A glance at the sidebar schedule might make you think you were living in a big city, but in reality lil old Guelph is being blessed by concerts from some big, formerly big and gonna be big names in the upcoming months. Not to knock the others on that list but here are some highlights.
Metric is playing the University of Guelph's frosh week. Introduction probably unnecessary, but in order to see Emily Haines and co. you'll need to be a student or at least know a student. You may also need to know a loan shark as tickets are $36 - ouch! Peter Clark Hall is an awful venue, but that's usually because it is mostly empty, which may not be a problem for this show.
Japandroids who've been getting some hype (including being the X3 artist of the month for May 2009) were forced to cancel their last tour at the last minute due to a medical emergency. This BC power duo are known to bring a heckuva sound are returning to make up for that missed show. Support Mt. Saint Helen's Vietnam Band, Little Girls.
The Bouncing Souls are punk rock veterans, having played countless Warped Tours not to mention touring constantly on their own over the past twenty, yes twenty years! I caught them a few years ago at the Vancouver Warped and my desciption isn't particularly complimentary but you've gotta hand it to these vets for still bringing it after all this time. If they got me in the pit it musta been doing something right. Along for the ride are Saint Alvia Cartel. Early Show!
Two Hours Traffic bring their pop-done-right sound from the Island of Prince Edward in October. Lucky for us THT haven't forgotten about Guelph just yet when making their jaunts across the country. I remember their free gig at Jimmy Jazz just a couple years ago, and the two eBar shows that followed those - with the crowds growing for each one. I didn't blog any but I did write after the second eBar gig "Another solid fun-filled set, with 4 new songs including a good one called Noise Maker." I see that Noise Maker did indeed make the new album Territory; the opening track no less. Can't find the opening support just yet, but regardless The Danks who include a couple THT boys in their lineup are playing too - so I'd DEFINITELY advise getting tickets ahead of time for this one!
Whoa, further update as this big show gets bigger and Spiral Beach join the bill.
Not just The Acorn but Ohbijou too! This gig was supposed to go down last year if I recall but was cancelled well ahead of time for reasons that escape me now. It is back on and at the Dublin St. Church. Never seen the Acorn but Glory Hope Mountain was a killer album, and Ohbijou are lovely (and current X3 artists of the month). This'll be something to see!
The Hidden Cameras finally return to Guelph. Their live shows are known to be spectacles. Unfortunately I missed the last time they played the Dublin St. Church, and it has been over 2 years since that time so catch them while they're here!
Library Voices are doing a free gig. They may not be as well-known as some of the bands above but damn are they as great! It is a noon-hour concert (exactly what it sounds like, a show at high-noon in the UoG UC courtyard) and it's 100% free. I gave them some love for their recent Hillside show.
Almost worth canceling my travel plans to catch all these great acts...
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Big Shows in Little Guelph (THT Updates x2)
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Tom Fun Orca-Wail (Vinyl)
Hailing from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia this energetic nine-piece invaded Guelph, which they lovingly referred to as the nipple of southern Ontario. In his wry manner, Ian MacDougall introduced the "Tom Fun Orca Whale".. to the half-hundred or so patrons who'd come out to the Vinyl on an early August, Tuesday evening (c'mon Guelph - show some support!). Once the small stage was sufficiently packed with an accordion player, banjo-ist, female acoustic guitarist, lead-singer and electric guitarist Ian, bass player, trumpeter and lovely lady violinist (from left to right, 8/9 members attending), all blocking the open-shirted, mustache who manned the drums, they busted into the first tune. It was this mustached-man who led the first track with a driving beat. Everyone on stage had the chance to clear their throats while singing the chorus of this track, and soon thereafter each worked out their respective instruments with an awesome showing during the Highway Siren Song Breakdown. Ian's great gruff voice growled clear (despite many sound system issues), leading the charge on most songs, though Carmen Townsend also lent a female perspective often, and the rest of the band were quick to join in for a chorus, backup or singalong. Vocals were hardly needed on the next track which had an anthemic beat reminiscent of BSS that changed drastically towards hoedown, before returning to the marching beat and then closing out at super speed.
