Ripe for the picking? Silver Apples’ Simeon back in the day.
By Laura Mojonnier
A snapshot of the Pop Montreal festival, Oct. 2.
Irma Thomas at Ukranian Federation, 8:30 p.m.
The night started off with a bike ride up north into Montreal’s Mile End area to catch Irma Thomas and a full backing band play the Ukrainian Federation.
I’d only been to this venue once before, to see Patti Smith play a secret show at last year’s festival, and the place certainly seems made for that kind of gig. The venue feels like a cross between a middle school auditorium and a Protestant church, rows of 40-year-old theater seating on the first floor and a pewed balcony for the choir. In conclusion, Ukranian Federation is not great for rocking out, but it’s just perfect when watching Thomas belt torch songs for middle-aged Quebecers.