A headliner is only as strong as its opening act, and Josephine Network is a huge yes vote for the Lemon Twigs. I feel like I’m watching a Bob’s Burgers band come to life. With a fresh take on a classic sound and an affirming message on the power of rock to tell your story the way you want to, with zero compromise, this band rocks. If AC/DC had a child with the Pixies, this is what you’d get.
As I watch them, I think about how the last time I saw the Lemon Twigs perform, I knew this was the first band I wanted my daughter to see live. And then I did something stupid. In the meantime, I kinda forgot about Dre… er, D’addario. She’s 7 and loves the crap out of music and knows the Lemon Twigs well by now. So what happened? What an epic brain fart move. She would have loved Josephine Network, fun, funny, unserious about themselves but super serious about rock. Instant magical connection material.
These players are cool ones, all. The bass player has a silver dollar bald spot and a bit of a mullet and just… damn, it suits him. Like I’ve never seen male pattern baldness look so perfect (I have it, and so this is purely professional jealousy). I think it’s easy to ooze such confidence when your bass parts are so raw and tight. I could probably talk about everybody in the band at length, like the guitar chops, harmonies, song subject matter, it’s all so vital.
“Bumpin’ Into You” is the highlight of the set for me. The type of song you turn to the person next to you and smile about. Except I didn’t have anyone to smile at. Because I didn’t bring my daughter. Like a dummy.
So when I did look over and see a seat get filled by not my daughter, I took note of the shape of the person in the dark. It was Brian D’addario proudly scanning the venue and digging his opening act. I slid over and, while keeping it brief, I let him know the opening act they brought on tour was a great decision. He agreed happily, and I let him go back to his process.
The Lemon Twigs crowd feels like a happy mix of old music lovers that never gave up finding the gold in the massive ocean of modern music and the younger people that feel at home in this particular type of out-of-timeness. The old people would be considered cool old people, while the younger ones have cats and rich internal lives, but don’t feel cool, even though they really should. H-Why? Because they are actively choosing quality over mushy oatmealy sameness. I like these people. I’d give them a hug if I could stand the restraining orders.
The band is predictably tight, with harmonies more locked in than ever before. Although the positive vibes of Theatre Corona certainly help, they sound closer to the recordings than they have on previous visits. The Lemon Twigs are maturing, certainly still in their golden years, certainly still raring and able to do the unbelievable jump kicks when the moment calls for it. Both in sound and delivery, The Lemon Twigs are at their best.
This is the first show of the tour. Generally, the sweet spot is the 5th or 6th date, when they are on a roll and warmed up, but not so folded by the slog that touring can be yet. This bodes well for the rest of the tour. It’s also a minor honour for the city of Montreal, where the Lemon Twigs have always felt so welcomed.
Josephine actually came and occupied the exact seat Brian had earlier. I didn’t say anything then. I got weirdly shy, but I’ll say it now, keep making people believe in rock, and just in good music. That goes for both bands. What a great night!
8/10 will see again, will correct past mistakes, will bring daughter.
Review – Mike Rogers
Photos – Daphne Miller
