Sunset Rubdown
Date: July 26, 2006 That You Belong to Something It was likely curiosity that drew most to see Sunset Rubdown at Zaphod's, myself included, as the band is fronted by Spencer Krug of Wolf Parade fame. However, despite some early technical snags, the band hit its stride with a fantastic performance that proved them to be worthy of attention wholly on their own merits. The other reason to catch this show was to see . . . As the Poets Affirm. Although the local outfit plays an impressive number of shows, it had actually been over a year since I had seen them; and they came through a lot heavier than I recalled. The band was playing as a six-piece, without the cello of Kina de Grasse; but they still crowded the tight Zaphod's stage. Fittingly, the music also felt barely-contained, as the group packed a lot of punch into a set that felt more fulfilling than its half-hour duration should have allowed. As usual, drummer Nathan Gara was a visual and sonic focal point, at one point rocking the glasses right off his face. The band in front of him was definitely more rocking than what I had witnessed in earlier shows, though. Gary Udle traded his acoustic guitar for electric, while Ben Belanger demonstrated that vocals are an increasingly important facet of the group's evolving sound. With a third album due soon, this concert was a reminder that I should be paying more attention to . . . As the Poets Affirm, as they are continuing to add layers to their intriguing sound. While the Poets thirty-minute set seemed to breeze by, it was hard to argue against the fact that a thirty-five minute wait for the headlining act slowed the momentum. Despite the delay, Sunset Rubdown was hindered on their opening number when Spencer Krug's acoustic guitar was absent in the mix. However, that snag simply turned portions of the song into an a cappella, placing even greater emphasis on a crackly voice that dominates whichever band Krug is playing with. Since I really enjoy Krug's unconventional singing style, the guitar glitch was no great harm. Of greater concern was the fact that in between the first few songs of the night, the band seemed thrown off by the technical issues. Having previously seen Wolf Parade deliver a set of great songs whose impact was lessened by a disorganized and uncertain song pacing, I wondered if this night would repeat the pattern. Once Sunset Rubdown settled in, though, they delivered an epic set that, as with the Poets before them, packed an expansive collection of music into a brief time. The pacing was fine throughout the remainder of night, with even the pauses contributing, as when Krug donned his headband, explaining its utility while critiquing its fashionability. The faulty guitar was of little concern, as Krug generally remained on keyboards. The rest of the band proved to be a great match for what was originally a solo project. The group covered a wide musical range, from restrained quiet to all-out assaults that had guitarist Mike Doerksen displaying the speed of a thrash metal player. Jordan Robson Cramer was equally strong on drums, while Camilla Wynne Ingr presented the face of calm in the chaos. It was hard to think of this incarnation of Sunset Rubdown as an inexperienced band, even after Krug announced that they were playing a song for only the second time together. A late start time constrained the band but they squeezed ten minutes past the usual Zaphod's curfew, capping the wild set with an epic closing song that should have left everyone satisfied. With Sunset Rubdown proving themselves to be a great live act, able to surpass a few technical obstacles, and . . . As the Poets Affirm reminding me what I like about them while showcasing some new angles, it was a very enjoyable night. <--Prev (The New Pornographers) | Next (Wolf Parade)-->Return to Concert ListReturn to Main Page |