Augustines vocalist/guitarist Billy McCarthy describes their current Canadian dates as the “secret tour” implying promotion for this leg of the tour has been somewhat lacking. And indeed, the turnout at La Vitrola tonight is indicative of that sentiment, with only 50 or 60 people in the room to witness what turns out to be something rather special.
Before all that though, Los Angeles duo The Bots are in town to lay down some of their punk/garage tunes to an increasingly receptive crowd. The likeable brothers, dressed all in black and white, are impressive musicians individually but compliment each other beautifully as they veer from raucous rockers to understated, intricate moments suggesting they debut album, which is released next week, will be something worth investigating.
Stand-out tracks include Alanna, Side Effects and closer, 5:17, but it’s their variety that really impresses most. They tell us we need to see them in a room full of their own fans to really appreciate The Bots’ experience so I hope they’ll be back again soon.
A short intermission and then Augustines’ Eric Sanderson wanders to the front of the stage strumming an acoustic guitar, shortly followed by McCarthy as they play without any amplification, captivating the room and demonstrating the soulfulness of McCarthy’s throat-shredding voice. As drummer Rob Allen joins them to add a hint of percussion the crowd roars with approval before they move to their respective microphones and launch into the fully amplified, and aptly titled Headlong Into The Abyss.
Fan favourite, Chapel Song follows and the small but very vocal crowd are already screaming their approval. Newer song Cruel City continues the pace, complete with fans adding vocals to the Springsteen-esque chorus before Juarez takes us back to the debut album. Billy manages to smash his guitar on the venue’s low ceiling as he removes it. Twice! He manages to laugh it off but it’s clear there have been some issues with the set up at La Vitrola tonight, with monitors not working correctly, and they joke about the “two-bulb lightshow” before telling everyone that drinks are free at the bar for everyone. The bartender doesn’t look impressed.
We’re told that the band are working on a film, called Rise, which will no doubt include footage of them playing to rooms holding thousands as well as the 50 people here tonight. In 2 months time they headline The Roundhouse in Allen’s native London, a venue with a capacity of 3300 people!
Throughout their set, which lasts almost two hours, Augustines constantly chat and joke with their fans, making the show feel especially intimate and unique, as well as fairly unrehearsed. In a good way. One fan delivers a bottle of whisky to the stage with a note saying “thought you might need a little pick-me-up”. McCarthy looks genuinely touched and instantly opens said bottle and shares it with his bandmates. He says he wants to spend more time in Canada, remarking twice that its people are especially attractive, and laughs about how hockey players appear to be “nice people beating the shit out of each other”.
The highlight of tonight’s show happens as the clock moves towards midnight. All three musicians move to the back of the room, with McCarthy and Sanderson perched atop the bar, complete with guitars, where they play a string of songs, again totally a cappella, as the smiling crowd gathers around them. One girl adds vocals to one song, mentioning in her impromptu lyrics that it’s her birthday, to which McCarthy responds by getting the whole room to sing Happy Birthday Geneviève.
The night ends with them moving back to the stage for one more blast through New Drink For The Old Drunk, they thank Montreal and leave the stage one last time. A very special evening of fine music from a band who manage to write soaring rock anthems, full of soul, without sounding anything but 100% authentic. You get the feeling that you’d feel just as connected with them in an arena as we all did in this intimate room on a Tuesday night in Montreal. And don’t put the arena idea passed them. They may just get there while you’re not paying attention.
Review & photos – Steve Gerrard
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