Handsome Furs’ set at the Echoplex on Friday night was the proverbial performance of blood, sweat, and tears. Except, without the blood. Or the tears. But the sweat more than made up for the lack of the other two, as the duo of Dan Boeckner and Alexei Perry left every ounce of energy that they possessed on the stage, making their hour set seem like a marathon, and forcing the medium-sized crowd – who avoided FYF pre-parties and Feist secret shows to attend – to feel that they received their money’s, and time’s, worth.
Since debuting in 2006 as openers for Modest Mouse and quickly signing to Sub Pop records, Handsome Furs have released two good and one excellent (2009’s Face Control) albums, casting aside any comparison to Boekner’s more recognizable gig (Wolf Parade), and distinguishing themselves as more than a side-project. Seeing them in 2007 and seeing them now, there is almost no comparison. Now not only has their confidence exploded, but the crowd has lost any skepticism, and, rather, hangs on every movement made and each emotion that the band evokes. Simply said, Handsome Furs have become headliners, a task that was forced on them a little to early and only now seems deserved.
Suuns, on the other hand, are not quite at headliner status, yet. And, I emphasize yet. Whether it has been in opening for Crystal Castles or at Primavera Sound, not enough kind words can be said about them. And, this feeling of good will continued with their opening set on Friday night. Suuns only seem to be gaining confidence as they hit their year mark in supporting Zeroes QC, with their Clinic-meets-kraut style seeming more fluid and their potential to broaden their horizons only growing more apparent. Standout “Sweet Nothing” received an extended intro, and as the epic track unfolded, it saw girls leaping in the front of the audience and any skeptics more than willing to see where the long-as-fuck track ended up. In contrast, “Up Past The Nursery” is all immediate intensity, proving that the Canadians are more than able to create in a few minutes the equal of what they can also unfold in eight. Speaking with the band after their set, they seem ready to begin working on their follow-up, and it seems like the sky is the limit for what we can expect.
Opening with the first two songs off their new album, Sound Kapital, Handsome Furs displayed a focus that they would emphasize through the night, with Perry claiming repeatedly that she could live in L.A. The synth-operator was about the most enthusiastic non-frontperson that you could imagine. Perry never stood still, shaking her hair into the air consistently, holding her leg up in the air, perching at the edge of the stage to entice the crowd between songs, and even collapsing multiple times in the set. In fact, Handsome Furs triumph began well before they took the stage. The married duo could be seen in the crowd during the opening sets, rocking harder than just about anyone. And, when they weren’t taking in the music, they were outside on the smoking patio, meeting fans and actually engaging in lengthy conversations. One of them manifested itself in the set, as they dedicated “Bury Me Standing” to a Romanian that they met before their set.
It shouldn’t have been surprising that Handsome Furs were passionate through their set, but Boeckner’s frequently pulling of the microphone off its stand and Perry’s motion to her heart, indicating that the crowd was keeping it beating, was, well, intoxicating. Whatever my thoughts were about their most recent album quickly faded as tracks like “Repatriated” and “What About Us” thumped harder than their album indicates. However, it was their older tunes, like “All We Want, Baby, Is Everything” and “Radio Kaliningrad” that really showcased the band’s strongest songwriting, and showcased the continual evolution of the twosome. Regardless, though, of what era of Handsome Furs songs you prefer, there was no doubt that the band was truly moved by their reception, and their performance indicated it.
