All The Kids

The snowstorm during Saturday had abated by the time I headed over to The Monarch Tavern for a "Class of 2020" show. The sidewalk and intersections were a mix of packed snow and slushy melt. But there was a still full crowd at the venue tonight from the first act.

Spirit Josh had a folk-rock indie vibe on numbers like Neighbourhood Boy. Though Jonn Lewis' laconic voice was front and centre, most songs were a group sing. There was a hint of twee-pop like Hooded Fang a decade ago on some newer tracks.

Basement Revolver alternated between indie riffs (Johnny) and plaintive (Romantic at Heart). It was moody music to sway to although a song like Dancing with its power bass and drums did get people to move.

ROACH raised the energy of the bar with their emo power-pop though they did dip into weirder chord progressions. But with beefy numbers, especially backed by drummer Carly Harris, they were about getting those feet moving. Lead Violet De Rege Braga cheekily passed out condoms near the end of their set, though they were probably not merchandised.

Head-liner Luna Li started just a little past 11 pm. This show wasn't quite as good as their support of Hollerado late last year. With a longer set, they started strong with a funky number but then indulged in shimmering but slow songs a little too long. Catchier songs like Opal Angel didn't make an appearance until more than half-way through. Their last 3 songs including Need a Lil Love and Star Stuff were propulsive and showcased their musical chops. That satisfied existing fans but I noticed that a number of curious listeners had already left the stage area about 15 minutes in and the chatter at the back got increasingly louder. Luna Li need a few more high-energy songs or at least arrange a better set list.