KickDrum Summer Marathon d'Été

Well our loyal CJLO listeners, we have some good news for you. Montreal has a brand new music festival to feast your ears on! KickDrum Summer Marathon d'Été is a dark horse in the running looking to (pun intended) kick the more "popular" international music festivals out of our venues and fill them back up again with the brightest homegrown indie acts this city has to offer. Even better, KickDrum aims to entertain and inspire you without emptying your wallet, because all shows are 11$  or less! Plus One $1 from every ticket will go to support USC Canada - Seeds of Survival and their work to build resilience through ecological agriculture.

CJLO - 1690AM is honoured to be a part of the first edition of the festival, as we share the same mission, "to support independent local businesses and artists in the creation of vibrant creative communities."

With more than 50 Montreal artists to check out during the marathon, it was tough to narrow things down to just a few, but here's a look at five must-see acts performing at various KickDrum Summer Marathon d'Été showcases. Come out and say, "Hi!" CJLO - 1690AM will be co-presenting these, and other fine KickDrum shows all week and into the weekend.

Wishkaah

A new festival marks new beginnings for Jesse LeGallais from C T Z N S H P. I Must Be Dreaming of You, his first solo effort released in late June under the moniker Wishkaah, consists of two hauntingly beautiful home recordings of the lo-fi hazy folk variety. You know, the music that we love. It's a brave act to put one's heart and soul out there for the city to see, so this performance should not be missed, just in case it's rare.

Wishkaah plays Bar Le Ritz PDB (179 Jean-Talon O.) on Tuesday, July 12th with Paper Beat Scissors and Ego Death. Doors open at 20:30, the show starts at 21:00, and tickets are only 10$ + 1$ (Plus One) = 11$ [Event Page]

Commander Clark

The last time I saw Commander Clark, I was sitting in a booth at Nouveau Palais eating breakfast with some CJLO peeps, and he shouted an obscenity or two as he left the restaurant after finishing his shift. There are people in this world with absolutely no social filter, and we should thank the Universe for that. Clark's lovelorn nerves are raw and exposed in his songwriting and on-stage banter, and he has musical talent to boot. Take it from me, you must attend a Commander Clark show. You can expect smiles, tears, TMI, great music, and even a few laughs.

Catch Commander Clark and friends Year of Glad, Slight, and Feefawfun at La Vitrola (4602 Saint-Laurent) on Wednesday, July 13th. Doors open at 20:30, the show starts at 21:00, and tickets are only 10$ + 1$ (Plus One) = 11$ [Event Page]

Boy Friends

This band caught my attention about four years ago, back when they were named after a Beat Happening song, had a girl in the band, and were playing strange and wonderful twee pop tunes. I was hosting a little radio show on Friday nights called Twee Time, and it made me so happy to be able to play a twee band on my show that was new and local. Like all good things that always must pass, Twee Time came to an end last year, and "The This Many Boyfriends Club" grew up and reformed as Boy Friends, a post-punk meets math rock hybrid that is still so DIY and freakin' great. According to the band, Boy Friends is "for people who are only interested in math when it's being described abstractly by [people] such as Carl Sagan." Boy Friends may not "sound" twee anymore, but they are still our tweeople and continue to keep the dorky indie spirit alive.

It promises to be a great time on Thursday, July 14th with Boy Friends, Golden Python, Odd Limbs, and Weird Star at Divan Orange (4234 Saint-Laurent). Doors open at 20:30, the show starts at 21:00, and tickets are only 10$ + 1$ (Plus One) = 11$ [Event Page]

How Sad

How Sad has a small catalogue of well-crafted pop tunes that are heavy on the synth, falsetto, and dare I say cute (there, I said it) beats that you can bounce around and dance with your kitty to when you're alone in your apartment (<---fun fact about me). Seeing them live, however, is a must because this is where the band truly shines. In short: they will let loose, screech, go mad, and bang the fuck out of those drums. And that, my friends, is the reason why How Sad is the perfect choice for a summer festival.

How Sad will make you happy at Divan Orange (4234 Saint-Laurent) Saturday, July 16th with Our Book & the Authors and Isabelle Young. Doors open at 20:30, the show starts at 21:30, and tickets are only 10$ + 1$ (Plus One) = 11$ [Event Page]

And now on to another Saturday show, which just happens to be my top pick...

Justin Wright

For magical people with the ability to be two places at once, I suggest you use your powers for good and go check out the musicians from the Oh Hi Collective perform at La Plante on Saturday. On the roster is cellist and composer Justin Wright (Sweet Mother Logic), a stand-out performer who continues to push the boundaries of experimental music by creating a wide range of sounds and textures on the cello. Justin will be playing a set of ambient string trios he wrote last winter called, "Music for Staying Warm", compositions on violin, viola, and cello running through a loop pedal. Perhaps the summer heat will inspire a new three-part composition entitled, "Music for Cooling Down"? Only time will tell, but either way you're in for some intense ambient music that will certainly take your mind off the heat for a while.

Oh Hi presents Best Fern, Squall, tinycastles, and Justin Wright at La Plante (super-secret location!) on Saturday, July 16th. Doors open at 20:30, the showcase starts at 21:30, and tickets are only 5$. Five. Bucks. What? [Event Page]

KickDrum Summer Marathon d'Été runs from Tuesday, July 12th to Sunday, July 17th at Casa del Popolo, La Vitrola, Bar le Ritz PDB, Divan Orange, Le Cagibi, La Plante, and Café Blanc de Blanc.