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It would be difficult to dream up a better time or place to see the Go! Team in concert then Halloween night in Montreal. Having celebrated Halloween all weekend, I decided not to go to the show in costume. Instead I chose to wear my tan leisure suit and, of course, the silver sequined luchador mask which I have worn non-stop since I first became, with fellow House of Irony contributor Mike, part of Los Chupacabras.

The show itself was incredible, with the Go! Team entering the stage in makeshift costumes, including a wicked cardboard robot mask with blinking lights. When the music started up I hit the floor hard, knocking over numerous indie snobs and other killjoys, showing off the moves that the Rose City Dance Squad have become reknowned for the world over. The band were on fire, switching instruments mid-song, mixing pure rock mayhem with dance sounds straight out of the playground, and generally running around like kids breaking curfew.

I was having so much damn fun that I didn’t want to run, but my bus was leaving early and the show had started late. Ninja, the lead singer, bantered about Halloween between songs while I made my way through the throng of headnodders to the place where I had stashed my stuff. Just as I reached my things, my pal Genevieve grabbed my arm and started pulling me back from behind the speakers, pointing to the stage where Ninja was still speaking.

“We’re so glad we’re not the only ones in costume. You all look great. But we’re not quite sure what some of you are supposed to be. For example, the Man in the Silver Mask, where did you go?”

I came back around to the front of the stage and waved. Ninja asked what I was, and I yelled “El Chupacabra!” And before she could ask any more questions, I pushed through the crowd to make my bus back to Parts Unknown.