
Everything about tonight feels like an absolute throwback to 2008. I had just moved here and immersed myself in the local music scene, hitting over 100 shows a year, many of which were at tonight’s venue, the iconic La Sala Rossa.
An old buddy I haven’t seen in almost 15 years but who I would see all the time back then is standing at the front door of the building as I walk in. It’s like the last 15 years never happened!

And to top it off, tonight’s headliner, local heroes Land of Talk, is a band I used to listen to all the time back then, too. Returning to a Montreal stage in celebration of local radio staple CJLO and their 25th anniversary, there’s a palpable air of celebration about the room tonight, perhaps exacerbated by the fact that Montreal show-goers are finally breaking out of their respective holiday hibernations and back out soaking up live music for another year.
Lead singer/songwriter Elizabeth Powell arrives on stage in a glittery green sequined jumpsuit that only adds to the carnival atmosphere, grinning at the packed crowd before launching into Your Beautiful Self from 2023’s Performances record to start the set.

The classic Some Are Lakes from 2008’s legendary record of the same name gets a huge cheer, its ageless strum and fragile vocals sounding just as immaculate in 2025.
The cheers of appreciation are equally loud on Macabre, though for different reasons; perhaps it’s been a little post-holiday rust, as Elizabeth totally messes up the words on one of the verses before bursting into giggles and having to halt the song for a moment while she composes herself. The song restarts and goes the rest of the way without any more glitches!

The 50-minute set spans the band’s discography, though perhaps dips most into 2017’s Life After Youth, with the aforementioned Macabre soon followed up with Yes You Were and Loving, and culminates in Quarry Hymns from 2010’s Cloak and Cipher.
“One more banger before a dance party and cake!” declares Elizabeth.
It’s a special evening for everyone involved. Elizabeth proclaims midway through the set, “Nights like this don’t happen often, so cherish them!”
She can rest assured that we most certainly did!

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Review – Simon Williams
Photos – Steve Gerrard











