Back when I was first getting into the "local scene", I went to see a well-known Canadian band who... well, I didn't much care for their set, but I did come away from that show with a new discovery: a band by the name of Bend Sinister. They were one of the first local bands I really got into, and have followed them for the last decade-plus. Flash forward to this month, where frontman Dan Moxon has released his debut solo album Lounge Singer, and hit the WISE Hall for an album release show.

First up though, was another band celebrating a new release, The Wild Romantics. Aleisha Kalina and Evan Miller took the stage alone, Evan armed with a guitar, and started off with "She Could Tell" from their previous release of the same name. From there they went through every song from the new EP Feel The Lightnin'. Their voices blended beautifully for the stripped down set, going from the soft and longing "Long Blue Highway" to the electric "Feel the Lightnin'" to the darker "Hungry Teeth".
Kalina and Miller have such amazing chemistry together & are always a joy to watch live, and this night was no different.

After a short break, Dan Moxon took the stage with his band, immediately launching into "Be Better" from the new album. Behind the keys, Dan was joined only by a rhythm section (who also backed him on vocals) and a saxamaphone, the lack of lead guitar being one of the driving things to set the album apart from Bend Sinister.

Moxon focused mostly on the new album, with songs like the contemplative "Where You Going To Sleep Tonight", the upbeat "Playing With Fire", and "Morning After" which built to a frantic ending. Other highlights included my favourites off the album; "Around the World", the most jaunty song I've ever heard about not leaving your home, and the 50s doo-wop tinged "You Left Me", a fun song about an 'I Saw You' or 'Missed Connections' newspaper ad.

Along with the new tunes, Dan also slipped in a few treats for longtime fans like the slow-burning Bend Sinister song "Don't Let Us Bring You Down", and a few covers from the likes of Bowie, Radiohead, and a really fun version of "Honky Cat" from Elton John, joking that he needed at least one cover from a lounge singer, based on the album title.

As a band, Bend Sinister always puts on huge and energetic live shows, and Moxon is a big part of that. But even while this was toned down (by its very nature) Dan was no less captivating as his fingers flew over the keys and powerful voice filled the hall. I would go to any lounge with Dan Moxon as the singer in it, in a heartbeat.

Wild Romantics setlist
She Could Tell
Long Blue Highway
Hungry Teeth
San Francisco
Cheyenne
Feel The Lightnin'

Dan Moxon setlist
Be Better
Afraid of the World
The Corner
Don't Let Us Bring You Down
The Blue
Everlasting Fear
Playing With Fire
Oh! You Pretty Things [David Bowie cover]
Where You Gonna Sleep Tonight
No Surprises [Radiohead cover]
You Left Me
Morning After
New Year's Day
Honky Cat [Elton John cover]
Live For Today