Playful Odd Future members “The Internet” woo Toronto during tour finale

By: Sarah MacDonald –

Odd Future members Syd tha Kyd and Matt Martians, collectively known as the Internet at the MOD Club in Toronto. (Photo: Nim Mendoza)

“This next song is about drugs.”

And through the screams of a minimally crowded MOD Club in Toronto last night, Sydney Bennett, or more commonly known as Syd tha Kyd, OFWGKTA’s fresh faced, innocent looking member, cracks a smile and sings sweet R&B drenched falsetto tones to an audience full of equally, if not even more, fresh faced youths.

She promptly said “say no to drugs, okay” before crooning the last lyrics of “Cocaine/Tevie.”

The appeal of OFWGKTA is perplexing, if not the sole reason for being drawn into their music. With characters like Tyler the Creator, Frank Ocean, and especially that of Syd and Matt Martian, it’s easy to be highly intrigued.

As the collective diverges and regroups in a serious ebb and flow situation, The Internet, Syd and Matt’s side project, found their way to the heart of downtown Toronto on the last leg of their small tour.

The Internet released their debut album, Purple Naked Ladies, on Odd Future’s record label “Odd Future Records,” in December 2011, with a physical copy in January. Donning  “High as Fuck” tees and tanks, and soaked in luminous purple and yellow lights, the setting was ideal to be swept up in the soulful, youthful musings of the group. And yet, the sparse crowd, early set time, and it being an all ages show still managed to strip the shiny allure of these Odd Future members.  But to the few who gathered around the stage they were, if only for that night, part of some super secret exclusive club that only took a few songs to warm them up and get them grooving.

The Internet opened with Justin Timberlake’s “Senorita”, which was, as Syd implied, an attempt to get people into the show with something familiar. Instead, it set the tone of the evening of playfulness and pop undertones and R&B smoothness.

Odd Future members Syd tha Kyd and Matt Martians, collectively known as the Internet at the MOD Club in Toronto. (Photo: Nim Mendoza)

Songs like “They Say”, “She Dgaf”, and the rarely played “Visions.”

Opener Kilo Kish tried to rouse a weary crowd but to little effect.  Shy or uninterested, only pockets of the crowd got into the set. She really showed her spirit and vocals joining The Internet on “Ode to a Dream.”

As I hobbled out of MOD Club, a gaggle of girls followed and stood at the same streetcar stop as me, excitedly chatting about the show and it’s painfully early end time. One girl wore a “Goblin” sweatshirt and it further clicked that however enigmatic or controversial OFWGKTA may be, the puzzle pieces that are its members create a larger picture its fans appreciate. They are part of something and it’s special to them.