New Wave Outpost Forum

There's nothing quite like seeing a hometown band in their home town. 800 Quebecoise (plus a few steenkin American visitors) packed the Montreal Spectrum tonight, and the place rocked hard. I really don't know what to make of this band that's a mix of Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Smiths, and Ladytron...strange but true. I don't mean it's always a good thing...it mostly is but it seemed I could always guess what the next cord would be even in a song I didn't know. A littel derivative perhaps. Their look sure wasn't though - two gorgeous keyboardists on the wings, the guitars on the flanks, a black indie soul brother on the mic and a furious drummer in the back...ultra heavy synth pads meet uber hefty guitar solos.

<img src="http://www.osheaga.com/i/thedears.jpg">

Above all, boy did they have energy. Kinda in a similar blues/rock/indie mold of the Zutons or Gomez. Their opener, a long drawn-out "Sinthtro" going straight into "Ticket to Immortality", charged so so fucking hard, I didn't know how they could top it. The answer was...they really couldn't. You just can't finish every single song with a ludicrously over-the-top wall of guitar, no matter how enjoyable. Their flaw - they go to the guitar god well a few too many times - the final 1/3 of the set just kept hitting that ceiling they already set. Great stuff though - give their latest album a listen whether you lean more synth or rock.

Oh man, almost forgot...Marvy will shit his pants to hear of the after-party I just got back from. The DJ was Tiga, doing much of his Sexor album plus tons of other mix material. What a crazy city, and again proof that there's a lot of great and talented troubadors out there these days.

.....changing my pants as I type [}:)].....

Was it a packed house? Was Tiga rocking the joint? Were people grooving? I would have loved to have been at that party [}:)]

<a href="http://marvymarv.multiply.com/">[i]You on the guestlist?[/i]</a>

1. House was packed...guest list and all...had to play my "old" card on the list bitch to get in.
2. Tiga was ineed rocking...he's an odd sort, unassuming but in control, lets out thunderous techno cliches but has some real artistry too.
3. People were seriously grooving...I cannot keep up with my three colleagues up there...Montrealers truly live up to their "joi de vive" reputation.

I love the Dears, especially the previous album. Haven't heard the whole album Gang of Losers. Only few songs. I hope they are visiting Europe next summer.

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