Destroyer

A hunched Dan Bejar took the stage at Montreal's Ukrainian Federation with only his acoustic guitar flung over his shoulder. Clearly he decided to leave the ambient disco beats from his latest offering, Bay of Pigs, at home, presumably saving them for a future made-for-TV musical about Jesus' second coming out party. The set list consisted of songs mostly from 2008's Trouble in Dreams, including the evening's celestial hit and crowd favourite, "Foam Hands." "This is a new song" was only uttered once during the stark and stripped-down performance of his enchanting, labyrinthine epics. Late in his set, a chatty Bejar introduced a song as a waltz he penned in Montreal. Apparently, he attempted to teach this waltz to some Vancouverites who refused to play it. "That's why this country will always be at war," Bejar quipped. Maybe, but thanks to Destroyer we'll have a sweet battle cry.