Braids at the Mohawk [Show Preview]

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Braids at Mohawk
Tuesday, October 4
Mohawk (912 Red River Street)
$10-12
[info] | [tickets]

Montreal has been synonymous with quality indie music for nearly a decade now (at least), and Braids are among the best of the city's class of 2011. Their debut album, Native Speaker, shows a band fully confident in their sound and one who have developed a singular musical identity. While some may lump them within the dream pop genre, Braids manage to separate themselves from their peers thanks to their immense musical talents and willingness to experiment. It also doesn't hurt that they have the vocal force of nature that is Raphaelle Standell-Preston.

Her vocal range is one of the most dynamic you are likely to hear, and her ability to go from delicate coo to unhinged yelp and back again with effortless aplomb has made her one of the most powerful voices to emerge over the last several years. Her lovelorn lyrics are infused with a kind of straightforward honesty that goes well beyond her young years, and it gives the gorgeous arrangements that surround her voice that much more of an emotional punch. The band members are also very close friends, and their ability to play off of one another and the amount of focus they play with has made their live performances just as powerful as any of their recorded material. To come on to the scene as fully formed as Braids have is quite an impressive feat, and one that easily warrants seeing them live. Pepper Rabbit and Painted Palms open.

Braids: [official]
Pepper Rabbit: [facebook]
Painted Palms: [bandcamp]