DOOMSQUAD, MATROX and BARBARA at the Jam Factory, Saturday, January 3. Rating: NNNN
The first edition of Feast In The East in 2015 was heavy on synthesizers, siblings and costumes inside the gorgeous, spacious Jam Factory.
Brotherly duo Barbara took the series’ food theme – each event includes a delicious spread – to heart by incorporating baguettes and broccoli into their act, which is more performative than musical. In chef aprons and with their long hair tied back, the brothers gaily horsed around, threw in some raps and choreographed dance moves, and sang in an affected, sometimes operatic musical-theatre-style to a too-quiet soundtrack of genre-mashed sonic hodge podge. It was too absurd and incoherent for most, though a crew near the front cheered for an encore that didn’t come.
Matrox, a robot-costumed band led by Digits’ Alt Altman, were the night’s highlight. The purveyors of Daft Punkesque laser funk stood in a line behind their synths, pressing keys and body-rocking to brilliantly detailed songs full of energy and uplift. Not only are their general-appliance-looking costumes adorable, but they imbue each song with far more sensitivity than you’d expect from a machine-driven band who do Gwar-style interviews in which they act as if they’ve just arrived on Earth. Fleeting saxophone lines punctuated the repetitive electro grooves, and the final tune was so gently hopeful and happy, it melted winter hearts.
Doomsquad’s star is on the rise thanks to a mesmerizing album, Kalaboogie, released last year and a recent tour with Tanya Tagaq. Siblings Trevor, Allie and Jaclyn Blumas play a hypnotic brand of dubby, trancey techno that’s easy to lose yourself in. It’s slowly building, at times patience-testing, and terrifically original due to the way the three interweave and vary their vocals: harmonizing, incantatory chanting, purely clean, darkly warped by effects. A bongo player added rhythmic thud to the New Agey sounds, flute took a few lead turns, barefoot dancing ensued, and it all built to a surprisingly thunderous climax.
carlag@nowtoronto.com | @carlagillis
