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| - I'm not here to review the Old Port as a tourist attraction. As a spot to visit, the Old Port is great. It's bustling in the summer, quaint in the winter. Things get a bit pricey, but you can go for the charm, it's free! And who can resist a labyrinth, regardless of the cost?
Instead, I'd like to review a function of the Old Port that folks often forget about, the fact that it is also a show venue. Les Quais du Viex-Port is a section of the Old Port that sometimes gets turned into a concert stage. This might be great for summer events and free shows. However, I'm not so convinced about how it gets converted into an entrance-fee venue. I saw Björk perform there a couple of years ago, and it was fantastic, but let's face it, that's because it was Björk. Aside from the musical component, the "venue" is just a flat gravel surface surrounded by a makeshift fence. Not exactly ideal ambiance for more intimate gigs. I decided to write this review because I'll be seeing Portishead play at les Quais du Vieux-Port in October. While I'm thrilled about the show, as the trip-hop defining band have not been here since 1998, I'm not so thrilled about the venue. Add to that the fact that it's an outdoor show in October in Montreal? I'll pray that the music gods look kindly on us and spare us the rain or temperatures hovering around Zero. Portishead will put cartoon stars and hearts in my eyes. Les Quais du Vieux-Port, not so much.
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