My first thoughts after the night ended was that I hadn’t seen several friends who normally show up at a Billy Bob Productions soirée – and how they would end up kicking themselves.
What a night it was. You’ll see the set list and photo album below and eventually the James Correa film and then get ready for the third and final part of a trilogy that began in December of 2019 with Montreal Calling! The original plan was to follow that spirited night of Clash and early punk classics with the next phase of that era in 2020 and finish up in 2022 with a similar blast of punk energy that went to a second fork in the road. But then Covid hit and blah blah blah.
So we’re just a little late. But – and it is one of my favourite phrases and it especially hits the mark these days – good things come to those who wait.
So many people to thank for a brilliant night of music starting with Paul Cargnello and The Truth. The era is right up Paul’s alley (he named his son Declan after Elvis Costello) but not only did he lead the house band through nearly four hours of non-stop top notch music he came up with the idea to have a double backline stage set up to make the entire event totally seamless. (And a big thank you to stage director Steve Traynor who balances presence, authority and just enough warmth and good looks to lay the guilt on any artist who would dare fuck with the timing. With the exception of a couple of brief moments the night moved along without a hitch.)
Paul was an ace on and off the stage. In at least two languages. And a big nod to his wife Jessie Evans for coming up with “Montreal is the Drug” as the name for the event. It was/is perfect.
I’m proud of the fact that about 800 people will likely point to this night as the last one they had at the beautiful venue known as the Corona Theatre.
Way too many highlights to single anybody out but it was a trip to finally get Sam Roberts and his band into one of these shows and Sam himself into our TSN 690 studio. But I think my favourite single moment of the night was when I was making my way back to the soundboard after greeting a friend and seeing Quebec media star Geneviève Borne of MusiquePlus fame, leaning against a wall, unable to say much except to put her hand over her heart with an expression of pure bliss. And that’s exactly what these nights are about.
Thanks to Corona’s hard working staff, especially Sergio Antunes (technical director) and Will Lauzon (sound). And from Evenko – Bianca Capanna, Yasmina Aidoune, Chloé Girard, Elise Bertrand and Nick Farkas.
I found out in a hurry that promoting a full scale non-fundraising event in the form of a one night music festival was much more of a challenge in the post-Covid world. I know many local shows feature advertising budgets of 15-25k or even more. We can do a fraction of that so we get the word out the old fashioned way – with a lot of leg work. Thanks mainly to Leonard Yelle who works our events like his life depends on them. But because he’s such a fan, enjoys himself as much as anybody (without the stress) and mostly because he has a heart of gold.
And to all those establishments that Len invades with posters and postcards including Westmount Florist, Cafe Olympico, Bagel, etc., Jimi’s Music Store, Drawn & Quarterly, Allo Mon Coco (Ste-Dorothée) and countless others. And on a more personal note – Dave Smith of Audio Centre Ouest at 4914 Sherbrooke W (formerly Environnement Electronique), Morrie Baker (Burger Bar Crescent), Barb Irwin (Monkland Tavern), Jon Cercone & Steven Leslie (Tavern on the Square), Frank Servedio (Clarke Café), Massimo (Max) & Joe D’adderio (La Medusa) and Paul Desbaillets (Burgundy Lion). Much love to all.
This event would not have been possible without the help of our sponsors. We’re proud to be associated with two great Montreal music companies – Stingray and Truck’N Roll. Thanks especially to Frédérique Gagnier and Lloyd Feldman at Stingray and Ghislian Arsenault at Truck’N Roll. Plus Bill Hurley and Rod Applebee at Hurley’s Irish Pub and Colin Nix at Mirela’s/Magic Palace. Major props as well to Ken Doran. And to Stephen Bronfman and Rob Braide.
Thanks to my Bell Media friends on and off the air for helping us get the word out especially Phil Dalpé, Mathew Wood, Chris Bury, Jason Rockman, Bilal Butt, Pete Marier, Sharon Hyland, Jay Michaels, Natasha Hall, Aaron Rand, Andrew Carter, Sarah Deshaies, Esteban Vargas, Conor McKenna and Shaun Starr – who paid for his ticket and rediscovered the joy of live music.
Plus Lorraine Carpenter and Tim Salhany at Cult MTL, Alex Petraki, Jay Farrar & Alex Robertson, Lloyd Fischler, Gary Silverman, Shane Murphy and Jaye Portigal.
Most of all thank you for supporting local artists and Billy Bob Productions. This was our second consecutive event featuring 100% Montreal or Montreal area artists.
Now don’t forget about the next one – Friday November 24 at Club Soda. Or you’ll be using your other leg to kick yourself all over again.
