Event

Final Fantasy w/ Bob Wiseman & Curtains

Final Fantasy:
Amazingly, violin was not Owen Pallett's first instrument. The one-man string section and Toronto music scene mainstay known as Final Fantasy actually learned piano before studying composition at University of Toronto. Fueled by what he calls "adolescent dreams" of impressing the guys he had crushes on, Pallett spent most of his college years teaching himself violin. After graduating, he began playing with bands in Toronto and Montreal. When friend and fellow violinist Patrick Wolf made plans to play the Wavelengths Series-- the weekly Toronto show that helped launch Peaches and Broken Social Scene-- Pallett threw together some songs and opened for him. Thus Final Fantasy was born.

The name comes from the video game, which Pallett admits he doesn't have the patience to play. "I like the idea of it, this big gay thing," he says, citing his interest in Japanese culture and literature. "The games are ridiculously overwrought and convoluted emotionally," which he admits also applies to his music. -Pitchfork