Akron/ Family
Born Ruffians
At Sneaky Dee's in Toronto, March 21st
Akron/Family
Akron/ Family- Everyone is Guilty (From Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free)
I recently heard Akron/ Family's fantastic homemade sounding self title for the first time and it really struck me as a brilliant, intimate album with food for thought introspective lyrics and heartwarming acoustic arrangements with the odd burst of electric ecstasy. Skip ahead a few years and the Akron's have lost a member to a Buddhist temple (awesomest reason to abandon a band ever) and are set to release an album called Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free. The album leaked shockingly early (as is wont to happen in this internet crazy amoral culture) and in hearing it I was surprised at the loud heavy blasts of bass, drums and electric guitar, I would encourage anyone who reads this to go buy when it hits stores. While the band retains its profound introspective qualities, they also let fly with a spilling over of rowdy spirit in the form of wild guitar shredding heavy bass and group chant/ shouting. Quite frankly I haven't really done my homework, but I get this weird impression that Akron/ Family hangs out at a some sort of music dojo in the off season jamming, eating rice and kale and meditating. Their set put every band I have seen in recent months to shame. They only played three or four 'songs', but the energy, chemistry and musical proficiency they displayed over the course of their meandering, crowd pleasing set seemed to indicate that the Akron/ Family are a force that harnesses a primal, mystical element that demands a discipline and focus that other bands lack. Okay... it looks like I've spent my entire word quota gushing about the Family, um, on the negative side, their was some feedback right at the start that kind of sucked?
Born Ruffians:
The Born Ruffians were great as usual but they really should have opened as their set was pretty intensely eclipsed. That said they played their little hearts out (they have a new drummer and added guitarist who fill out the sound nicely) and front man Luke Lalonde looked cute in his grey beater (pictured above).
Born Ruffians- I Need a Life (Four Tet remix)
