The eyes have it

I liked Frog Eyes the last time I saw them at Babylon, and found them more interesting than headliner Destroyer (even though they were functioning as Dan Bejar's backing band). I thought they were more interesting than the headliner - Wolf Parade - this time around, too. Wolf Parade's Spencer Krug was in the Eyes this time around, so perhaps they had an unfair advantage, but I mostly chalk it up to frenzied frontman Carey Mercer and the band's skill at keeping their melodies above the scree.

Carey between expostulations.



Spencer gets down on the keys.



That rhythm section, Melanie Campbell and Mike Rak.



Froggy action!







And taking their bow.



Carey also pointed out that it was the fifth anniversary of his wedding to Melanie ... "And we got Wolf Parade to play for us!"

The Wolves of August

Wolf Parade are that other widely praised Montreal indie rock outfit. I quite enjoyed their Apologies to the Queen Mary myself, so I snapped up a ticket to the band's Barrymore's show several weeks ago. I was also keen to see Frog Eyes (who put on a good show opening for Destroyer at Babylon way back in 2004) , and since Holy Fuck were also on the bill, so much the better.

Holy Fuck's Barrymore's set was even better than the one at Bluesfest. No doubt playing in an air-conditioned club was a tad easier as well. They also had Glenn Milchem on drums this time.



Frog Eyes - I liked them at Babylon; this time they were killer.



Wolf Parade were also very good, a tight set despite some technical difficulties.



And the crowd went wild!

Destroyer

Destroyer - that's Dan Bejar, also of The New Pornographers (off and on). I've already posted a picture of one of his opening acts from his Babylon show (the newly famous Stephen McBean of Pink Mountaintops/Black Mountain), so here's a picture of another opening act, Frog Eyes.



The Eyes also worked as his backing band (guitarist Carey Mercer, a solo artist himself is just out of range on the left). That metal dish on Melanie Campbell's kit is certainly something a little different.



The keyboardist is Grayson Walker, the bassist Michael Rak. And now the man himself, up close and unshaven.



Personally, I liked Pink Mountaintops more, perhaps because using the previous band meant the two acts sounded similar, even taking Mercer's hyperactive vocal style into account.