Music

Pop Montreal 2011: Friday Best Bets

by Anne T. Donahue

Two nights down, three more to go, and the only way to get through them is to eat as many pastries as possible and cram your schedule full of shows. So to help assist you with that process, here are some of the must-see gigs that translate to “TGIF” in Pop Montreal-speak.

tUnE-YarDs
Don’t be put off by the typography, and instead embrace the limitless vocals of Merrill Garbus whose range and styles will grab you by the shoulders, spin you, and leave you in a musical abyss wondering how to get out. (And if that description didn’t convince you to see her, then maybe you should just stay home and watch TV.)

Ukrainian Federation, 5213 Hutchison, 10 p.m.

HUMANS
Everyone likes to get their dance on, so instead of standing nonchalantly with folded arms, catch this Vancouver duo perform songs from their debut full-length, Avec Mes Mecs, as well as tracks from their upcoming follow-up. After all, you didn’t come all the way to Montreal to sit or lean, so raise those hands in the air, etc.

Les 3 Minots, 3812, St-Laurent, 11 p.m.

ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS
Or maybe you don’t like dancing. Maybe this is the night you want to think, feel, hang out and reflect, so you’re in the market for some good old-fashioned Canadian country-folk, which is actually not old-fashioned at all. Delicate, simple yet adamantly unforgettable, this might be the come-down you need after two nights of pandemonium… unless they feel like really tearing it up with live renditions of the Polaris longlisted Songs Of Man.

Casa del Popolo, 4873 St-Laurent, 11 30 p.m.

DIRTY BEACHES
If you’ve forgotten about Dirty Beaches’ Polaris long-listed Badlands, you probably forgot to actually listen to it. But that’s okay! (Well, not really.) Because here’s your chance to take in Alex Zhang Hungtai’s experimental minimalism, as he combines distortion with pop hooks to create a unique musical tapestry that’s both modern and classic. Your anthems of autumn have officially been found.

Il Motore, 179 Rue Jean-Talon Ouest, 12 a.m.

KID SISTER
You’ve probably heard all about Kanye West‘s Chicago-based protege, but in case you have not, behold the electro-rap stylings of Kid Sister, an aggressively refreshing MC whose debut full-length saw contributions from Rusko and XXXchange. The likely subject of LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem” (just kidding, but it would make sense), to subject yourself to her unique brand of hip-hop would mean ending your night by raising the roof and losing your mind.

Le Belmont, 4483 Boulevard Saint Laurent, 12 30 a.m.