Junior Boys @ Lee's (Photo Credit: Ryan O'Shaughnessy)
I’ll be the first to admit – I’m not one to dance at shows a lot. But this was not the case for last Friday’s Junior Boys & Woodhands show at Lee’s. Partially because I would stick out even more than usual if I didn’t and truthfully – how does one not want to move at a show like that? Are you an emotionless robot or something?
Woodhands, whom I mustn’t lie was the reason I was at the show to begin with, has grown into local electro-dance heroes in the past couple of years, with their gut-wrenchingly addictive toe-tapping rhythms and in-your-face sing-along tunes. Duo Dan Werb (vocals, keytar) and drummer Paul Banwatt never disappoint in their live sets, giving it everything they’ve got (and then some) and always guaranteed to leave the stage drenched in their own sweat. Playing mostly old material from their 2008 release Heart Attack, the band strayed away from revealing too many new tracks from their upcoming album (entitled Remorsecapade, out January 26) which of course leads me to tell you that you’re just going to have to wait until the record’s out and they tour again. There are only a handful of bands I would let loose and dance to and Woodhands are definitely on my list – you should consider them on your list too. Just sayin’.
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/woodhands
Junior Boys was a significantly more toned down set compared to the fun and exuberant energy of Woodhands’ set – which is a plus but also quite the big negative as well. Pros of Junior Boys: consistency. These guys know how to be consistent throughout their set, maintaining an atmosphere and energy that must’ve been fifty times more compelling to experience in the pit (of which I had left after Woodhands and opted for a spot at the back instead). The con? As good as the band sounded – it was literally heart-poundingly good – it wasn’t amazing. There’s something about Junior Boys’ music that just doesn’t pounce at me and grasp my attention when I listen to it, albeit this purely subjective as the large audience that occupied Lee’s enjoying JB would probably argue. If we were grading shows, Junior Boys would’ve gotten a B- but an enormous E for effort! Oh well, maybe next time.
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/juniorboys
