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To preface this review, I should admit I'm a little bit biased: my adoration of Phil Elverum's music started when I was 13 listening to the Microphones' The Glow Pt. 2 before I even really knew what it was to love music. It's been a part of my sonic landscape for a very, very long time and has been internalized in ways I probably don't even realize.

I missed the first band, but caught the second opener, Wyrd Visions. A friend of mine who has seen him before described it as "mesmerizing". I can't really think of a better word than that. I was transfixed with the dreamy reverb to the point where I wished I had a chair to sit down in while I listened, and it left me humming "W-Y-R-D V-I-S-I-O-N-S across the sky-y-y" for days afterwards.

I was almost a bit afraid to see Mount Eerie. When you have such unrealistically high expectations for a band/person/film/anything you're usually let down, I mean how can reality live up to the absurd ideas that you build up in your head?

Except that they did. Mount Eerie was completely, totally amazing. They were not pretentious, rude, or dismissive of the crowd, nor did they gloat and over indulge in applause. They nailed all the pretty, lovely songs, like "The Place I Live" and my personal favourite off the two new albums Clear Moon and Ocean Roar, "I Walked Home Beholding", as well as the loud, rock and roll, "death metal" inspired stuff, like the last track of Ocean Roar simply titled "Instrumental". I was totally enchanted and happy and could have listened all night, as the guy beside me yelled when Phil announced they would be playing their last song, "Play 50 more!" It was dreamlike without being too sweet, and abstract without getting too spacey, and I left feeling completely blissed out and transcendental.

-- Leilani Fraser-Buchanan

In the latest news of Quebec’s ongoing clear out on controversial dealings with the construction industry, McGill University’s Health Centre was searched on Tuesday morning by Quebec’s anti-corruption unit.

According to CBC, It has been confirmed that the anti-corruption unit arrived at its offices on Guy Street at 8 a.m. searching for information relating to the awarding of contracts for the Glen site of the MUHC’s new superhospital.

According to a spokesperson for UPAC, fewer than five warrants were executed, however each was part of an important operation

Roughly 12 officers with Operation Hammer met with countless people linked to the investigations and carried out their warrants at the MUHC’s Guy Street offices.

MUHC isn’t releasing many details about the investigation at this time, however they have said they are fully co-operating with the investigation.

So far, no arrests have been made.

MUHC’s superhospital has been in the works since 2001 and finally started being built in 2001. It is near Vendôme metro station in Montreal’s west end. 

The hospital was planned to be 217, 500 square-meters and priced at 1.3 billion dollars.

Although the facility was supposed to be open in September of 2014, a report released in July claimed the date had been changed to January of 2015.

British company Innisfree Ltd. And Montréal-based engineering company SNC-Lavalin have partnered together on this project.

In April, SNC-Lavalin’s headquarters were raided by the RCMP due to a 56 million- US dollar payment to an undisclosed agent on two large projects. The company has not released any information on the whereabouts of these projects. 

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