Light Fires opened with red pumps and karate kicks and JD Samson & MEN closed with some electro bliss, but the real jewel was sitting right in the interstice. Diamond Bones is a Montreal dream pop trio with an indie edge: Michelle Bensimon, Lana Cooney and Isabelle Banos took the stage shoeless before a packed house at Il Motore on Saturday night.

These gals paint in big, plangent soundscapes. One thing that struck me right away was the depth of their sound. I was talking to a guy in the crowd about how technology has really widened the palette of frequencies at the songwriter’s disposal. I have to agree. Diamond Bones uses this wider field very well: long smoky synths counter-pointed by up-tempo drumming and poppy arpeggios create this delicious emotional tension. They also sing harmony. Did I mention that I like this band?

Halfway through their set, I slalomed toward the stage to get some photos and Banos announced that they’d just finished recording their first album earlier that day. That’s a bit of a tricky statement though— we all know what production’s like: it never ends. But when I cornered Cooney after the show she said it wouldn’t be too long before the album dropped.

I wouldn’t be surprised if this trio only becomes tighter and more successful as they evolve. I’m really looking forward to this release. For now I’ll keep spinning that sorrowfully catchy ‘Home is Where’ track off of Bandcamp until my downstairs neighbours bang on their ceiling with a broom.

Photo by Jesse Anger

Get. Out. There. See these shows this week!

THURSDAY, JANUARY 23

The Luyas + Brazos @ Divan Orange

Show starts at 8 p.m., $12 at the door or in advance here.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 25

Le Kid & Les Marinellis + El Napoleon @ L’escogriffe

Catch Montreal band Le Kid & Les Marinellis perform their brand of psych-tinged garage rock for the last time before they take a break to record their new album. They’ll be supported by the trippy El Napoleon.

Show starts at 10 p.m., $6.

JD Samson & MEN + Diamond Bones + Light Fires @ Il Motore

Show starts at 9 p.m., $15.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29

Po’ Lazarus @ Pub Saint-Ciboire

The Montreal duo known as Po’ Lazarus have been garnering steady attention in the local scene since their inception a few years ago. When Josh Carey and Paul Mascarenhas gather their humble instruments, just a couple of guitars and their voices, magic happens. See for yourself at this fundraising event for geoengineering students at Montreal’s École polytechnique.

Show starts at 8 p.m., $10 at the door.