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Hosted and Produced by Erica Bridgeman

Stories written by Cat Spencer, Spoon Jung and Saturn De Los Angeles

View from the Venue interviewed Matt Korvette from Pissed Jeans during their tour stop at Il Motore in Montreal. We talk about the benefits of having a band as a hobby instead of a full time job, preventing sexism in the punk scene, and their album Honeys. Check out more from Pissed Jeans on the Sub Pop website.

When I walked into Il Motore, the venue smelled like sea food. I wondered if had I mistakenly entered a restaurant, or could it have been the rainy weather coming in from outside? Or was it Oakland, California trio Shannon and the Clams, who were on stage setting up for the show? It really did smell like seafood! I'm not making this up! I quite enjoyed the coincidence, to be honest, as it contributed to the room's atmosphere. Mmmmm... good music and yummy sea food.

Sound check was quite the ordeal for them, as both Shannon Shaw and Cody Blanchard got painful shocks on the lips from the un-grounded microphones. That problem seemed to have fixed itself, but it took a little bit for the band to really get going since they couldn't hear anything through the monitors. Shannon also commented that the people on the floor were just sort of standing there, staring, not doing anything. Yeah, typical. Welcome to Montreal. I felt kind of bad at that moment, because Shannon and the Clams were really freaking great.

I love their unique take on the garage genre. Their music is grimy and raw, and draws its inspiration from '60s rhythm and blues, Cry Baby, and Sha Na Na. This is the type of doo-wop I imagine the kids would have danced to at senior proms all over the United States back in the day—after drinking some spiked punch, of course. Shannon has some mad style, too. Like a punk rock waitress. She wore an apron, played her bass guitar different from anyone I've seen perform in the past, and sang with a surly voice. Cody's voice has an in-tune but hoarse quality to it as well (kind of like a male Stevie Nicks), and they did an amazing job at sharing and taking the lead as singers.

I'll tell ya, though, things got real after Shannon asked for the lights to be dimmed a little lower. The crowd started twisting and shaking to tracks like "Troublemaker" from their debut I Wanna Go Home, "Done with You" from their sophomore album Sleep Talk, and plenty of new songs from their latest Dreams in the Rat House. Finally. People were participating in having fun!

I've said in the past that the audience is an integral part of what makes a show great, and it was nice that the kids at Il Motore finally stopped posing and started dancing.

--Stephanie Dee hosts "Twee Time" and "Champions of the Local Scene" every week on CJLO! Follow @tweegirl on Twitter.

NOTICE: CJLO 1690 AM is aware of the impending controversy regarding Rockfest, and new articles are in the works to report on the issues with the conditions at the festival. In the meantime, the following article reports on the Rockfest showcases and not the festival's overall experience. 

The year  Marilyn Manson made enemies with the Punk Rock Scene

Article by Abby Schachter, freelance journalist and host of The Reaktor (Fridays at 2 PM EST on CJLO). Follow Abby on Tumblr. Photos by Jason Harbour.

Rockfest is a big deal. What started off as a tiny little festival in the even tinier town of Montebello, Quebec (900 residents) eight years ago has exploded into the ultimate punk rock showcase. Renowned punk, metal and rock bands like Rancid, Deftones, Dropkick Murphys, Lamb of God, Pennywise, and Lagwagon (to name a few) perform at Rockfest every year. The cool part is that most of them send out a personalized request. In 2013, Rockfest guests included the above and more with special appearances from Marilyn Manson and Alice Cooper. However, Manson managed to ruin nearly everybody's weekend when he caused "disturbances" during his arrival Saturday morning... but let's start at the very beginning.

For those of you who have never heard of Rockfest, it's a fun-filled weekend complete with music and camping. Montebello transforms from a quiet suburb into a crazy campsite overnight. Fans pitch up tents everywhere, including the lawn in front of the town's church. Walking down the street is nearly impossible due to crowds of punks and metal heads roaming the town in search of beer, cigarettes, and shelter from the sun. The lineups at grocery stores, depanneurs (corner stores), banks, and bathrooms are at least an hour wait. It's definitely a sight worth seeing.

Alex Martel is the founder, organizer, master, chief, captain, and general boss of Rockfest. Martel was only seventeen years old with no experience, contacts or money when he dreamed up Rockfest in 2005. However, he did have a vision and an astonishing work ethic for a teen. Martel believes his love and obsession for music is what motivated him. "During the weekend instead of hanging out with friends like normal people, I would be backstage at shows in the U.S or Montreal or Toronto." Martel says he just wanted something fun to do in his hometown because there was nothing to do there. He never thought the festival would grow into something so big. 

When asked how he got such famous names to perform in a town in the middle of nowhere, Martel explained that the lineup consists of groups who heard the festival was exciting. Apparently, the bands that play at Rockfest have so much fun that not only do they want to come back and perform the following year, but they invite other bands to join them. "One of the first bands that really, really helped with spreading the word was Anti-Flag. They loved the fest and talked about it to, like, every punk band. I thank them every time I see them." It's no wonder musicians want to take part in the show, all performing artists get full VIP treatment. In fact, they get an entire hotel reserved just for them. With rooftop poolside access overlooking the entire festival!

