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Just a few short hours, and the wait is finally over! The POP Montreal International Music Festival kicks off tomorrow, September 19th at 11:00 am with four absolutely free Art POP exhibits at Quarters POP, which last the duration of the festival. Are you a voyeur? Then you won't want to miss o F F Love Fan Art Bedroom, a sneaky little peek into the obsessive teenage mind. Lovers of Arcade Fire will definitely want to check out The Art of "The Suburbs" at Nomad Industries; the exhibition features never-before-seen objects and images used to create the cover image of the band's Grammy Award-winning album.

There is a POP for everyone!

Film POP is screening some amazing music documentaries this year, including films about the Canadian all-girl post punk band the Fifth Column, the New York punk and new wave scene, and the award-winning doc featuring teen prodigy and speed-metal guitarist Jason Becker. Plus, you can enjoy a spooky night at the Red Roof Church on Saturday when the 1976 horror classic The Omen screens at midnight. It's all for you, Damien!

The POP Symposium has one of the most talked-about events of the festival, when David Byrne and Win Butler discuss How Music Works on Saturday, September 22nd. Yes! More Arcade Fire. The event is sold out online, but a little POP bird told me there are still tickets available at Drawn & Quarterly. Another top-pick is Jeannette Lee in Conversation with Vivien Goldman; these hip ladies will discuss the post-punk underground, and that event is free!

Kids POP has toddler tunes, workshops, dance activities, and yoga for kids of all ages on Saturday and Sunday. Also over the weekend we have the POP Record Fair and Puces POP for people looking for hard-to-find vinyl and unique, hand-made items.

Sports lovers won't want to miss POP vs JOCK on Saturday, September 22nd at the McGill University Sports Centre. This amazing basket ball game has the Butler brothers (even MORE Arcade Fire!), the McGill Redmen, and the Concordia Stingers playing for charity. Plus, the half-time show features David Byrne & Moment Factory! All proceeds go to the DJ Sports Club, a non-profit charity that offers programs in sports and education to Montreal youth 7 to 17 years old.

Of course, Pop Montreal is all about the music, and so is CJLO!

Bring your ear plugs, because it's going to get LOUD when drone doctors (and CJLO members) AIM LOW hit the stage at Casa del Popolo on Thursday, September 20th. For those who enjoy music that's a little softer and on the electronic-side, check out Echo Beach (featuring Julie Matson from With Gay Abandon) at the Royal Phoenix the same night.

Shhh.... rumour has it there will be a secret show with Archery Guild, AIM LOW, Kestrels, and more! at Entree Des Artistes on Friday, September 21st. We'll definitely keep you posted about that on our Facebook page.

CJLO and Salon Identité present the Sunday Drone Pop Up Party on Sunday, September 23rd starting at 1:00 pm with an afternoon of drone, experimental, and avant-garde music. The party will also include art and video installations, sweet treats, and manicures! You won't want to miss this, so be sure to get there a little early and grab a spot. Later that night, CJLO is sponsoring the Nicky da B show at Eglise POP Little Burgundy.

Also on Sunday, CJLO's very own DJ Sugarface Nene from Beat the World spins the best in world music during the PASA Musik Showcase at Club Lambi.

Oh, and be sure to send the station some good vibes when you spot the CJLO banner at the Wild Nothing show on Wednesday, September 19th.

Without further ado! CJLO staff and on-air personalities give their top picks for Pop Montreal concerts and events for every day of the week. Continue to visit the CJLO Magazine over the weekend for more CJLO POP coverage. 

 

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Mason W
Midnight Love Affair, Sundays 10-11 pm

Gonna be a full five-days of fun and I'm excited! These are my special 2012 POP picks:

WEDNESDAY

• Art POP: o F F Love FAN ART BEDROOM @ Quartiers POP
• SYMPOSIUM & Hotel2Tango: Guy Picciotto in Conversation with Howard Bilerman @ Quartiers POP
• Film POP: Searching for Sugarman @ PHI Centre
• Fixture Records Showcase: Chevalier Avant Garde + Sheer Agony + Freelove Fenner + Brave Radar @ Brasserie Beaubien
• DAM-FUNK + Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire @ Mission Santa Cruz

THURSDAY

• Mozart's Sister @ Parc de la Petite-Italie
• CAVES @ L'Escogriffe
• Doldrums @ Balattou
• The Group Sound @ Barfly
• Zooey @ Royal Phoenix

