Silversun Pickups
Ottawa Civic Centre
October 14, 2009
4/5 Stars
If one were to have bought a ticket to the Oct. 14 concert at the Ottawa Civic Centre it would have stated you were seeing the Silversun Pickups.
Little did the casual fan know, however, that they were in for a treat.
An Horse as well as Cage The Elephant delivered stellar sets more commonly associated with a headlining act, and not the opener.
First up was An Horse, a two-piece indie outfit from Australia that released their debut album, Rearrange Beds, earlier this year. The album is filled with catchy riffs, solid rhythm and excellent harmonies, which translated very well in the live setting.
Next came Cage The Elephant.
Lead singer Matt Shultz proved to be an animal on stage as he pranced and preached his way through the group’s 40-minute set. He even went crowd-surfing.
When the Pickups finally hit the stage, the crowd was warmed up plenty.
And the band – led by singer/guitarist Brian Aubert – did not disappoint.
The show kicked off with the thumping bass song “Growing Old Is Getting Old” and before no time fans were singing along to “There’s No Secrets This Year,” a popular track off their debut album, Carnavas.
There’s no mistaking the band – who are touring in support of their sophomore effort Swoon – are well versed in live performance, perhaps just a little too much.
At certain points in the set, it appeared as if Aubert and company were just going through the motions.
But once the main set wound down and the encore started, all was forgiven.
On the first day of snow in Ottawa, the packed Civic Centre felt warm.
Maybe it was the body heat, but maybe it was something else.
As Aubert instructed the audience in an “Ottawa!” chant he stated, “Don’t you just feel a little better?”
After a show like this, everyone would have to answer positively.