Music

6 Highlights From Pop Montreal

by Anne T. Donahue

Between the interviews and time spent pouring over the lineup (we did it for you guys), we still managed to take in some big-ticket shows for the few days we were at Pop Montreal. And while we couldn’t get to everything, what we saw was pretty memorable… and this is us telling you about it.

Karkwa @ Place des Festivals du Quartier des spectacles

If you forgot about last year’s Polaris surprise, their audience of nearly 100,000 likely jogged your memory. Proving that while the rest of Canada may not have properly familiarized themselves with the Montreal five piece, their hometown’s enthusiasm more than made up for it, fueling the band’s powerful set with near-manic screams upon each note or declaration of thanks. But while we English-speakers may have felt alienated by their French exclusivity, their zest for performing, love of their craft and live interpretation of the likes of Marie tu pleures helped make the language feel universal.

Arcade Fire @ Places des Festivals du Quartier des spectacles

While we’re at no loss for words when discussing the Arcade Fire, there’s no way left to describe them without standing there silently, hand-over-heart. Playing to a crowd the size of a city (“the most polite mob” to ever exist), the year’s award darlings personified beloved; using their set as a platform for adoration, and reciprocating the appreciation bestowed upon them by their fans. The night was theirs. Maybe the festival too. And while those on the outside knew this show was a love letter to Montreal, national pride overflowed, and left everyone proud to be Canadian.

Grimes @ Mission Santa Cruz

To go from stirring outdoor instrumentals to basement-venue minimalism could be abrasively unfulfilling, but the Montreal community would mean nothing without its celebration of joyous eclecticism. That said, no better word could describe Grimes, whose mix of pop hooks and onstage accessibility helped transform the Rue Rachel hotspot from the makings of a Dali painting to the musical equivalent of a cold drink of wine. The only thing better would’ve been a glass of just that, but knowing her next show will feature completely new tracks was consolation enough.

The Spits @ Club Soda

You can’t love every group in the world, so while the Spits have rightfully earned a place in their musical circle, comparisons to a “Misfits cover band” (courtesy of an attendee) can be understood. Hard-hitting, vicious, and unapologetically brash, their intention seems to alienate, but regardless of their inaccessibility, to dismiss their charisma, energy and hard-nosed boldness leaves you only at a disadvantage, especially since they played costumed and face-painted to a crowd vying for space on a photo blog, and few of us could be so brave.

Pat Jordache @ Fédération Ukrainienne

To open for TUnE-yArDs must be a challenge, so after labeling the headliner as the night’s feature film, Pat Jordache became the preview. Luckily, the Montreal act consisted of more than just five guitar-brandishing gentlemen, and instead of just rock ‘n roll clichés, they offered depth and charisma to what could’ve otherwise been a lack-luster set. Boasting understated stage presence that worked only to charm, the crowd was well prepped for TUnE-yArDs’ all-encompassing glory – reminding the masses why we love previews so much, and why listening to the band’s Future Songs should be a priority.

TUnE-yArDs @ Fédération Ukrainienne

To mimic Merrill Garbus is an impossible task, and whether you consider her vocals ingenious or warbling, she’s alone in her craft, evoking emotion found only in nature. Tribal, guttural and completely uninhibited, Merrill and friends defined insatiable honesty, wooing listeners with only a smile and drum loop, and reminding us why music is best once hangs-ups are abandoned. Never was there a better setting for the celebration of ritual, and atop a backdrop of religious-heavy culture, the set became a service of song, leaving attendees to worship their priestess through dance, sweat, and acts of adoration.