Pop Montreal Day Three: No Patti Smith, But Lots Of Bun B

ChartAttack reporter Erik Leijon is hitting the clubs for the annual Pop Montreal festival. Here's his report from Friday:

Back in 2005, Pop Montreal's headliner was Beck at the cavernous Bell Centre. I didn't see the show and, although I'm sure Beck is a talented performer, an arena gig really didn't mesh well with the low-key philosophy of Pop Montreal. Tonight's big show, and arguably the major headliner of the festival, is Patti Smith performing at Eglise St-Jean Baptiste, a church in the middle of downtown.

5:30 p.m.:
The day starts early at Notman House, where a barbecue is taking place with free hot dogs and cheap drinks. There's live music (a laid-back country-rock band are playing) and I figure out that the upstairs section of Notman House is for artists only — no matter how much I resemble Axl Rose.

10 p.m.:
I didn't go to the Smith show, even though I RSVPed earlier in the week. Admittedly, I have a layman's knowledge of her catalogue, but the thought of spending my early evening at a church seemed counterintuitive to understanding the Pop Montreal experience. Smith is as D.I.Y. as they come and, as much as Pop Montreal should be commended for unabashedly promoting the future while respectfully celebrating the past, her playing in a church felt separate from the rest of the festival.

11:30 p.m.:
Now we're talking. It's me and about 20 locals packed into the low-ceiling basement that is Escogriffe on Saint-Denis, watching the next great drinking man's rock band, Hollerado, literally bleeding on stage. Dave Hamelin from The Stills and Gus Van Go (who manages both groups) are in attendance. The Hollerado set was basically 30 minutes of Spirit Of The West's "Home For A Rest" performed by four drunk, fun-loving punk-rockers. The songs roll effortlessly with catchy riffs and loud, boisterous vocals. Lead guitarist Menno Versteeg cut himself near the end of the set and casually smeared blood on his white T-shirt. Hollerado's success is imminent.

12:15 a.m.:
The Hollerado set is over and I decide to run down to Coda to catch Thunderheist, another group destined to make your iPod playlist in 2008 (in fact, put "Suenos Dulces" in your favourite mix now; you can thank me later). The only thing is that Todosantos, a Venezuelan electroclash rap trio, are only just starting when I arrive. Good thing, too, because they match Thunderheist in terms of bringing a sweaty, crazy live performance. The group feature a hyperactive, fake money-tossing MC and two DJs. They're bashing synths and various electronic gizmos to create this floor-thumping wall of sound that's impossible to stay motionless to.

12:45 a.m.:
Todosantos finish their raucous set and have everyone on their feet. I'd like to catch Thunderheist, but a spot is waiting for me at the Bun B show at Saints, and it would be rude to cancel both appointments for the day.

1 a.m.:
At Saints, Houston-based DJ Chill is churning out one recognizable hip-hop hit after another, with an MC warming up and shaking hands with the crowd. It's the way hip-hop is truly meant to be listened to: in a live setting where the DJ has creative control, not the MC. "Throw Some D's" is the single of the year, and thankfully I didn't hear any Soulja Boy.

1:15 a.m.:
After the staff cleans the floor (the opening MC was adamant that the floor be pristine before Bun B hits the stage), the rapper comes out with his posse holding Grey Goose bottles. For the uninitiated, Bun B is the MC for UGK (Underground Kingz), the originators (and still apex) of the southern rap genre. Even if you have no desire to reach back in time, UGK's eponymous 2007 comeback record, featuring the return of Pimp C from incarceration, is one of this year's best in any genre.

1:20 a.m.:
While Pimp C was in jail, Bun B held the UGK torch alight with an impressive stretch of cameo appearances. His most endearing was his verse on Jay-Z's "Big Pimpin'," and his live rendition naturally received one of the bigger crowd reactions. It's a modest crowd of around 150 to 200, yet every person there has clearly been clamouring for a genuine American rapper at the height of his game to play Montreal. Bun B's cameo on T.I.'s "Top Back" is also note-perfect here.

1:50 a.m.:
With everyone still doing the shoulder lean, a dance tailor-made for laid-back southern rap, Bun B finishes his set. It turns out that the crazy Torontonians responsible for North By Northeast are having a party just down the road, which promises to last until dawn.

2:30 a.m.:
Say what you want about Toronto and their residents, but they're usually pretty generous. Besides, any party featuring free booze and samosas will get even the most curmudgeonly music industry vets to crack a smile. Bionic's Jonathan Cummins is playing DJ tonight, spinning a great mix of old-fashioned rock 'n' roll. The crowd was a bit too old for me, so with a mouthful of noodles, I bid Pop Montreal a fond adieu. There's another party until dawn happening on Van Horne, but it's a long walk and my hearing is shot anyway.