It’s a rare visit to Sala Rossa for me on this Sunday, and a debut Montreal set from Oakland’s Sour Widows that kicks off proceedings. And wow, what an introduction! Singer/guitarists Maia Sinaiko and Susanna Thomson wield angelic soft harmonies in the vein of First Aid Kit, but a sound more akin to Big Thief or Finom. The vocal performance is not lost on one member of the crowd, who declares between songs: “That harmony was f**kin’ awesome!!!”
It’s not soft and delicate all the time though; on second song “Cherish,” a delicate guitar intro slowly morphs into a thunderous rock-out, and other songs are even heavier. Alas, they don’t introduce any of them, so I have no idea what they’re called, but it’s a fine incentive to dig into their debut record Revival of a Friend, which dropped last year. An immense 35 minutes.
Will Anderson, the mastermind behind Hotline TNT, arrives on stage next with his three-piece touring band, and immediately addresses the gap at the front of the room: “It’s looking good in here; it would look better if you came closer!” Everyone shuffles forward and the place feels instantly more cosy. My expectations of a mellow shoegaze show are blown away right off the bat, the set kicking off with a monstrous “The Scene,” and throughout the course of the hour-long set, things feel much more emo or punk rock than shoegaze. “Son in Law” reminds me a ton of Rival Schools, “Tie-Dye” of The Get Up Kids, while “Had 2 Try” sounds like it could have come straight from a Sunny Day Real Estate record. Songs like “Letter to Heaven” take things toward shoegaze territory momentarily, but it never lasts long.
Following their exit from the popular streaming platform earlier this week, Will asks midway through the set: “Day 3 without Spotify! Montreal, do you fk with us? If you do, please buy a record!” The line from the merch table that stretches the width of Sala Rossa after the show suggests that Montreal absolutely does “fk” with Hotline TNT, but the support isn’t just monetary. When Will drops off the mic for the anthemic “Julia’s War,” the crowd singalong is absolutely massive as they belt the “nah nah nah” refrain at the top of their lungs. And when Will opens the encore with the request, “I wanna see you jump like you’re at a Montreal Canadiens game!” the front of the floor absolutely heaves again, and bodies bounce around (myself included) on “History Channel” and “Trinity.” A great set, and a great night of live music from start to finish.
Setlist
- The Scene
- Protocol
- Son in Law
- Tie-Dye
- Out of Town
- Candle
- Letter To Heaven
- Slider
- Julia’s War
- Stampede
- I Thought You’d Change
- Had 2 Try
- Where U Been?
Encore - History Channel
- Trinity
Review & photos – Simon Williams
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