... Raveonettes @ The Phoenix (October 22, 2009)

There are many interesting things about Lou Reed. The first of which is that he's Lou FRACKIN' Reed, but the one that I love is that Lou was an in-house songwriter at Pickwick Records, basically one of the big songwriting factories that still exist in different forms today: Write a pop song, get some session men together, record it, it can be on the street in a week. The label felt is had one minor hit with one of his songs called "The Ostrich", a silly little dance number like many others done by girl groups at the time. A band was put together where Lou met some little Welsh guy named John Cale. The rest, as they say, is rock and roll.

But that wasn't the only band born that day. There's a straight line from them to The Raveonettes, a Dutch duo who performed at the Phoenix in support of their new album In and Out of Control. Their sound has its roots in early 60s girl groups and the Everly Brothers and also answers the question "What would happen if Phil Spector produced The Jesus and Mary Chain?". If they didn't exist, David Lynch would have to invent them (He kind of did - think of the Julee Cruise scenes in Twin Peaks).

The set list and stage for The Raveonettes can both be summed up as economical - the two principals of the group on guitar and vocals, a bass player, and a percussionist. I hesitate to call him a drummer not because of talent but because his set up is a snare, a tambourine and a high-hat all played while standing. The sound is augmented by a sequencer that manages to make their sound more authentic as it creates that little bit of distance, of air, that their songs require. The stage itself is sparsely lit, the lights serving more to cast shadows than illuminate, though from time to time their rave-ups are accentuated by strobes.

Other bands can keep their big movable screens and three-stage set-up with bridges (you, too, know who I'm talking about), because The Raveonettes set-up perfectly fits their sound and aesthetic. For the whole of the 75 minute set their songs hovered in that little area just above your head, like a waking dream that at any minute could become a nightmare were it not for the light voice calling you back, reminding you that this is really happening. Both Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo have sweet airy voices that play nicely together and on their own. They also don't waste time with a lot of superfluous stage chatter - Thank you Toronto, We have a new album, thank you opening act and that's about it, and it's not because of a language barrier as their English both spoken and sung is note perfect.

Opening were the Black Angels. We only got to see a couple of their songs, but they seemed pretty good. However, their sound was similar to that of The Raveonettes. I personally believe that the opening act should compliment the headliner, but provide something very different. It's why as much as I loved Soul Coughing and Beck, the thought of one opening for the other always seemed a little redundant. (Your mileage will vary on that analogy.)

The Phoenix itself is one of my fave venues in Toronto. It has great sight lines, a good set up for getting out (Wow, check that out Kool Haus: Multiple exits). Getting in is a little weird as you kind of walk around the room to get to it, but on the other hand it also means that there is a nice room for merch. It was a 19+ show and I didn't get carded, which always breaks my heart a little bit.

The Raveonettes are primarily a cult act here, so the crowd was mostly True Believers though there was a pretty high Hipster-to-Mortal ratio. My favourite people in the crowd though were the couple dancing next to us. Remember in Ghostbusters when Rick Moranis senses the party for his clients is dying and so he asks Jean Casem to dance with him? It was exactly like that! But they respected their space and the people around them, so they get the G Valentino Gold Star for Concert-going with Large Cash Prize (note: There is no cash prize).

As we left the theater and drove off into the dark night, I though of that novelty song that Lou wrote and what it lead to. As the streetlights phased in and out like distant stars it occurred to me: The Raveonettes are you driving on a two-lane highway picking up in the static between AM stations the echoes of songs you think you know.