Last night was a busy night At St. Catherine Street for Montreal Rocks, while Papa Roach was being reviewed at Mtelus, next door, at Foufounes, I was witnessing the American bands 3Teeth and Ho99o9. There was a third band playing, Street Sects, but I was not able to see them.
The night was unexpectedly and disappointingly chilly for April, although I no longer know what is normal for the Canadian weather. I arrived mid-set for 3teeth, the venue wasn’t packed but there were many people already crowding most of the floor. The crowd was one of the most diverse crowds I have seen in a rock concert, with punkers, hipsters, metalheads, old men and women and many people of varying nationalities. It was refreshing and exciting to see music unite and mix so many people from so many different backgrounds.
Walking up the stairs of Foufounes I found myself surrounded by a thick fog and a loud beat coming from the stage. 3Teeth was in a trance and everyone was joining them beating their bodies like a giant heart and shaking their fists up in the air.
3teeth has been a favored band by both Tool and Rammstein and you could see and hear why. Their presence on stage was like preparing for war, their rhythm demanded obedience and their lyrics pleased the angst of even the most disturbed teenager.
The songs I heard brought me back to when I was that teenager and when I could identify with lyrics such as “I want to end the human race”, a line of the song Pit of Fire. Music is a powerful trigger for so many emotions and it is good that artists and venues serve this cathartic purpose in the life of so many, I just hope that the young and old can use it as a stepping stone and make better for themselves and the ones around them. Blame, anger and hate are not strong foundations for a civilized society.
Next up was Ho99o9 (pronounced Horror), the Newark-born and LA-raised band that brings together the best commonalities between punk and hip-hop, which are in my opinion, the conscientious message, the prophetic voice and the cleansing feeling of expressing what’s wrong with the world today.
Back in LA, the band has a strong following and has been featured and praised at SXSW, NPR and by SPIN magazine. Tired and enraged from how racism is being institutionalized in the US, how the country is being polarized and how many are still dormant to injustice, Ho99o9 channels those feelings through loud chaos, megaphones, screams, punk drumming and double bass drums.
Eaddy and the OGM, the duo that makes up the band, complemented each other, questioning and answering, proclaiming and denouncing and taking turns to interact with the crowd, mobilize them and even crowd surf and mosh with everyone.
The sole musician they had on stage was the clockwork of the show and, along with the pre-recorded backing tracks, gave shape to each song. It was punk, it was hip-hop, it was both and something completely different at the same time. The show is easily one to remember and one to look for when they come visit again. I do hope they get showcased at Heavy MTL or at least at Pouzza. They will for sure draw crowds and be a huge highlight of any venue.
In the end, the varied alliance from the bands was eye-opening and very welcome. Multi-band nights like these, where each one represents a different genre but with similar themes and perspectives are more than welcome to this city, diversity, justice and speaking truth to power are necessary for a future of free people and government that fear them.
Review & photos – Ricardo D Flores
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