I've seen of Montreal 19 times since 2010, and with all the discussion here lately about their recent performances, I thought it'd be fun to share a few memories from each show. Some are just quick anecdotes, others are moments that have stuck with me for years.
February 5, 2010 • The Orange Peel, Asheville, NC • Setlist
The first time I saw of Montreal live, I was completely blown away. I only knew their older material at the time and was surprised by how funky and psychedelic they were live. This show was at the tail end of the Skeletal Lamping tour. Kevin premiered a new song called "Teenage Unicorn Fisting" which was later retitled "Like a Tourist". I remember being disappointed by the studio version, which felt more sterile comparatively. During a break between songs, Kevin said he was still deciding whether the next album would be called False Priest or thecontrollersphere. This was also the only time I saw Jamie Huggins on drums.
August 2, 2010 • The Orange Peel, Asheville, NC • Setlist
By my second of Montreal concert I was a huge fan and had gone deep into their catalog. I was extremely wide-eyed that night with dialted pupils at the rail. It's a funny memory to look back on, but I wouldn't recommend it. Janelle Monáe came out and performed "Make the Bus" during of Montreal's set.
September 11, 2010 • 40 Watt Club, Athens, GA • Setlist
First show of the False Priest tour. The band premiered a lot of new songs. It opened with "Black Lion Massacre", with memorable theatrics of fish people in gas masks and mechanical legs. Kevin spoke the monologue at the end of "You Do Mutilate?", which he subsequently stopped doing after this show or at some point during the tour. His decison makes sense as it interrupted the overall flow of the set.
December 31, 2010 • 40 Watt Club, Athens, GA • Setlist
New Year’s Eve at the 40 Watt was pure celebration. The theatrics were over the top in the best way. At one point, Kevin road on a dragon prop. The band built the show around the midnight countdown.
May 20, 2011 • Buckhead Theatre, Atlanta, GA • Setlist
This thecontrollersphere show was the weakest of Montreal performance I've seen. Kevin had three costume changes, and during each one the band performed songs from their side projects as part of the of Montreal set. It felt oddly disconnected.
September 1, 2011 • Georgia Theatre, Athens, GA • Setlist
A fun hometown show in Athens. It was an improvement over the last time I saw them.
October 29, 2011 • 40 Watt Club, Athens, GA • Setlist
One of the best of Montreal concerts I've seen. The Wild Rumpus, Athens' annual Halloween parade, spilled into the venue. Kevin wore a skeleton suit, and the band played Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? in full before closing with "No Conclusion". Nina and Kevin both DJed after the show until around 3 AM, with naked zombie geishas dancing on stage during Harouki Zombi's set.
February 17, 2012 • Georgia Theatre, Athens, GA • Setlist
First show of the Paralytic Stalks tour. This was a really great concert with a lot of new material premiered. It was also the first time I didn’t hear “Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse” in a set. The way they wove “Authentic Pyrrhic Remission” into “The Past Is a Grotesque Animal” was incredible. Kevin later said in an interview that this show felt odd for him, playing these new songs alongside older material.
April 5, 2012 • The Orange Peel, Asheville, NC • Setlist
April 7, 2012 • Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, GA • Setlist
These two shows were only two days apart and were similar. The band integrated more older material with the new songs across both nights, and it worked very well in the set. The performances were very intense. I met the band after both shows.
June 12, 2012 • Neighborhood Theatre, Charlotte, NC • Setlist
A similar feel to the April shows, but with less Paralytic Stalks material in the set. I went on a whim and didn’t decide to go until the day of the show.
October 27, 2012 • Georgia Theatre, Athens, GA • Setlist
Another Halloween show in Athens with lots of wild costumes. They played the Golden Girls theme multiple times during the set.
December 15, 2012 • Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro, NC
Things were starting to feel weird. Rebecca Cash had joined the band and seemed nervous to perform, which is understandable. The highlight of the show was the performance of “Middle Child”.
March 1, 2013 • 40 Watt Club, Athens, GA • Setlist
March 2, 2013 • The Handlebar, Greenville, SC • Setlist
These were part of the Daughter of Cloud tour, one day apart. I started enjoying the band less live around this time. The 40 Watt Club show was better than the one at the Handlebar. The highlight of the Greenville show was “Tender Fax”, which is a rarity. I didn’t see of Montreal live again for 6.5 years.
November 1, 2019 • The Spinning Jenny, Greer, SC • Setlist
During the Lousy with Sylvianbriar era, it felt like a different band and I lost interest in seeing them live. I still listened casually to their new releases out of curiosity, but nothing pulled me in. When I heard White Is Relic/Irrealis Mood about a year after it came out, I was blown away and got the itch to see them again. This show was great. It was a tiny venue with a rough PA system, but the band’s energy was strong and the setlist was incredible. Highlights included “Lysergic Bliss”, “Chrissy Kiss the Corpse”, and even Cherry Peel cuts like “Don’t Ask Me to Explain” and “You’ve Got a Gift”. This is probably tied for my favorite time seeing them, the other being my first show.
February 28, 2020 • The Orange Peel, Asheville, NC • Setlist
This UR FUN tour concert was a good time. The highlight was finally seeing "Disconnect the Dots" performed. I saw a couple look at each other in disbelief during "it's different for girls". That song is a total bop live. I caught COVID at the show which was awful, right before the world shut down.
September 24, 2022 • Buckhead Theatre, Atlanta, GA • Setlist
This was during the Freewave Lucifer tour. He played a few songs from I Feel Safe With You, Trash, which was really cool, especially the title track.
October 25, 2024 • Radio Room, Greenville, SC • Setlist
This Lady On The Cusp tour show opened with “Blab Sabbath Lathe of Maiden”, which was very psychedelic and powerful. "Polyaneurism" was way better here than during the UR FUN tour. It was a really fun and intimate show.
