POP Montreal 2015: The Sonics @ Théâtre Fairmount

Presented by POP Montreal, Blue Skies Turn Black, and Vice

The question you hear most when you tell someone you've been to see a band who made their start in the '60s, as The Sonics did, is "but can they still rock?"

Yes, yes, emphatically yes.

From the moment they hit the stage, The Sonics did not relent, hammering out simple chords nice and loud, with plenty of snarling saxophone out in front. In their matching embroidered black Western shirts, The Sonics took us through their catalogue of classics while easing in plenty of new material from their 2015 release, This is The Sonics. Current bass player and vocalist, Freddie Dennis, took the vocal honours on most of the new selections with a deep classic rock howl that put me in mind of Burton Cummings at his filthiest (that's absolutely a good thing in my book). Original lead vocalist and organist Gerry Roslie sang most of the classics, with a rendition of "Psycho" early in the set that really got the crowd moving. On the topic of the audience, I absolutely loved the diversity of fans I saw on the dance floor: rockabilly purists in their deadstock shirts, skinny-jean pop kids, and mulleted metalheads all nodding along happily in a true testament to the wide appeal and wider influence this band has.

Between-song banter was generally brief so as to keep the party swinging, but when they did speak, it was to shamelessly plug their new record on sale at the merch table at the back. I don't blame the fellas, really, and it is a great record, but the sales pitches felt a little stagey and lacked the kind of sincerity and warmth I would expect from artists who have been in the game this long. I suppose I'll grudgingly admire their hustle.

After an encore including two of their best-known songs, "Strychnine" and "The Witch", The Sonics exited in true rockstar fashion, bundled out by security, fan boys pressing vinyl towards them in hopes of a signature, rushing down the stairs holding their best girl's hand, and into a waiting bus surrounded by a phalanx of hooting fans. Their bus tore away to chanting and applause, The Sonics waving from inside the bus. Cool as they may be, they couldn't hide their smiles.

--Sue Snyder is the tall chick in the front row blocking your view of the band. She's also a belly dancer making unusual dances with her cosmic twin under the name Cult of Yes. Finder her on the Twitter @Susie_Qc.