Show picks of the week (March 20 – 26)

Lots of great gigs coming up this week, including the closing shows for Montreal Hip Hop Week and an extremely packed weekend, culminating with some tough choices for Sunday night. Check out our picks for the coming week below.

Friday, March 20

Enslaved with Yob, Ecstatic Vision and Show of Bedlam at Foufounes Electriques

Norway’s Enslaved were early pioneers of black metal, though the band has evolved from that style into a more atmosphere, though no less extreme, metal sound. The real reason to get excited for this show though are openers Yob, Oregon’s mighty doom / sludge warriors, known for their drone-like tracks that can extend for up to 20 minutes. Their latest LP, last year’s mesmerizing Clearing A Path To Ascend, manages to only pack in 4 songs into its hour-long run time. Pack those bowls tight, and be prepared to bliss out. Also on the bill are the trippy Ecstatic Vision, and locals Show of Bedlam. 7:00pm, $25/$28, 87 Sainte-Catherine East. 

Jean Grae with Bambu and Freddie Joachim at Le Belmont

Brooklyn rapper Jean Grae kicks off Hip Hop Week’s headlining shows tonight, which also feature the legendary Rakim tomorrow. Before her show at the Belmont, Grae will sit down for a discussion at McGill with MF Gold. For more info on Montreal Hip Hop Week, check out our feature here. Lecture – 5:00pm, $10, 855 Sherbrooke W. Show – 10:00pm, $30, 4483 Boul. Saint Laurent

Saturday, March 21

Rakim with Nomadic Massive and Gabe ‘Nandez at Le Belmont

The God MC himself takes the stage at Belmont to cap off Montreal Hip Hop week. Earlier in the day, Rakim will sit down for a talk at McGill, moderated by Narcicyst. If you missed it, check out our interview with one of Hip Hop Week’s founder here. For a primer on why all of your favourite rappers trip out over Rakim, check out the mini documentary below. Lecture – 5:00pm, $10, 855 Sherbrooke W. Show – 10:00pm, $30, 4483 Boul. Saint Laurent

Make Do and Mend with Dead Tired and Lost Love at Casa del Popolo

Connecticut’s Make Do and Mend have been producing emotional, yet catchy, post-hardcore for nearly a decade now, and have just released their their latest LP, Don’t Be Long, via Rise Records. If you’re up for a cathartic group sing-along, there is no better spot to be tonight. Opening up are Ontario’s Dead Tired, the new punk band fronted by Alexisonfire’s George Pettit, and Montreal melodic punks Lost Love. 9:30, $15, 4873 Saint-Laurent. 

Sunday, March 22

Andrew Jackson Jihad with The Sam Street Band and more at Petit Campus

This is a ridiculous line-up featuring some of the best current melodic punk bands, headlined by Arizona folk-punks Andrew Jackson Jihad, making their first area stop here in a good few years. The bill is rounded out by Australia’s The Same Street Band, Jeff Rosenstock (formerly of Bomb the Music Industry!) and Brooklyn pop-punk band Chumped. 7:30pm, $8, 57 Prince-Arthur Est. 

Torche with Nothing and Wrong at Bar le Ritz PDB

Few bands are as unrelentingly heavy, yet melodically hooky, as Miami’s Torche. Their latest LP (and first for Relapse), Restarter, is the best material they’ve put out in years, as sludgy and heavy as ever, coupled with their unbeatable knack for the perfect earworm. Opening up are shoegaze disciples Nothing, and locals Wrong. 9:30pm, $15/$18, 179 Jean Talon West.

Pennywise with Anti-Flag, A Wilhelm Scream and Punchline 13 at Metropolis

California skate punks Pennywise were last here this past summer for an early-afternoon slot on Heavy Montreal, but this marks their first proper headlining show in the city in a few years. Alongside NOFX and Lagwagon, Pennywise are one of the 3 most beloved punk bands in this city, so this should be another sweaty, semi-homecoming gig for the band. Also on the bill are Pennsylvania’s Anti-Flag, who just played a sold-out show here a few weeks back, Boston’s A Wilhelm Scream, and Montreal’s own Punchline 13. 7:00pm, $25/$28, 59 Sainte-Catherine East.

Thursday, March 26

Cult Leader with Old Wounds, Dark Circles and Wrong Hands at Bar le Ritz PDB

If your eardrums aren’t totally shredded to bits following Yob and Torche earlier in the week, be sure to check out Cult Leader, the blistering metallic-harcore band featuring 3/4 of the late and great Gaza. Check out a recent live video below for proof. Be sure to get there early to catch New Jersey’s Old Wounds, another powerhouse metal-hardcore hybrid band that sound like they came straight out of an early Hellfest lineup. Opening this one up are two of this city’s heaviest, Dark Circles and Wrong Hands. 8:00pm, $10, 179 Jean Talon West.