Pop at the Plaza

Df Montreal w/ Panurge — Plaza Club (September 1)

helsea Mushaluk, OP Contributor

was your average indie-pop show at the Plaza Club on September 1. The small club was abuzz with hip-
er-talk, beers were being consumed, and ironic t-shirts were out in full force. The thing that brought us all
ogether that night? Of Montreal. Kevin Barnes and Co. were in town for what was only their second
Yancouver show ever, and what was easily my most anticipated show of the summer.

Panurge played the role of “opening band” that night, though I missed their entire set. This was partially
tentional, because I had heard their older LP Throw Down the Reins, and to be honest, I didn’t really dig it all
at much. Ok, ok, I had a nap before the show and overslept. All of that aside, I wasn’t too disappointed to
ave missed the band. I heard mixed reviews from other show-goers later in the evening, and really, I was
ist there for Of Montreal. When Of Montreal did take the stage, they jumped right in to newer material
fom their latest full-length, The Sun/andic Twins. While the poppy delightfulness was what made the show

    
  
   
   
 
   
   

wesome, the band’s costumes didn’t hurt either. Famous for crazy outfits and costume changes, this
vening was no different than others of legend. Keyboardist Dottie Alexander was a vision in sequins and
ars, bassist Derek Almstead dressed like Shakespeare without the puffy collar, and Kevin Barnes was
ressed as a woman. During one particular break in the set, during an impromptu sing along of “T’ve got a
anurge for love,’ another member of the band emerged: Georgie Fruit. Think Kevin Barnes in gold lame.
Dddly enough, Georgie Fruit is given songwriting credit on Of Montreal’s forthcoming record, so keep an
lve out for that when it’s released. If that’s not enticing enough, it’s titled Héssing Fauna, Are You the
Destroyer’, which is all kinds of cool.

The band had the costumes down pat, but the music was what kept me dancing. Quite a few songs from
he Sunlandic Twins were played, as well as several cuts from the excellent Satanic Panic in the Attic, and even
arlier material, which was nice. The only problem with the show was that it was plagued with bad sound,

d sometimes rendered Barnes’ voice unintelligible. Also, Vancouverites have a bad habit of not dancing at
anceable shows. I know, you may spill your beer on your new sweater made by that local clothing designer
n Main that you love. This is fine, except that this was one concert that warranted a bit of grooving. There
yas a strange mixture of people at the show that night as well, and hopefully some new Of Montreal con-
erts were made that night. My roommate commented later that it seemed as though people didn’t know
ere was a show going on, and instead expected to bump and grind the night away at whatever club night
e Plaza had going that evening, The one thing that brought the club kids and the indie kids together

ough was the first song of the encore: a cover of Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy.” It was extremely tight, and
emed as if it had been written for Barnes’ falsetto. Even I shook my bum just a little bit harder for that
ne. Did the show live up to my expectations? It exceeded them, in fact. Did you miss out if you weren’t
ere? Absolutely, if you like having fun. Was it fantastic? Yes. Yes it was.

 

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