PICK POP

OK, I don't know if anyone else is doing this... but here goes, here's my picks for POP... or what I would go to if I had unlimited energy and funds.

October 1st
My night would start at 8pm, I'd check out Growing at Metropolis, stay for a couple songs from Hot Chip, but would have to leave, because I wouldn't want to miss one blissful note of Baby Dee at the Ukrainian Federation (10pm). Many people haven't yet heard of Baby Dee, but she's been around a long time and is a huge influence on Antony and the Johnsons. After the show, I'd ride out the night at the Divan Orange, where Siltbreeze is having their showcase (be sure to check out Sic Alps)

October 2nd
If I had the $ (forty bones), I'd check out Irma Thomas (9pm) at the Ukrainian Federation. I'm pretty weary of seeing legends past their prime, but I have a feeling Irma Thomas hasn't lost much of her punch. Then, if I was in the mood to be thrown into a mess of sweaty bodies, I'd check out some modern dancehall c/o The Bug & Warrior Queen (11:30pm) at the Portuguese Assosiation, followed by the earnest, but charming indie rock of Throw Me The Statue at Quai des Brumes (1:30am).

October 3rd
I'd start my day early (5pm) at the Symposium (Mile End Cultural Centre) and see Lydia Lunch's 'key note presentation' which I've been told is something bordering on a performance. From there my Friday gets fuzzy. Performances from Julie Doiron, the ambient-doom metal of Menace Ruin, and Socalled performing a live soundtrack to vintage gay porn are all pretty enticing. But since I'll have many more chances to catch these locals, I'll opt to see the one-man band from Japan tinker with toy pianos and assorted oddities - Shugo Tokumaru (O Patro Vys - 11:30pm).

October 4th
I'll be spending my Saturday night at the Baltimore Round Robin which has been moved to the Eastern Bloc (7420 Clark, above Jean Talon). I know some of the bands (Beach House, Jana Hunter, of course), I saw Lexie Mountain Boys at SXSW, and they were pretty great (primal, ritualistic performance art), there's a lot of bands that I don't know, which I find kind of exciting. Baltimore's become a pretty exciting scene over the past few years, and I'm looking forward to a showcase devoted to it. But at 11:15 (and it doesn't matter who's playing), I'll be jumping on my bike and heading down to Barfly to see Alex Lukashevsky (11:30pm). Alex is one of my very favorite Canadian songwriters. He writes and sings a strange sort of blues music, it's very unique, smart and completely natural. Final Fantasy is about to release a 10" of his music.

The POP schedule says that my band, Shapes and Sizes, is playing October 4th at Les Saints as part of the Art Matters show case, it's actually a misprint, we're not playing POP montreal, but we're playing a non-pop show on the 2nd at the Playhouse (Parc Ave.) with Elfin Saddle, Anenomes, and others... it goes late!

October 5th
It's not official POP territory, but the Luyas will be playing an instore on the 5th at Phonopolis with a very special guest who must not be named, but you really should come(4pm).
By Sunday night, POP seems to be slowing to an end, and it's probably for the best, we'll all be nursing our collective hang overs, but if I can muster the energy, I'll make my way back to the Eastern Bloc for another segment of Baltimore Round Robin, but I'll probably be asleep in the corner.