Hooded Fang Makes Some Noise
Torontoist has been acquired by Daily Hive Toronto - Your City. Now. Click here to learn more.

Torontoist

events

Hooded Fang Makes Some Noise

Jamming at the library for kids and their parents.

By • Photos by Corbin Smith



The pre-show energy on Saturday felt like a shaken soda can about to burst. Maybe it was anticipation for Hooded Fang’s Polaris Prize-nominated greatness, or the youthful exuberance, but Saturday afternoon in the Sanderson Library branch was already beginning to feel special.

Why was Hooded Fang in the library? It was the latest show in Make Some Noise, a series the TPL started a few years ago to highlight local musicians by placing albums in many neighbourhood branches and holding concerts now and then that let people (for instance: toddlers) who can’t generally access live music in on the fun.

In a rotunda just off the library’s entrance crowds of small children, skinny-jean and wool-sock clad 20-somethings, parents, and grandparents all sat on the floor, gathered in eager anticipation. Typically the crowds that turn out to see Hooded Fang aren’t joined by young children, but these music lovers seemed to welcome their infectious spirits. As kids played with the large, monochromatic cardboard triangles that adorned the band’s setup, others smiled and welcomed their curiosity.

Once Hooded Fang began to play the large crowd was quickly captivated by their crisp and upbeat sounds. Arranged like a jam-circle, each member of the band started playing with an introverted focus, making sure of their sound and getting adjusted.

Playing instruments like a toy accordion and not being on a raised stage, the show started feeling like a kitchen party on a sunny afternoon. Soon bassist April Aliermo began to lose herself in the music. Her grooving seemed infectious as lead-singer/guitarist Daniel Lee also started dancing around during his instrumental parts. “We’ve always wanted to make noise in a library,” he said to the crowd, and the band began to loosen-up. By the third song they were exchanging whimsical, inside-joke glances. Surf-style grooves accompanied by the impressive rock-rolls and quick-style jazz drumming of D. Alex Meeks had almost everyone spellbound.

Building to almost frenzied crescendos, the band’s loud sound didn’t even bother the most sensitive of small-kid ears. The band made sure to thank the Toronto Public Library program that brings rock and roll into library branches, even going so far as to ask, “who would want to close a library anyways?”

Soon though, under the threat of a broken guitar string, the band almost lost the crowd. Quickly compensating, the band switched to a song Daniel could sit out—turns out he had miss-strung his guitar. Lorna Wright invited the crowd members to tell jokes while he made some adjustments. Even under the greatest of pressure the band didn’t crack, finishing their set triumphantly. By the end everyone was satisfied, especially the children, who were invited to come play with the band’s instruments.

Comments