Oct 04 2008
Akron/Family @ Sala Rossa
Akron/Family absolutely killed it at La Sala Rossa tonight. The show ended a few hours ago and I’m at home, ready to gush about it to those of you who weren’t there. It was one intense experience. I first saw Akron/Family perform this July at Castle Clinton in New York, so having seen them live before, I was considering checking out other bands from the Pop Montreal line up. I thought it would be good to expand my musical horizons and listen to something new, but remembering how their show rendered me speechless, I instead opted to skip Shugo Tokumaru, and Ratatat (yes, you heard me) to be shaken to the core once again by Akron/Family’s unhinged musical freeform.
Miles Seaton (vocals/guitar/drums), Seth Olinsky (vocals/guitar), and Dana Janssen (drums/vocals) alternated between calmer meditative numbers and feverish improvisations to create a powerful, entrancing performance. There was a quality of timelessness throughout the show - instead of breaking between songs to announce song titles, Akron/Family maintained a steady flow of sound that gradually crescendoed to an invigorating climax. During the psych-rock numbers Seaton’s deafening screams and unguarded hollers were cathartic even for the audience. (I wish I could shout everything that’s pent up into a microphone!) This contrasted completely with the gentler songs that were lushly sung with three part harmonies. The vocals were tender and poignant, and the lyrics revealed a little secret - the universe whispered into Akron/Family’s ear and asked them to tell you that everything will be ok. It’s no wonder that their 2007 album is called ’Love Is Simple’.
These guys are completely at ease on stage - letting the music flow through their fingers and sharing their love with the people. They are known for incorporating the audience into the show with sing alongs and clap alongs, and tonight - Seaton took a drum from the stage and placed it on the floor to be pounded upon by exhilarated fans. This was a display of superb musicianship. The intensely wild energy on the stage flowed throughout the venue, moving hips from side to side, unleashing our primal urges and compelling us to feel harmony with our shared tribal roots.
Noticing how much the crowd was into it, Seaton remarked that he loves our city and that Montrealers are badass. “I feel like I can be myself in Montreal, “ he laughingly admitted. Don’t we all, Miles, don’t we all. He then commanded the audience to sing the words ‘just be yourself’, ‘just be your beautiful f-cking self’.
Akron/Family truly embody what it means to put on a kickass live show. In fact, these guys are nothing short of inspired.
I was there as well and the “Love and Space” aspect of the show was amazing. I was genuinely surprised by the show, and went there on a whim (also skipping Ratatat).