I arrived in time to see early starters Mosman Alder, but it is hard to remember anything particularly noteworthy. The local six-piece competently perform, but this brand of indie rock isn’t incredibly interesting, as violins and keys get washed away in uninteresting guitars.
Picking up were the second locals for the night Nova Scotia. Beginning with what feels like an extended instrumental jam, they follow by pounding through a short set of guitar-laden noise and fierce indie rock. They finish with one final feedback soaked jam before leaving the stage.
Soon the crowd was to be subjected to the psychedelic noise of drawcard The Besnard Lakes. From the moment the ear-pounding reverb and Jace Lasek’sabsolutely flawless falsetto of Like The Ocean, Like The Innocent begins, everyone is hooked. The room is filled with an endless barrage of noise. It is clear The Besnard Lakes have early shoegaze efforts such as My Bloody Valentine as a strong influence, albeit as a considering more rocking beast. Noise builds and builds on every track, and threatens to engulf the enraptured audience. They may bring a track to an abrupt halt after six or seven minutes, but it would have just as pleasant to do it all over, simply to be washed over once again in the blissfully psychedelic noise.
Lasek, looking is he if came straight out of the 70s, puts a great deal of energy into his performance while wife (and singer/bassist) Olga Boreas is much more composed. This is reflected in several songs; Boreas lead Devestationfrom 2007’s …Are The Dark Horse threatens to explode while maintaining its composure, whereas Chicago Train begins with hair-raising falsetto from Lasek before thumping drums and dueling guitars explode in one more flourishing of noise.
Likewise, Land of The Living Skies, Light Up The Night and Albatross begin as a calm before the storm. Haunting guitar and falsetto echo throughout the The Zoo. Before finishing, the band give a gracious three song encore including fan favourite Disaster, and the awkwardly titled Life Rarely Begins With Tungsten Film #1 from debut album Volume One.
The Besnard Lakes seem to earn their self-given moniker as a dark horse. Lasek may be ecstatic because he had no idea anyone “knew who the f**k we are,” but with such a performance, The Besnard Lakes have every reason to be known the world over.
