From July 11-14th the sleepy town of Barnston West will be hopping.
ShazamFest’s four official stages (which are all hand-built from recycled or reclaimed materials found on the site) the Shazam Stage, the Amphitheatre, Small Stage and the Temple – will host outdoor music, burlesque, comedy, circus, dance and wrestling. The weekend kicks off in raucous style with pounding punk from DVTR, who are, “up and coming superstars in the Quebec scene,” according to festival director Ziv Przytyk. The Francouvertes winning neo-soul duo Rau-Ze and Brooklyn’s finest, That Handsome Devil, whose melange of styles ranges from rock, jazz, blues, surf, to creepy hip-hop. Closing Saturday’s festivities are multi-instrumentalists Kamendja who fuse polka, klezmer, tango and electro. Other highlights of the weekend include Kirá Chao the son of Brazilian superstar Manu, who is forging his own manguebeat identity. Sherbrooke’s Rotin and the Princes with their ‘80s-themed rock-kitsch repertoire are not to be missed. As well as ShazamFest’s three Battle of the Bands winners: Moronic Inferno, a punk trio from Montreal with a Hendrix and hip-hop twist.
For those who prefer to trance out, hot vinyl will be provided by a host of DJs including Da Joint Doctor (connected to ShazamFarm since the ‘80s), reggae maestro DJ Morzion, holistic DJ Prana Papa (primal soundscapes, with a serving of twisted hot yoga!) and wacky electronic duo Pain Naan. Montreal hip-hop godfather Will E. Skandalz makes a welcome return to ShazamFest, as do groovy big band Plomberie, who join forces with Townships trad folksters Excavation & Poésie for the final show of the fest. Together, they'll present Rénoviction: an epic musical spectacular and a protest against Quebec’s tenant-abusing Bill 31. Says Ziv, “A lot of our friends have been renovicted since the new law passed. We’re going to raise some money to help the cause and for anybody who’s been wrongfully evicted.”
Aside from the music on the main stage, Saturday night brings the festival’s famous neo-vaudeville/sideshow/circus. This year’s highlights include ShazamFest burlesque veteran Bonbon Bombay, Bibi Lolo Bangbang, Mania (“the Iron Jaw”) Knox, world renown strongman The Mighty Leviticus and sword-swallower extraordinaire Daddy Red.
Since its inception in 2006, ShazamFest has been a proudly diverse, cutting-edge and family-friendly event. This year the organizers are going all-out to make families feel extra-welcome with the festival’s specially-devised outdoor space KidzZone. Which this year includes a wealth of workshops and activities – circus skills, hula-hoops and inflatable costumes. Over at the Temple of Doom, Doctor Doktorâh’s Laboratory will keep the kids entertained with its mixture of mad scientists, strange musical instruments and mind-challenging games, while the mysterious Malicio (of Sherbrookes’s premier clown collective Les SomnamBulles) will enthrall young and old with his amazing giant bubbles. This year, for the first time, a free round-trip shuttle service is being laid on on Sunday, bringing in festival-goers from Sherbrooke-Waterville-Compton-Coaticook and taking them home at night.
Clifton Hanger is the host of Brave New Jams, Saturdays 10PM-Midnight on CJLO
A Dreamy Sunday Evening with Airiel at Bar Le Ritz
Much was happening in the city the weekend Airiel came to Montreal for the first time. From St. Jean Baptiste Day, to the closing of Suoni Per Il Popolo and Francos de Montréal festival, it felt like Montreal’s classically music-filled summer was finally in swing. Despite the many options for entertainment, dream pop fans across ages and demographics arrived at Bar Le Ritz PDB last Sunday to experience the cult-favourite band in the intimate Little Italy venue.
First up on the bill was the local band Bodywash. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing the dream pop duo of Rosie Long Decter and Chris Steward a few times, most recently at Tiny Fest this past fall, and they always promise a great show. Long Decter has keys and Steward guitar, sharing vocal duties, while accompanied by drums and bass, the entire band felt in sync Sunday night, even so close to the end of their tour. The set started with some of their dreamier tunes and got heavier as it went on, focussing on songs from their latest record I Held the Shape While I Could. At times, the band (minus Long Decter) would turn away from the audience to shred facing into the drum kit, which heightened the intensity and showed the musicians’ chemistry with one another. Since Bodywash is now done supporting Airiel, be sure to check out their next hometown show.
Next to the stage was the Austin, Texas double husband-and-wife-duo band Blushing. Coming off the release of their latest album Sugarcoat just last month, Blushing performed a high-energy shoegazy rock set. Frontwomen Christina Carmona and Michelle Soto played off each other well, even both falling to their knees to shred on the floor facing each other by the end of their set.
