Starting us off tonight was A Giant Dog. To my disappointment, a large canine did not, in fact, take the stage. They played heavy punk rock tunes with wacky lyrics that I couldn’t really click with. They referenced fast food chains and tangerines in their song “Fake Plastic Trees,” which was unfortunately not a Radiohead cover.
I personally felt the smorgasbord of topics covered in a single song was a bit jarring, but I’m sure that whatever they were going for connects with somebody out there. Their stage presence really tied their whole vibe together. Both the frontman and frontwoman were super eccentric. The frontman would scream random noises into the mic between songs, while his sidekick pulled off some Future Islands-esque dance moves.
Overall, I can appreciate the talent of their actual band, but their performance as a whole just wasn’t for me. The audience mostly seemed to enjoy it, though!
I was ecstatic when rock legends Spoon finally took the stage and kicked off their set with “Wild,” a cut from their newest album. I’ve seen the band experiment with different opening songs over the past few shows on this tour, but I couldn’t imagine a better way to start than this. Britt Daniel’s unmistakable vocals and the band’s tight, groove-driven sound set the tone early. Somehow, Britt doesn’t age, and their energy on stage has only gotten better and more refined over the years.
“My Mathematical Mind” is a personal favourite of mine and was played very early in the set. It’s a quintessential Spoon song that showcases their ability to blend intensity with nuance. As the night continued, they reminded the audience why they’ve been such a strong force in the indie rock scene for so long. Spoon might not be a band that’s a popular favourite, but it’s undeniable that they’re one of the most consistent of all time. Their quality of music and their performances have never taken a hit.
Tracks like “You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb” and “Me and the Bean” were crowd favourites, each song building momentum with its punchy rhythms and sharp hooks.
“Inside Out” brought me back to high school when I’d listen to this song on repeat. This dreamy track was completely transformed live with the addition of shoegaze-y guitars — its lush and atmospheric layers transported the crowd into a different space entirely. It was evident that Spoon put a lot of thought into song placement on their setlist. Nearly every song played seamlessly transitioned into the next. The band was enjoying themselves on stage, and it showed that they wanted to play as many songs as possible for their fans without wasting any time.
All the members shared vocal duties for the first few lines of “Do You” before Britt took over. This caught me off guard, but it was a fun and lighthearted moment that put a grin on everyone’s faces. By the time they hit “The Underdog,” excitement in the audience was high. I saw way more movement in the crowd for this song than I was expecting at a Spoon concert.
The only thing I was left wanting from this show was for the band to play any songs from their 2017 album Hot Thoughts! I know that this album might not be beloved by every fan, but it holds such a special place in my heart. I think the experimental vibe they were going for was perfectly achieved. Hopefully, Spoon comes back around to this album for future performances!
Overall, this Spoon concert was a reminder of their consistent ability to evolve without sacrificing any of what makes them great. The song selection was well-rounded and took us through every era of the band.
Hopefully, we don’t have to wait another seven years to see this band again in Montreal!
SETLIST:
Wild
My Mathematical Mind
Metal Detektor
You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb
Me and the Bean
The Hardest Cut
Inside Out
My Babe
Jonathon Fisk
The Underdog
Don’t You Evah
Do You
I Turn My Camera On
Small Stakes
I Summon You
Got Nuffin
Encore:
Foggy Notion (The Velvet Underground cover) (with Alejandro Escovedo)
The Mystery Zone
The Way We Get By
Rent I Pay
Review – Michael Anestopoulos
Photos – Steve Gerrard
