P.E.I. groups steal the show at Coconut Grove

Grade: A-

The Prince Edward Island music scene invaded Coconut Grove on Friday night, as Charlottetown-based groups Smothered in Hugs, The Danks and Two Hours Traffic joined local boys Mardeen as part of the Halifax Pop Explosion.

Although the audience was sparse during opening act Smothered in Hugs, there was a determined group of five or six fans in the front row keeping the energy levels high. They danced continuously throughout the set and shouted enthusiastically at the end of every song. Even with the minimal crowd, Smothered in Hugs gave their all to the performance. They played a fast, hard set that was drenched with enthusiasm and a passion for their music.

The Danks brought the energy up a level as they played songs from their newly-released album, Are You Afraid of the Danks? The band performed their standard Strokes-inspired music, but with an edgier vibe than on the album. Front man Brohan Moore’s vocals sounded coarser than usual, possibly from the strain of the group’s cross-country tour.

Nevertheless, The Danks gave a driving performance. The highlight was their hit “Treaty Connector.” When they played it, the audience roared with excitement.

Sadly, Mardeen was less than memorable as a follow up. This could be because The Danks were such a hard act to follow. Or it could be the result of having to open for the evening’s headliners, Two Hours Traffic. Either way, they were unable to steal attention away from the other acts. This is too bad, because Mardeen can put down excellent album tracks, but their live show seemed to lack the passion and drive of a release such as “Read Less Minds.” Their Pop Explosion show left me drumming my fingers, waiting for something more involving. Maybe they’re just a better studio band than live act.

Two Hours Traffic took the stage at about 1 a.m., at which point the bar was almost at capacity. They opened their set with the title song from their latest record, Territory. Album producer Joel Plaskett mingled with the audience as he enjoyed the show as both a friend and advisor.

After the opening song, the band went back to their previous album Little Jabs, where they slowed down the tempo with the track “Nighthawks.” The audience seemed unimpressed by the band’s more laidback tone, but was ecstatic when they came back with one of their most upbeat hits, “Sure Can Start.”

The Charlottetown groups certainly stole the show away from our local talent. However, Friday night at the Coconut Grove proved once again that East Coast music is a force to be reckoned with.