Barely alive after a week of exhaustion from Pop Montreal madness, I have finally recovered enough to gather my thoughts and tell you about The Dodos show at La Sala Rossa on Sat, Oct 4th. I didn’t make it in time to see openers Passion Pit, but took a listen to their myspace - it’s hooky, synth heavy dance-pop, with high-pitched vocals. Explosive, like a helium balloon.

Next came Portland based experimental folk duo Au. Fingers scurrying across the keyboard, spacey drawn out vocals, and powerful drums combine classical influences with contemporary Americana, and garner comparisons to Steve Reich, Brian Eno, and Animal Collective. Au alternates between serene atmospherics and lively, spirited numbers. Originally began as a solo project by multi-instrumentalist Luke Wyland, the current touring band also includes insanely skilled drummer Dana Valatka, whose improvised solo at the end of their set at La Sala Rossa floored people’s jaws into the ground. During past shows, Au have been known to perform with more than a dozen musicians on stage with banjos, accordions, and other toys and tricks. They are now touring in support of Verbs, their latest release on Aagoo Records. Their music is expansively orchestrated, skillfully improvised, and oh-so playful!

The Dodos catapulted onto the stage with their frenetic folksy blues and played a propulsive set despite lead vocalist Meric Long being a little under the weather. Percussion is central to The Dodos’ sound and (drummer) Logan Kroeber beat those big, heavy drums with primal urgency - that tribal, drum-circle quality coupled with Meric Long’s effortless fingerpicking resonated well with the audience. Those who heard their music for the first time were immediately hooked. (I didn’t take a poll of the audience - I’m basing this on a statistically significant sample of four people.) More seasoned listeners recognized “Fools”, “Jodi”, “The Season” - smart, witty lyrics soaring above hurried acoustic guitar, booming drums, and chiming vibraphone and creating infectious, unforgettable songs.

Joe Haener (of gris gris) added to the intensity by rhythmically kicking the shit out of a shiny silver garbage can. After the band got off the stage, the crowd stomped and clapped in unison - demanding an encore! Everyone had their primordial guts shaken to the core by this hugely energetic, unrestrained live set. Although comparisons to Animal Collective (I dare you to name one folk-rock indie band that hasn’t been compared to them), Elliott Smith, and even Sonic Youth have been thrown around, The Dodos’ music doesn’t get jumbled with thousands of other bands you’ve got stored in your memory. When you hear the first notes of their songs, you know exactly who you’re listening to. Their 2008 album Visiter was released on Frenchkiss Records this past March and has thrown them into a whirlwind. They’ve toured relentlessly throughout the US, Canada, and Europe, and have dates lined up in Australia all the way through January.

These dudes are seriously badass. Having played at Le Divan Orange this past April, and at La Sala Rossa last week, I think it’s only natural that their next show in Montreal should be held at a venue aptly named for another colorful piece of furniture. Feel free to volunteer suggestions.

The Dodos - Fools

The Dodos - Trades & Tariffs

The Dodos - Jodi

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