Planet Smashers

A crowd-wide party erupted at the first strains of Montreal's ever-popular Planet Smashers, veterans of the all-skanadian scene that came together nearly a decade ago. The band's shiny, happy, horned ska pop got the kids skanking, crowd-surfing, stage-diving and singing along. Some of the kids at this all-ages show must have been in diapers when these guys released their debut album in '95, but their infinite fervour gave the room a great energy and even supplied a few laughs, like when one tyke sat on top of the crowd, pumping his tiny fist to "Super Orgy Porno Party." It wasn't so funny when a teenage girl got clipped in the head amidst all the action up front, but she was quickly treated to a stage-side view and some swag. And with their sheer enthusiasm, play-fighting and goofy babbling between songs, the Smashers were as animated as ever — sometimes it seemed like half the show was happening on front-man Matt Collyer's amazing elastic face. On-stage sound issues aside, great set guys.