The definitive POP Montreal 2017 mixtape
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To mark the 16th edition of POP Montreal, running September 13 to 17, we asked Concordia’s headliners to share their top program picks, complete with favourite tracks.
The result? A handpicked Concordia mixtape of this year’s must-see POP shows.
1. Bernardino Femminielli – “Plaisirs Américains”
At POP Montreal on Wednesday, September 13 at 10:30 p.m. | Piccolo Little Burgundy
“In recent months, I've been heavily listening to Bernardino Femminielli's Plaisirs Américains. The title track is totally my jam and I love it while I'm painting. I highly recommend the whole album.”
~ Think About Life’s Matt Shane (MFA 13)
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2. Loon – “Dance”
At POP Montreal on Saturday, September 16 at 9 p.m. | La Vitrola
“Tessa Kautzman is a killer musician and her band Loon is very cool. This goosebump-inducing track has a dreamy, shoe-gaze vibe, but with a tendency to lean into a Kate Bush–like vocal that is assertive yet vulnerable.”
~The Dears’ Natalia Yanchak (BA 00)
3. Narcy – “Makoo”
At POP Montreal on Friday, September 15 at 8 p.m. | Théâtre Fairmount (Salle Shure)
“I love this guy. Fun fact: I once asked him to produce a full-length version of the ‘Elephant in the Room’ sample from the ‘Radio Suite’ interlude on his We Are The Medium album.”
~ Strange Froots’ Magassy Mbow (BA 14)
4. Duchess Says – “Negative Thoughts”
At POP Montreal on Saturday, September 16 at 10 p.m. | Bar Le Ritz P.D.B.
“I saw Duchess Says at the Green Room, I think, in 2006ish. The way the singer moved around the stage never left my mind. Sometimes I'm unsure of the point of live music, and then I think of her and it's obvious.”
~ James Irwin (BA 05)
5. King Woman – “Deny”
At POP Montreal on Thursday, September 14 at 8:30 p.m. | La Vitrola
"King Woman makes the kind of doom-ridden, slow-pounding, atmospheric rock we love. We can't wait to play with them on September 14 at Vitrola!"
~ Heathers’ Heather Hardie (BFA 10)
6. Hurray for the Riff Raff – “The Body Electric”
At POP Montreal on Sunday, September 17 at 10:30 p.m. | Piccolo Little Burgundy
“The band I most want to see is Hurray for the Riff Raff. I love Alynda Lee Segarra's voice and spirit so much and have never gotten to see them perform. That said, I play a show in Toronto the same night they're playing here, so I'll miss them once again. Everyone else, go see them for me!”
~ Little Scream’s Laurel Sprengelmeyer (GrCert 02)
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7. Ora Cogan – “The Light”
At POP Montreal on Thursday, September 14 at 9 p.m. | Brasserie Beaubien
“Ora Cogan is an amazing dream-pop songwriter with a beautiful new album.”
~ Abigail Lapell (BA 08)
8. Royal Trux – “Shockwave Rider”
At POP Montreal on Saturday, September 16 at 9 p.m. | Théâtre Fairmount (Salle Shure)
"It's really tough to single out a song by Royal Trux — pretty much all of Cats and Dogs is great and some of the later singles like “Stop” are really well-crafted. But “Shockwave Rider” is a really unique track. Very gritty and dreamy at the same time. The weird backwards bit at the intro really sets the mood."
~ Freelove Fenner’s Caitlin Loney (MA 12)
9. Think About Life – “Sweet Sixteen”
At POP Montreal on Saturday, September 16 at 11 p.m. | Piccolo Little Burgundy
“Think About Life is Montreal's best supergroup and best-kept secret, but they’re sadly defunct, except for this reunion show. Their individual members also comprise Dishwasher and Miracle Fortress — both worth checking out in detail.”
~ Saxsyndrum’s Nick Schofield (BFA 10)
10. John Maus – “Quantum Leap”
At POP Montreal on Friday, September 15 at 9 p.m. | Théâtre Rialto (Salle St-Ambroise)
“I've never seen John Maus perform before so I'm really excited. I've heard he puts on a really intense show. ‘Quantum Leap’ is a fave — it's a song that gets stuck in my head but it's also really intense and trippy. I love the dramatic vocals and how all the different instruments come in and out. I hope to hear this one live!”
~ GG Love’s Georgia Graham (current BFA student)
Check out the schedule of Concordians at POP and view the full POP Montreal lineup.