The idea of Montreal’s Think About Life playing a free show at the tiny Le Divan Orange during Pop was a great idea. Except that the show was at 4 p.m. on a Saturday. So while the venue was packed for their late afternoon set, the things that make a Think About Life show so great—namely crowd and performer energy—were lacking, since most were busy nursing hangovers.
During their brief 30 minute set, the band stuck to crowd favourites from their sophomore effort Family (an album I will admit I was wrong about), including “Havin’ My Baby,” “Sweet Sixteen,” and “Set You On Fire,” the latter with an extended outro from guitarist Graham van Pelt based on the “Bed Intruder” Internet meme. They also played two new songs that would have fit in well among older material with soulful vocals, poppy synths, and danceable grooves, all Think About Life trademarks. Front man Martin Cesar was his usual engaging and charismatic self, asking the audience about their “single status” and questioning the sociological value of Nike. It was all good fun, but it didn’t live up to the legendary Think About Life shows of the past.