On the day after the Offspring's bloated, uninspired performance, it was refreshing to see a band trending in decidedly different directions -- namely, Montreal's Honheehonhee. Performing to a rain-soaked Sunday evening audience -- some of whom were in a testy mood after Mastodon's forced set cancellation -- the band's brand of hyper-caffeinated, gleefully oddball indie pop proved an excellent antidote to the fest's gloomy closing day.
Led by the falsetto of vocalist Greg Halpin -- whose mega beard felt more Akron/Family than Montreal indie pop -- the band were at their sloppy, irreverent finest, performing tracks from their high-octane debut LP, Shouts. And shout they did, with each member piling on layers of scream-shouted vocals, an effect that part resembled a deranged Thee Oh Sees and part Spencer Krug on whippets.
By the time Honheehonhee reached their closer, the infectious "We Only Go," the band were disheveled, impossibly sweaty and half-clothed -- and had the audience singing along to songs they hadn't previously heard. And if that's not a sign of an excellent performance, we don't know what is. Bonus points go to bassist Matt Raudsepp's pirate doo rag and keyboardist Erin Halpin's uninhibited bedroom dancing.
Led by the falsetto of vocalist Greg Halpin -- whose mega beard felt more Akron/Family than Montreal indie pop -- the band were at their sloppy, irreverent finest, performing tracks from their high-octane debut LP, Shouts. And shout they did, with each member piling on layers of scream-shouted vocals, an effect that part resembled a deranged Thee Oh Sees and part Spencer Krug on whippets.
By the time Honheehonhee reached their closer, the infectious "We Only Go," the band were disheveled, impossibly sweaty and half-clothed -- and had the audience singing along to songs they hadn't previously heard. And if that's not a sign of an excellent performance, we don't know what is. Bonus points go to bassist Matt Raudsepp's pirate doo rag and keyboardist Erin Halpin's uninhibited bedroom dancing.