Heads up that Alexisonfire are playing the University of Guelph's frosh week - Tuesday Sept 8 at 8pm. Details are sketchy but it is probably a student/friends of students only concert, likely at Peter Clark Hall (basement of the UC) as has been tradition with bands such as Moneen
UPDATE: The school gymnasium will be closed Tuesday, apparently for a concert, which now seems the likely venue. CSA offices don't open til THAT morning so details are likely to be sketchy until then..
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
AlexisonGuelph
Friday, August 22, 2008
Blue Rodeo and the Ritter
Blue Rodeo (with Josh Ritter)
Arriving there we realized our giant mistake of buying lawn tickets but not bringing a blanket. This was compounded by the goose droppings that littered the field. We lay in the feces grass after carefully selecting and further clearing a spot while Josh Ritter played some American folk rock that was actually quite enjoyable as the sun dropped in the sky and the lights on the rides at the exhibition began to light up.
Just before BR were to hit the stage we realized that the 4th section of seats were largely unoccupied and unguarded. These seats provided us a much better view of both the stage and the big screens as well as another bonus spectacle. Jim and Greg got the crowd going with "Til I am Myself Again" and "Rain Down on Me". At the start of the show they showcased some new material which was rather pleasant but unknown to me. 'It Makes Me Wonder' brought us back to some hits before Keelor showed off his chops with a few solos before slowing it down with a keys/guitar version of "Dark Angel". The show picked up steam with '5 Days in May" and an incredible singalong to "Hasn't Hit Me Yet" with a firework display (part of the Chinese Lantern festival I suspect) went off in the background. In stark contrast, despite the incredibly tacky backdrop of an animated diamond soaring through a mine shaft the song itself, "Diamond Mine" was pretty darn good too. A few tracks later they said their goodnights and left the stage.
It took quite a lot of clapping and hooting before they finally came back for a two-song encore. Since the last time I saw them play Massey Hall and inconceivably to me they didn't play 'Lost Together' I knew that it wasn't a sure thing and I was beginning to wonder how many times I would have to see them before they included it. Luckily twice is enough as they closed the finale by inviting Josh Ritter, Luke Doucet, a member of Cuff the Duke and a female whose name I didn't catch to join them on stage for it. Josh and the female each had a verse to do on their own and though Josh sounded good the female really made that verse her own and impressed all of us thoroughly. Again they departed.
However the house lights/music didn't come on immediately leaving a possibility for an additional encore. And this time with less of a break they returned for a final tune, a cover of a song I didn't recognize, and with security having left their post to help with the mass exodus we managed to walk right up to the edge of the "floor" and take Blue Rodeo in in all their glory. It was a solid show all around and the boys have polished their show and prove why they have such a large following with performances like that.
Dance Hall Free for .. Boats!
Caught a solid double bill for a Tuesday in Guelph at the Albion. Here are some thoughts.
Boats! played a similar set to the previous time at the Albion. We arrived after they had begun but managed to hear a few of the songs I enjoy; 'You Have Nothing to Lose (except your arms and legs)' and 'Scenic Gorges' included. It takes some getting used to the high pitched voice that the lead singer employs live (through an effects pedal I now believe) but they still were upbeat and fun. Again they closed with the singer on the keyboard and the rest of the members with drumsticks drumming on most anything around the venue they could find. 7/10
Dance Hall Free for All were playing a show in their hometown and it seemed that many of their high school classmates (and some parents too) had come out to support them. They didn't disappoint playing their funk/rock/dance mix of tunes with their impressive male lead vocals overtop. The lone female was missing (apparently due to a broken jaw) but they still had a trumpet and a sax rounding out the brass section. 'Something Collective' (my personal fave) and 'Dollface' were standouts though the entire set was enjoyable and even those around me who weren't familiar with the band were digging them. They played an even better set than their Hillside debut last summer which managed to win a tonne of people over and if they keep this up they have a promising future. 8/10
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
