Show picks of the week (April 14 – April 20, 2016)

This week brings us the completely ridiculous lineup of Napalm Death / The Melvins / Melt Banana who team up for a sold-out show at Club Soda, the Montreal-debut of young Memphis singer-songwriter Julien Baker, and the return of over-the-top Norwegian rockers Kvelertak, just to skim the surface. Check out our full list of this week’s recommended shows below.

Friday, April 15

Aidan Knight with Laura Sauvage at O Patro Vys

Victoria-based singer-songwriter Aidan Knight has been crafting his introspective indie-folk for a few years now, and his tour for his recently-released Each Other LP hits the intimate sold-out show at O Patro Vys. Opening is the superb Laura Sauvage (of Les Hay Babies), whose recent LP Extraordinormal is a prime slab of 90’s-worshipping alt-rock. Sold out, 9:30pm, 356 Mont Royal East. 

Lost Love at L’Esco

Local melodic punks Lost Love launch their Stomp Records debut Comfortable Scars, with support by some of Montreal’s best current crop of Fest-approved bands, including Bon Vivant, Oh My Snare and Capable Band. Advance tickets are sold out but they will have a very limited number at the door so get there early! $15 (includes CD), 8:00pm 4467 Saint-Denis.

Saturday, April 16

Bleached at Bar le Ritz PDB

LA trio Bleached formed from the ashes of the late and great Mika Miko, with sisters Jennifer and Jessie Clavin moving towards a catchier buzz-pop sound, but retaining those same dark lyrical underpinnings. They’ll be joined by LA lo-fi punkers No Parents, and locals The Muscadettes. $15/$20, 7:00pm, 179 Jean Talon West.

Aurora at Sala Rossa

Norway’s Aurora may be only 19, but her emotionally-tinged, widescreen indie-pop suggests a depth of life experience that belies her young age. This show has been sold out for weeks, so those lucky few who scored tickets to this earn instant bragging rights when she returns to headline a much larger room than next time around. New York’s Tor Miller opens. Sold out, 8:00pm, 4848 St-Laurent.

Sunday, April 17

Napalm Death with The Melvins and Melt Banana

A record nerd’s dream come true, this insane triple bill features three of the most pulverizing live bands in the world, including the savage grindcore of Napalm Death, legendary sludge masters The Melvins, and the over-the-top noise assault of Japan’s Melt Banana. Show pick of the week / year / eternity. Sold out, 8:00pm, 1225 St-Laurent.

Monday, April 18

The Subways at Théâtre Fairmount

UK rock trio The Subways are probably best known for their 2005 hit “Rock & Roll Queen,” (and to a certain demographic, from their appearance on The O.C.), but the band’s latest self-titled LP shows that their knack for crafting hooky power-rock is still intact. Manchester post-punk band Pins open up, making for a great double-bill. $20/$22, 9:00pm, 5240 Parc Ave.

Tuesday, April 19 

Kvelertak with Torche and Wild Throne

Norweigan rockers Kvelertak are set to release their highly-anticipated third LP, Nattesferd, on May 13, and are embarking on a rare headlining North American tour ahead of its release next month. The first single off the album, the appropriately-titled “1985,” shows the band fully embracing their inner hair metal tendencies, and sounds much closer to Van Halen than their earlier doom-influenced material, which should make for an interesting set list. Rounding out the bill are the incredible sludge-pop masters Torche, and the proggy Wild Throne. $22/$25, 7:30pm, 305 Sainte-Catherine West.

Into It. Over It. at Bar le Ritz PDB
Evan Weiss has been making introspective indie-rock under the moniker Into It. Over It. for a few years now, which basically qualifies him as an emo elder-statesman at this point. Weiss headlines this stacked bill featuring some of the best current bands in this scene, including The World is a Beautiful Place & I am No Longer Afraid to Die, The Sidekicks and Pinegrove. $18.$22, 7:00pm, 179 Jean Talon West.

Wednesday, April 20 

Julien Baker at Divan Orange

Julien Baker’s hauntingly sparse sound has been garnering a ton of buzz for the 20-year-old Memphis-based singer-songwriter, whose plaintive voice seems to carry a lifetime of pain and longing. This is Baker’s first Montreal appearance, and features support from LA’s Phoebe Bridgers. $13, 9:30pm, 4234 St-Laurent.

Suuns at La Tulipe

Local electronic rock outfit Suuns launch their third LP, Hold/Still (Secret City Records), at this large hometown gig. You can stream the new album in full right now over at Stereogum, which should give you a good idea of the next evolution from this continuously challenging band that makes some of the heaviest dance music out there.  Lungbutter open. $17/$20, 9:00pm, 4530 Papineau.