Photo Credit: Michael Fil

It was surprising to see the Horseshoe as packed as it was last night for the UK’s Wild Beasts because a) it’s a Monday night and b) shouldn’t we all be at home watching the Olympics instead? Needless to say, I defied both because days of the week don’t really apply anymore when you go to shows as often as I do, and I’ll admit it – I missed the end of the show because I went to the front room of the Horseshoe to watch figure skating. Come on, folks – figure skating!

Arts & Crafts newcomers Still Life Still opened the night to a venue that gradually filled up with each song. The Toronto indie rockers are always compared to label mates/boss Kevin Drew and Broken Social Scene, and for good reason. Though no where near the 15-piece super-group aesthetic of Social Scene, Still Life Still’s music is definitely a more simplistic, poppier take on the Toronto collective’s epic grandiose rock. But don’t jump the gun and proclaim these guys as the new generation of Brendan Cannings just yet, the band still has lots of work ahead of them. Musically, the band’s songs are generally a hit or miss but when it’s a hit, they really nail it – ridiculously catchy hooks, fun sing-along lyrics, and a heck of a melody. Though not the most interesting on record, Still Life Still knows how to bring it live. It’ll be very interesting to see this band grow in the upcoming years, whether they embrace their more pop-rock roots or gear towards an even more BSS-like sound. Either way, I see them doing well.

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/stilllifestill

UK indie dream pop rockers Wild Beasts were up next and the second they stepped onstage, a wave of red light – an enemy of photographers – flooded the stage and a seriously addictive beat hit the crowd. Rhythmically heavy, Wild Beasts can make an audience dance, sway, head bob and pretty much everything in between. Lead singer/guitarist/bassist Hayden Thorpe’s voice is strange yet hypnotically compelling and when it contrasts with the lower register of bassist/guitarist Tom Fleming, it is oddly exquisite – voices like these don’t normally work but in this case it does. Songs like “All The Kings Men” and “We Still Got The Taste Dancing On Our Tongues” – both off their newest release Two Dancers – are prime examples of how great this band really is. Fantastic both on record and live, if you don’t have Wild Beasts in your musical library yet, do it now.

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/wildbeasts

Sure, I missed the end of their set but I was able to listen to it from the front room just fine. The Canadians aren’t the only ones who did great last night. Gold medals all around!