Pop Montreal Preview – Part 2 (Thursday, Sept. 30)
Bear in Heaven + The Luyas @ La Sala Rossa
If Bear in Heaven‘s last show in Montreal is anything to go by you are definitely going to want to stop by and see them play at Sala Rossa on day 2. Their latest release, Beast Rest Forth Mouth, which was blessed with the almighty “Best New Music” stamp by Pitchfork, is still going strong as one of the best albums to be released last year and in celebration of it’s greatness the band has released a special edition Beast Rest Forth Mouth double LP which comes with a remix LP with remixes by the likes of The Field, Studio and High Places. Be sure to pick that up when you check out Bear in Heaven live at Sala on September 30th. The show kicks off at 9:00 PM with Toronto, Ontario’s Grounders, followed by Montreal’s The Luyas and Twin Sister before we hear from Bear in Heaven at midnight.
Liars + Women @ Le National
Another Brooklyn band that you are definitely going to want to check out on day two is oddball punk trio Liars who will be playing at Le National. Liars have been well known for putting on some insane live shows but that’s only one of the many reasons to attend this one. Another reason is the band playing before Liars. Calgary, Alberta’s Women are one of the coolest band’s to emerge within the last few years. Their debut self-titled release came out in 2008 and received tremendous reviews from the likes of Pitchfork and Pop Matters and it seems as if their latest release, Public Strain will only bring these guys to even higher levels of recognition. Montreal’s Black Feelings kick things off at 9:00 PM, followed by Women at 10:00 PM and headliners, Liars at 11:00 PM. Tickets are $18.00 and can be purchased here.
Silly Kissers @ The Rialto Theatre
It’s no secret that we MYATS folk love love LOVE Silly Kissers. These guys are just so much fun to watch and listen to that you can’t go to this year’s Pop Montreal Festival without checking them out. But best of all they are playing at the Arbutus Records showcase which will feature three other great acts from Montreal. Blue Hawaii and Pop Winds will be playing and Grimes (AKA Claire Boucher) will be releasing her brand new album, Halfaxa, that night. If you can’t wait until then to hear some new Grimes tracks played live, you can get a sneak peak at two tracks from the new album by clicking here. This showcase will kick off at 10:00 PM with each band playing half-hour sets until Silly Kissers take the stage to wrap things up at midnight.
Hudson Mohawke @ Club Lambi
For something a little more on the dancy side you have to check out the Lookout Showcase featuring Glasgow, Scotland native DJ/producer Hudson Mohawke. This guy has been making huge waves around the world since the age of 15 in which he became the youngest person to ever make it to the finals of the DMC World DJ Championships. He’s bringing all of his funked out expertise to Club Lambi on day 2 of Pop Montreal this year. With Machinedrum, Lunice, Hovatron, Ango and Seb Diamond & Phil AD this will be a whole night of electro bliss but if you’re only going for HudMo he hits the stage at 1:30 AM. I’d say this would be the perfect night-cap to what is sure to be a great night of music. You can check it out for $17.00 and tickets can be purchased here.
DVAS + Diamond Rings + Miracle Fortress @ Cabaret JPR
There to battle the Lookout Showcase for electro-pop supremacy we’ve got the Secret City/Upper Class showcase featuring Toronto, Ontario’s DVAS playing at the Cabaret JPR along with follow Torontonians Diamond Rings, The Russian Futurists, Montreal’s Miracle Fortress and a DJ set by Edmonton, Alberta’s Cadence Weapon. Putting aside all the great music that will be going down at this showcase, if you have never been present for one of Cadence Weapon’s DJ sets you are going to want to show up early to catch it. This guy is awesome. Tickets for this showcase are $15.00 and can be purchased here.
Van Dyke Parks + Clare & The Reasons @ Ukrainian Federation
This is one of the must see shows of this year’s fest. If you have never heard of anything that Van Dyke Parks has had his hands in I would either call you a liar or someone who just doesn’t really listen to music. From his early work with The Beach Boys, The Byrds, Tim Buckley and Harry Nilsson to his more recent work with artists like Rufus Wainwright, Scissor Sisters and Joanna Newsom to name but a few, Parks has been all over the musical landscape since his illustrious career began in the 60s. This show will be a once in a lifetime opportunity so don’t pass it up. The opening acts are nothing to scoff at either. Clare & The Reasons create cinematic, orchestral pop music that will serve as the perfect opening for a legend like Parks. Montreal’s Daniel Isaiah Schachter will kick things off at 8:00 PM, followed by Clare & The Reasons at 9:00 PM and Van Dyke Parks at 10:00 PM. Tickets are $25.00 and can be purchased online here.
Karkwa + Leif Vollebekk @ Metropolis
This show would have been a popular one whether or not Karkwa had won the Polaris Music Prize this year. But the fact that they took home the award for their latest release, Les Chemins de Verre (Audiogram) only means that however busy this show would have been before, it will be doubly busy now. But for all those of you that plan to head to this show, be sure to show up at 7:30 for opener Leif Vollebekk who has been making some nice waves around Montreal this past year. Tickets for this one are $24.83 and can be purchased here.
Adam & The Amethysts @ Cabaret Playhouse
Another one of our favourite Montreal bands is playing on day 2 at the Cabaret Playhouse (5656 Parc Avenue). Adam and the Amethysts are a musical project started by Adam Waito who you may know from the other band’s he has played in over the years, Miracle Fortress and Telefauna. With the Amethysts however, Waito is exploring new musical ground. Their debut LP, Amethyst Amulet is a jangly summer-pop gem that brings to mind some of the greats like Neil Young, The Kinks. The show will begin at 10:00 PM with Netherfriends, followed by Dada Trash Collage at 11:00 PM and Iroquois Falls at 12:00 AM. Adam and the Amethysts take the stage at 1:00 AM so that should give you some time to hop on over after checking out one of the other great shows happening on this night.
Laura Veirs + The Watson Twins + Led To Sea @ O Patro Vys
We are also really excited that the amazingly talented Laura Veirs will be gracing us with her presence this year. Veirs has been putting out records since the late 90s but it wasn’t until the release of 2005′s Year of the Meteors and a tour with Sufjan Stevens that she began to make some very big waves around the indie music scene. Veirs will be joined on this night by The Watson Twins (sans Jenny Lewis) and the incredibly talented Led To Sea, which is the solo project of multi-instrumentalist Alex Guy who also plays with Laura Veirs & The Hall of Flames, Mirah and Jason Webley Trio. Tickets for this one are a very reasonable $12.00 and can be purchased here.
The Dears @ Mission Santa Cruz
Last but not least if you didn’t see The Dears last night at Mission Santa Cruz we strongly suggest you see them on night two of the fest. Imaginary Cities are opening again and The Dears go on at 10:30 PM. Tickets are $15.00 and be purchased here.
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Click here for the full Thursday schedule
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