Scandalnavia: the mere name makes you want to know more about the band. You don't know anything about them, but you just know they're going to be cool.

A poster on 20hz once made a snarky comment along the lines of, "There are more girls making music in Toronto than any place other than Girl Island." That may be true, but some girls in indie rock bands can seem like cute little sisters of the rest of the scene, instead of originators of their own style, sound, and fanbase. Scandalnavia, a Toronto-based, five-piece, four-girl-one-boy, two-lead-vocalist band seem to have, so far, operated outside the usual indie rock scene. Though they've been playing shows for over a year now, this is the first time they've played Wavelength. Their song "First Coffee" is featured on the Good Grooming for Girls compilation, and that (and the accompanying showcase at Rancho Relaxo) was the first many of us had heard of them. They've been more visible as part of Toronto's queer music community, playing Pride events, and opening for King Cobra and Lesbians on Ecstasy.

Nonetheless, when they have played mainstream indie rock shows on the fabulous College Street strip, I've seen them win over whole audiences full of fans of all the other bands on the bill. And I've seen Scandalnavia's own devoted fans show up and remind us all how to dress up and move for a band that isn't afraid to be funny, vulgar, political, and danceable.

Like I said, they've got two vocalists. Rapper Natasha and singer Emma trade off lead vocal and guitars, backed up musically and vocally by Pat, Nas, and Maryangela. Their songs range from the old-school, riot-y "Bloody Immigrant" to songs about the Ex (when Natasha asks "Do you want to go faster?," she' s gonna go faster - and faster yet), to one of my favourites, a song in which Pat and Natasha duet about fonts.

Someday (soon? I hope), there'll be a Scandalnavia full-lengther out, and it will be the Best. Road-Trip. Album. EVER. But until then, we will all have to go see the live shows and dream.

BY EMILY ZIMMERMAN