So besides telling you to check out my buddies in Echo Beach (swirly, drugged out synth sounds w/ loops and ghostly vocals) @ Royal Phoenix on Thursday, and Young Lungs (buzzy post-punk garage pop) with Kestrels (exhilarating shoegaze guitar rock revivalists) @ Barfly on Friday, here are some of what I think are the best picks for you to catch at this year's POP Montreal festivities.

I moved out of the plateau to get out of the bullshit frosh celebrations that McGill kids hold dear to them as the "best week of their lives". I'm also in a band, so we had to find a way to live and play loud music without disturbing anybody.  Put those two stipulations into priority, and you'll probably end up in St Henri like I have.