Canadian Wolf Packs Attack! WE ARE WOLVES Totally Owns Long Beach

Monday night was a good night in Long Beach. M for Montreal put on an excellent show at The Prospector, bringing together an eclectic mix of music that included Montreal's best band of the year, We Are Wolves, and 2 local bands, Sparrow Love Crew and Repeater.

We are Wolves isn't merely a 'post-punk' outfit, and to call them such would cut them short; to label them 'dance' or 'pop' would be to neglect their stellar ability to drone; to call them 'noise-rock' would draw more attention to the serious volume they can produce and avert much needed focus from their intensely musical sound. So how can I describe the 3-piece? Their sound is at once unique and predictable, and this contradiction is created by the convergence of a digitized new-wave drum beat and some seriously analog, punk rock rhythms played by a drummer who stands up the whole time. This rhythm section, backed by synthesizers, high end basslines, and harsh vocals allow the music of We are Wolves to span an unfathomable spectrum of sound. To be blunt: it's like nothing you've heard before, Los Angeles, and they freaking rock.

Fun fact: The keyboard player, Vincent, says that his favorite show that the band played in the Long Beach area was with 60 Watt Kid at Koo's Art Center. This really happened, it was on Sunday, and I can't believe I wasn't there.

What's with Montreal and wolves, anyway? AIDS Wolf, Wolf Parade and We are Wolves are a wolf pack ready to attack. More and more Canadian bands are gaining international hype, especially with the help of organizations like M for Montreal, who put together a showcase of bands from Montreal for international music delegates on the hunt for export-ready talent.

Enough about Canada. Let's talk locally--Sparrow Love Crew. They just wrapped up a residency at the Detroit bar in Costa Mesa, and at Monday's show SLC had some trouble with the sound--a fairly typical situation at the prospector--but being the bad-asses that they are, the group was able to pull it together for a pretty decent set. They are definitely worth checking out, so FYI: Sparrow Love Crew will play at the Vault 350. The event's called LEtS BE FRiENDS, it's on Saturday March 1st, and performers include: ON BLAST, Look Daggers, Pop Noir and Repeater will also be playing the event.

--Contributed by Jeff Phifer
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Thanks again to Jeff Phifer for another awesome review, and to the Fever Dragon, Mr. Kehni Davis, for the kick ass visuals. Oh and click here for more photos of the show at the Prospector.