FRIDAY

• Caves @ Parc de la Petite-Italie
• POP Symposium: Jimmy 'Bo' Horne in conversation with Rollie Pemberton @ Quartiers
• POP Symposium: POP Law @ Quartiers POP
• Bertrand Burgalat + Jef Barbara + TOPS @ Cabaret du Mile-End
• Tim Hecker + Solar Year @ Church of St. John the Evangelist
• Yamantaka // Sonic Titan: Opera 33 @ Rialto Theatre

SATURDAY

• Puces POP: Record Fair @ Ukrainian Federation
• Film POP: Nightclubbing: New York Punk and New Wave – 1975-1980 @ BBAM! Gallery (Part 1)
• POP vs Jock @ McGill University Sports Centre
• Paula @ L'Escogriffe
• Brazilian Money @ Barfly
• Zoe Kiefl + Agor @ Royal Phoenix
• Karneef @ Rodos en Haut
• Each Other @ Casa Del Popolo

SUNDAY

• Puces POP: Record Fair @ Ukrainian Federation
• Film POP: Nightclubbing: New York Punk and New Wave – 1975-1980 @ BBAM! Gallery (Part 2)
• FILM POP: DEEP END – Special Pool Screening! @ Trylon Apartments Pool
• Purity Ring + Evian Christ @ La Tulipe

 

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Prince Palu
The Go-Go Radio Magic Show, Fridays 6-8 pm

Working with a very limited budget and very tight schedule, here is what Prince Palu is planning for POP Montreal 2012:

WEDNESDAY

Film POP: Searching For Sugarman @ PHI Centre

THURSDAY

• Film POP: From Montreal @ Film BOX
• Hot Snakes @ Mission Santa Cruz
• Red Mass @ Club Lambi

SATURDAY

• Puces POP Craft & DIY Fair @ Eglise St. Michel
• Kids POP au Parc @ Parc de la Petite-Italie
• Andre Williams & The Sadies @ Cabaret du Mile-End

 

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MF Gold
CJLO Alumnus, Say Word?!

WEDNESDAY

• Nomadic Massive, Antibalas & K'nann @ Theatre Corona
• Dam-Funk @ Mission Santa Cruz

THURSDAY

• Alaclair Ensemble, Maybe Watson & Loud, Larry, Adjust @ La Sala Rossa
• Joey Baddass @ Le Cabaret du Mile End

FRIDAY

Rah Rah @ O Patro Vys

SATURDAY

Akua @ La Sala Rossa

SUNDAY

Sarah MK + DJ Sugarface Nene @ Club Lambi

  

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Stephanie Dee
Twee Time, Fridays 8-9 pm

I would devote five full days of my life to seeing everything and anything POP if I didn't have to work. Here are my top picks this year; I sure hope I get to do more! 

WEDNESDAY

• Art POP: o F F Love Fan Art Bedroom @ Quarters POP
• Bredrins + Cobra & Vulture + Elephant Stone + Yukon Blonde @ Le Divan Orange

THURSDAY

• Art POP: You'll Dance to Anything @ Quarters POP
• Parlovr + PS I Love You @ Le Divan Orange

FRIDAY

• Art POP: The Art of "The Suburbs" @ Nomad Industries
• Nubians + What Next? + The Nymphets @ L'Escogriffe

SATURDAY

• Jeannette Lee in Converstaion with Vivien Goldman @ Quarters POP
• Art POP/Symposium DIY/DIT @ Quarters POP
• The Sadies & Andre Williams + Cuff the Duke + Sin & the Swoon @ Cabaret du Mile-End

SUNDAY

• Puces POP Craft & DIY Fair @ Eglise St. Michel
• Sarah Mk + DJ Sugarface Nene @ Club Lambi

 

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Beansie Saretsky
CJLO Station Manager & DJ Maiden Voyage, Fridays 12-1 pm

WEDNESDAY

• Film POP: Andrew Bird: Fever Year @ Film BOX
• Freelove Fenner @ Brasserie Beaubien
• DIIV + Wild Nothing @ Il Motore

THURSDAY

• Film POP: She Said Boom: The Story of Fifth Column @ Film BOX
• Parlovr @ Divan Orange
• METZ @ Mission Santa Cruz
• Hand Cream @ L’Escogriffe
• Peaches DJ Extravaganza @ Eglise POP Little Burgandy

