{"id":5173,"date":"2012-10-25T20:32:28","date_gmt":"2012-10-26T00:32:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=5173"},"modified":"2016-02-27T08:58:07","modified_gmt":"2016-02-27T13:58:07","slug":"live-review-the-royal-concept-wolf-gang-wrong-bar-october-22","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=5173","title":{"rendered":"Live review: The Royal Concept & Wolf Gang – Wrongbar October 22"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Matt Juniper<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a good year for Sweden\u2019s The Royal Concept. The four-piece went from relative obscurity outside of their native country to a global release of their debut EP on a major label and a North American tour with British rising stars Wolf Gang. The band was even given a shout out on Perez Hilton\u2019s website, which is probably equally amazing and unsettling for the band.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The Royal Concept @ Wrongbar, Toronto – Oct 22, 2012<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Early critical reception has been largely positive, though a common recurring theme is a comparison to popular French indie pop outfit Phoenix. A listen to single and EP-opener Gimme Twice<\/em> does little to dispel this notion, with the two bands sounding remarkably similar in style right down to the vocal texture. The remainder of the EP, however, shows more diversity and potential. Closing tracks D-D-Dance<\/em> and In the End<\/em> are a sugar-coated pop song and a downbeat synth rocker respectively and hint that the band is capable of more than a mention in the \u2018sounds like\u2019 column of their predecessors.<\/p>\n

[youtube_sc url=”http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=bVvSfgiyCG8″ theme=”light”]<\/p>\n

Eager to further explore the band\u2019s potential, I caught their Toronto stop with Wolf Gang this week at Wrongbar. As lead singer David Larson was sure to point out several times throughout their set, this was the band\u2019s first time in Toronto (or Canada at all) and they were plenty excited to be here. The crowd was relatively small, even by Wrongbar\u2019s standards, but made up for it with enough enthusiasm to fill the largest of venues. A small crowd at the front had clearly familiarized themselves with the band\u2019s material and gleefully belted out the choruses of each song in the band\u2019s set. Beyond them, the larger crowd (likely awaiting Wolf Gang\u2019s set) was incredibly appreciative and within a few minutes of set\u2019s debut, there were few people left sitting still in the venue.<\/p>\n

The band played a mix of songs from their EP and unreleased material, but the common theme was that it was all incredibly accessible and immediately so. Rarely do you see a band at this stage in its infancy make such an impact. While I can\u2019t say that I had any deeper insight in to the band\u2019s future songwriting potential, I can certainly say that they are a can\u2019t-miss live act. By the time the Royal Concept had finished their brief set, I think many felt satisfied that they had already gotten their money\u2019s worth for the evening before Wolf Gang even took the stage.<\/p>\n

\"Wolf<\/a>
Wolf Gang @ Wrongbar, Toronto – Oct 22, 2012<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Wolf Gang had recently landed a gig opening for Keane on their November U.K. tour and recently wrapped up a tour opening for Coldplay. In addition to signifying that the band is teetering on the edge of a global breakthrough, the choice of tour mates also speaks to this band\u2019s aesthetic. Lead vocalist and mastermind Max McElligott has a presence and vocal ability that could easily fill a stadium and the band\u2019s sound is so grand that it was almost overwhelming in such a small space. The performance and sound struck me as a more conventional relative of Brooklyn superstars The National, with McElligott\u2019s simultaneously timid and aggressive stage presence reminding me of Matt Berninger in his earlier days. It was a charming set that was kept short and sweet and featured the debut of three new songs in addition with a solid rotation of material from popular 2011 debut album ‘Suego Faults’.<\/p>\n

[youtube_sc url=”http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=TZLv36LvRo8″ theme=”light”]<\/p>\n

Regardless of personal tastes surrounding either act\u2019s brand of music, it was hard to deny that each group came off as incredibly polished and primed for the big time. It would be even more difficult to deny that the future is incredibly bright for these bands and that next time they play on North American soil it will be a much bigger challenge to land tickets.<\/p>\n

For more on Wolf Gang, visit wolf-gang.co.uk<\/a> and for The Royal Concept, visit\u00a0royalconceptband.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Matt Juniper It\u2019s been a good year for Sweden\u2019s The Royal Concept. The four-piece went from relative obscurity outside of their native country to […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4106,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"{title}\n\n{excerpt}\n\n{url}","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[22,23,28,33,36],"tags":[1642,1446,1641,1330],"class_list":["post-5173","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guitar-rock","category-indie","category-music","category-review","category-toronto","tag-concert","tag-the-royal-concept","tag-wolf-gang","tag-wrongbar"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/The-Royal-Concept.jpg?fit=454%2C303&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2B2TV-1lr","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3070,"url":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=3070","url_meta":{"origin":5173,"position":0},"title":"NXNE 2012: Doldrums @ Wrongbar June 16","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"June 17, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"It's been a while since I saw Doldrums play live in their warehouse space, but they have really developed their sound since that show. 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When I went to Wrongbar to check him out for Canadian Music Fest 2013, I was surprised by his\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "live"","block_context":{"text":"live","link":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=25"},"img":{"alt_text":"Digits live at Wrongbar","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Digits-live-at-Wrongbar.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Digits-live-at-Wrongbar.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Digits-live-at-Wrongbar.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Digits-live-at-Wrongbar.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1994,"url":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=1994","url_meta":{"origin":5173,"position":2},"title":"Bishop Morocco release new EP ‘Old Boys’","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"February 9, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Toronto's Bishop Morocco release their new EP 'Old Boys' on March 13 via Arts & Crafts. 'Old Boys' is a six-track EP on which the band moves away from its original new wave influences.\u00a0The band's Toronto EP release party is March 8 at Wrongbar. MP3:\u00a0Bishop Morocco - Old Boys Bishop\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "indie"","block_context":{"text":"indie","link":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"Bishop Morocco","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/bishopmorocco10.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/bishopmorocco10.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/bishopmorocco10.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/bishopmorocco10.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/bishopmorocco10.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1821,"url":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=1821","url_meta":{"origin":5173,"position":3},"title":"Trust release new single ‘Sulk’ + announce live dates","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"January 25, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Trust has released\u00a0the first single from their debut full-length album 'TRST' (out on February 28) for the track, Sulk. A video will follow in the coming weeks for the track. 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Beliefs @ M for 159 Manning 1:45pm Eagulls @ Yonge-Dundas Square 5:30pm Xui Xui\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "live"","block_context":{"text":"live","link":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=25"},"img":{"alt_text":"NXNE 2014 logo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/20140618-111332-40412665.jpg?fit=1024%2C327&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/20140618-111332-40412665.jpg?fit=1024%2C327&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/20140618-111332-40412665.jpg?fit=1024%2C327&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/20140618-111332-40412665.jpg?fit=1024%2C327&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5173","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5173"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5173\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20272,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5173\/revisions\/20272"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4106"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5173"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5173"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5173"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}