Photo: Sailboats Are White

Wavelength called Montréal home for an extra-long weekend this past week, as we migrated down the 401 to present a Friday-night showcase at POP Montreal and take in as much of the multi-venue music festival as possible. For this festival recap post, we pass the mic to WL photographer/videographer and Montréal virgin, Sam Kadosh, who steps out from behind the camera to give you his impressions of this amazing festival and city.

Hung over and in pain, I wake up dazed. In a city that looks you right in the eye, and with no hesitation. I’m in Montreal for the first time to check out the Pop Montreal Festival and WTF! What has taken me so long??

I arrived by bus from Toronto and almost immediately knew that this city, these people, were my kind of people. I instantly regretted the ignorance of my teenage years, for not learning French. Because here, hearts are on fire, blessed with an unabashed creative community. Something I’ve needed to see. It’s infectious.

Last night, as soon as I had arrived, I dropped my bag and headed over to Brasserie Beaubien, where the Wavelength Crew was hanging out. POP Montreal is alive and well and the audience knows it. Toronto is a city of critical audiences, tight asses Botox-clenched with such force that it could turn farts into diamonds, but somehow you leave empty handed. Too bad. We could learn something from Montreal. It seems like everyone is an artist in their own right. Everyone has an opinion. But it’s not buried by habitual politeness. It’s celebrated.

I run into Dorice [Wavelength programmer], who as usual is joking around with the bartender and buying drinks for everybody, and because of said drinks, I can’t honestly recollect anything. So here is her take on the night:

Original plans fell by the wayside, bringing us to my now-new-favourite venue, Brasserie Beaubien, catching the end set of The Mouthbreathers. Never so quickly did a place I'd never been to turn into home, thanks to the saucy and adorably welcoming bartender Ani, and the super solid and lovely booker, James of the Loose-Fit collective. A happy accident of late timing allowed us to catch Sackville's Kappa Chow, a band I thought we'd completely missed, but were so happy we didn't. Their infectious energy, distorted vocals and raw instrumentals created an instant party vibe and camaraderie among the audience. If that had been it for the night, I could have left satisfied, but then fellow Killer Haze label mates Zakary Slax took to the stage and blew the roof off the joint. I loved the mixture between POP goers, Montreal music regulars and Mile-End bar locals, everyone was having a good time feeling the stellar energy of the night... or maybe that's just how it is in Montreal.

As I sit and write this blog post, in a park, a local collective of writers read out loud to anyone who cares to listen. One of them approaches with a typewriter in hand. He explains in broken Franglish that he is collecting lines from strangers in the park to complete his story. His group is launching their new book and they are trying to inspire the public until the event starts. This, mind you, isn’t even part of POP Montreal, this is just the city being the city. WTF Toronto! Ya see what I’m talking about?!

My melon of a head is still pounding. So I seek refuge at the place we are staying on Mount Royal. Right above a bagel shop. Go figure. I decide to take a power nap ‘cuz tonight I’m shooting the Wavelength showcase, and Montreal crowds like to dance.

Fast forward a few hours and we are at La Vitrola, up two flights of stairs past a Spanish/French old man bar to the third floor where tonight’s opener Bernice is hanging out, shooting the shit and waiting in anticipation for the crowd. Soon one begins to form.

Bernice is led by Robin Dann, a gentle voice whose soulful gestures leave you adrift. Backed up by some of Toronto best R&B musicians, who elevates her words and draw images of childhood. This band took my icy, Metallica-loving heart and shat on it. In that way, they are totally punk rock.

More and more strange heads fill the room. Next up, Most People, a couple of hairy faces whose charm is no stranger to a WL show. The duo ramp up the energy with some tunes inspired by John Hughes-esque ‘80s films. With Teen Wolf projecting in the background, Brandon and Paul generate their groovy, tribal beats with heavier bass-y synth that pulls you in ass first and throws you foot forward. You’re dancing tonight whether you like it or not.

MaicaMia are a different animal entirely. Montréal locals, Maica and Jonny are an experimental rock duo, who take a measured step with every carefully layered note. Dark distorted minimalist riffs. And eerie samples with heavy vocals that floor you. Did I mention they are a couple? Love is experimental and it’s good.

Now the place is packed and the show is in full swing. Petra Glynt busts out with her drums and sampler. A stirring, marching beat fills the room. Soon heads start to sway. A small shadow looms over the stage, and from it a booming voice resonates. Messages of empowerment and words of warning for a world running away from sustainability. This girl may seem small, but she packs a punch. She’s a female, Canadian Fela Kuti on acid.

The night ends with Fresh Snow, a band of balaclava-wearing, Star-Wars-loving drone dudes. These guys are no newbs to making some incredible music. To tell you more about their set, I’ll turn it over to Wavelength’s own Jonny Dovercourt:

Thanks, Sam. Tonight at our POP Montreal showcase, Fresh Snow are down one member, guitarist Tim Condon, but the band is reinforced by special guests, Cuff The Duke’s Wayne Petti on noise guitar, and bassist Andy Lloyd’s Born Ruffians bandmate Adam Hindle on, um, Latin percussion. This works surprisingly well, with Adam’s timbale groove locking in with drummer Jon Maki’s trademark motorik beat to hold things together hypnotically, even as semi-frontman Brad Davis loses his shit and uses his guitar as a cricket bat to knock out a helpless Casio keyboard. The photo you took of that axe-smashing needs to be on a T-shirt. It’s the new Johnny Cash giving you the finger. Good job!

If that wasn’t awesome enough, the next night, after catching more bands at Brasserie Beaubien, we were unexpectedly invited to an after-party. In a bare-bones DIY space. Solely light by a single green lamp. Heated by the bodies of more nameless strangers.. Dorice goes bat-shit:

Not wanting an amazing night to end, we find an after-hours show taking place at the newly opened DIY spot Poisson Noir, run by a collective of local musicians. Not knowing anyone there, I was happy to run into some new friends made during POP and get to know the folks running the space. Even though I was basically a stranger, I still felt very welcomed. I knew these DIY spots existed in Montreal, but like Toronto, you need to know people going to figure out where to find them. My enthusiasm for being there was probably beaming through me like a beacon, but I didn't care. I got to catch a repeat performance of Telstar Drugs, which was really fun. Crosss, who are incredible, also played and was happy to see them, as I had missed their POP set. Locals Blanka kept the grooves going and while I was starting to fade, I was told not to miss the last act of the night, Freak Heat Waves. Let’s just say I'm glad I stayed, because they friggin’ ruled.

On our last night, the Wavelength Crew decided to put on our rock’n’roll pants, metaphorically speaking, and hit the town one last time before heading back home. We check out huge-ass club Metropolis, for POP Montreal’s festival closer, The Unicorns. After a 10 year hiatus, they are playing shows again. For the sake of nostalgia, I thought why not. Their set was fun, but putting them on a huge stage with production lights that just blast you in the eye was weird. And made for odd moments during more of their no-wave parts. But all in all, a good show. After coming back out for their encore and pranking the audience with playing one note and leaving, they pull the gag again. And then they finally play “I Was Born a Unicorn.” That night I stayed up for my 6:30am bus back to Toronto and walk the streets. Trying to impress everything around me, in my mind.

Between the bagels and the drinks, I lived the music. It’s a city I’ll miss but not forget. Au revoir Montréal, je vous reverrai.

— by Sam Kadosh

Photos by Sam Kadosh