I arrived to MTelus early to the buzz of fans who have waited almost a year to hear Oh Wonder, since they were here last October. Oh Wonder is a pop duo of pianist Josephine and guitarist Anthony, and both of them sing, harmonizing, with some solos by Josephine, and rarely Anthony. Since they were last here, Oh Wonder has had many shows around the world. They’ve also come out with their second album, Ultralife, after which the tour was named. On the accompanying tour, they’ve played bigger venues and accumulated even more fans. Their new album has a faster pace and a more hopeful tone than the debut. I came to the show wondering how they would adapt their show to fit their new songs and bigger crowds.
The opener was Jaymes Young, whose clear voice over a minimal instrumental paired nicely with Oh Wonder’s similar sound. He last played in Montreal when touring with Vance Joy in 2014. He did most songs in their full version, but his stripped down version of “I’ll Be Good” was a hit in the audience, especially for me. It really highlighted the intricacies of his voice and connected with the audience. He closed with “Stoned On You,” which had a great beat and hyped up the crowd for the headliner they’d been waiting for. It also solidified him as a name to remember in the minds of those who hadn’t heard of him prior to the show.
Oh Wonder started the show off with a bang, the most upbeat song on their sophomore album, “High On Humans.” The differences between their performance style this year and last were clear after just 30 seconds of this song. They were more dynamic and engaged the crowd much more, using the whole stage, not just the piece behind their instruments. They then moved into their bass-heavy “Dazzle,” which brought the energy of the audience even higher. They then played “Without You,” after which was one of my favourite moments of the show. The duo paused for a moment next to each other clearly conveying to the audience how much they meant to each other and how grateful they are for the opportunity that they’ve gotten to play music for a living.
They next moved into “Landslides” and “Heavy,” after which a fan threw a camera on the stage, which Josephine proceeded to struggle with. She joked about the circumstances and took the picture. It was an entertaining break in the show where the audience got to see who they were as people, not just musicians. They played “Body Gold,” “Overgrown,” and closed with “Lose It,” when Anthony said that this was the time for the crowd to lose it with the band and enjoy the moment. The crowd, not ready to let the band go on their way, stomped their feet in protest and chanted, “One more song!” The duo came back on and closed with “Ultralife” and their biggest single, “Drive.”
Oh Wonder has really come into their popularity. They’re not only better performers musically, but have improved in their ability to engage the crowd as a whole. In this show they talked about their experiences on their tour and encouraged all the fans to follow their dreams and be themselves no matter what people say. The lights and the music were much more entertaining and dynamic in this show then the last time the band was in Montreal. They’re time on the road has clearly shaped them as performers and the experience has made them more comfortable and dynamic on the stage.
Review – Rhodes Ford
Photos – Arianne Bergeron