I'd been looking forward to some Rum and Tequila and that dropped next. The violinist must have been looking forward to it as well since she got into it (and out of her shoes into barefeet too). In the spirit of removing clothing, the drummer lost his shirt entirely at this point for the rest of the show. After breaking a guitar during one song, Ian swapped for another and joked about trying to bust this one too while tuning it up. Not one song later he could be seen sliding the neck up and down his mic stand, doing his best to make his prediction true. There were some brief breaks from the musical swell (and not just to try to clear feedback), including the song that cut the hard hitting drums, making for a relatively lighter tune. Back at it, they ripped things up with the excellent Watchmaker that saw Carmen belting out her verses before all of the musicians just let loose, in one of the many instances where I was thinking 'finale', but it didn't come. Carrying on with a few more for the dancers up front, they even tossed some cover lyrics into the midst of their own songs, such as the chorus to MGMT's Kids. With the crashing of the following track it was clear that this was actually going to be the end after many false finales. The last push of this song was clear as they encircled the drummer, backs to the crowd, raising instruments in the air while jamming out, for the equivalent of a good-bye group hug. Too bad it couldn't have been a larger hug (audience-wise) but The Tom Fun Orchestra didn't seem to care as they poured out a full-out strong show much to the delight of the dedicated fans who were in attendance.
Carmen Townsend
Carmen Townsend had a beard and a mustache. No, not the lady, but her accompanying band, as they opened for Tom Fun. More specifically the band was a subset of Tom Fun, that included the bass player (beard) and drummer (stache), but were fronted by Ms.Carmen Townsend (hence the name) now playing a rather large electric (as opposed to her Tom Fun acoustic) guitar. She had a good wail that suited the rock'n'roll show. Opening with a crescendo of sound (I'm not sure that's even possible) they entertained for the whole set, especially with the tune that never seemed to end - growing longer, while getting stronger. The last song was appropriately introduced as a country tune since it definitely had that feel to it, but along with her voice it worked. Altogether, it worked.
Local group, Thunder and Lightning, started the night off. It was a three-piece, though without offense to the drum and bass players, they seemed to be there simply for the singer to play his electric guitar overtop of. With some restrained back beats he blasted out guitar licks for twenty or thirty minutes, with no stage banter (and not much presence). It wasn't unenjoyable, but not overly interesting either.
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Great Bloomers, Boys Who Say No, Five Star Trailer Park (Albion, Guelph)
Up first of the three Torontonian bands at the Albion in Guelph last Friday (July 31) were Five-Star Trailer Park who were in Guelph for the second time in about a week. It was the beginning of a LOUD evening.. and not in terms of musical genre, but general sound system level. From the patio I heard On the Drive Home just fine. When I did make it inside I found an all-male six-piece playing some rock music. Fronting the group was an emotive guy who acted out many of the lyrics in charade-style (while wearing a Dancehall Free For All tee). As noted by a friend, the bass player was also "very agreeable" referring to him getting in the zone with a lot of head nodding. One of their final tunes sounded very familiar, and was likely a cover though I couldn't place it (after the few drinks I'd had) but some audience members could as they got up to dance.
Next to the stage were Boys Who Say No which predictably was made up of boys (four of 'em) who played drum, bass, guitar and added a dash of uke and keys depending on the song. They included a very drum-centric song (or perhaps that was the sub-woofer again) that saw some of the Great Bloomers join them on stage. Not bad.
Closing out the night the Great Bloomers were five guys, some of whom played a couple electric guitars and a keyboard. Playing their single, Young Ones Slept, first they managed to draw in a bunch of the patio dwellers and possibly some people from down the street at Sun Sun's as I'm sure you could hear it there! It didn't take long before they returned the favour and invited Boys Who Say No back onstage to guest on one of their tracks. There was a new one called something like Keep Me Here that was played before the rhythym section provided a jazzy instrumental interlude. The singer picked up an acoustic axe for a bit, while a guitarist picked his guitar, face-up in his lap. The title track from Speak of Trouble came after that and was followed by Honey Blanket. To close out the set was a well-recieved tambourine attack. In my opinion the Albion saved the best for last this night.
