Show picks of the week (September 11 – 17, 2015)

We sure do love our festivals in this city. If summer festival mania hasn’t got you beat, there are a handful of multi-day festivals kicking off this week, including the free outdoor festival OUMF, Montreal Psych Fest, Wings of Metal and of course, the insanity of another POP Montreal. 

Our picks for the week are below, including a few non-festival shows, just to shake things up.

Friday, September 11

Festival OUMF: Grandmaster Flash (Free)

Festival OUMF takes over lower Saint-Denis this weekend, and today’s line-up features a solid cross-section of hip-hop, from locals Dead Obies and Ragers to one of the genre’s pioneers, Grandmaster Flash. Free, 6:30pm, Saint-Denis between Sainte-Catherine and Sherbrooke. 

Montreal Psych Fest: Pypy and Demon’s Claws at La Vitrola

The Montreal Psych Fest kicks into high-gear tonight with a stacked lineup of local heavy hitters, including a rare set from Demon’s Claws, along with sets from Pypy, Les Marinellis, Pachyderm and Paul Jacobs. $20, 9:30pm, 4602 St-Laurent. 

Wings of Metal Fest: Razor at Katacombes

Wings of Metal begins a sold-out two-day takeover of Katacombes tonight, with Canadian thrash metal vets Razor hopping in the metal time-machine for a 1985-only headlining set. Rounding out the bill are Zemial, Vulcain, Amulet, Throaat and Barrow Wight. Sold out, 6:00pm, 1635 Saint-Laurent.

Saturday, September 12

Big Brave at Bar le Ritz PDB

Local trio Big Brave launch Au De La, their debut for Southern Lord Records (!) tonight, a staggering album that pushes the band’s doomy post-rock sound further into more intricate soundscapes, without ever losing their primal power. Lungbutter open. $10, 9:00pm, 179 Jean Talon West.

The Adam Brown and The GT’s at Salon Sweet William

Local rock hero Adam Brown has been working on his freshly released new LP, Sometimes I Try, for a full decade, and will finally celebrate its release into the world tonight. The GT’s and Lunar Exile open. $7, 9:00 pm, 5337 St-Laurent #210. 

Montreal Psych Fest: Human Eye and Blue Cheese at La Vitrola

The Montreal Psych Fest rages on tonight, with a headlining set by Detroit scuzz-rockers Human Eye, along with Blue Cheese, The Auras, Adam Strangler and I.D.A.L.G. $20, 9:30pm, 4602 St-Laurent. 

Festival OUMF: Badbadnotgood (Free)

Another great OUMF line-up takes over lower St-Denis today, including Toronto jazz trio Badbadnotgood, making a speedy return to town following this summer’s mind-blowing show with Ghostface Killah, alongside Heat, Foreign Diplomats. The Muscadettes and more. Free, 6:30pm, Saint-Denis between Sainte-Catherine and Sherbrooke. 

Wings of Metal Fest: Angel Witch at Katacombes

Original New Wave of British Heavy Metal band Angel Witch may never have reached the mainstream success of contemporaries like Iron Maiden, but they remain a highly-influential act from the early days of metal. Catching them in the cozy confines of Katacombes is a no-brainer, which is why tickets disappeared in the blink of an eye. Rounding out the closing night of the Wings of Metal fest are Mefisto, High Spirits, Voltax, Christian Mistress, Savage Master and Droid. Sold out, 5:30pm, 1635 Saint-Laurent.

Wednesday, September 16

POP Montreal: The Sonics at Theatre Fairmount

Garage rock legends The Sonics have been at it since the early 60’s, and their recent live shows have apparently still been total barn burners. Les Breastfeeders will get moving first. Do not miss the chance to catch one of the originators of blown-out rock n’ roll in such an intimate venue. $30/$33, 9:00pm, 5240 Parc Ave. 

POP Montreal: Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats at Theatre Corona

U.K. doom slingers Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats are heading back to town following a sold-out show at Bar le Ritz a few months back, fresh off the release of their latest LP, The Night Creeper. Ruby the Hatchet and Ecstatic Vision open. We’re giving away a pair of tickets to the show here, but enter quick; the contest wraps up on Tuesday. $20/$23, 8:00 pm, 2490 Notre-Dame West.

POP Montreal: OBN III’s at Casa del Popolo

Austin’s OBN III’s play full-tilt aggressive garage rock, with frontman Orville Bateman Neeley III routintely egging on the crowd in the best punk rock provocateur tradition. Too bad they’re not on the Sonics bill, but hopefully the set times gods make it possible to catch both shows. Girl Arm, Blanka and Grosser open up. $10/$12, 9:00pm, 4873 Saint-Laurent.

Thursday, September 17

POP Montreal: Ought at Ukrainian Federation Hall

Ought were one of the best acts we caught at POP last year, and are returning in advance of their highly-anticipated new LP, Sun Coming Down. Tasseomancy and Nennen open. $15, 8:00pm, 5213 Hutchison Street. 

POP Montreal: The Diodes at PHI Centre

The Diodes basically kick-started Toronto’s early punk scene, and the band’s own Crash N’ Burn bar was Canada’s first punk venue, hosting early shows for The Ramones, The Nerves and countless others. Those early days of TO punk will get the full retrospective treatment tonight with a rare show by the reunited Diodes, a slide-show from the era by Don Pyle (of the equally legendary Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet), a set by Gord Lewis and Dave Rave of Teenage Head, a screening of the rare short film on Crash N’ Burn and a set by local garage band The Frisky Kids. Rock n’ Roll High School is officially in session! $20/$25, 7:00pm, 407 Rue Saint Pierre.

POP Montreal: Mikal Cronin at Theatre Fairmount

Mikal Cronin knows his way around a great pop hook, and constantly evolves his style just enough to never feel stale, including on his great new LP, MCIII, where his arrangements reach a Phil Spector-level wall of sound. He headlines a stacked show including guitar-pop whiz Cairo Gang, Calvin Love and Les Marinellis. $16/$20, 9:00pm, 5240 Parc Ave.