Montreal duo Majical Cloudz didn't look particularly spectacular when they walked on stage, armed with only a microphone for singer Devon Welsh, a minimalistic keyboard setup for producer Matthew Otto, and six of the band's friends standing beside them, as they all stood awkwardly for several minutes. However, they quickly proved that looks can be deceiving; after a few pulses of rattling bass and minimalistic production, Welsh began to sing, his rich baritone and clear diction enunciating every word. Mostly performing songs from recent release Impersonator, Welsh sang lyrics that were clearly deeply personal and very straightforward, rarely choosing to obscure his feelings through lyrical smoke and mirrors. The production itself was minimalistic, featuring few notes and lots of bass, which was occasionally loud enough to obscure Welsh, even at his most booming.
In addition to captivating the crowd with his excellent voice, Welsh also charmed through his on-stage behaviour. During "Notebook," Welsh sang the fatalistic lyrics directly to one of his friends, ending with the two in a beautifully awkward embrace for a full minute. "Turns Turns Turns" found the singer jumping on speakers, and he sat on the stage, legs dangling over the edge, for penultimate tune "Silver Rings." "This is how I sit when I need to say something important," informed Welsh to the crowd before beckoning them closer. "Silver Rings" was cut short so that the band could end their set with "Bugs Don't Buzz," employing plaintive keyboard chords from Otto to set a nice mood, as Welsh's voice enchanted for one last time before the band quickly retreated back into the shadows. Majical Cloudz's performance was truly magical, and their tunes were effective due to their simplicity, and due to the sheer talent that resides in the band's two members.
In addition to captivating the crowd with his excellent voice, Welsh also charmed through his on-stage behaviour. During "Notebook," Welsh sang the fatalistic lyrics directly to one of his friends, ending with the two in a beautifully awkward embrace for a full minute. "Turns Turns Turns" found the singer jumping on speakers, and he sat on the stage, legs dangling over the edge, for penultimate tune "Silver Rings." "This is how I sit when I need to say something important," informed Welsh to the crowd before beckoning them closer. "Silver Rings" was cut short so that the band could end their set with "Bugs Don't Buzz," employing plaintive keyboard chords from Otto to set a nice mood, as Welsh's voice enchanted for one last time before the band quickly retreated back into the shadows. Majical Cloudz's performance was truly magical, and their tunes were effective due to their simplicity, and due to the sheer talent that resides in the band's two members.
