ENT Blog

Janet Jackson's new video featuring Quebec dancer Nico Archambault (the shaved head guy), winner of So You Think You Can Dance Canada.

Fake priests, true believers, some heavenly vocals and a whole lot of the devil's music. Those who came to the fourth annual M for Montreal music festival and conference looking for a religious experience might not have had their souls saved — but they likely had their prayers answered one way or another on the event's second day. Here's a rundown of the holy rock ’n’ rollers who were preaching to the choir:

Mark Berube & The Few
Nothing says sacrilege like having a rock gig in a former church — and having it introduced by a purple-robed guy pretending to be a priest and jabbering on like a stoner about how eight motherships are about the encircle the planet so aliens can reprogram us and we can be freed from our reptilian overlords. Apparently, the M for Montreal organizers want to make these afternoon shows in the understatedly beautiful Historic Chapel Du Bon-Pasteur just a little more ... oh, what's the word? Insane? Yeah, that's it. Mission accomplished. So anyway, once Father Cheech Sarducci or whatever his name is finishes his bizarro sermon, there are two acts. First up: Homegrown singer-keyboardist Mark Berube and his Few (they used to be the Patriotic Few, if memory serves; guess they aren't feeling nationalistic anymore). They are few indeed; just a cellist and a drummer. But that's really all the backing Berube needs for his striking, intense brand of indie-pop. During his too-brief four-song set, it moves from hushed and sombre to bigger and brighter. Whatever the case, it's pretty mesmerizing. And never more so than when he moves away from the mic and performs a mournful a cappella vocal that hushes a roomful of music industry weasels into respectful silence — and brings the publicist standing near me close to tears. Or perhaps she's just upset about our reptilian overlords.
ENT Rating: 4 out of 5

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Every city has its own music scene. But few of them generate as much heat, hype and buzz as Montreal's music scene.

And no wonder. Over the last few years, the city has given us everyone from Arcade Fire to Islands to Patrick Watson. And there's plenty more where they came from.

Who will be the next Next Big Thing to emerge from Montreal's eclectic, vibrant scene? That's what I'm here to find out. I'm in the city all weekend to take in the M for Montreal music conference and festival. It's a three-day gathering of industry types from around the globe, here to shmooze, network, interface — those are all code words for getting loaded, by the way — and, oh yeah, check out a few dozen local artists of all shapes, sounds, styles and stripes (along with a few out-of-towners and ringers).

You might recognize some of the homegrown acts on this weekend's roster — like former Smashing Pumpkins and Hole bassist Melissa Auf Der Maur, who's finally putting out a new CD. Others — like Final Flash, Silly Kissers and Parlovr — might be as new to you as they are to me. But given Montreal's track record, chances are you'll be reading about at least one of them someday soon. So why not beat the crowd? Check back all weekend long as I B for Blog my way through M for Montreal and rate the bands.

Here's what I caught during Thursday's opening-night festivities, held in the Just For Laughs theatre and adjoining cabaret:

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This night in a few words? Glitters, stars all over the bleachers, top models, big wings, The Black Eyed Peas and lots of blown kisses... I was expecting something big, but this show was huge. Fireworks. Eye Candy. A total contrast with recession. Maybe that's what people needed. Here's the night in pictures and video, enjoy.


A bra fit for recession. The 3-million-dollar lingerie on Marisa Miller.picture courtesy of Victoria's Secret


The Black Eyed Peas performed two songs.



More pictures after the jump!

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Many men would have killed for my press pass today. Enjoy!



Pictures of back stage after the jump!

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