The Montreal indie-rockers Plants and Animals [pictured] played to a sparsely filled venue in Orlando last Friday night. I can’t say the weak turnout wasn’t expected, as the band has been largely overlooked even by the fauxhemian hipsters which typically champion the folkier side of the genre. Their relative obscurity is puzzling as their first album, Parc Avenue, received glowing critic reviews for its nostalgic psychedelic/jam band style, and everyone I’ve recommended them to has been struck by their original sound. This evening, I definitely appreciated that they’ve flown under the radar, as it provided an intimate setting and allowed the band ample opportunity to interact with the crowd.
The opening act, An Introduction to Sunshine, proved an excellent local choice; their style is somewhat similar and heavily guitar driven. Though they have a lot more vocalists (all five members of the band sing on nearly every song), there are definite similarities. Their closing song, “Weighed Down,” was especially catchy and left me with a strong first impression and anticipation to see them again the next time they make it to Tampa.
Plants and Animals opened with “Celebration” off their newest release, La La Land. It’s a fairly slow song (even when it explodes into a fuzzy riff during the second half), making it an odd choice for an opener. It was interesting to hear a stripped down version of this song, though, as the studio version features a full ensemble, including pianos and brass. The entire evening, it really felt like I was hearing a totally different version of their music: both studio albums are heavily produced and atmospheric, with ample backing musicians. At their live shows, they play with only two guitarists and a drummer, the guitarists alternating bassline duties throughout the evening.
They followed the opening song with “Good Friend,” one of my favorites off Parc Avenue. It’s a great track to listen to if you’ve never heard the band, featuring many of the elements which make them such an intriguing listen. Check out this clip of the band performing it at the Drake Hotel in Toronto in 2008:
This article appears in Jun 3-9, 2010.