Recording: Rapport

Artist: Rapport

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at Workman Arts – Main Hall (Long Winter 7.4), February 9, 2019.

Rapport - unknown

With its multiple floors, cavernous halls, creaky stairwells and peeling-paint grandeur, Workman Arts might be the closest thing Long Winter has found to its old home at the pre-restoration Great Hall. Tina Weymouth's stage presence in Stop Making Sense should have inspired the formation of more bands, but thankfully we have this one. The only thing not to love about this group is that they are still keeping their music mostly on stage, with just a single track up on their bandcamp. But their live show (with Stephen "Omhouse" Foster sitting in on drums this time out) remains packed to the brim with infectiously joyful energy — if their lyrical invocations of "freedom" might seem ripped from the song playing over the end credits dance scene in the 80's teen flick of your choice, it's always completely lived in and never just a pastiche. Complete with a "bark-in" to begin, this song teeters on the brink of falling apart about two-thirds of the way through, but it still manages to to elicit plenty of joy, whether or not it evokes, say, the backing vox from The Go-Betweens' "Streets of Your Town" and the sequencer chug of a Game Theory track.

[Rapport will be playing a Pop Montreal showcase at The Baby G on Saturday, May 11th with Lydia Kepinski, Hanorah and Casey MQ.]

^* Does anyone know the title to this one? Please leave a comment!

Recording: Rapport

Artist: Rapport

Song: My Goodbyes

Recorded at Monarch Tavern (Fundraiser Show for Mexico & Puerto Rico), November 9, 2017.

Rapport - My Goodbyes

A life in rock'n'roll gives many chances for rebirths and reinventions, so while the 2008 version of me would have been excited at the idea of a fundraiser featuring members of Forest City Lovers, Spiral Beach, Gentleman Reg and Magneta Lane, the 2017 version of me was perhaps more excited to see these musicians brimming with the energy of new music and new ideas. Organized by LOLAA to raise funds to rebuild Puerto Rico after hurricane Maria and Mexico after the earthquakes, there was a lot of positive energy all around throughout the night.

Formerly of Spiral Beach and Moon King, Rapport gives Maddy Wilde a long-awaited opportunity to step up front. Inspired by bands like 'Til Tuesday, there's a knowing 80's vibe to these tunes, with occasional melancholy and a lot of groovy joy — at one point, Wilde and her co-conspirators Kurt Marble and Most People's Mike Pereira were all simultaneously dancing like Tina Weymouth in Stop Making Sense. The band doesn't seem to have any music online yet (keep your eyes on this space) but they have a set of well-crafted tunes, including this one which encapsulates the absolute best of every 80's throwback to brassy 60's pop.