A clever, explosive pop-punk band from Sackville, NB, the Mouthbreathers put on a spirited, tight show full of charming banter and roaring, snotty songs. Consisting of guitarist and vocalist Lucy Niles and three members of Yellowteeth (drummer Evan Matthews on bass, guitarist Nic Wilson on drums, Josée Caron stays on electric guitar), the Mouthbreathers are named for an amazing song by the Jesus Lizard but they're more goofy with their overdriven guitars than they are mathematically menacing. "4/20 is tomorrow! Wooooo!" the freakishly funny Niles exclaimed halfway through the set. "I'm stoked for 4/20 and, on that note, here's a song called 'Dirty Habits.'" The band tore through the scrappy, compact song like animals before slowing things down for some halftime, vaguely punk-reggae tune. Niles partially disrobed to reveal a deteriorating "Street Cents" shirt, announcing a song of the same name, well before it appeared in the set. The band's nerdy exuberance was contagious and they kept it raw and unpolished. "Some times we use the same words/but we pronounce them differently/because we're from different parts of Canada," Niles sang during "Same Words," which felt oddly appropriate for all of us visiting St. John's. I loved this band; they're totally awesome.
To see Exclaim!'s Lawnya Vawnya photo gallery, head here.
To see Exclaim!'s Lawnya Vawnya photo gallery, head here.