Every time I go to a show on St. Hubert, I have this uncanny moment when I feel like I am in a different city. A prairie city maybe, where everything is very well-lit and linear. Anyway, had that feeling again last night on my first visit to Zoobizarre, which may well be my new favourite venue; it reminds me of the sort of dungeon-style steakhouses that are the basis of my fondest childhood memories. Also, seeing a show there is like watching a show in a cave. And, for some reason, maybe just to be perversely contrary to the shortest venue in the city, the city's tallest people showed up to see the double-bill of Wolf Parade side-project Dante DeCaro Project (I think; apologies if this name is incorrect) and post-Unicorns incarnation Islands.

The place was packed, nobdy could move, and I was a little wigged out by this one woman who kept talking about how we would all surely die if the place caught on fire. But I liked it. I felt like a bear hibernating for the winter. Usually, I am freaked out by confined spaces, but this was just so out of control crowded that we entered a different zone--something close to cozy?

Dante DeCaro Project opened with an odd aleatory non-song that set the tone for their loose and raggedy but totally compulsive sound. Sort of White Hassle-ish, and very, very lovely. I could have listened to them for hours. Music to drink beer to and get nosalgic about nostalgia in a happy wistful way; and get nostalgic for old loves and summer and stuff like that. I mean that in the best possible sense.

I had thought Islands might be an acquired taste, but they were just plain sizzlin full of 80s poppy fun and melodic instrumental mayhem and, I don't know, the stage is so tiny and they are so many it gave the scene a funny cartoonish feeling.

Another bonus about Zoobizarre is that you can watch the band in the mirrored wall, which I ended up doing for them, as a 6'7" man came and stood in front of me. (Seriously, where did all these tall people come from? ) Watching a band in a mirror creates a sort of fun disconnect, and I recommend trying it out sometime.

And to cap it off, both bands got together to close the night of with a rousing rendition of--wait for it,--Graceland. Actually, as I write that I am wondering if I am totally tripping. I am pretty sure that is true. Verification? Anyone?

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