iheartthemusic was pumped when we heard that our beloved favourite, Bend Sinister were kicking off the Friday night showcase at the Horseshoe. With the sea of talented and hard working indie bands our fine country has to offer, penetrating a fan base other than the devout indie scene can be a challenge. This performance proved Bend Sinister has the range and appeal to connect with masses. Unbeknownst to front man Dan Moxon, we were on the scene prior to the band’s sound check.  His calm nature was evident as he gathered his thoughts and prepared his set list prior to the show. Once the band hit the stage they unleashed a collective surge of energy which earned them the unwavering attention of the audience for the duration of the show. Stand out tracks included a new addition to their repertoire “Can’t Change Your Mind” and the better known track “Time Breaks Down”. Dan displayed his impressive vocal range in “It’s the Little Things You Do” and the ever uplifting track “Things will get Better”. Featuring an insane guitar riff by Joseph Blood, they finished off the set with a cover of “Don’t Stop Believing”. Check out their website where they are giving away their music for free! Or better yet, see for yourself next Thursday March 25th at the Rivoli!

Next to hit the stage were CMW veterans, The Dudes. These guys are incredible musicians with a lot of heart-displayed greatly through their lyrics. Notable tracks included the cheeky track “Girl Police” and “Pretty Lies” which, front man Dan Vacon remarked “was on the radio” so don’t hate them. Dan has great performance ability, prefacing all songs with relatable stories. He wrote “Not S’Pose to Call” about his ex which he wrote when they “weren’t cool for a while, especially when I broke up with that bitch.” Yikes. While the subject matter may lead one to expect an aggressive sounding track, it is actually an incredibly catchy tune which showcases the bands southern sound. The Dudes kept the passion going with “Mr.Someone Else” featuring the cowbell, which is arguably the best instrument ever. Another highlight included “Ghosts We’re Buried On” which Vacon wrote about his grandfather. We were fortunate to catch up with these likable dudes before the show. Look out for the interview later next week.

It was refreshing to hear the female voice of Antonia Freybe-Smith (Vocals/Keys) when Jets Overhead hit the stage.  Simply put, Antonia brought this performance from good to great. They started things off with an incredibly unified performance of “Sun, Sun, Sun”. It was uplifting, inspiring and memorable, attributes which can only truly be recognized when hearing this song live. With the bar set high, they kept the quality going for the entire set. The bands introspective vibe shone through in their performance of “No Nations”, “Heading For Nowhere” and most notably “Where Did You Go” which marked another exceptional performance. “Where Did You Go” is an absolutely beautiful song, I suggest going to listen to it right now.

Next on the roster was Melissa Auf der Mar; to say the vibe changed drastically would be an understatement. It felt as if we were teleported into the early 1990’s. I suppose this makes sense considering Auf der Mar toured with The Smashing Pumpkins for their 2000 tour and was Hole’s bassist for five years. While there is no denying her talent, it felt like we were in a different decade. It’s a shame her solo career didn’t start earlier. That said, she rocked the Horseshoe. No complaints here. The only thing missing from this performance was pyrotechnics.

Hot Hot Heat hit the stage next and brought us back to 2010. These guys played an amazing set showcasing great new material and the better known tracks “Middle of Nowhere” and “Talk To Me Dance With Me”. Having just signed to Dine Alone records, (which picked up the CMW award last Thursday for Best Canadian Independent Label) their collective energy was palpable.  At the end of the set, Steve Bays (vocals and keyboards) gave a shout out to the couple making out during the whole show. That was funny. Look out for their new album Future Breeds which comes out in June.  

as reviewed by Catherine Russell

photography provided by Mike Palmer