FRIDAY

• St. Vincent and David Byrne @ l’Église St-Jean-Baptiste
• Julia Holter @ Red Roof Church (St. John the Evangelist)
• Yamantaka // Sonic Titan @  Rialto Theatre
• UN @ Sala Rossa
• Tim Hecker @ Red Roof Church (St. John the Evangelist)
• A Tribe Called Red @ Eglise POP Little Burgundy

SATURDAY

• Puces POP: Record Fair @ Ukrainian Federation
• POP Symposium: How to Get The Recording You Want: Creativity and Sound Recording @ Quartiers POP
• Art POP/Symposium: DIY / DIT @ Quartiers POP
• POP Symposium: David Byrne + Win Butler: How Music Works @ Ukrainian Federation
• Film POP: The Omen @ Red Roof Church (St. John the Evangelist)

SUNDAY

• Queer POP @ Cagibi
• Purity Ring @ La Tulipe
• Nicky Da B @ Eglise POP Little Burgundy

 

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Kayleigh Jordan-MacGregor
CJLO Campus Outreach & Volunteer Coordinator

THURSDAY

• Rae Spoon @ O Patro Vys
• Moon King @ Balattou
• AIM LOW @ Casa del Popolo
• AroarA @ Ukrainian Federation
• Cousins + Hooded Fang @ CFC
• Peaches DJ Extravaganza @ Eglise POP Little Burgandy

FRIDAY

• David Byrne & St. Vincent @ Eglise St. Jean Baptiste (just kidding I'm poor)
• Hot Snakes @ Mission Santa Cruz
• Bishop Morocco @ Club Lambi
• Yamantaka // Sonic Titan @  Rialto Theatre

SATURDAY

• Puces POP (I promise this is not just any craft fair, y'all)
• Chilly Gonzalez @ L'Olympia
• Austra @ Mission Santa Cruz

SUNDAY

• Navid Nabab @ Quarters POP
• The Breezes @ Les 3 Minots
• Liars @ Espace POP
• Big K.R.I.T. @ Club Soda
• Sarah Mk + DJ Sugarface Nene @ Club Lambi

 

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Maryana V.
CJLO Magazine Team

THURSDAY

• Vulgar, you! @ Club Lambi
• Peaches DJ Extravaganza @ Eglise POP Little Burgundy

FRIDAY

Gonjasufi @ Foufounes Electriques

SATURDAY

Austra @ Mission Santa Cruz

SUNDAY

Grizzly Bear @ L'Olympia

 

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Looking for even more POP Montreal picks? CJLO presents the following features:

Countdown to POP Montreal by Brian H from Countdown to Armageddon

Top Picks for POP Montreal by Omar Sonics from Hooked on Sonics

 

 

CJLO's Brian H from Countdown to Armageddon (Mondays 8-10 pm) has different plans during Pop Montreal this year. Here is his day-to-day breakdown of what's happening during the five-day music festival...

WEDNESDAY

I note the beginning of Pop Montreal via Post It near my alarm clock, and realize that it really marks the beginning of the proper countdown to my evening with THE BASED GOD LIL B, making a RARE appearance in Montreal. T-minus two days. I prepare by putting his mix tapes on rotation and humming his catchy hooks to myself a fair amount, both publicly and privately. It would take roughly three weeks for a song to repeat if I were to play his mix tapes on repeat end-to-end.

THURSDAY

I go to work and go through my day, but really my mind is on the show on the next night. I do the cooking dance at work several times to demonstrate my love of the Based God, and then show how I bookmarked all 155 of his old MySpace pages where he uploaded his music before using proper sites to drop new knowledge on this lowly human.

FRIDAY

The day of the Lil B show, I fast and consume only liquids of a clear, transparent nature. I take the day off work and sit in a circle with my two cats, discussing which of the thousands of tracks he may decide to #BLESSUS with. I will sit through Cadence Weapon's DJ set and nod approvingly, and then enjoy the antics of the backpack-wearing Lunice. The moment the BasedGod emerges from behind the curtain, I will enter a new state of consciousness. As the show finishes after Lil B's 11 pm set I will then stumble to the closest metro station and ride it in a daze, almost euphoric. Instead of ending up back home I end up circling the neighbourhood before falling asleep in a park, mumbling the words "hashtag swag" to myself. In the morning I shall emerge and discover that kind souls have left me about $1.57 in change and make my way home.

SATURDAY

Don't remember. Probably comatose in a near-Nirvana state.

