Dinosaur Bones Revive Pop Montreal's Secret Loft Party Scene

Posted on Oct 3rd 2009 6:00PM by Jonathan Dekel
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Pop Montreal has had its share of great loft parties in the past. Word would travel via late-night text and festival-goers would soon find themselves wandering up a flight of stairs where the likes of Arcade Fire and Patrick Watson would hold nightly jam sessions for friends and insiders.

Though these unofficial events have trailed off in recent years, for this year's festival local band Hollerado has taken it upon itself to bring the Pop Montreal loft party back into fashion by hosting and curating the Nacho House -- a nightly shindig featuring pals of Jack White's favourite Canadian band. So while bands like Japandroids were wrapping up their official showcases, the real party was going on up the street at a secret late-night loft bash that saw heavily hyped band Dinosaur Bones play a sweaty, star-making set.

American A&R label scouts jammed shoulder-to-shoulder with bloggers and fans who packed the two-story apartment -- just above Casa Del Popolo -- with the promise of free beer, nachos and a chance to witness the Toronto indie-rockers preview songs from their upcoming debut album.

As the rain poured down outside the windows, drunken party-goers were humidly rubbing and grinding to the group's driving indie-rock as they ripped through their performance with energetic aplomb reciprocated by the perspiring masses.

We played our showcase last night and that has nothing on this," overjoyed lead singer Ben Fox exclaimed to a massive roar, before adding, "You guys rule!"

As if to underscore the point, bassist Branko Scekic took off his shirt and proceeded to whip his slight frame around the makeshift stage and climbing atop the bass drum.

Closing their set with vigorous new song 'Highwire Act' to massive cheers and kudos, the band quickly retired to the bar as Vancouver band Said The Whale made a surprise appearance to close the live music for the evening. Though, as with all good secret-loft parties, the good times kept raging until the wee hours -- and even Japandroids's Brian King and David Prowse eventually made their way inside.