L'Age d'Or

The ubiquitous Pitchfork debuted the new of Montreal video today. They couldn't help but be Pitchforkian and state that it was NSFW, when (a) unless your job consists in reviewing records or writing about pop culture, any music video is NSFW (I mean, seriously, if your boss is okay with you checking pitchfork and wasting your time watching videos, I want your job) and (b) catching a glimpse of some woman's bosom is not that outrageous in the 21st century. Anyway, if you've been following Nina on Twitter, you already knew that a video had been shot and that she was editing it, and you probably were eager to find out which song would get the special treatment. Somehow I remember being pretty sure it'd be a third single (gosh, there is no such thing as a single in the indie world these days, is there?) from False Priest and I was rooting for Godly Intersex, but as it turns out it is L'Age d'Or from thecontrollersphere. On the up side, it sure is the catchiest, most radio-friendly song on the EP, but on the down side, it probably is the least interesting one too. The video doesn't offer much in terms of narrative, but the overall atmosphere and work on the colors really fits the song and makes it worth your time. Make up your own mind :

New Project, Old Interview

Don't you ever get the feeling you're the biggest procrastinator on the planet and that you're just wasting your life away staring at the ceiling? Do you ever feel like you're not being productive enough? That you're far from being totally on top of things? That you're a blogging failure? Well, if this strikes a chord, you'll be happy with this Jamey Huggins interview. I know you've all been waiting to hear more James Husband news but beware, this isn't about his next album, or tour, or anything even remotely up-to-date. Thrillermag.com managed to post a two year-and-a-half-old interview. Yes. We're talking September/October 2008 here. And as it this wasn't enough to totally discredit them, they call Skeletal Lamping "a tedious affair made up of short snippets of songs." Seriously. So why did they choose to finally post this? I've no idea, but it's always nice to read Jamey talk, even if it's Jamey from 2008. What is this guy up to right now, my guess is as good as yours.

But let's focus on the future (or is it the present?) : something's cooking and it's Viper Fragment. Kevin Barnes gave Norwegian blog Musikknyheter the scoop, he is working on a side-project in which he won't be the lead singer or frontman, but the songwriter only (or maybe there's more to it but google translate won't tell us). You would have expected this interview to focus mainly on Kevin's time in Norway, but there isn't one single question about it. Apparently the interviewer didn't know about it (see TBP's twitter page), which is a shame, but I'll take the news of a new project over nostalgic musings any day. -- SEE THE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW THIS POST FOR THE INTERVIEWER'S INPUT, the guy who tweeted me apparently wasn't the interviewer, which proves that it's hard to make perfect sense in 140 characters. -- Though nostalgic isn't the word I'd use (hell, why am I using it, then?!), but you know what I mean. Or maybe you don't. It doesn't matter, just take a look at the interview in Norwegian, and google translate it into the language of your choice. Thanks Seventy72two, who made the English version available there. You can also read a review of of Montreal's performance in Bergen there.

Fell In Love With Europe

So the AV Club finally posted the video of of Montreal covering the White Stripes' Fell In Love With A Girl, a choice that seems about as weird as 2008's Smells Like Teen Spirit, but then we all remembered how that one went down, right? The bad news is, the video isn't playing here (not sure whether I should blame my sluggish computer or the French government and its stupid censorship of the internet), so I can't make any of my usual oh-so charming comments.* I'm still giving you the link so you can assess the quality of the recording. It was recorded, unless I am mistaken, on the day of Montreal was in Chicago and Kevin gave this interview (which doesn't have anything to do with The White Stripes, or falling in love with a girl).

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* I have been informed that the AV Club managed to mistake Clayton for Jamey. Shame on them.

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Big news #2 (but, hey! that's not news!!!) is oM's return to Europe, for two dates only : on Thursday in Barcelona, Spain and on Monday in Bergen, Norway. So be cool and welcome the band back to Europe... Now all we need is a little help from Iceland's Grimsvotn (So happy it isn't "Eyjafjallajökull" this year!) to make their stay longer... then they'd have to start busking to survive, and judging by this 2008 recording, no-one would want to miss that!

Spectrum Culture interview

A huge thank you to Townhaller Nerosneptune for this amazing interview. The interview to end all interviews - at least for a while. It is unclear whether he just posted the link or whether he actually interviewed Kevin, but whoever came up with these questions gets an A++ from The Booty Patrol. Check it out right now.

One interview and one email

Here's another really interesting interview, the first one (as far as I'm aware) that does acknowledge the fact that False Priest was of Montreal's attempt to make it B.I.G., but that it certainly fell short of everybody's expectations. So go ahead and read what Kevin has to say about this, and how it will (or won't) influence the next album. Which is pencilled in for release early next year. I love good news!

Among other things I love : funny emails from you guys. This one, from the Leader of the Claque (ouch!), is the best I've read in a while, so it deserves a spot here :

"Hello Booty Patrol,

I’m hoping you can field a couple of Montreal-related questions.

I’ve contacted you because The Booty Patrol is the nexus for all things oM. It’s one-stop shopping and required reading for self-respecting fans.

oM’s May 2 show at Montreal’s Le National (the venue was changed from Metropolis) was cancelled without explanation. On Sunday the sounds of wailing and keening reverberated through Montreal as ticketholders received email confirmation that oM's show was axed. Last month’s oM show in Halifax was also spiked, but this week the Toronto show went ahead.

Have you heard why oM’s Montreal show was cancelled? More importantly, do you know if it will be re-scheduled?

There are a few completely unsubstantiated rumours circulating about oM’s none-night stand in Montreal:

1) The band encountered an ultra-extremist faction of The Defenders of the Accent Aigu. They accused oM of Accent Neglect and demanded the band’s name be styled as “of Montréal”. When oM refused to comply, these renegade philologists threatened to lay siege to the band’s tour bus. oM had no choice but to cancel the show;

2) oM was tapped to sing the US & Canadian anthems for the Canadiens’ home games in the second round of the playoffs. Unfortunately the Habs didn’t make it that far. oM was totally devastated -- they had learned the French version of “O Canada” by heart -- and in a fit of pique Georgie et al quit the province;

3) One of the oM Pigs knocked up a local lady unicorn after last year’s show. Some of her relatives did not approve of their interspecies love freakout and threatened to turn the offending Pig into prosciutto. Wary of being turned into sandwich meat, the Pig in question was reluctant to take to the stage on Monday. His fellow oM Pig buddies, worried they might be mistaken for the unicorn-impregnator, also refused to perform. The Pigs’ stage absence shook oM to the core. Amid a chorus of sighs and sobs, the bereft band spiked the Montreal show.

Personally I think the hammy threats of the Unicorn Uncles have been exaggerated. Everyone knows that unicorns are vegetarians.

Has the Booty Patrol or its Rear Admirals heard if any/all of these rumours are true? Any light you can shed would be most appreciated. Hopefully all’s well with the band and its horny menagerie, and oM will soon return to its namesake city. Thanks for your time and help. Have a glorious weekend!


Grateful hugs and kisses,"


Well, that made me laugh... I still don't know why the show was cancelled, but I certainly am eager to find out now.