By Erica Eades, Assistant Arts Editor
The aggressive, politically-charged synth punk of Handsome Furs may seem like an odd conclusion to the series of HPX shows at St. Matthew’s Church. But the venue choice for their Oct. 23 performance could not have been more perfect.
With fog machines, complex lighting systems and a wall of star-like twinkle lights in the background, the church’s stage appeared to have undergone a complete transformation; one entirely fit to house the unique musical stylings of the Montreal-based husband and wife duo.
Opening act Silly Kissers—a synth-pop group also from Montreal with a sound scarily reminiscent of the 1980s—played a quick and energized set that got the audience in the right groove for the evening’s headliners. Though they suffered a few minor slip-ups while opening some songs, their overall performance was clean and polished. The band was well-received by the crowd, but it wasn’t until Handsome Furs got on stage that the show really took off.
The audience continued to grow as the Handsome Furs got into their element—with the venue eventually going over capacity, forcing people to stand up in the back of the room. But no one in the crowd was phased. Their high energy, eclectic sound had people jumping out of the pews to start random dance parties around the church, while those who remained seated tapped and bobbed along to their electronic beats.
The band members were enthusiastic, yet noticeably humbled by the audience’s reaction to their music. Vocalist, guitarist, and drum machine operator, Dan Boeckner, who is better known for his role in the band Wolf Parade, laughed nervously as the crowd showered them with praise. And his wife, Alexie Perry, repeatedly tapped her heart to show her appreciation to her fans.
This show was not only my favourite performance at this year’s Pop Explosion. It was the best concert I’ve seen to date. Period.
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