I mentioned to a Canadian friend of mine that The Dears were due to play a gig in the UK. I think its fair to say she was pretty excited by the news, judging by the jumping around and wooping and wide eyed stares that followed. This is the kind of joy and abundant emotion that Canadian band The Dears engender in their homeland. The Dears formed in Montreal in 1995, spurred on by cigarettes, pints and too many nights of overanalyzing Smiths records. Eight years, numerous EPs and a couple of albums later, and The Dears reputation for writing songs with a perfect balance of pure-pop immediacy, sinister symphonics and ominous post-punk rumbling, as well as live performances that are unforgettable for stealing hearts and blowing minds, is set. This year Rollingstone.com decided they were the best band by far at the prestigious South by South West festival