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Triple Burner, T. Griffin
Coraline, and Esmerine
Mar 25, 2006
@ The Pines
part of April 2006 update
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To get to The Pines you have to navigate your way through an
industrial district (actually Griffintown, a since-deserted 19th
century Irish community with a slew of ghost stories surrounding it),
find an unmarked door in a poorly-lit street, climb a series of stairs
up to the top, and walk down a corridor until you hit room 205. It's
all very sterile until you step inside, where you're confronted with
an elegantly lit and wonderfully-decorated loft space just big enough
to house seventy or so sitting patrons and three bands.
After a quick opening act I missed most of (pretty self-indulgent
but she had a great voice), Triple Burner took the stage to
much fanfare. While this was the second time I saw this duo play, and
the set was essentially the same as it was a month ago, the venue was
much more tight and personal on this occasion. And, besides, this band
is so good they stand up to repeated listens - the flawless fretwork
of Harris Newman combines perfectly with Bruce Cawdron's
percussion and bowed xylophone. The music is instrumental but catchier
than you can imagine... it had every member in my entourage pining to
buy an album (not due out until June, sadly).
Brooklyn's T. Griffin Coraline came up next, and this was an
act I had heard nothing about previous to this show. Appropriately,
they blew us away. Led by some incredible boy/girl harmonies, folky
guitar work, emotional strings, and what the band refers to as a "junk
store electronic vibe," this duo endeared the audience to them
instantly. If you think you'd like a more hopeful, folk-themed Low
sound, give these guys a listen immediately. I picked up an album and
chatted briefly with the very friendly and humble guitarist right
afterwards, so look for a review of their new disc shortly.
Esmerine, that famed Godspeed side project, were up
last, and sadly the place had emptied out somewhat as the subway was
about to shut down for the night. We stayed, though, and it was
certainly worth it. This band started off with a lengthy drone before
breaking into a number of pretty compositions. They
combined cello, bass guitar, drums, and xylophone into one sweeping,
cinematic brew - this is the sort of music that needs to be seen live,
as recordings never seem to capture the true essence of things. The
whole set had an informal but organized feel, capped off by the final
song which featured some truly heavenly interplay between two sets of
bells.
Overall, the show ended much later than expected - but who was
going to complain? This was truly a wonderful night, and probably one
of the best concerts I've been to in Montreal. The folks responsible
for The Pines definitely need to put on more shows, because their
atmosphere and their musical taste are both impeccable.
Matt Shimmer |
