ontreal is a busy place. With restaurants and bars opening and closing every day, concerts being performed nonstop, and news developing faster than it can be reported, it's hard to stay afloat. You need a guide. Martiniboys is here to help. Keeping our ears to the ground and our eyes to the blogs, we've collected all the hot buzz that you need to stay informed about your fair city. Whether it be a hot new band or a shocking political scandal, you'll find it here. There's no need to thank us, we're just doing our jobs. Okay, you can thank us.



Sebastien Grainger has already made quite a name for himself in Canadian indie rock circles. Despite only existing for one studio album, and essentially one year, Death From Above 1979 gathered a ton of record sales and even more critical acclaim. It came as a huge surprise to everyone when the successful duo split after so little time in the limelight. Of course, neither of them faded away. Jesse Keeler formed the super-popular electronica outfit MSTRKRFT and Grainger resurfaced with Sebastien Grainger and the Mountains. Where Death From Above went for a minimalist aesthetic (Grainger handled drums and vocals while Keeler handled bass), The Mountains are a full band and feature somewhat more traditional songwriting. Even so, Grainger is a critical darling. Go see why when he plays Friday at Il Motore.





Archduke Franz Ferdinand shot about 5,000 deer, kangaroos, and emus while hunting. He married a woman that everyone scorned. He broke two ribs while jousting on his horse. Caused a war when he was assassinated. The band Franz Ferdinand might not be quite as historically important, but they still have quite a pedigree. "Take Me Out" was the single heard around the world in 2004, earning them a ton of record sales and praise from even the harshest critics (Pitchfork Media). They also won a couple of NME Awards, a Brit Award, and a Mercury Prize. However, they've become synonymous with the early 00's sound and they've influenced hundreds of samey Brit Pop bands (i.e. the Kaiser Chiefs, The Kooks, The Fratellis). That's rather unfortunate, because Franz Ferdinand was creating catchy dance-rock anthems relatively early in the game. For a fun, high-energy rock show, check them out tonight at La Tulipe.





There are some metal bands that dress all in black, write songs about Satan, and take themselves way too seriously. DragonForce are the opposite. I don't think it would be unfair to call DragonForce the most ridiculous band making music today. Referring to their style of music as "extreme power metal", the English band embraces fast-paced classical-style guitar solos, high-pitched Journey-esque vocals, and lyrics about riding into battle and pillaging villages. Extreme power metal is a good enough label, but they've also been referred to as "video game metal" for their inclusion in Guitar Hero III (the hardest song in the game is "Through the Fire and Flames") and absurdly epic songs that best resemble Gears of War or The Legend of Zelda on speed. Check these guys out tonight at Le Medley and prepare for a preposterous metal show. Also on the bill are Turisas and Powerglove (a metal band that covers Nintendo theme songs).





Canada's troubadour hero, poli-folk provocateur, and sideburn king, Neil Young is a force to be reckoned with. 62 years young, old Shakey shows can still rock out like it's 1974. Rumour has it he also has thousands of unreleased tracks that will probably find release (knock on wood) years after he gets to rocking in the next world. You pretty much know what a Neil Young concert will be like: stellar folk songs mixed with dirty rocking blues songs and an audience full of nostalgia-seeking former-hippies. But it doesn’t matter what I say. It's Neil Young. So go. That's all there is to it. Neil plays tonight at Bell Centre. Also on the bill are Everest and Wilco, both bands worth seeing in their own right.





Pascale Picard Band plays Saturday at Metropolis. This Quebec City band has constantly been just under the radar, ready to burst into the mainstream. Their first album went platinum in Canada and was nominated for a Juno award, and they were personally asked by Paul McCartney to open for him at his Plains of Abraham 400th anniversary concert. If that's not a compliment, I don't know what is. I'd definitely try to see Pascale et al before they get huge and start playing at big stadiums where the tickets will be ridiculously overpriced and the sound will be really crappy. Plus, Pascale has an alliterative name. What more do you need? Justin Nozuka is also on the bill.



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Citizen Cope plays Friday at Cabaret Juste Pour Rire. That may sound like the name of a band, but Citizen Cope is actually just one person, real name: Clarence Greenwood (the whitest name I've ever heard). If you've never heard his music, just wander by a dorm room. He’s a reggae-blues/hip-hop/folk artist hailing from Brooklyn and bears a striking resemblance to a granola chewing hippy. His laid-back, upbeat tunes lend themselves remarkably to smoking the sweet stuff. If that's your cup of tea, it's more impressive live, where Cope plays everything from acoustic guitar to turntables. Get on your best poncho and get out there.





Pre-boom Montrealers, The Dears, have always occupied a strange place in the Canadian music firmament. Tangentially affiliated with various acts but stringently unique, the fluid crew grows and shrinks (aside from its two leads) while consistently creating swelling, atmospheric indie rock. Despite being a Gang of Losers, Murray Lightburn and company are slightly happier these days. Not to worry, old favourites will still depress the hell out of you in that pulling-on-a-hangnail-hurts-so-good way. Tonight at 8:00 pm they join the hordes of hip celebrity Mac endorsers when they play a free in-store set at the St. Catherine Street Apple Store. Girl Talk would not approve.





You better grab your granola, throw on your Birks and start your back-combing: Ani DiFranco is playing the Metropolis tonight. (I’ll refrain from any cannabis-related jokes, it’s just too easy). Armed with her guitar and introspective lyrics, this earthier Alanis with the famed DIY ethos will have you swaying like the tree that you are. An ever-compelling performer, Ani will deliver a stellar show to believers. And she has a lot of believers. Utter a negative word about the bohemian songstress to an Ani fan and expect a long lecture about musical integrity, prolificacy, the plight of the working class, and the oppressiveness of the heterosexual male regime. Still, she'd be much easier to mock if her music weren't so often impressive.





Is "every time I look at you I go blind" a compliment or an insult? Either way, it gets stuck in my head for hours on end. If you think that that's a good thing, then you should check out the numerically-named 90's nostalgists 54-40 as they play tomorrow at Petit Café Campus. Considering not many people knew them beyond "I Go Blind", and many of those that only knew that song thought that it was REM, it's impressive that the band has lasted for 27 years (that wasn't a typo). If only I could write my one hit, I could be raking in the dough for the next 30 years. Oh well, I guess I'll stick to blurbing for now.





Experimental indie fans take note: No Age plays at Theatre Plaza Saturday. In case you don't know them yet, where the hell have you been? This Sub Pop noise-rock duo has had everyone from Pitchfork to Stereogum shouting "lo-fi revival!" and trying not to wet themselves with excitement (indie tastemakers are an excitable bunch). One of my roommates is friends with the guys from No Age; if they didn't already have a drummer, he'd be rolling in dough right now. Instead, he's living with me and five other dudes in an apartment above a store. It just shows what blog hype can do for a band these days.





