By Mick Coté, Staff Contributor
The Seahorse was almost empty on Friday, Oct. 8. It remained that way until Bend Sinister took the stage as the first act of their self-proclaimed “insta-party.”
The band, fronted by Vancouver-based Dan Moxon, joined Library Voices and Paper Lions, from Regina and P.E.I. respectively, on a Canada-wide tour.
It wasn’t long before Moxon began unleashing lyrics from their latest EP, Spring Romance. “Change Your Mind,” the album’s catchiest song, drew in the crowd that started trickling in the small venue.
All eyes were on Bend Sinister as the guys tied themselves up in harmonies lead by Moxon’s blind keyboard antics.
“This guy is insane,” said Libby MacCarthy, an audience member. “I’m surprised they’re opening this show and not finishing it off.”
The floor was soon packed with hipsters rejoicing in their drunken stupors and the band’s energetic groove.
From bassist to guitar player and keyboardist, the quartet took over the entire stage, nearly hitting one another or spearing the drummer with their instruments.
Perhaps a little more tamed, Library Voices, who have twice the amount of musicians as Bend Sinister, proved themselves to the growing population of Halifax shindig-lovers in the bar. The depth provided by the variety of instruments resembled a chaotic orchestra, broken by the sound of mixed voices chanting at once.
To tie up their routine, Library Voices covered “Got My Mind Set on You” by George Harrison. The horde of people was getting thicker, slowly blocking access to the stage and trapping the band players on stage, where they obviously felt at ease.
“Check, one, two. Hey, hey, hey. One, two, hey, check.” At 12:30 a.m., there it was. The long-awaited final act.
After a short interlude, Paper Lions had the crowd they needed to perform a thriving set: people were drunk, content and most of those wearing second-hand vintage sweaters were making their way back to nearby tables.
With the band’s growing rep and gusto, it’s no wonder poppy melodies revved up the dancing bodies. Paper Lions have been receiving great acclaim for their latest EP, Trophies.
“Lost the War”, the band’s newest single even made it’s way to iTunes’ “free single of the week,” last month.
The insanity wasn’t over until the encore. An exhilarated John MacPhee, guitarist and vocalist, tied a big golden seahorse to his back and invited the other bands to join him on stage.
In the dimly lit room, the all-Canadian ensemble tore-up “Strawberry Man”, a song that earned Paper Lions a slew of nominations at the 2007 East Coast Music Awards.
“I told you,” said Moxon at the end of the show. “It’s high energy. It’s an insta-party with all these guys.”
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