Showed up early (early being 11 pm) last night to see the Montreal Showcase (bands that are actually from there vs. Of Montreal, who are from Athens, GA.). There were 12 bands in total playing the downstairs bar and rooftop stage of Maggie Mae's on 6th St. I was there to catch midnight show of Malajube, a French-Canadian rock band who sound like Phoenix, as you might expect, singing in French and all. But what I didn't expect was Champion, the band who went on just before Malajube (pictured) and brought the house down.
Champion are a like a six-car pile up of squealing guitars (they had four--count 'em--four guitar players who all kinda look like 70's era John McEnroe), a female bassist, a computer-tapping DJ for the techno beat (no drummer) and a Parisian songstress who sounds like Patti Smith as an auctioneer. (Yes, I'd been drinking, but it's all true. ) The band looked like they just met in the parking lot, but sounded like nothing I've heard yet at the fest: Brazilian Girls meets ZZ Top rawk you can Flashdance to. And dance we did. LIke maniacs. They don't have an album released here yet but a rep from Verve was circling them after the show, so expect to hear more from Champion.
Malajube, a far better known band (their current album, Tromp L'oeil topped a few Best of lists for 2006), played to a packed house which included Matador records co-prez Chris Lombardi who stayed for the entire set. When he left, he said, "They sound really good." Malajube are currently with F-C label Bonsound, but don't be surprised if they join the legendary indie label and home to Pavement, Interpol, Belle & Sebastian to name a few.
