Wildcat! Wildcat! at The Phoenix– September 17, 2013

Photographs by Sarah Rix

Opening for MS MR was Los Angeles trio Wildcat! Wildcat!, on their first tour outside of the west coast. Technically a four-piece with the addition of a touring keyboardist, the band’s had some fairly busy early years – including SXSW showcases, notable support stints for Alt-J and Portugal. The Man, and the recent release of a self-titled EP.

Live, the band’s favouring of falsetto vocals put them in Passion Pit territory. It’s also not unimaginable to think that this is what MGMT might have sounded like if they had kept making pop music rather than venture down the psychedelic path.

Sure, Wildcat! Wildcat! could learn to abbreviate themselves now and again to keep the energy up, but the ideas and sounds are definitely there. And while all three band members make use of their microphones, it’s Jesse Carmichael’s skill on the drums that’s immediately noteworthy.

They wrapped their set with “Marfa” – a number that informed the audience “you don’t have to be alone.” It began with an impressive dance floor beat before slowing down midway and ending in hypnotic repetition. Overall, a very impressive first showing to the Toronto crowd where they’ve most importantly already got people dancing.

Keep an eye on them – as I overheard vocalist/keyboardist Michael Wilson tell a curious fan: there’s plans to release a full length in March 2014.

Thanks to Live Nation for media access.

Sarah Rix

Former Music Editor & Concert Photographer at Live in Limbo. Sarah was born in Toronto. She's worked at some places that you've heard of (like NXNE) and some that you haven't. She is an Academy Delegate at the JUNOs (CARAS). You can usually find Sarah at a concert, on Twitter @beets, or on Instagram @sarahrix. She also likes dogs and cheeseburgers.