Play me that song: The art of being a great cover band

Our conversation got me thinking. Not only how it would be nice to write about music that people whose social lives don’t revolve around the Plateau might have actually heard about for a change, but also before that night I’d never really thought about just how hard it is to be a cover band. When I think cover band, my mind immediately goes to sketchy/bored looking musicians at a wedding or some seedy dive bar on a Tuesday night…

Charting the Frigid Arctic of Igloofest

Montreal’s Igloofest has grown up significantly over the past six years and this year is by far it’s most stand out year yet. Last Saturday ticket booths suddenly closed, over capacity. To the frustration of hundreds of festival goers, all entrances and exits to Igloofest were now closed as they had achieved a historical admittance of just over 10,000 people. This edition’s line up exploded off the official website in an array of bright colours and cheeky models promoting the festival’s snow suit contest. *Edit: Tonight’s closing event is sold-out before even starting!!!

Tricks to Enjoy Igloofest to the Max

Last Friday I found myself entering Igloofest for the first time. My friends were surprised to learn it had taken me so long to actually attend this winter gathering. I could never picture myself dancing in the cold but last Friday I found a way to enjoy Igloofest properly and thoroughly. Here are a couple tips for dancing around in the cold and snow!

Igloofest playlist: filling your weekends up until February

Here at Forget the Box, we made some New Year’s resolutions. One of them is to have our playlists back on a monthly basis. I guess the summer’s festivals were pretty rough on our livers but no worries, dear music lovers, we’re back for good! We’re starting the year with a subjective guide on what not to miss during the three weekends of Igloofest…

There’s nothing sexier than rock ‘n roll: The Triple Gangers, Hut and Moves at The Bovine Sex Club

When The Triple Gangers asked me to cover their show at The Bovine Sex Club on December 15th along with fellow Toronto bands Hut and Moves, I had two words in response: Hell! Yeah! I …

Bran Van, Thank You Mam

Bran Van 3000 are legendary in the Montreal music scene. Ever since making it big with their hit Drinking in LA, which, by the way was originally entitled Drinking in Longeuil, they’ve been touring and bringing their eclectic sound to adoring fans everywhere. (I don’t know how much fun drinking in a metro or on the South Shore would be?)

Bran Van doesn’t release albums very often, in fact they’ve only released 4 albums since 1994. Which makes a Bran Van album release kinda like getting laid in the back of a Chevy, it doesn’t happen that often, but when it does – You’re really lucky!

Behind the Curtain with The Wizard of Oz: An Interview with David Lortie

Who is Dave, what does he do, why should we care?

When David Lortie began promoting events for Montreal’s hip-hop and turntablism scene he was an eager, fresh faced seventeen year old who was doing it solely because he was passionate about the music he loved. Much has changed since those early days, however Lortie’s passion and enthusiasm for event promotion and planning has not been dampened…

Frank Turner in Montreal

English songsmith Frank Turner landed in Metropolis recently as part of his North America Canada tour. With him for the ride were his band the Sleeping Souls and support acts Into It Over It and Andrew Jackson Jihad. Turners shows tend to get a lot of attention as word of energetic, heart-felt performances grew after his previous tours…

CFCF Debuts Night Bus II at Blizzarts

Montreal producer, CFCF aka Michael Silver, debuted his ambient electronic Night Bus II mix at Blizzarts alongside DJ JRC last Thursday. The set is a follow up to last year’s Do You Like Night Bus? mix, which had critics and bloggers excited about the possibility of an emerging genre called Night Bus. Forums were filling up with lengthy debates about whether…

Lee Foss in Montreal at UN Club

We’re in the middle of November. It’s getting colder and the days are getting shorter. All you want to do is watch French new-wave movies with your new boyfriend while sipping hot chocolate. Let’s face …

Black Star in the Hood

Black Star’s tour is soon to stop in Montreal after performing on the Colbert Report as well as other cities around North America, and in case you’re uninformed as to the group’s history, please allow me to illuminate you.

The duo of Black Star is composed of Mos Def and Talib Kweli, who have each individually achieved significant success subsequent to their work together. Mos Def (or Yasiin Bey, as he’s planning a name change at the end of the calendar year) has worked with countless legends throughout all genres, from Kanye West to the Black Keys to Gorillaz—but may very well be most well known…

Art vs. Science in Montreal or How To Dance Your Face Off For $10

I first heard of Art vs Science about 24 hours ago, and when the group says it’s their first time in town, I feel better about having been in the dark. When the tunes kick in though, I want to make up for lost time: can I be their biggest fan?

They’re funky and dancy, and don’t take themselves seriously; hipsters with humor. Even the guitarist/keyboardist who goes by Dan Mac, with his this-is-my-real-moustache moustache, as he gyrates for the crowd, manages to play the whole scene sans douchiness, as we scream and get legit stoked for his…

Young Girls Swoon Over Library Voices in Montreal

Let’s talk about Library Voices and the wicked show they put on at Casa del Popolo. Why is “pop” a bad word in Montreal (unless you’re talking about POP Montreal)? Sometimes I feel like Montreal is Bill Clinton and pop music is Monica Lewinski you secretly love it, but when it’s right in your face you pretend it’s no good. That’s the way this city rolls, and that’s the way it’s always going to roll. Montreal has this dark love for the weird and tortured…

Frank Turner Brings His Bones, Lyrics and Music to Montreal Tomorrow

Those of you who like their songwriting with more than a dash of hearfelt honesty and dissilusioned maturity could do much worse than check out this songwriter when he plays Montreal tomorrow. English songwriter Frank Turner will play Theatre Corona and without a doubt it will be an amazing performance and a moving show. Frank Turner was previously known as the frontman of the British post-punk band Million Dead who disbanded in 2005. Moving onwards and upwards Turner then focused his attention on his solo career. Having written and performed…

Clans and Clubs: From Wu-Tang to Smoker’s, Respectively

The concert on October 20th at Club Soda represented more than just a hip-hop show, it represented the unification of two collectives and their loyal fan-bases.

The first block consisted of several members from the Smoker’s Club, including Curren$y, Smoke DZA, Fiend, Corner Boy P, and a surprise appearance by Trademark da Skydiver and Young Roddy (maybe in order to make up for the last-minute cancellation of Big K.R.I.T.). If several of those names, or God-forbid all of them, mean nothing to you, then you probably don’t…

Songs to Smile to: Matt Stern @ POP Montreal

If you’re a friend of Matt Stern’s, you may well end up in one of his songs. He shared the backstory on a couple of his tunes during POP Montreal, at Cabigi. Having never been there before, I was pleased to find that it provided a perfectly kitsch-tastic backdrop for his bright eyed, acoustic set (is that a Formica table? Formica is awesome!).

He explained how on a trip to Croatia, a friend of his, not having her usual distractions at her disposal, had been at a loss to entertain herself…