Sam Roberts is one of those nice Canadian boys that you just can't help but like. Not love, but like. Respect, at least. The Pont-Claire native is set to play three shows at Le National, today until Saturday. Sam Roberts has created a worksman reputation for himself largely by continuing to craft pop-rock songs that are consistently good. Again, not great, but good. He also raised awareness (of himself) by non-stop touring and playing what seems like every single big summer music festival. You can expect a crowd full of earnest looking Canadian music fans and a tight set full of catchy hooks that's sure to give you the warm fuzzies. It's hard to ask for much more.





Why are there so many French electronic music duos? Seriously, there's Air, Justice, and Daft Punk, and that's just off the top of my head. For years, electronic-ish rock band M83 were part of this duo trend, but a few years ago the two split. Now the "band" consists of Anthony Gonzalez and whoever he can find to play with him on tours. But for a one man band, M83 puts on one hell of a show. There's something about effects-heavy music that just translates well to live performance. Call me a sucker for musical frills, but I melt every time I hear a wah-wah pedal. There will probably be plenty of that at M83's show tonight at Le Studio.





Bob Dylan performs at Bell Centre tonight. What can I say about The Man that hasn't already been said? There's been more written about Dylan than about any other musician ever (I can't prove that, but I'm sure it's true). The man is a music pioneer, a genius, a living legend. If given the chance, you go see him live, no matter how old he is. Sure, his voice may not be what it once was and his songs are performed in sometimes unrecognizable rearrangements, but it's not everyday you get the chance to see a legend. Granted, he is on a Never Ending Tour, so you probably will get another chance, but I'd still say go now. You want this phrase in your anecdote repertoire: "I saw Bob Dylan play."





Typically when you think of Tex-Mex, you think of breakfast burritos, but it's the only genre descriptor that fits Tucson, Arizona's Calexico, who are playing tonight at Le National. If you need something concrete, think of them as the most kick-ass mariachi band you've ever seen. Horns, steel guitars, and an accomplished rhythm section typically come together to create the aural equivalent of chili con carne (except it won't make you as gassy). Calexico are sort of an indie house band for hire, working with the likes of Wilco and Iron & Wine, but they really can get it done solo style. Also playing are Ontario's best alt-country band, Cuff the Duke.





Montreal sure likes its metal. Not everyone listens to the Arcade Fire and Wolf Parade; some are more into Slayer and Maiden. For the latter group, the first ever Montreal Metal Gathering will be a can't miss. The line-up is modest (two people, to be exact), but these are heavyweights in the world of metal. For starters you've got Martin Popoff, the world's best known metal journalist and critic and the senior editor of both Brave Words and Bloody Knuckles. But you'll be there for Tim "Ripper" Owens, singer for Beyond Fear and Yngwie Malmsteen and former lead signer of Iced Earth and Judas Priest. Those are HUGE metal bands. Ripper will both take part in a Q & A and a concert, where he will play material from his whole storied career. The event takes place Saturday at La Place a Cote.





Do you have a love for wine? Good. Do you have $1850 burning a hole in your pocket? For those few who are still with me, read up. Montreal Passion Vin, an event happening Friday and Saturday at Hilton Montreal Bonaventure is a world-class wine event in which some of the most prized vintages are uncorked for a select group of well heeled oenophiles. Among the most prized bottles is a famous Unico wine from the year 1953. Don't embarrass yourself. Wear something nice, use a lot of words like "oakey" and "palatable", and for God's sake do not bring a straw. You can get drunk, but do it on the sly. Tickets are $1850 for the full package, $1400 without the banquet, and $750 for just the banquet.





Trent Reznor and the boys (or girls, depending on who he decides to surround himself with that day) have been going strong since 1989. One of the few Industrial acts to cross-over into the mainstream, it's more than a little impressive that Nine Inch Nails have been able to stay there for 19 years. Reznor knows how to play the publicity game, even to this day. Adopting the Radiohead model, NIN's last two projects were released in close proximity and both as "Pay What You Want" projects available as an online download. Unfortunately, you won't be able to choose your own price for their performance at the Bell Centre tonight but you will be able to see his remarkable band rock the rafters.





Deerhunter plays tonight at Theatre Plaza. If there's any band that has benefited most from the intense influence of Pitchfork Media, it's Deerhunter. Every time Bradford Cox farts, Pitchfork gives it a 9.2. And that's saying a lot; between Deerhunter and his solo career (Atlas Sound), Bradford Cox has released approximately 323 albums in the last year. Despite their ambient and post-punk influences, a Deerhunter show is usually energetic, noisy, and uber-theatrical. It's also polarizing, so go with an open mind. Also on the bill are Lo-Fi noise-rock darlings, Times New Viking.





Monday seems an odd time for a heavy metal show, but Bison B.C. plays Bar St-Laurent tonight. Metal tends to be a somewhat self-contained genre with typically only bigger and watered-down bands like Metallica enjoying any form of crossover success. But Bison B.C. has not only made a splash outside of the Canadian metal scene; they've also found some success outside of the metal market. It's unusual to see skinny-jeaned hipsters rocking out to thrash guitars, but it can sometimes be glimpsed at a Bison B.C. show. That's reason enough to check this one out, I think.





Halloween is not a national holiday (despite our best wishes) so typically celebrations occur the weekend before and the weekend after. This year, however, Halloween fell on a Friday, allowing a clear-cut night for getting shit-faced in costumes. The Dead Dolls Cabaret refuses to allow the holiday to be contained to just one weekend. Saturday at Café Cleopatra there will be a "goulesque" event called the Haunted Ho-Down. The show will feature burlesque troupes and music performers including The Dead Dolls (naturally), Big Moves from Boston, Nat King Pole, Dakini Dancers, and Nick the Piano Man. There will be contests, beer, and you can throw stuff at the performers. Vive L'Halloween, libre!





Living in Montreal, it's easy to become accustomed to the synth-heavy kitchen-sink strand of indie rock that has become so popular in hipster circles. Friday at Saints Showbar is a double bill that will convince you there is still some "rock" left in Canadian indie rock. Vancouver's Ladyhawk play a brand of visceral hard rock that tends to stress the band's vulnerability (but it's not emo). Despite the terrible band name, Ontario's Attack in Black know how to write a killer rock hook. Mixing punk rock and old-school rock and roll, the band has already gained a lot of fans. When did CanCon suddenly get so good?





