Live Review: Jagwar Ma, Jonti

Sometimes production-heavy albums don't quite translate when played live. Unfortunately, that was the case when our very own Jagwar Ma brought their widely acclaimed Howlin' to the Metro Theatre stage.
The night began with producer/guitarist Jonti, aka South African-born Jonti Danilewitz, playing his vast and at times baffling electro-indie songs from 2011's Twirligig. His set, and the one that followed, seemed like they'd be better suited to a club environment or a more intimate venue, where the “beats” wouldn't sound like they were overpowering everything else. By the end of his set, Jonti had transitioned into smooth guitar-based indie pop, without quite managing to win over the audience.
Jagwar Ma came onto the stage to cheers and hollering and as soon as Jono Ma hit the decks, the crowd started to pulse. They opened with What Love, followed by crowd favourite Uncertainty. In the case of each the “beats” suffocated anything more intricate, including Gabriel Winterfield's vocals, and seemed more appropriate for a late night festival slot. The lighting was timed to the bass, illuminating each band member in turn – an effect that worked brilliantly when bassist Jack Freeman remembered to stay in place.
The easy set highlights were Come Save Me, Let Her Go and Man I Need, which used samples and repetition to the best effect, and where Winterfield's vocals were strongest. Throughout the set the songs flowed easily into one another, meaning few breaks and little banter. But ultimately, they just didn't seem to have enough songs for a full 40-minute set, even after playing most of their album, so extended each of their songs, by playing the same synth-line over and over. Without a guitar part to fill it out, it felt empty.
Although Winterfield gave a strong vocal performance throughout, he only went the showman route for the last two songs of the set (including the encore), The Throw and then That Loneliness, which he performed shirtless to the obvious delight of a set of women towards the front.