Montreal live show picks for January, 2019

Happy 2019! The winter months used to be exceptionally quiet on the live music front in this city, with only a few brave acts willing to brave the unpredictable and often dangerous weather, but that not longer seems to be the case. While January might still be the slowest month of the year, there are still a number of great shows lined up for this month, from a make-up show by Long Island rock prodigies The Lemon Twigs, to a sold-out date from acclaimed Chicago rapper Noname to kick off the month.

Check out all of our live picks for January below. Stay tuned for reviews and photos of a number of these, and let us know which shows you’re most looking forward to seeing this month over on our Facebook page or in the comments below.

Friday, January 4  – Noname at Corona Theatre
Chicago rapper Noname graced many a 2018 best of list with the Room 25 LP,  filled with introspective and often biting lines laced over eclectic production that runs from jittery modern hip hop beats to lush R&B. Those who wisely grabbed their tickets early get all the future bragging rights, as this one is long sold-out. Elton Aura opens. 8:00 pm.

Thursday, January 10 – Laureate at Turbo Haus
Montreal’s Laureate have been flying the flag for the late 90’s emo sound for years, with catchy hooks that burrow deep (seriously, just try getting “Caroline” out of your head). They’ll take the stage at the swanky new Turbo Haus with Philly’s SOLD, Hildeguard, and comedian Troy Stark. 8:00 pm.

Friday, January 11 – Rough Francis and Sam Coffey and the Iron Lungs at Turbo Haus
Vermont’s Rough Francis (featuring the Hackney brothers, who you might recognize from the A Band Called Death documentary about their family’s recently rediscovered proto-punk band) filter the energy and passion of early punk and hardcore through a rock n’ roll lens, and are renowned for their incredible live sets. On the flip side, Toronto’s Sam Coffey and the Iron Lungs write rousing punk anthems that wouldn’t sound out of place on a early Tom Petty album, which should make for one hell of a double-header. 8:00 pm, $10. Advance tickets are here.

Saturday, January 12 – Kacey Musgraves at MTelus
Country singer Kacey Musgraves topped many year-end lists with 2018’s Golden Hour album, a perfect combination of traditional country and modern pop music that never feels like a forced crossover effort. Musgraves’ Texan swagger is the perfect antidote for a chilly January night. Natalie Prass opens. 8:00 pm, $40. Tickets are available here.

Saturday, January 12 – The Lemon Twigs at Corona Theatre
While another pair of young rock n’ roll brothers has been capturing the spotlight recently, Long Island’s The Lemon Twigs are the real deal, an absurdly talented pair of musicians that were still in their mid-teens when their debut album dropped back in 2016. With a huge, kaleidoscopic sound that channels quirky glam-rock and even bits of prog, The Lemon Twigs bring to mind the concept album heyday of the 70’s while still remaining fresh. Combined with a killer live show (just ask one of the 100-odd people who caught their Casa del Popolo show a few years back), this is one of the best bests of the month. Jackie Cohen and Michael Rault open. 7:30 pm, $25. Get tickets here. 

Sunday, January 13 – A$AP Rocky at Place Bell
New York rapper A$AP Rocky makes the jump to the arena-level in support of his third studio LP, the recent Testing. Kicking things off is none other than mumble king Playboi Carti, fresh off his own recent headlining show in town just last month. 8:00 pm (we’ll see). Tickets are available here.

Thursday, January 17 – Jon Creeden & The Flying Hellfish at La Sotterenea (La Sala Rosa’s basement)
Fans of Hot Water Music or No Idea Records in general should make their way down to the Sala basement to check out Ottawa’s Jon Creeden, who makes the sort of rousing, emotional punk that makes you hug a stranger and drunkenly sing along at the top of your lungs. Be sure to get their early to catch Doggo, one of Montreal’s best current indie bands. Mardi De round out the bill. 9:00 pm, $10 or pay what you can.

Saturday, January 19 – High on Fire at Fairmount Theatre – This tour has been canceled. Stay tuned for a makeup date. 
High on Fire manage the next-to-impossible task of somehow getting better with each new album they put out, no easy task for a metal act now entering their second decade as a band. Matt Pike’s unstoppable riffs and throaty shouts have only gotten more potent over time, with 2018’s Electric Messiah ranking up their with their very best. Start working out those neck muscles now. Toke and Year of the Cobra open. 8:00 pm, $27.50. Tickets available here.

Sunday, January 20 – Hank Von Hell at Bar le Ritz PDB – This show has been postponed until summer, 2019 – stay tuned for a new date
Former Turbonegro vocalist Hank Von Hell is now recording under his own name, delivering the same sort of over-the-top, sleazy party r-o-c-k that the infamous Norwegian outfit are celebrated for. Against the Grain and Montreal’s own The Sick Things open, with a strictly vinyl DJ set from The Punk Police. We’re hungover already. 8:30, $27. Tickets are available here.

Monday, January 21 – King Princess at Corona Theatre
King Princess had a breakout year with her single “1950,” a tender song about queer love that’s suddenly made the 21-year-old New Yorker an instant icon for the LGBT community (“I hate it when dudes try to chase me / But I love it when you try to save me” might be the couplet of the year). If you grabbed tickets early for this long sold-out show you’ll have something to talk about with the throngs of people crowding her inevitable Osheaga main-stage slot. Banoffee opens. 8:00 pm.

Friday, January 25 – The Sheepdogs and The Damn Truth at MTelus
Now here is a great double bill for those sick of hearing about how rock music is a dying genre – Saskatoon’s The Sheepdogs and Montreal’s The Damn Truth both put on killer live shows, making this pairing a total no-brainer. You probably don’t want to sleep on getting your tickets for this, as either of these bands could likely fill MTelus on their own at this point. 8:00 pm, $30. Tickets are here.

Saturday, January 26 – Bryan Adams at Bell Centre
Do we really need to sell you on Bryan Adams?  You may find the Robin Hood song pretty hokey, but if you don’t get fired up thinking about hearing “Run To You,” or “Cuts Like a Knife” along with a packed arena, then maybe it’s time to hang up your denim vest for good. 8:00 pm, sold out.

Monday, January 28 –  Mick Jenkins at L’Astral
Following his 2017 Osheaga appearance, Chicago rapper Mick Jenkins returns to town in support of his recent Pieces of a Man LP. With forward-thinking rhymes and a fiery live show, this is the perfect hip hop show to catch for those who can’t get their heads around the current crop of face-tattooed mumble rappers. Kari Faux opens. 8:00 pm, $25. Tickets are here.

Tuesday, January 29 – The Soft Moon at Fairmount Theatre
With The Soft Moon, multi-instrumentalist Luis Vasquez makes driving post-punk that sounds equally at home in a dark bedroom or on the dance floor. Expect the walls of the venue to be dripping at this one. HIDE and Lingua Ignota open. 9:00 pm, $20. Get tickets here.

Wednesday, January 30 – NAO at Corona Theatre
UK’s NAO blends soulful funk and R&B with restrained electronic elements, making for a dreamy soundtrack that’s put over the top with her soaring vocals. This is likely the last time you’ll catch her in a venue this size, so grab those tickets with the quickness. Xavier Omär opens. 8:00 pm, $33. Tickets are here.