I honestly don't know how they find participants for this, but Drawn & Quarterly Bookstore is hosting the Montreal debut of Grown-Ups Read Things They Wrote as Kids. The open-mic event features grown men and women willingly confronting their past in front of an audience of friends and strangers. Uncovering journals, poems, love letters, and art projects, participants bear their adolescent souls for all to hear. Self-humiliation is a wonderful thing, but other-humiliation is even better. That's why you need to head be in the audience of this show tonight. When else will you get to hear this kind of hilariously bad poetry? At least until the next time Smashing Pumpkins come to town.





Unless you've been living under a rock on mars with your eyes closed and fingers in your ears while yelling "La La La. I'm not listening," Feist has been unavoidable over the last year. From the overwhelming breakaway success of her sophomore album The Reminder to the incessant iPod commercial featuring her song, "1234", it was hard to go anywhere without hearing about the pint-sized singer-(sometimes)songwriter. If you feel like you haven't had enough of her yet, you can see Feist Wednesday at the Bell Centre.





If you're a fan of alt-country, then you can't miss the excellent one-two-punch of Elliott Brood and O'Death. Toronto's Elliott Brood are no strangers to antics, but their musical chops back it up. The drummer uses a giant suitcase instead of a bass drum, and the band recorded their entire first LP in an abandoned slaughterhouse. If you listen closely, you can hear the ghost's of sheep bahh-ing. What are they going to do next? Play a good concert? Crazy! It helps to be supporting O'Death, Brooklyn's latest in the line of hip indie acts. These guys blend country, folk, bluegrass, indie rock, and punk in a way that is hard to describe. The bands play tonight at Sala Rossa.





We've given you plenty of suggestions for Halloween night, but the weekend is two days long and Halloween should be too. The folks at Main Nightclub think so too. They're throwing a Heroes & Villains Party on Saturday. Dress up as your favourite Superheroes and Villains, go political and dress up as Obama and McCain (I won't say which is which), or get really creative and go as the concepts of good and evil. Free Moet Champagne bottles will be given to the best costumes, which is awesome beyond words.





In case you don't know, Halloween is tomorrow (I'll give you a moment to run out and buy a last minute costume). Since Halloween is on a Friday this year, there are a ton of club parties all over town, but the one that sticks out as the best choice ironically has very little to do with Halloween. Canada's favourite collective Broken Social Scene will be playing a show at Metropolis on Halloween Night. Now, unless you find lush instrumentation and intricate vocal harmonies spooky, this won't be the most traditional Halloween show, but with approximately 64 people in the band, some of them are bound to be wearing costumes. And the club is sure to be packed with Halloween revelers. Get on your best sequined Feist costume and get over there.

If you're looking for more traditional Halloween debauchery, check out the Martiniboys.com Montreal Halloween Guide 2008





How tired are you of people asking you if you know Kevin Barnes? For the very last time, Of Montreal is from Athens, Georgia, not Montreal! Good, now that that's out of the way, we can actually talk about Of Montreal's music. The kitchen sink pop band typically delves into basement, shoegaze, lo-fi, art-rock, and psychedelia while staying at home in all of them. You've never heard such upbeat and danceable songs about death, loneliness, and despair. Still relevant and innovative, of Montreal have become stalwarts without stasis. Their recent stage performance has been known to include scantily clad men (mainly lead singer Kevin Barnes), props, a mock hanging, and an entire song performed from atop a majestic white horse. This will be, if not the best, at least the most memorable concert you'll attend all year. If you're convinced by now, you can attend their show tonight at Metropolis. If you're not convinced, there might be something seriously wrong with you (or alternatively, not enough).





Halloween is just around the corner. You could celebrate at a house party or sweaty club affair, but if you really want to get into the spirit of things, check out The Sisters of Mercy tomorrow at Club Soda. Formed in 1980, Sisters of Mercy are pure goth band extraordinare, so get on your goth costume (anything you'd find in a Hot Topic catalogue), tap into the dark part of your soul, and get ready for a top notch Halloween concert experience. These guys will do their best to make sure Halloween is scary, upsetting and emotional for you.





The Tiger Lillies are the best anarchic macabre punk-cabaret virtuosos that you or I will ever know. With a lead singer that sings like a castrati (I don't know what that is, but I bet it's spicy), opera training, an accordion, and David Byrne as a fan, it's no wonder this band (if you want to call them a band) has a huge cult following. Halloween is rapidly approaching, and this stop on the Tiger Lillies' 7 Deadly Sins Tour is the perfect way to celebrate. Don't commit the sin of missing this show (one of the lesser known deadly sins) today and tomorrow at Usine C.





Man, people will pay a lot of money to see Zappa play Zappa. I mean if Zappa were playing Zappa's own music, that's one thing but to see Dweezil Zappa playing Frank Zappa's music, that's a whole other story. He's still a Zappa in all respects but not the Zappa. You will never get any closer to seeing Zappa playing his own music than watching Zappa play Zappa, but its not really Zappa playing Zappa, you know what I'm saying? Incidentally, Zappa is a really fun word to say. And to type. Zappa plays Zappa today and tomorrow at Gesu. Zappa.





Straight from Brooklyn, NYC comes a much needed new genre experiment to revamp the stale infiltration of bland indie rock. Yeasayer plays heartfelt gospel showtunes with deep bass to get you feeling like you're back in church on Sunday Morning except, since this is a concert, you'll probably be drunk and/or stoned. If you follow music, blogs, or music blogs, there are good odds (somewhere in the vicinity of 2 to 1) that you've heard at least one Yeasayer track. Around the time of its release, the song "2046" took over the internet. Seriously, it was everywhere. Put a few faces to the song at this show tomorrow at Le National and get ready for a trippy fun good time.





The freak of nature formerly known as Esther is going on tour for the umpteenth time to promote her newest album, Hard Candy. Seriously, this woman does not age. You should go just for the level of suspense that Madonna brings to the show. Will she use a British accent? Will she make out with another girl on stage? (I think the count is at 3 right now.) The surprises are endless. She just broke up with her husband Guy Ritchie (or at least admitted it), and just as it freed him to make his first half-decent movie in years, perhaps it will free her to recreate some of the occasional Madonna magic that resulted in gems like "Like a Prayer" (which, by the way, was #1 the day I was born). It could be hit or miss, but she has two chances. Madonna plays tomorrow and Thursday at the Bell Centre.





I’m not going to lie. A lot of this Edmonton band’s appeal comes from their name. That and their marching band costumes. Oh, and I guess their all-nonsense fun-rock. Edmonton's The Wet Secrets got the attention of fans and critics with their assorted gimmickry, but kept it with a mix of catchiness, diverse instrumentation, and a juvenile sense of humour. I caught them in the summer at Toronto's North by Northeast Festival, but unfortunately only caught the last two songs. On the bright side (depending on how you look at it), one of those songs was called “I Teabagged Myself With Three Heavy Fucking Cans”. The band seemed dedicated to having fun on stage, and that fun seemed contagious. The Wet Secrets play tonight at Divan Orange.





