Encapsulated in darkness, Vancouver-based female garage-rock duo THE PACK AD took to the stage at The Horseshoe Tavern to the sounds of a raucous wall-to-wall crowd during CMW 2012 Day 2.

A minute later, the venue was coated in a blasting red light and at least the first ten feet of the room had fused into a giant mosh pit of bodies.

“You guys are making it really fucking hot in here… it’s all your fault,” joked guitarist/vocalist Becky Black as they finished the second song of their set and began their introduction proper. “You guys are already crazy – this is awesome… we’re all in the same sweat box together,” drummer Maya Miller chimed in.

A quick retort from a rowdy crowd member cut the air: “Let’s getting fucking sweaty.” Miller replied in time: “I think we already are… if you want to do smell tests on us after, go right ahead… you’ll love it.”

Their songs are short and to the point – some even clocking in under the two-minute-mark (Miller professes mid-set that the reason behind this is because they have ADD). Regardless, the ladies of THE PACK probably managed to deliver the greatest “song number:time limit” ratio per set of the entire festival.

There were some vocal troubles in the middle third of the set as Black’s microphone kicked out, THE PACK AD powered through with Miller picked up the slack with the banter between songs; even though she claimed she’s awful at it, she really is entertaining.

Though there are only the two of them in the band, Black and Miller have the live presence to fill a stage and then some. If you’ve never seen THE PACK AD live and are in any way a fan of heavy rock, punk, garage, grunge, or female-fronted bands in general: please take the time and get better acquainted with your new favourite.