Woodhands Worth the Wait

November 19, 2010 — My boyfriend is crazy for Woodhands. He has transformed many of his friends into adoring fans and has conducted sing-a-long field trips to their shows by the busload. The only complaint that people I know have had is that “they’re chronically late.” Well, to be late you have to be worth waiting for right?

The first time I saw Woodhands, the band was spectacular. I was spinning between sets on a festival stage in Toronto, so I got to see the boys up close. Their enthusiasm, despite the less than stellar crowd (Cyndi Lauper was just about to play a nearby stage) was really inspiring. Lead ‘Hand Dan Werb is like a nerdy punk rocker gone electro, thrashing out a mini-stadium show spawned of Korgs and keys, held together by a whole lotta wires and driven by live drumming from Paul Banwatt. It’s too easy, and far too common for electronic acts to stand and stare, and Woodhands consistently defy the knob twiddling stereotype.

Tonight, they even brought snacks: a box of samosas tucked in the corner of the merch table courtesy of the Banwatt clan.

Lively openers Bonjay got the crowd grinding with their hands in the air, and the energy level was high. Their brand of underground electro mashes together several genres, reminiscent of the 90s dub, dancehall, and a whole lotta soul. Vocalist Alanna unleashed her pipes on the mic near the end of Bonjay’s set, and despite publicly worrying that they would lose the crowd with a few slower tracks, they definitely won many new fans and she belted out new material while winding down.

When the boys of Woodhands hit the stage, they were a mere 13 minutes late, which on the rock clock is right on time. Gleaming with sweat by the third song, the boys repeatedly thanked the crowd for their enthusiasm by breaking out the laser show. Clearly at ease with the T-Dot crowd, they perform a fun, well-paced set.

Special guest Maylee Todd, a vocalist from the Woodhands guest roster, made an appearance near the end of the show in an outfit inspired by 80s perfume ads and horseback riding. Her onstage antics helped the duo bring the audience to a body surfing dance frenzy with crowd favourites like “Dancer” and “Cease and Desisting”. Maylee brings an effervescent presence to everything she does, and her own heavily costumed, theatrical shows are a must-see.

Woodhands are well-known for their covers, having released versions of “I Kissed a Girl” and Eddy Grant’s “Electric Avenue” in the past. Tonight, it’s a classic from 90s hip hop crew Black Sheep before their own track “I Wasn’t Made for Fighting” as a double encore.

If anything, these guys are consistent in their love of performing and making their fans move. So are they worth waiting for? Absolutely.