blog post Pop Montreal Night Three: "May I Have A Puff Of Your Apple?"

As with most music festivals these days, Pop Montreal has a day-time conference element called Pop and Policy where established members of the music industry, and its musicians, give back to an audience of hopefuls. That's the theory anyway.

My panel was a fiery one: Media Training - how can a musician use the media to their full advantage? On the panel were two diametrically opposed forces: three members of the media, and two musicians. The musicians didn't trust the media and the media thought the musicians were being needlessly defensive. The musicians in question were Nick and Jamie from Islands, ex-Unicorns whose relationship with the media in certain circles is notorious. I was caught somewhere in the middle as moderator, just trying to force everyone to get along. At one point I literally thought a fist-fight was going to break out!

CBC Radio 3's main-event showcase was Saturday night, at a grand-dame venue on Sainte Catherine called Le National. I arrived to a huge throng of fans crowding around the front entrance of the theatre, all trying to squeeze in to the sold-out show. Once I made it past the formidable security, I wound my way backstage and had a reunion of sorts with the performers of the night: Lightning Dust, Sunset Rubdown, and Black Mountain. All three bands are filled with wonderful people, many of whom I have known for a decade-plus, ever since they were in their original teen punk rock or ska bands from various small towns in BC. To be reunited all in one cramped backstage, drinking red wine and preparing for a sold-out Saturday night at Pop Montreal was a fun realization for all of us. Not to mention the fact we were broadcasting the whole thing live on Sirius to all of North America.

Lightning Dust played a lovely, understated show to a pin-drop attentive crowd. Up next was a New York group called Oakley Hall who played a style of roots-rock that was one part Son Volt and a few other parts My Morning Jacket. I'll admit that I missed most of their show wrapped up in the impromptu Vancouver party going on in the lobby. Sunset Rubdown came on stage to a roar of approval from the packed crowd. It was the band's first show in months, and several of their new songs were of a spectacular nature. Lead singer Spencer Krug (also of Wolf Parade) continues to emerge as one of Canada's great young artists. Black Mountain closed the show with a 90 minute clap of stoned thunder. An unbelievable live band, they are able to create and hold an audience in a sonic vibe that is truly something to behold. Craig Norris and I were honoured to host the night.

Apres show, everyone crowded into the tiny downstairs backstage to revel in the show's success and dive into the plentiful Black Mountain rider... beer, wine, whiskey, vodka, and... apples. Yes, as the room slowly filled with the familiar scented clouds of BC's own Sweet Wheat, I couldn't help but notice the members of Black Mountain passing around what appeared to be a smoking piece of fruit. Intrigued as always, I jumped into the circle and inquired as to what exactly was going on. One of them smiled, coughed, and very slowly and pleasantly said "we've stuffed this apple with pot and now we're smoking it, litte dude". I watched as a few more people took a nice long suck off this smoking Granny Smith, then I cautiously asked "um... may I have a bite of your apple?"

The next thing I remember, I woke up in a face-down position in the Theatre National's janitor closet, cross-eyed and soiled, reciting Doors lyrics.

Thanks to all at Pop Montreal for proving that Canada can not only hold a fantastic international music festival, but also hold just about the very best international music festival, and one where almost all of the headliners are Canadian. Special thanks to all my friends and colleagues at CBC, including Don, Steve, Jordan, Craig, Amanda, Yuani, James, and everyone at Radio Canada.