The night began with a band called Goodnight, Sunrise. The lead singer/keytar player hopped onstage setting a genuinely excitable mood. They were a bright and energetic, and set the tone for the rest of the night, and possibly the week. The songs made you want to dance with the raw enthusiasm, and power of their beat. Their musicianship is incredibly solid and transports you to the frame of mind of a modern day Woodstock. From the jumps, kicks, glitter, keytar, to the confetti canon they were about pure fun. They emanate the good vibes that they strive for. They were a fantastic and fitting kickoff to CMW. Songs like their single “Remember Now” is a blend of sentimentality, and positivity from being in a place of presence. “Remember Now” is a song you can cry to while you are dancing which is all anyone ever needs to be cleansed. They are certainly an unforgettable live show with fantastic stage presence. Goodnight, Sunrise's energy becomes your energy while they perform. It is infectious in the best way possible. They were the very definition of indie rock.
Monowhales were the second act of the night. They were certainly a pop group but with an edge. Instead of bubblegum pop they were more like spearmint pop. The lead singer was a young woman who was small but with a vivacious personality onstage. She dazzled in the limelight and had undeniable chemistry with the rest of the band, which consisted of a guitarist, drummer, and a moog technician. The songs were impactful, as their new single “Real Love” is about an abusive relationship as women attempt to navigate romance in the modern world. The style is contemporary with a touch of retro sensibilities. The edginess is appealing and sets them apart from other indie pop groups, as well as the fact that they are a confident and solid live performance. They are on an upward track in the music industry as they are gathering local and national attention. You may have heard them on indie88 or from a performance on Toronto talk shows. They are due for their first EP release soon, on June 1st, 2018 so that is something to look forward to from the Monowhales.
The final and headlining act of the night was alt electronica indie group, Matt and Kim. The stage setup was simple, just a drumkit and moog synth. By this time the audience was packed like sardines and ready to rage. When Matt and Kim finally came out, they exhumed an enormous energy despite that they are only two people. They carried the room by themselves with their hugely charismatic attitude, mixed with funny banter between the couple. Kim is an unapologetically raunchy badass, who put on a very physical drum performance the whole way through (while on her period as she mentioned humorously). One of the first songs they did was “Hey Now”, which is an uplifting party song that was fun and made everybody jump and dance. It rattled the venue and I bet if you went there this morning you would still get the sense of them from last night. Their new album, Almost Everyday, is now available on Spotify!
Full gallery coming soon...