You like a Ron Sexsmith song. Everyone does, even if they don’t know it. His music, though not Nick-Drake-ubiquitous, shows up on myriad soundtracks, on public radio, and in Second Cup. You’ve heard it, you like it, Chris Martin likes it (although I'm not sure that's an endorsement), almost every other musician you’ve ever heard of likes it. I heard Bob Dylan play a Sexsmith song on his Theme Time Radio Hour show. If that's not a sign of artistic approval, I don't know what is. So go to the show, drink a glass of wine, bob your head, and buy some merch. You want to support a nice Canadian boy, don't you? Sexsmith plays Sunday at Club Soda.





Punk and garage are cousins. Sometimes, their offspring are a little slow. Don't worry, they compensate by playing fast music. Jay Reatard is a trooper. The man has been dolling out raucous tunes since he was en embryo (his poor mother). Only 28 years old, he has written more songs than I have blurbs (trust me, that's a lot); he's the Robert Pollard of scruff rock. Last time he was in Canada, he got pelted by bottles and had to slug a guy at Toronto's Silver Dollar Room. But he's undeterred. Fortitudinous and fast-rocking, Reatard plays Cabaret Music Hall on Saturday night. Do go full Reatard, but try not to throw glass beverage containers; they hurt.





Circa 2003, I had a girlfriend that lived in Montreal, which pretty much made me a Montrealer. We would stock up on 99¢ falafels and hang out in record shops browsing. One day I happened upon Nathan Lawr's Heart Beats a Waltz. Appositely, the album took a jean-jacket-troubadour paradigm and infused it with waltz touchstones. It became one of my favourite records. And then the girl and I broke up and I listened to it less and less. Though, the following autumn I went to visit her for an epilogue tryst and I brought the LP with me. One morning, she went to the gym and I went for a walk, listening to the record as Quebec leaves crunched underfoot. For a long, long time after that I couldn't put the record on, hoping to avoid the bittersweet connotations. But, time passed and, a year or so ago, I rediscovered it. And, as luck would have it, Nathan Lawr is back on tour. He's put out a couple of records since Heart Beats… and they're equally fantastic. Tonight he plays Casa del Popolo with the wonderful Kate Maki. While Maki doesn't conjure memories of a long-ago break-up, she does spin a marvelous country-tinged yarn.






Typically, I end up in a car on the first day of the year. I like New Year's Eve road trips, but the radio on the way home can prove a little taxing. I never want to hear "New Year's Day" again (I didn't want to hear it the first time). This year, my obsessed-with-the-unabashedly-apropos friend brought along a copy of Death Cab for Cutie's Transatlanticism. On January 1st, he played "The New Year" over and over and over and over and over. Damn that got tired fast. Tonight, he should be going to The New Year's show at Le Divan Orange. At least next year I'll get three records instead of a single song. The five piece Touch and Go outfit play old-school indie with an inherent Bedhead-nod. Expect scruff and head bobbing.





The Black and Blue Festival is a week-long gay festival that is one of the biggest of its kind in North America. Yes, there are your typical festival activities such as music, dance, sports, games and food. But 80,000 people from around the world are not coming for a bite to eat and some baseball. No, people want the good stuff. Just listen to some of the names of the events this weekend: Swim-O-Thon, Uniform Party, Military Ball, and After Military. The main event, though, is Sunday's Black and Blue Digital Paradise Party at Palais des congres, a ginormous DJ-filled alcohol-fuelled dance party. Then on Monday check out the Recovery Party and the Pre-Recovery Party (you can't make this stuff up). Not only will you have fun but you will raise money for aids charities and gay and lesbian groups.





Though Corsican-born, Paris-raised, and Madrid-residing, my friend, Seb, spoke flawless English. I asked him where he learned it: "school and NOFX lyrics." Not only has NOFX -- the long-running, record label-spawning foursome -- been bringing punk to the under-radar masses for nearly three decades, but it has also been teaching English. Fat Mike, El Hefe, Erik Sandin, and Eric Melvin roll into Montreal for two gigs at Metropolis. The first is Friday and the second is Sunday (punk naturally needs some time off).





Soon there will be more film festivals than films. From genre and niche extravaganzas to celebrity-culling, bright-light and champagne affairs, film festivals continue to expand. However, only a handful are worth your popcorn dollars. One example: Festival du Nouveau Cinema (FNC). Now in its 37th year it continues to broaden the cinematic horizons of Montrealers. From today until October 19th, the fest will show plethoric off-the-beaten track films sourced from at home and abroad. Look for the quirky, the strange, the familiar, and the avant garde. FNC takes over eight separate venues within the centre of the city. Beware of sticky floors.





What can I say about Stereolab? To try to explain the band's sound would be doing them a disservice; it avoids an easy categorization. One of the most independent and innovative bands of the last 20 years, Stereolab have been reinventing alternative rock since the early 90's. Mixing lounge, electronica, post-punk, indie rock, Brit pop, and just about any other genre tag you can think of, the band has created a sound that is incomparable to any other band. The Marxist lyrics and sometimes French language songs have also turned some heads. Seeing them live is just as unique an experience. Now's your chance. They play tonight at Club Soda.





You never really know what you're going to get with a Beck concert. The 38 year old Scientologist has recorded twelve albums over the fifteen years that he's been in the music industry, and of those it can be said that no two are alike. He's done everything from mournful acoustic ballads to postmodern sample collages while covering everything in between. His latest album, Modern Guilt, is produced by Danger Mouse and so it's heavy on the psychedelia. Some call this eclecticism, while others think it insincerity. Whatever the case, expect to hear things like "that song doesn't usually last three hours, but we got into a serious thing there". Beck takes over Théâtre St. Denis tonight.





Have you been enjoying Pop Montreal so far? How could you not? It's a real treat to see such an amazing collection of bands all in one place. Whether you like checking out up-and-coming unknowns or established indie-rock powerhouses, there's been an artist for you to see. But how do you navigate through the lineup and separate the gold from the shit? Easy; you read Martiniboys.com and let me tell you what to see. As you might expect, I've got some suggestions for the final two days of the festival.

Saturday offers some viable choices. One show guaranteed to generate some buzz is Black Kids at Cabaret du Musee Juste Pour Rire. The band gained prominence because of blog hype, but when the blogs turned, they were still popular. Check them out and decide for yourself. Otherwise, check out new blog band Beach House at Eastern Bloc or the stellar Toronto psych-pop band, Spiral Beach at Bar St-Laurent II. Other shows worth seeing are Dr. Dog at petit Campus, The Dodos at Sala Rossa, and a mysterious new project from k-os called k-os flies solo at Associacao Portuguesa.

