Formed from 2/3 of the ashes of beloved Montreal band Ought, the wonderful Cola are back in town for a homecoming show to conclude their most recent North American tour in support of their recent sophomore record, The Gloss.
It’s a weird line-up, to be honest; original openers Yves Jarvis and Shunk are removed last-minute, and a much more punk show originally scheduled at l’Escogriffe is moved to Theatre Fairmount instead, rendering Cola a support band to the eventual headliner, Nashville’s Snooper. As a result, the relatively sedate sound of Cola sticks out in complete contrast to everything else on the bill, and at only 45 minutes, it feels a little shorter than it could have been. Still, frontman Tim Darcy is quick to call the homecoming “a special show,” and it’s hard to disagree with that appraisal!
The stage setup is minimal and looks especially so on the big, wide Fairmount stage. Just a few small amps, a drum kit, and the trio themselves. Still, it fits the Parquet Courts garage rock sector in which the band reside, and by the time the set is rolling, nothing is lacking. Bassist Ben Stidworthy is the understated, un-mic’d lynchpin of the operation, his bass grooves being the driving force of much of the Cola catalogue, and is especially evident on Met Resistance and So Excited. It’s a little overcooked on Water Table; the volume jacked up so high it kinda drowns out the rest of the song, but it’s otherwise immaculate throughout. Tim’s riffs are a perfect foil and stand out, especially on Reprise and Pallor Tricks. At Pace and new song Albatross probably get the biggest response of the set, the floor jumping and heaving throughout.
It’s definitely a disappointment when it all ends after 45 minutes, with no encore (they were ultimately a support band, remember…). Still, it’s a great homecoming set, and here’s hoping they have top billing the next time they hit a Montreal stage!
Setlist
- Degree
- Tracing Hallmarks
- Down to Size
- Met Resistance
- Reprise
- At Pace
- Albatross
- So Excited
- Water Table
- Pallor Tricks
- Bell Wheel
- Keys Down If You Stay
Review & photos – Simon Williams
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