SUNDAY

I re-emerge from the pillow fort built in my apartment, a changed man. The cats and my girlfriend greet me as though I am back from a trip from space. I consume sugary cereals and read some news. #RARE #BASEDGOD

 

A gelato factory in St. Leonard was the target of an attempted firebombing early Sunday morning.

According to the Montreal Gazette, the fire at the Ital Gelati factory on Creusot Street was quickly put out by firefighters. A security guard heard a loud noise in the back of the building at around 12:30am.

The business is partially owned by a man who has been investigated as a part of Projet Colisee, the SQ led operation against the Montreal Mafia and its associates. The attempted firebombing is the third business associated with this man to be hit since the end of August.

The arson and organized-crime squads are investigating the incident.

Montreal is known for its major festivals, if you’re a local you know them all. From Francofolies to Nuits D’Afriques and everything before and after, the city is pretty busy. But every year as students come back to town, there is one more event that pushes festival season over the top. Some of you may think I’m referring to Pop Montreal, that’s for the music fans, I’m talking about Comiccon. 

Imagine a world where seeing an ogre is the norm, one where comic book characters come to life, and your favourite artist, writers, actors and Sci-Fi attractions are all in one place. Well for a geek like me that’s the dream. I’ve covered the Toronto Comiccon, better known as FanExpo, for some years now and every year was a more amazing experience.

I’ve met Stan Lee, Joe Quesada (former Editor-in-Chief of Marvel Comics), Axel Alonso (current Editor-in-Chief), Matt Fraction, Alex Maleev, Marko Djurdjevic, John Romita Sr. & Jr. and those are just the Marvel people. I also met Dan Didio, who is known more for his DC work but for us Canadian’s he’ll always be the man who help create Reboot. Some of those names might not mean much to you, but if you are a comic book geek like me (2010 Marvel Comics FanExpo Trivia Runner-Up), meeting some of them is almost impossible to put into words. 

With Toronto’s con continuing to be a Canadian comic convention mecca, it was sure to inspire other cities to make their mark and Montreal’s comic convention took a page from the Fanexpo books and got their "Eh" game on. Last year’s major get was none other than the creator of the X-men and Spiderman; Mr. Stan Lee along with the original dynamic duo; Mr. Adam West and Burt Ward. Plus a replica Batmobile from the 60’s series and the Delorean time machine of Back To The Future fame. With a year one that rivaled Fanexpo, I decided to not even attend the Toronto con this year and focus solely on what I expect to be an amazing Montreal Con weekend. 

This year’s major guests are William Shatner, a Montrealer himself; known the world over for playing the first Captain to explore new life and new civilizations; James Tiberius Kirk of Star Trek fame and his successor Patrick Stewart, who played Captain Jean-Luc Picard for seven seasons on Star Trek: The Next Generation and Professor Charles Xavier in the original X-Men trilogy.

Stewart recently had to withdraw from two other conventions on the east coast, making his Montreal appearance an important event. If that wasn’t enough this year will also feature Malcolm McDowell, known for his role as Alex DeLarge in Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange, and most recently as Stanton Infeld on TNT’s Franklin & Bash, Adam Baldwin of Firefly fame, fellow Star Trek: TNG starts Brent Spiner, Wil Wheton, and John De Lancie (best known for his role as Q).

There are a lot of names I could throw out (Saul Rubinek, Aaron Ashmore and Eddie McClintock of Warehouse 13, James Marsters and Nicholas Brendon from Buffy and Hercules’ Kevin Sorbo) to try and entice you even more, but at this point I think I’ve made an argument for why you should be hitting up this year’s Comiccon and if that wasn’t enough... they have the 1989 Batmobile, the Batmobile Michael Keaton drove in as Batman in the Tim Burton films, the Batmobile that could cloak, the Batmobile that had armor shielding.. yes that Batmobile. 

Hope to see you there, follow me on twitter (@PhantastiqCypha) for updates and make sure to catch The Onomatopoeia Show on Sunday from 3 – 4pm as well as follow CJLO’s resident Comics and Graphic Novel specialist Robin Fisher on twitter @Cartoongal

Montreal Comiccon will take place at Palais Des Congres (1001, Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle Montreal Canada) from September 14 - 16th visit Montrealcomiccon.com to get your tickets before they sell out.

 

-Brian 'Doc' Holidae hosts The Phantastiq Cypha on Tuesdays from 6-8pm