Oh, but it doesn't end there. Sunday offers its fair share of greatness. I can't stress this enough. Go see WIRE and The Wedding Present at Theatre Nationale. These two icon 80s indie and punk bands are absolute legends and more influential than their reputation might suggest. Go if you can. Otherwise, check out electro-garager Dan Deacon at Eastern Bloc, Liam Finn at Sala Rossa, or psychedelic stoner band Quest for Fire at Bar St-Laurent III. That's it. I hope you can get through all that music and still function as a normal human being on Monday. I know I'll have to give it a shot.





Pop Montreal got off to a great start yesterday. If you didn't catch one of the stellar opening night shows (Hot Chip would've been a good choice), there's still a lot of opportunity to revel in Montreal's epic concert-hopping festival. Picking a venue at random is always an intriguing choice: you could easily end up at the next big thing, or you could see some guy hitting a guitar for an hour (it happens). In case you're not that adventurous, here's some recommendations for Days 2 and 3 (Thursday and Friday. Let's start with the obvious choices for Thursday: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds at Metropolis. Any chance to see a legendary blues-folk-poet like Nick Cave is a no-brainer. The other easy choice is The Silver Apples at Sala Rossa. The late 60s electronic psychedelic band were hugely influential, but only gained popularity long after the fact. So they reunited. What else is new? Other sure bets are: The Dears at Temple Maconnique, Jason Collett at Petit Campus, Two Hours Traffic at Barfly, and for the classic rock fan, Neil Young's "Tonight's The Night" performed by the Ideal Lovers at Cinéma L'Amour.

Friday is even more impressive. For starters, you've got the 60s songwriting legend, Burt Bacharach at Eglis St. Jean Baptiste. Then there's some international sensations like Ratatat and Panther at Club Soda and Akron/Family at Sala Rossa. Other heavyweights include Julie Doiron and Chad Van Gaalen at Ukrainian Federation, FemBots at L'Escogriffe, Wintersleep at Theatre Nationale, The United Steel Workers of Montreal at Quai des Brumes, and The Evaporators and The Pack A.D. at Bar St-Laurent II.





Since Montreal is such a musical Mecca, there is a lot of competition for the title of best music festival. My vote goes to Pop Montreal. With more than 200 acts playing in over 20 venues, the festival isn't only a chance to check out some fantastic artists, but also a chance to see the city transformed into a giant drunken club-hopping celebration. Of course, with a combination of emerging artists and well-established powerhouses, the music ain't bad either. The whole shebang goes from today until Sunday, but if you follow Montreal's music scene at all you probably already knew that. Kicking the festival off right, today offers an array of performances so good, you won't be able to decide which to check out. At the top of the list stands Hot Chip at the Metropolis, a band known for getting the crowd moving and reinventing their songs live. If that doesn't turn your crank, try the energetic dance-punk band, You Say Party! We Say Die! at La Tulipe, Vetiver at Salla Rossa, Woodhands at Portuguese Association, or Michie Mee at Club Soda. That's a pretty stacked lineup and it's only the first day.





And you thought irony was dead. Though ubiquitous, Common is far from, um, common. One of the top 17 coolest men in the world he takes a break from his celluloid dalliances for tonight's Metropolis gig. Incidentally, today is fawn-over-bald-guys day at the MB office. Gap model, friend of Chappelle, and Chi-town hero, Common is Ann-Marie-MacDonald versatile. Like a generous late night infomercial, this show throws in an irresistible bonus offer: not only do you get Common's smoother-than-soft-serve-ice-cream flows, but you also get alt-hop with shades of blip, care of N*E*R*D. Buy now and you can keep this blurb, free of charge.





There's something about a reunion tour that doesn’t include the lead singer that just screams "cash grab". Whatever the case, Bruce Foxton and Rick Butler have reformed the quintessential mod band, The Jam in a modern incarnation entitled From the Jam (my guess is legal issues) while lead singer Paul Waller continues his much more successful solo career. This would be a surefire fight between the Mods and Rockers if it weren't 2008 and those subcultures weren't already bastardized by Urban Outfitters. Still, hearing songs like "Down in the Tube Station at Midnight" and "A Town Called Malice" live from some of the original members will be a good nostalgia-inducing experience. After all, nostalgia has become a successful cottage industry in the last decade or so. From the Jam play tonight at Club Soda.





I was going to give you an introduction, but Method Man - one of the most charismatic and enduring rappers of all time - has already penned an autobiography. Here's an excerpt:

M-E-T, H-O-D, Man
M-E-T, H-O-D, Man
M-E-T, H-O-D, Man
M-E-T, H-O-D, Man
Here I am, here I am: the Method Man
-From "Method Man" by Wu-Tang Clan

As always, he'll be joined by his partner-in-crime, the other Mr. Man, Redman. These two are probably known as much for their music as they are for their exploits in movies and sitcoms. Here's one for you: The pair's stoner movie comedy How High was directed by Jesse Dylan, Bob Dylan's son. Now you can connect Red and Meth to Dylan with only two degrees of separation. I don't know if that endorses their music, but it can't hurt. All kidding aside, this should be one of the more energetic and entertaining hip hop shows you've been to. Method Man and Redman perform Sunday at Metropolis.





It may never come close to Montreal, but Vancouver is building itself quite an indie-rock scene. The city already has a deservedly high-esteemed indie-rock collective in the New Pornographers, some stellar groups like The Pack A.D. and Immaculate Machine, and now they've also got Black Mountain. Despite all the noise they've been making in alternative circles, Black Mountain's musical sensibility is very much rooted in classic rock, specifically drug-addled bands like Pink Floyd and Jefferson Airplane. These guys know how to stretch out a song to seven and eight minutes without boring you, which is a tough feat. And they're even better live. Expect a horn-rimmed outdoorsman's wet dream coupled with dirge sublimity. Check them out Friday at Le National.





It must be Warhol Month in Montreal. Already in progress is The Factory Project, a recreation of Andy Warhol's New York Studio, but that's not the only tribute to the legendary pop artist in the city. Starting tomorrow will be an exhibition called Warhol Live at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. There've been thousands of exhibitions of Warhol's works, but this is one of the first to focus specifically on the role of music in his works and life. From his major musician "portraits: (Elvis, Grace Jones, Mick Jagger, Debbie Harry, etc.) to his album covers and TV and video clips for groups like The Cars, this exhibition will be extremely comprehensive. Over 640 works and objects, paintings, silkscreens, photographs, installations, and films will be displayed. Of specific interest should be the screen tests of the legendary Velvet Underground. The exhibition will last until January 18.





