Sophie and Ingrid discuss the highs and lows of PACKS / Ribbon Skirt / Nap Eyes at La Sala Rossa

On July 30th, 2026, La Sala Rossa was filled with a large audience, varied in ages and styles, all there to see an epic lineup of indie-alternative bands essential to the current moment in Canadian music. Toronto’s PACKS, Montréal’s Ribbon Skirt, and Halifax’s Nap Eyes may never again be all together in a small venue, playing to Montréal’s young music lovers. CJLO’s Sophie Caza (Everything Everywhere) and Ingrid Riccius (Bikini Brrroadcast) were in attendance and sat down to discuss their favourite moments of the sets, appropriate arrival times, and contagious yawning. 

Ingrid: So. PACKS, Ribbon Skirt, Nap Eyes on – what was the date again?

Sophie: It was July 30th. 

Ingrid: July 30th at La Sala Rossa. Yes. How did you feel walking into the venue? 

Sophie: Well, it was pouring rain, I think. Was it? No. Am I confusing it with Knitting [beloved Montréal indie outlet who played a show at La Sala Rossa on July 9th]? I could be. 

Ingrid: Yeah, that was when I was soaking wet [because] I biked there. 

Sophie: Yes. Right. But Ribbon Skirt, I actually don't remember. 

Ingrid: I remember I was like, really late as usual, but I think they started late. Yeah, I remember because they said on Instagram doors seven, music seven thirty. That really stressed me out. I was like, who starts at seven thirty? I got there probably around eight and I think they were on their first or second song. 

Sophie: I always find with small venue shows, that I always try to show up right for when the music starts just in case it's on time. And it never is, which is fine, but I find I'm so awkward when I'm like, “okay, the music should be starting.” Then I go in and I'm one of the only people in the room. I'm like, did I miss the memo when this started? 

Ingrid: But I think those people are what keeps the…what keeps the scene alive? [laughs] I'm always so late and miss the first band and, um, I don't feel good about it. I'm not proud to admit that. 

Sophie: Now it's something I feel like I should anticipate. I should always be showing up maybe fifteen minutes later than when the music is. 

Ingrid: I feel like fifteen is good. Yeah, but no, I don't remember if it was raining or not.

Sophie: It probably was because that was a rainy week. But I remember walking in, standing kind of at the edge of the room and just people watching. I saw a lot of familiar faces, especially from here at the station. 

Ingrid: Yeah, there was a lot, I remember that too. There were a lot of station friends. I mean, Ribbon Skirt is a station favorite. PACKS I had heard of for a while. I played them on my show a few months ago, so I did want to see them. I remember being like, oh, I really hope I don't miss them. In the end, I caught most of them and it was great. 

Sophie: Yeah, they were pretty good. The lead vocalist was speaking a lot to the crowd, which I always find really nice. It forms some kind of connection. What did you think of PACKS?

Ingrid: They had a lot of band members. I remember there were like six of them. 

Sophie: They also had someone doing harmonies. 

Ingrid: Yeah, someone doing backup vocals, which I feel like you don't see a lot for a smaller local group. Well, I guess they're not local, they're from Toronto, so for an [air quotes] up and coming Canadian indie group. I also remember that she kept thinking her guitar wasn't working, but it definitely was.

Sophie: It definitely was because I could hear it. 

Ingrid: Yeah. She kept being like, “Imagine you could hear the guitar.” And I was thinking, so we can all hear that clearly. No one told her, I don't know why. 

Sophie: Yeah, but it was funny. It added a layer of cute hilarity to the set.  Do you want to talk about Ribbon Skirt? 

Ingrid: I was really excited. I only saw them once before at Toscadura, right after their album release [in April 2025], and the sound at that venue wasn't great. 

Sophie: How did you find it compared to Sala Rossa? Sound wise? 

Ingrid: Sala Rossa sounded better. I think also, they've probably come a long way since then, and they had some new tracks as well. 

