If you were a rocker, you'd sound nothing like these guys

Collapsing Opposites make music that they, and we, like

JOEL TRENAMAN AND TESSA VANDERHART

PHOTO: TESSA VANDERHART

The poster, clearly made in MS Paint, said that the Collapsing Opposites would be playing “with friends” on March 22.

First impressions make all the difference. After hearing exactly two Collapsing Opposites songs, I (Tessa) very happily won tickets from UMFM to the Vancouver band’s Winnipeg CD release party for Inside Chance, on Local Kids Make Good Records.

The songs, imbued with reflection and obsessed with dichotomy, seemed to lend themselves perfectly to a dual-author, first-impression-take-all, written-at-the-show, over-hyphenated notebook review. And so here is such a review, of a show comprised of Vancouver’s OK Vancouver OK, Winnipeg’s Boat, and, finally, the Collapsing Opposites.

9:13 p.m.
We arrived at the Albert, almost an hour and a half too early for the 8 p.m. show, we’re told by the just-setting-up ticket-seller. So much for earnest indie kids!

10:45 p.m.
With no introduction, two gentlemen likely to be OK Vancouver OK take the stage and begin what may be a practice session, but what may also be the beginning of the show. OK Winnipeg, where are you? When the crowd barely outnumbers the two lovely band members . . . oh wait, the patrons have doubled mid-sentence.

It’s a good thing the band seems easy going. It’s also good when half the band feels comfortable enough leaving the stage mid-set to take a leak.

Sometime before 10:55 p.m.
“We’re trying to do everything you like,” Jeff J. says, then almost-too-quickly to notice flips off a friend in the crowd as he bends to engage the loop machine, or whatever it’s called. Nice.

The multi-instrumentation is passionate, if raw. Keyboard, snare, high-hat, trumpet, guitar.

It’s just two guys with a loop machine. You are so earnest today. Why?

Earlier you lamented the noticeable lack of earnest indie kinds in the house. I am doing my best impression. Plus I am wearing the magical scarf.

11:18
Hitting a lyrical stride. Reflective, measured whimsy. A touch of early Pavement. Songs with seemingly arbitrary beginnings and fades still manage to satisfy.

11:52
I am blinded by red light (half orange, half white, half yellow?) and practice chords. OK Vancouver OK is eating nacho chips at the end of our table; I have to stare at them creepily to avoid the light.

It will be a very minor miracle if Boat commences sailing before midnight. If their delivery matches their preparation everyone will be pleased.

11:58
Maybe they will start now . . . false alarm.

12:01 a.m.
Well almost . . . but they have free buttons.

12:05
Where does one get a xylophone briefcase?

12:18
Don’t really know what to make of this band. The Vancouverites don’t seem too enthusiastic, but they also look exhausted.

Good driving rhythms, excellent synth, sprinkles of gentle melody. The most perplexing part is the vocal. The frenzied leader’s range includes a deepening scream, but it’s the other end that deserves mention. His wails come out as an angry 12-year-old girl. You’d have to hear it to rate the degree of endearment. To me, it works.

I’ll buy the OK Vancouver OK CD — but I’ll go the Boat CD release (May 12). They made me dance! (And by dance, I mean move my hips slightly and not scowl.) Still, impressive.

12:46
Wow, I was sitting next to Ryan McCormick (my new favourite musician as of two days ago) before the show and didn’t realize it. I am an ass.12:52
No matter how many times it happens, I’m always amazed by the random, clearly fucked-up people that wander in here during shows and act like they’re hearing the best band in the world for the first time. The joy of music!

The Collapsing Opposites are 100 per cent of OK Vancouver OK, plus singer/spoken-wordist/sax/guitar player Ryan McCormick.

1:30ish
It’s incredibly hard to tell from the live show how singer-centric this operation is. McCormick is repeatedly quoted as saying that he only makes music that he likes, refusing (essentially) input from others in this, his “solo” project (his other band is They Shoot Horses Don’t They?). I think this self-centredness translates into wonderfully composed, intentional music — but it’s strange to see as a “band.”

You said “repeatedly quoted” — are they “popular?”

Well, he’s repeatedly quoted on the Collapsing website, and the Collapsing MySpace, and on radio3.cbc.ca. Does that count? (On the band’s website, the three smallest shows are listed — “includes everyone in the room except me”: Seattle ’04, two to three; Regina ’05, three; Saint John ’05, three. This show totally kicked those shows’ asses, with fully 12 people in attendance.)

Alternating fast and slow songs; it’s tremendous that their “fast” songs are actually the most delicate — the touchingest lyrics and most compact beats — while the “slow” songs are sprawling and beat-driven and almost sardonically tough.

Sonic chaos and mayhem in a tight, fascinating package. Strange. Intense. Infectious. Endearing.

2:15 a.m.
As we’re thanking McCormick both for the show and for selling his CDs to us, he thanks Local Kids Make Good, and the promoter, who is standing right next to him. “This local kid made good!” I’m alarmed by the cheese, or rather, the fact that my response to the cheese is a beaming smile. Earnestness is the new cool, kids.





