The Supers
are the kind of band who could save pop music... okay, maybe that's
going too far. The Supers are the kind of guys who make pop music
look easy. That's right! They made it look so easy that I thought
I could get up and join them, but then I doubt that the ladies
would shake their stuff like they did that night if I was trying
to sing!
Yes, I
said the girls were dancing, not like maniacs but like they just
finally heard something they could move their hips to. That's
because The Supers make music that's not as bland as pop and not
as heavy as rock and they have a kind of melody that never gets
old. That is in part thanks to the fact that the band has two
lead singers, Maury LaFoy, who also plays bass, and Graham Powell,
who plays guitar. Behind these two dynamic singers are Jeff Macpherson,
on drums, and Tim Bovaconti, playing guitar.
They're
all great performers and even though they come off looking like
one of those university bands who all shop at The Gap, they are
much more than just some amateur group. They are very tight on
stage and combine music with lyrics that are poetic and fairly
personal, while still looking like they're just a relaxed, clean
cut bunch of guys. Almost makes me think they should call themselves
the "Clark Kents" since they do seem to have the energy of Supermen,
but they're hiding it all under the calm demeanor of an alternate
identity.
In a way,
their sound reminded me of a few bands ranging from Guster to
Starling, but where Guster is a wacky band, The Supers capture
something a little more intelligent without taking it somewhere
that just isn't very fun. In that way they really are almost a
combination of sounds that melds very well together but is fairly
hard to pull off.
Out of
all the songs they played, I have to admit that I was really anxious
to hear them do "Turn", a song that I know I've heard before but
I really don't know where. It's such a fun, crunchy tune that
it was an instant attraction to get a lot of people shaking and
dancing around the room. Like all good pop anthems, "Turn" has
lots of layers and a tight, crunchy feel that's all about the
riffs and the vocals.
Altogether,
the guys played a great set that blew me off my feet and even
though I would have loved to see them improvise a little more
on some of the songs, I was still really impressed. In fact, I
loved their show so much I went home and started listening to
their CD and ended up playing it 3 times before I finally went
to sleep.
Right
now they are a strong band, and getting some good airplay in the
U.S. from what I hear, but I think they are possibly one of the
cooler bands I've been introduced to in a while that deserves
all the attention they can possibly get. Hopefully, Canada will
catch on to these guys and their music before they move away to
a mansion in L.A.
Review
& Photos Copyright The GATE & W. Andrew Powell, 2001
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