Dala (Hillside '09)

Welcome to Guest Blogger - Natasha Holmes - who had this rave review of Dala's Saturday evening Hillside Main Stage performance:

Having been listening to Dala for months leading up to Hillside, I was nothing less than giddy as the ladies, AmanDA and SheiLA (DALA), stepped on to the stage. Opening with a delightful but powerful rendition of Marilyn Monroe.. they commented afterward that the long, held phrases make the song a big ego-booster, as the audience seems to be singing along, even if they're yawning. Continuing with more upbeat tunes, it was just two girls, two guitars and a lot of witty conversation between two best friends. One such story was of their tour with Tom Cochrane, as they sung back-up on Life is a Highway and were told that they "rock" by the fans!
By the second song, Sheila jinxed us with hopes of good weather, which of course sent the clouds rolling in. Audience members ran under the main stage's overhanging roof for some shelter, which left the rest of the music in a perfectly intimate setting. Taking a more serious note, the guitars went to their stands and Sheila moved to the piano to begin Horses from their 2007 album Everyone is Someone. The song, about a boy who had become paralyzed after an accident, showed the maturity of their writing and vocals, while adding some meaning to a beautiful tune. The set also included the simple but stunning Anywhere Under the Moon from the 2009 release Who Do You Think You Are? which also showcases their Canadian origins where they belt "So I drive, all the way, to Winnipeg." Other patriotic drops include remembering Sauble Beach, the fashion of Niagara Falls, not to mention the song titled Hockey Sweater (not performed). Maybe Guelph will be featured on the next album??
Levi Blues was definitely a favourite, as Amanda put away her guitar and let Sheila carry the music. She kept herself busy, of course, acting out the sweet lyrics about writing 'I Love You' on the Great Wall or watching lovers in the park. One thing I noted was the way the girls interacted on the stage. When one person was singing solo, the other would watch them with admiration and respect for their musical strengths. It was great to see such a friendship on the stage, making the listener so much more connected to the music they create. To end the set, they played a little ditty with a very little instrument (mini-guitar; ukulele of some sort) saying goodbye - a very sweet ending to a very lovely set. With cries for an encore, the girls came out, quite surprised, with nothing but B-sides to play. Instead they did a number a cappella, which involved mixing Fever with Hit the Road Jack. The harmonies, the music and the personality on the main stage Saturday evening certainly made a memorable performance! While a friend and I were having our newly purchased album signed by the ladies we were recognized as "the smiling girls at the front". Yup, that was us...