Le Studio TD is fast becoming one of those venues I hate to visit in the summer. We’re not quite at the level of the inferno that is Bar l’Escogriffe yet, but we’re getting close. Situated slap-bang in the middle of the Quartier Des Spectacles, there always seems to be a festival going on which, combined with those beloved Montreal road closures, makes parking absolutely impossible. First, it was Francopholies, then Jazz Fest, and tonight, it’s Just For Laughs. Every time I finally walk through the doors of the venue, I am a weird mix of relief and frustration.
It’s been a tough few years for New Jersey’s Pinegrove, for some reasons you know (i.e. COVID) and perhaps some you don’t unless you follow the music press closely. Judging by the packed venue tonight, none of it has dampened the enthusiasm and devotion of the “pinenuts,” the colloquial term used for their fanbase. The place is rammed, and even the balcony is open and full, which I haven’t seen in a while!
As soon as the opening bars of Darkness ring out, it’s clear that there’s a real campfire community vibe to the live show. When the band elects to all sit down on the stage during the middle section of Aphasia, the only thing missing is the s’mores! There’s a crispness to the vocals of frontman Evan Stephens Hall that makes his words easy to decipher and remember, and judging by the ferocity with which the majority of songs are sung back at him throughout the set by the pinenuts, we could all be Pinegrove frontmen. Indeed, the crowd’s attempts at matching Evan’s falsetto on Amulets deserve applause! Evan gives his all in turn throughout the 85-minute set, neck vessels bulging on songs such as Dotted Line.
The set is a perfect mix of sounds. Habitat sees Evan stomp around the stage while guitarist Sam Skinner blazes out a thunderous solo, while immense new song Alaska is basically indie-pop perfection, but at barely 2 minutes, is over way too soon, much like Bambina by Vampire Weekend. Set closer New Friends is so monstrous, that sections of the crowd even begin to pogo! The delicate moments are often just as powerful; Swimming and Alcove perfectly encapsulate that campfire singalong vibe.
The only major gripe of the set must be the omission of their classic breakthrough song Old Friends. Presumably, that would typically be reserved for an encore; at least, that’s what the whole crowd is assuming when the band leave the stage after New Friends, as they cheer for “one more song” for at least 5-10 minutes after the house lights come up and house music begins seeping out over the PA. Arriving on stage 7 minutes later than scheduled may be the reason for the no-show; they still finish bang-on 11.15pm as planned. Being the first night of the tour, hopefully the timing will be worked out for future dates. Unless they just straight-up didn’t want to play it? Who knows. In any case, it’s a somewhat anticlimactic conclusion to an otherwise great night.
Setlist
- Darkness
- Moment
- Angelina
- Dotted Line
- Habitat
- Respirate
- Aphasia
- Swimming
- Intrepid
- Cyclone
- Alcove
- Alaska
- Iodine
- Picture
- Waiting
- Amulets
- Light On
- Unison
- Orange
- Let
- New Friends
Review & photos – Simon Williams
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