Sunday Morning Coffee:: Parlour Steps

Friday night brought me to the Biltmore for the CBC recording of the Buttless Chaps. We rolled in at about 10:30 and the place was rammered. Naturally, I assumed the crowd was just anxious to celebrate the decade that is the BCs, but I was wrong.

No, the crowd was dancing along to the first song by the Parlour Steps. This Vancouver based 5-piece is a band I've seen on countless posters, but never actually seen or heard. Right away I was hit with the playfulness of the band on stage. Well that, and how much Caleb's voice sounded like Colin Meloy's (at times). Not that the Parlour Steps sound like the Decemberists, just something that couldn't be ignored.

During the set I kept thinking, "I wish the Decemberists were this much fun live." With Alison Mara pounding out peppy synth lines to compliment Caleb's electric, the songs had the crowd dancing for the full 45 minutes. They describe themselves are "thought-rock", which is much more pretentious and stiff than the sounds they produce. Sure, the lyrics might be well thought out (although during the set I was more focused on the sounds), but the riffs are impact heavy and instantaneous. The band played off each other well, and Julie Bavalis lit up the stage with a friendly smile. With three and four part harmonies, plucky bass lines and crunchy guitar riffs, this "opening act" is one I'll be sure to show up for from now on.

I haven't heard any of their record stuff - aside from two mp3s - but the live show really got me hooked.


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Here are a few pics from the show: