The last time San Francisco based band The Dodos played a show in Montreal was a year ago for Pop Montreal. While the festival was a few weeks ago, the show this friday at Sala Rossa is a co-production between Pop Montreal and Blues Skies Turn Black. For those of us – me included – who weren’t able to see them last year, this has been a long time coming.

Although the “new” album Time to Die has only officially been out for a month, to some of us it may not be as fresh since a copy was leaked online as early as July. The production on this album definitely has a different feel than 2008’s Visiter which was produced by John Askew. Known for having a hand with bands like The Shins and Fleet Foxes Phil Ek has produced a polished and less acoustic feeling album. That being said, I got my tickets yesterday for a very reasonable 16$ at Casa del Popolo (4873 Saint-Laurent). For those of you don’t know that is the cafe/bar across the street from Sala Rossa. It appears that you can no longer get tickets online.

Joining them is New Zealand based indie pop band The Ruby Suns who have made a name for themselves in America after signing with Sub Pop records in 2007. The price at the door is the same as in advance tickets.

The Dodos – The Strums

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The Dodos – Acorn Factory

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Way back when, in the deep American south, the banjo was amalgamated from lingering concepts of other African instruments. Then it was adopted by white people became somewhat of a mainstay in Country and Bluegrass circles. In 2009 if you hear a banjo being plucked by the soft fingers of an urban youth, it is more than likely that some brand hipster indie rock is going on. Nothing wrong with the occasional dip in the skinny jeans club you might say? It is in this spirit that this little retrospective of banjo rock was assembled.

The most recent to me at least is London based folk band Mumford and Sons who just released their debut full length album Sigh No More two days ago on October 6th, 2009.

The Dodos from San Fransisco got a lot of press for their 2008 album Visiter and they also just came out with an album last month called Time to Die. Expect a post on that album coming soon.

Finally I dug up an old Sufjan Stevens track which contrasts sharply with his latest project the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.

Mumford and Sons – Little Lion Man

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The Dodos – Walking

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Sufjan Stevens – All The Trees Of The Field Will Clap Their Hands

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The madness otherwise known as Pop Montreal kicks off next wednesday and is largely the reason why the upcoming events section is so huge these days. The Dodos are playing that saturday at Sala Rossa and as much as I wanted to go, I’m opting to go see A-trak (again) instead. Why? I went last year.

When I first heard The Dodos I didn’t really understand what all the fuss is about, which explains the lateness of this post in terms of everything else that’s going on, but the more I listened, the more it grew on me.
The Dodos – Red and Purple (mp3) (zshare)

The Dodos – Ashley (mp3) (zshare)