Additional Information
Dan Seligman is the founder and still creative director of Pop Montréal, Montreal’s premier fall happening. He leads the team that recruited the artists and bands scheduled for Wednesday, September 24th to Sunday, September 28th. As is the case every year, PAN M 360 asked him to identify the 5 daily must-haves of his artistic direction. Here are the priority choices for the 5th and final day of POP MTL 2025!
“Do Make Say Think is, in my opinion, Sunday’s top pick, the biggest deal. I’ve been a huge fan of this band on the Constellation label since 1997; the last time I tried to invite them, the concert unfortunately had to be canceled. Experimental, post-jazz, improvisational, both jammy and constructed, defies all categories. I haven’t seen them in a long time; they’ve been working since 1995. POP’s bio tells us that Do Make Say Think established themselves as one of the pioneers of post-rock, then migrated to other hybrids.”
“Mellonella is the band of Neptune Lightburn, daughter of Natalia and Murray of the Dears. It’s one of the very good emerging bands in Montreal, very proggy, punk too. There’s currently a whole emerging scene of artists in their early twenties. My 16-year-old daughter keeps me informed because she’s very involved in this scene. The lineup at Le P’tit Ours today is a testament to that.”
Mellonella’s bio reads: “We are inspired by King Crimson, ELP, Genesis, and Yes, but also by modern experimentalists like Black Midi and Geordie Greep. Our music features many odd time signatures, complicated song structures, and long-form compositions.”
“The parade kicks off at 1 p.m. from the Social Club. Performers include Josh Dolgin’s (Socalled) marching band. Fanfargenign is the name of a Yiddish folk music project, a klezmer marching band experience rooted in Yiddish traditions. With Josh as ringmaster, this is the main band of the Mile End Parade, also featuring Hawt Dawg, Avery Jane, Fraud Perry, and guests.”
“Sunday PM, the Sound Bath is led by Lisa Iwanycki (Creature), Robbie Kuster (Pat Watson, René Lussier, etc.), Laurel Sprengelmeyer (Little Scream), and promises to be a calming and healing event. We take off our shoes, close our eyes…”
“Unessential Oils is the new project from Warren Spicer, lead singer of the Montreal band Plants and Animals. The project draws inspiration from jazz, folk, Tropicália, Jorge Ben, Daniel Lanois, Miles Davis, and more. In a way, it manages to recreate the original magic of Plants and Animals: that open, experimental, folkie side that’s also prone to improvisation.”
