Show picks of the week (May 15 – 21)

This city’s never-ending festival season kicks off this week with Pouzza Fest, a three night celebration of punk rock and artery-busting food. If punk rock isn’t your bag, there’s also the return of Australia’s Tame Impala, the first Montreal show for Matt Sharp’s The Rentals in a full two decades, and the brilliantly biting comedy of Tig Notaro. Check out all of our recommendations for this coming week below.

Friday, May 15

Pouzza Fest
The fifth edition of Montreal’s annual punk rock festival kicks off tonight, featuring 200 bands from around the globe performing through Sunday night. Highlights include the first Montreal show for California’s The Muffs in twenty years, emo vets Knapsack, the always rippin’ Municipal Waste, and many more. Long-running scum punks The Dwarves are another must-see – check out our recent interview with the band’s frontman Blag Dahlia here. For the full festival schedule and tickets, visit Pouzza’s official site.

Volbeat with Anthrax at CEPSUM
Danish rockers Volbeat are enormous overseas, and while they haven’t yet caught on to that degree on these shores, this tour with thrash legends Anthrax in tow should help them cross over to a whole new crowd. If you missed it, we spoke to Anthrax bassist Frank Bello about the tour, and the band’s upcoming album – check that out here. Opening the show is Pennsylvania hard rockets Crobot. 7:00m, $45.50, (2100 Édouard-Montpetit).

Saturday, May 16

Kaiser Chiefs with Palma Violets at Theatre Corona
Anglophiles should love this double bill, featuring long-standing Leeds rockers Kaiser Chiefs, and London’s current buzz band Palma Violets. Both bands were initially booked to play their own shows, but the shows have now been combined (tickets for the Palma Violets show will be honoured). We spoke to Kaiser Chiefs guitarist Andrew “Whitey” White earlier this week for our podcast – you can check out the full interview here. Rounding out the bill are Public Access T.V. and Priory. 7:30, $30, 2490 Notre Dame West.

Sunday, May 17

Ufomammut at Bar le Ritz PDB
If you had your mind blow at the Electric Wizard and/or Yob gigs a while back, be prepared for your cranium to leak back out of your noggin as Italian psychedelic sludge trio Ufomammut make a rare North American appearance at Bar le Ritz PDB tonight. Openers include Portland’s Usnea, along with locals Tunguska Mammoth and Show of Bedlam. 7:30pm, $15, 179 Jean Talon West.

Monday, May 18

Chain and the Gang at Casa del Popolo
Ian Svenonius is best known for fronting the DC mod-punk bands The Nation of Ulysses and the Make-Up – Chain and the Gang is his latest project, delivering a stripped down garage sound alongside Svenonius’ sardonic take on rock n’ roll’s conventions. Tongue-in-cheek or not, Chain and the Gang consistenly put on highly entertaining live shows, and should be absolutely bonkers in the tiny confines of Casa. Openers include The Verdoben Boys and Commander Clark Group. 9:00pm, $10/$13, 4873 Saint Laurent.

Tuesday, May 19

Tig Notaro at Le National
Comedian Tig Notaro may be best known for her intensely personal stand-up set where she first discussed her breast cancer (later sold via Louis CK’s site), but her stand-up is often just as silly and observational as it is dark and brooding. This is a rare opportunity to catch one of the best current comedians out there, performing an intimate show outside of summer’s Just for Laughs madness – do not miss it. 8:00pm, $25/$20, 1220 Saint Catherine East.

Wednesday, May 20

The Rentals at Theatre Fairmount
Former Blue/Pinkerton-era Weezer bassist Matt Sharp has resurrected The Rentals, his moog-driven synth-pop project that dates back to the mid-90’s. Lost in Alphaville is the band’s first full length in 15 years, and demonstrates that Sharp’s knack for creating near-perfect pop songs is still intact. This is the The Rentals’ first headlining show in Montreal – their last set here was a full 20 years ago, opening for Alanis Morissette (!) at Metropolis. Radiation City and Rey Pila open. 9:00pm, $16/$20, 5240 Parc Avenue.

Tame Impala at Metropolis
Australia’s Tame Impala begin their two night run of sold-out shows at Metropolis tonight, in advance of the release of their upcoming third album, Currents. From the singles released so far, the band are really stretching out from the 60’s psychedelic sound of previous albums, incorporating elements of noise, drony atmospherics and electronica, blended in with a some finely-tuned pop sensibilities. Get a taste for yourself at this week’s shows, if you were lucky enough to score tickets. 8:00pm, sold out, 57 Saint Catherine East.