Luckily for us, my fellow media partners and I received full VIP backstage access to the fest. We were able to hang out at that hotel cordoned off from "normal folk" and socialize with the bands in the media room all weekend long. Though it was more work than play we still had our fair share of fun. The festival organizers are some of the nicest people I have ever met and dealt with in regards to festival planners. Martel includes nearly his entire family in the process. His grandma helped supervise media passes, his mom aided in managing the hotel, and his dad helped out with transporting band equipment.

Unfortunately some of the things that happened that weekend caused them a whole lot of underserved stress. Main stresses? Security guards who did not do their job properly (check out article entitled security and poop) and the very epitome of a high-maintenance Hollywood diva: Marilyn Manson.

Friday night was near perfect. The shows ran on time, people were deliriously drunk and happy because they were listening to the bands they loved. Groups were enjoying their stay at the privately catered hotel, and Martel and company seemed to be relatively calm. Also, security was in check… sort of. Then Saturday arrived and with that the Alice Cooper/Marilyn Manson entourage. Alice Cooper seemed undemanding from what I overheard from staff on site. Marilyn Manson, however, who I personally think is many a step down from Cooper, was a totally different story. He was what some may call socially inept, snobby and high maintenance. Everything you expect from pop stars like Christina Aguilera or Justin Bieber. Turns out "badass" metal "ish" Satan crooner Marilyn Manson is allegedly nothing but a snobby Hollywood diva who thinks he is too good to hang out with the likes of famous punk rock bands. The guy is neither cool nor impressive but rather a big old self-absorbed "artiste."

Remember that cordoned off Hotel with the rooftop access and pool? It was shut down for Manson. He supposedly did not want to be disturbed by the bands that were also staying at the same hotel. We are talking about legendary bands like: Rise Against, Dropkick Murphys, Lagwagon, and a slew of others. Manson also caused a major cluster you-know-what when he made festival planners re-organize the line-up because he allegedly wanted the main stage all to himself for set-up. 

As a result not only was the entire Saturday schedule switched, but Rockfest attendees did not know which bands were playing when or where. People were told that the stage was broken when in reality it was not. How do I know this? I spoke with members from bands that were affected by the sudden chaotic switch-ups.

One of those members was "Little Joe" Raposa, the bassist from Lagwagon. He opened up to me about why their set was moved from noon to six in the evening. Concert goers were really disappointed when they learned that Lagwagon, who was scheduled to play Saturday at twelve in the afternoon, would not be on until much later. The band had nothing to do with this sudden time switch; they were looking forward to being an opening act to pump up the crowd. "We were supposed to be the fluffers so to say, like the people to get the crowd into it but that went out the window. We were told (by staff): Alice Cooper and Marilyn Manson are coming and they are bringing their giant tour busses and are basically taking over the main stage." Lagwagon was then directed to perform at 6:45 p.m. on the small stage.

Little Joe added that Manson and his crew were so particular that they actually wanted to re-rig the entire P.A system! "In the hotel they closed down the pool and a whole bunch of other facilities. It was fucking hot out and I wanted to go swimming! Also, the manager for Rise Against (the headlining band for Rockfest) went to his production room you know to work and he found his computer outside the room in the hallway … just discarded like that." Apparently there was a sign on the locked door to the room with Marilyn Manson and Alice Cooper's name on it.

Manson seemed to disregard and disrespect everyone and anyone who he deemed irrelevant.

Little Joe says he has a theory that Manson and Cooper just don't understand the punk rock scene. "I think they are used to these giant productions and don't understand the whole 'show up' with your band and just play thing."

According to Joe, Lagwagon wasn't too upset over the schedule change but they were worried that fans would be. "We told the guys (fest organizers) that we would play any timeslot they give us. I just can't wait to play. I'm stoked!" Little Joe also expressed sympathy towards Rockfest Organizers, saying he still thinks the fest is amazing and the band would absolutely love to come back next year. "This fucking shit does not bother me and of course we will come back!"

From ground level my fellow media mates and I spotted Manson on the rooftop surrounded by his posse. He had the whole pool to himself and was gazing out at the fest beneath him—notice I say beneath. That word suits someone who treats non-Hollywood people as though they are insignificant so well. 

From what I heard, Manson and Cooper put on a decent show, but I did not feel the need to stick around for it. What's the point if the guys don't appreciate their fellow musicians or fans? With that being said, Rockfest was still a blast and I got to hang out with some of my all-time favorite bands consisted of some of the most interesting and down-to-earth people I'd ever met. Not to mention Alex and his family did an amazing job at making everyone feel accommodated.

Rockfest 2014 is already in the works but the lineup is top secret! For more info on the fest be sure to check out the website http://www.pnrockfest.com/en/