Woodhands

Woodhands @ POP Montreal 08


This week we're going to follow a handful of Toronto musicians as they navigate the bilingual lotusland of Pop Montreal.

Thursday morning, 1:30 AM. Montreal's Portuguese Association.

The crowd wobbled like a large, amorphous junkie. It was begging the empty stage for a hit of filthy electro pop.

Dan Werb, a geeky little v-necked hellion, took to the stage. Paul Banwatt, his drummer in crime, emerged next to him. This dynamic duo, with an assist from remixer Roger Leavens, make up Woodhands.

The set was long and sweaty. A cute hipster boy threw himself on the crowd about six songs in. He was skinny but the festival-goers couldn't quite handle him; after two minutes they let him fall to the ground. He danced his injuries away.

I chased Dan Werb down for a couple questions after the show.

blogTO: There was a fair amount of unsolicited crowd surfing going on; do you ever get people doing that in Toronto?

Dan: We have seen a few people crowd surf at our Toronto shows. It's mostly restricted to Sneaky Dee's and I often think it's more the venue than us that makes people get crazy. But maybe not. I think people can tell how much I want to crowd surf and end up living out my fantasy for me.

blogTO: What's the biggest difference between a Toronto crowd and a Montreal one?

Dan: After I hang with a Toronto crowd, I don't have to skulk around for a place to sleep.

blogTO: Your name is Daniel, your band is called Woodhands...do you ever get confused with Daniel Woodhead, frontman of Spiral Beach?

Dan: Nope! He's got his own indie rock thing going on. I'm strictly electro, everybody knows that.

blogTO: What's your favourite French curse word?

Dan: Putain.

blogTO: Did the stench of sweat at the end of your performance mean it was a success?

Dan: I thought I smelled great.


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