You may have missed Public Enemy performing in Montreal this summer, but, let's be frank, Public Enemy haven't made a good record in at least ten years. Seeing them perform these days is a bit anti-climatic, what with the best songs performed from albums that came out over a decade ago and Flavor Flav now living on VH1. But anyone who has followed the trailblazing rap group should know that Chuck D has a lot of interesting stuff to say. Not your usual braindead celebrity rapper (*cough*Kanye West*cough*), D has strong, profound, and well thought out opinions about everything from politics to the hip hop industry. Perhaps spoken-word is a better career path for the guy nowadays. Tonight at the Hall Building Auditorium in Concordia University you can get a taste of what that might be like as the CSU Speaker Series presents An Evening With Chuck D: Race, Rap and Reality. Expect a lot of angry ranting and a lot of nodding students.





Did you drive to work today? Well, you shouldn't have. Today is Car-Free Day. Some major streets are shut down, but you may have been unaware since they've been shut down between rush hour. Streets within the area bounded by McGill College Ave.to the west, René Lévesque Boulevard to the south, de Maisonneuve Boulevard to the north and St. Urbain Street to the east are closed to car traffic between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. St. Catherine Street will be closed between Jeanne Mance and St. Urbain from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you're looking for a way to flaunt your car-free low-emissions pride, there will be a number of opportunities today. Head to St. Catherine, where the closed stretch will be covered in grass. On this makeshift park will be a cycle-wear fashion show, demonstrations of alternative transportation, and other smug-friendly entertainment. If you feel like that doesn't get the point across effectively, head to Philips Square at 5:30 p.m. for a "die-in" at an undisclosed intersection. Hundreds will go there and "drop dead" to demonstrate motor related injuries. Don't you just feel enlightened?





In the 60s Andy Warhols continued to make headlines in both the art world and the real world with his flamboyant personality, innovative pop art, and just by being one weird fuckin' dude. In 1968, Warhol formed The Factory, his New York City studio that doubled as a den for some of the most lively, well-attended, and weirdest parties the world has ever seen. Now, forty years later, his vision is being recreated. This Saturday Out Productions will present The Factory Project. The event will collect a hodgepodge of contemporary Montreal artists (including many queer artists) working in various media and modes. Meanwhile, Steve Gin will "host" the event in character as Warhol himself. There will be music, a lounge, and presumably some other substances not fit for mentioning here. No word yet on the resurrection of Nico.





Wear rubber, I'm about to effuse all over your polo. Bloc Party is a zeitgeist capturing, post-punk dynamo that fuses the greatest rhythm section in Brit rock history (thanks, Matt Tong) with profuse front-stage charisma. Vital, technically deft, absorbing, and riveting, the Bloc Party live show finds the band seamlessly roving from sonic booms to regal snail builds, and Mayan pyramid layering to resonant, sad-kid, weep induction. But look for the opener to steal the show. Brilliant Toronto-based blip and twitchers, Holy Fuck, play boozey sets to sublimely sweaty crowds. Like a non-electronic electronic band, the boys use live instrumentation and non-instruments (like film synchronizers, toy keyboards and toy phaser guns) to achieve electronic-sounding effects without the use of laptops or programmed backing tracks. This is a stellar lineup for a Wednesday night. The show takes place tonight at Metropolis.





Famous heads: Herman's Head, "Machinehead," hHead, Head tennis racquets, and the head on Guinness. The most famous head of all might be the gloriously umlauted metal heads, Motörhead. The London, England band have proved that you can find extreme longevity with a single formula. These guys have been around since 1975 despite never changing their template. But it's a template that works. Write some killer guitar riffs, play them as fast as possible, and howl out some lyrics in that way that only Lemmy can. Essentially the formula works as long as they can keep coming up with riffs. And, so far, they've been able to. In case you're wondering how this concert will go, just listen to the song "Ace of Spades" and you'll know. Expect mustaches, moshing, and mullets. Motörhead play tomorrow at the Metropolis.





Christopher Hampton's play, Dangerous Liaisons based on Pierre Choderlos de Laclos' 1782 novel, follows the sexual manipulations and of "enlightened" French aristocrats. You probably know it better, though, for the film adaptations, Dangerous Liaisons with John Malkovich and Keanu Reeves and Cruel Intentions with Ryan Phillipe and Sarah Michelle Gellar. Leave it to you to only know the pop culture version, you uncultured plebe. Laison over to Segal Centre for Performing Arts between now and September 28 for the original (sort of).





It's not every day you get a chance to see a member of the Wu Tang family. Okay, maybe that's not true; there are approximately 53 of them, so you're bound to catch one. But Raekwon is not only one of the original members (none of this "extended family" bullshit), but he's also one of the best. His 1995 solo album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx is considered to be one of the most influential hip hop albums of the 1990s. If you're a fan of hip hop, this is a can't miss. He's sure to bring his expert New York-centric lyricism and flow to Club Soda tonight and I'd suggest you check it out. Also on the bill are VAI, BMC, and Velvet Trench Tribes.





The Walkmen, no matter how popular they get on the world stage, no matter how many glowing reviews they get from Pitchfork, are still remarkably down to earth. It's only fitting, then, that these garage-rockers will take on La Sala Rossa tonight for a crowd full of adoring and loyal Montreal fans. Expect retro-rock, skinny jeans, and a whole lot of Harry Nilsson covers. I mean a lot of Harry Nilsson covers. Also expect a skewed take on the pop sensibility. No one wants anything straightforward these days. O.C. lovers are permitted, but not welcome.





It would be easy to call the Vancouver-based band The Pack A.D. a female version of the Black Keys or the White Stripes. After all, they are a duo and they do play the same brand of Junior Kimbrough influenced blues-rock. But that would unjustly undercut the unique and utterly impressive skills of Ms. Becky Black, who can absolutely shred on the guitar and wail on the vocals. If Janis Joplin and Jack White had a baby, she would be it. If there's any justice in the world, it won't be long before The Pack A.D. explodes. But, before that happens, you can see them tonight at L'Escrogriffe. Forget name recognition; if you don't go, you'll regret it. Even if you don't know it.





It's hard to overlook the fact that Montreal is a fantastic music city. But with all the renowned international acts constantly filtering into the city, it's easy to forget that Montreal has a vital local music scene. The first annual PennyFest celebrates local musicians and presents them to the paying masses. The genres range from folk to pop to country with acts such as Courtney Wing, HuDost, Katie Moore, and Echo Hunters. But the real draw is Penny Lang, the folk singer-songwriter legend from whom the festival gets its name. She will headline all three days and bring in folkies from around the city and beyond. The festival takes place from tonight until Saturday at Centre St-Ambroise.





