Ty Segall + La Luz + The Nymphets @ Club Soda

Photo by the illustrious Susan Moss, courtesy of POP Montreal

The hot ticket at POP Montreal this year was undoubtedly Saturday night's triple bill at Club Soda. A sold-out crowd gathered on the corner of Saint-Laurent and Ste-Catherine street, amongst the hookers and hustlers, ready to show their love for the garage psych powerhouse, Ty Segall and his band.

When The Nymphets took to the stage, the venue was still looking sparse. What transpired for those lucky enough to get to Club Soda early was an awesome set of pop tinted skittish rock n' roll. Johanna and Jared switched vocal duties throughout their set, taking no time between songs for banter, ensuring that the ever-growing crowd gathering at the front of the stage remained in motion. Playing as a three piece, with no theatrics permeating from the stage, Johanna was front and centre behind her drum kit anchoring the band's songs with her primitive drum beats. While Jared swayed to-and-fro strumming his guitar, stopping only long enough in front of his microphone for his vocal duties, it became obvious early on that this evening would soon become a dance party. Over the course of their comparatively short set, The Nymphets reminded me of what makes them a joy to watch live, as their short energetic songs provided a great foundation for what some might call the perfect night of Rock 'n Roll.

As more attendees filed into Club Soda, Seattle's La Luz were second to take to the stage. A lot of buzz has been going around this all female surf band since the releases of their "Brainwash" single in 2013 (Suicide Squeeze Records). La Luz lived up to the hype. Being a fan of their 2013 debut full length album It's Alive (Hardly Art), I was instantly taken aback with how muscular their surf songs sounded in a live setting. From the band's opening song, the chemistry between Shana Cleveland (Guitar, Vocals), Marian Li Pino (Drums), Alice Sandahl (Keyboard) and Lena Simon (Bass) shone from the stage reinforcing their choice of band name (La Luz means "The Light" in Spanish). It's hard to believe that these songs weren't geographically written in the warmth of the West Coast, instead of the grey and rain of Seattle. The fact that these four ladies were easy on the eyes did not distract the audience from the musicianship contained within this tight set.

Shana Cleveland's surf guitar leads cut through the crowd like a surfboard through the choppiest of waters all the while Alice Sandhal on keys, kicked up the Watusi ensuring that the crowd weren't the only ones dancing. Lena Simon's bass rolled in and out like the tide up against Marian LiPino's steady sunny rhythms. Playing the bulk of their released catalogue, it was obvious on every member's face that they were really enjoying the appreciation that the, now almost to-capacity crowd, was sending their way. A final act of crowd-interaction from keyboardist Alice Sandhal came during the song "Sure As Spring" when she emerged from behind her instrument and launched herself into the mosh pit. As Shana Cleveland laid down an a frenetic guitar solo, Alice was carried atop the crowd and returned to the stage just in time to close the song with a keyboard solo. This in hindsight, was a mere indication of where this night might go once Ty Segall takes to the stage.

By the time Ty Segall emerged with his band, Club Soda was at maximum capacity. Those left outside either didn't have a ticket or were working the corner as they say. Ty Segall clad in white, his pants adorned with black cosmic patches, his shirt emblazoned with a symbol of unknown meaning had the crowd screaming before a single note of opening song "Manipulator" was even played.

Throughout the entire performance, the crowd on hand to witness today's true champion and saviour of rock 'n' roll, relentlessly barraged him with what could only be described as unequivocal love. From the first song all the way through to the finale the stage served as a sanctuary for fans to dance, stage dive or just share a moment with their hero (several people approached Ty and would whisper in his ear). Ty alongside his band Charles Mootheart (Guitar), Mikal Cronin (Bass, Keyboard) and Emily Rose Epstein (Drums), energized by the scene on display in front of them, played a set that drew heavily portion from Ty's latest master stroke album Manipulator (Drag City), with enough gems from his back catalogue to make even the most ardent fan vibrate. With this latest album one can only feel that Ty Segall has entered a new league, the same could be said with the live show. Unrelenting, Ty attacked his instrument as though every song was going to be the last one he ever played.

"Feel" from the latest album ended with an extended breakdown, one that saw each band member pushed to the limit, turning an already raucous song into a bonafide gutter war cry... a bullet was found on stage moments later. A symbolic metaphor perhaps for the heat that Ty's band are packing. Banter was kept to a minimum, only asking the crowd from time to time how they were doing. Each response grew more and more wily. One only had too watch Emily on drums to witness a group entirely giving themselves over to the music to the point of exhaustion. As everything from "Tall Man, Skinny Lady" to "Wave Goodbye" to "Girlfriend" was given a face peeling make over.

People dropped from the balcony into the ebb and flow of the compact crowd below. Bodies turned and swayed from atop the crowd, various members of La Luz would jump from the side stage as photos were snapped. As the band wind down their last set that included the old gem and live staple "Girlfriend", a couple climb on stage and lock lips in an embrace in front of Ty. They spin as one and fell into the crowd as he watched on in amazement. A perfect moment at the end of a perfect night. 

--Oncle Ian co-hosts The Go-Go Radio Magic Show every Friday at 6:00 PM on CJLO. Tune in, turn on, freak out!