It’s that time of year when we look back on the year that has been and I can personally say that 2011 was an amazing year when it came to concerts in Montreal. So many memorable shows and nostalgia seemed to be the main concert attraction this year.
Here is my list of great concert moments :
I will tell my granchildren I was there concert event: Prince‘s June 24th performance was an event for the ages. Not only was seeing the Purple One at the Metropolis something worth bragging about but the iconic funkmeister put on a four-hour marathon! Just when you think music veterans cash on nostalgia does Prince offer an unforgettably generous performance to his fans!
Seeing a Live Beatle in the Flesh: After conquering the Bell Centre the previous year, Paul McCartney played two sold-out shows in July and offered a setlist spanning his entire career from his days with the Fab Four and Wings to more recent solo work. Hearing songs such as Blackbird, Get Back, and Helter Skelter = PRICELESS!
More Nostalgia Please: Legendary bassist Peter Hook took time from his feuding with his former band New Order to perform the entire Unknown Pleasures album from his other iconic band Joy Division during the Pop Montreal festival back in October. Hooky came across as incredibly charismatic and surprised a few with his vocal abilities that would have made Ian Curtis proud.
Proof that heart will always be greater than onstage theatrics : Singer-songwriter Rob Lutes brought roots music to the most unlikely of venues – the Beaurepaire United Church in Beaconsfield – on a cold and rainy September evening. The concert not only showcased Lutes’ love for roots music but the ability to win over a crowd regardless the location. His sweat-drenched shirt proved that he left it all on stage and taking time to greet people after the show only added to his charm.
I strongly suggest you check out this great Montreal artist. Visit his website at www.roblutes.com or watch him perform with rob MacDonald here.
Rob Lutes (right) and Rob MacDonald performing at the Beaconsfield United Church
Stoner Rock is Alive and Well, thank you very much : 90s Stoner rock made its return in grand fashion with pioneers Kyuss Lives! (Kyuss minus Josh Homme), and Fu Manchu performing in the city. While the former was a muffled distorted journey focusing on heavy riffs the latter was pure unadulterated fun in a set that was way too short. Queens of the Stone Age (with Josh Homme) also played its entire debut album back in March and totally killed it. Fans of the genre could not have been happier.
Our city can now brag to having in very own alternative music festival: Music Fest Osheaga no longer needs any introductions. Established acts rub elbows with lesser-known artists making the three-day event a mandatory event for lovers of alternative music. Highlights included Eminem packing the joint on Friday evening, Death From Above 1979 reuniting and making the 45-minute set a violently brutal affair, Elvis Costello closing the second day to an (regrettably) empty lot, the Flaming Lips playing their entire the Soft Bulletin album and being themselves, and the Joy Formidable stealing the show with a blistering 30-minute set.
Spellbinding Moment of the Year: Fans came out in droves to see Portishead deliver a mesmerizing set on a beautiful Autumn evening. The weather was warm and the setting was perfect for the 90s trip hop act to shine. I am still baffled on how incredibly crisp the sound quality during the set. It could have easily been a contender for show of the year had it not been for (1) heavyweights Prince, U2 and McCartney throwing their weight around this year and (2) the set being three songs too short.
The Spaceship Has Finally Landed in Montreal: It took a year but U2 finally made it to Montreal and played two gigantic shows in front of 160,000. The Hippodrome was converted into a concert venue especially for these shows and Mother Nature made it even more memorable by gracing us with a torrential downpour immediately after the first show. The area surrounding the concert was car-free making it look like a scene from 28 Days Later. Surreal in every sense of the word… and U2 weren’t too shabby either 
U2's Adam Clayton performing at Montreal Hippodrome
Looking ahead in 2012: The upcoming year should be another solid year with Coldplay set to play two evenings in July, and huge UK act Kasabian returning in March. Let’s keep our fingers that Radiohead return, and that the Van Halen tour announced today has a date scheduled in Montreal.