MONTREAL IS THE DRUG (A Salute to the post punk/new wave era) SET LIST
OPENER: THE TINA TRONS (JIMMY SPENCER – drums, PATRICK HUTCHINSON – electric guitar/vocals, JORDAN SWIFT– bass, LORRAINE MULLER– vocals, saxophone & tambourine, NILIA BERKIN – vocals, keytar & tambourine, MIRA CHOQUETTE – vocals & tambourine)
1. WE GOT THE BEAT (The Go-Go’s 1981) – Lorraine Muller lead vocal
2. ECHO BEACH (Martha & The Muffins 1980) – Lorraine Muller lead vocal
3. HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL (Rough Trade 1980) – Mira Choquette lead vocal
4. ONE WAY OR ANOTHER (Blondie 1978) – Nilia Berkin lead vocal
5. CALL ON ME (The Bangs* 1981) *(later the Bangles) – Mira Choquette lead vocal
6. 52 GIRLS – (The B-52’s 1978) – MULLER, CHOQUETTE & BERKIN vocals
Introductory Video Montage to EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD (Tears for Fears 1985) produced by Annakin Slayd
House Band PAUL CARGNELLO & THE TRUTH (PAUL CARGNELLO vocals & electric guitar, JASMINE BLEILE – vocals & saxophone, JAMES CHALLENGER – vocals & bass, ROCKLEE – drums, DAVID OSEI-AFRIFA – keys, JOSH FUHRMAN – saxophone, LORRAINE MULLER – vocals & baritone sax)
7. JUST WHAT I NEEDED (The Cars 1978) – Cargnello
8. WHEN YOU WERE MINE(Cyndi Lauper 1983) – Bleile
9. WILD IN THE STREETS (Garland Jefferys 1978) – Cargnello
10. MIDDLE OF THE ROAD (The Pretenders 1983) – Bleile
11. ENDICOT (Kid Creole and the Coconuts 1985) – Challenger
12. HEART OF GLASS (Blondie 1978) – Bleile
13. RAPTURE (Blondie 1980) – w/ Annakin Slayd & Tiffany Pontes– vocals
PUNCHING WEASEL (MARK GOODWIN – vocals & electric guitar, RD HARRIS – Drums, ALEC McELCHERAN– bass & vocals
14. THE WAIT (Killing Joke 1980)
15. BEHIND THE WALL OF SLEEP (The Smithereens 1986)
16. PUMP IT UP (Elvis Costello & The Attractions 1978) – PAUL CARGNELLO & THE TRUTH – Cargnello vocals
17. RADIO, RADIO (Elvis Costello & The Attractions 1978) – PAUL CARGNELLO & THE TRUTH – Cargnello vocals
18. LESS THAN ZERO (Elvis Costello 1977) – ALEC McELCHERAN vocals & bass w/ Paul Cargnello & The Truth
19. I’M THE MAN (Joe Jackson 1979) – ALEC McELCHERAN vocals & bass w/ Paul Cargnello & The Truth
20. THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT (The Jam 1980) – ALEC McELCHERAN vocals & bass w/ Paul Cargnello & The Truth
21. WORLD FOR THE TAKING (Asexuals 1988) – TJ PLENTY – vocals & electric guitar, PAUL REMINGTON – drums, ALEX REMINGTON – bass
22. ANOTHER GIRL, ANOTHER PLANET (The Only Ones 1978)
23. KISS ME DEADLY (Generation X 1978)
24. DISH (Asexuals 1988)
25. THERE IS A LIGHT THAT NEVER GOES OUT (The Smiths 1986) – JASON BAJADA – vocals w/ Paul Cargnello & The Truth
26. HEAVEN KNOWS I’M MISERABLE NOW (The Smiths 1984) – JASON BAJADA – vocals w/ Paul Cargnello & The Truth
27. SLIPPERY PEOPLE (Talking Heads 1983) – JASON BAJADA – vocals w/ Paul Cargnello & The Truth
28. PSYCHO KILLER (Talking Heads 1977) – JAMES CORREA – vocals w/ Paul Cargnello & The Truth
THE SPECIAL GUESTZ w/ HOWARD BILERMAN – drums, CHRIS VELAN– vocals & guitar, ANDREW WOODS – vocals & guitar, KY BROOKS – vocals & keys, PRUE GENDRON – vocals & bass, MURRAY LIGHTBURN – vocals
29. MY BEST FRIEND’S GIRL (The Cars 1978) – Velan lead vocal
30. BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE (Talking Heads 1983) – Gendron vocal
