Concert Reviews

January 31st, 2017 was already going to be an eventful day before it was announced that, prior to the Neal Morse show that night, Mike Portnoy would be doing a meet and greet at Steve's Music Store on St. Antoine. I have been following Dream Theater since I discovered the Six Degrees of Inner Turbulene album and got hooked by the song “The Glass Prison”, which blew my mind completely. I finally got the meet Mike Portney, the man behind the giant kit.

As I understand, last night’s performance was meant to be held at l’Escogriffe, but since it is currently under renovation, the event was moved to Le Cactus, a small showroom next door . Great little spot. Supposedly doubling as a dance studio, the venue’s side wall is lined entirely with full-sized mirrors, perfectly suitable for the disco ball and lasers bouncing all over the room. Unfortunately, not nearly enough people made it to last night’s performance, but this does not at all take from the music. The bands were great.

January 12, 2017

When entering the Balattou, one encounters a perplexing scene. Strangely angled mirrors outline the back of the stage, distracting one’s eyes towards a reflective fractal of musicians playing and a crowd seated in wonderfully curved little booths. The stage is framed by monolithic speakers, far exceeding the necessary decibel level for the room. Above remain mountings for what I’m fairly positive used to be erotic dance poles. The young crowd does not fit the place, drinking pina coladas and Molson Ex, layered in wool and leather, and topping toques.

I didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I was waiting in line for the Tegan and Sara show at Metropolis. I was familiar with their album Sainthood and actually saw them open for Paramore on their Honda Civic Tour in 2009. Since then, their sound and style have done a complete 180. When I saw that they were coming to Montreal, I bought a ticket without even thinking. I haven’t listened to any of their new stuff besides their hit song “Closer” from their last album Heartthrob. Now, touring and playing material from their eighth record Love You To Death I knew nothing and no one going.

September 18th, 2016. It's the weekend, and you know what that means. Lots of shows! Attending the Double Experience show at the Pioneer in the West Island on Saturday night set the standard high for the next day, which was the Devin Townsend Project and Between the Buried and Me at the Corona Theatre.

POP Montreal 2016

It was a brother takeover at Theatre Fairmount on Saturday night with The Sadies, fronted by Dallas and Travis Good, headlining a night to celebrate the release of Will McClelland's The Minted.