Woodhands

The first stupendous surprise of the festival, Woodhands closed off the Pop Montreal showcase. The third band in two days I saw use multiple keyboards, they upped the ante with a keytar, and pulled it off flawlessly. Starting off as a two-piece, and feasting on spastic jams punctuated by the polyrhythmic brilliance of drummer Paul Banwatt — who fused jungle sequence style timekeeping with sophisticated acid jazz fills — they eventually welcomed up a female vocalist, elevating the harmonics just a smidge, and really diversifying what was already an accomplished set.