A few days before heading off on a lengthy Europe tour, Sebastien Grainger and the Mountains graced the basement of used CD and record shop Sonic Boom for a free show last night. The basement slowly crowded with fans of both Granger and free gigs, as well as half a dozen really expensive professional looking video cameras.

Grainger himself walked around the crowd effortlessly before the show. There was no hype here; we were in a basement, after all. On stage, the band performed a melodic sound check, followed closely by a quick hello. It was straight into the set at that point.

The band just released their debut record and they blasted right through it, barely pausing to breathe or stop in between. I believe there were only three pauses the whole set, and only once did Sebastien talk to the crowd (and even then only to the bald guy in the front row with the weird round camera, which Grainger made him hold up for all to see).

Sebastien Graniger has been a favourite on CBC Radio 3 (our only real national indie rock station) and it doesn't take much to figure out why. The music is dancy and daring from a pop standpoint, but doesn't veer into any of the experimental corners that DFA1979 (or even MSTRKRFT) went (or go). Grainger has crafted a by-God rock record that doesn't disappoint in speakers or four feet from the stage.

Writing and photos by guest contributor K Sawyer Paul.