Plants And Animals Played The Rickshaw

The Montreal-based band Plants and Animals made it to San Francisco last Wednesday, and H.A.D. was in attendance to check out the set. We were expecting some killer tunes, after a few weeks of really enjoying their first full length, Parc Avenue.

With the disc's carefully crafted production, we weren't exactly sure what to expect from a live set. As the band set up on stage, it was clear that the live sound was going to be a different beast. The band's three members each had a relatively straight forward set up, and it looked like a classic "power trio", with the three members all equally occupying the front of the stage.

While the band's set really didn't have the same sound as the record, all of the hallmarks that make the record so damn good were firmly in place. The band nailed tightly harmonized vocals, percussion was rock solid, and Nicolas Basque did a great job at filling the multi-instrumentalist role as needed.

Also extremely notable was that the band simply has a lot of energy live. The songs swelled with energy, and Warren Spicer's vocals really took on a live passion that isn't completely evident on the disc. It was also clear from Matthew Woodley's drumming and vocals that this band is really a three person collaboration. The band had a stunning rapport going on throughout the whole show.

As the show wrapped up, we found ourselves feeling pretty damn good about Plants And Animals. If you're looking to hear their record note-for-note in a live setting, then you might be a tad disappointed. On the other hand, if you're interested in a slightly more driven version of the songs by a group of fantastic musicians, well then this show is just your ticket.

Many more photos over at the H.A.D. Archive.