Not that we had any excuse to make the four-hour drive up north to the great city of Montreal in the middle of the summer -- last time I made the pilgrimage was many moons ago to see Vladimir Guerrero don Expo pinstripes -- but hot damn this OSHEAGA FESTIVAL MUSIQUE ET ARTS lineup is incredible.

M83 + JUSTICE in Montreal? Yes, please.

From the ever-exceptional Montreal music community surrounding the Arbutus label – previously responsible for releasing early music by acclaimed experimental songstress GRIMES and ethereal out-there outfit BRAIDS – come dream-pop quartet TOPS. At yesterday’s Pop Montreal showcase, they put on one of the more memorable sets of SXSW so far.

Here’s how festivals work: you get drunk on alcohol, then you get drunk on music, then around six o’clock you shower it off, then you repeat until four-in-the-morning. From what I’ve heard, that’s the routine even at Christian rock conventions. The key to covering these festivities is to party hard and work harder, and last night, my friend, I put in some work.