Heroes & Villains with Boo Hoo and British Sea Power
Montreal writer Maria Guiliani checked out a Heroes & Villians, Boo Hoo. British Sea Power show at Sala Rossa in Montreal. Here are her thoughts on the concert.
The red walls of La Sala Rossa were vibrating last Monday night with a thrice-packed line-up of rock and pop rhythm. It was Montreal trio Boo Hoo who launched the night in an exciting eight-song preview of their recently debuted self-titled album. With one member on drums and the remaining two sharing strings and vocals, these boys in matching V-necks are without a doubt an instrumentally-driven band. My personal favorite, arriving halfway though, was the deftly harmonized “America” which best encompassed all that Boo Hoo is capable of.
Following next were the four musicians, three standard instruments, and dozen songs that I knew would equate to one satisfied spectator. This band of Heroes & Villains was the original source of my venture out into the rainy city streets, and they didn’t disappoint. Now, I’ve heard it said that these guys define what it means to sound “indie”; and I’ve heard them compared to other bands who aren’t defined by that said indie sound. I don’t know the validity of, nor do I care about, such comparisons. I’m just choosing to enjoy them based on the merit of their own combined talents, particularly after witnessing such a performance as the one I witnessed Monday night.
Not a theatrical band, they were mature in their stage presence, owning their performance in every way. That lead vocalist Raphael Parent was constantly smiling is likely the best indication that this is a band that loves to play, and that they also are comfortable with the ‘what’ and the ‘how’ of their play. But love as I might the synthesis of their sound, I must admit the highlight to me was their cover of the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back.” It’s so rare to find a song covered properly, with attempts usually falling too much to one extreme or the other, making for unbalanced listening. H & V managed to maintain the integrity of the original song while making it uniquely their own, and a fun experience for all. Their set closed with a new song, the title of which I find appropriate to my opinion of their musical prowess: “Victory Lane.”
And by a stroke of serendipity, or as a symbol of solidarity, the vintage British army jacket worn by Parent gave way to British Sea Power, a band unknown to me prior to this evening. I was slightly weary initially, with the stage adorned with flags, the background sounds of bells and foghorns, and the foursome looking exactly as a British boy-band should look, as per Oasis; but thankfully their endearingly-accented humour and ability to play (granted, loudly) kept them in my good books. I did find their style to be one that is generally too mainstream, their songs generally too alike, and—finding in H & V more exciting examples of Brit-pop sounds—decided ultimately to go home a little early.
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