As I neared Studio TD on Saturday night, slightly dejected by the temperature being minus twenty with the windchill (and reaping the consequence of my mediocre layering), I was met with a glowing sign which displayed “Sudan Archives se soir a 18:00h”. Underneath, a line wrapping around the block of people bundled up, like me, trying to shield themselves from the absurd temperature. However, there was a distinct anticipation and excitement radiating from the groups who waited in line to enter the venue. I was in the right place tonight.

Anyone vaguely familiar with Earl Sweatshirt’s discography might not be sold on the idea of seeing him live. Although he’s one of modern rap’s greatest writers, his work has long dealt with heavy, sombre subject matter. In his earlier projects, the then-teenage prodigy laid bare his struggles with anxiety and the psychic toll of growing up in the public eye, while later works offered more layered explorations of depression, loss, and grief.

SPEWING SWEAT TILL THERE’S NOTHING LEFT

As it snowed with ferocity on the streets of Montreal, the three-piece outfit (not dissimilar from what they wore), Sharp Pins, rocked La Sotterenea –  basement venue of La Sala Rossa – in style. Hailing from Chicago, a city at the epicentre of the fast-evolving and emerging indie-rock sound and scene, they brought with them not only a zest, spunk and flair for theatrics, but also a particular analogue flavour hard to come by in our present hyper-digitized hellscape.

On Thursday, January 15th, I braved the elements and made my way to La Sotterenea for a show headlined by one of my favourite Canadian bands, Burs. I initially saw them in the Fall of 2024 and was very excited to catch them again following the release of their new album, Significance, Otherness.