31. RUNNING UP THAT HILL (A DEAL WITH GOD) (Kate Bush 1985) – Brooks vocal
32. HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF (Duran Duran 1982) – Woods vocal
33. MORE THAN THIS (Roxy Music 1982) – Lightburn vocal
34. BIG MOUTH STRIKES AGAIN (The Smiths 1986) – Lightburn vocal
35. ÇA PLANE POUR MOI (Plastic Bertrand 1978) – Velan lead vocal
36. HOW SOON IS NOW (The Smiths 1984) – JASON ROCKMAN– vocals w/ Paul Cargnello & The Truth
37. I WILL FOLLOW (U2 1980) – JASON ROCKMAN – vocals w/ Paul Cargnello & The Truth
THE NILS w/ CARLOS SORIA – bass & vocals, MARK DONATO -guitar & vocals, PHIL PSARAKOS – guitar, EMILIEN CATALANO– drums
38. SWALLOW MY PRIDE (Ramones 1977)
39. CALL OF THE WILD (The Nils 1984 *Primitive Air Raid 1st live performance since death of Alex Soria in 2004)
40. TEENAGE KICKS (Undertones 1978) – The Nils w/ LEELA BAUM (THE DAMN TRUTH) lead vocals
41. PULL UP TO THE BUMPER (Grace Jones 1981) -PAUL CARGNELLO & THE TRUTH w/ JAMES CHALLENGER lead vocal
42. MODERN LOVE (David Bowie 1983) – BILAL BUTT– lead vocal w/ Paul Cargnello & The Truth feat Josh Fuhrman, Jasmine Bleile & Lorraine Muller on saxophone, ALEC McELCHERAN – back up vocals
SHANE MURPHY BAND w/ SHANE MURPHY – vocals & electric guitar, JONATHAN CUMMINS (Doughboys) – electric guitar & backup vocals TONY LOMBARDI – bass, SANDRO SANCHIONI – drums
43. ALEX CHILTON (The Replacements 1987)
44. CAN’T HARDLY WAIT (The Replacements 1985)
45. BOYS DON’T CRY (The Cure 1980)
46. JENNY (867-5309) (Tommy Tutone 1981)
47. IS SHE REALLY GOING OUT WITH HIM (Joe Jackson 1979) w/ TJ PLENTY – back up vocals
48. DANCING WITH MYSELF (Generation X 1981)
VIDEO (During Change-over): BOB DYLAN with THE PLUGZ (Latino punk band from East L.A.) on DAVID LETTERMAN SHOW March 21, 1984
49. ELECTRIC AVENUE (Eddy Grant 1982) – JONATHAN EMILE lead vocal w/ Paul Cargnello & The Truth
50. LIVING ON THE FRONT LINE (Eddy Grant 1979) – JONATHAN EMILE lead vocal w/ Paul Cargnello & The Truth
51. MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE (The Police 1979) – JONATHAN EMILE lead vocal w/ Paul Cargnello & The Truth
SAM ROBERTS BAND w/ SAM ROBERTS – vocals & electric guitar, DAVE NUGENT – electric guitar, ERIC FARES – keys, JAMES HALL – bass, JOSH TRAGER – drums
52. DISORDER (Joy Division 1979)
53. A FOREST (The Cure 1980)
54. AGE OF CONSENT (New Order 1983)
PAUL CARGNELLO & THE TRUTH
55. HEAD (Prince 1980) – JAMES CHALLENGER – lead vocal
56. KISS (Prince 1986) – JAMES CHALLENGER- lead vocal
57. MISSIONARY MAN (The Eurythmics 1986) – JASMINE BLEILE lead vocal; Cargnello on harmonica
58. LOVE IS THE DRUG (Roxy Music 1975) – JASMINE BLEILE lead vocal
ENCORES with PAUL CARGNELLO & THE TRUTH
59. LOVE WILL TEAR US APART (Joy Division 1980) – SUSIL SHARMA (Karma Gilder), BILAL BUTT & MIRA CHOQUETTE – vocals
60. (WHAT’S SO FUNNY ‘BOUT) PEACE, LOVE & UNDERSTANDING (Elvis Costello & The Attractions 1979; written by Nick Lowe and originally released by his band Brinsley Schwartz 1974) – PAUL CARGNELLO, JAMES CORREA, ALEC McELCHERAN, MIRA CHOQUETTE, TJ PLENTY– vocals
61. ROCK THE CASBAH (The Clash 1982) – PAUL CARGNELLO, JASMINE BLEILE, CHRIS VELAN, JONATHAN EMILE, LORRAINE MULLER, MIRA CHOQUETTE, NILIA BERKIN & TJ PLENTY – vocals
All photos by Tim Snow