Volume 94 Issue 26	The Official University of Manitoba Students' Newspaper Website	March 28, 2007

Home About Us Advertise Contact Staff Current Issue PDF Employment Letters to the Editor Meet the Staff Online Archives Personals Volunteer	Font Size Respond Email Print-Friendly If you were a rocker, you'd sound nothing like these guys Collapsing Opposites make music that they, and we, like JOEL TRENAMAN AND TESSA VANDERHART PHOTO: TESSA VANDERHART The poster, clearly made in MS Paint, said that the Collapsing Opposites would be playing “with friends” on March 22. First impressions make all the difference. After hearing exactly two Collapsing Opposites songs, I (Tessa) very happily won tickets from UMFM to the Vancouver band’s Winnipeg CD release party for Inside Chance, on Local Kids Make Good Records. The songs, imbued with reflection and obsessed with dichotomy, seemed to lend themselves perfectly to a dual-author, first-impression-take-all, written-at-the-show, over-hyphenated notebook review. And so here is such a review, of a show comprised of Vancouver’s OK Vancouver OK, Winnipeg’s Boat, and, finally, the Collapsing Opposites. 9:13 p.m. We arrived at the Albert, almost an hour and a half too early for the 8 p.m. show, we’re told by the just-setting-up ticket-seller. So much for earnest indie kids! 10:45 p.m. With no introduction, two gentlemen likely to be OK Vancouver OK take the stage and begin what may be a practice session, but what may also be the beginning of the show. OK Winnipeg, where are you? When the crowd barely outnumbers the two lovely band members . . . oh wait, the patrons have doubled mid-sentence. It’s a good thing the band seems easy going. It’s also good when half the band feels comfortable enough leaving the stage mid-set to take a leak. 10:48 p.m. The drummer/trumpeter/singer has now become the drummer/trumpeter/singer/cinematog — (abrupt song ending, as he passes the camera off). 10:55 p.m. It is impressive how relaxing their plodding experimentation can be. At least, if you’re sympathetic to that sort of thing. Sometime before 10:55 p.m. “We’re trying to do everything you like,” Jeff J. says, then almost-too-quickly to notice flips off a friend in the crowd as he bends to engage the loop machine, or whatever it’s called. Nice. The multi-instrumentation is passionate, if raw. Keyboard, snare, high-hat, trumpet, guitar. It’s just two guys with a loop machine. You are so earnest today. Why? Earlier you lamented the noticeable lack of earnest indie kinds in the house. I am doing my best impression. Plus I am wearing the magical scarf. 11:18 Hitting a lyrical stride. Reflective, measured whimsy. A touch of early Pavement. Songs with seemingly arbitrary beginnings and fades still manage to satisfy. 11:52 I am blinded by red light (half orange, half white, half yellow?) and practice chords. OK Vancouver OK is eating nacho chips at the end of our table; I have to stare at them creepily to avoid the light. It will be a very minor miracle if Boat commences sailing before midnight. If their delivery matches their preparation everyone will be pleased. 11:58 Maybe they will start now . . . false alarm. 12:01 a.m. Well almost . . . but they have free buttons. 12:05 Where does one get a xylophone briefcase? 12:18 Don’t really know what to make of this band. The Vancouverites don’t seem too enthusiastic, but they also look exhausted. Good driving rhythms, excellent synth, sprinkles of gentle melody. The most perplexing part is the vocal. The frenzied leader’s range includes a deepening scream, but it’s the other end that deserves mention. His wails come out as an angry 12-year-old girl. You’d have to hear it to rate the degree of endearment. To me, it works. I’ll buy the OK Vancouver OK CD — but I’ll go the Boat CD release (May 12). They made me dance! (And by dance, I mean move my hips slightly and not scowl.) Still, impressive. 12:46 Wow, I was sitting next to Ryan McCormick (my new favourite musician as of two days ago) before the show and didn’t realize it. I am an ass.12:52 No matter how many times it happens, I’m always amazed by the random, clearly fucked-up people that wander in here during shows and act like they’re hearing the best band in the world for the first time. The joy of music! The Collapsing Opposites are 100 per cent of OK Vancouver OK, plus singer/spoken-wordist/sax/guitar player Ryan McCormick. 1:30ish It’s incredibly hard to tell from the live show how singer-centric this operation is. McCormick is repeatedly quoted as saying that he only makes music that he likes, refusing (essentially) input from others in this, his “solo” project (his other band is They Shoot Horses Don’t They?). I think this self-centredness translates into wonderfully composed, intentional music — but it’s strange to see as a “band.” You said “repeatedly quoted” — are they “popular?” Well, he’s repeatedly quoted on the Collapsing website, and the Collapsing MySpace, and on radio3.cbc.ca. Does that count? (On the band’s website, the three smallest shows are listed — “includes everyone in the room except me”: Seattle ’04, two to three; Regina ’05, three; Saint John ’05, three. This show totally kicked those shows’ asses, with fully 12 people in attendance.) Alternating fast and slow songs; it’s tremendous that their “fast” songs are actually the most delicate — the touchingest lyrics and most compact beats — while the “slow” songs are sprawling and beat-driven and almost sardonically tough. Sonic chaos and mayhem in a tight, fascinating package. Strange. Intense. Infectious. Endearing. 2:15 a.m. As we’re thanking McCormick both for the show and for selling his CDs to us, he thanks Local Kids Make Good, and the promoter, who is standing right next to him. “This local kid made good!” I’m alarmed by the cheese, or rather, the fact that my response to the cheese is a beaming smile. Earnestness is the new cool, kids.


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