Montreal got a double dose of Australian indie rock on Sunday night, and for a city that likes its guitars loud and its choruses cathartic, this one landed right where it should. Spacey Jane brought their much-loved mix of nostalgia-tinged indie anthems and youthful energy to Le Studio TD, but it was their support act, Belair Lip Bombs, who made sure the night started with a jolt.
Opening acts have it tough. You’re playing to a crowd that may only vaguely know who you are, if at all, and they’re mostly there to see someone else. But The Belair Lip Bombs walked out looking entirely unfazed by the task. Their set, a tight eight-song run-through including “Back of My Hand,” “Look the Part,” and “Price of a Man,” felt less like a warm-up and more like a mission statement.
Maisie, the band’s vocalist and rhythm guitarist, has the kind of voice that cuts through the room with an edge that’s equal parts urgency and charm. There’s no trying to sound like anyone else; her delivery is distinctive, and the songs let her sit right at the centre without overshadowing the rest of the band. The rhythm section was locked in all night, each groove precise but never stiff, leaving room for the guitars to veer into noisy, slightly chaotic bursts that gave the set its bite.
They closed with “Don’t Let Them Tell You (It’s Fair),” their latest single, which is due to land on their upcoming album next month. It was one of those moments where you could feel the room shift, even the people who didn’t know the song yet seemed to lock into its momentum. Signed to Jack White’s Third Man Records, Belair Lip Bombs carry the kind of cool factor that feels earned rather than manufactured, and Sunday night suggested they’re ready to break well beyond support slots. Honestly? I enjoyed them even more than the headliner.
Spacey Jane are no strangers to sold-out crowds these days, and Montreal was clearly ready for them. The cheers started before the lights even dimmed, and when the band launched into “Through My Teeth,” followed by “Estimated Delivery,” the place was a mass singalong right out of the gate.
Frontman Caleb Harper wore the slightly dazed grin of someone who still can’t quite believe this many people know his words. His vocals, honest, slightly weathered around the edges, carried beautifully over the band’s shimmering guitars and steady, driving rhythms. Bassist Peppa Lane, who might just be the happiest person on stage anywhere, spent the entire set bouncing, grinning, and locking eyes with fans in the front row. Drummer Kieran Lama kept the grooves crisp, letting the band push and pull the dynamics without ever losing the thread.
But it was guitarist Ashton Hardman-Le Cornu who seemed most determined to turn this into a rock show. He spent half the night throwing shapes, thrashing his hair around, and wringing out riffs like he was auditioning for a metal band, in the best way. It added a kinetic edge to songs like “Whateverrrr” and “Sawteeth,” keeping things from feeling too polished.
This tour supports their third album, If That Makes Sense, and the setlist leaned into the new material while still giving fans all the classics they came for. “Lunchtime” was a mid-set highlight, as was “How to Kill Houseplants,” which had the crowd singing so loudly that Harper stepped back from the mic to let the audience take the chorus.
A special moment came when the band played “Yet,” a song they admitted hadn’t been in rotation for a long while. The story goes that a fan at the signing session earlier that day requested it, and the band decided to dust it off for Montreal. That kind of spontaneity is rare on a tour this polished, and it was a reminder that Spacey Jane are still willing to throw curveballs for their fans.
The closing stretch — “Good For You,” “Hardlight,” and the massive “Booster Seat” — felt like a victory lap, with the crowd’s voices practically lifting the roof off Studio TD. After a quick duck backstage, the band returned for an encore of “So Much Taller” and “Lots of Nothing,” sending everyone out into the night sweaty, smiling, and maybe a little hoarse.
Spacey Jane have reached a point where they could easily play it safe, deliver the hits, keep things tidy, and move on to the next city. But they didn’t. This show felt alive, with each member having their own moment to shine. There’s a polish to their performance now, sure, but they haven’t lost the sense of urgency that made them compelling in the first place.
Belair Lip Bombs, meanwhile, feel like a band on the cusp of something big. If they can capture Sunday night’s energy on their upcoming album, they’ll be the ones headlining venues like this before long.
Two Australian bands, two different flavours of indie rock, and one Montreal crowd who got exactly what they came for — a night of music that made them sing until their voices cracked.
Read our interview with Caleb HERE.
Review & photos – Steve Gerrard
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