After a brief pause between sets, which inexplicably included “A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton being played over the speakers, Airiel entered the stage. The band jumped into “Liquid Paper,” the opening track to their Winks & Kisses EP which just celebrated its 20th anniversary. The band was incredibly tight for their first-ever show in Montreal, with the main duo of Jeremy Wrenn and Andrew Marrah feeling completely in sync.
While the crowd was not as tightly packed as many Bar Le Ritz shows, those who were there brought high energy to Airiel’s dreamy yet danceable music, with a few of the older attendees dancing and jumping right at the lip of the stage. Many more concertgoers were at the stage’s edge to get a better look at Wrenn and Marrah’s giant Frankensteined guitar pedal boards.
The band played broadly through their discography, from the various Winks EPs to newer songs off of 2017’s Molton Young Lovers. The audience was unsurprisingly the most excited to hear Airiel’s most iconic song “In Your Room,” and with good reason, as, in my opinion, this is a perfect song. Despite the vocals feeling much farther back than on the recording, the duo’s performance of the song was romantic and loud but somehow still gentle.
Airiel played a fairy-trim set of eight songs before returning for an encore. The band ended their show out with “The Painkillers,” the closing track to Molton Young Lovers. The song quickly devolved into a delicious wall of noise as Marrah thrashed around with this guitar, shaking it upside down, and holding it up to the amp behind him to create harsh feedback on top of the duo’s already extensive pedal use. The unrelenting noise of Airiel’s final song still had an element of joy and whimsy to it, as it was obvious through the whole set how much fun the band has playing together and how happy the Bar Le Ritz crowd was to zone into their meditative tunes on this dreary Sunday night.
Aviva Majerczyk is the magazine editor at CJLO 1690AM. She is also the host of The Alley, a folk-rock show airing Fridays at 11:00 AM.
A Rockin’ Summer Solstice Night at L’Hemisphere Gauche
While Summer has announced itself to Montrealers through its many heat waves, the four-bill Summer Solstice show at L’Hemisphere Gauche on Beaubien kicked off the official first day of Summer with live performances from local bands, as well as those from Ottawa and Toronto. The Ottawa three-piece band Backstreet Dragon opened the night with songs from the latest album Kick Rocks and gave the crowd a sneak peek at some soon-to-be released summer tunes. Followed by Joey Bird and the Toronto band Roach, the night ended with a vibrant performance by the Montreal group Societal Siege.
The ambiance fostered throughout the night at l’Hemisphere Gauche was similar to that of a house show. Indeed, despite being in a room full of strangers, a sense of familiarity and comfort radiated from both the stage and crowd. Small shows like these not only allow people to discover talent in their “own backyard,” but also help further create and cement the feeling of community within a busy city, such as Montreal.
While Backstreet Dragon has previously performed shows in Montreal, it was Roach’s first time in the city. An important milestone for the Toronto band, their show in Montreal was also a celebration of their latest single “Everything or Nothing.” With the crowd yelling “one more song,” Societal Siege also had the chance to perform to a live audience some new material that the lead singer admitted that the band had only practiced a few times. Each one of the four bands brought to the stage a unique sound and character to their performance, truly treating the audience to an array of exciting sounds.
The mix of local and out-of-province bands performing at L’Hemisphere Gauche not only allowed the crowd to enjoy the talents that have emerged within Montreal but also gave Montrealers a look into the various music scenes outside of the city and province. Indeed, Montreal continues to be a mandatory stop for many out-of-province bands, as both music lovers and musicians alike are spoiled with the number of local venues the city has to offer. It is no surprise that Montreal has been able to and continues to foster a vibrant community of local musicians, as well as attract talent from near and far. In fact, located just north of some of Montreal’s most iconic venues, the Beaubien bar and music venue prides itself in being a place for local and alternative artists to showcase their talent on stage.
There truly is no better way to start the summer than listening to some hometown bands, as well as discovering new music in the process. The Summer Solstice show at L’Hemisphere Gauche leaves you chasing that post-concert high and making you wish the night never ended. Luckily enough, in a city such as Montreal, there is never a shortage of good music.
Ceylan is the host of Northern Stagelights, a weekly show putting the spotlight on mainly indie/alt rock bands from across Canada, Sundays 1PM-2PM
Master Boot Record Review: What's the Future of Live Video Game Music?
Andrew is CJLO 1690AM's Metal Music Director and the host of Grade A Explosives, Sundays 4PM-6PM
Protomartyr @ La Tulipe
The post-punk genre has seen a notable resurgence in recent years, with bands like Fontaines D.C. and Dry Cleaning breathing new life into the sound and captivating a whole new generation of music lovers. Among these acts are Detroit rockers Protomartyr, who have solidified their place in this revival over their 10+ years in the scene, amassing a considerable following along the way.
