Concert Reviews

Deerhoof has finally arrived! With a huge fan base in Montreal, Deerhoof has been taking their sweet time to play a show here, but Pop Montreal finally twisted their arm enough this year to get them to come out and play La Tulipe on October 1st. Their abstract pop has been seeping into the ears of Montrealers since their 1997 release, The Man, The King, The Girl. Their prolific EP career and generous free electronic tracks makes them a constant fan favourite. Plus the fact that they are so damn cute.

As vagabond post-punk/indie-frotting act Murder By Death made their way to Montreal on a cold Wednesday night at Petit Campus, the mood amongst the throngs of assembled concert-goers was rather jubilant. The show in question fell under the Pop Montreal banner, and the festival's first night was filled with excitement and wonder. Everyone had donned their favourite plaid shirt and newsboy hat, ready to be wowed by the travelling troubadors, Indiana natives who told of stories of whiskey and zombies.

Tucked into the south end of the Mile End, just above the mountain, lies a nice little venue called Cabaret du Mile End. This was my first time in this venue, which used to be the Kola Note, and before that, Club Soda, so the sound system and lighting were impeccable. I arrived at the show way too early, but the door was already teeming with Dragonette superfans, which tended to be the indie “interesting sweater” crowd with money burning holes in their pockets. They were definitely digging the pre-show Cake soundtrack provided by the sound man.

When I was in grade nine, Pennywise was the quintessential punk band. Not only did they give me instant cool cred when everyone else was listening to Nickelback, but their music soothed over the rough moments of early high school. When I heard that they were coming to Montreal, and I had the chance of reviewing the show, I jumped at the opportunity. Also, they were playing with pop punk legends Authority Zero and Riverboat Gamblers, as well as local band Fifty Stars Anger. It was the promise of a majorly great show.