Magazine

Independent, provocative, now! The CJLO Magazine is the resource for features, reviews, and interviews. Established in 2004, and run by dedicated CJLO volunteers, the magazine covers the latest and best in local and international music, art, theatre, film, festivals, and more!


Kurt Vile and The Violators played at Théâtre Beanfield in Montreal for their Been Good to Me Tour

For more than two decades, Kurt Vile has carved out a space as one of indie rock's most distinctive songwriters. Blending folk-rock and slacker charm, the Philadelphia musician has built a devoted following with a sound that is both deeply introspective and effortlessly loose. Backed by longtime collaborators, The Violators, Vile has also earned quite the reputation as a live performer. His shows never sound rushed or over-rehearsed, but unfold naturally. Songs stretch and evolve beyond their studio versions, making even longtime fans hear them differently.


Nouveau BCNR

Tuesday evening marked the first North American stop for Black Country, New Road on their 2026 tour – lucky for us, the first show was here in Montreal at MTelus.

To start the show, everyone arrived early to catch Horsegirl – a Chicago indie-rock trio consisting of Nora Cheng, Penelope Lowenstein and Gigi Reece. Their sound felt true to their album name, with a phonetic-like beat marching alongside iterative lyrics. The set was tight and playful, a perfect intro to a lovely evening with Black Country, New Road.


A Music Lover's Guide to this Year’s Francos de Montréal

In a couple of days, Montreal’s summer festival season kicks off, and not a moment too soon! Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the winter and spring-time festivals for keeping our beautiful city alive as we all hibernate, but nothing compares to sunny days spent singing songs outside with complete strangers, all bound together by our love for music. In Montreal, our festival season starts with the Francos de Montréal, an eight day festival putting the spotlight on Francophone music. Personally, this is my favourite music festival our city offers. There is so much local talent and every genre is included, making sure that everyone gets to leave having found a new band to add to their Bandcamp wishlist.


Dry Cleaning Could Probably Stay on Beat Through the Apocalypse

It is difficult to describe South London-based post-punk quartet Dry Cleaning without falling into cliché. One might be inclined to compare lead vocalist Florence Shaw's deep voice and spoken word style to someone like Courtney Barnett or Cate Blanchett. Some refer to Shaw’s previous job as a university lecturer to explain the tidiness of her stage presence. One might allude to the band’s clean, driving basslines, their stream of consciousness lyricism, or their technical proficiency as a group. What I will settle on, and what I only realized at the very end of their set, was that I had spent all two hours of my time supposedly reviewing Dry Cleaning’s concert dancing, with not a single note taken.


Notes from ECMA Week

Occurring from May 20th to the 24th, this year’s East Coast Music Awards week was held in Sydney, Nova Scotia. A round-trip of 3000 kilometers, and gas prices nearing two dollars a litre, attending was far from a casual decision. Still, as a broadcaster with CJLO 1690 AM and host of Eastern Promises - a show dedicated to bringing the music of the East Coast to Montreal audiences - I felt the pilgrimage would prove worthwhile.


A Taste of Talent with a Side of Tartan: Pinkpantheress at L’Olympia

Photo Credit: ZaneBurkoMedia

The city towered beneath the cold weather in the midst of May–an unfortunate but regular occurrence during the Montreal spring. Yet, splatters of an unspoken but mandatory tartan, red and blue painted the streets, brightening the ordinarily bleak sidewalk of rue Sainte-Catherine in preparation for UK singer-songwriter and producer PinkPantheress. Shivering hands gripped onto umbrellas in line, awaiting the OK to be welcomed into the contrasting heat of the Theatre L’Olympia and to rush to secure their barricade spots. 


The Devil Still Wears Prada

In my anniversary review for The Devil Wears Prada, I expressed my hesitancy regarding the movie’s sequel. Although it certainly cannot hold a candle to its predecessor, I am pleased to report that The Devil Wears Prada 2 is an enjoyable movie with a bleeding heart at its core. 


Mentally crawling on the floor with Lala Lala at L’Escogriffe

“How do you say ‘I’m pregnant’ in French?” Lillie West of Lala Lala asked us, “It’s probably like ‘I have’ or something,” the indie singer had just impressed us with her mediocre yet competent French. The audience chimed in with various pregnancy phrases, “yeah, I have that,” Lillie confirmed. Despite being four months pregnant while on tour, Lala Lala delivered a captivating and emotionally laden performance at L’Escogriffe on a chilly Sunday night.


An Interview with Tim Biziaev of Lovelet

Past Tense host Ari speaks with Tim Biziaev of Lovelet in advance of the release of Lovelet's second full-length album, Freedom River Float, coming May 7th. In Tim's backyard, they discuss cross-country touring, the new album's recording process, and the meeting of country compilations with meditation cassettes.

Lovelet plays May 7th at Hemisphere Gauche alongside Taupe and Mitch Davis.

Listen to Lovelet here

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