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It might be because I’m from Alberta, but there’s nothing I love more than an indie rock band with a good country-folk twang. Matt Mays & El Torpedo is one of those bands, which is why I was so excited to see them play The Phoenix last Thursday night with a similarly down-home blues rock group, Hamilton’s own The Arkells.

The Arkells (of “Oh, The Boss Is Coming!” fame) did not disappoint. They played a rollicking, high energy set and slinked off the stage just as everyone started to get riled up for the headliner.

Then Matt Mays sashayed in like maritime cowboys…and hammered everyone’s expectations into submission with sheer, electric rock power. After charming the crowd with a few old favorites like “On The Hood” and “Move Your Mind”, the band unleashed a barrage of shockingly edgy and heavy rock songs from their new album, Terminal Romance. I was totally surprised by the heavy percussion and biting guitar riffs of songs like “Building A Boat”, “Terminal Love”, and “Tall Trees.” The band’s new angle retained not even a hint of country twang, but it was still as magical and evocative as ever. I was in love.

The electrically transformed Matt Mays played a spectacular two hour set and seemed to be having a lot of fun - breaking down into jazzy improv in between songs, and playing obscure covers of everything from Bob Dylan to Dr. Dre.

For the encore, the band teased us with a few softer songs (including a beautiful cover of the Rolling Stones’ “Wild Horses”) before finally treating us to the big fave, “Cocaine Cowgirl.”

After the show I rushed immediately over to the merch stand and bought Terminal Romance. It’s certainly a departure from their first album, but hey, it’s still Matt Mays - just a little less mellow, a little less heartbreaking, and a wholllee lot more electric.

Posted on Friday, November 14th, 2008 at 11:59 am by Vanessa R. and is filed under Concerts & Events.

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