David Berman, after years of trying, finally seems to have shed the notion that Silver Jews are a Pavement side project. It might have something to do with the fact that Stephen Malkmus is no longer contributing to the band and Pavement broke up nearly 10 years ago, but it's still about damn time. Of course, it may also be due to Berman's growing reputation in his own right. His idiosyncratic vocal delivery and clever sardonic lyrics, which are so good as to have been often compared to Bob Dylan, have made him somewhat of a cult figure amongst indie rock fans. He's a reluctant live performer (as a musician, not a poet), so you should take any chance you have to see the Silver Jews live. Tonight is your chance. They're playing at La Sala Rossa





The first thing that anyone ever notices about this band is the name, Does It Offend You, Yeah?. Some people take it as a joke and some as an elaborate statement about the concept of censorship. But really it was just the first thing that was said on TV when they were deciding on a moniker (for those who are curious, it was uttered by Ricky Gervais on The Office). If you can get past the name, you'll be greeted by some catchy blog-approved electro-brit-rock. These guys are renowned for raucous live shows, so if you're on the fence based on their recorded output, go for the melee. The band plays tonight at Les Saints.





I wanted to re-imagine Shakespearean plays with robots, ideally staging them under the stars: Robot Hamlet in the Park; Titus Roboticus; and Romeo and Juliet Electronic Boo-ga-loo. Naturally, some plot points would need alteration (i.e. Ophelia couldn’t drown, but she could rust or get electrocuted; hmmm?). Unfortunately, due to lack of interest, my dream is not going to become a reality. Though I can’t do robot plays in the park, I can do the robot while electronic music plays in the park. No, it’s not the same thing, but it is mildly compensatory. As Part of Monteal's stellar Piknik Electronik, MSTRKRFT will play at Parc Jean Drapeau this Monday night. It's like regular electronic music, but much more hip. Think Daft Punk filtered through an indie-kid sensibility. No word on whether the audience will dance or stand still with their arms crossed and nod their heads.






Quebec clothing line Djab is venturing out into multi-media land this weekend. In conjunction with the limited edition Djab Escape Artist streetwear collection, the company is releasing a CD called I See The Light, a compilation full of electronic heavy hitters (Chromeo, Crystal Castles, MSTRKRFT et al). To coincide with the release, both Montreal locations of The Maison Simons will be featuring in-store performances this Saturday from noon to 4 pm from top local DJs A-Rock, Hatchmatic, and DJ Ezekiel. Special windows will be installed on the outside of the stores, allowing passerbys with headphones to plug in and listen to the compilation. It's like we're living in the future!






Like John Williams' crew, but without the fake shark tunes - well, perhaps they're not all the much like John Williams et al. UK outfit, Cinematic Orchestra is a sight to behold. Don't expect your regular drums, guitar, and bass set-up. Instead you'll be treated to turntables, saxophone, trumpet, piano, double bass, and, ummm, guitar and drums. It's a combination of jazz and electronic music that I, for one, didn't think possible. Imagine John Coltrane performing with a DJ. Does that really sound like something you'd want to miss? Cinematic Orchestra play Saturday at Club Soda.





26 year old Thomas Bartlett, a.k.a Doveman, has consistently stayed out of the spotlight despite being one of New York's most in-demand session keyboard players, touring with artists such as Glen Hansard, Martha Wainwright, David Byrne, The National, and Yoko Ono. Now Bartlett has stepped firmly into the frontman position with his sensitive recreation of the entire soundtrack to Footloose. If you've ever wondered what Footloose would sound like if it were performed by Bon Iver, you should check out this show Tuesday at La Sala Rossa.





Some events as soon as you hear them just sound cool. For some (mainly the geeky), Pointe-à-Callière Museum's 18th-century public market is one of those events. The market at Place Royale, the exact location of Montreal's first public market, turns Old Montreal into a bustling period piece. Expect street performers, arts and crafts, and food to crowd the streets, as well as over 100 period figures and two military regiments. There's also a tribute to Samuel de Champlain. Needless to say, they've gone all out for this thing. The event takes place Saturday and Sunday.






It's Film Festival season, and Montreal has a big one. The Montreal World Film Festival which starts tomorrow, continues the focus on world cinema and emerging talent. After surviving its almost untimely demise at the tender age of 30, the Montreal World Film Festival (FFM) lives, and is arguably stronger than ever. Vive le FFM libre! Unlike the high-profile Toronto International Film Festival, FFM hardly includes any Hollywood films, so take your Oscar buzz elsewhere, pal. But that’s not to say this festival does not include some very prestigious and important films. Far from it. This years sure-to-be-highlights include Paris 36, Ce qu'il faut pur vivre, and Nowhere Man. But it all starts off with a screening of the 1981 classic Chariots of Fire. Go if you can.





These Australian rockers are primed and ready to get people into the spirit. The band proved in their Montreal debut last April that they know how to get a crowd moving and on their feet. A lot of it has to do with rocking out with their proverbial cocks out. Shunning new and cutting-edge sounds, Airbourne instead go for the method tried and perfected by AC/DC: get some heavy riffs, a good song formula, some guitar solos, and people will respond (especially if they've had 6 or 7 beers). The band will attempt to bring down the walls Thursday at Le National.





It may be one of the seven deadly sins, but Montrealers will be flouting it all weekend: pride. It's that time of year again: Gay Pride Weekend. All sorts of flamboyant events take place from tonight until Sunday - celebrations in clubs and bars, gay theatre, street parties – but it's all about the main event, the Pride Parade. The theme this year is "Here comes the circus!" which I imagine will reimagine tightrope walking, trapeze, and clowns in ways that you would have never considered as a child. It all starts at the corner of Lorimier Avenue and René-Lévesque Boulevard and continues to travel west through the Village. Get out there and flaunt your pride, lust, envy, and possibly greed.





It's a Wednesday. There's not much going on in the way of nightlife and the only major concert in town is Rod Stewart. Why not take the opportunity to do something for the kids? They don't even have to be your kids; just grab some kids and take them to the International Balloon Festival of Saint-Jean-sur- Richelieu. The event's popularity has risen steadily (no pun intended) since its inception in the '80s, now attracting over 350,000 visitors per year. The 115 hot air balloons come in all shapes and sizes, including balloons modeled on cartoon characters and the fleur-de-lis. You've even got people in jet packs (that should be the selling point). The festival continues until August 17, but tonight's festivities include a performance by folk-rockers (and Neil Young apers) America.





These legendary heavy metal pioneers have been through a lot. From lead singer Rob Halford's public revelation of his homosexuality to unfortunate experimentation with synth-guitars, Judas Priest knows what its like to stay in the spotlight. Their most noticeable public occurrence, though, had to have been their 1990 trial alleging that their song "Better By You, Better By Me" contained a subliminal message that caused two teenagers to attempt suicide. The ridiculous part: the song was a cover. With the original lineup back in tow, Priest continues to find ways to stay relevant. Nearly 40 years since their original formation, they've released their most ambitious album yet, a concept album called Nostrodamus about the 16th century prophet. You'd better believe they'll have something in store for their concert at the Bell Centre tonight.







