Handsome Furs have been making high energy synth and drum machine electro pop albums for some time and the live show buzz finally got me out to check it. Apparently it worked on a few others too as this second of back-to-back nights at the Horseshoe felt like another capacity crowd. Alexei, Dan's partner both on stage and in life, did not appear nervous despite speaking of her nerves as she held down the keys and drum machine, all the while shaking it in her sparkling dress (or sticking a leg high up in the air to perch on the other). Dan meanwhile belted out When I Get Back, Cheap Music and Legal Tender off the top - sometimes axing a mean guitar at the same time. The energy in the room was palpable and I was even stood directly beneath the air con. The two on stage were genuinely gracious to the crowd that was cheering incessantly after tunes and even swaying a bit during (saying something for a Toronto audience). On Repatriated Dan's guitar absolutely soared, while for Serve the People they swapped positions and instruments (though Alexei didn't pick up the guitar).
After a mighty roar they returned to encore All We Want, Baby, Is Everything and the final track of the night (that wasn't I'm Confused but woulda been nice) on which Dan worked the guitar strings with the mic. Fantastic. Something about the way these two work off each other, swapping meaningful looks, dancing, whatever it may be, gives them the energy to pour back into the crowd. Reputation deserved!
Parlovr
A double shot of Montreal on this evening at the 'Shoe as Parlovr took the stage to start things off. Before even
playing a note they had us build from a whisper to a scream semi-successfully. From the top they had a high energy level as their vocals came through literally loud and clear over a grumbling guitar, synths and a solid drum beat. As the set carried on some of the guitar growl was dumbed down but the energy carried through as the two long haired members up front swapped lead vocals between nearly every song. Behind their dismantled traffic lights they absolutely rocked out the latter half of a tune about a 'general high', with back and forth yelling, much to our delight. Saving minor hit Pen to the Paper for last, they had an enjoyable set capped with a highlight.
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