Music

Review: Young Galaxy surprise fans with bubbles at Mod Club

by Melody Lau

Montreal dream pop rockers Young Galaxy (and recent Polaris long list nominees) played to enthusiatic fans, friends and evidently, a swarm of bubbles. Half way into their set, a burst of bubbles appeared in the air, surprising the audience and band whose ominous fog show onstage was the exact opposite from the light bubbly celebration in the air. But the contrast in atmosphere reflects perfectly upon the band’s mixed set of light poppy hits and darker dance rock moments.

The band boasts lush strings and layered arrangements on record but live, they are a rock band. Heavier on synth and bass, creating a more dance-rock vibe for the audience to groove to, listening to them live is an entirely different experience, one everyone should check out before boxing them in the “dream pop” genre they’ve been pegged under for the past three years.

McCandless’ confidence has skyrocketed, becoming the strong fearless frontwoman this band needed to transform into a live force. Her lead on songs “Long Live The Fallen World” and “Oh Sister” dazzled the audience and her energy onstage was the most compelling to watch as she jumped around in between tambourine and keyboard duty.

What Ramsay brings though is his usual touch of light-hearted yet serious personality to the crowd as he warned everyone to stick around for main acts The Besnard Lakes because “they’re like golden birds that will swoop down and lay eggs in your mind.” His flare for theatrics is also generally enjoyable, even when it backfires. For example at the end of the set, Ramsay dropped on his knees while playing guitar, swings it upwards but it slips out of his hands and flies over his head, crashing on the ground instead. Either way, it was a rock star moment from a great rock band.

Photo by: Jeff Jewiss