SUONI PER IL POPOLO, Thursday June 5: On the Luyas

Review of The Luyas at Casa del Popolo, June 5th 2008.

Okay so imagine a map of Montreal.

Familiar, boring. Now, picture a map of Montreal as illustrated by a great painter, as in Da Vinci and Monet or something (I know frig little about visual art so bear with me). Ok Okay do you feel a metaphor coming on? Indie rock is your standard familiar map. The Luyas are indie rock painted by amazing artists err I mean they’re the map that is indie rock that is…no…wait…Look you’re getting the idea. right?

Suoni is a festival of “avant garde and experimental liberation music” according to their website. Well, The Luyas are a piss poor example of avant garde but as a Indie rock/pop group they are almost unsurpassed. They put a relevant spin on all the essentials of alternative pop weaving it into a startling tapestry of um….cool stuff and….*I am teh suck with teh metaphors* Okay Ok they’re a three piece Jessie Stein guitar/voice, Pietro Amato french horn, Stefan Schneider drums. I think it’s the mixture of French Horn (and the pedals and effects used on it) and the bands use of texture, dissonance, and some noise that sometimes get the band an experimental tag; but their true innovation is going over the old ground of what we know of rock and giving it new life in structure, lyrics, and performance.

Stein is maybe one of the preeminent Canadian guitarists: talented, controlled and tasteful. Her true instrument is her voice. Simultaneously haunting and annoying. It is church bells reverberating through nostril passages. It’s bell canto whine - it is bracing strong malt wine. The Luyas are the cure for the common cold. The Luyas would hold the door open for your mom. The Luyas are the last big thing and you’re missing out. The Luyas are making music and you better listen.
Ok Okay?!