The Stoned Poet

  Friday September 12, Caniche 666, Chop Sue Me, Heavenly Blue were playing on the same stage at Casa del Popolo to a lot of enthusiastic fans who came for different bands and reasons. A melting pot is the best word I could've used to describe the night.  First of, Fielding . I'll say it again, FUCKING GREAT LIVE BAND. The sound was cool, the vocals and the ensemble was tight, the aggressive picking yet contained was driving me dizzy! Their songs were sweet and electrifying. Together these guys just seem like the happiest of family onstage, a reminder of CSNY onstage back when they could tolerate each other. Their single sounded definitely more assumed and grooving onstage then on digital platform! Having listened recently to Hey Hey, My My the intro to the wield live album of neil young and the crazy horse, I would say this album pictures well the energy of Fielding onstage if you have never seen them. I ensue everyone to go see them live at least once. Plus, you might get ...

  Shows and more shows. More bands, more music, but does this necessarely mean more entertainement? Depends which band and fan you ask. Matteo the singer of Mildew. Saturday night 9th August, I went to Escogriffe to see Serial Milk , Mildew and Baboune . The first band to play was Serial Milk, an esthetic band I'd say, then came Mildew, the holy knights of grunge and finally Baboune, wizards crafting a music never heard before, blending influences from heavy metal, hardcore, grunge and even a bit of pop rythms slipped to my ears. But before the show started, before I ever got there, before I even left, lots and lots happened.  I woke from a bender, another night partying, another night spent in the gaze of so many kids aged about twenty who could either idealize you or despise you. But now it was saturday, I could forget about all those weird and funny faces I'd seen the night before. But the headache wasn't forgotten.I gulped cheese, I read somehwere it helps break down ...

  The Show is Over, Leave Peacefully, I Repeat, The Show Is Over, Please Leave respectfully. Those words, they're ringing in my ears, I open my eyes. I'm in my bed, besides, a needles yonders over the edge, it's got suicidal tendencies or is it simply tired. Tired like I was yesterday. Tired, Hired and Satyred. I get up, recollect the evening. Ah yes a show at Van Horne, four bands on a bill starting at 7 pm. Quite late and packed like lineup I believe. Having four bands play at Van Horne is merely impossible except if you start at 5 or 6 maybe. But even then by ten o'clock the cops always get cocky and try to tone down the place. This ain't Monterrey Pop Festival nor Woodstock, the cops have the authority. And there ain't enough youngsters and revolutionaries to start a movement under a bridge. Not one that could grant a pass to make noize later than ten that is.  I arrived at the place, wearing a fucking jacket not knowing how hot it was. Geez, I really need t...

  Blue Dog, October, Movember 10, A Sunday more like Funday. A lot of coons are there. The Snatchers are watching and taking pictures, Ryan Brio the yet to be self-acclaimed Prince-a-like do it all musician is there and even Poolgirl are seen watching tonights incredible lineup. The bands are, Charlotte Renaud a solo artist who glided gracefully across a piano while singing, War Doves the Megadeth lyrically-themed a-like band, Mellonella a Rush-like prog fast paced band and finally 7Gardens whom could be held as the Canadian Eagles without all the drama until now that is. Here we go, I came, t'was cold! I ran up the streets left, right, up, down, dizzy and out. But luckily for me here I am at the corner of Saint Laurent and Duluth, right next to the venue. I put my hat on, it's greatly effing freezing. No alarming psychedelic inducing drugs have been taken so to no one must I state my delirium. Far away eyes spy and see people are there, they're chirping and giggling, smo...

 I came in it was a tad late, everlasting traffic and wild wonders kept me drifting along my way to the church. Last time I went to a church I was thrown out because I'd graffitied in a bible. Obscene I was called and so was the show I was on my way to see. A release show for Truck Violences album called Violence. With my head shaved my scrambled beard and my tired arms, I could only hope their would be violence to stir me up. I came there with a friend and of course I found others from bad objection, Sigil Grove and more attending the night. You knew it was going to be a nighter because every local band was there to witness astounding performances and maybe learn a thing or two about giving a good show. What I didn't know was how hot and physical this night would end up being. At my arrival Evergreen start and their performance is dazzling. The classic grunge posture of Matteo the singer fighting with his guitar is at the rendez vous, Hans the bassist is just grooving loosel...

  Face Lock, a wink to Nirvana yet far away from the Nirvana Face Lock, the new Single from Joyless Bodies. The Band itself. A moment of grief for Kurt, a feeling of deja-vu was clearly laid down here. I had my Nirvana magazine opened right at the edge of the table as I started the song. The magazine was opened on a intereview with Courtney as she was talking about a song Kurt recorded for her not long before dying and she was explaining how painful it was for her as she'd listen back to it, even to this day (dating back from 2015, I believe.)   Well Face Lock has this same effect for a drunken lad, die-hard grunge rock fan reminiscing the songs of Alice in Chains, Nirvana and many more bands of this era. Yet, I can't say I was blown over. We are far away from the quoted, 'Rage Agains't The Machine influence or nod to System Of A Down'. Quite frankly, it smelled déjà-vu. The verses are mumbled almost inaudible as if the singer was ashamed or afraid of his lyrics, th...

 A night packed with surprise. The three photos above all speak for themselves about Evergreen's performance. Punks have a tendency to raise hell over their beloved surroundings, out of sheer excitement or even simply to be punk. Youth tends to set no boundaries and hold their stance anywhere they go in order to prove their existence. At l’Hémisphère Gauche, those odd socks were all those in the same small place in order to support the artists or friends. The bands played in the following order, Evergreen, Scarlet Wives, Bad Objections, and Revenant.   To put it simply, Evergreen were ever amazing, raising the bar very high for Scarlet Wives. And sadly Scarlet Wives just didn’t make the cut, not because they weren’t good, but simply they didn’t tear apart the whole scene. Bad Objection had a great gig, hyping us up, demanding the crowd to sing along their anthemic punk choruses and just pour out all of what they had left, leading to Rev...

A new single for Birds Of Prrrey, titled False Hopes. The Band from left to right, Grace, Clarence and Noelle. False Hope, their new Single. Birds of Prrrey, a local trio from Montreal have released a single in July on the major streaming platforms and to sum it up, False Hope is a close reminder of Courtney Love, simply with a touch of gentleness and somehow less budget. But let’s not lie, of course three girls starting a band, won’t come up with a record as refined as what Hole and Courtney would release knowing they had millions in budget to spend and producers and studio engineers that had their names echoing through whole decades. Yet the key lies in the similarity they have, the fact that their style and energy resembles Hole and they're quite a bold trio to say the least. They have a couple live out there on the internet elaborating on their prowess with Grace on the bass slinging over with a bow, Noelle singing while sitting behind the drums and of course Clarence simply b...

Evergreen, an emerging raging act Evergreen, a band fueled by sheer talent, youth, and a taste for what sounds right. Matteo, the singer and guitarist, caught my eye with his Oli from Bring Me The Horizon looks and Cobainesque voice. And you can be reassured it is said in a good way, preaching intensity and raw aggressivity all while staying tight. Supported by Tyler the guitarist, Hans on the bass and Jeremie on the drums, the band powered through covers of Fang's Money Will Roll Right In and Nirvana's Opinion before delivering the final discharge with an original titled Gardening. If you've ever listened to Nirvana's Live at Reading Festival show, the thrills and shivers I've felt may be relatable. This said, you'll have to wait a bit before listening to them because to this day, they still have no music outed and their next performance is yet to be confirmed. Until then, here's a snapshot of the late teenagers performing at the Mercedes Bar accompanying B...