AroarA were beautiful in 2011 when they opened for Syria's most celebrated cultural icon this side of the Atlantic, Omar Souleyman, at Sala Rossa. Husband and wife duo Andrew Whiteman (Broken Social Scene, Apostle of Hustle) and Ariel Engle were again glorious at Pop, opening for Dirty Three. With equal parts sampled percussion and top-notch vocal harmonies, the Toronto-based musicians did not need to beg for a warm round of applause. Engle's cigar-box guitar riffs and Whiteman's witty licks were enough to make you realize you were alive without checking your pulse. With a little suspension of disbelief, it was easy to think that they'd been the Ukrainian Federation's house band for years.
To see Exclaim!'s Pop Montreal photo gallery, head here.
To see Exclaim!'s Pop Montreal photo gallery, head here.