of Montreal @ Òran Mór, 26 Jan

Pinning down an of Montreal gig isn’t as easy as telling your mates: “Yeah, I went to see a band tonight.” The costumed troupe plays their set against a backdrop of cracked animation (tigers, wolves, a giant mouth lip-synching on Christ’s chest), and the stage show incorporates some community-grade theatrics (men in gold masks brandishing whips; red-faced ‘ninjas’ lifting a crooning Kevin Barnes). In this setting, the music almost takes a backseat, with oM’s electronic beats and decadent arrangements faltering in places. But for every rendition found lacking (an unenthused She’s a Rejector, for example), there's a stunning comeback (the slow soul of St Exquisite’s Confessions or bombastic pop of An Eluardian Instance). And, to the band’s credit, the few lulls can easily be spent in awe (or confusion) of costumed minions and esoteric stage games. But when you recount this experience at the pub, expect more head-scratching than understanding. [Jason Morton]