These devoted fans stormed La Tulipe in droves Sunday night, eager to see the band perform tracks off their latest album, Formal Growth in the Desert, which dropped just days prior.
As the venue began to fill, the excitement was palpable. Some concertgoers exchanged nostalgic stories of past Protomartyr shows, while others shared their enthusiasm for the new album. No matter the topic of discussion, there was a noticeable sense of camaraderie and collective anticipation in the air.
Soon, opening act Sunforger took the stage and kicked things off with their distinctly melancholic brand of post-punk, perfectly setting the mood for the rest of the evening. Their debut album, which was released just a year ago, provided the basis for their set (and which some might recall from their live session on a certain CJLO show). Their performance was electrifying and hypnotic, undoubtedly winning over new fans among those in attendance.
Once Sunforger wrapped up their set, a brief intermission followed, and soon, the lights dimmed. Excitable shouts rang out through the darkened concert hall, and from the side stage emerged our headlining act. The band dove headfirst into "Maidenhead," a moody track (and a personal favourite of mine) from their third album, which acted as my introduction to the band many years ago.
The band was in the element up on stage, its setup sparse and minimalistic and mirroring the musicians’ nonchalant demeanour. Frontman Joe Casey, beer in hand, delivered powerful and emotionally charged vocals, seamlessly navigating through the band’s extensive catalogue. The setlist was incredibly varied, featuring songs from nearly all their releases, ensuring that no one went home without hearing their favourite track.
As the show neared its end, Casey announced they had a few more songs left, much to the crowd’s disappointment. When the final note was played and the band left the stage, the audience erupted into the familiar chant of “Ole,” rhythmically stomping their feet to demand an encore.
The band soon obliged and returned to the stage after Casey playfully feigned reluctance. Fans were treated to a few more songs, including favourites “Ain’t so Simple” and “I Forgive You” and as the band jumped into their final song, The Agent Intellect track “Why Does it Shake?” a disco ball lit up, casting shimmering lights across the room and creating one hell of a memorable finale.
Protomartyr’s performance at La Tulipe was a testament to their enduring appeal and the passionate community they have built over the years. If ever you get the opportunity to see them perform live, a terrific night is all but guaranteed.
Cole is a co-host of In The Garage, Mondays 8PM-9PM.
Ivytide Release portable darkroom at Theatre Fairmount
With plastic ivy, photo negatives and polaroids dangling from the ceiling, Ivytide hit the stage at Theatre Fairmount on Saturday to an adoring home crowd. Celebrating the release of their latest album, portable darkroom, the room was in ultra-high spirits with groups of young girls erupting in screams whenever singer, Nathan Gagné, directed his flirtatious lyrics to their filming phones.
Ivytide formed after Gagné sought out guitarist Jamie Synette, and bassist Kyle Ruggiero, to be in his live band following the release of a solo EP in 2017. With vocals reminiscent of Still Woozy and Frank Ocean, and indie pop/R&B inspired instrumentation, Ivytide’s steady flow of singles and album releases have earned them a growing following locally as well as internationally. On their latest album, portable darkroom, the songwriting is reflective, nostalgic, and grapples with themes of transition, loss, instability, carrying relationship baggage, and growing older. The album has a 90’s/2000’s feel with its opening track “vacant” setting the tone of the album with a moody guitar part comfortingly evocative of Samantha Ronson’s Mean Girls hit “Built This Way.”
At Theatre Fairmount, Gagné and Ruggiero were outfitted in matching pink jumpsuits covered in autographs and messages from their fans, which they offered to the merch table for further signatures at the end of the show. Their stage presence mirrored the audience’s excitement and glee as they bounced around the stage, encouraged loud singing, and taught the crowd vocal parts to sing along to many of their songs. Before launching into “détours,” Gagné, Synette, and Ruggiero performed coordinated, robotic movements along to a background video of street signs while a track emulating the voice of a GPS rerouting someone through traffic played over the speakers to the great entertainment of their fans. Midway through their set, Gagné invited their opening act, Anna Justen, back on stage to perform a song they said they had just rehearsed backstage. Her angelic voice complimented Gagné’s in such a beautiful way that afterwards several voices in the crowd cried out for them to sing it again.
Throughout their show, the crowd dutifully sang the words to their songs, most notably during “moving song” where the audience’s singing was an accompaniment to Gagné’s throughout. If the ecstatic energy of Ivytide’s hometown release show for portable darkroom was any indicator of where their new album will take them, their show at Theatre Fairmount captured a potent snapshot of the tide of acclaim headed their way.
Angela is the host of The Spacious Astrology Playlist, a weekly playlist of music inspired by the current astrology transits, Fridays 4PM-5PM
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