Show Overview: TWRP Farewell -The Cosmic Exodus
Overview by Stan Béland
Photos and video by Tiffany Naugler
Friday, November 5th 2011
@ The Seahorse Tavern
w/ Nerd Army, Whale Skin & We're Doomed
The interdimensional beings in TWRP are permanently displacing their matter to central Canada. Set for relocation to Toronto in November, this is the band's final show as a Halifax band.
www.facebook.com/tupperwareremixparty
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So there I was, three beer deep at the Seahorse, and Nerd Army had the fucking GALL to play the theme from Master Blaster.
Not that this should have surprised me; the bill, after all, was Nerd Army, Whale Skin, We’re Doomed, and Tupper Ware Remix Party, probably the most geektastic lineup ever. It was TWRP’s going away party, a celebration of the mad funk rock scientist’s time in Halifax, a grand showcase of the wackiness that is HRM’s music scene.
The aforementioned Nerd Army started the night off with some just amazing covers of 80s video game theme songs. It’s an odd experience to hear things like the theme from Blades of Steel in a crowded bar on a Saturday night. It kind of…takes you out of yourself. You might think the concept of 4 dudes playing live versions of video game songs sounds weird at best and awful at worst, and you’d be right.
But you’d also be wrong.
Outside of TWRP’s set, Nerd Army was the most fun I had all night. Super tight, energetic, and full of swagger, the band played favourites and obscurities both, even smooshing some titles together. As far as throwback party bands go, Nerd Army could very well be the best in Halifax.
Next was Whale Skin, a relative newcomer to the scene, fusing live instruments and digital shenanigans together for a dancey good times. Whale Skin reminded me a lot of Rich Aucoin, the current godfather of funky dance times in Halifax, but with a little bit less energy; more slowtronica then the full on dance sweatiness that Aucoin can bring out in an audience. The live elements of Whale Skin’s set were welcome and interesting but were a little too quiet to stand out on their own; both Dan Tweedie’s live drums and JuHang Sin’s bass faded into the mix a little bit, which is unfortunate because I could tell that both players were really into the music. Overall, Whale Skin were pretty good; a couple more shows and a little bit more drum sound, and these guys will be resurfacing dance floors for years to come.
And then, for something completely different, We’re Doomed got up on stage and rocked the living shit out of us. Honestly, these guys are so good, so tight, and love music so much, you want nothing more then for them to succeed. This was my second time seeing them live, and they’re only getting better, and learning how to win a crowd over, regardless of how little electrofunk they have in their set. The glow stick crowd might not have been ready for We’re Doomed, but We’re Doomed were ready for them, shelling out riff after riff of proggy, techy metalcore. They may not have had any synth or pylon hats, but they played to their strengths and definitely won hearts and minds.
TWRP? We’re gonna miss you. A lot. Please come and visit, you guys are great. I honestly don’t think a local band has this rabid a following anywhere else in the country. With the exception of this year’s Pop Explosion I’ve never seen a lineup this long outside of the Seahorse, even AFTER the fans had been told that the show was sold out.
For those that made it in, holy shit, Tupper Ware Remix Party unleashed the fury. All. Over. Our. Faces.
I’ve seen them live 4 times, I know the songs, I know the humour, but it just doesn’t get old. Throw a little pageantry, some laser globes, and a few special guest appearances, and you’ve got one of the most fun shows I’ve had the pleasure to experience. I mean, seriously, it’s four guys in morph suits, playing updated electroinca fusion. That sounds FOOLISH, doesn’t it? It is, but it’s also so dead serious that it hurts my soul. Crazy talented? Yes. Fun loving? Oh, shit yes. I really don’t know how else to describe these guys, other than, probably, one of the most talented, funny, amazing bands that Halifax has ever spawned. TWRP reminds us that music can be good and still poke fun at itself, all at the same time. Halifax is gonna be just a little bit less awesome, now that these guys aren’t around anymore. Thanks for the laughs and the funktronicness, TWRP. Now get your asses back here soon.
Check out the full set here!!
Photos and video by Tiffany Naugler
Friday, November 5th 2011
@ The Seahorse Tavern
w/ Nerd Army, Whale Skin & We're Doomed
The interdimensional beings in TWRP are permanently displacing their matter to central Canada. Set for relocation to Toronto in November, this is the band's final show as a Halifax band.
www.facebook.com/tupperwareremixparty
- - -
So there I was, three beer deep at the Seahorse, and Nerd Army had the fucking GALL to play the theme from Master Blaster.
Not that this should have surprised me; the bill, after all, was Nerd Army, Whale Skin, We’re Doomed, and Tupper Ware Remix Party, probably the most geektastic lineup ever. It was TWRP’s going away party, a celebration of the mad funk rock scientist’s time in Halifax, a grand showcase of the wackiness that is HRM’s music scene.
The aforementioned Nerd Army started the night off with some just amazing covers of 80s video game theme songs. It’s an odd experience to hear things like the theme from Blades of Steel in a crowded bar on a Saturday night. It kind of…takes you out of yourself. You might think the concept of 4 dudes playing live versions of video game songs sounds weird at best and awful at worst, and you’d be right.
But you’d also be wrong.
Next was Whale Skin, a relative newcomer to the scene, fusing live instruments and digital shenanigans together for a dancey good times. Whale Skin reminded me a lot of Rich Aucoin, the current godfather of funky dance times in Halifax, but with a little bit less energy; more slowtronica then the full on dance sweatiness that Aucoin can bring out in an audience. The live elements of Whale Skin’s set were welcome and interesting but were a little too quiet to stand out on their own; both Dan Tweedie’s live drums and JuHang Sin’s bass faded into the mix a little bit, which is unfortunate because I could tell that both players were really into the music. Overall, Whale Skin were pretty good; a couple more shows and a little bit more drum sound, and these guys will be resurfacing dance floors for years to come.
TWRP? We’re gonna miss you. A lot. Please come and visit, you guys are great. I honestly don’t think a local band has this rabid a following anywhere else in the country. With the exception of this year’s Pop Explosion I’ve never seen a lineup this long outside of the Seahorse, even AFTER the fans had been told that the show was sold out.
For those that made it in, holy shit, Tupper Ware Remix Party unleashed the fury. All. Over. Our. Faces.
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