Sophie: I actually should admit that I had barely listened to any Ribbon Skirt or PACKS or Nap Eyes for that matter, before the show. So I kind of went into it, not completely blind, but not super caught up. I do like going into shows like that, but it also felt kind of wrong of me to be there, for that reason. But I was really pleasantly surprised with the energy that [Ribbon Skirt] brought, because I feel like PACKS and Nap Eyes had a similar, like calmness that was really beautiful and lovely to move to and vibe with. But Ribbon Skirt being in the middle of both of them felt like it really brought this really fun energy to the entire thing. So yeah, when they came on, I was just kind of like, whoa. I was kind of blown away. I had brought my camera to try to take some good pictures for this article, and I was struggling because all of the band members were moving around a lot. 

Ingrid: I agree. They had a really good stage presence. I think also the last show I saw them at, it was packed, and sometimes it's hard to get to the front of that venue [Toscadura]. Yeah, this show was really fun. I was way closer to the front and they really brought the energy. 

Sophie: There was a lot of space to move around too, which was great. It was quite comfortable. And I think so much so that even the lead singer, Tashiina, at some point near the end of their set jumped down into the crowd and started singing in people's faces. 

Ingrid: Yeah, that was so fun. I remember she did a big group hug with a bunch of people right next to us. 

Sophie: It was just really beautiful, so that just added a whole lot to the experience. 

Ingrid: One of my friends had recently gotten really into them, and had bought their vinyl and everything. She came with me to the show and she was so excited to see them. And to experience a Montreal band that, I know is kind of blowing up, but to really see it trickle down enough where one of my friends has heard about them and really wants to go to their show, I thought that was really awesome. And I was excited with my friend, you know? 

Sophie: Yeah. Is this a friend from out of province? 

Ingrid: They’re from Toronto, but they live here, so they know about Montreal bands, but to be really excited, like they're, you know, a big touring act from out of town was, yeah, awesome. I think the band's doing so well. 

Sophie: They are. 

Ingrid: Then Nap Eyes. I do think it made sense for the energy to be in the middle [with Ribbon Skirt] and I guess Nap Eyes are pretty big, but I personally was falling asleep. 

Sophie: That's the thing. Everyone around us, people I was noticing in the crowd, were really sleepy. And the yawning was very contagious. 

Ingrid: I was getting, um, nap eyes, if you will. [cringes] 

Sophie: [Laughs] But even the lead singer kept saying into the mic between every song, “we're so tired”. And I was like, “is this a bit that they're doing or are they just as tired as the rest of us?” Ingrid: That's true. I forgot they were saying that. 

Sophie: That was contagious to me too. And I could see them yawning up on stage, so I was yawning too! 

Ingrid: Were they actually yawning? Okay it makes sense if they were on tour. They're from – I think they're kind of split up. Like some of them live here and some of them live in LA or – I think they're originally from Nova Scotia. I'll fact check this.  [Nap Eyes had been on tour this summer, playing three shows in the States with Pavement, and a show the night prior in NYC. I think we can forgive them for the yawning. The band is originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, but now has several members living in Montréal.] 

Sophie: Yeah [the yawning] was funny. They did a great set though. Honestly, I think their music, out of all the bands that night, was the most up my alley. It was just really calm and serene, but really emotionally driven as well, even though yeah, they were so tired. At the beginning of their set, Charlie made a joke to me that completely went over my head – I think because of how tired I was – which was, “wow, they look like they take really great naps.” And I think I had just forgotten what the name of the band was, or I wasn't even thinking about it. I thought it was just a strange observation. And then ironically, I was like, “yeah, so many of them have their eyes closed. I bet they do.” Halfway through the show, I turned to her and said, “I actually just understood what you meant by the nap joke,” and she was like, “are you serious?” That's when I realized, I'm so out of it. Still, I enjoyed their set, I did think their music was really great. They were clearly all very talented. 

Ingrid: They were a nice way to end off that show, I think. I’m glad I’ve seen them live. 

Sophie: Then everyone was just so sleepy and went home and crawled into bed. 

Ingrid: Crawled into bed and took a …a long nap. [both laugh] 

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Sophie Caza is the host of Everything Everywhere, exploring music from all genres through an ethnographic perspective, every Thursday from 9-10am

Ingrid Riccius is the host of Bikini Brrroadcast, where you can hear angels of noise; women-led alt-rock, indietronica, twee-pop, riot grrl or the favourite songs of the coolest most beautiful girl you know probably, every Tuesday from 6-7pm.