This week I’d like to shine a light on a Shining Buddha, a true local at large that anyone who’s involved in any capacity of music making, production and promotion will know or have worked with at some point over the last decade, Joe Villacrusis. I first met Joe while he was doing that most difficult of difficult things, namely trying to make a name for himself. And he did exactly the right thing: make a pain in the ass of himself, mostly in the course of promoting his own local music fiesta titled, in the spirit of the times, Localbazooka. I still have the T-shirt. And Montreal still has Joe.

Before we get into Villacrusis’s latest endeavour, we think it’s high time we had a closer look at the man who’s offered so many bands a hand…

So what kind of name is Villacrusis anyway?

The name is of Filipino-Spanish descent. My great, great, great grandfather was a Spanish inquisitor who came over to the islands to convert the "natives" to Christianity… it never trickled down to me. My name means "City of the Cross."

Do you speak Tagalog? (I know you do, dammit, admit it.) How do you say, "Hi, my name’s Joe, do you want to see my snapper?"

I have a basic grasp of Tagalog. I understand the language 100 per cent, but I can only have very simple conversations. [Ed.'s note: Same goes for me in English.] I would say my ability to speak the language is about as strong as your ability to speak German. [Ed.'s note: Sprechen sie für selbst, dummkopf!] That said, "Ang akin pangalan ay si Joe. Gusto mong makita ang akin otem?"

How did you break into the Montreal music scene to become the omnipresent musical cockroach, rather, everyman, you’ve become now? (And remember, I remember…)

Hustle. Straight outta the South Shore with my roots in tha D.G. I had no shame in introducing myself to anyone and everyone. My mandate and goal at the time, and to this day, continues to be the same: local art, music, film and theatre rocks! We should continue to focus on what we have and what we produce instead of importing "product" from our siblings to the south.

Throughout high school, CÉGEP and university I played music and involved myself in music/theatre productions. Susan [Moss] from the Bifteck remembers seeing me play when I was 16 at Station 10! I think some of the events that may have launched me into the general consciousness were: 1) 1994′s Localbazooka, a three-day local music festival, which I would do again given the right opportunity, 2) the Greenland Christmas party of 1994; I was the raving, drunk, wasted, awestruck little boy hanging out with all the cool cats, 3) hanging off the coattails of Melissa Auf Der Maur, Janice Fike and Geneviève from Purple Haze… Actually, anyone who would take me semi-seriously.

What has become of your very first production company, Shining Butthead Productions?

For legal and tax reasons I cannot discuss the dissolution of this company. And it wasn’t "Butthead," it was "Buddha." [Ed.'s note: My mistake, so sorry...]

Put the words "traumatic" and "O’Meara" together in a sentence.

I have had some life-affirming yet traumatic moments with James O’Meara on far too many evenings under the influence of far too many drinks.

Give us a rundown, resumé-style but without the fictitious elements, of some of the things you’ve done and/or contributed to Montreal music over the last decade.

Localbazooka, talent buyer for Purple Haze/Woodstock clubs, music consultant for Death, Delerium and Desire for Splinter Theatre, tour manager for Blinker The Star, tinker, Stellar Dweller, The Umbrellas, Bullfrog and Shades Of Culture; manager, consultant and/or bitch for Rise, The Umbrellas and Scrap Douglas; from 1996 to present have been production manager for Greenland Productions, House of Blues and Gilette Entertainment Group. Agent/management partner for Bullfrog, Blu Rum 13, Kid Koala and Ramasutra; tour manager Ramasutra. Also, part-time manager for Sona club, produced a weekly called Jaxe. Over the last year been a drummer with The Social Register and Merging With Trucks. This year I’m the producer for Hump, manager for Dirty Byrd, and co-producer/manager of Kidnapper Films.

Having worked in this industry for 10 years, and treated it like university the first few, my memory is a tad spotty. I’ve also worked with several international artists and labels including DJ Krush, Ekova, Banco De Gaia, Gravis Footwear, DK Boom, Face To Face, Failure, Six Degrees Records, Emperor Norton Records, Pepe Deluxe… man, I can’t remember everything and everyone. "I’ve seen a million faces and I’ve rocked them all."

What impact would you say your abiding love of The Smashing Pumpkins has had on your sex life?

"Freak out and give in/ it doesn’t matter what you believe in…/ Stay cool and be somebody’s fool this year" – Cherub Rock.

Does that answer your question? [Ed.'s note: Yup... still not getting any, eh?]

If you had to rate your general, day-to-day level of shame on a scale of 1 to 10, what would it be and why?

I have no shame. I love what I do and who I am every moment of every day… Don’t hate the playa, hate the game!

How difficult is it to make a living working in the music industry in Montreal?

Living? If you take a look at what I’ve done you can see that I have to involve myself in many different capacities to survive. Any donations, grants and/or bursaries can be sent to me c/o Hour magazine.

Most embarrassing thing you’ve ever done while working a show?

A few years ago, while working on an Île Ste-Hélène show with the House of Blues gang, I ended up in an ambulance after eating a cookie I suspect contained nuts. I have a severe allergy to nuts… [Ed.'s note: That's not what I heard! Boo-yah!]

Most valuable lesson you’ve learned managing bands, booking shows, working concerts etc., etc.?

Be impeccable with your word; don’t make assumptions; don’t take things personally; always do your best.

Favourite local music writer with a weekly column?

That would be you, gorgeous.

As mentioned, the latest thing Villacrusis is trying to do is hump, or rather, Hump. This recently started Wednesday night event at Mile End’s ever-more-popular Green Room – love the place – at 5386 St-Laurent, co-hosted by La Cruz (guess who!) and FritzTheCat, is billed as a "midweek mixer for the bold and the beautiful, the young and the restless, the slanted and enchanted…" And sure, why not? To that end, every Wednesday starting at 10 p.m. there is live music (on June 2 it will be creature, and Evening on June 9) as well as resident DJs DR One, Polly 6, FritzTheCat, Jordan Dare, Bliss and Steady B. Admission is only six and bring your good-time gear.

A shame about Ray
As many of you will already have heard, pioneering Canadian rockabilly player and former Montrealer Ray Condo (he of The Hardrock Goners and His Ricochets) passed away April 15 of heart failure at the age of 53 at home in Vancouver. In memory of Condo, some former Hardrock Goners (namely Eric and Peter Sandmark of Crazy Rhythm Daddies) will play a musical tribute to the man as well as project unedited film footage of Condo shot for various music videos in the ’80s. The Crazy Rhythm Daddies take the stage at O’Hara’s Pub (1197 University), May 29, starting at 10 p.m. for five bills. Spinning will be DJ Kimberlee from Planet Jive.

Around the world in 50 minutes
If you’re anything like me, work downtown, and occasionally like to indulge your inner noon-hour voyeur on the steps of Place des Arts during hot summer months, then the annual Les Midis du monde series once again offers itself up as the laid-back soundtrack to your subjective gaze. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 12:05 to 12:55 p.m., commencing May 31 and wrapping up June 18, numerous purveyors of world music (as opposed to off-world music?) will ply their trade on the esplanade at Place des Arts. On May 31 it’s "Bahiatronica" when songwriter/guitarist Monica Freire blends electro with more traditional Brazilian fare. June 2 finds Poland taking the floor in the form of Shtreiml, a "blend of klezmer, Hasidic, gypsy and jazz," and on June 4 the Pham Duc Thanh trio will explore Vietnamese "ceremonial songs, melodies from traditional theatre and popular folkloric tunes." Just the thing to aid ingestion. Information pertaining to the remainder of the schedule may be found at www.pda.qc.ca.