Half Moon Run at the Roundhouse

Canadian indie rock band Half Moon Run played the Roadhouse on Wednesday night for the last date of their hugely successful, mostly sold-out European tour. The Chalk Farm concert was slated to be the band’s single most important gig to date and, simply put, they smashed it. 

From the minute they took the stage, the four-piece had the audience captured in a euphoric trance with their emotive performance. While many acts rely on high-energy numbers to kick things off, HMR opened with Warmest Regards, the folky, acoustic lead track off their second studio album, Sun Leads Me On. With the first notes, the sold-out venue was swaying along, fully engaged as the band sang in their signature harmonies.

They seamlessly changed tempo, playing songs from both their most recent album and 2012’s debut release, Dark Eyes, giving their appreciative fans a solid set to take in. Crowd favorites I Can’t Figure Out What’s Going On and Call Me in the Afternoon showcased their range and multiple instrument prowess, pointing out the difficulty pigeon-holing them in one genre. 

An endearing, if not surprising, highlight of the show was the response of the audience itself, the adoration manifesting at points in the form of various undergarments being thrown on stage. Unmentionables aside, there was an air of triumphant relief as they played the encore, pulling stragglers back in for a dramatic finish to the set. 

After Europe, the band has four consecutive sold-out shows to look forward to in Montreal, in the city’s biggest indoor venue. If Wednesday’s performance was any indication, this multi-talented group has officially solidified its status as a must-see live show of 2016.

Laura Kramer
Photos: Guifré de Peray

For further information about Half Moon Run and future events visit here.

Watch the video for Call Me in the Afternoon here: