CMW
Live: We Are Wolves
LEE'S PALACE
- MAR. 9

Music
is changing.
Whether you find that a comfortable thought or not is immaterial;
the fact remains that the music landscape is shifting, right
down to the core, and this is a trend that will undoubtedly
continue. On Friday March 9th, the just-about-capacity crowd
at Lee's Palace was shown just how far music has traveled,
with a truly abstract performance by the Montreal-based three-piece,
We Are Wolves.
Take a dash of Ladytron; substitute in a male vocal; add a
side of Whirlwind Heat; a large video screen; a synth; a guitar;
a drummer that doesn't sit down; a band that sings in both
national languages; mix 'em together and you have the raw,
electric and supremely arty We Are Wolves.
Accompagnied by images of all descriptions flashing behind
them, We Are Wolves slashed through their hour at Lee's. Coupled
with the sounds from the stage symphonic fuzz and shouting
lyrics these images could have been or meant anything.
Added to that, for much of the performance, these gentlemen
were singing bilingually. Under other circumstances, this
might have been considered odd or difficult to approach, yet,
on this night, it worked. The raspy and throaty male vocals
were an added bonus and they brought an extremely cohesive
vibe to the show.
Looking at straight talent and ability, WAW has got its share.
Despite the potential conflict between the flurry of activity
from all sides of the stage, the videos and the crowd, the
band was able to play through and maintain the vibe the entire
evening. Add elements such as the sound one is able to achieve
while playing a drum kit standing up, as opposed to sitting
down, and the fact that the trio were switching instruments
the whole night, and you're left with a very off-beat, yet
satisfying affair.
We Are Wolves bring something very distinct to their music,
something that is highly experimental but by the same token,
is wildly interesting and approachable. Fortunately for the
Friday night CMW crowd at Lee's, the band brought that something
on stage with them and it totally worked.
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