On a chilly late-November night, bodies packed into the ever magnificent Bar L’Escogriffe on St. Denis. Coats piled in the corner as the crowd warmed and filled around the stage.
Local punk-new wave outfit Crasher started the night off and got the crowd bouncing along to their darkwave rhythms. Singer Airick Asher Woodhead balanced vocal and synth duty, consulting a setlist scribbled onto a coffee filter between songs, they stood up on amps and sang into the misty space before them. With pumping electronic beats, gothic atmospheric tones, and a voice that’s as ghostly as it is sensual, Crasher excelled at capturing the attention of the audience and successfully set the tone for a night of dance and debauchery.
A thick cloud began to form and cover the entire venue as local post-punk duo Distraction4ever prepared for their set. The smoke machine running at full blast quickly engulfed vocalist Beau Geste and bassist Splitshift, creating a rave-like atmosphere before the first note was even played. Their unique style incorporates influences ranging from Joy Division to Blink-182 and their sound falls somewhere in-between with synth-punk melodies mixing with distorted vocals and fast drum tracks to create a truly one-of-a-kind experimental sound. The crowd responded immediately, space became tight as people danced and half-moshed through the heavy mist. With lyrics that delve into affection, toxic work/life balances, isolation and the feeling of being trapped by the city it’s easy to see why Distraction4ever resonates so heavily with their audience. Splitshift’s riffs cut through the distorted soundscapes, leading us through certain tracks while Beau’s delivery is poetic, reflective and yet snarling as he whips his head back and forth between lines. He looks possessed, wrapping his tie around his neck to form a makeshift noose. When it comes to the final song, the band invites the audience to jump up on stage, let go, dance and enjoy as though we are all a part of this misfit circus. The lights are flashing but can illuminate only a couple feet in front of you while bodies jump through the smoke with permission to move freely from the usual inhibitions.
Toronto based noise rock band Gloin closed the evening with their heavy post-punk fused tidal wave of sonic dissonance. 2025 was a big year for Gloin, they released their second LP All of Your Anger Is Actually Shame (And I Bet That Makes You Angry) to critical acclaim. The album was longlisted for the 2025 Polaris Music Prize and tackles themes of control, authenticity, and the relevance of one’s work. Their droning guitars rip into chaotic drum builds that seem impossible to get out of, yet, are pummelled together until the rhythm is beat back into place. Guitarist John Watson and bassist Vic Byers share vocal duties, yelling back and forth to one another in a call-and-response style chant that fills the room. With the mist dissipating, the crowd jumped and moshed around as the five-piece trudged their way through the setlist. Byers especially looked dialed-in as she shred atop an amp, delivering a relentless, take-no-prisoners, wall of noise. The addition of keyboards/synths lend the band a harrowing post-punk dimension that pushes you to bounce around but stays elusive and unpredictable. Without a doubt, Gloin’s crushing performance led many to take note of a fresh band firing on all cylinders.
As the night came to a close, there was a catharsis of sorts felt through the room, like a demon exorcised, or an itch scratched. It was an incredible display of talent through and through that highlights the importance of festivals like M pour Montreal and the growing need to support our local artists who do so much for the extraordinary music community growing right in our own backyard.
M Pour Montreal takes place annually in November. To find out more, click HERE.
