With St. Patrick’s Day behind us but spring ahead, the lilting Celtic tunes of Montreal-based band Cianalas make the perfect soundtrack for a city shaking off the last chills of winter. The band played their first headline show on March 19 at Quai des Brumes, a dimly lit bar on[Read More…]
Tag: concert review
MJ Lenderman ushers the spirit of Asheville into Montreal’s Théâtre Fairmount
Whirring guitars pierce through the night, sloshing through the cramped crowd of Théâtre Fairmount. The amps engulf the room in a communication of riffs, a call-and-response of rhythmic strums with the scalding guitar whistles and twang of the pedal steel. As the audience returns lyrical chants to the stage, shock[Read More…]
Tokyo Police Club says a final “au revoir” to Montreal
On Jan. 23, Canadian indie rock band Tokyo Police Club (TPC) announced their farewell tour, and on Oct. 12, they played for the last time in Montreal, a city with strong ties to their beginnings as a band. The news of their breakup was met with overwhelming support from fans.[Read More…]
‘BRAT’ and it’s the same but it’s in Montreal with Troye Sivan so it’s not
Even though I’ve finally had to accept that summer is over, getting to watch the Sweat tour with Charli XCX and Troye Sivan at Place Bell transported me back, one final time, to the joys of “BRAT summer.” Prior to the show’s commencement, I made sure to get my “SWEAT[Read More…]
Melodies of a lifetime with Claude Dubois
As I pulled into the parking lot of Théâtre Hector-Charland on March 29, eager to see a Québecois musical legend perform, I noticed a bus transporting residents from a nearby retirement home had beat us there. This moment hinted at the crowd that I would find sitting inside, waiting for[Read More…]
Concert films bridge the gap between music and cinema
As an aggressively straight drum line steadies watery synths, the members of Talking Heads cast dark silhouettes on a dimly lit red background. David Byrne’s robotic voice drones on as he comes into view, lying supine beside the drum kit. Cameras cut to a full view of the stage: Band[Read More…]
Electric, ethereal, and earnest: An evening at Tommy Lefroy’s ‘Le Trashfire’ tour
On Sept. 28, Tommy Lefroy fans at Montreal’s Le Ministère sent seismic sound waves across North America as the crowd chanted along to the duo’s ethereal and addictive harmonies. With Wynter Bethel and Tessa Mouzourakis—who record as Tommy Lefroy—on electric guitar, and Blake Evans on drums, the hour-long set incorporated[Read More…]
The intimacy of Black Country, New Road at Le National
On Saturday, Sept. 16, Black Country, New Road donned their denim shorts, jackets, and shirts, and played their first ever Montreal show in full Canadian tuxedo. This set of North American shows is the first following the release of their latest record, Live at Bush Hall, which features songs written[Read More…]
Future funk and retro rhythm
Toronto producer Harrison—real name Harrison Robinson—is bringing a fresh sound to clubs across Canada. Harrison’s music exudes optimism while addressing some of the subtle difficulties of the experience of youth, from relationships to clubbing. His SoundCloud bio says, “Maybe it’s not so bad.” One of his singles, “It’s Okay, I[Read More…]
Lucius becomes one with the music
On March 28, Lucius, a five-piece band led by singers Holly Laessig and Jess Wolfe, performed at Theatre Fairmount as part of its tour to commemorate the release of its second album, Good Grief. While its first album, Wildewoman, has been praised for its soulful ’60s vibe, its new album[Read More…]
