Toronto indie rock band Alvvays introduced themselves to Seattle in quite a dazzling fashion Tuesday night. This was the band's last US show on the tour supporting their fantastic self-titled debut (out now on Polyvinyl) before heading up across the border to finish things off before the end of the year. The sold out crowd at Barboza couldn't have put the show together better themselves. Joined by the fantastic Toronto trio Absolutely Free, and playing nearly the whole record plus some great new material and b-sides, Alvvays made their Seattle debut one for the books. Plus, everyone walking around in the next few weeks with that dinner track t-shirt will be the envy of the city for the rest of the winter.
Absolutely Free dropped one of the most understated records of the year in October on Lefse. Technically, the band is brilliant (no surprise, considering the Mothers of Invention reference). With off kilter drum patterns by all three members and polyrhythmic guitar tones and keys, the band takes on a cornucopia of styles and shoves it all through an indie rock lens for digestion. Altogether, the band's handful of songs went by all too quickly, as there was almost too much too take in at once. This was a spectacular opening set, and hopefully, the band will be back soon headlining for more polymorphous fun.
Absolutely Free:
There's a strange balance of grit and grace to Alvvays. As Molly Rankin strums the guitar and hunches over the microphone crooning about loves lost in the Toronto winter, Kerri MacLellan gives a leading foundation on the keyboards and adds backing vocals to melt the ice off the punches where necessary. Between their hit "Archie, Marry Me", the bitter bite of "Ones Who Love You", and the hazy longing of "Party Police", Alvvays track back and forth through the snow wishing it were warmer. Rankin sings every track with the utmost of convictions, but her thoughtful gaze hits the back wall and bounces off with a cold softness. She's spoken her mind (and speaking it every night) but she's come to grips with the predictable outcome. Caught in the throws of love but anchored by cyclical degradation, the love stories of the Alvvays kind are bittersweet endeavors.
That's not to say the band is a downer by any means. Rankin, MacLellan, and their band throw a raucous show - one that packed the Barboza to the gills and almost had a mosh pit going during "Adult Diversion". But there is always a keen balance between the party and the morning after. Maybe that's what makes them so relatable.
The mysterious, chilly atmosphere of the band's set was perfectly off set by their delightful interim personas. On stage, Rankin kept the energy at great levels with great banter and fun tidbits from the band's now two month deep tour. The band broke out a couple great off the radar cuts, including their concluding as-of-yet unnamed new track, which was a real barn-burner. Beginning to end, Barboza was bathed in pure shimmering bliss. We can't wait to have Alvvays back.
Alvvays:
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