Since when are post-rock shows populated by stylish young ladies who not only seem to know every Don Caballero tune, but dance enthusiastically in time to the twisted, calculated rhythms? Math-rock nerds rejoice: the sausage party is finally over.

Anyway… what I meant to say was that the crowd gathered for the Tuesday night team-up of Pensylvania’s Don Caballero and recent SPIN mag darlings Ponytail was not what I expected. And that’s a good thing. Unfortunately, said crowd took the entirety of Ponytail’s set to assemble, only filling up the dance-floor for their final number.

What the latecomers missed was a savage set of tunes from the Baltimore quartet punctuated by, of course, Molly Seigel’s unique squeaky-screamo approach to singing. While it’s impossible not to focus attention on the petite vocalist — she does, after all, deliver her wail with trance-like concentration as if channeling the band’s chaotic music through her tiny frame — her sound is really just the Cool Whip on the band’s spazz-punk sundae. Guitarist Dustin Wong’s frantic leads and angular chords — often coming at the same time — are propelled by drummer Jeremy Hyman’s ability to attack each fill like it’s the last he’ll ever play. And the band’s unrelenting energy, peaking during the spirited sing-along sections of “7 Souls” and “Celebrate the Body Electric,” proved that they are more than just the sum of their screams.

After Ponytail’s 45 or so minute set, Don Cab unassumingly took to the stage at a little past 10:15pm, with drummer/founding member Damon Che sporting comfy-looking red track pants and a cuddly pair of teddy bears (he was actually carrying them around the venue before hand, so I’m fairly certain he wasn’t coming directly from nap time). After a bit of technical sorting-out that prompted a lengthy introductory monologue from Che — who incidentally comes across as a half-drunk uncle who’s always late for family reunions — they were ready. But not before Che asserted that Don Cab will exist even if he leaves the band (or dies); guitarists Gene Doyle and Jason Jouver have his blessing to carry on the name. Take that, American Don purists.

The trio shouldered into their set, which drew mainly from the Don Cab redux albums World Class Listening Problem and their latest, Punkgasm. Counterpoint rhythms overlapped as the two guitarists looped riffs against each other and Che twisted the beat around with polyrhythmic prowess. Even Che’s turn at playing guitar and singing on Punkgasm’s title track was a novel twist to their muscular interplay.

 

But with no real flow to the set itself due to Che’s constant between-song banter, the band’s obvious abilities were most compelling when they tackled some of the longer tunes like “Sure We Had Knives Around,” where musical ideas developed into moods rather than existing for the sake of sounding impressive. And make no mistake, Don Cab is still impressive. Judging by the response from the audience, it’s clear that not everyone holds a grudge with Che for reforming the band. Nor have they all jumped ship for former guitarist Ian Williams’ slightly famous new band Battles. The Don is dead. Long live the Don.

Email us at: LETTERS@EYEWEEKLY.COM or send your questions to EYEWEEKLY.COM
625 Church St, 6th Floor, Toronto M4Y 2G1