Klub Life Magazine
The Beautiful Unknown—March 3 at the Drake
During the international showcase at the Drake Hotel for CMW, Toronto band The Beautiful Unknown were a little stumped as to how they made it onto the lineup. "I'm from the 905," vocalist Tom Barlow said, "I think that qualifies me." But although they didn't fit in with the night's theme, the four-piece made every effort to entertain.
The Beautiful Unknown were the very image of mod rock in their matching black attire. They gave the punters a taste of the Beatle- influenced rock that will be on their album coming out in the summer, starting with the song, "Spinning In My Grave." With Barlow's sultry voice, which sounds like a mix of Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme and Franz Ferdinand's Alex Kapranos, and Derek Downham's crazed playing on both the drums and guitar, the band impressed throughout their short 30-minute set. During "Riot in the House of Ruin," Downham was playing so fiercely he looked like he was going to break all of the strings of his guitar. They finished the set with a pounding version of "No Getting Through to You." The Beautiful Unknown's catchy songs and great live show will ensure they will be a prominent feature of the Toronto music scene.