I'm going to give you a quick hip hop lesson. There are four elements of hip hop: BBoying, MCing, DJing, and Graffiti. The Under Pressure International Graffiti Convention displays all four, although obviously the focus is on the latter. Taking place this Saturday and Sunday, the festival takes it to the streets with a full weekend of DJs, breakdancing, spectacle, and street art. Over 100 artists are put into action and on display in order to educate and entertain both the public and city officials (who just launched an anti-graffiti campaign). Playing the outdoor stage are Hopskotch Players, Kid PQ, Candy Coated Killahz, Hardsteppers, Northern Lights and about 90,000 others who I won't mention. Most of the festival is free and outdoors. Not a bad way to spend a summer weekend if you ask me.





Radiohead are quite possibly the biggest musical act in the world right now; bigger than Coldplay, bigger than U2, even bigger than Neil Diamond. Every time this band puts out a record it's an event. Take their latest album, In Rainbows as an example. When Radiohead decided to allow fans to pick their own price it sparked a media shitstorm. It even added a new phrase to our modern vernacular: "The Radiohead Model". That just wouldn't happen if it were, say, The Pussycat Dolls. But there's good reason for all of the attention; I would argue (with the exception of Amnesiac) that every successive Radiohead album has been better than the last. Not only that, but their live show is supposedly legendary. Personally, I wouldn't know since I was unable to score tickets. If you have tickets to their concert tonight at Parc Jean-Drapeau, colour yourself lucky. This'll be one you can impress your future children with.





The long weekend is over, but that doesn’t mean the partying has to stop. Montreal music lovers have two choices for tonight as two high-profile veteran groups roll into town. The only thing is, they're on opposite sides of the spectrum. Back in the mid-to-late nineties, The Backstreet Boys used their squeaky-clean image to charm millions of tweens and their mothers worldwide. Now that they've returned, those same tweens are now in their twenties (not to mention their mothers, who are considerably older), but they still generate a lot of ticket sales from nostalgia. Unfortunately, I don't know if they're making many new fans. Tonight they play the Bell Centre. The polar opposite of the Backstreet Men are Rancid, who will play Metropolis tonight. The legendary ska-punkers also have the nostalgia factor going for them as one of the bands (along with Green Day and the Offspring) to catapult punk rock into the mainstream back in the mid nineties. Take your pick Montreal. I won't judge.





Once summer (a.k.a. festival season) comes along, you tend to feel very grateful for living in La Métropole. I don't know what it is about Montreal, but the city has a real faculty for attracting fantastic bands. Not only do you have big names like Radiohead, Beck and Feist coming to town, but you've also got two top notch summer festivals to choose from in Pop Montreal and Osheaga. Where Pop Montreal takes the form of a venue crawl, Osheaga is more of a standard outdoor festival. Taking place this Sunday and Monday at Parc Jean-Drapeau on Saint Hélène Island (NASCAR has got Saturday locked up), the lineup reads like a who's who of current bands. The headliners of the two days, The Killers and Jack Johnson, leave something to be desired, but nearly everything underneath is top notch talent. From seasoned veterans like Iggy and the Stooges, Cat Power and Broken Social Scene to up and comers like Plants and Animals, Chromeo and MGMT, it's just quality from start to finish. Also be sure to catch the Black Keys, Spiritualized, Gogol Bordello, Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, Jamie Lidell and the Weakerthans. And there's plenty more where that came from. Full Story





If you're not a fan, then women's tennis may only bring to mind Anna Kournikova and grunting (although you may be thinking about those things anyway). But in reality, it's much more than that. Tennis is one of the few sports where men's and women's competition is actually treated with the same amount of attention since they play at a very similar level. And today's Rogers Cup action at Uniprix Stadium brings together some of the best players in the world. If you haven't been yet, today's definitely a good day. Tournament favourite Ana Ivonovic will play 18 year-old Czech Petra Kvitova in the afternoon, but it’s the evening session that is studded with stars. Three-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova, faces off against Marta Domachowska for only the second time ever and Quebec's own Aleksandra Wozniak takes on the number 2 seed, "Weird" Jelena Jankovic. I know that's a lot of Slavic names flying at you all at once, but believe me when I say that most of them are the best in the world.





It's a good time to be queer in Montreal. This week, there's not one, but two GLBTQ arts festivals to choose from. Divers/Cité, with its bilingually punning moniker, has already established itself as a premiere gay destination. Billing itself as a plouridisciplinary arts festival, Divers/Cité celebrates diversity with a series of art, dance, film and music events. Inevitably, though, the dominance of this festival has led to charges of corporate captivity, in particular by an oppositional group named Pervers/Cité. Opposing the exorbitant entrance fees and diminished liberation of Divers/Cité, Pervers/Cité presents a similar series of events, but cheaper and with a more radical bent. It's your choice, Montreal. For tonight Divers/Cité offers you Boulevard des Rêves, a collection of some of Quebec's best female vocal talents. On the docket for Pervers/Cité is the QPIRG Radical Summer Film Screening of Young Soul Rebels, an examination of youth cultural movements in 1970's Britain. It's your choice, Montreal.





With six Apple Stores already in Canada, Montrealers have been asking "where's ours?" (or possibly "où est nôtres?"). Mac enthusiasts will now have a chance to celebrate, as a new Apple Store opens its doors. The flagship store will be located at 1321 Sainte-Catherine Street and will offer Montreal residents a chance to overpay for iPhones. The store officially opens its doors at 5:00 PM Friday evening and will offer the first 1000 visitors free Apple T-Shirts (and themselves free corporate branding). Abandoning the trademark stainless steel, Apple is trying something new with the design of this store, opting instead for stone and glass. Mac-heads have a new haven in Montreal. Score one for Steve Jobs.





Since Montreal is such a musical Mecca, there is a lot of competition for the title of best music festival. My vote goes to Pop Montreal. With more than 200 acts playing in over 20 venues, the festival isn't only a chance to check out some fantastic artists, but also a chance to see the city transformed into a giant drunken club-hopping celebration. Of course, with a combination of emerging artists and well-established powerhouses, the music ain't bad either. This year's line-up has just been announced, and it's definitely nothing to scoff at. Leading the list of established elite are freak-rockers Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, avant-punkers Wire, and songwriter extraordinaire Burt Bacharach. That's a tough bill for the young whippersnappers to top, but this is Montreal; they'll certainly try. Jason Collett, Crystal Castles, the Black Lips, Julie Doiron, Wintersleep, Woodhands, Dan Deacon, Great Lake Swimmers, and You Say Party! We Say Die! aren't a bad start (understatement of the year). If you don't go to at least one show, you should be forced to move. I hear Saskatoon has got some space.